THE FLORAL MAGAZINE 



NEW SERIES.] FEBRUARY, 1872. [No. 2. 



EXHIBITIONS. 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, SOUTH 

 KENSINGTON, Jan. 17th. 



Although the prizes offered on this occasion were only 

 for ivies and hardy conifers, yet a considerable number of 

 other plants, both pretty in appearance and excellent in 

 quality, were set up, making the eonncil-room quite gay 

 in the dead season of the year. Collections of cyclamens, 

 than which nothing can be gayer and prettier at this 

 season ; of forced flowers and orchids ; and of tricolor 

 pelargoniums, all united to make a very beautiful display. 

 Amongst the most noticeable things were some very 

 fine orchids from Lord Londesborough, Grimston Park, 

 Tadcaster. There were amongst them : — Phalaenopsis 

 Porteana, a lovely white flower with a rosy purple lip 

 tinged with orange at the base and dotted with crimson ; 

 Odontoglossum Denisonpe (which we hope to figure), 

 named after Lady Londesborough, evidently a variety of 

 O. Alexandra?, large flowered and exhibiting a tendency 

 to semiduplication, the long spike with eighteen flowers 

 on it was very lovely; and Sophronitis grandiflora 

 with large flowers. From the Messrs. Veitch came as 

 usual a very beautiful collection, comprising a large 

 number of Lycaste Skinneri and other orchids, also a 

 Charles X. lilac, Hippeastrum pardinum, and Lily of 

 the Valley in bloom. Mr. Standish of Ascot sent a 

 very beautiful collection of forced flowers in bloom ; 

 conspicuous amongst them were some very admirable 

 examples of Bouvardia jasminoides. Mr. Turner of 

 Slough had some baskets of excellently grown and 

 well- coloured Tricolor pelargoniums, amongst which 

 Mrs. Headly stood prominent. Mr. Bull of Chelsea 

 sent some good plants, including Macrozamia coral- 

 lipes and plumosa, Crinum amabile (very showy), and 

 Cypripedium pardinum. Fr om Mr. Williams came a 

 number of his fine Aucuba luteocarpa, affording a 

 pleasing contrast to the red-berried varieties, some 

 magnificent specimens of which were shown by Mr. 

 Turner of Slough ; Cattleya Walkeriana in fine bloom 

 and colour ; and from Messrs. Backhouse of York came 

 a fine plant of Laelia autumnalis grandiflora in fine 

 flower. Nor must we omit one or two objects which 

 were well deserving of attention — the Carter Challenge 

 Prize Cup, value fifty guineas, offered by Messrs. 

 Carter & Co., Holborn, for collections of vegetables at 

 the Society's provincial exhibitions ; and the Victoria 



Electric Thermometer, for indicating changes in the 

 temperature of houses ; this was the invention of Mr. 

 Rothnie, and brought into notice by Mr. W r illiams 

 of Holloway. We know of something of the kind in 

 use at Mr. Thompson's, of Petham in Kent, but 

 whether identical with this we are not aware. 



GARDEN ECONOMICS. 



ITALY IN ENGLAND. 



Under this somewhat sonorous title Mr. J. W. Looker, 

 the inventor of the Acme Frame, has brought out a 

 little brochure in which he gives instruction as to 

 the best method of using these structures, as well as 

 the propagating boxes which so many have found 

 useful. In enumerating the uses to which the plant 

 covers may be put, he mentions the sheltering of lettuces 

 and endives that are fit for use, as well as young plants 

 of the same; for sheltering parsley (which in the 

 winter months is very necessary) ; for accelerating the 

 growth of mint, tarragon, and other herbs. Their 

 greatest value in the kitchen garden, he says, will be 

 found in the assistance they will afford to young plants 

 of lettuce, cauliflower, celery, and other vegetables 

 raised in the propagating boxes and pricked out. In the 

 flower-garden, seeds of asters, of ten-week stocks, mari- 

 golds, &c, may be brought forward better in them than 

 in heat. But the Acme Frame and ground vinery is 

 the invention on which he lays, and we think rightly, 

 the most stress. It has, he says, two great advantages, 

 its cheapness and its portability. Amongst its perma- 

 nent uses he classes the cultivation of grapes, cherries, 

 plums, and other fruits, and of asparagus amongst 

 vegetables : and amongst its temporary uses the pro- 

 duction of endive, small celery, early radishes, and 

 carrots, the earliest crops of peas, and dwarf French 

 beans. Ample directions are given for the fixing of 

 these useful inventions, and also for the cultivation of 

 the various kinds of fruit, flowers, and vegetables for 

 which they are adapted. There is also a monthly 

 calendar which will be found very useful, and altogether 

 the little book is very complete. 



