July 8, 1875. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUBK AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



2S 



Mr. WilliamB was again without a rival. Besidea duplicates of 

 those above named, he had Ai'ridea virena Ellisii with two 

 beautiful racemes, Dendrobiura, Pierardia latitnlia, the two 

 main spikes having each forty flowers ; Dendrochilum filiciforme, 

 a Masdevallia, and Cypripedium. These classes were a magnet 

 point of interest to the visitors, tbe quaint and beautiful flowers 

 showing to advantage amongst the Ferns and Palms. 



Gloxinias were not good, having being injured in transit. 

 The first award went to Mr. Coleman, Walsal, who had very 

 nice examples of Queen Victoria, Pink Perfection, Queen of 

 Portugal, and Cerise Unique; Mr. Webb being placed second 

 with larger plants of inferior varieties. 



Succulents. — The class for twenty- five varifties of these 

 interesting plants brought out two beautiful collections from 

 Messrs. James Dickson it Sons, Newton Nurseries, Chester, 

 who had the first prize, and Mr. Pilgrim, Cheltenham. Messrs. 

 Dicksons' group consisted of Agaves cocciuea, applanata, de- 

 albata. ferox, uuivittata, Verschaffelti, Richardsi, amcena, hor- 

 rida, Celsii, ccerulescens, &c., with Opuntia cylindrica cristata, 

 Echinocactus hamatus and E. electracanthus, Melocactus cory- 

 nodes, tVc. The most striking in Mr. Pilgrim's group wereEche- 

 veria pulverulenta and Aloe grandidens. Than these plants 

 nothing in this Exhibition was more greatly admired, and the cul- 

 tivation of plants so thoroughly distinct can hardly fail to become 

 more general. They afford an enjoyable change from the rich- 

 ness of flowering plants and the elegance of Ferns, and the longer 

 they are grown the more ornamental and valuable they become. 

 We now come to plants of a directly opposite character — viz., 



Fuchsias. — The classes for these elegant plants were well 

 filled, and very fine but not gigantic specimens were staged. 

 For the best nine plants the first prize was awarded to Mr. 

 Caldicott, gardener to W. Matthews, Esq., Edgbaston, Mr. 

 Cushon being second, and Mr. Quarlermau third. The plants 

 were not closely trained, but were mostly of a pyramidal shnpe, 

 and in excellent health. Out of the seventy-five plants the best 

 were the old Venus de Medici, Lustre, Wave of Life, Senator, 

 very fine; Annie, Marguerita, Princess Beatrice, Eoderic Dhu, 

 extra fine; Miss Marshall, Nabob, very good; Blue Beauty, 

 Improvement, splendid flowers; and Noblesse. These were 

 generally exhibited better than were the 



Pelargoniums. — In the open class for six Show varieties Mr. 

 Turner, Slough, had the first place, Mr. Chadwick being second, 

 and Mr. Quarterman third. The plants were about 2 feet in 

 diameter, with good flowers, but were somewhat drawn by having 

 been retarded in the shade. For the best collection of twenty 

 plants the awards were the same. These were nice plants from 

 18 inches to 2 feet over. The best varieties were Scottish Chief- 

 tain, very rich; Blue Boy, distinct; Duke of Cambridge, 

 bright; Patrician, Protector, Highland Lassie, Claribel, tbe 

 best light variety ; Victory, Juno, Brutus, and, the best of all, 

 Ruth. For the best six Fancies Mr. Turner was again placed first, 

 and Mr. Quarterman second with plants calling for no comment. 

 In the Zonal classes were very good naturally-grown globular 

 plants, which is a more agreeable form than the pancake mode 

 of training which is often adopted. The best nine plants came 

 from Mr. Cushon, Mr. Quarterman being second, and Mr. Kim- 

 berley. Stoke Nursery, Slough, third ; and for six Nosegays, or 

 hybrid Nosegays, the awards went to Mr. Cushon and Mr. 

 Quarterman. For six gold or silver Tricolors Mr. Dobbins, 

 Worcester, Mr. Waters, and Mr. Turner were placed in the 

 order named; Peter Grieve and W. Sanday in Mr. Turner's 

 group being the brightest and best. In the Bicolor or Gold- 

 and-bronze class the awards went as follows : Mr. Dobbin first, 

 Mr. Pache second, and Mr. Coleman third. The plants gene- 

 rally were not superior, and further, they werestaged toohigh to 

 be seen to advantage. The prizes for Doubles were won — first 

 by Mr. Chadwick with compact plants, Double Tom Thumb being 

 remarkably good ; and second by Mr. Perkins with large 

 straggling specimens. 



In the miscellaneous classes Mr. Vertegans worthily had 

 extra awards for groups of tropical plants and Conifers of great 

 merit. Mr. Williams had also an extra award for a very beauti- 

 ful mixed group, the centre plant being a fine Anthurium, sur- 

 rounded by Ferns, Palms, Sonerillas, Dracaenas, Crotons, Cypri- 

 pediums, &c. Messrs. Veitch & Sons had also a rich display, 

 worthy alike of the admiration they received and of the reputa- 

 tion of their name. Amongst them were Nepenthes of rare ex- 

 cellence, remarkably fine Gloxinias, Sarracenias, Bertolonias, 

 Ferns, Agaves, with Draciena hybrida in splendid colour ; this 

 fine hybrid should be in all collections. Mr. Corp, Oxford, had 

 beautiful Tea-scented Roses, David Pradle evidencing great 

 merit as a rich pink for button-hole purposes. We must notice 

 a handsome gold Fern, Gymnogramma Alstonii, from Mr. 

 Brown, Blnadon Hall. It is most distinct and beautiful, the 

 pinms turning upwards and showing a portion of the under 

 snrface, giving the plant the appearance of being spangled with 

 bright gold. It is a distinct and valuable Fern, which Mr. 

 Brown may be proud to own. We close our notes on the plants 

 by an allusion to a remarkable specimen of Fancy Pelargonium 

 lUaminator from Mr. Fleming, gardener to R. Hington, Esq., 



Liverpool. It is a marvel of good culture, being a pyramid 

 about 5 feet in height and 4' yards rouud the base by adm^asure- 

 ment. It is in perfect health, and covered with flowers and 

 opening buds. Probably it is the finest plant of the kind which 

 has ever been exhibited. We now glanco briefly at the 



BosES— The best varieties for exhibition purposes were BO 

 fully noticed last week at the Crystal Palace and the Alexandra 

 Palace Shows, that an enumeration of the Roses now extiUntea 

 would amount to little more than a repetition and could serve 

 no useful purpose. Many blooms had been injured by the rams, 

 but yet some grand bo-Xes were exhibited. In Class -17, for 

 seveuty-two single blooms, for j£10 and the twenty-hve-guinea 

 silver challenge cup, Messrs. Cranston & Mayos, Kiug s Acre, 

 Hereford, won with a collection such as has seldom been equalled. 

 In size, colour, and freshness they were alike excellent. In 

 this class also the champion Rose of the Show, for which a 

 special prize was offered by T. Laxton, Esq., Stamford was 

 selected. It was a magnificent Seuateur Vaisse to which this 

 high honour was awarded. Mr. Cant was placed second ; Messrs. 

 Paul & Son third ; and Messrs. Whitten & Davison fourth. 

 There were three other competitors. For forty-eight varieties, 

 three trusses of each, Mr. Turner, Slough, won with grand 

 blooms of uniform excellence. Messrs. Cranston & Mayos were 

 second, and Messrs. Paul & Son and Mr. Cant being equal third. 

 This was a glorious class, massive and brilliant. Fur twenty- 

 four Hybrid Perpetuals of three trusses each, wf, re thirteen 

 competitors, Mr. Prince, Oxford , winning with a princely contri- 

 bution, the other awards going to Mr. Cant, Messrs. Cranston 

 and Mayos, and Mr. Turner in the order named. In the nursery- 

 men's class for twenty-four single blooms fifteen competi'd, the 

 honours falling to Mr. Turner, who staged really grand blooms ; 

 Mr. Prince, Messrs. Cranston & Mayos, and Mr. Cant respectively. 

 In the class for twelve Tea-scented Roses Mr. Cant won, followed 

 by Messrs. Paul & Son and Mr. Prince in the order named, who 

 all staged boxes of superior merit. We now come to the 

 amateurs' cla-tses. For the best forty-eight single blooms the 

 first prize and the twenty-five-guinea silver challenge cup was 

 won by Mr. Davis, Wilton, Salisbury, with an extraorfiinary 

 fine collection. Mr. Baker, Heavitree, being second with blooms 

 a trifle too much expanded, but splendid in colour and foUage ; 

 Mr. Staite, gardener to the Rev. C. Evans, Solihull, was third; 

 Mr. Laxton having the fourth place. Fourteen competed. For 

 thirty-six blooms twenty entered the list, the honours being 

 won in the order following— Mr. Mayo, Oxford ; Mr. Davis, Mr. 

 Evans, and Mr. Brown. In Mr. Mayo's collection was a lovely 

 bloom of Miss Ingram, all the boxes being very good. For 

 twenty-four blooms were no less than twenty-seven competitors, 

 Mr. Parnell, Rugby, winning first honours with a grand lot; 

 Rev. C. Evans being second; Mr. Davis third; and Rev. W. 

 Benn, Churohover Rectory, fourth. For twelve blooms were 

 twenty-five competitors, Mr. Parnell being placed first; Mr. 

 Jowitt, Hereford, second; Mr. Staite, SLlihull, third; and Mr. 

 Gould, Mortimer Vicarage, fourth. The merit in this class was 

 as great as the competition. For twelve Tea-scented Roses 

 fourteen competed, first honours going to Mr. Jowitt, second to 

 Mr. Laxton, third to Mr. Mayo, and fourth to Mr. Evans, with 

 lovely blooms of popular varieties. 



For the best twelve Roses of 1872, 1873, or 1874, Mr. Turner 

 won first honours, followed by Messrs. Paul & Son, Mr. Cant, 

 and Messrs. Cranston & Mayos in the order named. Fourteen 

 competed. For six blooms of the same years Mr. Cant was 

 first, Messrs. Cranston & Mayos second, Messrs. Paul & Sou third, 

 Mr. Corp fourth. In the above classes many grand Roses were 

 shown, Mr. Laxton having the best blooms of Madame La- 

 oharme we have yet seen. In the open class for twelve (•ingle 

 blooms Mr. Corp was placed first, Messrs. Cranston & Mayos 

 second, and Mr. Turner third. For twenty-four pot Roses 

 Messrs. Paul & Son had no rivals. In the classes for twelve 

 blooms of special standard varieties Mr. Paul was first for Alfred 

 Colomb; Cranston & Mayos and Messrs. Paul & Son being re- 

 spectively first and second for the Duke of Edinburgh; Mr. 

 Jowitt and Messrs. Perkins & Sons for Madame La Baronne de 

 Rothschild ; Mr. Turner and Messrs. Davison & Whitten for 

 La France ; Messrs. Paul & Son and Mr. Turner for Marie 

 Baumann ; Mr. Cant and Mr. Turner for Marfichal Niel ; and 

 Mr. Cant and Mr. Turner for Devoniensis. Some of the col- 

 lections were not super-excellent, while others, and especially 

 those last named, were very fine indeed. In this show of Roses 

 over five thousand blooms were exhibited, many of them of the 

 highest quality, and not surpassed by any show of the season, 

 except, perhaps, that at the Crystal Palace. It was a great and 

 grand exhibition, and received the lion's share of attention by 

 the general visitors. 



In the nurserymen's class for eighteen bunches of cut flowers 

 Messrs. Cole & Sons were placed first, Mr. Perkins second, and 

 Mr. Kimberley third; the corresponding class for amateurs 

 bringing to the front Mr. Chapman, Mr. Fox, and Mr. Webb. 

 In the open class for eighteen bunches of hardy flowers Mr. 

 Perkins was first, Mr. Chadwick second, and Mr. Kimberley 

 third. Than these collections perhaps none more beautiful have 



