262 



GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



ApRIL 23, 1898. 



and it certainly emphasised the energy and spin t that has hitherto been one of 

 the great features of the St. Albans establishment. A quite large : number of 

 new plants were shown ; indeed, it was practically a new plant exhibit, though 

 some few of the species staged have now become feirly well known m leading 

 horticultural establishments, notably Dracama Godseffiana and the older D. San- 

 deriana. The latter was represented by a monster pyramidal specimen, with the 

 leading central growths about eight feet high ; it was a mass of growth, and 

 covered with light and handsomely variegated foliage. D. Godseffiana occupied 

 a big tub, and was a splendid mass. The new D. Broomfieldi from Thursday 

 Island occupied a prominent position,, and was admired for its statelmess ; it 

 has somewhat stiff foliage, the leaves being about eighteen inches long and 

 three broad at their widest ; green, margined with white, and streaked with 

 palest green and white. Among palms there was a big example of Geonoma 

 Pynaeertiana, a Malaysian plant with broad fronds, bifid at the apex, and set on 

 very short stems ; Calamus Laucheana, an elegant palm with curiously interrupted 

 pinna: on its fronds, three or four of these being set close together, and then a 

 similar space left bare ; the gaps are left opposite each other ; Kentia Sanderiana 

 is a graceful little geonoma-like palm with square-ended pinnae ; Kentia Warteliana 

 will probably turn out not to be a kentia some day, it is, however, a most distinct 

 palm with rising stem, rough and whitish ; the broadly pinnate fronds are short, 

 very thick, grey beneath, and curiously stipulate ; Calamus Alberti is particularly 

 elegant, so also is the very pale green Calamus Caroli with closely-set pinnae ; and 

 Licuala Jeanenceyi, a native of Australasia, is akin to L. horrida, but not so well 

 armed, its stiff, shining fronds seem to point to its value for decorative use. Panax 

 Mastersiana is a strong-growing araliad from the Solomon Islands ; for large 

 stoves it would be useful, but it seems scarcely handsome enough for general 

 cultivation, notwithstanding its long drooping foliage. Leea Roehrsiana is a bold 

 species with deep metallic green foliage ; it is a giant L. amabilis without its 

 bright colouring. Aralia Balfouriana, from New Caledonia, will scarcely replace 

 A. Guilfoylei, though distinct from it. In Pandanus Sanderi, from Timor, we 

 have, however, a very fine pandanad that cannot fail to run P. Veitchi 

 close for popularity ; the creamy-green groundwork is lightly striated 

 with deep green and white, and thus the plant is much more variegated 

 than P. Veitchi, and there is a yellowish tone throughout ; it is a handsome plant, 

 and whether a distinct species or not, it is distinct enough from a horticultural 

 point of view. A very distinct and useful plant, Acalypha Godseffiana, formed a 

 margin to the whole group ; it has green, shining leaves, with creamy white 

 margins, these marginal bands including the serrations ; it branches freely, and 

 can thus be easily kept in good form. A prominent item in the St. Albans display 

 was a case of the pretty Ansectochilus Leopoldi, a strong-growing species, with 

 leaves five by six inches, deep velvety green, with veinings and pencillings of dull 

 golden yellow ; this case was received by the Messrs. Sander on March 4, after 

 the plants had undergone a journey of four months from the Philippine Islands — 

 they travelled amazingly well for anxctochili. Lastly, though by no means least, 

 and certainly not finishing all the new plants — we have to mention Acalypha 

 Sanderi, from New Guinea. This has very bold green leafage, deep green in the 

 blade, pale green in the petiole ; more remarkable than the bold leafage and stately 

 habit are the inflorescences, one produced frDm the axil of each leaf, like a long 

 crimson velvet ta«sel, nearly an inch thick, and from one to two feet in length. 

 This species will certainly be grown as freely for its flowers as A. Macafeeana is 

 for its handsome foliage ; it was the most conspicuous new plant in the Sanderian 

 group, and created much interest. 



Anthuriums. 



M. Arthur de Smet contributed a splendid lot of anthuriums, staging twenty 

 large specimens of A. Scherzerianum and its varietal forms ; the majority but 

 highly cultivated forms, though A. S. atrosanguineum was very distinct by reason 

 of its broad deep red spathes. Some freely flowered amaryllis set among the tubs 

 of anthuriums added not a little to the general effect. A large specimen of 

 Anthurium Scherzerianum grandiflorum was shown by M. Arthur de Smet ; it was 

 in a big tub and measured about five feet across, and carried some five dozen or 

 so of rich scarlet spathes. This fine example only secured a second prize. A 

 first-class silver medal was awarded the Comtesse de Kerchove for her big 

 Anthurium Hookeri, as the best example of an anthurium showing exceptional 

 culture, the leaves were five or more feet long and over two feet broad, and there 

 were thirteen ot them on the plant. 



M. Arthur de Smet took the lead for twenty five anthuriums in flower, 

 securing the work of art with large specimens of A. Scherzerianium, A. Souvenir 

 d Antome Chantin with crimson spathes, A. Rothschildianum var. Secretaire 

 rierens and A. Scherzerianium var. excelsior, closely akin to A. S. Wardi. 

 Anthuriums in great variety were well shown by the Soci&e Anonyme, Ghent, and 

 these secured the large gold medal offered as second prize in the class for twenty 

 five specimens : A. atrosanguineum, A. Scherzerianum album, A. Perfection, and 

 A. Souvenir de la Exposition in the way of A. Rothschildeanum were among the 

 most attractive examples. A second-class gilt medal was awarded M. Arthur de 



kJ° r SU • varieties of Anthurium Andreanum, and his set included a white 

 spathed hybrid form, unnamed ; a deep scarlet form ; A. A. salmoneum ; and 



sanguineum, ' atter ver y attract i v e. M. Vervaene-Vervaert gained a 

 gold medal for twenty examples of Anthurium Scherzerianum, and the second 

 prize for a score of plants representing this species and its forms was won. M. 

 Arthur de Smet gained the-second class gold medal ; A. S. salmoneum, A. Roths- 

 childeanum Helvetia, white with big scarlet blotches, and A. S. Souvenir de A. 

 Uiantm with deep crimson spathes, were notably distinct forms in this collection. 



Hardy and Tender Rhododendrons. 



K«i? h ^ 0< ? Cndrons wcre contributed in considerable numbers, and arranged in 

 oow banks round the side of the exhibition hall produced a rich effect, 

 ine ooject of an offered as the first prize for forty specimens of hardy varieties, 

 and A7t% ,n t0 * E f Pynaert Van Gwrt who contributed splendidly-flowered 

 and inrlnnlJ V**™™- The varieties were chiefly of English origin, 



Sis B^SiSSl SS^^L M ™" ,0hn Penn > Charm ' J° se P h Whitworth, Noto. 

 Wandv-innm * £ J .° hn Clutt °A, one of the best of the white varieties; 



Kate wSr a 1 rose ' coloured fonn introduced to cultivation many years since ; 

 Cynthia a Z^rh T™* rose c ? lour ^ variety ; Sir Robert Peel, bright red ; 

 Especial W koo^ hu ge trusses of bright rose-pink flowers. 



Ghent, who wia!\ rH% ^i™ ° f ^Mty-five specimens from M B. Fortie, 



were of medium su and 1 r 2i*3?S!f* the lar 6 e & old medaL Thc Vechnens 

 trusses. Es^SSSSS^^^^ splendid development of the flower 

 form ; Cynthia MaoW v 8 me ? t,on Were William Austin, a superb crimson 

 Ceri*.^ Madame Cavalho, J. M. Brooks, Neige et 



in nnhu »«~LlZ T_ 1 . ror * charming variety- 



Hisses, and whit* »irK Y • u ng variety— me nowers a 



S&WbS^^^P MSN Madame V. C 



laventl** -x-ii™T! • ^rotesse Sam, an exquisite form 



naruy iiiuuuucuuiwuo »w. ™ 



flesh-pink with dark markings. 



M 



lass 



'est of the 

 le Rohan, 



Bauman 



ialayan species a 



I 



we7e Aucklandi, a beautiful species, the'flowVr^ 

 one of the finest of the white Himalayan rhododendrons ; Dalhousianum Th v 

 species with yellow-white flowers, which should prove useful to the hSL 

 Edgworthi, a beautiful white and fragrant form ; Roseum odoratum a haSdS 



in the 



Dalhou 



flowers. 



Stove Plants. 



the superb development of the 



Seldom have we seen finer stove plants than were contributed in quantity it 

 this show. Here, however, the majority of the specimens (though rec!>gnised as 

 miscellaneous) were what we at home regard as stove plants as their names will 

 show. In almost every case cleanliness and general high cultivation was evidence 

 that M. Rigouts clearly won his place as the leading exhibitor at any rate, in the 

 eyes of Britishers. 



A huge bank of large specimen plants placed in tasteful arrangement before the 

 double staircase of the winter garden of the Casino was exceptionally fine, and 

 though some of the specimens were obviously made up, yet the majority' were 

 cultivated as shown, and exhibited a wonderful degree of cultural excellence. Sod 

 exhibits are not seen at home in these days. This display was from La Socictc 

 Anonyme Horticole Gantoise, Ghent, and worthily won the GEuvre d'art, valued 

 at 200 francs, offered as first prize for forty specimens, flowering or foliage, and in 

 memory of M. Louis Van Houtte, pere. At the back, near the balustrading of the 

 staircase, were fine examples of Kentia Belmoreana, Pritchardia grandis, Pandanw 

 Veitchi, Cycas revolutum, Anthurium Veitchi, with very long foliage ; Alpinia 

 vittata, a fine clump of variegated foliage. Lower down were Dracaena Godseffiana, 

 D. Sanderiana, Phyllotaenium Lindeni, a fine plant ; Alocasia gigantea, Phanix 

 Roebelini, exceptionally gracefully and well furnished ; Eucharis amazonica, 

 Spathiphyllum picturatum, Pavetta borbonica, Dieffenbachia Fournieri, Aralk 

 sonchifolia, Leea amabilis, Oncidium sarcodes, and Adiantum Farleycnse. The 

 third prize fell to the firm trading as M. Louis van Houtte, pere, and the collectkm 

 shown by them was staged alongside that already noticed. Big plants of Kentia 

 Belmoreana, Alpinia vittata, Philodendron Sellowi, Cycas revoluta, Erica 

 Cavendishi, Anthurium Veitchi, Coccoloba pubescens, and Zamia varicoat, formed 1 

 first-rate background for smaller examples of Nephty lis picturata, Dracaena Doncetti, 

 Croton Warreni, Pimelia spectabilis, Schismatoglottis Robelini, Phoenix Robe- 

 lini, Nepenthes mixta, and Dieffenbachia impenalis nobilis. The second p 

 to the value of 200 francs, was awarded to M. Albert Rigouts, Meirelbeke-lei 

 Gand, but we are of opinion that some judges would have awarded this the chief 

 honours of its class ; it was a grand collection, and staged along the extreme end 

 of the big hall. Towering over the centre was a large and well-grown Encepha 

 lartos, and grouped around this were noble specimens of Croton Queen Victoria, 

 Cocos Weddelliana, Pandanus Veitchi, Alpinia vittata, Dicksonia antarctica, 

 Dieffenbachia imperialis nobilis (with eighteen of its big spotted leaves), Philo- 

 dendron Gossianum, the curious Coccolaba pubescens, and Clerondendroo 

 Balfouri. Lower down we noted a highly-coloured and handsome plant of 

 Helicoma illustris, Pandanus Baptisti, the unspined species from the Solon* 

 Islands ; Draccena Godseffiana, Alocasia argyrea, Polypodium difforme micro 

 phylla, a new plant from Borneo, and a very fine fern as here shown ; \ nesca 

 Moensiana, Phoenix Roebelini, most graceful of date palms ; Dracena Sandcnam, 

 Phyllotaenium Lindeni magnificum, deserving its varietal name by reason oMts 

 robustness and more than usual complement of colour in the leafage. Urc ~ 

 were represented by Cymbidium Lowianum, Odontoglossum luteo-purpurcum, 

 Oncidium ampliatum majus, and An;ectochilus petola, a pan two feet in ojmkki 

 filled with the pretty green and gold foliage of this pretty little orchid. 



There were a considerable number of groups of twenty-five stove P^nt*™ 

 coloured foliage, and the premier collection was arranged by II. Mll ' cl , 32 



G , 1, L plants being all beautifully clean and splen^y 



cultivated, though not of enormous size ; Cyanophyllum magnihcum, a 

 metallica, Spathiphyllum pictum, Hibiscus Cooperi, Maranta regalis, u 

 bachia Fourneri (grandly coloured) Dracaena Goldiana, D. p^^^^Tg 

 recurvata variegata, and Anthurium Warocqueanum were a few notable pm» 

 splendid set. Another success of M. Rigouts was the winninj 

 a gold medal to the value of 150 francs— for twenty-five i~ . Reficoca 

 remarkable for striped, marbled, or spotted leafage ; Aglaonema picta, 

 illustris, Dieffenbachia jenmani, and Nephtytis picturata attracted our ^ ^ 

 to this group. A handsome set of stove plants arranged in a sloping 

 the rustic bridge and water was contributed by the Societe Homcw ^ ^ 

 and merited a small gold medal; due regaid to the colo ™?\.™"g illustris, » 

 evinced in the arrangement. The most notable plants were neucuu*- 

 highly-coloured Spathiphyllum picturatum, Dieffenbachia magnino^^ ^ 

 spots showing well against the green ground colour), Drachm 

 amabilis, Alocasia Lindeni, and Croton Czar Alexander (a lan 

 gold veins on a green and brownish ground). Fifteen plants ot 1 * ^ 



second prue- 

 foliage pU^ 



Godsertuna. 

 ..leaved form 



, um a »« 01 larger plants arrangcu — ■ namlanus oB **• 

 made quite a little pandanad forest. One of the largest t P ec *™*J7TZ &o** -7 

 was a towering example of P. Desmetianum, a bold green -leaven 

 M. Pynaert van Geert, and securing for him a silver medal. ^ ^ 



The chief award for fifteen ornamental foliaged plants £ an Arca- 

 de Cock, Ghent, with some large spreading palms of popular . &c 

 and Ciboteum Sheidei, Philodendron Corsiensis, Cycas ro< m . , - 

 Societe Horticole Gantoise again scored for twenty ™ , ^ n 1 ^/ 5 cU» * 

 similar kinds to those otherwise referred to. In f he , nur ^' , > phce wid> * 

 twenty miscellaneous plants, M. van den Abeele gained fcww^ Fulcy cr^. 

 interesting collection that included handsome specimens^i A ^ ffl x ncs u 



Lowi, Maranta Sanderiana, Cyanophyllum ""■P»**f 



lata, a small Aikcdk cristata, AntJuIrium crystallinum, ana^Ag lj 



lass plants staged by M. A. R, 8\ 



medal ; notable plants here were Aglaeonema costa oeam 



9 



belini. 



gained ft •»* 



Hfully ^ 

 Curculigo 



Draoena Godseffiana, in full flower ; fc 

 with several creamv-white regular banas 



" v r^«*> * nm*u wun several creamyw"»^ ^/T- „; Alocasia 



leaf; Anthurium crystallinum, Philodendron Mehnoni, ^ e 

 :idium Marshallianum. For six plant: 



