March 26, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
257 
where they remained until the beginning of February, 1882, when they 
were taken out of the soil. Several had grown from 3 to 7 inches long ; 
these were placed singly into small 60-size pots. The others were all planted 
thickly in boxes of light rich soil. The whole were then placed in a little 
heat for about three weeks, and then stoo d in a cold frame until the begin¬ 
ning of April, when they were planted in front of a wall upon a sunny 
border facing the south. Some time previous to this we prepared the ground 
for them as follows : by trenching it 2 feet deep, 5 inches of decayed hotbed 
manure was then dug into the soil about 10 inches from the surface, then 
we put 5 inches of leaf mould and burnt ashes (mixed) from the refuse 
heap upon the top and pointed it in. So well were we satisfied with the 
growth made, that in preparing the soil for them we have annually fol¬ 
lowed the same plan, the only addition being a little soot and salt thrown 
over the surface after all was completed. 
In June the ground received a mulching of manure, water was given 
in dry weather, the plants made strong healthy growth, and in September 
and October many of them produced strong flowering spikes, several 
having as many as twenty-one blooms. After the middle of November 
(the plants were still as fresh and green as at midsummer) we lifted them 
from the ground, but instead of cutting the bulbs from the stems and 
drying them, they were simply laid one above another in a heap in the 
potting shed ; in severe weather they were covered to keep the frost from 
them. As the bulbs ripened and parted from the stems they were placed 
in boxes among light soil and grown on until the beginning of April, 1883, 
when they were again planted out in a sunny sheltered position, where 
they made splendid growth, and produced magnificent spikes. Many of 
the plants were over 5 feet high, one variety measured 6 feet 2 inches. 
The corms were lifted about the same time as on former occasions, and 
kept in the same manner during winter. Owing to April, 1884, being a 
cold, stormy, unsettled month, we did not have them planted out until 
the end of the month : most of the plants in the boxes had by this time 
grown 12 inches high. We were afraid the plants (being so large) would 
receive a check, and not do so well; however, such was not the case, as 
they never did better, forming strong, healthy, vigorous plants, which 
produced bold massive spikes, some of them having twenty-six large 
blooms upon the single spike. Several plants were over 6 feet high, the 
tallest measured 6 feet 11 inches.— Joseph Oliver, Eslington Park, 
Alnwick. 
ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY.— March 25th. 
The first spring Show of the season at Regent’s Park was held yesterday 
(Wednesday), and proved a satisfactory and successful gathering. Many of 
the exhibitors who were at South Kensington on the previous day also 
appeared there, but several additional ones were present, especially in the 
classes. The non-competing exhibits were, however, collectively the most 
important, and really constituted the greater portion of the Show. 
Hyacinths, Tulips, Daffodils, and hardy flowers were abundantly repre¬ 
sented, producing a brilliant and varied eff ct in the long corridor and part 
of the large conservatory. 
Hyacinths. —In the two classes for these th°re were seven exhibitors, the 
majority staging very good specimens. Mr. H. Eason, gardener to E. B. 
Noakes, Esq., Hope Cottage, Highgate, was first in the amateurs’ class for 
twelve fine plants, large compact spikes of the following varieties :—Koh-i- 
Noor, Marie, Grand Maitre, Marchioness of Lome, Lord Macaulay, King of 
the Blues, Baroness Yon Tuyll, Von Schiller, General Havelock, and Lady 
Derby. Mr. J. Douglas, gardener to F. Whitbourn, Esq., Great Gearies, 
Ilford, Essex, was a close second with even but slightly smaller spikes. In 
the nurserymen’s classes Messrs. H. Williams & Son, Fortis Green, 
Finchley, were first with beautiful examples of Czar Peter, King of the 
Blues, Lord Derby, Yon Schiller, Grandeur a Merveille, Mont Blanc, 
Morena, King of the Yellows, Marie, La Grandeur, and Lord Macaulay. 
Mr. H. R. Wright, Lee, Kent, followed with a good selection ; and Messrs. 
Cutbush & Son, Highgate, were third. 
Tulips. —These also were well represented, Mr. J. Douglas securing first 
honours in the amateurs’ class with finely grown and handsome specimens 
of Joost Van Vondel, the White Joost Van Vondel, Proserpine, and Van der 
Neer; three bulbs in a pot, well furnished with foliage, and bearing large 
richly coloured flowers. Mr. Eason was placed second with smaller plants. 
There were four competitors in the nurserymen’s class, Messrs. W. Cutbush 
and Sons taking first honours with Keizers Kroon, Fabiola, Rose Gris de Lin, 
Joost Van Vondel, Ophir d’Or, Proserpine, Cottage Maid, Hector, Van der 
Neer, and Vermillion Brilliant. Messrs. H. Williams & Son and H. R. 
Wright followed in this class with good plants. 
Cyclamens. —A beautiful bank of these was formed in the conservatory, 
the plants being most profusely flowered. Mr. F. J. Hill, gardener to H. 
Little, Esq., Hillingdon Place, Uxbridge, had the best twelve plants in the 
amateurs’ class, most of his varieties being richly coloured and in splendid 
condition. Mr. Wiggins, gardener to W. Clay, Esq., Grove Road, Kensington, 
was second with well-grown plants. In the open class Mr. H. B. Smith, 
Ealing, Dean, Mr. F. J. Hill, and Mr. J. James, Woodside, Farnham Royal, 
were the prizetakers, all exhibiting well. 
Crocuses were only represented by two collections of a dozen pots, Mr. 
J. Douglas leading with profusely flowered specimens, and Messrs. W. Cut¬ 
bush followed with a good collection, but hardly forward enough. Azaleas 
were numerous, but with a few exceptions they were not of first-rate merit. 
Mr. H. James, Castle Nursery, Lower Norwood, had six fairly good plants, 
a standard of Flag of Truce being particularly fine, and they well deserved 
the first prize awarded for them. The best amongst the amateurs were six 
from Mr. H. Eason, which took the first place in the class. They were 
dwarf semi-globular plants of Model, Roi Leopold, Roi d’Holland, Vittata 
crispiflora, Framjois Vervaene, and Apollon. 
Lilies of the Valley were well shown by Mr. W. J. Watson, Newcastle- 
on-Tyne, Messrs. H. Williams & Son, and H. R. Wright, who took the prizes 
in that order. 
Amaryllises. —With twelves Amaryllises Mr. J. Douglas secured the first 
prize, being the only exhibitor. His plants were strong and well flowered, 
some spikes having four and five flowers each. Dr. Masters, Sir Garnet 
Wolseley, Calypso, Lady Hulse, Albert Victor, Georgei, and several seedlings 
from Empress of India, all very distinct and good. Special prizes were 
also provided by an amateur. The best seedling was shown by Mr. J. 
Douglas and named Helen Lodge, it is a handsome variety with well formed 
flowers, rich crimson with a white central star. Mr. F. J. Hill was awarded 
the second prize for Mrs. H. Little, dark crimson tipped with white, fine 
shape. For the best six Amaryllises, the same exhibitor was first with 
John Heal, Great Gearies, bright clear scarlet, with a white central star; 
Empress of India, Madonna, James Douglas, and Marcus Aurelius. The 
two first named were awarded first prizes as the best light and dark varie¬ 
ties respectively, and the next two were also awarded the second prizes in 
the same order. Mr. Butler, gardener to H. H. Gibbs, Esq., was awarded the 
second prize for six Amaryllises with brightly coloured varieties. 
Polyanthus Narcissi were shown by Messrs. H. Williams & Sons, Finchley. 
J. Douglas and H. Eason, all the specimens being properly flowered. 
Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, were the only exhibitors of six forced 
Roses, and were awarded the first prizeE or dwarf healthy specimens freely 
flowered of Marquiso de Castellane, Perfection de Monplaisir, Alba rosea. 
Souvenir d’un Ami, Duke of Teck, La France, and Catherine Soupert. 
Of hardy plants and hardy Primulas Mr. J. Douglas was the only 
exhibitor, trking the first prize in each class. The Primulas included 
P. nivalis, P. obconica, P. marginata coerulea, P. Nelsoni hybrids, and 
P. cortusoid°s. In the hardy plants, Anemone ranunculoides, Sanguinaria 
canadensis, Fritillaria meleagris and alba, Hellebores, Grape Hyacinths, 
and Narcissus bicolor Horsfieldii. 
Mr. J. Douglas was as usual first with his six giant Deutzias laden with 
flowers, Mr. Eason and Mr. G. Wheeler following in that order with smaller 
plants. Messrs. Hill, J. Carter & Co., and H. Williams & Sons were the 
prizetakers with Primulas. 
Miscellaneous Groups. —Mr. B. S. Williams, Upper Holloway, had a most 
extensive and beautiful group of Hyacinths, Tulips, Cyclamens, and other 
plants (large silver medal). Messrs. W. Cutbush & Son, Highgate, showed 
large and handsome groups of Hyacinths,Tulips, and Crocuses (small silver 
medal). M. J. James, Woodside, Farnham Royal, sent a superb collection 
of Cinerarias of the usual fine substance and rich qualities (bronze medal). 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, showed a group of Amaryllises, green¬ 
house Rhododendrons, and Daffodils, comprising many new plants, for which 
certificates were awarded. Mr. Anthony Waterer, Woking, sent a fine 
group of Primroses and Andromedas (bronze medal). Messrs. Paul & Son, 
Cheshunt, contributed a beautiful group of Roses in pots freely flowered 
(large bronze medal). Mr. H. B. Smith, Ealing Dean, had a remarkably 
fine group of Cyclamens (large bronze medal). Mr. H. R. Wright, Lee, 
Kent, had an extensive group of Tulips (large bronze medal). Mr. Wiggins 
had a group of Cyclamens (certificate). Mr. F. J. Hill had a beautiful 
group of Lycastes (certificate). Mr. Eason had a group of bulbs (certificate). 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, sent a beautiful collection of Zonal 
Pelargoniums, very rich in colour. Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, had a 
group of Alpine and hardy plants (certificate). Mr. R. Clark, Twickenham, 
showed a group of handsome Cyclamens. Mr. H. R. Price, gardener to 
P. M. Munro, Esq., Malvern Lodge, Surbiton, exhibited a group of Cineraries 
(certificate). Mr. W. Bull, Chelsea, showed a group of new Orchids and 
other plants. Messrs. J. Carter & Co., High Holborn, sent some fine 
examples of Vallota purpurea, and pans of Primula spectabilis and Solda- 
nella montana. Messrs. Collins, Bros, and Gabriel contributed a group of 
Anemones, Daffodils, and other hardy flowers (large bronze medal). Mr. 
T. S. Ware, Tottenham, had a pretty collection of hardy flowers (certificate). 
Messrs. Hooper & Co., Covent Garden, had several fine Tree Carnations, the 
flowers large and brightly coloured. Messrs. Barr & Son, King Street, 
Covent Garden, had an extensive collection of Daffodils and hardy flowers 
in the conservatory similar to that at Kensington yesterday (bronze medal). 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Well ripened wood is crowded with fruit buds swelling so fast that 
Pear trees are already white with them, and these are just now a source 
of mingled pleasure and anxiety. If we are only favoured with soft genial 
weather while the blossom expands and the fruit sets, a year of great 
abundance is before us ; we are therefore naturally anxious, for do what 
we may it is impossible to afford adequate protection to huge pyramids 
14 or 15 feet in height, unless such protection already exists in the form 
of thick close belts of lofty evergreen Fir trees, and numerous intersecting 
hedges of dense-growing Thuias in the interior of the fruit garden, as we 
have so frequently advised. On plateaus and the upper slopes of valleys 
trees so sheltered are tolerably safe from the assaults of sweeping nor’- 
easters and those late spring frosts so prevalent and so hurtful on exposed 
or low-lying damp ground. Full well do we know that to mention this 
matter now can do no good, but we do so in order that the importance of 
protection may be fully realised wherever attention has not hitherto been 
given it. For wall trees much may be done by broad copings, and screens 
of frigi domo, or double screens of Haythorn’s hexagon netting stretched 
securely upon frames, so as not to be blown about by high winds. 
Blossom may also be retarded by the use of water, but due care must be 
taken not to carry the use of them to a hurtful extreme. Thatched 
hurdles and Fir branches may also be made good use of a3 a means of 
protection, and all should be done that is possible to screen the tender 
blossom upon which our hopes of a fruit crop depend. Dried fern 
scattered thinly upon Gooseberry bushes serves admirably to keep off 
