506 



JOCBNAL OF HOBTIODLTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEB. 



[ Jane 29, 1876. 



fine flowers; Nepenthea ampnllaceum, N. Hookeriana and 

 N. Ifflvis, Sarracenia flava, and the distinct and beautiful S. flava 

 major; a bright plant of Epidendrum vitellinum, and near it 

 Todea snperba; Habrothamnus elegaus varieyata, very clear in 

 its markings; a fine plant of Orchis foliosa ; Cyoads, Palms, 

 including Geonoma princeps, a Palm of massive habit and great 

 promise ; and such fine-foliaged plants as Beidia glaucescens, 

 Aralia Veitohii gracillima, A. elegantissima, and Jacaranda 

 mimoEsefolia. 



Next came an equally large group from Messrs. James Carter 

 and Co. These consisted of room and conservatory decorative 

 plants, including Palms, Ferns, Oaladiums, Dracreuas, Marantas, 

 Dieftenbaohiaa, Phormiuras, &c., all in great variety, producing 

 an ornamental effect. Messrs. Carter also exhibited Coleus 

 Duke of Edinburgh in fine colour and a choice collection of 

 succulent plants. 



We now arrive at the collection of Messrs. W. Bollisson and 

 Sons. This was a capital group. At the back were Palms, 

 Dracasuas, Cycads, &o., brightened by Pandanus Veitcbii and 

 good plants of Spir.T3ipalraata. In the front were Cypripediums, 

 including C. spectabile and C. caudatum, very fine, and the 

 chaste C. uivenm; Goodyera vellatina, Filmy Ferns, and succu- 

 lents. 



Adjoining was Mr. Ley's collection, in which Palms and 

 Cycads predominated, and under their ample fronds were Cala- 

 diums, Marantas, Crotons, Dracseoas, &c., and a capital flower- 

 ing plant of the pure and sweet Pancratium fragraus, making 

 altogether a freely arranged and effective group. 



Last but not the least in effect was Mr. John Laing's collec- 

 tion. The back plants were composed of Pandanuses intermixed 

 with Palms and Phormiums, and in front of them the bicolor 

 Pelargoniums for which Mr. Laing is celebrated. Amongst these 

 were The Shah, Princess of Prussia, very fine; E. H Pollard, 

 Earl RosBlyn, Exquisite, a very superior variety, and, appro- 

 priately, Empress Eug<jnie. In this group were several cut 

 spikes of Delphiniums, stately and beautiful border flowers 

 worthy of notice; also cut blooms of Pyrethrums and plants of 

 the curious succulent Sempervivum BoUii. 



Such are a tew of the plants included in these collections. 

 They are mentioned because they are worthy of mention, and 

 because we have seldom an opportunity of enumerating them, 

 seeing them only on Wednesdays an hour or two before going 

 to press. The plants noticed are amongst the finest for decora- 

 tive purposes, and every one of them is worthy of being added 

 to collections in which they are not included. 



lu glancing at the classes no pretence is made to notice all the 

 collections or to enumerate the names of the whole of the prize- 

 winners. For twelve stove and greenhouse plants Mr. Mumford, 

 gardener to J. Scott, jun., Esq., had the post of honour with 

 fairly good plants, but the tying of them had been postponed too 

 long, and many of the flowers were, as a lady observed, " look- 

 ing sideways." For six plants Mr. Moulard, Belvedere Park, was 

 first with healthy and not too closely-trained plants. In this 

 group Ixora Williamsii was very well exhibited. Mr. Baynham, 

 gardener to Mrs. R. Gladstone, was second, his collection in- 

 cluding an effective plant of Meyenia erecta; Mr. Smith, 

 gardener to — Brown, Eeq, having the third place. For nine 

 fine-foliaged plants Mr. Moore, gardener to W. C. Pickersgill, 

 Esq., was placed first, his collection including one of the best- 

 grown plants of Cycas revoluta which we have ever seen. For 

 six fine-foliaged plants Mr. Crane, gardener to Mrs. Green, had 

 the first place, his group including a very large specimen of 

 Nepenthes distillatoria, Crotons Weismannii and angustifolia in 

 pood colour, Adiantum farleyense, Thrinax elegans, and Kentia 

 Fosteriana. Mr. Smith, gardener to G. W. Bourne, Esq., was 

 second, his best plants being a capitfllDicksonia and a very good 

 Alocasia metallica; Mr. Baynham being third, who staged an 

 admirable Alocasia macrorhiza variegata and a good Dieffen- 

 bacbia Bowmannii. For .six exotic Ferns Mr. Lovibond, 

 gardener to J. G. Hepburn, Esq., Sidcup Place, won with 

 Blechnum braziliense, Lomaria gibba, Gymnogramma peruviana, 

 G. Martensii, and Neottopteris virens. Mr. Cook, gardener to W, 

 Nash, Esq .was second, his group containing a fine plantof Wood- 

 wardia radicans; and Mr. Baynham third, who exhibited capital 

 examples of Gymnogramma Lancheana and G. peruviana argyro- 

 phylla. For single specimen Ferns Mr. Aiken, gardener to J. 

 Batten, Esq , was first with Gleiohenia flabellata, a fine plant 

 4 to 5 feet in diameter ; Mr. Lovibond being seconel with Cibo- 

 tium princeps; and Mr. Dack, gardener to G. E. Forrest, Esq., 

 third with Dickaonia antarctica. All the plants above men- 

 tioned were very well grown, the Ferna especially being in 

 superior condition. 



For the " most effective " arrangement of twelve plants in 

 32.sized pots Mr. Lovibond was first and Mr. Mumford second ; 

 but twelve small plants cannot be made to look effective on 

 36 square feet of boards, and a fav better effect would be pro- 

 daced to set apart a given space ann let each exhibitor occupy it 

 with what number of plants he likes. A little useful artistic 

 grouping might then be produced; but in the present in- 

 stance, althoDgh the plants were good, they looked thin and 



unattractive. Pelargoniums were, as a rule, poorly exhibited, 

 except the Bicolors, Tricolors, and Zonals from Mr. Nei{.hbour, 

 and these were well grown but rather too flttly trained. 

 Fuchsias from Mr. Neighbour were good in foliage and flowers, 

 and the plants were not too formally trained. Lycopods were 

 well exhibited by Mr. Gammon, gardener to C. Boosey, Esq. 

 Hdrdy Ferns were small but very healthy, the prizes going to 

 Mr. Neighbour, Mr. Clifford, and Mr. Gammon. Gloxinias were 

 good, especially Mr. Osborne's first-prize collection. Dracmnas 

 were medinm-sized healthy plants ; Mr. Moore, Mr. Baynham, 

 and Mr. Mouland Eecuring the prizes. We may, however, re- 

 mark that oiling the foliage to make it glossy is a " dodge " not 

 worthy of imitation. Achimenes, except those from Mr. Crane, 

 were only indiff> rent. Begonias (foliage) were extensively 

 shown and the plants good, Mr. Talmage, Mr. Jarvis, and Mr. 

 Neighbour receiving and meriting the prizes. In flowering 

 Begonias Mr. Mumford won with Vesuvius, Sedeni, Model, Dr. 

 Masters, Stella, and Master Ernest. Caladiums were exhibited 

 in admirable style, Mr. Gammon having the premier award for 

 six varieties with plants 3 feet high and through, Mr. Moncktou 

 being placed second, and Mr. Mumford third. An excellent ex- 

 ample of C. arpyrites was exhibited by Mr. Monckton. All the 

 varieties were healthy and in good colour. 



Of Roses there was an attractive display. Messrs. Paul & Son, 

 Cheahunt, were first in the class for forty-eight varieties, and, 

 indeed, in the other classes in which they exhibited, many of 

 their blooms being very tine, the finest that have this year been 

 exhibited. Other prize-winners were Mr. Gibson, Mr. Todmau, 

 Mr. Noble, Mr. Talmage, Capt. Christy, &c. 



A tent was devoted to and well filled with Table Decorations. 

 For the best table, 10 feet by 5 feet, open to ladies of West Kent 

 only, there were nine competitora. I'he decorationa were gene- 

 rally heavy, and the prizes appeared to be awarded to the 

 heaviest. Miss M. A- Goldingham bad the first prize, her nine 

 glass baskets, &c., being filled with Grasses, flowers, and foliage 

 artistically disposed. Mrs. W. Nash, Rookery, Downe, being 

 second, whose decoration included fruit; Miss Lovibond being 

 third with an effective arrangement, including good fruit, an 

 extra prize going to Miss Hutton and Miss Booaey for a 

 chastely arranged table. But the lightest and most tasteful 

 arrangement of all was the table of Miss Mary Waring, and we 

 cannot but think it an oversight to have passed it without re- 

 cognition. The decorations consisted of Grasses, Ferns, and 

 white Roses. The Judges in this tent had " large eyes," but 

 Miss Waring secured the lion'a ahare of public appreciation. 

 The single decorations were very good. Miss Lovibond and Miss 

 Hutton being the moat successful. The beet basket of cut 

 flowers came from Mrs. E. H. Brimble, Freelanda Road. Glasses 

 of hardy Grasses and wild flowera were highly creditable for 

 taste in arrangement, the Misses Waring securing the prizes. 



Fruit. — Some very good fruit was staged. For a collection of 

 six dishes Mr. Baynham was first with a small Pine, black and 

 white Grapes well finished. Melon, Peaches, and Strawberries; 

 Mr. Neighbour being second with a collection mnch the same, 

 but with a dish of Nectarines in the place of a Pine. For the 

 best Pine the prize was secured by Mr. Churchfield, gardener to 

 H. Lyttleton, Beq., Westwood House, Sydenham, for a Queen 

 of 4J lbs. Mr. Baynham had the first prize for Melons with 

 Colston Bassett, Mr. Moore being second with Blendon Hybrid. 

 For Peaches Mr. Cook won with Royal George, followed by Mr. 

 Gammon with Early Albert. For Nectarinea Mr. Neighbour 

 was first with Elruge, very good ; Mr. Field, gardener to N. 

 Palmer, Esq., being second with Violette Hative. For the best 

 single bunch of Black Hamburgh Grapes Mr. Mouland won with 

 a fine bunch, Mr. Pollock being second with a smaller but well- 

 finished bunch. For the best single bunch of Muscat of Alex- 

 andria Mr. Pepper, gardener to G. W. Norman, Esq., won with 

 a fine but unripe bunch " cut from a Vine over a hundred years 

 old." For three bunches of Black Hamburgbs Mr. Crane, Mr. 

 Green, and Mr. Moore were placed in the order of their names 

 for very excellent examples of culture ; and for three bunches 

 of white Grapes Mr. Mouland was first with highly superior 

 examples of Buckland Sweetwater, Mr. Crane being second for 

 capital Royal Muscadines, and Mr. Smith third for Buckland 

 Sweetwater. Strawberries were email, except a dish of Sir J. 

 Paxton from Mr. Neighbour. 



Some good vegetables were exhibited, the best Caoamber 

 being Tender and True from Mr. Neighbour and Mr. Lane. For 

 the collections of vegetables the principal prizes went to Mr. 

 Neighbour and Mr. Eke. 



Mr. Todman, Eltham Nurseries, exhibited a large and good 

 collection of Conifers. Prizes were also awarded to cottagers 

 for vegetables and window plants. A meed of recognition is due 

 to the officials of the Show for their courtesy and attention. 



THE EXETER ROSE SHOW. 



Once mce the Rose (show season baa commenced, and once 

 more the fair capital of the precocious west has led the van. 

 Exeter the city of flowers, the birthplace of Devoniensis, one 



