July 6, 1876. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



present. When well grown and caught in condition they 

 would prove telling plants for exhibition purposes in col- 

 lections of hardy herbaceous plants. — N. 



EICHMOND HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY'S SHOW. 



Under the auspices of a favourable day— neither too hot nor 

 too cold— the second annual Exhibition of this Society was 

 held in the Old Deer Park on the 29th ult. The Society, which 

 embraces the district of Twickenham, Isleworth, East Sheen, 

 Kew, Ham, and Petersham, is under the immediate patronage 

 of H.R.H. the Duchess of Cambridge, H.R.H. the Duchess of 

 Teck, H.R.H. the Due d'Aumale, and H.R.H. the Dnke of Teck, 

 who is the President of the Society. It has an influential and 

 practical Committee, and indefatigable officers in Lieut.-Col. F. 

 Burdett, Treasurer, and Mr. Albert Chancellor, Hon. Secretary. 

 Although the Society is young it is prosperous, and its Exhibi- 

 tions may be numbered as of the best in the vicinity of London. 

 The Deer Park is particularly suitable for a horticultural fete, 

 the Beeches and Oaks being sufficiently large and numerous to 

 afford Bhade to all visitors without interfering with the enjoy- 

 ment of an agreeable promenade. Under these fine trees the 

 tents were erected — one 140 feet by 50 feet for plants, and others 

 of smaller dimensions for fruit and vegetables, table decorations 

 and Roses, and cottagers' productions. Large as was the space 

 under canvas it was not sufficient to accommodate without 

 undue crowding the many competing collections, and conse- 

 quently the arrangements were not bo favourable for judging 

 and for inspection as they otherwise would have been. It can 

 never fail to add to the interest of a show if the collections in 

 given classes are placed conveniently near to each other, and 

 this, where space is sufficient and taste is exercised, is not an- 

 tagonistic to artistic arrangement; but when a first-prize group 

 is on one side of a tent, and the second-prize lot on the other, 

 visitors simply become bewildered in fruitless searches for the 

 different exhibits for purposes of comparison, and obstruction of 

 the promenades is the inevitable consequence. 



The Show in question was a crowded Show — crowded with 

 excellent productions, and crowded with a select company of 

 appreciative visitors. The centre of the large tent was devoted 

 to specimen plants arranged on baize-covered stages, the sides 

 being devoted to groups of plants arranged for effect on the 

 grass. These groups were semicircular, each occupying about 

 100 square feet, and were placed at wide intervals apart, the 

 interspaces being occupied by Ferns, Orchids, &c. The tent had 

 thus a rich and pleasing effect. For the collections mentioned 

 prizes of £5, £i, £3, and £2. were offered, and they were awarded 

 to Mr. Kinghorn, Sheen Nursery, Richmond ; Messrs. Jackson 

 and Sons, Kingston-on-Thames; Mr. Bowell, gardener to Sir 

 Henry Parker, Richmond ; and F. Wigan, Esq., Clare Lawn, 

 East Sheen, in the order named, an extra prize being awarded 

 to Mr. Bates, gardener to W. H. Punchard, Esq., Poulett Lodge, 

 Twickenham. The whole of these collections were composed 

 of a judicious mixture of fine-foliage and flowering plants, their 

 arrangement generally being of a free and informal character. 

 Prizes of this nature cannot fail to give an impetus to the taste- 

 ful arrangements of plants, and we were glad to see the com- 

 petition so good and the collections so meritorious. Mr. King- 

 horn's group was edged with Lycopodiums; and Messrs. Jackson 

 had a charming fringe of Agrostis nebulosa raised from seed 

 sown this spring. 



Stove and Greenhouse Plants. — In the class for nine plants 

 Messrs. Jackson & Sons had the first place with plants as fresh 

 as if shown in May. Noticeable were Kalosanthes coccinea 

 superba 4 feet in diameter, Aphelexes, and Dracophyllum gracile 

 of still larger dimensions, Allamanda grandiflora exceedingly 

 bright, a splendid Erica obbata, and a fine Phcenocoma. These 

 were not one-sided plants, but were as perfectly furnished as 

 they were healthy and well bloomed. Mr. Child, gardener to 

 Mrs. Torr, Garbrand Hall, was placed second for a good collec- 

 tion; Mr. Ellis, gardener to J. Galsworthy, Esq., Coombe Leigh, 

 Kingston Hill, being third for plants still better, but not suffi- 

 ciently distinct to entitle them to a higher position; they were, 

 however, undeniably well grown. For six plants Mr. Atrill, gar- 

 dener to C. J. Freake, Esq., Bank Grove, Ham, had the first 

 place with an excellent collection of freely trained plants ; Mr. 

 Grafter, gardener to the Rev. W. Finch, "Woodlands, Kingston 

 Hill, being second for a somewhat irregular collection, yet con- 

 taining some good specimens. 



For nine fine-foliage plants Mr. Legg, gardener to S. Ralli, 

 Esq., Cleveland House, Clapham Park, was first with the same 

 fine plants which won him the premier place at the Royal Hor- 

 ticultural Society's Show at South Kensington. These plants 

 bear the impress of superior culture, being in exuberant health, 

 rich colour, and, for the size of their pots, they are very large. 

 The Crotons Weismanii, variegatum, and Johannis, and Alocasia 

 macrorhiza variegata (the finest plant, perhaps, ever exhibited), 

 were in magnificent order ; and the Palms Geonoma pumila and 

 Stevensonia grandifolia exceedingly fine. Mr. Child had the 

 second place with highly coloured Crotons, a very fine Pandanus 



Veitchii, large Maranta zebrina, Palms, &c, a most creditable 

 group ; Mr. Kinghorn having the third place with Palms, Phor- 

 mium tenax variegatum, Yucca aloifolia variegata, Ananassa 

 sativa variegata, &c. For Bix fine-foliaged plants Mr. Bates, 

 gardener to W. H. Punchard, Esq., was placed first, Mr. Atrill 

 second, and Mr. Crafter third. Mr. Bowell, gardener to Sir H. 

 Parker, and Mr. Morrell, gardener to J. S. Rutter, Esq., Cam- 

 bridge Park, Twickenham, staged collections worthy of recogni- 

 tion. In this class, in which the competition was great, size 

 counted far more than quality and effect ; all, however, cannot 

 have prizes if all stage good collections. 



In the classes for Pelargoniums Mr. James, gardener to W. F. 

 Watson, Esq., Redlees, Isleworth, was a long away ahead with 

 both show and fancy varieties. The plants were 2 to 2i feet in 

 diameter, not flat, but semi-globular, more effective than cart- 

 wheel specimens, and in such modern varieties as Sultan, 

 Zephyr, Pompey, Superb, and Example, all superior; his fancy 

 varieties comprising East Lynne, Mirella, Madame Sainton 

 Dolby, Lucy, and The Shah. Mr. Wells, Selwyn Court Gardens, 

 Richmond, was second with show, and Mr. Morrell with fancy 

 varieties. In the class for zonals Mr. Crafter was first and Mr. 

 Morrell second for healthy and well-bloomed plants ; and for 

 tricolors and bicolors Mr. Tipping, 9, Sheendale Villas, Rich- 

 mond, had the premier prizes for well-coloured medium-sized 

 specimens. Caladiums were remarkably fine, Mr. Morrell win- 

 ning with robust well-coloured plants 3 to 4 feet in diameter ; 

 Mr. James being second with plants almost equally fine ; and 

 Mr. Peel, gardener to Lady John Chichester, Cambridge House, 

 Twickenham, third, also for good examples of culture. The 

 Caladiums were the finest plants that have this year been ex- 

 hibited, and Mr. Morrell has now secured the first prize with 

 them for fourteen years consecutively. Begonias were fairly 

 well exhibited, the awards going to F. Wigan, Esq., Mr. Atrill, 

 and Mr. Wells respectively for highly creditable collections. 

 Fnchsias were well represented, the plants being healthy, well 

 flowered, and not too closely trained. Mr. Crafter was placed 

 first, Mr. James second, and Mr. Wagstaffe third. These collec- 

 tions made a very attractive display, and were greatly admired 

 by visitors. 



Ferns. — These were remarkably good and very numerous. 

 For six plants, exotic, Mr. Smith, gardener to A. Cooper, Esq., 

 Park Road, Twickenham, was first with Davallia Mooreana 5 feet 

 in diameter, Adiantum gracillimurn 2 feet through, very good ; 

 A. farleyense, Gymnogramma ochracea, and G. peruviana argy- 

 rophylla and Lomaria gibba. Mr. Atrill was second, and Mr. 

 Morrell third, both of whom staged excellent collections. In the 

 class for eight plants F. Wigan, Esq., was first with a very fine 

 Cyathea medullaris, a Dicksonia, two Alsophilas, and four 

 Adiantums. Had not these plants been good as well as large 

 they would not have overweighed the second-prize group 

 (Messrs. Rollisson's), which contained beautiful Filmy Ferns, 

 while many considered Mr. Child'B third-prize collection quite 

 equal to the others. It contained a Cyathea and Dicksonia, both 

 very good, and a highly superior specimen of Lomaria gibba. 

 James Wigan, Esq., exhibited an admirable collection of Adi- 

 antums. Hardy Ferns were rather small but very good, Mr. 

 James being placed first, Mr. Crafter second, and Mr. Morrell 

 third. Athyrium Filix-fcemina plumosum in Mr. James's collec- 

 tion was particularly elegant. 



Orchids. — These were not numerous, but some good if small 

 plants were exhibited. The first place for eight plants was se- 

 cured by Messrs. Rollisson & Sons, their collection including 

 Oncidium crispum grandiflorum, very fine ; Cypripedium Stonei, 

 Saccolabinms guttatum and Schroederi, Dendrobium Devoni- 

 anum, Epidendrum vitellinum majus, and Odontoglossum Alex- 

 andra?, all good. Messrs. JackBon & Sons were second with 

 larger plants, including Lselia Brysiana, with sepals and petals 

 of snowy whiteneBS ; L. purpurata, Saccolabinms retusum and 

 prffimorsum, and Aerides Lobbii and odoratum majus, very 

 large. Mr. Bates, gardener to W. H. Punchard, Esq., had the 

 third place ; an extra being awarded to Mr. Child, Saccolabium 

 guttatum in his group being exceedingly fine. Messrs. Rollisson 

 exhibited Cypripedium spectabile in Buperior condition, also 

 C. niveum and the remarkably spotted Mormodes pardinum. 



In the miscellaneous collection of plants Messrs. Veitch staged 

 a choice group, also a collection of Roses in pots, very dwarf, 

 very good, and greatly admired; Mr. Dean, Ealing, an extensive 

 and attractive collection of succulents and bedding plants ; Mr. 

 Chancellor, very superior Musk ; Messrs. Osborne & Sons, Ful- 

 ham, a large and effective group of decorative plants ; Mr. W. 

 Steel, Richmond, standard Hollies, highly ornamental; Mr. 

 Chambers, Westlake Nursery, Isleworth, dwarf flowering Be- 

 gonias, which surrounded with Isolepis gracilis had a good effect ; 

 and Mr. Goddard, gardener to H. Little, Esq., seedling bedding 

 Geranium Rosa Little, very brilliant and floriferous, which has 

 received a first-class certificate at South Kensington. As speci- 

 men plants Mr. Bowell exhibited a good plant of Pelargonium 

 Unique ; and Mr. Linser, gardener to J. Bali, Esq., West Hay, 

 East Sheen, a specimen of the same type — a pyramid 5 feet 

 high, and 6 feet in diameter at the base. ;Mr. Kinghorn ex- 



