316 



JOUENAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



( May i, 1876. 



attractive miBcellaneona collection, and the collection of Cycla- 

 mens, were in the aggregate overwhelmiug in weight of merit, 

 aDii hence won the premier prize. 



For ekill in arrangement as well as intrinsic merit the col- 

 lection of Messrs. Veitoh was irreproachable. Its richness and 

 attracUvenesfl won general admiration. The fine st'ikeg of 

 Orchids — ten varieties of Cypripediums, thirteen sorts of Den- 

 drobiums, five of Masdevallias, tixteen of Odontoglossums, nine 

 of Oncidiums, four of Phalreoopsis, also Siccolabiums, Cattleyas, 

 Trichopilias, i&o ; besides these were Dracajnas, Crotons, Ne- 

 penthes, Ferns, and uumeroas others in splendid coi,dition. In 

 this group Dioscorea retusa was most elegant, aud half a hundred 

 others were worthy of iudividaal mention, but space forbids. 

 Messrs. Veitch also exhibited a collection of Roses in first-rate 

 order, and attractive plants of Clematises Miss Bateman, Lady 

 Londesborough, Albert Victor, Htnryi, &o. For these plants 

 the gold medal of honour offered by the Comtesse de Flandre 

 to the stranger who contributed most to the splendour of the 

 Exhibition was awarded. Thf se were the only two prizes of 

 honour in the schedule; but Mr. Bull exhibited such superior 

 new plants that he had the special hononr of receiving a special 

 medal value two hundred francs, in addition to the gold medals 

 that he won in the classes. 



The twenty-five Orchids staged by Mr. Williams were unusn- 

 ally rich. Dendrobium Devonianum alone contained three 

 hundred blooms ; Vanda suavis, five spikes of great Inxuriance ; 

 Cattleya Moesije superba, thirteen blooms; Cypripedium cauda- 

 tum, twenty flowers ; Cattleya Mendelii, twelve flowers; Cypri- 

 pedium biflornm, thirty; Dendrobiums Wardianum aud nobile, 

 flowers uncountable; Cattleya citrina, eighteen flowers; On- 

 cidium sphacelatum, eight spilses; Cypripedium villosum, fifty 

 flowers; and superb examples of Odontoglossums Roezlii, Masde- 

 vallia Lindenii and Veitchiana; Lycastes Harrisonfo, Phala?- 

 nopsis, &c. Mr. Williams won the grand gold medal for six 

 Odontoglossums with Odontoglossum oitrosmum roseum, six 

 spikes ; 0. Pescatorei, 0. Alexandra?, O. nievium majus, 

 O. Roezlii, and O. gloriosnm superbum. 



Now that we are amongst the Orchids we may note that in 

 Mr. Linden's gold-medal collection of Orchids Vanda tricolor 

 cinnamomea was remarkably fine, as were also V. suavis, Dendro- 

 bium Wardianum, Cattleya Skinneri, Cypripedium barbatnm, 

 Odontoglossum triumphans, and Cypripedium villosum were 

 profusely-flowering specimens, and many others possessed great 

 merit. 



In thi5 collection a specimen of Odontoglossum vexillarinm 

 from the Baroness James de Rothschild arrested the attention 

 of all visitors ; it had four spikes and thirty grand flowers. 

 Near it was a remarkable Orchid— Epidendrum Wailisii, ex- 

 hibited in flower for the first time in Europe by R. Warner, 

 Esq., Bromfleld, Chelmsford. The sepals are orange Ecarlet, 

 and the labellom buff mottled with brown. Mr. Warner had 

 the gold medal for his valuable work on Orchids. 



Mr. Bull won the grand gold medal — the first prize in the 

 Bchedule (the "blue ribbon") — for six new plants cot in com- 

 merce with the grand Palm Pritchardia grandis, Dieffenbachia 

 Shuttleworthii, Aralia splendidii^sima, Croton elegantissimus, 

 most brilliant and elegant; Dieffenbachia Chelsoni, and Alo- 

 casia Johnstoni; also a similar award for three plants with 

 Aralia elegantissima, Dracfcna Goldieana, and Artocarpus Can- 

 nonii. For the most distinct Draciena — D, Goldieana, which 

 was noticed last week — Mr. Bull received the gold medal, Mr. 

 Wills being placed second with the splendid D. voluta. For the 

 gold medal for the single Palm Mr. Bull won easily with 

 Pritchardia grandis, Mr. Williams being second with Kentia 

 Mooreana. 



Amongst the gold-medal collections of plants of recent in- 

 troduction staged by Mr. Williams were Pandanus Veitchii, 

 splendid; ^chmea Mariffl-Reginne, Cypripedium niveum, Adi- 

 antum graoillimum in excellent order; DiacEBuas Baptistii and 

 Fraserii, and Nepenthes Chelsonii. 



Mr. Wills exhibited new plants, small bnt in splendid con- 

 dition, tho Crotons being in fine colour; and Phyllotaenium 

 Lindeni and Anthurium crystallinum unequalled in quality by 

 any plants of the same kinds in the Exhibition. Mr. Wills also 

 staged superb examples of Yucca filamentosa variegata, and for 

 the collections received silver medals. 



But perhaps the most striking and interesting plants in the 

 Exhibition were the twenty-five new Dracaanas which worthily 

 won the grand gold medal and 500 fi-aucs. These are nn- 

 doubtedly the finest aud most remarkable varieties in Europe, 

 and are improving in colour as they grow older. They have 

 been previously described, and it only remains to be said that 

 they are better than ever — plants of distinct character, nn- 

 donbted beauty, and great value. 



_ The Roses from Messrs. W. Paul & Son were an immense con- 

 signment, there being hundreds of them, the plants ranging 

 from feet high and 4 feet in diameter t^ < smaller plants in 7 and 

 8-inch pots. The plants comprise Hybrid Perpetuals, Teas, and 

 Noisettes, and will make the fame of the firm producing them 

 as familiar on the Continent as it is respected in England. 



Mr. Turner, Slough, staged sixty Auriculas, the plants, as 

 they deserved, attracting a conBiderabla amouut of attention. 

 In the class for fifteen plants the large silver-gilt medal of 

 merit was awarded to Mr. Turner. The remaining plants were 

 not entered for competition. 



The judging of the plants was completed on Saturday, on 

 the evening of which day the assistance of the military was 

 brought into requisition, and the soldiers under competent 

 guidance commenced moving the plants and re-arranging them 

 for effect. This work was conducted during the night, aud a 

 complete transformation was effected for the formal opening of 

 the Exhibition by the King and Queen at noon on the 30th ult. 

 Their Majesties arrived punctually at the time named, and 

 received au enthusiastic reception. The principal exhibitora 

 were introduced to the King, and His Majesty conversed with 

 them with his usual freedom and affability, also inviting them 

 to dine with him at the Royal Palace. 



The English exhibitors covered themselves with hononr, 

 Mr. Williams receiving ten medals, Mr. Bull four for new 

 plants, Messrs. Veitch & Sons (who did not compete in the 

 classes) two, and Mr. WiUs four, these medals being of the 

 highest value. 



The prizes of honour for Belgian exhibitors were awarded : 

 the Queen's to Mr. Linden, and the Comtesse de Flandre's to 

 Mr. Van Houtte. Mr. Linden is Vice-president of the Society, 

 and exhibited lareely, staging many valuable collections. 

 Mr. Van Houtte's collections were also on au extensive tcale of 

 superior merit. 



Of fruit the exhibition is small. Some moderately good 

 Strawberries are exhibited, and the principal prizes for Grapes 

 were won by Mr. Abert Vandewover, a Cappellen, Antwerp. 



The arrangement of the plants was agreeable. They were cot 

 disposed to create an imposing effect to be seen at a glance, but 

 were so grouped that a fresh collection had prominence at every 

 few yards, this being effected by the rather bold curves of tho 

 promenades. The building was laid out in serpentine walks, 

 bordered with ornamental wickerwork. At the edge of the walks 

 Mignonette, Lilies, small Adiantums, Spirsas, &c., were placed, 

 and beyond were bold irregular groups of ornamental-foliaged 

 and flowering plants. At one end of the building was a fountain, 

 around which plants were artistically arranged. The structure 

 was too small for the effect to be one of grandeur. It was never- 

 theless very picturesque, and a vast improvement on monotonous 

 stages and hard straight lines. 



The premier prize for the best new plant in or out of flower 

 went to MM. Jauob-Mackoy et Cie. for Maranta Massangeana, a 

 beautiful plant, the stock of which has been purchased by Mr. 

 Bull. The same exhibitors had the first prize also for the best 

 new plant in flower — Pavouia Vioti, a plant apparently possess- 

 ing but little merit. 



When it is considered that the Belgian plants alone — the 

 noble Palms, magnificent ."Vzalcas, with other flne-foliaged and 

 flowering plants — would have produced an exhibition worthy of 

 royal patronage and of a long journey by horticulturists ; when 

 also it is considered that the English consignment was of 

 sufficient extent and value to alone have made an imposing 

 exhibition, it will be reartily understood that the alliance of the 

 two nations, with valuable contingents from France and Holland, 

 culminated in a display of almtst unequalled magnitude and 

 importance; and although the utmost was done in making the 

 most of the space at disposal, a building nevertheless as large 

 again was required to do justice to aud exhibit to the best 

 advantage the noble collections which were sent in celebration 

 of the Centennial International Exhibition of the Socifitc Royale 

 de Flore de Bruxelles established in 1660. 



pnuiT. 



At so late a period of the season it was not to be expected that 

 there would be much shown in the way of Fruits. The only 

 exhibitor of Pines is Baron de Vinck d'Orp, and the fruit 

 though well grown was not ripe. There are some excellent 

 Strawberries in pots exhibited by Baron d'Hoogvorst, which 

 deservedly received a gold medal. They could not have been 

 better, but we could not say much of any of the other collec- 

 tions. The Vines in pots are wretchedly bad, but the separate 

 bunches of Grapes which are shown by M. de Goes and Baron 

 d'Hoogvorst are very meritorious. The collection of Apples 

 and Pears of M. de Biseau is very fine, as are also the Apples 

 of M. Capeinick. A beautiful collection vf Apples was sent by 

 Mr. Jones, gardener to Her Britannic Majesty at Frogmore, 

 which was much admired, and though not shown for competi- 

 tion was awarded a silver medal. 



An interesting exhibition was made by Lady Dorothy Nevill 

 of Dargsteiu, consisting of an envelope case, a blotting-case, and 

 paper-knife made from oak wood stained with the mycelium of 

 PfezizaEeruginosa, which is found in the woods at Dangstein. Itis 

 very beautiful, and when polished resembles maUchite. Although 

 this was exhibited Itors de concours, it was awarded a silver medal. 



In no country in Europe are the representatives of horticul- 

 ture held in Buoh honotir as they are in Belgium. It is not on 



