May U, 1876. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTIOUIiTURB AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



69 



The success of the English exhibitors was so remarkable that 

 the honours which they won are recapitulated as follows : — 



Messrs. Veitch & Sons, who exhibited splendid groups of 

 mixed plants and of Roses, did not show for competition, but 

 were awarded a large gold medal, and they also received the 

 gold medal offered by the Comte de Flandre for the foreigner 

 who contributed moat to the richness and splendour of the 

 Exhibition. 



Mr. B. S. Williams, who was the premier English exhibitor, took 

 the first prize "li I'linanimite" — the large gold medal (iffered 

 by the King to the foreigner who contributed most by the rich- 

 ness and merit of his collections to the splendour of the Exhi- 

 bition ; the large silver-gilt medal for three new plants ; the 

 gold medal for twelve new plants ; the gold medal for twelve 

 plants of recent introduction; the large silver medal for the 

 new Palm, Kentia Moorei ; the large silver-gilt medal for a new 

 Cycad, Cycas intermedia; a siiver-gilt medal for Amaryllis; 

 the large gold medal of 500 francs fnr twenty miscellaneous 

 plants. The large gold medal of 1000 francs for twenty-five 

 Orchids in flower, distinct ; the gold medal for six Odonto- 

 glossiims ; the gold medal for six herbaceous Ferns ; the gold 

 m^dalfor six Filmy Ferns; the large silver-gilt medal for twenty 

 Cyclamens distinct. 



Mr. William Ball received the large gold medal for the scien- 

 tific and general merit of his exhibitions ; the large gold medal 

 for six new plants ; the large gold medal for three new plants ; 

 the large silver medal for a new plant not in flower, Davidsonia 

 puugens; the large silver-gilt medal *^ par acclamation" for the 

 new Palm, Pritchardiagrandis; the large silver-gilt medal for the 

 new Dracasna Guldieaua ; the large silver-gilt medal for three new 

 Btove plants; the large silver-gilt medal for Croton formosum, 



Mr. John Wills received the large silver medal for six new 

 plants introduced to Europe since 1873 ; th" gold medal for three 

 Dracfeaas; the lar^^e silver medal for Draca3ua voluta ; the large 

 gold medal of 500 francs for twenty-five Dracfflnas remarkable 

 for their beauty, their novelty, and their culture ; and a silver 

 medal for Yucca fiiamentosa fol. var. 



Messrs. W. Paul & Son received the large gold medal for a 

 hundred Hybrid Perpetual Roses ; the gold medal for fifty 

 Hybrid Perpetual Roses ; the gold medal of 300 francs for 

 twenty pyramid Roses ; the gold medal for fifty Tea Roses ; and 

 the large silver-gilt medal for twenty-five Tea Roses. 



Mr. Charles Turner received the silver-gilt medal for fifteen 

 Auriculas ; Mr. Jones of Frogmore the silver medal for a collec- 

 tion of Apples ; Lady Dorothy Nevill for articles made from 

 wood of the Odk stained with the mycelium of Pi.ziza aeruginoBa ; 

 Mr. Terry of Walham Green a silver-gilt medal for fruit of 

 Vanilla. 



All honour to British horticulture ! 



The most extensive and successful of Belgian exhibitors were 

 Mr. Linden, who was awarded fourteen gold and four silver 

 medals, and Mr. Van Houtte, who had eight gold and twenty-four 

 silver medals. 



STRINGING VINES. 

 Of the beneficial effects of syringing Vines in order to keep 

 down the red spider there cannot be two opinions, and lately 

 a correspondent informed your readers that this might be con- 

 tinued after the Vines had set their frnit without spoiling the 

 bloom, provided the water used had been properly filtered. 

 As the town's water here is tolerably pure and not very hard, 

 I should be glad to know through your columns whether any- 

 one growing Vines at or near Leeds has used the town's water 

 after the frnit has set, and with what result as regards the 

 bloom ; also whether it has been tried jnst as it comes from the 

 pipes, or whether after being boiled or filtered. — J.F. C, Leeds. 



ANTHURIQM SCHERZERIANUM. 



This is one of the finest, if not the finest, of all dwarf-flower- 

 ing stove plants, continuing in bloom for a lengthened period, 

 each flower remaining unfaded from two to three months ; 

 the flowers, or rather floral spathes, being of the most beauti- 

 fnl brilliant scarlet, alike novel and charming. Abundant in 

 blooming, it is of very easy culture, succeeding admirably in 

 a cool stove, and in a warm one is seldom out of bloom. It 

 usually in a cool stove commences growing and flowering in 

 March, and continues blooming until autumn, appearing all the 

 better of a rest during winter. A position near the glass appears 

 desirable, so that the leaves are about 15 inches from it, and 

 in summer is the better of slight shade from bright sun. 

 Moderate air-giving only is required ; but in that respect need 

 not differ from the treatment usually given to stove plants. 



Potting may be done at any time ; but I prefer to shift in 

 February. la doing so all the old compost that can be re- 

 moved is taken away, not of course injuring the roots, and 



pots about one-half the diameter of the spread of the leaves 

 are used. Drainage is given to about one-third the depth of 

 the pots, and the compost used is a mixture of fibrous brown 

 peat, very fibrous loam, sphagnum, and charcoal in equal 

 proportions and mixed, the roots spread out, and the stuff 

 worked in amongst them and made rather firm, sprinkling 

 with silver sand. I ought to have stated that over the drainage 

 is placed a layer of ephagnnm to ensure the efficiency of 

 the drainage, and the plants are kept well raised in the centre 

 of the pots, the roots being just covered with the compost. 

 A good watering is then given, and a neat finish is imparted 

 by surfacing the pots over the compost with green moss — the 

 kind which is of a deep green colour, found on rock in moist 

 shaded situations, which continues to grow, and has a fine effect. 



The plants are always kept wet at the roots, though in 

 winter they have a considerably lessened supply than during 

 spring, summer, and autumn. From February to October 

 the plants are sprinkled overhead twice a-day, and three times 

 during the hot summer months, and with the thorough drain- 

 age daily watering will not cause any mischief. In winter the 

 moisture from sprinkling the flowers, and that evaporated 

 from the pipe troughs, is ample, keeping just moist at the 

 roots by applications of water aa necessity demands. 



As the plants increase in size the spathes also considerably 

 increase in size as compared with those of young plants, and 

 under cool treatment I find the leaves are larger with a cor- 

 responding increase of substance, also of flower or spathe, 

 though they may not be so speedily produced. With every 

 fresh leaf we have its bloom, so that between warm and cool 

 treatment there is really no difference in abundance of bloom, 

 only they more quickly succeed each other by the warm-treat- 

 ment mode of culture. — G. A. 



ASPIDISTRA LUKIDA VARIEGATA. 



FoK decoration in halls or rooms, or other positions where 

 strong light cannot be afforded, this fine old variegated plant 

 is almost unrivalled. Its large leaves have the texture of 

 Palm leaves, and are as large and o f the same shape as the leaves 

 of the Euoharis. When the Aspidistra is in good health the 

 foliage is of the richest green beautifully striped with wavy 

 white bands. The plant will endure the vicissitudes of varying 

 temperature, dust, drought, or wet better than most plants. 

 It is adapted for pot culture, for planting out in rockeries 

 nnder glass, or for growing in baskets. It is hardy, at least in 

 the south of England ; but to grow it to perfection it must 

 have generous treatment and a shaded place in an intermediate 

 house. I have found it invaluable for the purposes named, 

 and doubtless others have done so who have cultivated it 

 well. It grows freely in tnrfy loam, lumpy peat, and char- 

 coal.— J. W. B. 



MB. WILLIAM CUTBUSH. 

 Many will regret sincerely to hear of the death of this well- 

 known horticulturist. He for some years took a very promi- 

 nent position at our London exhibitions with Heaths, stove 

 and greenhouse plants, &a., and had carried on business at 

 Barnet during nearly thirty-six years. Many horticultural 

 friends, especially in the midland counties, north of England, 

 and Scotland, where he was well known, will sympathise with 

 his family in their sudden bereavement. He died at Brighton 

 on the 4th instant, whither he had gone for the benefit of his 

 health. 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 



Inteenationai, Hobticultural Exhibitions are more than 

 ever being regarded as gatherings of the greatest importance ; 

 and if timely preparations are made, and an international 

 system of management is adopted both as to fixing of time 

 and place, success cannot fail to ensue, and a great and 

 general impetus be given to the work which the exhibitions 

 are so well calculated to foster and encourage. At Brussels a 

 popular inquiry was, " When are we to have an International 

 in London?" " Next year," replied the enthusiasts. Bat it 

 was urged that next year would clash with Amsterdam, and 

 1878 is named as the time of a great gathering in France. It 

 is important that there should be no undue haste, no clashing 

 between country and country, no dividing of national resources. 

 England can afford to wait, and the London gathering will be 

 the greater for the delay, provided — and this is of the greatest 

 importance — that there is no unnecessary delay in fixing the 



