284 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ April 13, 1876. 



end of April or beginning of May they arfi all well rooted, when 

 those for pot culture may be Bhifted into 5-iuch pots, plunged 

 in coal asheB outside or in pits, where tbey may be covered 

 with sashes to keep off the heavy rains, always observing to 

 keep them well pinched. I take them into a cool greenhouse 

 about the 1st of November, and about the let of January they 

 are removed into warmer quarters where the thermometer 

 ranges from 50° to 55°, they being well supplied at this stage 

 with liquid manure, and I am generally rewarded with five or 

 six very fine Roses from each plant by the end of March. Those 

 for outdoor cultivation I place in nursery lines, keeping them 

 well pinched all summer, and they are strong buehy plants 

 by the following spring, when they may be planted in their 

 permanent quarters, and they will repay the grower for all 

 the trouble he has had with them. 



I see on page 230 that the Kev. John B. M. Camm denounces 

 Roses on their own roots as worthless. Mr. Camm admits 

 that a few of the older sorts will do well, but says as a rule 

 the flowers are weak, thin, and altogether second-rate. In my 

 experience I find them as a rule far superior to Roses wrought 

 on the Briar or Manetti. I planted a few of my Hybrid Per- 

 petual October cuttings in June of last year, they being put 

 into the cutting pots eight months previous to planting. I 

 allowed one flower to grow on each plant, and I am confident 

 Mr. Camm would have been delighted with such flowers, even 

 upon his favourite Manetti. I would advise him to give Roses 

 on their own roots as good a trial as he has given the Briar, 

 and I am of opinion that the result will be far more satisfactory, 

 and not half the labour or expense will be incurred. 



I may state that for a few years back I have been eminently 

 successful in the above mode of treatment, insomuch that all 

 visitors to the gardens have been greatly attracted by the 

 splendour and abundance of the flowers, and, as I am not an 

 exhibitor, I feel highly gratified in having the approval of my 

 employers. — A Constant Reabeb, A. R. C. 



ROYAL AQUABIUM SPKING SHOW. 



April 12th. 



From the first mooting of a "Summer and "Winter Garden 

 Society " in the heart of Westminster it was expected that hor- 

 ticultural exhibitions would have prominent place in the pro- 

 gramme of attractions. The "natural instincts" of the public 

 in this respect were appreciated by the Managers, who have pro- 

 vided for floral displays in an unusually liberal manner. The 

 Bchedules of the several shows have been judiciously framed, 

 and the prizes offered have been such as to induce the principal 

 exhibitors to compete in the clasBes. The first of these shows 

 has been looked forward to with more than ordinary interest ; 

 firstly because of its being a new show, secondly because of 

 the value of the prizes, and thirdly because of the reputation 

 of the Floral Manager, Mr. Wills, and his skill in the arrange- 

 ment of plants. Both good plants and artistic grouping were 

 expected, and it is only fair to say that both are provided. 



The plants are arranged on semicircular stages placed in the 

 spaces between the permanent oblong beds, which are planted 

 ■with Tree Ferns, &c. These stages projected baldly forward, 

 and, as seen in connection with the intervening Ferns have a 

 picturesque eSect. The best banks of plants are on the south 

 or entrance side of the building, and their effect cannot be appre- 

 ciated at the first glance. The groups extend to the eastern 

 hall, which is completely and admirably furnished. The Exhi- 

 bition is a successful one. In most instances the miscellaneous 

 collections are associated with the plants exhibited in classes, 

 and this arrangement, while adding greatly to the general efiect, 

 presents little or no inconvenience in judging. The finest ex- 

 ample of arrangement is in front of Mr. Wills's floral stand. 

 The back of this group consists of choice Palms, flanked 

 ■with Roses in pots from Messrs. George Paul & Son, Cheshunt, 

 and from Mr. Walker, Thame, Oxon. In the front of these 

 plants, and at distances of 3 feet, are baskets 3 feet in diameter 

 filled with magnificent blooms of Mar^chal Niel and other 

 choice Roses. The spaces between these baskets are occupied 

 by small groups of leolepis gracilis, from the back of which 

 spring well-bloomed plants of the beautiful Dendrobium Wardi- 

 annm. The front of the stage is finished by a margin of Cycla- 

 mens in three rows, comprising over a hundred plants. This 

 large semicircular bank of plants affords one of the finest ex- 

 amples of effective arrangement that has probably ever been seen 

 at a London show. It was greatly admired by all visitors. The 

 group opposite to this and in front of Bimmel's perfume stand is 

 appropriately occupied with Roses in pots, exhibited by Messrs. 

 W. Paul it Sons, Waltham Cross. The Roses are in great variety 

 and well bloomed; amongst them Firebrand is conspicuous, 

 and a white seedling Tea Rose is worthy of special notice. 

 With the Roses are associated Ivies in pots, the collection being 

 finished by a broad margin of Bicolor and Tricolor Pelargoniums 



in glowing colours. Near the other end of the hall the groups 

 consist, on the south side, of an attractive collection from Mr. 

 B. S. Williams, HoUoway, comprising Palms, Ferns, Amaryllids, 

 &C.J margined with Cyclamens; the opposite group being com- 

 posed of greenhouse plants and Azaleas from Mr. Wheeler and 

 Mr. Turner, in the front of which are arranged the hardy Prim- 

 roses and Polyanthuses. The other side banks are composed of 

 Azaleas and Cyclamens, and one end of the hall is occupied 

 ivith Rhododendrons and Orchids, and the other end with 

 Auriculas and a brilliant collection of Gold and Silver Pelar- 

 goniums from Mr. Pestridge. 



In the eastern or entrance hall the corner groups are com- 

 posed of Azaleas ; at the front of one group being the fruit and 

 at the front of the other Cyclamens. The side groups in this 

 hall being furnished by Messrs. Cutbush & Sons, Highgate, 

 principally with healthy and well-flowered Camellias, at the 

 front of which are arranged the collections of hardy herbaceous 

 plants, and Messrs. RoUisson & Sons, Tooting, who stage excel- 

 lent Azaleas, Palms, and other ornamental-foliaged plants, and 

 several choice Orchids, forming altogether a most attractive col- 

 lection. At the extreme end of the hall Messrs. J. Standish and 

 Co., Bagshot, stage splendid Adiantums, farleyense and gracil- 

 limum— very good Cinerarias, and the finest pots of Lily of the 

 Valley that have been this year exhibited. Mr. Noble, Bagshot, 

 also exhibit small and well-bloomed plants of the newest and 

 best Clematises; and Mr. Bennett, Stapleford, small plants of 

 Tea Roses — Jean Ducher, Perle des Jardins, and Marie Guillot 

 — also a fine seedling Hybrid Perpetual, Cleopatra, large, full, 

 smooth, and sweet. For the several miscellaneous collections 

 noticed extra prizes were worthily awarded. 



We will now glance at the classes. In the Rhododendron 

 classes Mr. Child, gardener to Mrs. Torr, Garbrand Hall, is 

 the only exhibitor. He staged good plants of Veitchianum, 

 Everestianum, purpurea elegans, and Brayanum, and rather 

 leggy specimens of Countess of Haddington and Princess Alice, 

 and received the first prize. 



For six Orchids (amateurn), the prizes were £8, £6, and £i, 

 and the winners are Mr. Ward, gardener to T. G. Williams, 

 Esq., Leyton; Mr. Douglas, gardener to F. Whitburn, Esq., 

 Loxford Ilall; and Mr. Child, gardener to Mrs. Torr, Garbrand 

 Hall, in the order named. Mr. Ward's plants comprise Odon- 

 toglosBums Pescatoreiand Blunti, Dendrobinm Farmeri, Lycaste 

 Skinneri, Trichopilia crispa, and Cypripedinm villosum. Mr. 

 Douglas has Vanda suavis Veitchi ; Odontoglossums gloriostmi, 

 crispum, and triumphans ; Dendrobium clavatum, and Cypri- 

 pedium villosum, all fresh and good. Mr. Child's best plants 

 are Oncidium ampliatum majus and Saccolabium guttatum. 

 In the nurserymen's class for the same number of plants Mr, 

 B. S. Williams is the only exhibitor, and worthily had the 

 first prize for Vandas tricolor and suavis, Dendrobiums densi- 

 florum and Wardianum, Lycaste Harrisoni:u, and Cypripedinm 

 villosum, all in excellent order. An extra prize was awarded 

 to Mr. Ratty, gardener to R. Thornton, Esq., The Hoo, Syden- 

 ham, for a splendid plant, nearly 4 feet in diameter, of Dendro- 

 bium densiflorum. 



In the amateurs' class for six Azaleas Mr. J. Ward, gardener 

 to G. F. Watkins, Esq., Leyton, has the first prize for large 

 globular-shaped plants in excellent health and bloom; Mr. 

 Child, Garbrand Hall, being placed second for pyramids of fair 

 quality ; and Mr. Ratty, Sydenham Hill, third for irregular- 

 sized plants. For twenty standard Azaleas the i;i2-prize was 

 won by Mr. Ratty, gardener to R. Thornton, Esq., The Hoo, 

 Sydenham Hill. The plants were densely bloomed, varying 

 in length of stems from 1 to 3 feet, the heads averaging 3 feet; 

 in diameter. Mr. C. Turner, Slough, was placed second with 

 standard-Bose-like plants on 3 to 4-feet stems, and massively- 

 bloomed heads. This collection contained the best varieties in 

 the Exhibition, and were the purest standards. Frangois De- 

 vos (fine double scarlet), La Superbe, Pelargoniffiflora, Reine deS 

 Pays Bas, Reine des Roses, and Souvenir du Prince Albert were 

 especially striking. In the open class for nine greenhouse 

 Azaleas in 12inch pots, £5, £i, and £2 were offered. Mr. B. S. 

 Williams, HoUoway, being placed first with well-bloomed dwarf 

 plants in good varieties; second Mr. C. Turner, Slough, for 

 medium-sized well-bloomed standard plants. 



For fifty plants (open), of Cyclamen persicum, the premier 

 prize (£12), was won by the premier grower, Mr. Goddard, gar- 

 dener to H. Little, Esq., Cambridge Park, Twickenham, for 

 highly finished plants. Mr. R. Clarke, Florist, Twickenham, 

 being placed second for larger and also good plants; Mr. James, 

 Redlees, being third ; Mr. Odell, Florist, Hillington, being com- 

 mended. In the nurserymen's class for twenty-five plants, prizes 

 of £8, £5, and .t'3 were offered, the winners being Mr. Edmonds, 

 Hayes Nursery, Middlesex; Mr. H. B.Smith, Ealing Dean 

 Nursery; and Mr. R. Clarke, Twickenham, in the order named. 

 The collections being all good. Mr. Hayes also exhibited a 

 basket of plants with very large blooms. In thrj corresponding 

 class for amateurs of the same number of plants, and for prizes 

 of the same value, Mr. Goddard was far a-head of other com- 

 petitors, winning the first prize with grand plants ; the second 



