Hay 3, 1877. J 



JOURNAL OF HORTICaiiTUBE AND OOTTAQB GARDENER. 



325 



Henry Webb (the Treasurer) ; by Dr. Hogg, the Secretary ; and 

 the following members of the Council ; — Major Mason, Dr. 

 Denny, Messrs. F. Campion, Elwes, W. B. Kellock, and T. C. 

 •Clarke, and the principal displays were pointed out and explained 

 by Dr. Hooker of Kew. Her Majesty, aud indeed the whole of 

 the Royal visitors, examined carefully almost every collection, 

 expressing their admiration of the plants and fruit. Mr. Ford's 

 (Leonardslee) collection of fruit, ito., was particularly noticed, as 

 was also the excellent contribution of Messrs. Webber. The 

 beautiful collections of market plants had a largo share of Royal 

 appreciation, while the splendid contributious of the principal 

 nurserymen and amateurs were subjected to leisurt- ly and critical 

 inspection. Her Majesty was graciously pleased to accept a 

 rich bouquet presented by Mrs. Wills, and one similarly beauti- 

 ful was provided by Messrs. Veitch for the Princess Beatrice. 

 Bouquets were also presented to others of the Royal visitors by 

 Miss Smith of Kingsland Road. The Duchess of Edinburgh and 

 the Princess Beatrice also accepted Roses from the collection of 

 Mr. Walker, Thame, Oxon. 



West Cobbidob.— Following the order of the Royal procession 

 — from the west to the east — we will note the collections in the 

 order of their arrangement. 



Messrs. Carter & Co., seedsmen, &a., of High Holborn, sent a 

 group of foliage plants, principally exotics, comprising Oocos 

 Weddellianaand the very graccfol-leaved plant Casuarina suma- 

 trina. Other Palms, Pandanus, Phormiums, and DieSenbachias 

 helped to complete a very satisfactory and effective group. 



Roses in pots, also out Roses, were sent from Messrs. Paul 

 and Son, " The Old Knrseries," Cheshnnt, Herts ; the flowers 

 were of remarkable quality. CamilleBernardin,EtienneLevet, 

 Alba Rosea, and Duke of Edinburgh were very striking; also 

 cut flowers of Mar(>chal Niel of the largest size. 



Messrs. W. Cutbush A- Son sent the next group, which was 

 composed principally of Cape and New Holland plants. It was 

 tastefully arranged, and the effect of the flowers was toned down 

 by a few Palms judiciously disposed. 



A group of Indian Azaleas from R. Thoralon, Esq. (A. Ratty, 

 gardener), The Hoo, Sydenham Hill, came next in order. There 

 were thirty-one plants, comprising Apollon, a fine white flower 

 flaked with red ; Roi des Blanches, white ; Bijou de Ledeburgh, 

 with rose-coloured flowers and variegated leaves ; Fascination, 

 rose flowers edged with white. 



Messrs. Lane & S )n. Great Berkhampstead, Hert?, sent a col- 

 lection of hardy Rhododendrons beautifully flowered ; they 

 formed a noble and attractive group. Amongst the best may 

 be named Mrs. G. H. W. Heneage, deep rose ; Fastnosum, fl.-pl., 

 double lilac ; Caractacus, deep rose ; Correggio, rose, prettily 

 spotted; Purity, creamy white; Lord John Russell, purple; 

 Tippoo Sahib, a very distinct dark flower; and Mrs. J. Clutton, 

 white tinged rose. 



We next came to one of the finest groups of hardy flowering 

 and foliage plants that we have seen for many a day. It was from 

 Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons of the Royal Exotic Nursery, King's 

 Road, Chelsea. The group was staged on the ground, and was 

 thus under the eye of the spectator. The background was com- 

 posed of the Japanese Acers now so much admired ; the beauti- 

 fully cut bronze and light green leaves had a charming effect. 

 The ends of the group were made np of the finest varieties of 

 Ghent Azaleas and the new Japanese varieties of Azalea mollis. 

 Towards the centre were some very fine Rhododendrons. We 

 noticed as the best Joseph Whitworth, very dark purple ; 

 Broughtoniannm, rose ; Lady Rolle, blush white, densely spotted ; 

 Ornatissimum, a distinct lilac flower, with a white centre; 

 Clarissa, very deUoate ; Ochroleucum ; The Queen, fine rosy 

 blush; Madame Wagner, very distinct, white with rose edge; 

 Michael Waterer, a very fine blood red ; Baron O.-jy, a very 

 distinct sort. The group was edged with a row of Spirsea 

 japonica. 



Messrs. Oaborn & Sons, Fulham, sent some very fine Palms 

 and other foliage plants. The group was edged with Adiautum 

 farleyense and a few of the finer foliaged plants. There was 

 also a very fine plant of Imantophyllum miniatum superbum. 



Mr. John Wills of Onslow Square sent a very well arranged 

 group of what may now be termed the Anerley Dracaenas. 

 Nearly all of them have been described in our columns, and 

 their fine health and splendid colour reflect great credit on Mr. 

 WUle's manager. The collection comprised over one hundred 

 plants. 



Mr. W. Ball of King's Road, Chelsea, sent a group of Cycad- 

 aceoua plants, comprising some very noble specimens indeed of 

 BncephalartoB cycadajfolia, Cycas media, Dion cdule, Zamia 

 Roezlii, Catakidozamia Hillii, Zamia Lindenii, and Z. obliqua. 

 To the two last-named first-class certificates were voted. 



Messrs. Crouoher & Boiler sent a group of Succulents, a 

 portion of them in small pots as they are sold in Covent Garden. 

 There were also many interesting species of Aloes, Echinopses, 

 MAmmillarias, Cereuses, Gasterias, &c. 



CoNSEKV.iTORY. — This structure was attractive even apart from 

 the rich groups of plants exhibited, many fine specimens having 

 been brought trom Cbiswick, and the vases and baaketa bad 



been redecorated for the occasion. Looking from the western 

 end, the right side of the avenue was occupied with a straight 

 stage from end to end on which the collections were artistically 

 arranged. On the left the exhibits were arranged in semi- 

 circular groups. In the centre of the building was a pyramid 

 of window boxes, exhibited by Mr. Maurice Young of Milford 

 Nursery, Godalming, showing examples of the new art of print- 

 ing on wood. 



At the extreme end of the building Messrs. Charles Lee and 

 Son, Haminersmith, arranged a group of ornamental-folia ged 

 and flowering plants suitable for general decorative purposes. 

 They comprised Palms, Dracenas, Heaths, Boronias, Souerilas, 

 Crotona, Agaves, &c., all fresh, bright, and healthy. The first 

 collection on the principal stage was contributed by Mr. B. S. 

 Williams, HoUoway, and it is wonderful to see how his exhibit- 

 ing power is sustained. His group yesterday was an admirable 

 one, occupying 40 feet in length of staging. The back of the 

 collection was composed of Palms, Tree Ferns, and a fine 

 pyramid of Azalea aniceua. At the front of the tall plants were 

 a collection of Azalea mollis, a bright group of twenty Orchids; 

 also Amarjlises, Crotons, Anthuriums, Bertolonias, Maranta 

 Massangeana, iEchmaas, Sarracenias, and last but not least a 

 fine specimen of Gloneria jasminiflora. For affording pure 

 white trusses of flowers for bouquets we cannot imagine any 

 plant more suitable than this. 



The next collection, arranged by Mr. Wills, occupied about 

 80 feet of staging. The centre of this fine display was a master- 

 piece of decorative art. It represented a terraced garden, but 

 had none of the usual conventional geometrical beds, 'the ground- 

 work was composed of Lyoopodium denticulatum, at the front of 

 which was a drooping fringe of Isolepis gracilis. In the centre 

 and leading to the bank of Lycopoda and Orchids was a mossy 

 path formed with Lycopodium apodum. On both sides of the 

 path were single plants of Cocos Weddelliana, at the bases of 

 which were groups of small Gloxinias; in the corners were 

 larger Palms fringed with Orchids, and dotted here and there 

 amongst the Lycopods were Mareohal Niel Rosea and Stephan- 

 otis. The "garden," which occupied about 100 square feet, 

 was flanked with healthy Pitcher-plants, and at the back were 

 displayed framed engravings of the immense glass structure 

 designed to cover the Albert Memorial ; aud behind the pictures 

 was a splendid Dicksonia. The side winga of this central group 

 were composed of a groundwork of Pelargoniums, Anthuriums, 

 Roses, &c., out of which sprung boldly large Palms, splendid 

 variegated Yuccas, and Dracrenas, the whole being fringed with 

 Isolepis gracilis. It was a remarkably fine collection, and sus- 

 tained the fame of the great floral decorator. 



The next collection was from the renowned nurseries of the 

 Messrs. Veitch, who have never staged a more brilliant collection. 

 The plants were not large, but on that account the collection 

 was the more attractive, since greater scope for variety was 

 afforded ; every plant was in excellent condition, and the whole 

 arrangement displayed consummate taste. At the back were 

 large Vandas, Palms, and Crotons, and in the front the most 

 rare fine-foliaged plants in cultivation, interspersed with Orchids 

 and fringed with Gloxinias. In the centre of the group was the 

 magnificent Anthurium Scherzeriannm Wardii, and in front of 

 this again a flue pan of the charming Cypripedium niveum. 

 Amongst the more striking Orchids were Oncidiums fuscatum, 

 varicosum, papilio Kramerii, concolor, Croosus, Barcodes, and 

 Marshalli; Odontoglossuma Pescatorei purpuratum, very beaa- 

 tifnl ; luteo-purpurenm, citrosmum, Andersonianum, gloriosum, 

 and Roezlii. A charming Orchid of great value in this group 

 was Angraicum citratnm with two long pendulous spikes of 

 creamy Lobelia-like flowers. Masdevallias wore represented 

 by the curious M. chimera, M. Lindeni, and M. Veitchiana. 

 Cattleyas by Mendelli, intermedia, Skinneri, and others. There 

 were also many valuable Cypripediums and other Orchids. 

 Croton Morti, a brilliant and majestic kind, was in fine condi- 

 tion, and the distinct Earl of Derby was very conspicuous ; 

 C. Mooreanua, C. Macafojinua, and C. Veitchianus were also in 

 superior colour. Sarracenias flava, major, and S. Drummondii 

 attracted considerable attention, as also did the curious Ataccia 

 cristata, while the Gloxinias were of the first quality. The 

 collection also included Nepenthes hybrida maoulata, N. Sedeni, 

 N. Hookeriana, and N. intermedia. A magnificent collection. 



In fine contrast to Messrs. Veitch'a plants were a collection 

 of Azaleas from Measra. RoUisson and Sons, Tooting. The 

 plants were standards on stems from 1 to 3 feet in height, the 

 heads being about the same in diameter. These plants were in 

 robust health and splendidly bloomed. Many of the varieties 

 were semi-double. The finest of the light (nearly white) varie- 

 ties was Marie Van Houtte, and Souvenir de I'Exposition was 

 clothed with splendid flowers. Amongst the single dark va- 

 rieties Eugi'-ne Mazel was excellent; and amongst the donbles 

 President Gtiellinck de Walle commanded attention ; Madame 

 Iris Lefebvre was very rich, and Vicomto de Toreville was also 

 noticeable. About fifty plants were staged, which produced a 

 very tine effect. 



'The next collection was an admirable and extensive one trom 



