202 



JOUENAIi OF HOnrXGULTUBE A.ND COTIAGE GARDENER. 



[ September 2, 1870. 



it may have a place on the rockery or border planted in the 

 compost named above. 



Pol.Tgala cbamaibuxus ia the largest of the race, and of half- 

 ehiubby habit. Its leaves have a Box-like appearance, and the 

 plant ia of prostrate growth. It is said to have been intro- 

 duced into this country more than two hundred years ago. It 

 might be asked, Where has it been since ? for seldom is it seen 

 except in some nursery as a store plant. It is an early spring- 

 blooming plant with two shades of yellow pea-like flowers, 

 and what adds to its charms is that it affords us a most 

 delicious perfume. It is increased by cuttings and divisions. 

 It is invaluable for the spring garden, rockery, or border, and 

 only needs to be known to be appreciated. — -Veeitas. 



EOYAL HOKTICDLTORAL SOCIETY. 



September 1st. 



This Exhibition is designated the Dahlia Show, but Dahlias 

 constituted a very small portion of the display, and the blooms 

 generally were small. The plants as a rule are backward this 

 year owing to the wet and cold month of July, and on this 

 account mauy notably good growers cannot exhibit in their usual 

 style of excellence. By far the most attractive classes were the 

 Gladioli. Of this, the Innest of autumn flowers, splendid spikes 

 were staged. Asters were also exceedingly fine. The Exhibi- 

 tion was not large, and did not show to advantage in the lengthy 

 corridor, whereas iu a smaller place, as for instance the Couucil- 

 room, the effect would have been quite imposing. 



In the open class for thirty-six Dahlias, distinct, Mr. J. 

 Keynes, Salisbury, was the only exhibitor. His collection com- 

 prised beautiful, symmetrical, but on the whole not large blooms. 

 Some of the besli were Prince Arthur, Edward Purchase, William 

 Keynes, Henry Walton, Juno, Flora Wyatt, Julia Davis, and two 

 very fine seedlings. In the nurserymen's class for twenty-four 

 blooms Mr. Keynes was sgain without an opponent. Iu this 

 stand Pauline, James Cocker, Hugh Miller, Arbitrator, Queen's 

 Messenger, John Staudish, Annie Neville, and Henry Glass- 

 cock were very perfect. 



In the amateurs' class for twelve blooms were five competi- 

 tors, the most perfect stand coming from H. Glasscock, Esq , 

 Bishop's Stortford. The blooms were not large, but their finish 

 and refinement was very noticeable. They consisted of James 

 Cocker, Miss Henshaw, Willie Eckford, Vice-President, John 

 Standish, Acme of Perfection, Lady G. Herbert, Cremorne, Her 

 Majesty, J. N. Keynes, Mrs. Harris, and James Service. The 

 next best blooms in this class came from Mr. G. Smith, Edmon- 

 ton. They were small but of perfect form, especially Charles 

 -Backhouse, Edward Purchase, and Willie Eckford. Larger 

 blooms were staged by Mr. Ansliss, Brill, Bucks, aud some cf 

 them were very perfect, especially Flora Wyatt, John Standish, 

 and Edwaid Creed. Mr. Griffiths, Wood Green, was placed 

 third with smaller blooms. In the open class for twelve Fancy 

 Dahlias Mr. Keynes was the only exhibitor. The most at- 

 tractive blooms were Flora Wyatt, Fanny Sturt, Pauline, Parrot, 

 Mrs. Saunders, and Egyptian Prince. In the corresponding 

 class for amateurs, six blooms, Mr. Glasscock had charming 

 blooms of Flora Wyatt, Louis Haslam, Grand Sultan, Viceroy, 

 Pauline, aud Mrs. Saunders ; Mr. Anstiss following. His best 

 blooms were Eev. J. B. M. Camm, Egyptian Prince, and Mrs. 

 Saunders. 



Gladioli — In the open class for twenty-four varieties some 

 magnificent spikes were staged, as maybe expected when such 

 a grower as Mr. Kelway ia beaten, as he was ou this occasion by 

 Messrs. Robertson & Galloway, Glasgow. This was a noble 

 collection :— Monsieur LegouvC, Ondine, Hercules, Orpheus, 

 Pactole, Psyche, Warrior, Adolphe Brogniart, Sylvia, John 

 Waterer, Seda, Madame Desportes, and Amalthea were the best 

 varieties. Messrs. Kelway had the second place, noticeable 

 being Felix, Shakespeare, Osci, Serapis, Mrs. Reynolds Hole, 

 Hermannii, Palamedas, and Xerxes. 'The varieties named com- 

 prise some of the finest iu cultivation. Mr. Douglas also had a 

 collection which embraced some good spikes aud bright-coloured 

 flowers, aud took the third prize. 



In the open class for twelve varieties, Bev. H. H. Dombrain 

 was first with grand spikes, every one of them good. Meyerbeer 

 was especially imposing by its long symmetrical spike, and Le 

 Vesuve by the brilliancy and texture of its flowers. Trium- 

 phans. Princess Mary of Cambridge, and Talisman were also 

 very fine. Mr. Douglas, Loxford Hall, had the second place 

 with mostly his own seedlings, but we fancied that this able cul- 

 tivator was scarcely equal to himself on this occasion. In the 

 amateurs' class for six spikes Rev. H. H. Dombrain was again 

 in the ascendant, and Mr. Douglas was very close at his heels. 

 A seedling, bright mauve and white, in Mr. Douglas's collection 

 was very striking. The third prize went to Mr. Harding, gar- 

 dener to Mrs. Benham, Syon Lodge, Isleworth. 



AsTEKs were very fine indeed, but, as pointed out by the Hon. 

 and Rev. J. T. Boscawen, the ornamental aud serrated paper in 

 which some of the blooma were set detracted from the beauty 



of the flowers, which undoubtedly showed to advantage on 

 plain circular bases. P'or twenty-four French Asters in twelve 

 varieties (open), Mr. Wheeler, Warminster, had the first place 

 with some of the finest blooms which have ever been staged, 

 Mr. Stickler, gardener to — May, Esq., Reigate, being second; 

 and Mr. Morgan, gardener to Major Scott, Wray Park, third. 

 And for Quilled or German Asters Mr. Wheeler was again in 

 the first place ; Mr. Benham, Baguor, Newbury, being second. 

 Mr. Morgan also exhibited, and Mr. Turner sent a collection of 

 remarkably compact and distinct blooms of great merit. 



For twelve pots of Asters (open), Mr. Dean, Ealing, was the 

 only exhibitor, with massive pots of Victoria. 



Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading, offered prizes of silver and 

 bronze medals for collections of twenty-four Asters in twelve 

 varieties, which were won by Mr. Morgan and Mr. T. Benham 

 respectively. The blooms were very fine, and creditable alike 

 to seedsmen and growers. 



Hollyhocks. — In the nurserymen's class for twelve cut blooms 

 Mr. Wheeler, Warminster, was the only exhibitor with fair 

 blooms, which, however, had received injury from the weather 

 or in transit. In the class for twelve double Zionias Mr. 

 Wheeler had the first place with very good aud distinctly- 

 coloured blooms, the second prize going to Mr. Morgan, gar- 

 dener to Major Scott, the bright colours iu this stand being 

 particularly dazzling. Fcr six Liliums in pots Mr. Turner, 

 Slough, was the only exhibitor. He had six pots of L. auratum 

 averaging twelve blooms each, several of which measured 12 to 

 1-5 inches in diameter, and were very fine. 



Mr. B. S. Williams exhibited an attractive collection of mis- 

 cellaneous plants, amongst which Odontoglossum R)ezlii and 

 Catleya gigas were noticeable amongst the Orchids ; Berto- 

 lonias. Ferns, and Palms were exhibited iu small but healthy 

 plants, and conspicuous was half a dozen gigantic Cockscombs 

 measuring 30 inches each from tip to tip. Mr, Aldous also 

 staged a group of well grown decorative plants. Extra prizes 

 were awarded. 



Feuit. — In these classes there was a nice but not a large dis- 

 play, and in regard to the Apples some mistakes were apparent. 



For nine fruits of Irish Peach Apple the premier award went 

 to Mr. R, Dean, Ealing, for a dish bearing a greater resemblance 

 to Red Astrachan than Irish Peach. For the same number of 

 Early Julien, Mr. Harding, Syon Lodge, Isleworth, had the first 

 prize for a conical-shaped Apple, which if Early Julien at all is 

 of an abnormal shape; a dish of what appeared to be the true 

 Early Julien by its side being passed by unnoticed. For six 

 fruits of Lord Suflield. Mr. Brush, gardener to Lady Hume 

 Campbell, The Grove, Piuner, was placed first, and Mr. Dean 

 second, for very good fruit. In the class for nine fruits of any 

 kind of dessert Apple the first award went to Mr. Benham for 

 Red Astrachan, Mr. Douglas being second with Kerry Pippin. 

 This is an instance of quality succumbing to colour, of intrinsic 

 table merit to outward show. 



For six fruit of Souvenir du Congres Pear Mr. Douglas had 

 the premier award for a very fine dish. For six fruits of Madame 

 Treyve Mr. Wheeler, Warminster, and Mr. Douglas were placed 

 first and second respectively ; and for the best dish of any other 

 dessert Pear Mr. Doiiglas won with a splendid dish of Wilhams's 

 Bon Chretien; Mr. Gardiner, gardener to B. P. Shirley, Esq., 

 Lower Eatington Park, being second with smaller specimens of 

 the same kind. 



Plums. — For six varieties of nine fruits each the first award 

 went to Mr, Bridgeman, gardener to J. S. Cocks, Esq., Great 

 Marlow, for Kirke's, Green Gage, Jefferson, Washington, Reiua 

 Claude Violette, and Diamond. Mr. Burnett, gardener to Mrs. 

 Hope, Deepdene, being second with Dennistone's Superb and 

 Victoria in addition to those above named ; the third award 

 going to Mr. Record, Vinters Park, Maidstone. These collec- 

 tions were very good, the third being nearly equal to the first, 

 and quite so to the second. The class for three varieties Mr. 

 Bridgeman had the first place with Kirke's, Jefferson's, and 

 Washington ; Mr. Burnett being again placed second, and Mr. 

 Record third. 



For the best single dish of Peaches the award went to Mr. 

 Dean, Ealing, for fine fruit of Grosse Mignonne ; and for the 

 best dish of Nectarines Mr. Douglas won with a handsome dish 

 of Pine Apple. An extra prize was awarded to Mr. Dean for 

 Moorpark Apricots. 



Fruit Committee. — Henry Webb, Esq., iu the chair. Two 

 sorts of autumn-bearing Raspberries — viz., Surpasse Meryeille 

 Saisons Blanc and Saisons Rouge were sent from the Society's 

 gardeus. The autumn fruit of Raspberries ia generally wanting 

 in flavour. 



Melon Duke of Connaught was sent by Mr. C. Osman of the 

 Metropolitan District Schools, Sutton ; it was not iu good con- 

 dition. A hybrid Melon was also sent by Mr. G. Anderson, The 

 Gardens, Slopes Wallsey, but the flavour was very bad. 



Seedling Damsons No. 1 and 2 were sent by Mr. W. Horley, 

 Toddington, Beds, but they are not materially different from. 

 the ordinary Damson. 



The Rev. A. Rawson, The Vicarage, Bromley Common, sent 



