March SO, 1876. J 



JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



249 



again potting them, ha8 frequently been found beneficial.- 



A SUEEEY GaeDENER. 



ALONSOA LINIFOLIA. 



Bbautifcil aa is Alonsoa WarBoewiczii, alluded to at page 198, 

 I ooneider A. linifolia to surpass it in size of flower, freo-flower- 

 ing, and length of spikes. The flowers are light soarlbt, rather 

 distantly disposed in a long spike, having a light elegant ap- 

 pearance, hence its charm for cut flowers. The leaves are 

 rather long and narrow, deep green, and grass-like. The 

 habit of the plant is pyramidal. It is effective as a decorative 

 plant, and its sprays are valuable for cutting. 



The plants I have are about 3 feet high, furnished from the 

 base of the plants upward, and have been in flower generally 

 since Dicember, and are likely to continue for months to come. 

 The plants have capsules of seed ripening, spray in full bloom, 

 and fresh growth being made abundantly. They are in 8-iuch 

 pots. The seed was sown in April of last year in iibrous loam 

 with a third of leaf soil and a free admixture of sand, and 

 placed in a hotbed along with pots of Clianthus Dampieri, &a., 

 and were kept moist. The plants were potted-off singly when 

 an inch high, returned to the hotbed until establishtd, and 

 then transferred to a cold frame. They were shifted into 

 5-inch pots when the 3-inch pots were filled with roots, and 

 given the blooming pots early in August, and were grown in a 

 cold pit until early in October, when they were placed in the 

 greenhouse, a few flowers being produced in September, and 

 more or less since, some of the plants only now commencing 

 flowering. The forwardest plants had many flowers in Decem- 

 ber, and are now producing abundance of their elegant- 

 flowered sprays. This plant does not succeed in a damp dark 

 house, but requires a light airy position. — G. Abbey. 



KOYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY. 



Mabch 29th. 



The first spring Show of the Society was held in the corridor, 

 the collections of plants extending into the coneervatory. The 

 Hyacinths were perhaps not so fine as the spikes exhibited last 

 year, but the Tulips and Cyclamens were better. The Azaleas 

 and miscellaneous collections, including Roses, contributed con- 

 siderably to the general effect, and the Exhibition iu its entirety 

 was worthy of the patronage of the visitors. 



In the open class for twelve stove and greenhouse plants in 

 flower in 12-inch pots Mr. "Ward, gardener to F. G. Wilkius, Esq., 

 Leyton, exhibited in his usual excellent style. Striking in hia 

 group was the gigantic form of Anthuriam Scherzerianum ; and 

 Acacia longifolia magnifica, Eriostemon intermedium, Cytisus 

 racemosus elegans, Epacris Eclipse, and Phaius grandiflorus 

 were large and good. The rest comprised three excellent 

 Orchids, a Franciscea, Azalea, and Boronia. Mr. Toms, gardener 

 to H. 'Wettenhall, Esq., Sevenoaks Road, was placed second ; 

 and Mr. Wheeler, gardener to Sir T. H. Goldsmid, was placed 

 third. 



For six forced hardy shrubs (open), a third prize was awarded 

 to Mr. Wheeler for a poor collection. 



In the amateurs' class for six greenhouse Azaleas in 12-inch 

 pots, Mr. Ward, gardener to F. G. Wilkins, Esq , Leytou, staged 

 an excellent group of large globular plants, which were remark- 

 ably healthy and well-flowered. Mr. Wheeler, gardener to Sir 

 F. Goldsmid, also exhibited in this class and took the second 

 prize. In the nurserymen's class Mr. B. S. Williams was the 

 only exhibitor, and was awarded the first prize. For six pots of 

 Lily of the Valley fair average examples were staged by six 

 competitors. Messrs. Jas. Carter & Co. won the first honours. 

 Mr. Toms being placed second, and Mr. Weir, gardener to Mrs. 

 Hodgson, Hampstead, third. For six Chinese Primulas Mr. 

 James was placed first with rather large but not fresh plants, 

 Mr. Wheeler having the second place with small plants. In 

 the class for nine Cinerarias Mr. James, gardener to W. F. 

 Watson, Esq., was the only exhibitor. He staged dwarf well- 

 bloomed plants in distinct varieties ; Purple Gem, Thomas Love- 

 land, Crown Prince, Charles Bending, Her Majesty, and Treasure 

 being the best sorts. 



In the amateurs' class for twelve Hyacinths there were three 

 competitors, first honours going, as usual, to Mr. Douglas, 

 gardener to F. Whitburn, Esq.; second to Mr. Weir, and third 

 to Mr. Moorman, gardener to the Misses Christy, Kingston ; the 

 corresponding nurserymen's class being occupied by Messrs. 

 Cutbnsh & Sons, Messrs. Barr & Sugden, and MessrF. Carter 

 and Co. in the order named. In the foregoing classes fasciated 

 spikes were excluded, but an open class was provided in which 

 compound spikes were admitted. There were five competitors, 

 and, if the spikes were not quite so symmetrical, they were more 

 imposing than those in the preceding classes. Mr. Douglas 



won the first honours, Messrs. Cutbush & Son being second, and 

 Messrs. Barr & Sugden third. 



In the amateurs' class for twelve Tulips in four kinds the 

 collections were remarkably uniform and good. Mr. Douglas 

 was placed first, Mr. Moorman second, and Mr. Jimes Weir 

 third. In the corresponding nurserymen's class the compe- 

 tition was between Messrs. Bamt Sugden and Messrs. Cutbush 

 and Sons, who were placed in the order oamed. The best 

 varieties of Hyacinths and Tulips for exhibition have been 

 enumerated iu previous reports. 



For six Deutzias (open), Mr. Douglas, gardener to F. Whitburn, 

 Esq., Loxford Hall, was far iu advance of the other competitors, 

 his plants being 3 feet high and 2 feet through, veritable pillars 

 of purity ; Mr. James being placed second, and Mr. Toms third. 

 In the open class for twelve Cyclamens first honours went to Mr. 

 Goddard, gardener to H. Little, Esq.; second to Mr. James, 

 gardener to W. F. Watson, Esq., Isleworth ; equal third to Mr. 

 Smith, Ealing Dean Nursery, and Mr. Clark, Twickenham. 

 The plants were all remarkably well grown, and the varieties 

 good. Mr. Clark also exhibited a miscellaneous collection, 

 some of the varieties being very large and others exceedingly 

 rich. For twelve Clematises Mr. Wheeler was the only exhi- 

 bitor. Tlie plants were poor, and received a third prize. 



The miscellaneous groups added greatly to the attractivenesss 

 of the Exhibition. These were contributed by Messrs. Veitch 

 and Sons, Mr. B. S. Williams, Messrs. Paul & Sons, Cheshunt; 

 Messrs. J. Carter & Co. ; Messrs. W. Paul & Sun, Waltham Cross; 

 Mr. James, Mr. Goddard ; and attractive eroups of Orchids from 

 Mr. Heims, gardener to F. A. Philbrick, Esq., Avenue Road. 



Amongst these collections were many beautiful and rare 

 plants, and particularly attractive were the Roses in pots, and 

 also fine boxes of cut blooms from Messrs. Paul & Sons, Ches- 

 hunt, and near them boxes of cut blooms of Camellias from 

 Messrs. W. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross, and Messrs. Cutbush 

 and Son. 



Owing to the delay in affixing the awards we were unable to 

 wait for the official list of medals and certificates, of which many 

 of the groups, and some individual plants, were worthy. 



SINGLE PBIMROSES. 



In the report of the Primroses which were exhibited at South 

 Kensington on the 15th inst. it is stated that " Lady Adeline 

 Taylour is the same plant that has usually been grown as 

 Primula altaica." If, however, anyone will compare them, it 

 will be found that there is a considerable difference, and that 

 Lady Adeline Taylour is a distinct variety. Mr. Niveu of the 

 Hull Botanic Gardens has recently pronounced this so-called 

 Primula altaica to be Primula acaulis grandiflora ; but Mr. E. 

 W. Badger of Birmingham, a well-known amateur horticulturist, 

 has just sent me an extract from a report of one of the meet- 

 ings of the Royal Horticultural Society, held February 20th, 

 1849, which shows that a Primrose exhibited on that occasion 

 by Mr. Darbishire, and awarded a Knightian medal, was with- 

 out doubt the same that we have been growing as P. altaica, 

 and on that occasion it was declared to be identical with the 

 P. altaica of the Russian botanists. 



It is further stated that some hardy Primroses were shown 

 before the Floral Committee by Mr. Dean, but were "not suffi- 

 ciently distinct to merit notice," and that " names of Primroses 

 are being somewhat unnecessarily extended." The plants in 

 question were seedlings, only two of which were named, and 

 one of them was so far distinct that the flowers were more 

 perfect iu shape and larger than those of any other variety. I 

 think improvements in that direction therefore merit a fairer 

 recognition, and deserve praise equal with the improvements 

 sought to be made in any other florist flower. 



As far as high-coloured Primroses are concerned, it is un- 

 fortunate that the dull leaden light of the Council chamber on 

 such a day as Wednesday last should tend to disparage the 

 beautiful hues now found in the Primrose, but these when 

 Been in a spring sunlight are rich and glowing. We have not 

 more than a dozen named single Primroses in cultivation. I 

 think if sorts can be produced with flowers as large and rounded 

 as a florin, colours rich and varied, having perfect thrum eyes, 

 and in every sense true florists' flowers, they are as well worthy 

 naming as are those of any other class or species. — Alexandbb 

 Dean. 



[That Lady Adeline Taylour has been " usually grown as 

 P. altaica" was testified by an unprtjudiced cultivator, who 

 for many years has had the btst opportunities of forming a 

 correct judgment. That the seedlings were " not sufficiently 

 distinct to merit notice " was the conclusion of the Floral 

 Committee, for they did not notice them. As to the " undue 

 extension of names," the remark applied generally, and to all 



