380 



JOUENAL OF nOETICDLTURE AND COTTAGE GABDENKR. 



( May 14, 1874. 



taken with the nice, clean, undamaged state of the plants and the 

 lightness of the package, and expressed his surprise to us that 

 Buch material had never been used by nurserymen. No doubt 

 if a demand were to spring up for such, it could be supplied in 

 various qualities even much cheaper than it is now. 



The enormous traffic there is in Vines in pots, and the out- 

 rageously nnnecessary-sized pots in which most purchasers in- 

 sist on receiving them, is one of the greatest mistakes in the 

 whole round of plant-culture, not looking at the question from 

 the carriage standpoint at all. This is especially applicable to 

 Vines for planting, which are generally sought from 6 to 7 feet 

 long in large pots. The whole thing is a mistake, both for the 

 seller and receiver. Given two Vines, one in an 8 or 10-inch 

 pot, C feet long (and setting aside everything but the quality of 

 the Vine), and another in a 6-inch pot, a yard or 4 feet high 

 at the most, stiff, and standing erect without a stake, with its 

 best buds about 2i feet from the bottom, and filled with a mass 

 of fjbry roots — we would choose the latter, not only on 

 account of the small package that is requued for transit, but 

 because it is the best-ripened and most twiggy-rooted Vine, 

 having the best buds at the part from which the young growths 

 are allowed to spring for furnishing the Vine. A long Vine 

 has its best buds near its top, and the cultivator, after plant- 

 ing, rubs these off and brings away growths from weaker buds 

 at the front light of his vinery. How easy it is to pack 6-inch 

 pot Vines. Turn them out of their pots and wrap a piece of 

 coarse canvas, or even strong paper, round the ball, or rather 

 mass of roots, and the weight of pots is saved, and less space 

 required to pack in, and when received pop them into 6-inch 

 pots. The long Vine in a large pot, when the plant is required 

 to plant out, is a great mistake ; what is wanted is a concen- 

 trated weU-ripened bud and twiggy roots. — (The Gardener.) 



CRYSTAL PALACE SHOW. 



May Oth. 



This was held fully a week sooner than usual ; and though 

 many of the specimens had not arrived at their full beauty, 

 and there was a falling off-both in quantity and quality in 

 many of the classes, the Exhibition well merited the numerous 

 attendance of visitors which it secured, notwithstanding the 

 coldness of the day. 



Among the stove and greenhoiise plants a great deficiency 

 was created by the absence of Mr. Baines' grand coUections, 

 which have recently been dispersed ; but Mr. Ward, gardener 

 to F. G. Wilkins, E?q., Leytou, who was first for twelve, ex- 

 hibited large, finely-bloomed specimens of Hedaroma Ilookeri 

 and tulipiferum, Aphelexis macrantha purpurea and rosea, 

 Statice profusa, very fine; Azaleas, and Anthurium Scherze- 

 rianum with a score of finely-coloured spathes. The remaining 

 prizetakers in this class were Mr. Kemp, gardener to the Duke 

 of Northumberland, Albury Park ; Mr. Peed, gardener to Mrs. 

 TredweU, Lower Norwood ; and Mr. G. Wheeler, gardener to 

 Sir F. Goldsmid, Bart., Regent's Park. In the nurserymen's 

 class Messrs. Jackson & Sous, Kingston, took the lead with 

 excellent specimens of Heaths, Azaleas, Aphelexis macrantha 

 purpurea, and Dracophyllum gracile. Mr. Williams, of Hollo- 

 way, followed with a magnificent specimen of Anthurium Scber- 

 zeriannm with some thirty llowers, Acrophyllum venosum, very 

 fine ; and other excellent specimens. Mr. Morse, Epsom, was 

 third. In the amateurs' class for nine, Mr. Peed took the lead 

 ■with a large bush of Tetratheca ericrefolia, a very good speci- 

 mens of Epacris miniata splendens, and other plants shown by 

 him in a similar collection last year. Mr. Donald, gardener to 

 J. G. Barclay, Esq., Leyton ; Mr. J. Wheeler, gardener to J. 

 Phillpott, Esq., Stamford Hill; and Mr. D. Bain, gardener to 

 J. Scott, Esq., Bickley Favk, secured the other awards. In groups 

 arranged for effect the prizes went to Messrs. Foreman, Fewell, 

 and Peed. 



In groups of sis fine-foliaged plants we noticed fine specimens 

 of Alocasia metallica, Maranta Veitchii, Grotons, Latania bor- 

 bonica, and some other Palms. Mr. Fewell, gardener to Mrs. 

 Sargood, Broad Greeu Lodge, who was first, had a noble example 

 of Alocasia Lowii. Messrs. Bain and Donald secured the re- 

 maining prizes. 



Heaths were shown in collections of eight and of six. Mr. 

 Ward, gardener to F. G. Wilkins, Esq., had large, finely- 

 bloomed plants of Ventricosa magnitica and Eximia superba in 

 the latter class, taking the first prize ; and other good specimens 

 were shown by Messrs. Peed, Morse, Kemp, and J. Wheeler. 



Azaleas, with a few exceptions, were not up to the mark ; the 

 large plants were deficient in bloom, and many of the smaller 

 ones had a ragged appearance. The chief prizetakers among 

 nurserymen were Messrs. Williams, Turner, and Laue ; among 

 amateurs G. Wheeler, J. Wheeler, and G. Roach. In the groups 

 of twenty, grown in 12-inch pots, Mr. Turner, of Slough, and 

 Messrs. Jackson, of Kingston, furnished excellent plants con- 



sisting of varieties different from those represented in the ordi- 

 nary run of exhibition specimens. 



Of Orchids some very good examples were staged. Mr. Ward, 

 who was first in the amateurs' class for fifteen, had excellent 

 specimens of Odontoglossum Phalsenopsis, Pescatorei, Alexan- 

 dra;, Lycaste Skinneri, &c. Mr. G. Wheeler was second. For 

 six the prizetakers were Mr. Peed and Mr. J. Wheeler ; and in. 

 the nurserymen's class Mr. Williams, Mr. Morse, and Messrs. 

 Jackson. Mr. Williams had Cypripedium caudatum with eight 

 blooms, C. villosum, Dendrotiium infundibulum. Foxbrush 

 Aerides, and two fine plants of Vanda tricolor vars. superba and 

 meleagris, the latter with six spikes. 



Pelargoniums of the Show kinds were best represented in the 

 nine from Mr. Ward, which were first in the amateurs* class, and 

 which comprised splendid plants of Rob Roy and Rose Celestial. 

 Mr. James was second ; while in the nurserymen's division the 

 awards fell to Messrs. Dobson, of Isleworth, and Mr. Turner. 



The most striking and successful part of the whole ExhibitioE 

 was, however, the display of Roses in pots. Those from Messrs. 

 Paul, of Cheshunt, and Mr. Turner, of Slough, were probably 

 the most superb specimens ever exhibited, and so evenly- 

 balanced were the merits of the two collections of ten, that they 

 were awarded equal first prizes. Messrs. Paul & Son had 

 Madame de St. Joseph, Mdlle. Theri-se Levet, John Hopper, 

 Celine Forestier, Victor Verdier, Horace Vernet, Anna AJexieff, 

 Princess Mary of Cambridge, Charles Lawson, and Dr. Andry. 

 Mr. Turner sent Victor Verdier, Madame de St. Joseph, Sou- 

 venir de Malmaison, .Juno, Charles Lawson, Paul Perras, Duke 

 of Edinburgh, Anna Alexieff, Beauty of Waltham, and Souvenir 

 d'un Ami. Mr. Turner also contributed the only group of 

 fifteen, and Messrs. Paul of twelve, but in both cases these were 

 admirably grown and bloomed, well deserving the first prizes 

 awarded. Mr. Moorman, gardener to the Misses Christy, Coombe 

 Bank, Kingston, was first in the amateurs' class. 



Among miscellaneous subjects were collections of Clematis 

 from Messrs. Jackman, of Woking (to whom a first prize was 

 also given in the class provided for that flower); from Mr. Ley, 

 nurseryman, Croydon; Messrs. Cutbush, Highgate; Messrs. 

 Downie, Laird, & Laing; Messrs, Rollisson ; and Mr. Wilhams, 

 HoUoway. Groups of fine-foliaged and flowering plants, and fin© 

 stands of cut Roses from Mr. William Paul, who also contributed 

 a very ornamental collection of Ivies. Messrs. Downie & Co. 

 and Mr. Hooper, of Bath, exhibited several stands of show and 

 fancy Pansies, and the latter Tulips and Ranunculuses as well; 

 Mr. Ware, of Tottenham, bedding and other Pansies ; and 

 Messrs. Dobson, Calceolaries. Mr. Croucher, gardener to J. 

 Peacock, Esq., Sudbury House, Hammersmith, exhibited three 

 immense specimens of Echinocactus visnaga, which excited 

 much attention on the part of the visitors. Among new plants. 

 Agave Taylorii, Adiantum gracillimum, Ceterach aureum, and 

 Ficus Parcelii from Mr. Williams, and Betula alba purpurea 

 from Mr. W. Paul, had certificates. 



FLORENCE INTERNATIONAL HORTICULTURAL 



EXHIBITION AND BOTANICAL CONGRESS. 



The opening of the new markets at Florence has furnished 

 the occasion for holding a great International Horticultural 

 Exhibition and Botanical Congress, such as has already taken 

 place at Brussels, Amsterdam, London, St. Petersburg, Paris, 

 and Vienna. Thither are the savants, the connoisseurs, and 

 amateurs of botany and horticulture tending, and during the 

 time from the 12th to the 20th of this month the ancient 

 capital of Tuscany will hold high holiday. We cannot give 

 any report of these proceedings this week, as at the time of 

 our going to press there is not time to have received any com- 

 munication which could convey an account of the proceedings, 

 but it is our intention next week to furnish our readers with 

 all the particulars of this effort of Italy to assert a claim to 

 recognition among the horticultural communities of the world. 



'there are few places that could have been better chosen than 

 Florence for such a gathering, with all its historical and high 

 art associations; and even if, as it has been said, there is 

 nothing worth calling gardening in southern Europe, where- 

 nature and not art mainly supplies man's wants, there will be 

 much to please and to satisfy the visitor in other branches of 

 knowledge. 



So far we have been mainly occupied with our journey, and 

 a few notes hastily thrown together as to our observations on 

 the route may not be uninteresting. Spring frosts, those hptes 

 nuircs of British gardeners, have this year extended to France, 

 and on the morning of the 4th telegrams reached the Minister 

 of the Interior in Paris that one of these scourges had passed 

 over the whole surface of the country, causing serious damage 

 to the Vine districts. This we found fully confirmed iu tra- 

 veUing down through the Cote d'Or and Burgundy. There the 

 Yiuts are completely blackened, and Jyoung leaves of the 



