424 



JOURNAL OF HORTIOULTDBB AND COTTAGE GABDENER, 



[ Jnne 1, 1876. 



and rabbits ; and epecimeu trees in parks or on lawns near 

 dwelling bonsea can be saved from the mischief caused by dogs 

 and cats. 



The pieces of cork are easily fixed together with wire or 

 strong twine, and are not unsightly if neatly placed round the 

 stem of the tree. — Wm. Baxter Smith, Knou-efield, Nursery, 

 Carlisle. 



KOYAL AQUARIUM GREAT SUMMER SHOW. 



Mat 30th. 

 An Exhibition for which nearly £1200 were offered in prizes 

 could not do otherwise than attract notice in the horticultural 

 world, and the Exhibition which we now attempt to describe 

 was consequently anticipated with more than ordinary interest 

 by those who are identified with the cultivation of plants and 

 fruit. The day was an unusually brilliant one, and rich was the 

 display arranged so efiectively in the central hall and entrance 

 vestibule of the bniUliug. The Exhibition was without doubt 

 the finest that has this year been seen in London, and was a 

 treat both to gardeners and the general public such as is seldom 

 afforded them. 



The central position of the hall was mainly occupied by two 

 bold oval-shaped groups, from the centre of which noble Tree 

 Ferns and gloesy-foliaged Palms towered erect. These, sur- 

 rounded by rich Orchids and massive Azaleas, and fringed with 

 hardy Ferns, had an excellent effect. The connecting links of 

 these ovals were composed of specimen Hoses in pots, fringed 

 with Bicolor Geraniums and with stove and greenhouse plants 

 intermixed with Palms, also a fine collection of Crotons. On 

 the south side of the hall the specimen stove and greenhouse 

 plants and Pelargoniums were arranged — arranged, too, suffi- 

 ciently low so that their effect could be seen to the greatest 

 advantage. These massive groups were relieved by Tree Ferns 

 at suitable intervals. The north side of the main building was 

 occupied with Azaleas and ornamental-foliaged plants, and the 

 ends of specimen greenhouse plants, Tricolor Pelargoniums, 

 and Calceolarias. At the entrance to the vestibule the fruit 

 was arranged, the body of the vestibule being occupied by Filmy 

 Ferns and mixed collections of ornamental plants. Gloxinias, 

 Amaryllida, and fancy Pelargoniums. 



Upwards of £1000 were provided for the plant classes, and 

 iil30 for fruit. Some of the most notable instances of the ap- 

 portionment of this amount was in the Orchid classes, to which 

 £193 was set apart, no less than £100 being provided in the 

 amateurs' class for twenty plants, the first prize being £50, the 

 second £30, and the third £20. In the classes for stove and 

 greenhouse plants £131 was provided, Ferns £123, Pelargo- 

 niums £143, fine-foliaged plants £72, Azaleas £G6, Palms £55 ; 

 the same amount being offered for new and rare plants. These 

 are instances of liberality such as are seldom met with, and 

 which could scarcely have had other than one result— a liberal 

 response by exhibitors with the best examples of their skill. 

 The judging was expeditiously done, and all the arrangements 

 excellent. We now refer to the classes. 



Stove and Gkeenhouse Plants. — In the amateurs' class for 

 twelve stove and greenhouse plants the prizes were £25, £15, and 

 £10. Mr. Chapman, gardener to J. Spode, Esq., Hawkesyard Park, 

 had the premier position with a grand collection, every plant of 

 which was in perfect order. Chorozema Chandlerii was 6 feet in 

 diameter, and equally large was Erica Cavendishii. Ixora coc- 

 cinea was very striking by the side of a massive example of 

 Clerodendron Balfourii; Dracophyllum gracile, Pimelea muta- 

 bilis, Erica eximia superba, and E. odora rosea were also in 

 superior condition, and the remaining plants — Anthurium 

 Scherzerianum, an Aphelexis and Iledaroma (now Darwinia) 

 tulipifera— were in admirable form. Mr. Ward, gardener to P. G. 

 Wilkins, Esq., Leyton, had the second place, also with a fine col- 

 lection ; Statice prof usa, Ixora Williamsii, Anthurium Scherzeri- 

 anum being really splendid, and all the rest very good. The 

 third prize went to Mr. Tudgey, gardener to J. H. G. Williams, 

 Esq., Henwick Grange, Worcester, for generally smaller yet 

 healthy and fine plants, the most notable being a grand Anthu- 

 rium Scherzerianum, a Stephanotis, Dipladenia amabilis, Ixora 

 Williamsii, and Darwinia tulipifera. In the nurterymen's class 

 for eight plants £15, £10, and £5 were the amounts offered. 

 Messrs. Lucombe, Pince, & Co., Exeter, had the first place with 

 a grand group, comprising two immense Azaleas ; Ericas tricolor 

 Wilsonii and Lindleyana, highly superior; Ixora coccinea, a 

 noble plant; a Stephanotis, Clerodendron, and Aphelexis, all in 

 superior order. Messrs. Jackson & Sons, Kingston, had the 

 second place with some splendid plants, the Dracophyllum, 

 Aphelexis, and Erica Exquisite being perfect globes of 5 feet in 

 diameter. Mr. B. S. Williams had the third place, his most 

 notable plant being Ixora javanica. Prizes of about half the 

 above amounts were also offered to amateurs for six plants. The 

 first prize was awarded to Mr. Barrett, Pewsey, Wilts, for 

 vigorously-grown and well-bloomed plants about 3 feet in 

 diameter ; Geuetyllis tulipifera. Erica eximia superba, and 

 Aphelexis macrantha purpurea were especially good. The 



second honours were awarded to Mr. Child, gardener to Mrs. 

 Torr, Garbrand Hall, for larger but rather looser plants ; third 

 prize going to Mr. Chapman, gardener to J. Spode, Esq., Hawkes- 

 yard Park, for still larger but not well-furnished plants. It 

 is gratifying to see quality have its right place and count for 

 more than mere size, which is not always the case at exhibitions. 

 In the nurserymen's class for eight plants in pots not exceeding 

 6 inches in diameter Messrs. Jackson & Sons had the first place 

 for irregular-sized yet well-grown specimens, comprising Aphe- 

 lexis, Genetyllis (Darwinia), Phtcuocoma prolifera, &o. ; Mr. 



B. S. Williams being second with a good collection. In the corre- 

 sponding class for amateurs for the same number of plants Mr. 

 Ward had the first place with an admirable collection of plants, 

 most of which have been noticed at previous exhibitions ; Mr. 

 Tudgey having the second place, also with a very good group. 



Okchibs. — The liberal prizes offered for these brought out a 

 strong competition. In the amatenrs' class for twenty plants the 

 first prize of £50 went to Mr. J. Hubbersty, gardener to O. O. 

 Wrigley, Esq., Bridge Hall, Bury, Lancashire. He had a inagni- 

 ficent specimen of Calanthe veratrifolia with thirty-two spikes of 

 its pure white flowers, they were in splendid order ; Masdevallia 

 Lindeni, with about three dozen beautitul pale purple flowers ; 

 an exceedingly well flowered plant of Odontoglossum Phalae- 

 nopsis ; Saccolabium guttatum giganteum, five spikes ; Tbunia 

 alba, very strong, seven fine racemes; Lielia pnrpurata; Mas- 

 devallia Veilchii, a grand plant ; Dendrobium lituiflorum, very 

 well flowered ; Masdevallia Harryana ; Vanda suavis ; Odonto- 

 glossum crispum with a score of fine spikes ; Cypripedinm can- 

 datum, a nice plant with eleven flowers; a grand Anguloa 

 Clowesii, which had three dozens of its large golden flowers. 

 A. uniflora superba was really splendid ; it was in excellent con- 

 dition, and its peculiarly-formed flesh-tinted and spotted flowers 

 had a charming effect in front of the broad deep green foliage. 

 Aerides Lobbii had three good spikes. Fine large plants of 

 Cypripedinm barbatum, C. niveum, and a noble specimen of 

 Dendrobium nobile completed the group. Mr. John Ward was 

 second, winning the £3U with equally well- flowered plants, but 

 the specimens were smaller : amongst them were some that have 

 already been described in the reports of previous shows. Mr. J. 

 Douglas, gardener to F. Whitbourn, Esq., Loxford Hall, waa 

 third, securing the £20 with a fine group, including excellent 

 examples of Cattleya Warnerii, Masdevallia Veitchii, M. Harry- 

 ana, and a fine form of the species named M. Whitbourniana. 



For twelve Orchids (nurserymen) the prizes were £20, £15, 

 and £10. Mr. B. S. Williams had the post of honour with a 

 rich collection. The Vandas were in luxuriant health and fine 

 bloom, and Cypripedinm naevium, barbatum superbum, and bi- 

 florum, very fine, as also were Tricophilia criepa, and Saccolabium 

 guttatum. Phalaanopsis grandiflora had a remarkably dense 

 truss, and Epidendrnm vitellinum majus was conspicuous by 

 its brilliancy. Mr. Bull had the second place with small plants 

 exceedingly chaste and well cultivated ; Messrs. Jackson & Sons 

 being placed third for a well-flowered collection, Saccolabium 

 retusum having three racemes each 18 inches long. In the open 

 class for eight plants the sums offered were £12, £10, and £6. 

 Mr. Rutland, gardener to the Duke cf Richmond and Gordon, 

 Goodwood, had the first place. Vanda suavis had six spikes 

 and thirty flowers, and V. suavis tricolor was very fine. AtJrides 

 crispum had two splendid spikes. Cattleyas Mossiaa and 



C. Moesiaj magnifica were remarkably fine, as also were Den- 

 drobium nobile and Cypripedium barbatum, while Oncidium 

 sphacelatum had about twenty spikes and countless flowers. 

 This was a collection of the highest merit. Mr. B. S. Williams 

 had the second place with an excellent selection; Mr. Child, 

 gardener to Mrs. Torr, having the third prize for plants, 

 amongst which Cypripedium Stonei and Dendrobium formosum 

 giganteum were noticeable. In the amateurs' class for the same 

 number of plants prizes of nearly the same amount were pro- 

 vided. Mr. Ward had the first place for a valnable group 

 including a superb example of OdontogloEsum vexillarium 

 with twenty-four flowers, a superior 0. Bluntii with nine spikes, 

 and other admirable Epecimens. Mr. Hubbersty had the 

 second place for a capital group. We were unable to ascertain 

 the winner of the third prize either by searching amongst the 

 plants or by referring to the official list of awards. 



New Plants.— For twelve new plants. Orchids exclnded, the 

 prizes of £12, £8, and £0 were won— first by Mr. W.BulI, King's 

 Road, Chelsea, who staged grand examples of Cyathea Burkei 

 and Pritchardia grandis, Dractnas, Crotons, and the brilliant 

 Blandfordia princeps; second by Mr. B. S. Williams with a 

 collection of great value ; and third by Messrs. W. Rollissou 

 and Sons, Tooting, who had an excellent group, including their 

 new Filmy Fern Tiichomanes Bancrofti, &c. For six new 

 plants not in commerce Mr. Bull was in his usual place-^first, 

 with Aralia splendidissima, a noble and distinct Aralia ; Dieft'en- 

 bachia triumphans, Croton formosum, Dracaena Goldieana; 

 Sadleria cyathoides, a striking and stately Fern with arched 

 fronds, very distinct and fin^ ; and Croton trilobns. Mr. B. S. 

 Williams had the second place with an excellently grown and 

 1 valuable collection. For three new plants not in commerce 



