September 10, 187-J. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



227 



opportunity of forming a correct estimate of the value of Zonal 

 Pelargoniums for conservatory decoration. The display on the 

 last occasion, with the exception of the collections that com- 

 peted for Mr. Pearson's prize, was most miserable in all the 

 flowering sections, and there could not perhaps bo a better 

 argument in favour of this new Society. 



Nothing would tend more, iu my opinion, to render the 

 Zonal Pelargonium popular than to show the public the 

 wonderful progress that has been made within the last few 

 years in this tribe of plants by an exhibition of well-growu 

 specimens of the newest and best varieties. The flowers of 

 the Zonal section have attained to such a state of perfection 

 as to challenge the criticism of the florists, and the Nosegay 

 Tarieties produce such gorgeous trusses, that they require only 

 to be seen to be appreciated. 



I quite agree with the remarks made by Dr. Masters at the 

 meeting, that the Zonal sectiou of the Pelargonium family is 

 not the only one that might with advantage be improved, and 

 to which encouragement should be afforded ; for, with him, 

 I beheve that much could be done with the Cape species, 

 amongst which there are the greatest variety and brilliancy of 

 colour. Moreover, I see no reason why the size of the petals 

 of the Cape species should not be increased. 



I am of opinion that it is to these varieties of the Cape 

 species that we shall have to look for our future bedders, for 

 the large and perfect flowers of the florists' class of Zonals are 

 not adapted for bedding purposes, and Mr. Pearson and Mr. 

 Frank Miles, who is close upon Mr. Pearson's heels, are work- 

 ing such wonders in the Nosegay section, that it also is be- 

 coming too good for the purpose ; iu fact, it is a positive 

 sacrilege to expose such lovely trusses of flowers as I saw in 

 the house at Chiswick upon a variety named Mrs. Turner to 

 the butt'ets of our ungenial clime. Compare also many of 

 Mr. Pearson's other varieties that are in the beds, and flower- 

 ing in the house too, and I think all will agree with me that 

 they ai'e magnificent for conservatory decoration, but that his 

 industry has lifted them beyond their bedding era, and that 

 the time has arrived for other species to be cultivated to supply 

 their places. 



When going over the beds at Chiswick a few days since, one 

 of the most experienced of the Floral Committee remarked 

 that he knew of no variety so effective as a bedder as Indian 

 Yellow. I quote this remark as bearing out my opinion, that 

 it is not the size of the truss, or of the individual flower, but 

 rather the smallness of both, provided there is floriferousness, 

 that makes the best bedders. 



I strongly urged at our inauguration meeting against the 

 title of our Society being restrictive, hopiug that its funds 

 might some day admit of oft'ering encouragement for the im- 

 provement of all the sections and species of the Pelargonium 

 family. 



There are many matters connected with our subject that 

 might be taken in hand by the Society with advantage. The 

 classification of the Zonals, so-called, requires rectification; 

 for under the present improved state of the Nosegay section it 

 is almost impossible to decide upon a line of demarcation, 

 causing frequent difficulty to the judges at exhibitions. The 

 nomenclature of all the sections, too, is most unscientific, if 

 not absurd; for instance, "Zonal," applied to plants without 

 a zone. As for the term " Nosegay," it is positively ridiculous ! 

 The " large-floweruig " varieties are now not much larger 

 than our scarlets. "Fancies" suggest the question, Whose 

 fancies ? " French " to some varieties raised in England. 

 Surely there is room for improvement here as much as iu our 

 flowers. 



At our first meeting I broached a matter relative to the 

 cultivation of the Zonals at Chiswick, which I consider one of 

 much importance — viz., a proposition that all new varieties 

 should for the first season be cultivated in pots under glass ; 

 so that, standing side by side, the new varieties could be 

 readily compared one with another, aud with all the best of 

 the older varieties which would be under cultivation in the 

 same house. These old varieties much require sorting and 

 sifting this autumn, so that the inferior varieties might be 

 thrown out and cancelled from the lists. By the adoption of 

 this permanent exhibition, a much surer judgment could be 

 formed of the value of new varieties, aud the plants, more- 

 over, would be in a better condition, instead of, as is too fre- 

 quently the case, partially denuded of their petals by the 

 shaking of a long journey. The following season they would, 

 of course, be bedded-out, and thus an opinion could be given 

 of their qualifications in both capacities. 



These trials, too, would afford ample opportunities for all 

 concerned in their circulation to make their notes, and amend 

 their lists, and prepare themselves for purchasing and propa- 

 gating prudently. I would suggest that our annual meetings 

 should be held at Chiswick the day following the Pelargonium 

 Show at South Kensington. We should be on the spot to 

 discuss the novelties, and, from the experience of the previous 

 day, in the best possible position to arrange the prizes and 

 other matters for the following year. — ■ John Denny, Stoke 

 Ncwington. 



THE MIDLAND COUNTIES HORTICULTUBAL 

 EXHIBITION : A RETROSPECT. 



There is oftentimes a good deal of benefit to be derived 

 from a retrospect. I propose to indulge iu one, and to make 

 an attempt to render it beneficial to all who are engaged in 

 the conduct and management of horticultural exhibitions iu 

 general, by telling something about the events of the exhibition 

 week at Birmingham in July last, and some of the lessons I 

 learnt from them. 



Mr. Quilter adventured on a bold experiment when he 

 decided to set aside a sufficient sum of money to cover the 

 expenses of an exhibition, such as that recently held at the 

 Lower Grounds, where the prizes were £1200, aud the other 

 disbursements on an equally large scale. It was, however, a 

 very proper experiment to make, though I am afraid, from 

 what I have heard, Mr. Quilter's enterprise has not yielded 

 him any pecuniary profit. Be that as it may, he has won 

 golden opinions as to his pluck, energy, and perseverance, and 

 time will, I trust, show that he has increased the number of 

 his many friends among the leading exhibitors. In his anxiety 

 to make arrangements for the comfort and convenience of 

 horticulturists he somewhat overburdened himself, and under- 

 took rather more than it was possible to perform with a staff 

 rather lacking in organisation. However, of one thing we may 

 be well assured — the lessons then learned will not be forgotten 

 when the next show day comes round; and I feel sanguine 

 that the Lower Grounds Exhibition will eventually be among 

 the best managed anywhere. 



One of the chief lessons which I learned at this Exhibition 

 was, that for the successful conduct of an exhibition it is ab- 

 solutely necessary that there should be a single central au- 

 thority with power to settle all disputed points, and to do 

 whatever iu the exigencies of the moment may be found to be 

 necessary. 



Were I asked to settle what the organisation of an extensive 

 horticultural exhibition should be, I should propound some 

 such scheme as this : — 



1. A general manager with absolute power. 



2. A sufficient number of competent assistants. 



The duties of the general manager would be similar to those 

 of a general commanding an army. The duties of the assistants 

 would be to carry out the orders of their chief. 



The assistants would be more or less numerous in proportion 

 to the extent and variety of the exhibition. They should 

 consist (1) of an efficient clear-headed secretary, with a staff 

 of well-trained clerks, whose duties on the show day would 

 consist iu distributing the show cards to the exhibitors, making- 

 out the prize cards, preparing the list of awards, &c. (2.) There 

 should also be as many messengers as there are sets of judges, 

 to wait upon them aud carry their awards to the secretary, 

 ttc. (3.) A foreman for every tent, who would be captain 

 of the men told-off to do the executive work in that tent. 

 (4 ) Men to do the necessary manual labour under the di- 

 rections of the foreman. Each foreman should have a list of 

 the entries for his tent, aud be thoroughly familiar with them ; 

 and as the exhibitors come in he should as speedily as possible 

 ascertain from them how far their exhibits will be in accord- 

 ance with their entries. He should have previously marked- 

 off in a legible manner the spaces assigned to the several ex- 

 hibitors, so that without delay the exhibits may be placed in 

 the positions reserved for them. Under no circumstances 

 should the foreman leave the tent under his charge until 

 everything is ship-shape. His assistants should be engaged 

 only in such duties as he allots them, and not, as is usual, be 

 sent hither aud thither by a dozen masters. 



The general manager, with such a staff of subordinates as I 

 have described, limited to a definite work in a certain place, 

 would find his arduous duties made comparatively light. 

 Passing from tent to tent he would ascertain readily the state 

 of affairs, and would perceive at once where supplementary 



