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• 



GARDENERS' MAGAZINE 



March 



Royal horticultural Soci 



M 



8. 



A bonnie show, a bonnie show," was the expression used by one of the visitors 

 to describe the exhibition held at the Drill Hall on the above date. It was indeed 

 a splendid display for thus early in the year, and for such a bitterly cold day as 

 was March 8. There were large groups of cyclamen, forced cherries, Azalea 

 mollis, spirals, deutzias, camellias, early spring flowers clivias, amaryllis, ferns, 

 and orchids, with a few vegetables and well-preserved fruits. There was also a 

 larire company to see the numerous exhibits, so much so that note-taking and 

 locomotion were not easy, especially from two to four o'clock. We congratulate 

 the society upon such a successful exhibition, and its superintendent, Mr. S. T. 

 Wright, for the arrangement of the same. 



- ..„.«, vjaiesnead-on-Tvne T " t3tn bed 



anna 



Floral Committee 



body 



the committee iu «*uj uuiunt upuu. *«~ — - — ,~~™ w * " — ■ -™* *»■ 



lhan usual; but this does not, however, signify that the exhibits were less 

 meritorious, but that there is a growing desire to set the R.H.S. awards at a higher 

 value than of late. 



Some comparatively new exhibitors set up a group of ferns ; these were Messrs. 

 J. Hill and Son, Edmonton. There were a number of fine large specimens of various 

 maidenhair ferns, aspleniums, pteris, platyceriums, &c. In the foreground were 

 baskets of small plants, all neat specimens of the more popular kinds of aspleniums, 

 pteris, &c., and over the whole a large Dicksonia was suspended. A lovely display 

 of Pninus pseudo-cerasus (P. Watereri) came from Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons, 

 Chelsea, the beautiful pinky double flowers depending in fine clusters from the 

 sturdy branching growths, and set off by young and delicate foliage. A batch 

 like this would produce a grand effect in a conservatory or corridor. Staphylea 

 colchica and Spiraea confusa were also staged in quantity by the Chelsea firm. A 

 brilliant and imposing display of Azalea mollis varieties was arranged by Messrs. 

 K. and G. Cuthbert, Southgate ; all shades from palest buff to deep reddish- 

 orange were on view, and in addition to these there were a number of Ghent 

 azaleas in various colours. The bushes in every case were superb examples, and 

 crowded with large substantial blooms. The St. George's Nursery Company, Han- 

 well, once again demonstrated their ability to produce good strains of cyclamen and to 

 grow good plants ; the collection staged included crimson, purple, rose, white and 

 purple, and pure white varieties of great excellence, dwarf in habit and in a first- 

 rate decorative condition. The Church Road Nursery Company, Hanwell, also 

 showed a laige collection of cyclamen in a great variety of colours, every plant 

 being a perfect mass of bloom.fringed by neat, clean and marbled foliage. 



The yellow Richardia R. Elliottiana was a feature in the large and showy 

 group of flowering and foliage plants staged by Messrs. W. Cutbush and Son, 

 Highgate, N. ; these were surrounded by neat-flowering specimens of Acacia 

 cordata, A. Drummondi, Otaheite oranges, eriostemons, epacris, heaths, azaleas, 

 &c. ; Epacris Mont Blanc, a pure white-flowered variety, was a great feature in 

 this group, and deserves to be better known and more widely cultivated. A 

 charming set of the fragrant and elegant Boronia megastigma was sent by Messrs. 

 Balchin and Sons, Hassocks Nurseries, Sussex ; every plant was a perfect speci- 

 men, and crowded with its purple and orange flowers. A dozen and a half 

 examples of Tetratheca pilosa, clothed with bright rosy flowers, also came from 

 I lassocks, where all such subjects are remarkably well grown. Amaryllis from 

 Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons, Chelsea, constituted a very bright display ; the 

 flowers were of fine shape and good size, and remarkable for their handsome 

 colouring. In the group was a flowering specimen of the curious and rare 

 Ilippeastrum pardinum, but in point of effect the species does not compare 

 favourably with the florists' form. Messrs. J. Laing and Sons contributed a 

 collection of flowering and foUage plants ; clivias were especially bright, and 

 remarkable for their huge trusses. Richardia Elliottiana, amaryllis, streptocarpus, 

 odontoglossums, and coelogynes made up the bulk of the exhibit, and were 

 associated with caladiums, crotons, dieffenbachias, palms, &c. A clivia with 

 yellow striped foliage attracted no small amount of attention. 



An exceedingly pretty group came from Mr. H. B. May, Edmonton, and 

 consisted of small clematis arranged over ferns ; five varieties were staged, viz., 

 Lady Londesborough, Fair Rosamond, Sir Garnet Wolseley, Miss Bateman, and 

 Mrs. Quilter ; these were disposed in six groups each of about eight plants, and 

 each plant carrying from four to a dozen fair-sized flowers. For conservatory 

 decoration at this season such clematis would prove most acceptable, and Mr. 

 May has done well to draw attention to them. Mr. Mount, Canterbury, again 

 brought up some lovely roses ; Catherine Mermet was represented by about three 

 dozen blooms, and other good varieties were Mr. J. Laing, Captain Hay ward, 

 N iphetos, Mrs. W Grant, The Bride, and Anna Olivier. Some of the flowers Mr. 

 Mount staged with very long stems as cut, showing conclusively how high a 

 standard of cultivation he has attained to. Cyclamen in good condition came from 

 Mr. c I urner, Slough, and maintained the reputation this nurseryman has long 

 enjoyed for these useful winter flowers. Mr. P, Purnell, Woodlands, Streatham, 

 made a pretty exhibit of daffodils in great variety, and also a number of early- 

 llowenng primulas, saxifragas, hardy cyclamen, irises, polyanthuses, &c. 



A small collection of interesting spring flowers was staged by Messrs. Barr and 

 Son, Covent Garden and Thames Ditton. Narcissus cyclamineus, N. J. S. Baker 

 minimus, Chionodoxa Lucilee, C. gigantea, C. sardensis, Bulbocodium vernum! 

 Anemone rulgens, several hellebores, crocuses, and forms of Erica carnea made up 

 a pretty set of charming plants and flowers. Mr. John May, Gordon Nurseries, 

 St. Margaret s, Twickenham, showed a remarkably fine lot of cyclamen : eve™ 

 flower was of full size, and set well above the foliage ; with regard to number of 

 Jheadin^ P lan ^^ as others irl the hall, but they were 



by Mr T S^ Ware ^ d -^l blooms. Daffodils were well represented 



Sir 11 $ bicolor EH* &^^**^<&tti2ZZ 



Prim^ Anemone Pulsatilla 



£ane fhJ^S A^ 9 T Vi ° laCea ' E ^thronium dens-canis, Ld some 



share of admiration ; the S 1 werl 5? — ' W ^ tham S** «« * for a 



many handsome blooms HXble White M 22 clea ^ n /°^ e / ^ carrying 

 Waltham M^Uionn n mi < « nite > M °nteroni, Nmfa Egena, Beauty of 

 KSSSS A ^hana, Single Red, and Marchioness of Exeter 

 Son Nor JS c P mOSt attractiv e and imposing. Messrs. J. Peed and 



and /few foiiage pta*?"^? S3? ^ 



*!-f f Walhce and Co. , Colchester ; 

 beautiful little oh^^LS^^ L retlculata * £ P^sica, and I. alata, all 



Langhe, ^C*^ ^ f P. de 



H u ^eaiarge batch of his butterfly cyclamen; forms 



Rhododendron argenteum. 



Cuthbert staged azaleas. Mr. G. C^r^dmwITw^wiS ^ 

 Lodge, Wmchmorc Hill, gamed a cultural commendation fo a i^^- P «9 

 amaryllis, carrying eleven brilliant crimson-scarlet flowers rf Speci ^n 0 

 Crippsi was shown by Messrs. T. Cripps and Sons, Tunbridge Dcut *» 



condition, smothered in small clusters of pure white fl 10 

 hippeastrums or amaryllis were staged by Mr \ Char*™* 0VVers j Some SUdo l 

 Holford, Westonbirt, Tetbury ; these were so fine in Vrm'S to ^P* 

 that they attracted general attention. ! ' colour > and substan^ 



Orchid Committee. 



Although not a very large display, the orchids were of more than ». , • 

 for there were numerous good, new, or rare subjects on view TV miere *i 

 was in a liberal mood as regards awards and certificates, but to bal Committ * 

 was very chary of awarding medals to groups. ' a »ance matters * 



A handsome group of orchids came from Messrs. J. Veitch and S 

 and consisted chiefly of Dendrobium Wardianum, D Euryalis D i elsc ^ 

 mum, D Cybele, D. crassinode, D. Edithse, and D. Wigai* ; 'the bn?l£f5^ 

 phronitis Veitchi came up again with a nice batch of Epidendrum elZ , ^ 

 Cymbidium eburneo-Lowianum with two spikes, was also verv • ; 

 Under a bell glass a beautiful orchid was placed ; this was a spj m ^fg^ 

 nopsis John Seden, carrying two flowers ; this is a cross between P I »aa 

 anum and P. amabilis ; numerous odontoglossums, masdevallias 'rnm^f?^' 

 &c, flanked the central bank of dendrobiums. Messrs CharleswonKHr^ 



were some grand ex^mnU '\ 

 Phaius Norman in three varieties, a beautiful hybrid between P. Sande 

 P. tuberculosus, described elsewhere ; odontoglossums were well reDre^^ 

 especially O. cirrhosum, O. Wilckeanum, O. crispum, &c. ; this was a finf ^ 

 interesting group to bring all the way from Bradford. ^ 

 Messrs. Hugh Low and Co., Clapton, brought Dendrobium Brymerianum 

 Cymbidium Devomanum, O. crispum (a rosy form), O. nebulosum splend 

 Cymbidium eburneo-Lowianum, and several handsome forms of Cattleya Triai^ 

 A famous lot of dendrobes, all examples or D. splendidissimum grandiflorum camf 

 from Mr. Bond, gardener to C. L. N. Ingram, Esq., Godalming. ThepS 

 were all well grown, and the varieties and blooms all of the best ; a cultural com 

 mendation was given. A pretty form of Cattleya Trianse, with very delicate sepals 

 and petals, was shown by Mr. Walters, gardener to Colonel Shipbury, Grove Park! 

 Chiswick. Mr. Harris, gardener to P.Crowley, Esq., Croydon, showed a foe 

 plant of the good old Cypripedium villosum, with about two dozen flower 

 Cypripedium Mrs. H. Druce, shown by H. Druce, Esq., St. John's Wood, is a 

 hybrid between C. niveus and C. bellatulum ; this name is wrong for the hybrid is 

 nothing else but C. Godefroyae. Acineta Humboldti came from W. C. Walker, 

 Esq., Percy Lodge, Winchmore Hill. Mr. H. J. Chapman, gardener to K. I 

 Measures, Esq., Camberwell, sent the curious Pleurothallis punctulata. Mem 

 J. Veitch and Sons sent Cattleya Miranda, a C. guttata cross, and Dendrobium 

 Hildebrandi albescens. 



Dendrobium Ainsworthi Woodhatch variety is a lovely form, shown grandly by 

 Mr. Salter, gardener to T. B. Haywood, Esq., Woodhatch Lodge, Reigate ; 

 Laelio-cattleya Hippolyta, Haywood's variety, was also shown and greatly admired 

 Odontoglossum Wilckeanum Pittas, shown by H. T. Pitt, Esq., Stamford II:!!, 

 proved a great attraction, the spike carrying eighteen handsome yellow fiWr* 

 blotched with reddish chocolate ; it is certainly one of the very finest of the 

 Wilckeanum varieties. N. C. Cookson, Esq., Wylam-on-Tyne, sent Dendrobium 

 Cybele and D. Astree. A very beautiful plant of Dendrobium Wardianum album 

 was shown by Messrs. Fisher, Son, and Sibray, Handsworth, Sheffield. Mr. J. 

 Rutherford, Blackburn, staged a flowering specimen of the interesting Spiranthes 

 colorans maculata. The lovely and brilliant Lrelio-cattleya Warnhamiensis was 

 brought by Mr. Duncan, gardener to C. J. Lucas, Esq., Warnham Court, 

 Horsham. Mr. W. S. Barrill, gardener to W. S. Ellis, Esq., Dorking, showed 

 Dendrobium Euterpe, D. Clio, and D. Cybele Ellis's variety, all beautiful 

 orchids. A spike of the rare Epidendrum Stamfordianum was shown by Mr. 

 Downes, gardener to.'T. T. Bennett-Poe, Esq., Cheshunt. Mr. Ballantyne, gardener 

 to Baron Schroder, The Dell, Egham, sent three splendid spikes of the lovely 

 Calanthe Baron Schroder, one very light and two dark coloured forms. Also from 

 The Dell collection came a small plant of Odontoglossum crispum Baronoi 

 Schroder, a superb variety with rosy flowers almost covered with brilliant crimso* 

 blotches; other beautiful subjects were spikes of the pure yellow odontoglossum, 

 O. coronarium, O. Pescatorei melanocentrum, O. microspilum, &c. It is a great 

 pity that some better arrangements cannot be made by the Orchid Commute 

 for displaying these grand orchids from The Dell ; on this occasion the spues 

 were sheafed together in earthen bottles and pushed behind other orchids. 



Fruit and Vegetable Committee. 



Mr. R. Bullock, gardener to C. P. Serocold, Esq., Taplow Hill, was a 

 a bronze Banksian medal for a 11 ^ *««u«- all in first-rate 



uuu y v^v/a a v-rrauge rippm ana l^gremont Jts.usseu were &pici;uiv 



Thomas, gardener to H.M. the Queen, Windsor, sent his new 



FT %Tf*T\T ^)<1\7 • fill* lc « fc»S- 3 r "k-C-U*- ™~a.n.-r> e\r\r\ OTlH 



warded 



sm afl' coHeTtlon of appfes%ll in first-rale ^coodi- 



" mm My kept. Mr. a 



cucumber nainec 



■.Mr^phranv tail 



I 



Wyth 



occasion gained . 

 Qvnn House 



interesting 



use ot a covering of leaves ; Mr. Wythes also sent some new anc 

 chokes, viz., Suttons 5 White, Vilmorin's White, and Syon Long f 

 latter being elongated forms. Messrs. H. Lane and Son, Berkhampsteaa, sen ^ 

 basket of the famous Lane's Prince Albert apple, every fruit a PP^™V° ufr 

 fresh as when gathered. An interesting exhibit of variegated and garni,ning . 

 came from Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons, Chelsea. Mr. Empson, gardene ri rf 

 Wingfield, Ampthill, Beds, secured a silver Banksian medal for a couecu f 

 apples and pears, the majority being well kept. Mr. Bullock, & den *.Zjfr 

 Serocold, Esq., Taplow Hill, gained first prize for apples— flavour ci» — 

 Cox's Orange Pippin ; Mr. Salter second, with Bess Pool. No first pr 

 awarded for pears, but a second was awarded to Mr. R. Maker, Yattenac 

 Newbury, for Bergamot Esperen. 



c . 7 ^ : Medals Awarded , ^ : ^ to Me* 



silver Gill Flora Medals to Messrs. J. Hill and O 

 W. Paul and Son, for camellias. Silver Banksian 



and Sons, for orchids ; ditto, for Prunus pseudo-cerasus; Mr. »- MaVl m 

 Mr. J. May, for cyclamen ; Mr. Purnell, for daffodils, Sec. ; Mr. n. J>- 

 clematis ; and to Messrs. R. and G. Cuthbert, for Ghent and mg »^ ^ 

 Bronze Flora Medals to the Church Road Nursery Company, n 

 cyclamen ; and to the St. George's Nursery Company, Han ? re,1, r 'u: ds . 

 Bronze Banksian Medals to Messrs. Charlesworth and Co., for orcm 

 Messrs. J. Laing and Sons, for clivias, &c. 



