MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 237 



LONDON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S SHOW. 



(Continued from p. 166.) 



Ericas. — Of this lovely tribe the specimens exhibited were exceedingly well 

 grown, beautiful in bloom, and of vigorous growth. The plants were not tall and 

 straggling, hut whatever height, they were complete bushes, feathered down to 

 the edges of the pots ; generally, however, they were managed so as to have them 

 dwarf with a broad surface, the whole of it clothed with bloom. To render them 

 thus bushy, and even to overhang the edges of the pots, the growers stop the 

 leading shoots when the plants are young, and of the lateral ones judiciously thin 

 out all superfluous ones, and growing them in frames which are raised at the 

 corners six inches high so as to allow a current of air to pass through ; the sashes 

 are often wholly removed to give plenty of air, and in hot scorching sun a shade 

 is thrown over for a few hours. The surface of the ground in the frames is kept 

 moist, and gives a cool atmosphere, which contributes to the well being of the 

 plant in a great degree, and plants thus cultivated are scarcely ever affected with 

 mildew. In this manner we saw a fine collection of vigorous bushy plants, grown 

 at Mrs. Lawrence's. When the plants are in bloom, they are placed in the 

 greenhouse for show ; whilst here, the atmosphere is kept moist by pouring water 

 several times a-day upon the floor or stage on which the plants are placed; a 

 raised floor of gravel, filling up a tan-pit, or stone shelf, &c, are provided at Mrs. 

 Lawrence's. The soil in which it is found they grow the best is heath mould 

 that has a good d.-al of fibre in it, the surface being procured; this is not sifted 

 at all, but chopped up with the spade so as to be in a rough state. In potting, 

 some largish pieces are laid at the bottom mixed with portions of broken pots, 

 then the usual soil in which a few pieces of porous stone or pot are intermixed. 

 By this means the soil is kept from close binding ; being open and porous, the 

 water, &c, passes freely through, and the porous materials of stone, pot, &c, 

 hold moisture, so that in a temporary drought for lack of water the moistened 

 materials are found beneficial. 



In order to keep the roots at the sides of the pots cool, Mr. Barnes had the pots 

 placed inside larger ones, and the spaces between filled up with sand, which being 

 kept moist prudiu-es a very beneficial effect, and prevents the plants becoming brown. 



There was a collection of E. ventricosa in numerous hybrid varieties, exhibited 

 by W. H. Story, Esq., of Isleworth, which comprised the best grown lot of plants 

 we ever saw, aud in their pretty form, and varied colours, in such a profusion of 

 flowers, produced an admirable display. The following sorts were exhibited: 

 E. ventricosa alba hirsuta, rubra, dens.i rosea, hirsuta rosea, conspicua hirsuta, 

 purpurescens, coccinea, hirsuta superba, alba stricta, conspicua, fasci^ulata, rosea, 

 coruscans, fasciculata longiflora, dependens rosea, coccinea superba, tenuiflora 

 superba, perspicuoides, densa carnea, dependens superba. purpurea alba, coccinea 

 major, (No. 24) superbi-^ima. Each plant was about fifteen inches high above 

 the pot, aud half a yard across, very bushy, and in the most vigorous health. 



Heaths, 20 species. — 1st. Mr. May, gardener to E. Goodheart, Esq., (not 

 named.) Prize. Guld Knightian medal. 



2nd. Mr. Barnes, gardener to W. Norman, Esq., (not named.) Silver gilt medal. 



3rd. Mr. Goode, gardener to Mrs. Lawrence, E, ventricosa superba, coccinea 

 minor, tenuiflora, rosea superba, curviflora, vestita alba, ve,tita fulgida, cain- 

 panulata, inflata, mutabilis, intermedia, Westphalingia, splendens, Linneoides, 

 dependens, perspicua nana, Cavendishii, (very superb,) Beaumontia, depressa. 



4th. Mr. Jackson, nurseryman, Kingston, (not named.) Silver gilt medal. 



A magnificent plant of Erica depressa was exhibited by Messrs. Veitch's of 

 Exeter; it was jj feet high, and 2 across, having upwards of 600 heads of its 

 lovely greenish yellow flowers ; the plant was admirably well grown, clothed 

 beautifully in every part, so as completely to hide the stem. This kind well de- 

 serves to be grown in every collection. 



Erica splendens. — This fine species was exhibited by W. H. Story, Esq., and 

 Mr. Barnes ; each plant was about 2j feet high, and were one mass of beauty. 

 The fine tubular-formed flowers, of a beautiful orange-scarlet colour, produced a 

 fine effect. It deserves a place in every collection. 



Erica odorata alba. — Mr. Green exhibited a plant about half a yard high, which 

 was an entire surface mass of flowers, anil the pure white, pendulous, bell-formed, 

 Wry fragrant blossoms, were delightfully pretty. It deserves to be grown in 

 '■ ery collection. 



