26 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND. COTTAGE GARDENER. 
{ July 11, 1878. 
The manner in which the ground in the large marquee is laid 
out demands notice. The design adopted is a modification of the 
plan recently submitted by Mr. Johnson, landscape gardener, 
Belfast, to the Council of the Society in London, and is not only 
a great improvement on that plan, but is really an admirable, 
tasteful, and successful mode of displaying the plants and coilec- 
tions individually, as well as producing a delightfully varied and 
picturesque effect when viewed as a whole. Three entrances are 
provided to the tent—one at each end, and a third in the centre of 
the south side. A broad curving walk encircles the great en- 
closure at the proper distance from the sides of the tent to enable 
the large specimen flowering and ornamental-foliaged plants being 
arranged on the sloping banks there formed, and which are made 
to assume a series of small promontories of bold yet smooth out- 
line. Along the centre of the tent, or nearly the centre, the pro- 
minent feature is a serpentine sheet of water nearly 200 feet long 
and 8 to 9 feet wide in the narrow parts between the semi-islands, 
and more than double that width where the plant mounds are not 
opposite to each other. There are fifteen of these mounds jutting 
into the water ; they are mostly oval-shaped, 8 or 9 feet by 6 feet. 
Standing on inyerted pots placed in the water are tall Tree Ferns | 
from Mr, Williams’s rich stores at Holloway, and the avenue of 
these stately stems being reflected in the water, which is fortu- | 
nately clear, constitutes one of the most picturesque features of , 
| of remarkable beauty. Croton Williamsii and C. Prince of Wales 
the Show. On the mounds or semi-islands are the collections of 
Orchids, new plants, Ferns, highly coloured Draceenas, &c., and | 
the general effect produced is rich yet chaste and peculiarly re- 
freshing. The centre cf the tent—the water scene—is, of course, 
considerably depressed, the sides being proportionally elevated, 
and altogether the tent is extremely diversified and highly im- 
posing. Beautiful views are obtained from the three elevations 
that have been formed—one in the centre at the southern entrance | 
| six good Orchids; Oncidium macranthum has splendid flowers, 
to the marquee, and the others one near each corner on the opposite 
or north side of the structure. 
to as encircling the tent, an inner walk also encircles the water, 
and a large bold pile of rockwork decorated with plants, and from 
which a miniature cascade trickles, breaks the uniformity of the 
Show and imparts variety to the marquee. 
In addition to the sloping banks round the sides of the building 
two large irregular-shaped beds 20 to 30 feet in diameter are 
formed on either side of the tent near the eastern entrance. The 
one on the left is occupied by the extremely rich and singularly 
beautiful miscellaneous collection of Messrs. James Veitch and 
Sons ; the opposite mound being jointly occupied by Mr. B. 8. 
Williams, Holloway, and Messrs. Rollisson & Sons, Tooting. The 
Holloway collection consists of about one hundred choice and rare 
fine-foliaged and flowering plants of moderate growth. Messrs. 
Rollisson’s render their group distinct and highly attractive by 
the introduction of several moderate-sized specimens of Ericas in 
the best old and some valuable new yarieties. A large box filled 
with small plants of the beautiful smooth-flowered E. Denni- 
soniana is extremely attractive and commands much attention. In 
fine contrast are similar boxes of the richly coloured varieties 
Massoni major and tricolor profusa. Messrs. Veitch’s collection 
contains the grand Alocasias Warroqueana, Veitchii, and Thibauti- 
ana; a splendid assortment of Tuberous Begonias, including the 
distinct and brilliant B. Davisii ; choice Rhododendrons, Crotons, 
Orchids, Gloxinias, Nepenthes, and other varieties for which the 
Chelsea establishment is famed. Than these two entrance groups 
nothing in the Exhibition is more attractive and more generally 
admired. The corresponding beds at the opposite end are occu- 
pied with amateurs’ collections. 
But speaking of the amateurs we must express strong approval 
of the magnificent specimens belonging to Mr. Shuttleworth, 
which constitute by far the finest contribution of its kind in the 
Show. Both flowering and fine-foliaged plants are grand in size, 
symmetry, and condition. Palms, Gleichenias, Crotons, Ixoras, and 
Allamandas are alike superior, and occupy a prominent position of 
the tent ina splendid manner. They are not for competition. 
Mr. Hammond, gardener to Sir Wilfred Lawson, Bart., Brayton, 
Carlisle, exhibits some very valuable collections, including excel- 
lently grown Draceenas, well-coloured Crotons, fine-foliage plants 
in admirable condition, also Palms, including the best plant of 
Cocos Weddelliana in the Show, and an equally striking specimen 
of Acanthorhiza Warscewiczii ; also new plants, including a splen- 
did example of Phylloteenium Lindenii, one of the finest varieties 
extant. Mr. Hammond also stages a fine example of Lomaria 
dalgairense, the finest plant we have seen producing fertile fronds. 
In the class for nine fine-foliage plants Mr. Osman, gardener 
to R. B, Dodson, Esq., Beardwood, Blackburn, exhibits a grand 
Cycas revoluta in fruit, also a remarkably beautiful specimen in 
splendid colour and condition of Anthurium crystallinum. 
Mrs. Cole & Son and Mr. Tudgey, gardener to T. F.G. Williams, 
Esq., are the principal exhibitors in the specimen-plant classes, 
both their flowering and fine-foliaged plants being excellent. It 
is not necessary, however, to describe them, as they are the same 
plants that were mentioned in our reports of the York and Leeds 
Shows. Mr. Pilgrim, Cheltenham, also exhibits attractive flower- 
ing plants and excellent examples of ornamental-foliaged plants, 
as also do the Preston Nursery Company. The same exhibitors 
Besides the curving walk alluded ° 
and Mr. Tudgey are the chief exhibitors of Ericas; but, with a 
very few exceptions, the plants are not superior. Pelargoniums 
are only of moderate quality, the season being fully late for these 
plants. 
Ferns are excellent, the principal exhibitors in the classes for 
exotics being Messrs. Pilgrim, Cole & Son, Tudgey, and the Pres- 
ton Nursery Company. In the classes for hardy Ferns, H. J. 
Lowe, Thomas Bolton, and John Atherton, Esqrs., exhibit ad- 
mirably cultivated plants of choice species and varieties ; and 
Jabez Jones, Esq., stages a novel collection of Succulents. 
In the groups of plants arranged for effect the only exhibitors 
are the Preston Nursery Company and Messrs. F. & A. Dickson, 
Chester. The collections contain a varied assortment of healthily 
grown plants, but they were not arranged ina particularly striking 
or artistic manner. 
Messrs. Bull, Williams, and Rollisson exhibit collections of new 
plants, which are closely examined and the merits of the plants 
are much discussed by those visitors who haye not previously 
had an opportunity of seeing them. They have been frequently 
seen in London, and their names have been often enumerated in 
reports of previous shows. 
Besides the Tree Ferns, new plants, and miscellaneous collec- 
tions referred to, Mr. Williams stages a splendid collection of 
Orchids in the class for twelve plants, also Draczenas and Crotons 
are extremely bright and much admired. Crotons are excellently 
exhibited in several of the collections, and play an important part 
in imparting colour to the Show. The Preston Nursery Company 
and Mrs. Cole & Son among others stage well-grown and highly 
coloured specimens. Messrs. Rollisson & Sons arrange splendid 
Dracznas, including the new and striking D, Smithiana, rich dark 
green in colour and very distinct andimposing. They also exhibit 
and the plant of Dendrochilum filiforme is quite charming. Dr. 
| Ainsworth’s Orchids also command, as they always do, much 
attention on account of their richness and high culture. 
About 140 classes are provided in the schedule, and in all except 
half a dozen there are entries ; in some, notably in several of the 
fruit and vegetable classes, they are very numerous. The total 
number of entries for the Show exceeds 800—namely, of plants, 
222 ; of eut flowers, Roses, and bouquets, 32; fruit, 223; vege- 
tables, 304; and implements, 30. 
GarRpDEN SrrucTuRES.—These are numerous and excellent. 
Messrs. Messenger & Co., Loughborough, exhibit four span-roofed 
houses of various sizes and adapted for different purposes—neat, 
light, strong, well-ventilated, and efficiently heated structures ; 
two span-roofed frames, a range of glass coping, and a tubular 
saddle boiler with triangular-shaped bars, evidently a powerful 
boiler ; also.examples of their patent valves for hot-water pipes, 
which are admittedly of great excellence. 
Messrs. Richardson & Co., Darlington, exhibit a splendid span- 
roofed house, highly finished, with all the latest improvements 
in glazing and ventilating. The sashbars are formed so as to 
protect the putty, and they also effectively provide against in- 
ternal drip. The ventilation is most ample, not only the apex 
but the whole length of the rafters and also the front of the 
house opening by a well-arranged and easily-worked system of 
leverage. The same firm also exhibit their new hooded horizontal 
tubular boiler, which is unquestionably a powerful and strongly 
constructed apparatus. They also exhibit several models of 
houses, and a capital example of a wall cover for protecting 
Peaches, cc. clase 
Mr. Halliday, Middleton near Manchester, exhibits eight houses 
of various sizes ; one of them is fitted with slate stages and hot- 
water pipes complete, another with tanks for forcing, another is 
wired as for a Peach house, another a vinery, the sashbars being 
of T-shaped iron, and shows also a capital system of straining 
wire ; another large structure is glazed on Helliwell’s patent 
system, whereby all the woodwork is covered with glass, a capital 
Strawberry house, and a roomy span-roofed greenhouse. All the 
houses are light yet strong, and the ventilating machinery is very 
efficient and works smoothly and easily. F 
Mr. P. J. Perry, Banbury, exhibits a large, lofty, and highly 
ornate span-roofed structure, two curvilinear-roofed houses eyi- 
dently well constructed. 
Mr. John Webster, Wavertree, near Liverpool, exhibits a re- 
markably substantially-built span-roofed house, and different size 
Cucumber frames. 
Messrs. Cranston & Luck, Birmingham, exhibit light strong 
houses, constructed on the principle with which their names are 
identified, and which have found much favour in yarious parts of 
the country. 
Boilers are exhibited by various makers. One of the most 
striking because quite new is Metcalf’s “combination” boiler. 
This boiler combines, with vertical tubes surrounding the furnace, 
a series of horizontal flues between hollow plates or water cham- 
bers, thereby providing a very large extent of heating surface in 
a comparatively small size of boiler, Mr. Wagstaff, Dukinfield, 
exhibits tubular and conical boilers which cannot fail being quick 
in their action and powerful. Mr, Seward, Preston, and Mr. 
