384 



THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY 



[December, 



seedlings from the same. One of the latter was 

 remarkably beautiful. A dish of Psidium (Guava), 

 which is rarely seen, was shown by Mrs. F. B. 

 Hayes. 



The Society has. just appropriated $5800 for 

 prizes for the year of 1886, and its e.\hibitions for 

 that year are likely to bi larger than ever. A | 

 not unlikely probability is. that within a year the 

 Society will secure a lot of land on the Back Bay 

 district and erect a light building for large e.xhibi- 

 tions, having from ten to fifteen thousand square 

 feet, all on one level. When it is stated that the 

 yearly receipts of the Society for admission to its : 

 four great exhibitions, have grown from about 

 $600 in 1882, to over $3 600 in 1885, the necessity 

 for increased accommodation will be appreciated. 



HORTICULTURAL DISPLAYS. 



BY JOHN WOODING. 



The Autumnal exhibition of plants and flowers 

 of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society was a 

 great improvement on last year. All the exhibits 

 were very good indeed, especially were those 

 plants good of an exotic nature It is almost 

 unnecessary for me to name here all those who 

 exhibited plants and flowers and received pre- 

 miums, as the list has been published in the Phila- 

 delphia daily papers, but I will name a few plants 

 which I saw there, and by whom exhibited, 

 worthy of special notice. A collection of tube- 

 rous begonias by Mr. H. A. Dreer were very 

 good, with double scarlet and pink flowers. These 

 are a great improvement on some of the older 

 varieties. I think these would do very well as 

 summer bedders in a partly shaded position, and 

 would have a very striking effect. They were 

 awarded a special premium. Another plant, a 

 palm, and the only one of the species I saw there, 

 was Cocos Weddeliiana, of recent introduction, by 

 the same exhibitor. This is one of the most 

 graceful palms in cultivation, and would make a 

 fine decorative plant for the dinner table. It is 

 of a dwarf habit, and has fine recurved foliage. 

 This plant is rather scarce and dear, costing about 

 fifteen dollars in an eight-inch pot. I have one of 

 them which seems to do well with the usual 

 method of treatment for palms. Two other plants 

 of recent introduction, and the only two I saw 

 there of the kind, were Abutilons. These are 

 quite distinct from any I ever saw before. They 

 are fine ornamental foliage plants, beautifully 

 variegated, streaked with crimson and golden yel- 

 low. I have mislaid the botanical name. The 



flower is insignificant, — indeed, if they did not 

 flower at all, they are well worthy of a place 

 in any collection. One of these plants was exhi- 

 bited by Messrs. Fergusson & Sons, Laurel Hill 

 Nursery ; the other by Mrs. Jayne's gardener (Mr. 

 Nesbet). Both exhibitors were awarded premiums. 

 A collection of fifteen ornamental foliaj^e plants 

 exhibited by A. Warne, gardener to C. H. Clark, 

 Esq., West Philadelphia, were deserving of special 

 notice on account of their fine, healthy appearance. 

 The Marantas showed up their markings to per- 

 fection, and were well grown and much admired. 

 A first premium was deservedly awarded for them. 

 The Caladiums on exhibition, I think, could not 

 be excelled, were in a high state of cultivation,, 

 and displayed their elegant and brilliant mark- 

 ings to perfection. It may be here noted that the 

 plant commonly known as Caladium esculentum 

 does not belong to this genus. 



A few water lilies were exhibited by the well- 

 known dealer in aquatics, Mr. Sturtevant ; of Bor- 

 dentown. New Jersey. Nymphaea odorata, double 

 white, and two or three others of a pink color; 

 very fine. Also the lace plant, growing in a small 

 tank of water, quite a curiosity, were awarded a 

 special premium. 

 I Speaking on the subject of flower shows, they 

 1 do not seem to have the patronage they deserve 

 by the wealthy classes. Probably if Canon Farrar 

 could have been induced to give a lecture one 

 I night during the show, the exhibition itself might 

 I have been more successful. I am informed by 

 fellow-members of the society, that the receipts 

 from visitors to the show did not. pay more than a 

 ' third of the expenses. It will be impossible for 

 the society to continue to give premiums in money, 

 if the exhibitions are not better patronized. The 

 income from the three dollars a year membership 

 IS hardly equal to this object. 



Pencoyd, Montgomery County, Pa. 

 [We have here again the suggestion often made 

 before of the difficulty of getting the great public 

 to appreciate horticultural exhibitions. We have 

 had our say often before, and have pointed out the 

 weak places, with little effect, however. 



We will only say, in brief, here that there is no 

 reason why any exhibition should lack the fullest 

 patronage if managed in the way a business man 

 would manage his business. There is not a per- 

 son in the world but loves fruits, flowers and gar- 

 dens, and every person who could spare the time 

 and money would come to the exhibition when he 

 was made to understand that there was something 

 worth seeing. 



