140 THE GARDENER. [March 



Many special certificates were awarded by the Floral Committee, and were too 

 numerous to particularise. Mr Denning again staged a beautiful collection of 

 Orchids, conspicuous in which was a grand specimen covered with flowers of 

 Coelogyne cristata; several fine and distinct varieties of Cattleya Trianic ; Pil- 

 umna fragrans with deliciously-scented white flowers, and classed by Mr Bate- 

 man amongst the Bridal Orchids. A first-class certificate was awarded to Mr 

 Denning for this plant, and a special certificate was conferred upon the collec- 

 tion. Mr W. Bull, King's Road, Chelsea, had a very effective group of Palms, 

 Cycads, Orchids, new and rare plants. A first-class certificate was awarded to a 

 good and distinct species of Amaryllis named Gastronema flammea. The flowers, 

 which were two in number, are crimson, with a slight tinge of orange ; they are 

 3 inches in diameter, and are borne on a somewhat slender stem about 1 foot 

 high. Mr Bull likewise received a special certificate for his collection. 



Messx's Yeitch of Chelsea sent a miscellaneous collection of plants, as well as 

 collections of Cyclamens, and a number of plants of a good strain of Chinese 

 Primulas. Amongst the plants sent by Messrs Veitch was a plant of Dendrobium 

 crassinode, and a small plant with a fine spike, on which the individual flowers 

 were very large, Odontoglossum Alexandria. Special awards were given to 

 Messrs Veitch for the collections. Mr B. S. Williams of HoUoway also exhibited 

 a very good miscellaneous collection of Orchids, some fine Amaryllis, and a well- 

 managed plant of Tillandsia Lindeni, the flowers of the most beautiful azure blue. 

 Some cultivators of this plant say it does not flower freely ; this one was throwing 

 up five spikes, and on the centre spike were two fully-expanded flowers. A special 

 certificate was also awarded to Mr Williams. Mr T. S. Ware Hale, Farm Nur- 

 series, Tottenham, also received a special certificate for a basket of succulent 

 plants and a basket containing an interesting collection of spring-flowering plants ; 

 Iris reticulata, a dwarf plant with deep-blue flowers, having the scent of Violets ; 

 and a dwarf pink with flowers approaching the florist standard, which would be 

 useful for early forcing, named Mrs Pettifer. Mr J. Tomkins, Sparkhill Nurseries, 

 Birmingham, received a first-class certificate for a very fine strain of Chinese 

 Primulas named Princess Louise. The young flowers are pure white, and when fully 

 expanded are tinged with blush ; they are fully 2 inches in diameter, and of great 

 substance. Mr Green, gardener to W. W. Saunders, Esq. , also received a first- 

 class certificate for a new species of Agave from South Africa, A. Besseriana 

 amoena ; it has short glaucous leaves, with dark-coloured spines. Messrs Rolli- 

 son & Sons, Tooting, also received a special certificate for a very fine collection 

 of Orchids, and two fine plants of Lomaria Gibba crispa, a very distinct and 

 interesting form, which seldom throws up fertile fronds ; Davallia clavata, a very 

 elegant Fern of small growth. Worthy of special mention, and which received 

 a special award, was a very fine specimen of the green-leaved Aucuba, loaded 

 with clusters of brilliant- coloured berries, from Mr Kiughorn, Sheen Nursery, 

 Richmond. 



Mr W. Paul, Nurseryman, Waltham Cross, sent a group of very fine specimen 

 Camellias. They were in the finest possible health and vigour, and well flowered, 

 leaving nothing to be desired except in the training they had received — only one 

 plant had been allowed to grow in a natural manner, the shoots of the others 

 having been bent and contorted to bring the plants into a compact shape. Mr 

 Paul gave a short lecture on the Camellia, but owing to want of time he could 

 not enter into details of culture. Mr Paul received a special certificate for his 

 collection, which also comprised some beautiful plants with brilliant scarlet 

 flowers of Correa cardinalis. There were collections of Hyacinths, Cyclamens, 

 Primulas, and other things, which received special certificates, from other exhibi- 



