JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTUEB AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. 



t March:i6, 1876. 



what objeotion is to be taken to cluster Mushrooms, when 

 " buttons" are held in even higher estimation than the fall- 

 developed edible. — G. Abbey. 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Maech ISth. 



Fon several days previous to this, the first Exhibition of the 

 season, the weather had been of the most inclement character^ 

 cold winds, rain, bail, and snow alternatiug, or not uncommonly 

 uniting, creating discomfort and marring eojoyment. Such was 

 the case yesterday morning, and the exhibitors who faced the 

 storm deserved their honours. As the day advanced the clouds 

 dispersed, affording visitors an opportunity of enjoying the 

 Exhibition. The Show was an excellent one, occupying the 

 entire length of the western corridor, and the quality of the 

 plants was generally of a high order. About five hundred 

 Hyacinths were staged of full average merit, imposing by their 

 Stateliness and bright and vaiied colours. 



In Class 1, for fifty Hyacinths, single spikes (open), there were 

 only two exhibitors, Mefsrs. Veitch not competing this year. 

 First bonours were won by Messrs. Cutbush & Son with dwarf 

 vigorous plants and fine spikes ; Messrs. Barr & Sugden, 

 12, King St., Covent Garden, having the second place. The 

 most noteworthy varieties in these collections were : Whites — La 

 Grandesse, L'lunocence, Alba Maxima, and Paix del'Europe; 

 Blues — King of the Blues, Baron Von Tuyll, Mimosa, General 

 Havelock, Czar Peter, Lord Palmerston, and Marie ; Keds — ■ 

 Prince Albert Victor, Vurbaak, Von Schiller, Lina, Lord 

 Macanlay, and General Pelligsier. 



In Class 2 for eighteen Hyacinths, single spikes (nurserymen), 

 there were four competitors, first honours again going to Messrs. 

 Cutbush & Sons, who staged a very superior collection ; Messrs. 

 Osborn & Sons, Fulham, having the second place witb excellent 

 examples — Lothair, Leviathan, Czar Peter, Ida, General Have- 

 lock, and Von Schiller being remarkably line. Messrs. James 

 Carter & Co., Crystal Palace Nursery, Perry Hill, being third 

 with dwarf well-grown specimens. Starlight and King of the 

 Blues being exceedingly effective. 



In class 3, for twelve Hyacinths (amateurs), there were five 

 competitors, Mr. Douglas worthily occupying his old premier 

 position with plants not more remarkable for their fine spikes 

 than for their bold green foliage. King of the Blues, Von Schiller, 

 Blon(3in, Fabiola, Mont Blanc, Macaulay, and La Grandesse were 

 the best in this collection, not omitting an unusually fine spike 

 with immense bells of the double blue variety Van Speyk. Mr. 

 Weir, gardener to Mrs. Hodgson, The Elms, Hampstead, was 

 placed second ; and Mr. Moorman, gardener to the Misses 

 Christy, Coombe Wood, Kingaton-on-Thames, third with highly 

 creditable collections. 



In class 4, for six Hyacinths, now sorts never before exhibited, 

 Messrs. Barr & Sugden were the only exhibitors; but with the 

 exception of a semi-double white variety, Florence Nightingale, 

 they were not superior, or equal, to older varieties. A second 

 prize was awarded the collection. 



In the nurserymen's class for twelve pots of Tulips in not less 

 than six kinds, Messrs. Cutbush & Sons and Barr & Sugden were 

 the only exhibitors, and were placed in the order named. Both 

 the collections were good, but the Highgate plants were the 

 dwarfest and brightest. The sorts were Vermillion Brilliant, 

 Tellow Pottebakker, Canary Bird, Joost van Vondel, Proserpine 

 and Keyser's Kroon. Messrs. Barr & Sugden also exhibited a 

 good miscellaneous collection. In the corresponding class for 

 amateurs Mr. Douglas was again in the first place with the best 

 cultivated pots in the Exhibition, Mr. Weir having second 

 honours with pots of great merit. Besides the sorts named in 

 the previous class we note as superior Chrysolora, White Potte- 

 bakker, Roi Pepin, and Qaeen of Violets. 



The Cyclamen classes were very effective. In the class for 

 thirty plants (open) the champion, Mr. Goddard, gardener to 

 H. Little, Esq , Cambridge Villa, Twickenham, sustained his 

 position with massive plants in 6-inch pots, in good condition 

 and variety ; Mr. Smith, Ealing Dean Nursery, being placed 

 second with smaller but very healthy plants and fine blooms. In 

 the amateurs' class for twelve Cyclamens there were two com- 

 petitors, each staging splendid plants, Mr. Goddard's being 

 much the largest, and he was awarded the first place ; second 

 honours going to Mr. James, gardener to W. F. Watson, Esq , 

 Isle worth, for healthy plants with fine flowers, but the plants were 

 were somewhat loose. la the corresponding class for nursery- 

 men Mr. Smith was the only exhibitor, staging plants of remark- 

 able compactness and profusion of bloom. They were worthily 

 awarded the first prize. 



For twelve Chinese Primulas, not less than four kinds 

 amateurs), Mr. James was the only exhibitor. His plants were 

 remarkably vigorous and fine, especially Marquis of Lome, red ; 

 and Princess Louise, white. 'The first prize was awarded. In the 

 corresponding class for nurserymen, Mr. Deau, Ealing, occupied 

 the first place. Some of his varieties had a considerable amount 



of scarlet in the flowers, and the blooms were fine and plants 

 good. Messrs. Dobson & Sons, Isleworth, had the second place 

 with good plants. They also exhibited a collection of small 

 plants with unusually large trusses and good flowers. For six 

 hardy Primroses (Acaulis type), single (open), Mr. Dean had the 

 stage to himself. Crimson Banner, Queen of Violets, Fairy 

 Queen, and Charmer are the most distinct and best of the 

 varieties. Mr. Dean also occupied the same position in the 

 next class for six hardy Primroses (Polyanthus type, open), 

 and also in the class for six double varieties of the Acaulis type, 

 Double El se. Double Blush, Double Purple, and Double Prim- 

 rose are effective. In the Polyanthus type The Bride is the most 

 distinct and useful variety, some of the others not being worthy 

 of their names. 



In the class for nine Cinerarias (nurserymen) there was no 

 exhibitor, and in the next class for amateurs the only exhibitor 

 of six plants was Mr. James. These were very dwarf and 

 18 inches in diameter, but not quite up to the veteran's best 

 style. The varieties were Beauty of Ascot, Pandora, White 

 Queen, Charles Bending, Agrippa, and William Reeves. 



Some valuable miscellaneous groups of plants were staged, 

 Messrs. Veitch as usual sustaining their position as growers and 

 exhibitors. The collection of this firm alone made a charming 

 display. It comprised upwards of seventy Roses in 7 and 8-inch 

 pots, consisting of all the best varieties, the plants being singu- 

 larly fresh and bright considering the earliness of the season 

 and the late dull weather. Near them was a small group of 

 Orchids, consisting of Dendrobes, Odontoglots, Vandas, a fine 

 plantof Dendrochilumglumaceum,TrichojjiliaBuavis in splendid 

 form, Phalffinopses, Masdevallias, and Cattleyas. Next in the 

 group was a brilliant collection of Amaryllids, at the front of 

 which were pots of Crocuses. They also staged a group of 120 

 Hyacinths, all in first-class exhibition form. Noticeable amongst 

 them were Argus, blue, white eye, splendid, a great improve- 

 ment on Lord Melville; Princess Mary of Cambridge, a splen- 

 did spike of silvery blue; Garibaldi, fine glowing red; Haydn, 

 mauve; La Grandesse, magnificent white; Bird of Paradise, 

 buff; Disraeli, light blue ; Obelisque, yellow; Vurbaak, scarlet ; 

 Etna, salmon pink, most beautiful, charming in colour, fine in 

 bells, and sweet; Madame Vander Hoop, massive bells ; King of 

 the Blues, rich and fine ; General Havelock, fine, black-purple ; 

 Princess Beatrice, pale blue and white ; Czar Peter, silvery blue ; 

 Fabiola, pink ; Prince of Wales, pink ; Due de Malakoff, salmon 

 pink, and Mont Blanc ; also a hundred pots of Tulips healthy 

 and bright, and good pots of Crocuses. 



Mr. B. S. Williams staged a collection of considerable merit. 

 The background was formed of Palms, which were brightened 

 by good plants of Imantophyllum miniatum and Phsius grandi- 

 florus, the margin consisting of Orchids, Ferns, Amaryllises, 

 Cyclamens, and Primulas, the last-named plants being exceed- 

 ing fine and all in the first condition, worthy of the Exhibition 

 and of HoUoway. 



A very fresh, clean, and ornamental group of plants was 

 staged by Messrs. Oiborn & Son, Fulham. These coneisled 

 principally of Palms, Cycade, green Dracaenas, having as a front 

 margin fine-foliaged and table plants. Messrs. Osborn also had a 

 collection of fifty Hyacinths, some of the spikes being very fine 

 and all of good average excellence. Messrs. James Carter also 

 staged fifty Hyacinths of superior qualify. 



Messrs. EoUisson & Sons, Tooting, staged a thoroughly dis- 

 tinct and striking collection consisting of eighteen plants of the 

 floriferous Azalea mollis, about three dozen plants of Boronia 

 megastigma spangled with a profusion of brown bells, and the 

 singular and elegant Grevillea Priessii which was recently 

 awarded a first-class certificate. 



Mr. William Paul, Waltham Cross, staged seven boxes con- 

 taining 130 blooms of Camellias. These flowers, nestling in 

 moss and surrounded with glossy foliage, produced a charming 

 effect. They consisted of the best varieties in cultivation, from 

 the purest white to the richest scarlet, and many pink and white 

 striped flowers of great merit. We never saw boxes of Roses 

 more attractive than this choice collection of Camellia blooms 

 in upwards of fifty varieties. 



Mr. E. Parker, Tooting, exhibited a group of hardy plants, 

 which always attract attention by their distinct forms and 

 charming colours. Iris reticulata was very fine, Helleborus col- 

 chicus and H. guttatus, Scilla bifolia rubra very charming, Apo- 

 uogeton distachyon, Hepaticas of sorts, and Primula acaiilia 

 cferulea, a delicate lavender-coloured variety, were the most 

 noteworthy in this collection. Mr. Aldous, florist, Gloucester 

 Road, staged a very gay collection ; the Cyclamens, Lilies, Den- 

 drobes, Palms, and other fine-foliaged plants being effective. 



A very fine collection of well-kept Apples and Pears com- 

 prising about one hundred dishes, also a fruit of the variegated 

 Piue Apple, was exhibited by Mr. Ford, gardener to W. E. 

 Hubbard, Eeq,, Leonardslee, Horsham, and a silver medal was 

 awarded. A similar award was also made to Mr. Wm. Paul for 

 a meritorious collection of fruit. 



A gold medal was awarded to Messrs. Veitch & Sons for Hya- 

 cinths, Orchids, and Eoses ; and silver medals were awarded to 



