274 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 2, 1885. 
plant? staged by Mr. G-. Morton, no further mention is needed ; the remain¬ 
ing prizetakers being Messrs. E. Green and J. Kelly. 
Cinerarias were both numerous and finer than usual. For six plants 
Mr. T. Stephenson took the lead with large plants, even and well flowered, 
the individual blooms being of large size. Mr. G. Rhodes was placed second 
with very good plants, and Mr. E. Green third, the flowers smaller, but the 
plants equally as large. The successful competitors for Lily of the Valley 
being Messrs. A. Collins, W. Mease, and J. Jellico. 
Greenhouse Rhododendrons were not numerous, but the examples staged 
were good. Mr. R. G. Waterman, gardener to A. Tate, Esq., was first with 
one plant, a neat well-flowered specimen of Taylorii, about 2 feet in 
diameter. Mr. Gowan second and Mr. Moss third. 
Hyacinths. —The Hyacinths were in a remarkably good condition, having 
bells and spikes of large size, with good foliage, the first indication of 
good and careful cultivation. In numbers the Hyacinths staged for com¬ 
petition were not so numerous a3 on previous occasions, owing undoubtedly 
to the postponement of the Exhibition. For twenty-four distinct varieties 
there wa3 only one exhibitor, Mr. J. Kelley, gardener to R. Singlehurst, Esq., 
Endfield House, Aigburth, who well deserved the first prize awarded him. 
This collection scarcely contained a faulty spike, some of the best and 
most striking being King of the Blues, Van Speyk, Mrs. Beecher Stowe, 
Duchess of Richmond, King of the Reds, very bright; Blondin, Haydn, 
Lady Derby, Grand Lilas, La Grandesse, Miss Nightingale, Marie, and 
Lord Macaulay. The first prize in this class was given by Mr. Thomas 
Walley, seedsman, St. George’s Crescent. The first and second prizes for 
eighteen distinct varieties were given by Messrs. F. and A. Dickson & Sons, 
The Upton Nursery, Chester. Three competitors staged in this class, and. 
the same exhibitor gained the premier position, and had good plants of 
Lord Der by, Von Schiller, Queen of the Blues, Koh-i-noor, and other 
varieties, the same as named above. Mr. Stephenson, gardener to R. Cornelius, 
Esq., Waterloo, was second with good spikes of Baron Von Tuyll, King of 
the Blues, Czar Peter, Gigantea, General Buller, very fine ; General Have¬ 
lock, Charles Dickens, La Innocence, Pieneman, and Le Prophets ; Mr. 
James Hurst securing the remaining prize. Of twelve distinct varieties 
five collections were staged, and Mr. A. R. Cox took the lead with very fine 
spikes of Marie, Mont Blanc, Fabiola, Ida, Gigantea, King of the Blues, 
Baroness Van Tuyll, Grand Lilas, Dr. Livingstone, Seraphine, and Marie. 
Mr. C. Wearing, girdener to Mrs. John Aikin, Princess Park, was a close 
second, and had The Sultan, Lord Derby, Florence Waterzall, King of the 
Blues, Czar Peter, and Koh-i-noor. Mr. E. Green, gardener to J. Woolwright, 
Esq-, The Hollies, Aigburth, won the remaining prize with good plants. 
For six plants the successful co mpetitors were Mr. J. V. Thompson, gardener 
to W. P. Sinclair, Esq., Princes Road, first with well-grown plants, Mr. 
A. R. Cox and Mr. E. Green being second and third respectively. For six 
pots with three bulbs in each pot four collections were staged, and were 
remarkably fine ; Mr. Barber, gardener to Mrs. Barnslev, St. Michael’s 
Hamle first, Mr. W. Evans second, and Mr. J. Kelley third. 
Polyanthus Narcissus. —In the class devoted to these six collections 
were staged for the three prizes offered for six pots. The majority of the 
plants exhibited were dwarf, fresh, and well bloomed. Mr. J. V. Thompson 
took the lead with Apollo, Queen Victoria, Mont Blanc, and Parfait. Mr. J. 
Lowndes a good second, and Mr. T. Stephenson third. 
Tulips. —These were staged in good numbers, and the prizes offered in 
the various classes were well competed for. The exhibits for single varieties 
were of fair average quality, but the doubles were not of superior merit. 
For twelve pots of singles Mr. T. Stephenson took the lead, followed by Mr. 
W. Minshull, gardener to H. Nash, Esq., Ullet Road, Aigbuith, and Mr. 
E. Green. The first and second collections being even and good, the former 
containing pots of Vermillion Brilliant, Chrysolora, Joost van Vondel, 
Proserpine, and White Pottebakker. For six pots Mr. J. Lowndes was to 
the front with Keizers Kroon, White Pottebakker, and Chrysolora. Mr. 
G. Bennett, gardener to L. L. Abbot, Esq., second with slightly taller 
plants, and Mr. A. R. Cox third with dwarf examples, but the flowers were 
rather small, fine collections being shown in this class. With ten pots of 
double varieties there were three exhibitors, and the prizetakers were 
Messrs, T. Stephenson, W. Minshull, and J. Hurst in the order named. 
For six pots Messrs. C. Copple, gardener to T. S. Rogerson, Esq., The 
Priory, St. Michael’s ; J. Lowndes, and W. Evans. For six pots of Crocus, 
three varieties, Mr. W. Mease was first, Mr. E. Green and Mr. W. Minshull 
second and third. The successful competitors of Amaryllises were Messrs. 
W. Mease and J. Hurst, both staging praiseworthy examples. 
Herbaceous and Bulbous Plants. —Three collections were exhibited in the 
class for ten pots, and the exhibits proved a very attractive feature in the 
Show. Messrs. Jame3 Dickson & Sons, Newton Nurseries, Chester, gained 
the premier position with a choice assortment staged in their usual style, the 
most striking being a fine potful of the new Narcissus Sir Watkin, N. moscha- 
tus fine, N.incomparabilis good,N.Empress, Doronicumplantagineum, Tulipa 
retroflexa fine, Spiraea japonica, Dielytra spectabilis, and Aubrietia violacea. 
Mr. J. Hurst was a good second with pans and pots of Muscari Botryoides, 
Lily of the Valley, Narcissus Emperor, Iris germanica The Beauty very 
good, Iris Telemachus very fine, Spiraea japonica, and Primula lilacina mar- 
ginata splendid. Mr. W. Mease was awarded the remaining prize, and had 
very good plants of Primula Harbinger, covered with blooms. For six pots 
of blue Hepaticas, the prize being given by Mr. J. Tynan, Liverpool, only 
one exhibitor, Mr. J. Minshull, staged plants, and was awarded the prize 
offered. 
Hardy Rhododendrons. —These we (staged in larger numbers and in 
better condition than at the previous exhibitions. For four plants Mr. J. 
Kelly was first with large well-flowered plants unnamed ; Mr. J. Lowndes 
was a good second, having Grand Arab, Victoria, and Hendersonii ; the re¬ 
maining prizewinner being Mr. W. Moss, gardener to W. Holland, Esq., 
Limwood. For one plant Messrs. J. Lowndes and W. Evans were the suc¬ 
cessful competitors. 
Roses. —The competition was not very spirited in the classes devoted to 
these plants, and the exhibits staged were only of average quality. The 
best plants were from Mr. A. R. Cox, who took the lead for four plants with 
Teas Homere, Reine Marie Henriette, Marie Van Houtte, and La France ; 
Mr. J. Jellico was second, his best plants being Niphetos and Socrates ; Mr. 
A. Crosbie being third with Teas only poorly flowered. For one plant the 
successful competitors were MessrB. j. Jellico, J. Lowndes, and A. R. Cox. 
Orchids .—The schedule provided only two classes for these plants, but 
the quality and quantity of the exhibits ought undoubtedly to induce 
the Committee to make more provision for these popular plants in the 
future. It is questionable if so many Orchids have been shown in such 
good condition in Liverpool before. These plants excited more attention 
than any other exhibits. Of four plants seven or eight collections were 
staged, and Mr. W. Mease won with a capital plant of Ccelogyne cristata, 
a very fine pan full of bloom ; Phalsenopsis Schilleriana, a grand spike and 
variety ; large basketful of Dendrobium Wardianum and D. crassinode, 
most profusely flowered ; Mr. J. Edwards, gardener to T. S. Walker, Esq., 
Rodney Street, second with Denbrobium Wardianum with pseudo-bulbs 
3 feet long, and the plants as much in diameter, covered with blooms ; D. 
thyrsiflorum, healthy, and carrying a dozen or more of its showy drooping 
panicles of bloom ; Vanda suavis, with one fine spike ; and a fair plant of 
Cattleya Trianse. Mr. W. Moss, gardener to W. Holland, Esq., third with 
Angrsecum sesquipedale, four or five flowers ; Phalsenopsis Stuartiana, with 
a very fine spike ; and a very good Vanda suavis. The collection staged by 
Mr. T. Worth, gardener to E. Harvey, Esq., in this class was also very good, 
and worth an extra award. This collection contained a finely flowered plant 
of Dendrobium primulinum, a large Cattleya Trianae with over one dozen 
large flowers, and a very fine variety of Odontoglossum crispum. For one 
plant the last named competitor was first with Dendrobium Ainsworthii, 
having nine pseudo-bulbs from 18 inches to 2 feet in length, and flowered 
from top to bottom. Mr. W. Mease was second with a very fine Phalaenopsis 
Schilleriana ; and Mr. J. Edwards third with Dmdrobium Ainsworthii, a re¬ 
markable plant, having three pseudo-bulbs in 1883, and now possessing no 
less than sixteen breaks, but not so well flowered as the first-prize plant. A 
large number of exhibitors competed for this prize. 
Gut Blooms .—A fresh feature in the Hall was formed by the cut flowers, 
and several collections were staged in the class provided for one box of 
twelve distinct varieties. Mr. W. Mease was awarded the leading position 
with a very fine collection, comprising bunches of Amaryllis Palais de 
lTndu3trie, Anthurium Andreanum, Anthurium ferrierense, Camellia Com- 
tesse Lavinia Maggi, Rhododendron Gibsonii, Cattleya Sanderiana, Dendro¬ 
bium Wardianum, Imantophyllum miniatum maximum, Clematis indivisa 
lobata, and Amaryllis Doux Souvenir. Mr. A. Collins, gardener to S. Smith, 
Esq., M.P., Carleton, Princes Park, was second with good bunches of Den¬ 
drobium Devonianum, D. nobile, and Odontoglossum Rossi majus ; and Mr. 
A. R. Cox took third prize for good examples of Ixora coccinea, Cattleya 
intermedia, and Lycaste Skinneri amongst others. For twelve Roses Mr. 
W. Minshull was the only exhibitor, and was awarded the second prize. 
Bouquets were considerably above the average. For one bouquet in the 
open class Mr. T. Robinson, Mossley Hill, took the lead, followed by Mr. G. 
Downes and Mr. A. Crosbie, both showing well. In the corresponding class 
the same exhibitor was again first, Mr. A. Crosbie second, and Mr. J. Agnew, 
gardener to Mrs. Watts, Grassendale Park, third. 
Miscellaneous Exhibits .—As usual the nurserymen’s contributions were 
numerous. Messrs. R. P. Kerr ifc Sons, Aigburth Nursery, had a bank of 
Choisya ternata well grown and full of bloom, also a collection of Azalea 
indica and mollis varieties. Amongst the former, Comte Charles de Ker- 
chove, Simon Wardner, Madame Herman, James Veitch, Dame Mathilda, 
and Phcebus were remarkably fine, and for which certificates of merit were 
awarded. Messrs. T. Davies & Co., Wavertree, contributed a very large 
collection of flowering plants, comprising Lily of the Valley, Hyacinths, 
Tulips, Spiraeas, Azaleas indica and mollis, and Amaryllises. The Horticul¬ 
tural Company (John Cowan), Garston, staged a similar collection, including 
a good strain of Cinerarias, Orchids, and Ferns. Mr. W. Mease was awarded 
a cultural certificate for five seedling Amaryllis, one having flowers of an 
enormous size. Mr. J. Jellico secured a similar award for a very fine basket 
of Mushrooms. Mr. Blackmore, gardener to Sir James Picton, Sandy 
Knowle, was awarded a cultural certificate for a remarkably fine plant well 
flowered of Dendrobium fimbriatum. Mr. Elsworthy, gardener to R. A. 
Gladstone, Esq., Court Hey, the same award for two bunches of Black 
Alicante Grapes, as fresh and fine in appearance as the day they were cut 
from the Vines. 
The management of the Exhibition throughout was good, and reflected 
great credit upon Mr. Bridge, the able Secretary, and the whole of the 
Committee. 
THE FOKMS OF LEAVES. 
Sik John Lubbock, M.P., recently delivered a lecture on the 
above subject at the Royal Institution. The audience filled the theatre. 
The lecturer said that, greatly as we all appreciated the exquisite 
loveliness of flowers, it must he admitted that the beauty of our woods 
and fields is even more due to the marvellous grace and infinite variety of 
foliage. How, he asked, is this inexhaustible richness of forms to be 
accounted for? Does it result from an innate tendency of the leaves in 
each species to assume some particular shape ? Has it been intentionally 
designed to delight the eyes of man ? or has it reference to the structure 
and organisation, the wants and requirements of the plant itself? If we 
considered, first, the size of the leaf, we should find that it is regulated 
mainly with regard to the thickness of the stem, and that, when strict 
proportion is departed from, the difference could generally be accounted 
for. This was shown by a table giving the leaf-area and the diameter of 
stem of the Hornbeam, Beech, Elm, Lime, Spanish Chestnut, Ash, 
Walnut, and Horse Chestnut. The size, once determined, exercised much 
influence on the form. For instance, in the Beech the leaf has an area of 
about 3 square inches. The distance between the buds is about 1^ inch, 
and the leaves lie in the general plane of the branch, which bent slightly 
at each internode. The basal half of the leaf fit the swell of the twig, while the 
upper half followed the edge of the leaf above, and the form of the inner 
edge, being thus determined, decided that of the outer one also. In the 
Lime the internodes were longer, and the leaf consequently broader. 
In the Spanish Chestnut the stem is nearly three times as stout as that 
of the Beech, and consequently could carry a larger leaf surface. But 
the distances between the buds were often little greater than those in the 
