June 23, 1863. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



451 



and that, as nothing more desirable seema likely to be attempted, 

 it would bo well if decoration for some other purpose were 

 encouraged. 



It would be impossible, whilo writing on this branch of the 

 Exhibition, to omit reference to the very beautiful jardinieres, 

 the invention of Mr. March, which were exhibited in the nave, 

 and bore evidence of the same correctness of taste which has 

 linked his name with table decoratien both here and abroad ; 

 for it was no little gratification to see on the table of one of the 

 first hotels in Paris, whose salon is considered to be hardly 

 excelled for beauty, his stands as forming the decoration. These 

 jardinieres were glass tables formed of glass of a peculiar cha- 

 racter, and white metal— silver or otherwise. The foot was a 

 tripod, holding within it a small dish for flowers ; the stem 

 which supported the table of glass, also protected by silver wire, 

 in one case being a succession of nobs, which gave it a very 

 brilliant appearance, while the top was also glass filled with 

 flowers arranged with great taste and judgment. It ia impos- 

 sible to give an accurate description of this very beautiful table, 

 or to convey an idea of the extreme brilliancy of its appearance ; 

 but as it will doubtless be exhibited at other shows we would 

 strongly advise all who have large and handsome rooms, and 

 who admire brilliancy of effect without gaudiness, to see for 

 themselves, and we hardly think they will go away without be- 

 coming purchasers. The glass was manufactured by the well- 

 known firm of Dobson & Pearce, of St. James's Street. 



The Florists' Flowers were especially fine ; and although the 

 Council afforded but scant favour to cut flowers, some very 

 beautiful things were placed in that marvellously heterogeneous 

 class— Miscellaneous. Let us hope that next year they may, 

 having learned by experience, do something more for this most 

 popular division. I have only again to repeat that the most 

 crowded parts of the Show were where these were exhibited, 

 while greenhouse plants, &c, were comparatively deserted. 



The Pelargoniums were very fine indeed— in fact, such plants 

 as those exhibited by Mr. Nye, Miss Foster's gardener, of Clewer, 

 it is impossible to excel. There was one plant there in his col- 

 lection—that fine old variety Sanspareil, which was a perfect 

 marvel of growth. Others were also fine, but this bore off the 

 palm from all others. His flowers were Perdita, Fairest of the 

 Fair, Sanspareil, Lord Clyde (splendid colour), Desdemona 

 (beautiful plant), Koae Celestial (magnificent both as to plant 

 and quality of bloom), Ariel, and Etna. Mr. Shrimpton was 

 second with The Bride, Sanspareil, Stella, Guillaume Severyns, 

 Lord Clyde, Festus, Prince of Prussia ; third to Mr. Page ; and 

 an extra (why I know not), went to a collection all sticks and 

 no bloom, which in my humble opinion ought not to have been 

 there at all. 



Amongst Nurserymen Mr. Turner and the Mesara. Fraaer 

 were the only exhibitors, and in the above order. Mr. Turner's 

 plants were very fine. They were Prince of Prussia (somewhat 

 of a dirty look), Nestor, Flora, Bacchus, Modesty, Viola, Fairest 

 of the Fair, Pizarro, Lady Canning (most lovely), Lord Clyde, 

 Ariel, and Beauty of Heading. Messrs. Fraser were second with 

 Lightning, Guillaume Severyns, Lillie, Osiris, Peacock, Monarch, 

 Prince of Prussia, Etna, Sunset, Viola, Matilda, Bacchus. 



In Fancy Pelargoniums the Messrs. Fraser were first with 

 Roi des Fantaisies, a bright, showy, but badly shaped flower ; 

 Claudiana ; Bridesmaid ; Clara Novello ; Delicatum, a nice li»ht, 

 though of indifferent shape ; and Lady Craven. The second 

 prize was awarded to Mr. Turner for Clemanthe, Claudiana, 

 Delicatum, Cloth of Silver, Evening Star, and Roi des Fantaisies. 

 A very sharp and close race was run in spotted or French kinds 

 between the Messrs. Fraaer and Mr. Turner, which the Judges 

 could only settle by giving them equal firsts. Mr. Turner's 

 flowers were Mr. Marnock, a beautiful plant ; Guillaume Se- 

 veryns ; Osiris; Rembrandt, bad; William Bull, very bright 

 and showy ; and Spotted Gem, an exquisite plant. Mr. Fraser's 

 were Madame Furtado, Mazeppa, Sanspareil, Bracelet (»ood), 

 Mr. Marnock, and Excelsior (fine). 



It is, we think, unfair upon both Judges and exhibitors to con- 

 stitute such a class as the best collection of Roses ; for one man 

 will interpret that as the best which has the largest number of 

 blooms, and another that which has the best blooms, and hence 

 it generally leads to confusion and disturbance. 



As I long ago predicted, when Mr. Turner began Rose- 

 growing, he has become a thorn in the side of some of the older 

 exhibitors, in the present case taking— and deservedly, as I think 

 —first place. Amongst his Roses we noticed Francois Lacharme, 

 very fine; Catherine Guillot ; Madame Charles Wood, very 



large; General Jacqueminot; Anna Alexieff; John Waterer; 

 Amiral Gravina, fine dark ; Senateur Vaisse ; La Brillante ; 

 Devoniensis ; Mademoiselle Bonnaire, good white ; Narcisse ; 

 Louise Darzins, best white Perpetual ; Madame Boutin, new 

 and good ; Madame Furtado ; Comtesse de Chabrillant ; 

 Madame Boll ; Vicomte Vigier ; Paul Ricaut ; Charles Lawson, 

 &c. Messrs. Paul & Son and Mr. Mitchell were equal seconds. 

 In the former lot were some few of the new Roses of this year ; 

 and, if one may form an opinion, they seem to bear out the con- 

 clusion I formed from my visit to Paris last year, that 1863 

 would not be distinguished for anything very brilliant. Due 

 d'Anjou was pretty ; Madame Helye, curious shelly flower ; and 

 Deuil de Prince Albert, good purple ; his own Lord Clyde was 

 very fine ; Baron Gonella better than I have ever seen it. In 

 Mr. Mitchell's were some very fine varieties ; Marechal Vaillant, 

 good ; Gustave Rousseau, also good ; Maurice Bernhardin, 

 fine ; Christian Puttner, a good dark Rose. 



Mr. Turner had a fine box of Pinks, consisting of the follow- 

 ing varieties : — Pride of ColcheBter, Device, Miss Glover, Mrs. 

 Lamb, Prince of Wales, Titiens, Constance, Victory, Cristabel, 

 Dr. Maclean, Lord Elcbo, Princess of Wales, Samson, Diadem, 

 Lizzy, Mrs. Turner, Minnie, Nina, Blondin, Kentish Volunteer, 

 and some seedlings. The lacing of these was very beautiful, and 

 the individual flowers were large. 



Of other cut flowers there was a very pretty collection of 

 Ixias, Sparaxis and other allied bulbs, amongst which I. viridi- 

 flora, crocata, and crateroides were noticed as being very pretty. 

 This is a class of flowers that must become popular. Messrs. - 

 Downie & Co. exhibited thirty-six Show and thirty-six Fancy 

 Pansies ; also their excellent bedding Calceolaria Cloth of Gold, 

 and the new Delphinium bicolor grandiflorum . Mr. Turner 

 had a fine box of Verbenas, containing, amongst others, fine 

 blooms of Lord Leigh, Lord Craven, Firefly, Fairy, L'Avenir de 

 Bellant, &c. 



Two very fine collections of exotic Ferns were exhibited — the 

 best by Mr. W. Bull, the second by Messrs. A. Henderson. 

 Mr. Bull's contained magnificent plants of Cibotium princeps, 

 Cyathea dealbata, Cibotium culcita and Barometz, Gleichenia 

 flabellata and dichotoma, Alsophila radens and excelsa, Ma- 

 rattia elegans, Dicksonia antarctica, and Davallia dissecta. 

 Messrs. A. Henderson had Drynavia mussefolia, Gymnogramma 

 calomelanos, Cibotium Barometz, Adiantum tenerum, Lastrea 

 patens, Cyathea boconensis, Phlebodium pulvinatum, Cibotium 

 Schiedei, Alsophila australis, Angiopteris eveota, Drynaria coro- 

 nans, and Brainea insignis. 



Messrs. Ivery had a beautiful collection of British Ferns, 

 comprising Asplenium adiantum nigrum acutum, fontanum 

 Halleri, septentrionale, trichomanes, trichomanes ramosum ; 

 Athyrum FUix-foamina, F. f. conoides, crispum, difflssum, Fieldiae, 

 Iveryanum, multiceps, mucronatum, plumosum ; Blechnuzn 

 spicant polydactylon, ramosum ; Ceterach offieinarum ; Cysto- 

 pteris fragilis regia ; Lastrea lepidota, Filix-mas cristata, pumila ; 

 Osmunda regaks cristata ; Polypodium phegopteris, Roberti- 

 anum, vulgare cambricum ; Polystichum foliosum, angulare va- 

 rians, Wollastoni ; Scolopendrium vulgare crispum, endivise- 

 folium, marginatum, and sculpturatum. 



Amongst the new flowers exhibited was a large quantity of 

 seedling Geraniums, but very inferior both in number and 

 quality to those exhibited last season. There were two very 

 fine flowers of Mr. Hoyle's — Achilles, a magnificent high-coloured 

 Beauty-of-Reading style of flower, of perfect shape, and with a 

 beautifully clear white throat ; and Artist, already noticed. 

 There were also Gloxinias, Mimuluses, bedding Geraniums, &c, 

 which will, doubtless, appear in your report of the Floral Com- 

 mittee's proceedings. Nor can I omit the very beautiful double 

 Deutzia aent by Mr. Standish, another of the valuable contri- 

 butions from Japan, and as a hardy shrub most valuable for our 

 gardens. — D., Deal. 



UNJUSTIFIABLE EXCLUSION of GAEDENEES 

 EEOM AN EXHIBITION. 

 I beg- to forward the schedule issued by the Royal Belfast 

 Botanic and Horticultural Company. The rules laid down for 

 the admission of gardeners have caused very great dissatisfaction 

 amongst the exhibitors and gardeners in general, as they consider 

 themselves grossly insulted in being invited to send their pro- 

 ductions to the Show to be held on the 27th August, but are 

 not to be admitted to the place of exhibition themselves except 



