May 2 1 



1898. 



GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



333 



Exhibitions and Meetings. 



SHOW 



n he no doubt as to the suitability of the central hall at the Alexandra 

 THERK can be no dou ^ ^ ^ abundance of room, and 



FaliCe ffcW&oS brilliant sunshine. The exhibition under notice was to a 

 P' enty °2? tostin this building, but that was largely due to the near approach of 

 largC T 1 Show and the Manchester Exhibition, for many would-be exhibitors 

 the Temple bhowanoi If substantial prizes are offered at some 



Sne themselves back for these. If substantial prizes are ottered 

 . -5 more suitable date the result should be a really line exhibition. 



were 



fUt S ^fal^^te^ 7o7"the" display of big'specimen plants, such as 

 W n Sims tree ferns, bamboos, &c, indeed, for big plants of al kinds, as there 

 *" ^ l?/no necessity for crowding. In addition to the central hall there are huge 

 W ° V?t these, if occasion demanded, could be utilised for flower show 



"^SL Certainly no place in London is so well suited for horticultural displays, 

 pU ^ Le shows &c., and it is comparatively easy of access. The catering, 

 ^f^^n to^Mbitors and' visitors^ is excellently done by Messrs 

 uleby^d Cristopher, of East Grinstead, and perhaps nothing could speak 

 \Sta for their conduct and provisions than the eulogies of the exhibitors and their 

 ISndants who were provided with breakfast by the authorities. tancy having 

 hot rolls for breakfast at a show," was the exclamation of more than one attendant. 



Plants. 



Mr George Cragg, gardener to W. C. Walker, Esq., Percy Lodge, Winch- 

 more Hill, gained a first prize for a table of orchids with a pretty exhibit, the 

 orchids being arranged amid light palms, and over a groundwork of maidenhair 

 fern Good forms of Odontoglossum crispum, Loelia purpurata, L. tenebrosa, 

 Cattleya Schroderce, C. Bowringiana, C. citrina, &c, and over all a number of 

 graceful branching spikes of the brilliant Oncidium Marshal lianum. But one 

 exhibit of nine specimen plants was staged, and this set came from Messrs. J. 

 Peed and Sons, Roupell Park Nurseries, Norwood. The specimens were well 

 furnished, and moderately large examples of Croton Weismanni, Dracaena Glad- 

 stones Phomiium tenax variegatum, Kentia Forsteriana, K. Belmoreana, Dracaena 

 Lindeni, Pandanus Veitchi, Latania borbonica, and Caladium Mrs. H. Veitch, 

 the latter beautifully coloured. Messrs. J. Peed and Son, Norwood, won the first 

 prize for a group of flowering and foliage plants arranged on a space of two 

 hundred and fifty square feet. The group was circular, and consisted of a band 

 of dracttnas and caladiums surrounding a big central kentia and liliums. Nearer 

 the front were bright crotons, heaths, boronias, begonias, gloxinias, hydrangeas, 

 &c, all arranged amid maidenhair ferns. The centre of the group was somewhat 

 too crowded, but on the whole the display was effective. 



Cut Flowers. 



In the class for a collection of cut flowers, arranged on a table fifteen feet by 

 four feet, the first prize was won by Mr. Amos Perry, Winchmore Hill, who 

 staged line bunches of tulips, iris in abundance, including a yellow form of I. 

 pumila named Leander, a rich yellow variety ; violets, Geum Hildriechi, G. 

 Eweni (orange), Gladioli, trollius, the pretty Anemone bacailense, phloxes in 

 variety, Cheiranthus Marshalli, &c. Spanish iris in variety also added 

 much to the attractivenes of the exhibit. For a large group of cut flowers, 

 twenty feet by six feet, Messrs. Paul and Son, Cheshunt, secured the first prize 

 for a showy collection, consisting chiefly of bunches of brilliant rhododendrons, 

 Mollis azaleas, Parrot tulips, late narcissi, fragrant violas, some early peonies, 

 geums, Megasea cordifolia in fine condition, and several forms of the bluebell 

 showing varying and pleasing shades of colour ; Scilla carnea was 

 attractive. 



For one bride's and two bridesmaids' bouquets Messrs. Perkins and Sons won 

 the first prize, sending three exquisite bouquets all the way from Coventry ; lily 

 of the valley, eucharis, pancratiums, gardenias, Odontoglossum crispum, and 

 0. Pescatorei were the flowers chiefly used, while maidenhair fern and asparagus 

 fronds supplied the foliage. Mr. Henry O. Garford, Stoke Newington, came 

 second, the bride's bouquet being artistically composed of gardenias, roses, and an 

 abundance of stephanotis ; the bridesmaids' bouquets were of yellow roses, yellow 

 marguerites, and golden Spanish iris. Mr. L. H. Calcutt, The Bank Nursery, 

 Stoke Newington, came third, his bridesmaids' bouquets of crimson carnation and 

 % of the valley being very effective. Some beautiful roses were staged by Mr. 

 u. Mount, Canterbury, and, though there were no competititors, other exhibitors 

 would have found the Canterbury grower hard to beat. Mr. Mount was first for 

 twelve \ nd for twenty-four blooms, his stand of twelve containing excellent 

 examples of Ulrich Brunner, Mrs. W. J. Grant, General Jacquiminot, Catherine 

 Mermet, Capt. Hayward, Fisher Plolmes, Mrs. John Laing, Niphetos, and 

 Uuroline Testout. The set of two dozen contained superb blooms of Mrs. J. 



2& CapL Hayward, Perle des Jardins, and Catherine Mermet. 



The only display of twenty-four bunches of cut flowers came from Mr. G. 

 JJtti gardener to W. C. Walker, Esq., who put up Lselia purpurata, L. grandis 

 leneorosa, Cattleya Lindeni, Odontoglossum Pescatorei, O. crispum, O. Cer- 

 antesi, Epidendrum rhizophorum, Dendrobium thyrsiflorum, Cymbidium 

 ^owianum, Anthurium Scherzerianum, Cypripedium calceolus, Canna Florence 

 vaughan, Cytisus albus, Tulip Golden Eagle, &c, &c. 



NON- COM PETITI VE. 



cuctolS S ' m c r * Rowled S e > Farnham, showed a splendid lot of tomatos and 

 anc*. 1*' former were Conqueror, and an improved form, and Abund- 



and Sat n'H) 11 ^' 8 ,r re Chiefl y Lodcie's Perfection, Improved Telegraph, 

 A PftU m 1 1 eerIes s, all well-developed, clean specimens of good serviceable size. 



Plants S? a i WM aWarded t0 Mr ' T - S - Ware for a very long table of hardy 

 Hildriechi . er ?» irises > Cytisus andreanus, narcissi, tulips. Geum 



RamonHia'J*™ ? U Jl. vanetv > dodecantheons, aquilegias, hardy orchids, 



Rchmannl fl^EF*? 1 7 n,hum g'andiflorum, and a flowering plant of Richardia 

 "inanm, the blush tinted calla. 



t*bl e d£25 Wll, j am '' 9 xf ord Road, Ealing, gained a silver medal for a light 

 Calcut for El ? • narci l ssi - A sma11 g ol d medal was awarded to Mr. L. H. 

 arraneemenu P ,^* ng . exhlblt of vases > epergnes, arches, and other elegant floral 

 cornflower L a\ ?,r gDS being executed in white lilies > gay Spanish irises, blue 

 «S3 fe., S bnll . la ? t anthurium 5 . Messrs. W. Edwards and Son, Notts, 

 * l^ge disokv .ru arU . Stl ? baskels - Messrs. Wood and Son, Wood Green, had 

 thickness^ L nortlcul ] ur al sundries, including bamboo rods in all lengths and 

 Colchester ' Umm£!£ garden cutl ery, samples of soils and manures. Mr. W. 

 speciality 9 a u h ' st ?8 ed a collection of samples of manures, including their 

 BOW rr.edal • ihU ? y by Messrs - W - Cutbush and Sons, Highgate, secured a 



wit h Souvenir de C r S1 ff e i ° f big pa,mS ' bamboos » and baskets of hydrangeas, 

 Otah^i le orange* k . almaisons > carnations, heaths, mollis azaleas, heaths, 

 fcrn and isolenic ! Doron ! a ^. crotons, &c, in front, with an edging of maidenhair 



*P« , a good display. An exhibit of cacti from Mr. H. a lk,mp. 



There 



very 



aconite, 

 leucojum, 

 the early 



twL «Y ^ Southgate, secured a silver-gilt medal ; about a hundred and 

 thirty plants were staged, including many rare species and some new phyllocactus 

 Hybrids. A small Cereus giganteus, over sixty years old, occupied a prominent 

 position, as did C. carulescens ; several echinopsis were flowering and making 

 new growths. Others were Mamillaria sub-polyhedra, Opuntia microdasys, Astro 

 pnytum myriostigma, stapelias, and Cereus flagelliformis, an interesting display. 



READING GARDENERS' ASSOCIATION. 



n P 1 * fiS me T etin S of the summer season of the Reading and District 

 gardeners Mutual Improvement Association was held on Monday evening last, 

 when the chairman of the Association, Mr. Turton. presided over a good 

 attendance of members. The subject for discussion was hardy flowers, including 



w'n a S d ,b ^ This Was int >-oduced by Mr. Townsend, gardener to Sir 

 William tarrer, Sandhurst Lodge, who said that he should refer principally to 

 those varieties which made the garden look gay during the early months of the 

 year, and only those which were grown in the gardens under his charge. The 

 following varieties were touched upon. Flowering shrubs — Amygdalis, abelia, 

 andromedas, buddleas, berberis, cydonias, cerasus, Crataegus, ceanothus, choisya, 

 cytisus, carpenteria, chimonanthus, calycanthus, cistus, cornus, deutzia, daphne, 

 Diplopappus chrysophyllus, escallonias, foisythias, Garrya elliptica, genista, iberis, 

 jasmine, kernas, laburnum, Leycesteria formosa, ledum, mespilus, magnolias, 

 nuttallia, pyrus, prunus, philadelphus, ribes, spiraea, sambusa, ulex, viburnum 

 veronica, weigela. Bulbs-Hyacinths, tulips, narcissi, crocuses, 

 chiondoxas, tnteleias, scillas, grape hyacinths, alliums ornithogalum, 

 dog s-tooth-violets, trill iums. Flowers (flowering from February till 

 part of May) hellebores, violets, arabis, laubrietias, daisies, wallflowers, myosotis, 

 primroses, polyanthus, alyssum, doronicum, alpine phlox, and Primula Sieboldi. 

 A discussion followed. An interesting feature of the meeting was the large 

 display of cut flowers, including Primula Sieboldi, daisies, myosotis, tulips, 

 tnlhums, pansies, lily of valley, wallflowers, narcissi, auriculas, honeysuckles, 

 roses (outdoor growth), &c. These were contributed by Mr. lurton, Maiden 

 Erlegh Gardens, Mr. W. Smith, gardener to Miss Neild, Greenbank, and Mr. 

 Townsend, the latter exhibiting a splendid grown anthurium showing 45 spathes. A 

 vote of thanks to the lecturer and to those members who had brought the 

 flowers ended a pleasant evening. 



ISLE OF WIGHT HORTICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 



The monthly meeting of the Isle of Wight Horticultural Improvement Associa- 

 tion was held at Newport on Saturday last, when there was a large attendance of 

 members present, presided over by Dr. J. Groves, B.A. Mr. A. Key, M.A., 

 formerly of Wadham College, Oxford, gave a most interesting and instructive 

 experimental lecture on " Plant Foods : Their Detection in Vegetables and Soils." 

 The lecturer stated at the outset there were seventy-two elements, and that 

 fourteen of these were generally found in plants, several of them being 

 indispensable and required in larger quantities than others ; amongst these were 

 " phosphates," for without which no seed would germinate and fruits would be 

 practically worthless. Mr. Key then performed several experiments showing how 

 to ascertain the presence of phosphates in soils, manures, fruits, and seeds. At 

 the close he received a most unanimous vote of thanks. Several interesting 

 exhibits were staged. Mr. G. Nobbs, F. R.H.S., gardener to Her Maiesty at 

 Osborne, received the association certificate for cultural merit for a floe spike ot 

 Imantophyllum(Lord Wolverton) with twenty-three blooms. Mr. J. J. Livington, 

 gardener to Dr. Coombes, Newport, staged a fine plant of Dendrobium densi- 

 florum, and Mr. J. Nicholas, gardener to Mrs. Gray, Kintore, Sandown, a well- 

 flowered plant of Hydrangea. Eleven new members were elected. The first 

 excursion of the season took place on May 19 to Appley Towers and St. John's 

 Vicarage, Ryde. 



EAST COWES HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The fortnightly meeting of the East Cowes Horticultural Society was held on 

 Wednesday, when an excellent paper on the "Cultivation of Carnations 94 was 

 read by Mr. A. Saunders, gardener at Stanhope Lodge, Cowes. The subsequent 

 discussion proved very interesting and instructive. 



The Pleasing Primrose.— I like that name best for the beautiful Primula 



cortusoides amcena (P. Sieboldi) in its many rich and charming varieties. Though 

 fairly hardy, as it blooms through April and May, it thrives best in sheltered and 

 and well-drained positions. The stature of the flower stems, the thinness of the 

 flower and foliage, renders such favourable environments needful for the full dis- 

 play and careful preservation of their beauty. Those who cannot command cosy 

 sheltered positions for their finer strains of the pleasing primroses in the open air, 

 cannot do better than grow them in pots in cold pits and frames, or use them as 

 window plants, or in cool greenhouses. These are very distinct and different from 

 all other members of the primrose family, and the finer varieties never fail to 

 please, either as plants or cut flowers in small and graceful vases, verdurised with 

 their own elegant foliage.— D. T. F. 



Border Auriculas.— What charm there may be found in these hardy plants 

 even in a large town is evidenced by the exceedingly pretty display made by my 

 fellow townsman, Mr Shepherd, of the firm of Puttock and Shepherd whose 

 private residence close to the town allotments is fronted by a garden of border 

 auriculas. I saw the plants there the other morning when passing, and many 

 were then in bloom, but by the end of the month the display will be a very 

 charming one. This is not the only town example of the way m which the auricula 

 does here, for there are other ones, but Mr. Shepherd has sought to improve his 

 stock by selecting plants carrying fairly stout erect stems, and flowers of bright, 

 effective colours. There is very much room to improve these auriculas m these 

 respects, and those florists who love them but have no greenhouses or frames may 

 find as much pleasure in cultivating these hardy varieties as the fancier does with 

 his choice house-grown ones. In some respects perhaps more pleasure may be 

 obtained, as these border forms admit of much advance and development. The 

 choice show and alpine varieties admit of very little. Now is a good time for any- 

 one willing to embark in border auricula culture to obtain seed and sow it. Do 

 this in a shallow box or in broad shallow pans ; have fine sandy soil on the surface ; 

 sow the seed very thinly and evenly, then press it in gently with the points of the 

 fingers ; strew a thin coating of the fine soil over all, water gently, then place in 

 a frame 'or greenhouse, or in a warm place outdoors, covered with a bared light or 

 large pieces of glass, and shade with newspaper. The seed coats are hard 

 and take some time to soften, so that the plant germs can burst through. Seeds of 

 last year should germinate within a month, but often some comes late, and plenty 

 of patience is needed. Still the bulk of the seeds will give plants that will make 

 nice strong ones to flower the following spring.— A. Dean, Kingston. 



