118 



JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ August 9, 1877. 



A. albocincta and A. grandidentata, the same plant being pro- 

 duced by reversing the cross. It maybe described as a spotted 

 albocincta with large spines. A. Thraski is most distinct, the 

 leaves being channelled in the way of Yucca concava. A. dicho- 

 toma was perhaps the rarest of all until the recent distribution 

 of seedlings from Eew. It is one of the branching species, 

 which in Damaraland and Namaqualand forms a large tree. It 

 roots with great difficulty, and an imported specimen appears 

 neither inclined to grow nor die. 



Beaucarnea Hookeri is one of the queer examples of Mexican 

 vegetation, and two plants are about to flower. They have 

 immense almost globular boles, from which spring a number 

 of grass-like tufts. The Elephant's-foot (Testudinaria ele- 

 phantipes) is represented by a fine specimen, and the flowering 

 stems form a column reaching to the roof. Its hemispherical 

 trunk is about 2 feet in diameter, and presents a strange 

 appearance by the splitting of the bark into large conical 

 scales. 



Next in order come the Gasterias and Haworthias, both in- 

 cluding new species, and the latter in particular with pretty 

 forms, some as it were sprinkled with pearls. 



Arundo oonspicua at the cool end is a fine object for many 

 months in the year, and though hardy is almost an essential 

 inmate of the conservatory. It is much more elegant than the 

 Pampas Grass. Here are several fine examples of Dasylirion 

 and Beaucarnea, which are among the most stately of green- 

 house plants, either with long ribbon-like leaves gracefully 

 curving and drooping to the stem-base, or with rigid spiny and 

 glaucous leaves forming a dense head. 



The Crassulacea, commencing at the south end, contribute 

 many showy flowers in their season, and include some of the 

 most attractive and useful of sucoulent plants. Crassula cor- 

 data is curious from the multitude of little plantlets growing 

 on the old flower stems. C. Bolusi is new and extremely 

 pretty ; it is scarcely 2 inches high ; the leaves are obspathu- 

 late, with numerous pits darker-coloured than the reBt of the 

 leaf. C. nemorosa is rare and most attractive ; the leaveB are 

 heart-shaped, very fleshy, and deeply glaucous. The Rocheas 

 now fall into this genus. C. pallida is white-flowered, in the 

 way of C. perfoliata. Cotyledon and Echeveria, including all 

 the noteworthy species, with several hybrids, must here be 

 passed over. 



The Cape Groundsels are striking in comparison with other 

 species of Senecio. One is precisely like an Ivy with large 

 yellow flowers. S. articulata is the well-known Candle-plant. 

 S. Haworthii flowers in cultivation with extreme rarity ; it has 

 spindle-shaped leaves covered with a dense white cottony felt. 

 S, chordifolia is new; it has curved terete leaves longer than 

 others of the section Kleinia, to which it belongs. Othonna 

 crassifolia in one of the cases forms an elegant groundwork for 

 the several Eoheverias with glaucous leaves ; being of a very 

 pale green it shows them off to advantage. 



On this shelf are two highly ornamental plants of Olden- 

 burgia arbuscula, doubtless the only examples in cultivation. 

 Their stems are nearly 2 feet in height, growing with extreme 

 slowness ; the leaves are a foot long, covered with white hair. 

 It is surprising to many that this belongs to the Compositse. 

 With the mention of these unique specimens we are brought 

 to Dyckia argentea, a plant still more striking, and the only 

 one in Europe. The leaves are 2 feet long, and recurve on 

 the pot so as to hide it completely ; they are set with large 

 spines along the edges, and are covered with silvery scales so 

 as to appear like frosted silver. 



Vitis macropus always arrests attention. Widely different 

 as it is in form from the Grape Vine, it is still nearly re- 

 lated. It has an obese succulent trunk with two branches 

 bearing a few heavy leaves The stems increase with great 

 slowness. The year's growth ia nearly all cast off with the 

 leaves, leaving generally less than an inch. The separation is 

 quite natural. V. cirrhosa produces stems several feet in 

 length, all to be cast off with the exception of about 2 inches. 

 By a recent observation it is shown that some plants (of which 

 Castilloa is a good example) separate their barren branches 

 by an articulation just as a leaf. The fertile branches are 

 cast off in other cases. Those of Reidia glaucescens resemble 

 pinnate leaves, and, though bearing flowers, are often seen to 

 fall without suspicion of their real character. 



The Agave group is without doubt the most imposing in 

 the house. The finer specimens are those of A. glaucescens, 

 A. potatorum, A. Hookeri, A. Kewensis, A. karatto, and 

 A. Noaokii, with its several branching stems. Several others 

 might be mentioned in point of size. The collection has 



several new additions, and includes the older choice kinds. 

 Almost at all times there are to be found plants in some con- 

 dition of flower or fruit. Fourcroya Selloaand F. cubensis are 

 now sending up their quick-growing scapes. 



The Cacti, though yet unmentioned, are of the first import- 

 ance. With the exception of about two species all are native of 

 the New World. Many are grotesque to a striking degree, often 

 with flowers of the most brilliant colour. Among the prettiest 

 of the Marnmillarias are M. Schiediana, M. candens, M. nivea, 

 and M. minima. Of Echinocactus we may draw attention to 

 the new E. cylindraceus. It has very long spines of red colour, 

 and is quite fierce in appearance. E. viridescens is also new 

 and distinct. Of E. Pfeifferi, E. Stainesii, and some others 

 there are very fine specimens. Echinopsis also contains many 

 fine representatives. The Turk's-cap is now in bloom ; its 

 flowers are pink, and come from between a mass of spines and 

 thick hair forming the cap or inflorescence. It is said that the 

 fruit is sometimes ejected to a considerable distance in conse- 

 quence of pressure from the spines and hair. 



Leuchtenbergia principle is about to flower, and is anomalous 

 in bearing its flower3 on the mammae, which perhaps submits 

 to the same explanation as of those cases where the peduncle 

 in Erythrochiton and Helwingia is united with the stalk and 

 midrib of the leaf. Rhipsalis Cassytha is covered with berries 

 like Mistletoe ; the stems are round and long. 



A large space is devoted to the gigantic species of Cereus, 

 and to the Prickly Pears or Opuntias. Of Opuntia decumana 

 there is a large specimen, the flat stems of which excite general 

 notice. Cereus Jamacaru planted in the ground has grown 

 with immense strength. It has deep-angled stems of glaucous 

 blue appearance. We may briefly allude to C. multangularis 

 and C. Tweediei. The first is rare and densely covered with 

 short spines so as scarcely to admit the point of a pencil. 



On the rafters are many interesting plants. A leafy Cactus, 

 Pereskia Bleo, is bearing its large pink flowers. Further on 

 are fine specimens of Cereus Macdonaldia?, C. triangularis, and 

 other night-blooming species. Aloe ciliaris suits well as a 

 climber, and has very brightly coloured flowers. 



While having mentioned the most important and interesting 

 of the plants, there are many others deserving of notice. 

 Several of the Cacti, the species of Asparagus, the Grass-gum 

 trees, fruteseent Sempervivums, Rhynchopetalum montanum, 

 a rare Lobeliad with tall perennial stem, and many others, are 

 deserving of the visitor's attention. 



NATIONAL CAENATION AND PICOTEE SOCIETY. 



The northern Show was held again this year in the Botanical 

 Gardens, Stretford, Manchester, on Saturday, Monday, and 

 Tuesday, August 4th, 6th, and 7th, in conjunction with the 

 Cottagers' Flower Show held this year for the first time. It 

 was not expected that a good show could be held at bo early a 

 date ; none of fcne growerB were quite at their best, and some of 

 them were not able to exhibit, notably Mr. Robert Lord of Tod- 

 morden and others in that district; another grower whose 

 flowers were not in condition is Mr. Thomas Bowers, Bradford, 

 Yorkshire, a celebrated raiser of new sorts and a moBt ardent 

 cultivator. Notwithstanding the many drawbacks the Society 

 has had to contend with this year, about three hundred blooms 

 were exhibited fresh and in good colour. I noticed last year 

 that some of the exhibitors had but the calyx round in order to 

 let the outer petals fall back and thus enlarge the flower, and I 

 have been told that some exhibitors have even added a sound 

 calyx from another flower in place of one that has been split. 

 Of course none of the principal growers would stoop to such 

 practices, and the first rule of the Society provides for the dis- 

 qualification of any stand that haB mutilated flowers. It reads 

 thus : " Any stand containing a mutilated flower — i.e., one with 

 a false pod, petals clipped smooth, or calyx clipped, will be dis- 

 qualified." Rule 5 says : " Flowers having self petalB or bizarre 

 petals in flakes, or inserted petals, will be disqualified." 



I am indebted to Richard Gorton, Esq., of Gildabrook, Eccles, 

 for the following notes of the Show and list of awards. The 

 principal prizes went to Mr. Benjamin Simonite, Rough Bank, 

 Sheffield, who showed some grand flowers, especially in purple 

 flake and crimson bizarre Carnations. Mr. George Rudd of 

 Bradford, Yorkshire, also exhibited Bome excellent stands ; his 

 scarlet bizarre Carnations, notably Sir J. Paxton, were in 

 splendid colour. In Class A, twelve Carnations all dissimilar, 

 Mr. Simonite was first ; Mr. J. Booth, Failsworth, Manchester, 

 second; and Mr. S. Brown of Birmingham third. In the win- 

 ning stand Dr. FoBter (Foster), p. f.; John Keet (Whitehead), r. f.; 

 James Merryweather, r. f. ; and Sportsman, s. f., were the best 

 flowers. Mr. Booth had Admiral Curzon and Sportsman very 

 fine. In the next class Mr. Simonite was again first, Mr. Brown 



