66 



JODBNAL OP HORTICULTUBB AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



[ JiUy 23, 1876. 



error of delaying to sow the seed until the autumn, and thus 

 invite failure, or at the most only partial success. 



S. pendula alba is a nice companion plant to the ahove, and 

 S. pendula compacta is very valuable for a front row or for 

 small beds. The Silenes are the most certain, effective, and 

 easily produced of all early spring-flowering annuals. Sow at 

 once. — J., Battersea. 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



July 21st. 



For a length of time the light of the Society has been fading, 

 and was in fact all but extinguished. We had little to do be- 

 yond watching the dying embers and to note them one by one 

 mouldering away. At the last Show there was a flickering 

 of Life by a special and successful trade effort, otherwise what 

 should have been one of the brightest displays of the year would 

 have been a dreary and dismal blank. It was no wonder that 

 energetic measures were determined on by our representative 

 horticulturists, for to have remained any longer passive they 

 would have invited a verdict of disloyalty to an honourable yet 

 severely stricken cause. But action was taken in an effective 

 manner and to a profitable purpose, of which yesterday we 

 noted the first-fruits. It is a magical transformation from the 

 point of vacuity to complete fulness, from famine to plenty, 

 from death to life. The wet blanket is removed, the horti- 

 cultural flame is fanned, latent enterprise is kindled into 

 action, confidence is restored, and the first conditions of future 

 success are provided. We trust that now is laid the founda- 

 tion of national horticultural prosperity, and which will cul- 

 minate in the Society achieving a position of the first rank, to be 

 honoured and respected at home and abroad. Neither will this 

 be a success of a mere section, but a success which will obliterate 

 sections, and show that the advantages of what are known as 

 the local and horticultural interests are more nearly identical 

 than class-partisans dream of. We would merge all classes and 

 unite all resources, bury the past and look only to the future — 

 know nothing, indeed, but the elevation of horticulture to its 

 legitimate position as having a broad scope and illimitable 

 sympathies, and seek to place the Society in a position worthy 

 of its name and nation. 



But to the Show, for this time it is a Show, as may be expected 

 when such an influential body of contributors offer spontane- 

 ously the aid of their rich collections. Of those who so promptly 

 notified their intention to exhibit were Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, 

 Mr. B. S. Williams, Mr. Bull, Mr. Turner, Messrs. Paul & Son, 

 Messrs. J. & C. Lee, Messrs. Osborn it Sons, Mr. Standish, Mr. 

 Wills, Mr. Cntbusb, Mr. Laing, Mr. W. Paul, Mr. Wimsett, Mr. 

 Morse, Mr. Barr, and a number of other florists and private 

 gentlemen. 



An offering such as this commanded success — a success un- 

 equivocal and complete. The last summer show of the season 

 was not only the greatest, but greater than all the previous 

 shows combined. Hitherto we had half-filled corridors, but on 

 this occasion the spacious marquees were not only brought into 

 requisition, but they were crowded to repletion. For this 

 grand Exhibition the nurserymen have covered themselves 

 with honour, and have proved unmistakeably what English hor- 

 ticulturists can do when the craft they represent has due ofiicial 

 recognition and encouragement. We were mot at the outset by 

 the remark of an experienced exhibitor, " Where are you going 

 to begin ?" Well might he have asked the question, for the 

 aspect of the great plant marquee presented a bewildering array 

 of beauty. But as we happened to be standing near the collec- 

 tion of Messrs. Veitch & Sons we will begin there in our glance 

 at the commemorative section of this great Show. 



It was an extensive and magnificent bank, rich, varied, and 

 admirably arranged. The Tree Ferns and Palms towered aloft 

 from a base of ornamental-foliaged plants. The margin was 

 fringed with flowering plants, surmounted with Nepenthes 

 laden with huge pitchers. Striking amongst the flowering 

 plants were Begonias Vesuvius, Model, &c ; Liliums in variety. 

 Orchids rich and rare, Hydrangea paniculatum grandiflorum, 

 and a grand selection of Gloxinias. The basket Ferns Asple- 

 ninm longissimum contributed a nice feature to the group, and 

 the Sarracenias were curiously attractive. It was a collection 

 worthy of the efforts of the firm by which it was exhibited, and 

 more need not be said. 



At the opposite end of the tent Mr. B. S. Williams's noble 

 contribution was arranged. This was a bold and massive bank 

 of plants, which for size, quality, and arrangement have pro- 

 bably never been surpassed and seldom equalled. Tree Ferns, 

 Palms, Cycads, Crotons, Dracienas, itc, were conspicuous 

 amongst the fine-foliaged plants, the flowering section consist- 

 ing of Liliums, Anthuriums, Dipladenias, Stephanotes, Alla- 

 mandas, &c. This noble collection of plants was a central point 



of attraction, and well they might be, for their intrinsic excel- 

 lence commanded attention. 



Contiguous to these, and distinct in appearance, was the valu- 

 able group of Mr. C. Turner. They consisted mainly of splendid 

 specimens of Ivies, relieved by Liliums and fringed with Palms 

 and cut Roses. Everything in the collection was good, and the 

 effect was very striking. The decorative force of these Ivies 

 must be admitted when seen in the condition in which these 

 were shown. Facing these were the collections of Messrs. 

 J. & C. Lee, Mr. Wimsett and Mr. Aldous. Messrs. Lee's group 

 was extensive, and in remarkably good condition, and consisted 

 of Aloes, Ferns, Palms, Heaths, Liliums, &c., Mr. Wimsett'8 

 being of the same character; Mr. Aldous's bank comprising 

 smaller decorative plants, bright and fresh, as his plants in- 

 variably are. 



Flanking the centre of the tent and arranged on terraced 

 mounds were the imposing groups of Mr. Bull and Mr. Wills. 

 Mr. Bull's was so good that to particularise the meritorious- 

 plants were to name nearly all ; yet we note the massive Palm 

 Pritcharia grandis, the most distinct of all Dracienas — Goldieana, 

 the richness of colouring of Croton majesticum, the ram's-horn- 

 like form of C. volutum, and the fine character and finish ofi 

 C. spirale. The group also embraced a grand Phyllotfenium 

 Lindeni, Cycads, ]?alms, Lihums. Orchids, &c. It was a great 

 and valuable collection. Mr. Wills's plants were not quite so 

 large, but were equally healthy and attractive, and were bright 

 by a choice fringe of flowering plants. Noticeable were the 

 Orchids, Lilium longiflorum. Begonias in variety. Gloxinias, 

 Nerium splendens variegatum. Yuccas, Pandanuses, Palms, 

 Ferns, &c. Altogether this was a valuable contribution, and 

 Mr. Wills is to be complimented on his products. 



The central bed was occupied by Lord Londesborough on 

 the one side with Orchids, and on the other by J. Peacock, 

 Esq., with Succulents. The collection of one was exceedingly 

 brilliant, and the other extraordinarily curious. The OrchidB 

 were represented by Saccolabium Blumei with eight racemes, 

 Dendrochilum filiforme, Epidendrums vitellinum major and 

 nemorale majus ; Vandas Batemani and Bensonii, Oncidiums 

 lanceanum, &o., and a beautiful Disa from South Africa, similar 

 to one exhibited in the Council-room by Mr. Bull. These Or- 

 chids were not large, but very beautiful. A specimen Orchid 

 from Mr. Bates, gardener to W. H. Punchard, Esq., Twicken- 

 ham, deserves honourable mention; it is 4 feet through, with 

 over twenty spikes and a hundred blooms. Of the curiosities 

 of Mr. Peacock's it is impossible to select the most striking, but 

 we notice Echinopsia Wilkinsi in flower. E. scopa Candida, Mam- 

 millarias in variety, Agaves, Yuccas, Pandanuses, &c. — a very 

 valuable and interesting group. 



We now come to the outer circle of the marquee, and note 

 well-bloomed Ericas from Messrs. J. & C. Lee ; splendidly 

 coloured tricolor Pelargoniums, and very fine Liliums from 

 Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Sons ; admirably grown Caladiuma 

 from Mr. Clark, gardener to W. Shuter, Esq., Hampstead; im,- 

 mense Dicksonias from Mr. Wills ; a glowing collection of Zonal 

 Pelargoniums from Mr. W. Paul in nearly every imaginable 

 colour; clean, bright, and effective decorative plants from 

 Messrs. James Carter & Co. ; a rich and valuable collection of 

 ornamental plants from Messrs. liollisson & Sons, including an 

 immense Todea and brilliant pans of the lowly Nertera depressa 

 spangled with berries. Nepenthes, and fine baskets of Eeedia 

 glaucescens and Phyllanthus mimosiefolius. 



We now take breath and note effective and glowing Clematis, 

 with Ivies, Palms, etc., from Messrs. W. Cutbush & Son, 

 Hydrangeas from Mr. .\ldous, and beautiful Succulents from 

 Mr. Dean and E. G. Henderson A' Sons. For these plants good 

 prizes were offered ; the awards are in onr advertising columns. 

 Ferns and Fuchsias were exhibited by Mr. R. Parker, and 

 a rich and effective group of fine-foliaged plants by Messrs. 

 Osborne & Sons. Mr. Wheeler, gardener to Sir F. Goldsmid, 

 Bart., set up a highly creditable collection of flowering plants; 

 and well-bloomed and healthy Heaths came from Mr. Morse, 

 Epsom. Messrs. Ivery & Sons exhibited a very complete col- 

 lection of hardy Ferns; and Messrs. J. & C. Lee choice Conifers, 

 remarkable Quercuses, and Roses ; and Messrs. J. Jackson and 

 Sons brought twelve exceedingly fine and fresh Heaths. We 

 complete our notice of these groups by noticing a splendid col- 

 lection of specimen fine-foliaged plants from Mr. Harrow, gar- 

 dener to H. Bessemer, Esq., Camberwell, the Crotons being in 

 admirable colour, and the whole healthy ; and a collection of 

 well-bloomed Orchids from Mr. Stevens, gardener to the Duke 

 of Sutherland. 



PEL.iKoosunis. — These plants were arranged down the centre 

 of a tent 200 feet in longtb, and, as may as expected, they made 

 a brilliant display. Still on examination we could not fail to 

 be struck with the inferiority of a great number of the plants. 

 They lacked the refreshing freedom which we should like to 

 see, or at any rate the art of staking and tying should be more 

 hidden. 



In the nurserymen's class for eighteen Zonals, distmct, in 

 C-inch pots (open), Mr. Laing had the first place, Mr. Roser 



