April 27, 1876. 1 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTUEE AKD COTTAGE GAEDENER. 



323 



amined, and the jadgment goes not on the general appearance 

 of the flower, bat ou tho fact of their coming up to the correct 

 standard. 



Amongst other noticeable exhibita was a large pan of seed- 

 ling yellow Auriculas raised by the Rev. F. D. Horner, plain 

 and shaded, and (most singularly) raised by him from Charles 

 Edward Brown crossed with George Lightbody, both grey- 

 edged flowers. If this be the result of breeding for definite 

 ends surely it is a strange end to arrive at. Messrs. G. &W. Yates 

 exhibited some fine stove and greenhouse plants, bouquets, and 

 herbaceous plants. Orchids were exhibited by Mr. Leech, Mr. 

 Wrigley, and others. I have never seen such a plant of Den- 

 drobium Falconeri as Mr. Leech's ; and Mr. Charles Noble of 

 Bagshot had a fine lot of his early-flowering Clematis, including 

 Lord Napier, Miss Bateman, Lord Londesljorough, Lady Emma 

 Talbot, Duke of Bucclcuch, Albert Victor, and Mrs. Howard 

 Vyse. 



The whole Exhibition' reflects great honour on the people of 

 Manchester for the spirited manner in which it is carried out, 

 and I could only wish that somewhat of the same might be 

 found amongst lovers of horticulture in the south of England, 

 but after watching patiently for some ten years I begin now to 

 despair of any such results ; and if I might take exception to 

 anything it is to the way in which trusses are thinned out, so as 

 to leave only three or four pips. It may conduce to the more 

 critical judgment of varieties, but it does not to the appearance 

 of the plants. 



It was noticeable how the same variety in the hands of 

 different growers was so different. No Smiling Beauty in the 

 Show was equal to Mr. Horner's, and no Colonel Taylor to Mr. 

 Wilson's. The vigour of this variety with him was something 

 remarkable ; and then the difference of blooming time does not 

 seem to be so great between the north and the south as I had 

 supposed. The same varieties were in flower here as I have in 

 ray own collection at home. 



It only remains for me to add that nothing could bo more 

 kind and courteous than the reception I met with from all with 

 whom I came in contact, and the Manchester good feeling was 

 as usual abundantly shown. And I hope increasing prosperity 

 may attend a Society which thus endeavours to foster a taste for 

 a flower so well deserving of favour and so " loveable," as I heard 

 it called the other day by an eminent Orchid grower, as the 

 Auricula.— D., Deal. 



EOYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY. 



April 26th. 



The second spring Exhibition, which was held under the 

 auspices of brilliant weather, occupied the entire length of the 

 corridor and a portion of the conservatory. Ornamental groups 

 of plants were exhibited by Mr. B. S. Williams, HoUoway, Messrs 

 Cutbush & Son, Highgate, and gorgeous plants of Clematises by 

 Messrs. G. Jackmau & Son, Woking. Mr. Walker, Thame, 

 exhibited three admirable boxes of cut Eoses, the blooms being 

 fresh, bright, and beautiful. Messrs. W. Paul & Son, Waltham 

 Cross, exhibited three boxes of cut Eoses, also cut trusses of 

 Zonal Pelargoniums in forty-two varieties, all in excellent con- 

 dition ; and Mr. Pestridge, Brentford, twenty dozens of small 

 plants, very bright, of Gold and Silver Tricolor and Bicolor 

 Pelargoniums. Messrs. Paul & Son, the Old Nurseries, Ches- 

 hunt, submitted a plant with five blooms of their new dark 

 Eose Duke of Counaught. The blooms were of extreme rich- 

 ness, of a fiery crimson colour suffused with purple ; the petals 

 possess great substance, and as crowning its merits this fine 

 Eose is deliciously perfumed. 



Mr. Heims, gardener to P. A. Philbrick, Esq., staged an 

 admirable group of Orchids, comprising Vandas, Dendrobes, 

 OdontoglosBums, Saccolabiums, Masdevallias, Cypripediums, 

 and Phalaeuopsis grandiflora aurea, all remarkably well bloomed 

 and cultivated. Mr. Ratty exhibited a standard Azalea Bijou 

 de Paris, a dense mass of pure white and pink, and remarkably 

 handsome. Mr. Clark, gardener to W. Shuter, Esq., Hamnstead, 

 exhibited largo and well-grown Caladiums, and also twelve new 

 Primroses and Polyanthuses. In this collection a yellow Oxlip, 

 Empress of India, was conspicuous by its fine trusses of yellow 

 flowers ; it is a most promising bedding variety. These collec- 

 tions with the plants in the classes made an effective display. 



For twelve stove and greenhouse plants in 12-iuch pots, Mr. 

 Ward, gardener to F. G. Wilkins, Esq., Leyton, was placed first 

 with an admirable collection ; Mr. Wheeler, gardener to Sir F. 

 Goldsmid, Bart., being placed second, and Mr. Toms, gardener 

 to H. Wetteuhall, Esq., Seven Sisters Road, third. In the open 

 class for six early-flowering stove plants in flower in 12-inch 

 pots, Mr. Ward was again placed first for medium-sized plants. 

 Amongst these the spathes of Anthurium Scherzerianum were 

 of marvellous size, measuring fully C inches by 5. Ixoras 

 Williamsii and Prince of Orange, also Clerodendron Balfourii, 

 were effective. Mr. Wheeler had the second place. 



For nine Roses in pots (nurserymen), Mr. Turner, Eoyal Nur- 

 series, Slough, was the only exhibitor, and staged healthy well- 



bloomed specimens, the plants ranging from 2 to 4 feet in 

 diameter, and the same in height. In this collection, which 

 embraced popular varieties, the Tea Rose Mont Blanc was ex- 

 ceedingly effective. The first prize was awarded. 



For six Azaleas in 12-inch pots (amateurs), Mr. Eatty, gar- 

 dener to R. Thornton, Esq., The Hoo, Sydenham Hill, had the 

 first place with densely bloomed dwarf standard plants with 

 flat-trained heads 3 and 4 feet in diameter. Mr. James, gar- 

 dener to W. F. Wilson, Esq., Redlees, was second with healthy 

 well-bloomed pyramids, Duchesse Adelaide de Nassau being 

 very fine, and Mr. Toms third with small plants. 



In the corresponding nurserymen's class Mr. Turner was 

 placed first for large well-flowered specimens ; Charmer, deep 

 pink, and Marie Vervaeue, white, being the most noteworthy 

 varieties. Messrs. W. Cutbush & Son being second with small 

 healthy standard plants, A. Borsig being especially attractive. 



For twelve hardy herbaceous plants, Mr. Roberts, gardener 

 to W. Terry, Esq , Fulham, was placed first for large and good 

 plants including a fine example of Symphytum caucasioum, 

 Trillium grandillorum (fine), Aubrietia purpurea, Alyssum saxa- 

 tile, Triteleia uniflora. Primula cortusoides amcena, and Scillas, 

 Mr. Elliott, gardener to L. Clark, Esq., Sydenham Hill, being 

 second for small fresh plants, Caltha palustris minor fl.-pl. being 

 very fine ; Anemones trif olia, nemorosa, and nemorosa bracteata 

 fl.-pl., which were very charming ; Epimedium niveum, Pri- 

 mulas, and Geutiana excisa. In the class for six old-fashioned 

 hardy plants in flower Mr. Roberts exhibited a very creditable 

 collection embracing Narcissus poeticus (aurantiacus), a very 

 charmiog Narcissus, Daphne cneorum (1752), Alyssum saxatile 

 (1710), Arabis albida (1798), Pulmonaria virginiaua (1799), and 

 Trollius asiatious (17.59), the figures representing the years of 

 their introduction. The first prize was awarded. 



For six Dielytras (nurserymen), Messrs. James Carter & Co. 

 were the only exhibitors. They staged excellent plants 2A feet 

 high and through, and worthily had the first prize. In the 

 corresponding amateurs' class Mr. Wheeler had the stage to 

 himself, and had a third prize awarded. 



For nine Cinerarias Mr. James was the only exhibitor. He 

 staged plants in his usual excellent style, the plants being about 

 a foot in height and 2 feet in diameter. The first prize was 

 awarded. For tree Mignonette, Messrs. J. Carter & Co. staged 

 splendid specimens — such examples of culture as is rarely seen, 

 the varieties being "New White," fine spikes; Crimson Giant; 

 "Hybrid" Tree, very superior; and Tall Pyramidal. These 

 were perfect pyramids, 5 to feet high, and 3 to 4 feet in diameter 

 at the base. For six pots of Mignonette the same exhibitors 

 staged very good pyramids, the best being the " New Dwarf 

 Compact " and Pyramidal Bouquet. First prizes were worthily 

 awarded these plants. 



In the class for six Heaths Mr. Ward and Mr. Wheeler were 

 placed in the order named. Mr. Ward's were medium-sized 

 well-bloomed specimens ; Mr. Wheeler's being small plants. 



For twelve Auriculas Mr. Turner had the first place for a 

 collection of uniform excellence, comprising Prince of Greens 

 (Traill), George Lightbody (Headly), Lord Clyde (Lightbody), 

 Col. Champneys (Turner), very fine ; Mr. Sturrock (Martin), 

 Omega (Turner), General Neill (Hill), Arabella (Headly), Topsy 

 (Keynes), John Waterston (Cunningham), and Charles Perry 

 (Turner); Mr. James, gardener to W. F. Watson, Es<x., being 

 placed second, and Mr. Elliot third. Mr. Turner exhibited 

 three new varieties — Mrs. Purves (Turner), grey edge, very 

 refined ; James Douglas (Turner), green edge, a fine massive 

 flower, worthy of its name; and Star of Bethlehem, green edge, 

 a bright and bold flower. 



Floral certificates were awarded to Mr. Turner for Auricula 

 Mrs. Purves, to Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, for Rose Duke of 

 Connaught, and to Mr. B. S. Williams for Ferns Hypolepis 

 Bergiana and Niphobolus heteractis. Silver medals were 

 awarded to Messrs. Geo. Jackman & Sons, Messrs. Wm. Paul 

 and Son, and Mr. Walker ; and bronze medals to Mr. Pest- 

 ridge, Mr. Clark (Caladiums), Mr. Clark (Primroses), to Mr. B. S. 

 Williams and Messrs. Cutbush & Sons for plants, and one also 

 to the last-named firm for cut blooms of Camellias. 



TWO-DAY KOSE SHOWS. 



I ENDOBSE every word on this subject written by " T. H. G.," 

 page 301. 



I acted as censor three times at Kensington with Mr. Hole 

 and Mr. W. Wood, two most painstaking and admirable 

 judges, and once (I believe in 1861) with Mr. Parsons and 

 Mr. Bunny, of whom little less could be said. The Roses were 

 sadly decayed before the days were over. Some were falling 

 to pieces, and others revealed a shilling centre ; of course, the 

 next day they would have been worse. In due time I will try 

 and answer the question. Which is the beat stock for Eoses, or 

 ahonld they be ou their own roots? The question, unless 

 explained, is like the mouths of the Danube, " lost in marshes.'' 

 There is often as much to be gained by ignorance as iutelli 



