Jane 23, 1876, ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



487 



Hartsbourne Park, Whitohnrch, Hants. Iris xiphioides var., a 

 species with very bright blue flowers, was sent by the Hon. and 

 Eov. J. T. Bosoawen, Lamorran, Probus, Cornwall. 



SNAILS DESTROYINa WALL FKDIT. 

 I HAVE some Nectarine trees growing on my garden wall, at 

 a point where its opposite side faces a neighbour's ground. 

 My neighbour's side of the wall is densely clothed with Ivy, 

 from which legions of snails issue nightly and prey on my 

 Nectaiioes to their complete destruction. My neighbour will 

 not remove his Ivy, and I can devise no means of checking 

 the ravages of the snails, for though I kill a few of them every 

 evening I cannot wage war on them all night, and the havoc 

 goes on in spite of all my efforts. I should be greatly obliged 

 if any correspondent of the Journal of Horticulture could 

 enggest an effectual remedy. — P. M. 



ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY, 



June 21st. 



Tms, the second summer Exhibition, was held under the 

 auspices of a brilliant day, the heat being almost overpowering. 

 The schedule was comprehensive, numbering sixty-nine classes — 

 twenty-nine for plants, fourteen for Roses and other cut flowers, 

 and twenty-six for fruit. The limited time at our disposal pre- 

 clades anything more than a cursory glance at the Exhibition, 

 mentioning only its leading characteriatica, and giving the 

 awards as far as we could obtain them. 



Plants. — These were arranged under the large marquee, 

 which was quite filled with specimens generally of high quality, 

 and the effect produced was one of great beauty. The semi- 

 circular group from Messrs. Veitch was composed of plants rich, 

 rare, and beautiful. In this group Oncidium crispum flavum 

 was conspicuous by a noble spike of orange-brown flowers. It 

 appears to bo intermediate between O. crispum and O. Marshallii, 

 and is decidedly an acquisition of considerable importance. Near 

 this group was an effective collection, mostly of hardy plants, 

 from Mr. Parker, Tooting. Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Sons 

 arranged a group of Palms and very fine Calceolarias, fringed 

 with Dactylis glomerata latifolia aurea, which was very effec- 

 tive, overhanging the grassy bank. Mr. B. S. 'Williams had 

 also a large and excellent collection. Mr. Bull had also a fine 

 collection of the new plants fur which he is famed. Ixora Regina 

 in this group was in great beauty. 



The classes were well filled with capital examples of culture. 

 The Pelargoniums— shows, fancies, and zonals— included many 

 superior specimens, and the Orchids were very extensive and 

 unusually fine, numbering over a hundred plants in superb con- 

 dition. Heaths were good but small, and stove and green- 

 house plants of the nsaal London-show character. 



In Pelargoniums the successful exhibitors amongst nursery- 

 men were Mr. Turner and Messrs. Dobson & Sons, and amongst 

 amateurs Mr. King, gardener to B. Few, Esq , Woolsey Grange, 

 Esher (who was first im both the classes for show and fancy 

 kmds), Mr. Jamea, and Mr. Weir. Mr. Ward had the premier 

 position in the open class, Mr. Turner being second, and Messrs. 

 Dobson & Sons third. For zonals Mr. King was first; Mr. 

 Oatlin, gardener to Mrs. Lermitte, second ; and in the nursery- 

 men's class Mr. Meadmore, Romford, had the third prize. 



In Palms Mr. B. S. Williams and Mr. Ley; and Mr. Butler, 

 gardener to H. H. Gibb, Esq , secured the prizes in the order 

 named. 



For six stove and greenhouse plants Mr. Donald, gardener to 

 J. G. Barclay, Esq., and Mr. G. Wheeler were placed as named. 

 For fine-foliaged plants the awards were as follows : — Mr. 

 Donald, Mr. Mill, gardener to H. Taylor, Esq., Mr. King, and 

 Mr. Butler. In the nurserymen's class Mr. Williams and Mr. 

 Ley were placed in the order named. For twelve stove and 

 greenhouse plants the successful exhibitors were Mr. Ward, 

 Mr. Donald, and Mr. Toms. In the nurserymen's classes the 

 prizes were divided between Mr. Williams and Messrs. Jackson 

 and Sons. The exhibitors in these classes also took the prizes 

 for Heaths. 



In the amateurs' class for twelve Orchids the prizes were 

 awarded in the following order: — First, Mr. Denning, gardener 

 to Lord Londesborough ; second, Mr. Ward ; third, Mr. Salter, 

 gardener to W. Cobb, Esq- ; fourth, Mr. Heims. For six plants 

 the prizes went respectively to Mr. Douglas, gardener to F. 

 Whitbourn, Esq. ; Mr. Ward, and Mr. Heims. In the nursery- 

 men's classes the prizes went to Mr. B. S. Williams and Messrs. 

 Jackfion & Sons, who exhibited excellent collections. This 

 display of Orchids was perhaps the finest that has been seen 

 this year. 



Roses. — Of these upwards of thirty boxes were staged and 

 five baskets ; but it is clear by the irregular size of the blooms 

 that the Rose season has scarcely arrived. Mr. Turner was 

 placed first for forty-eight varieties, three blooms of each, 

 Messrs. Paul & Sou being second ; they occupied the same 



position in the class for twenty-four varieties, and also in the 

 open class. Mr. Chard, Clarendon Park, was also a successful 

 exhibitor. For yellow Roses Mr. Turner, Mr. H. Hooper (Bath), 

 Mr. J. Bolton, gardener to W. Spottiswoode, Esq, and Mr. 

 Chard were placed in the order named, as they were also in 

 tbe classes for red and white Roses. For baskets of Roses first 

 prizes were awarded to Mr. Turner and Messm. Paul & Son, and 

 second prizes to Mr. Soder, gardener to 0. O Hanliury, Esq. 



Amonest hardy flowers the cut collections of Irises from 

 Messrs. Hoopor & Co., Covent Garden, and Mr. Chard, Claren- 

 don Park, Salisbury, were magnificent. In colours and mark- 

 ings no Orchids can possibly be richer or more chaste than these 

 fine hardy flowers. In greenhouse cut flowers Mr. Bolton, 

 gardener to W. Spottiswoode, Esq., Combe Bank, Sevenoaks, and 

 Mr. Wbeeler, gardener to Sir P. (joldsmid, were the successful 

 exhibitors, Mr. Roberts and Mr. Whenler exhibiting in the 

 hardy class. Armeria plantaginea in Mr Wheeler's collection 

 was very attractive. The principal prizes for hardy flowers 

 went to Mr. Parker, Mr. H. Hooper, and Mr. Perkins, Leamington. 



Fruit.— The corridor was only about half filled, yet some 

 capital fruit was staged. Seventeen Pines were exhibited, the 

 fruit generally being small but good. For two Queens Mr. 

 Ward, gardener to T. N. Miller, Esq. ; Mr. Harris, gardener to 

 Mrs. J. H.Vivian; and Mr. Bond, The Beeches, Weybridge, 

 were placed in the order named. Mr. Ward was also first for 

 one Q leen, Mr. Mills being second, and Mr. Harris third. For 

 any other variety Mr. Ward, Longford Castle, and Mr. Douglas 

 secured the prizes. 



Grapes were very fine, five baskets of white and eight baskets 

 of black Grapes being staged, all highly creditable contributions. 

 For blacks Mr. Akehurst, gardener to S. Copestake, Esq., Mr. 

 Kay, and Mr. Douglas were the winners ; and for whites Mr. 

 Grimmett, gardener to J. Wilmot, Esq., Mr. Douglas, and Mr. 

 P. E. Kay. In the classes for three bunches thirteen stands of 

 white Grapes were staged, and fifteen stands of black Grapes, 

 the berries being noteworthy for their uniform size and admir- 

 able finish. For Black Hamburghs Mr. Akehurst; Mr. Nash, 

 gardener to the Duke of Beaufort; and Mr. Douglas had the 

 prizes ; and for other black kinds Mr. Grimmett with Madres- 

 field Court, and Mr. Douglas with Royal Ascot, both very supe- 

 rior, were placed in the order named. For whites (Muscats of 

 Alexandria) Mr. Robins, gardener to E. Dyke Lee, Eaq , Mr. 

 Grimmett, and Mr. Douglas were placed in the order named. 

 For any other white kind Mr. Douglas was fir.st with Canon 

 Hall Muscat, well set and fine ; Mr. R. Sowerby being second 

 with an unnamed variety ; and Mr. Sage, Ashridge, third with 

 Foster's White Seedling. 



There were half a dozen good dishes of Strawberries, Mr. 

 Douglas being first with splendid fruit, Mr. Phillips second, and 

 Mr. Kaile third ; and the same number of dishes of Cherries, 

 Mr. Miles, gardener to Lord Carington, being, as usual, to the 

 front with Black Circassian and Elton; Mr. Ward, Longford 

 Castle, and Mr. Chard having the remaining prizes. Five dishes 

 of Peaches were exhibited, and the same number of Nectarines, 

 the quality of the fruit, saving one dish, being uniformly good. 

 Mr. Sage, Ashridge, and Mr. Shrimpton, gardener to Lady 

 Rothschild, had the prizes for Peaches ; and Mr. Woodbridge, 

 Siou House, and Mr. Miles for Nectarines. 



There were seven dishes of Tomatoes, Mr. Miles's including 

 "Large Red" and Stamfordian,the former being tbe largest and 

 smoothest fruit. Mr. Douglas had Carter's Green Gage in splen- 

 did condition, and showing to advantage between the glowing 

 scarlet of Orangefield and Excelsior. Good dishes of Figs came 

 from Mr. Sage, Ashridge Park, and Mr. Miles. 



A particularly noteworthy dish of twenty pods of Vanilla 

 planifolia was exhibited by Mr. Woodbridge, gardener to the 

 Duke of Northumberland, Sion House. The pods were about 

 8 inches in length, perfectly ripe, and filled the air with their 

 fragrance. 



Only five Melons were shown, a nice pair coming from Mr. 

 Wildsmith, Heckfield, and another pair from Mr.AVar d, Lo ngfrd 

 Castle, Mr. Sage staging a single fruit of Gold in perfection in 

 the class for weight. These exhibitors, with Mr. Mearing, secured 

 the prizes. 



Botanical certificates were awarded to Messrs. Veitch for 

 hybrid Rhododendrons Princess Frederica, Prince George, and 

 Prince Leopold, also to Masdevallia Davitii; to Mr. Bull for 

 Ixora R-?gina., Hibiscus CoUerii, Smilax Shuttleworthii, Maranta 

 Massangeana, Aralia splendidissima, A. spectabilia, Artocarpiis 

 Cannonii, Croton Mortii, Dracfona insignis, and DieffenbaoMa 

 Shuttleworthii ; to Mr. B. S. Williams for Rhopala pubescens ; 

 and to Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Sons for Dactylis glomerata 

 latifolia variegata. We were unable to wait for the floral certi- 

 ficates and extra prizes, but noticed that Mr. Turner and Mr. 

 Foster submitted remarkably fine new show Pelargoniums ; 

 Mr. Burley, Brentwood, new zonals ; Mr. Bull, new double Ivy- 

 leaved varieties. Model and Excellence; and Messrs. Harrison 

 and Son, Leicester, a new Mimulus, a decided cross between 

 M. moschata and M. maculata, having the large spotted flowers 

 of the former and the Musk- scented leaves of the latter; Mr. 



