Jinift 10, 1869. ] 



J0X7BHAL OF HORTIOULTWBE AND COTTAGE QABDENBR. 



309 



vcutriooEtt UMgnifioii;' 'Mn''FeW'ta(U»,-"^artIti*r to G.'Mnnlo, Kfq., 

 Deumark Hill, s\a9 Mcokid, and Bent- Autlmrinm rcpHle ami ydifir- 

 /erianam, Alocasia inetnllica with, liaely-wjlonred leaves, Cibflus difl- 

 color, and MnasiL-nda frondusa, "witU its white t-alycino leavea freely 

 daveloped. The iirft prize tor m\ nent to Mr. Wright, in whose col- 

 lection were the ulignut i'trn-like C'upania filicil'ulia, Clluichcnift 

 Bonjiveetita, verj' beautiful; a tine Crglon varicfatum, and a t;ond 

 Apheleiis. Mr. DonAld was soeond, Mr. C'ltrr, third, and Mr. Wilkle 

 had an extra prixo. 



Of Heaths tlie Rpeeimeus filiown were -excellent, especially those of 

 Iho varieties of vcutricosa and tricolor ; also Kassoniana, Alberti, por- 

 spicua nana, elogana, candidissima, Fairricana, Caudolleana, tlorida, 

 Massoni major, and Jaliana. The prizes in the nnrseryraen's class 

 were taken by Messrs. Jaekson, Morse, Williams, and Khodes ; and 

 in tho amateurs' class by Messrs. Peed, "Ward, Keiup, and J. "Whctlcr. 

 lu tho open class they were taken by Messrs. "Ward, J. ^^■llcek•^, 

 Morse, and Peed. 



Azaleas, with the exception of Mr. Carson's eight beanlifully- 

 flowered plants, were poor. Mr. Wilkio and Mr. G. Wheeler were re- 

 spectively second and third for the same unmber. In the class for six. 

 the last-named exhibitor and Mr. Peed had neat well-bloomed plants, 

 iind prizes were also awarded to Mr. Wilkie and Mr. J. Wheeler. 



Orchids were not shown in snch large numbers as in some previous 

 years, nor have they been so anywhere this season. Mr. Williams 

 was the only exhibitor in the nurserymen's class for ten, and took a 

 first prize with nearly the s.ime collection as shown at Kensington. 

 The best collection of eight came from Mr. Wilson, gardener to 

 W. Marshall, Ksq., Knfield, and included a fine specimen of Cypri- 

 pedium caudatum with eight ilowers, having petals nearly *2 feet long ; 

 a tine variety of Cattleya Mossia?, Dendrobium Dalhousieanum, 

 Vauda tricolor, Ladia purpurata, Eriopsis rutidobulbon, with three 

 spikes a foot long ; and Ai-i-ides I,obbii, with two spikes which will be 

 very lino when fully developed. Mr. Young, gardener to W. H. 

 Stone, Esq., M.P., was second ; Mr. Woodward, third ; and Mr. Peed, 

 fourth. Mr. Woodward had very good examples of Dendrobium densi- 

 florum, Angnloa Clowesii, and Lycaste aromatica. For six, Mr. 

 Wilson was ng,ain first with Odonto.glossum Alexandr.-e with four most 

 beautiful large-flowered spikes ; Dendrobium densiflornm album, Lalia 

 puj-pnrata, Cattleya Moasiic superba, Vanda suavis, and Cattleya 

 Warneri, all in fine condition. Mr. Ward came second, Mr. Wright, 

 third ; and extra prizes were given to Messrs. Young, Woodward, 

 and Peed. 



For Colenses, of which there was a good display, the prizes went to 

 Messrs. Downie & Co., Cannell, Turner, and Woodward. Mr. Parker, 

 Tooting, sent a gioup of Orchids and Succulents ; Mr. Wilhams, 

 Palms, Y'uccas, Ferns, Sarracenias, Cephalotns foUicularis, A'c. ; and 

 Messrs. Downie & Co., and Messrs. Carter & Co., pretty miscellaneous 

 groups, including Palms, Coleuses, Variegated Zonal Pelargoniums, 

 Caladiums, and numerous other plants. Messrs. Dobson contributed 

 herbaceous Calceolarias, and Mr. Ware, of Hale Farm Nursery, 

 Tottenham, a numerous collection of hardy plants and cut flowers 

 of 115 kinds. There was, in addition to the other attractions of tlie 

 Show, an exhibition of Khododendrons, by Mr. Anthony Waterer, of 

 Knap Hill, not, however, either so pretty or extensive as that from 

 the same place at South Kensington. 



Tnr hold attempt of the Directors of the Crystal Palace Company 

 to interpolate another show in the vei-y midst of the busiest season for 

 exhibitors, wheu exhibitions are as plentiful as BlackbeiTies, was 

 crowned with the success it deserved. A brilliant day, almost the first 

 of summer, shone upon them: the cold north-easterly winds took their 

 departure ; and everything was fresh and fair. An immense number 

 of people were present ; while the Show itself attracted not only the 

 usual exhibitors, but brought into play by the new feature of Table 

 Decorations a large number unused to the exciting field of friendly 

 strife. It is an evidence of the truth of the remarks I made lately 

 with reference to flower shows, that while the Royal Horticultural 

 Society had a vei-y large assemblage on Wednesday and an admirable 

 exhibition, at the Crystal Palace thousands of visitors were present, and 

 the plants were in prime condition also. I shall be curious to know the 

 result of the Royal Botanic Society's show, for if that be successful it 

 will e£fectuaUy dispose of the notion that we have too many shows for 

 this huge metropolis of ours. 



The Table Decorations formed the most novel, and I believe the 

 most generally attractive feature of the Show ; and it is an evidence 

 of the liberality of the Crystal Palace Company, that although they 

 offered £2\J as the amount to he distributed, yet when the Manager 

 saw how large and excellent was the collection staged, the instruction 

 given to the Judges was that they were to double it and give ,£40. 

 Instead of entering into detailed descrifttions of each table that ob- 

 tained the prizes, 1 think it will be better to give such general remarks as 

 may afford an idea of the merits and demerits of the groups exhibited. 

 I think I may, without fear of contradiction, say that there is evidently 

 a vast improvement in this matter since the time when the late Sir 

 Charles AVeutworth Dilke offered his prizes at South Kensington. As 

 a general rule there was not that want of taste which even titled ladies 

 were not a.shamcd to show, but a sense of the proprieties of Imrmony, 

 elegance, and general effect was generally manifest. There is still in 

 some minds a lingering notion that glass, and gilt, and glitter are to 

 take the place of flowers ; but this is a mistake. It was manifest that 



the rolleotion which c6minei]cod the lino of tables was arranged on 

 this notion, and I have no doubt tho exhibitor was grievously diftap- 

 pointed in not obtaining the prieo, aud that many of tho public would 

 ogree with him ; but this was tlie mistake here, and it was most fla- 

 grantly manifest in a fable not staged for competition, and arranged 

 by Messrs. Roberts A.' Bertram, the excellent purveyors to the Cry<*tal 

 J*alace CompeDy; It was vory grand, but the taste was very question- 

 able. Another mistake, I thiuk, after mature consideration, is the 

 placing of the small specimen vases with a few flowers in them to each 

 guest. I.fldies so nniverfially now-a-days carry bouciuets witli them, 

 and geutlenu-n as invariably indulge in a button-hole bnnquet, that 

 these are not required, and are, indeed, in the way where three or four 

 wine glasses are placed to each guest. Then it is a mistake to have 

 very higlily scented flowers amongst those placed on the table. I saw, 

 tor instance, some white Lilies. Now, there ought to be nothing so 

 potent as this. Some people it would nmke ill, while tho delicate 

 flavour of many dishes would be spoiled by having them under one's 

 nose. Do not imagine I am a Brillat-Savarin, but I must take all these 

 matters into account. And yet once more. Some mistakes were made 

 — 1st, in overcrow-ding the tables with separate bouquets; ind, in 

 putting in young fronds of Ferns, which would die before half the 

 dinner was over ; and :ird, in placing heavy flowers on the top dish of 

 March's stands ; 4th, in having stands which obstructed the view and 

 prevented conversation. 



Tho table which obtained the first prize, exhibited by Mrs. Dickson, 

 of Covent Garden, was arranged by Messrs. Dobson, of St. James's 

 Street, and consisted of three stands for the centre, modifications of 

 Mr. March's, but very tastefully set up, ond embraced by a narrow 

 border of flowers placed in shallow tin troughs, neatly arranged. 

 There was great taste displayed in this, as might have been expected 

 from the eminent firm by which it was sot up. Indeed, amateurs have 

 but little chance when entering the field with such tried hands. The 

 collections from Mr. Buster, o£ Goring, Sussex, and Mr. Chard, 

 gardener to Sir F. Bathurst, Bart., were placed equal second. Points 

 in each were remarkable, aud absent in the other, the feathery light- 

 ness obtained by the Grass and Maiden-hair Fern in the one, was 

 somewhat marred by want of colour. Had the Roses been dark instead 

 of light it would h.ave been charming, and it should not be forgotten 

 that Gloiro de Dijon aud suchlike Roses become almost white at 

 night. The other collection showed a greater attention to colour and 

 harmony, but wanted a little the lightness that marked the foregoing. 

 Space would not permit me to mention all the different groups. One 

 of artificial flowers was remarkable for the coiTect imitation of nature, 

 aud one exhibited by a young lady of the name of Hassard, showed a 

 con-ectness of taste which needs only a little practice to attain ex- 

 cellence ; hut certainly the most novel innovation and the most striking 

 arrangement of all, was ono by Mr. Wilkinson, the indefatigable 

 manager of the flower shows, which was placed ib the theatre. It con- 

 sisted of a long table hoUowed-out in the middle, this centre con- 

 sisting of a zinc trough filled with water in which gold fish were 

 swimming about. In the centre was a tail stand of flowers beautifully 

 arranged, smaller ones were arranged at various distances, while from 

 the middle of the centre one a jet of water sent its gentle drip over 

 the foliage. The edges were lined with moss, and altogether one can 

 hardly imagine anything more delightful on a warm summer evening 

 than a dinner-table thus arranged ; ond great credit is due to Mr. 

 Wilkinson for the taste displayed. 



I have lingered so long on these matters that I have but little space 

 left for the rest of the Show. In pot Roses, Mr. Turner was first in 

 both classes, and his collection of smaller ones was the theme of 

 universal admiration. It contained well-bloomed plants of JIadame 

 E. Appert, Madame Margottin, Horace Yemet, Miss Ingram, Madame 

 George Paul, Madame Alice Bureau, Senatenr Vaisse, Seine du Midi, 

 Mons. Woolfield, Madame Furtado, Madame Clemence Joigneaox, 

 Alba Rosea, Monsieur Neman, Souvenir d'un Ami, Victor Verdier, 

 President Vi'illermoz, Charles Lawson, Felix Genero, Mdlle. Thcrcee 

 Levet. and Enfant d'Ameugny. Messrs. Paul & Son were second with 

 large pots, but did not exhibit in the other class. In cut Iloscs, Mr. 

 Mitchell was first for fifty Roses, and Mr. Turner first for twenty- 

 four. In the box of the former were some grand blooms of Baroness 

 Rothschild, Clotilde RoUand, Mare-chal Niel, Pi-ince de Portia, Mdlle. 

 Thcrese Levet, and Nardy frires (new). Messrs. Paul fr Son were 

 second, and in their collection were some good blooms of Duke of 

 Edinburgh, Exposition de Brie, Marcchal Niel, Duchesse de Caylus, 

 Alfred Colomb, etc. ; while Mr. Turner's box of twenty-four contained 

 admirable examples of the following: — Leopold Hausburg, L»Ua, 

 Souvenir de Charles Montault, Abel tJrand, Paul Verdier, Duchesse 

 de Caylus, Souvenir d'un Ami, Madame Boll, Charles Verdier, Olivier 

 Delhomme, Celine Forestier, Mademoiselle Annie Wood, Gloire de 

 Dijon, iVIiss Ingram, Antoine Ducher, Mademoiselle Marguerite 

 I>ombrain, Madame Victor Verdier, Niphetos, Kev. H. H. Dombrain, 

 La France, Alfred Colomb, Madame Margottin, Marechal VaUlaut. 



Pelargoniums were exhibited in fine condition by Messrs. Dobson 

 and Son, of Isleworth, and Mr. Ward, gardener to F. G. Wilkins, Esq. 

 They were evidently plants which had experienced ere now the foster- 

 ing care of Messrs. "Turner, Bailey, and Frasei. and kept up well their 

 former rcputaliou. Messrs. Dobson's plants were Patroness, Caracta- 

 cus, Mary Hoyle, Leotard, Desdemona, Pericles, Lilacinum. Belle of 

 the Ball, and Fair Rosamond. Mr. Ward's comprised Lilacinum, 

 Lord Clyde, Fair Rosamond, Alabama, Spotted Gem, Pericles, Ex- 



