378 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May 7, 18 
one accompanying these remarks, which represents a flowering shoot, from 
one of Mr. Waterer’s plants, shows in a remarkable way how great an 
improvement has been effected under cultivation. Thunberg mentions the 
plant as growing near Nagasaki, where it flowers in December, and from 
a dried specimen of one of these his illustration was probably prepared. 
The flowers are shown of very small size, the racemes thin and few, and 
the general appearance of the plant far inferior to those which have 
attracted so much admiration from visitors to Kensington recently. 
HYBRID PENTSTEMONS. 
These are amongst the showiest and most useful of summer-flowering 
plants, and they continue to produce flowers in quantity till the middle 
and even the end of October, provided the season is not too wet and severe 
frosts have not been experienced. But to have a long-continued display 
no time must now be lost in getting them into their respective places, so 
as to have bushy plants by the middle of June. It may be well to observe 
in passing, that although the hybrid forms of these Pentstemons are gene¬ 
rally classed among hardy perennials, they are by no means capable of 
withstanding the ever changing weather which is experienced during the 
late autumn months. So it is by no means prudent to risk the entire 
stock out of doors, and even in unheated structures during severe weather 
they are not thoroughly secure. Of this fact I am forcibly reminded when 
I read of a fine batch numbering about a thousand plants in great variety 
being completely killed a few winters ago during very severe frost, so 
that it is well to be on the right side, and have a few in reserve where 
they may be secure from frost. Presuming good cuttings were secured 
in the autumn of last year, they will be sturdy plants now and fit for 
immediate planting. Select, if possible, a showery day, so that they 
may start at once without a check. If a few cuttings can be spared these 
may be inserted singly in pots and planted out later on, and which, if cut 
back in early autumn and potted as soon as new growths appear, will 
produce a far more brilliant display than cuttings taken in autumn; 
and for this purpose (I mean for propagating) a few may be planted 
in reserve, so as not to interfere with the flowering plants in the beds and 
borders. By paying attention to these minor particulars, not only is the 
stock guaranteed for the ensuing year, but the flowering plants may 
continue in their places so long as they produce flowers, and seeing that 
late autumn flowers are generally well appreciated, it is only reasonable 
that these shall receive their share of admirers also. 
Broadly speaking, these hybrids ofPentstemon gentianoides are so very 
distinct from all other garden decorative plants that they are without a 
rival. The great strides, however, which have been made of late by the 
hybridiser among Pentstemons seem known only to a few. They are by no 
means fastidious as to soil or situation, though like most plants they have 
a strong dislike for cold heavy soils. They may, among other places, be 
utilised to great advantage in the mixed herbaceous border, or for forming 
a belt in front of Rhododendrons and similar plants ; or beds may be de¬ 
voted to them alone. A very pleasing bed may be made with these and 
Salvia patens mixed, or Calceolaria amplexicaulis might form another 
fitting member to bear it company. Many other pleasing and striking 
combinations will readily suggest themselves, and, indeed, anything that 
is considered capable of producing pleasing effects, and at the same time 
relieve either by foliage or widely different flowers that monotonous glare 
of colour which is so often met with, will, I feel sure, be a step in the 
right direction. When these Pentstemons are coming well into flower there 
is somewhat of a break in the succession of hardy-flowering perennials, 
and these, with their long spikes of Gloxinia-like flowers, may in a measure 
assist in filling the gap. 
I will conclude by naming some of the most distinct and freest-flower¬ 
ing varieties :—Corsair, rosy crimson, light throat ; Calliope, scarlet car¬ 
mine, rosy tubes, throat lined and marbled with crimson, a very effective 
variety ; Sucrde, white, with violet border ; Ethel, light pink ; Galopin, 
violet; Atlanta, magenta crimsoD, with white, red-veined throat; Lady 
McDonald, rich scarlet, white throat, veined crimson ; Miss F. Hope, 
white, shaded rose ; Mrs. Melville, purplish mauve, throat white ; Aurora, 
purplish crimson; B. L. Freeman, bright scarlet ; Lady Coutts-Lindsay, 
pure white ; Black Knight, maroon, throat shaded white ; Mrs. Duncan, 
rosy scarlet, shaded cherry-red; Yan d’Argent, clear violet, white throat. 
To these may be added many others, all more or less distinct and 
beautiful. 
I would advise intending planters of these to procure strong plants 
at once from nurserymen who make them a specialty, and unless well 
acquainted with them, or a good selection of them is already in existence, 
it is much the best to leave the selection of suitable kinds to the nursery¬ 
man. As soon as they arrive plant them in moderately rich soil, and if 
the weather be dry give a good watering, and then patiently await their 
flowering. There is a somewhat extended list of new varieties for the pre¬ 
sent season, but as I have not yet seen them in flower I cannot speak 
respecting them.—J. H. E. 
ROCHDALE AURICULA SOCIETY. 
On Saturday last the third annual Show of this Society was held in the 
Public Hall, when upwards of 400 Show and Alpine Auriculas were staged in 
competition for the prizes offered by the Committee. The Hall was prettily 
decorated by collections of plants from gentlemen in the neighbourhood ; a 
choice collection of stove and greenhouse plants being staged by the esteemed 
President of the Society, C. M. Royds, Esq., amongst which a fine pot of 
Dendrobium thyrsiflorum attracted much attention. J. H. Lancashire, Esq., 
staged some good Azaleas and Spiraeas, and Mr. J. Horsfall, Healey Nurseries, 
and Mr. J. T. Butteworth, Tonacliffe Nurseries, staged collections of plants, 
the latter showing a fine piece of Dendrobium Wardianum. A box of 
choice Narcissi from Dr. W. H. Browne, The Laurels, Hull, came in for a 
fair share of notice, and a certificate of merit was awarded. The Judges, 
Messrs. Jonathan Booth, Failsworth, T. Lancashire, Middleton, and J. 
Cheetham, Rochdale, awarded the prizes in the following order :— 
Class A, six dissimilar Auriculas.—Mr. W. Bolton, Warn 11 ^ 011 ) first; 
Mr. E. Pohlman, Halifax, second ; and Mr. H. Wilson, Halifax, third. Clas3 
B, four dissimilar Auriculas.—First, Mr. Pohlman ; second, Mr. H. Wilson ; 
third, Mr. Robert Lord, Todmorden. Clas3 C, pairs.—First, Mr. W. Taylor, 
Middleton ; second, C. M. Royds, Esq., Rochdale ; third, A. Potts, Esq., 
Chester. Class D, pairs (small growers).—First, Mr. R. Heys, Norden ; 
second, Mr. J. Beswick, Middleton ; third, Mr. Thomas Stirk, Rochdale. 
Class E, pairs (maiden growers).—First, Mr. T. Stirk; second, Mr. J. 
Bell, Baystate. Class F, four Alpines.—S. Barlow, Esq., Stakehill ; second, 
J. Beswick ; third, R. Heys. An extra first prize was awarded to Mr. 
Pohlman for four beautiful seedlings of the so-called laced division. Class G, 
green edges.—Mr. Pohlman premier with Prince of Greens, first with Lanca¬ 
shire Hero, and sixth with a seedling ; second, W. Brockbank, Esq , Didsbury ; 
third, A. Potts, Esq.; fourth, S. Barlow, Esq.; fifth, Mr. R. Lord. Class H, 
grey edge.—Mr. A. Potts took the premium with R. Headley and first with 
Lancashire Hero; second, Mr. R. Lord ; third and fourth, Mr. W. Taylor ; 
fifth, W. Brockbank, Esq.; sixth, Miss Woodhead, Norwood Green. Class 1, 
white edge.—Premier, Mr. R. Lord, with Smiling Beauty ; Mr. Wilson first 
with Mrs. Dodwell, third J. Simonite, and fourth with Acme; second, 
W. Brockbank, Esq.; fifth and sixth, A. Potts, Esq. Gass K, Self.—A. M. 
Royds, Esq., was awarded the premier for a fine seedling and sixth with 
Pizarro; S. Barlow, Esq., was first, second, and fourth ; Mr. W. Bolton, third ; 
and fifth, Mr. Brockbank. Class L, Alpines.—Premier, S. Barlow, Esq., with 
King of the Belgians and sixth with Mr. Llewelyn ; first. Mr. J. Beswick ; 
second, fourth, and fifth, W. Brockbank, Esq.; third, Mr. J. Bell. Class M, 
two Polyanthuses.—First, Mr. J. Beswick; second, Mr. W. Brockbank; 
third, Mr. S. Barlow; fourth, Mr. W. Taylor. Class N, Polyanthuses.— 
Premier, first, third, fourth, and fifth, Mr. J. Beswick; second, T. Stirk; 
sixth, Mr. W. Taylor. Class O, six Fancy Auriculas.—First, C. M. Royds, 
Esq.; second, Mr. S. Barlow. Class P, six Primroses.—First, Mr. J. Horsfall. 
HAND BOUQUET?. 
Of late years flowers have been considered a necessary feature on almost 
all occasions. In the decoration of the rooms of the affluent flowers are as 
much in request in some cases as furniture, and their ameliorating influence 
in our large towns is not sufficiently recognised. Witness the pleasure 
with which the ragged urchin from some confined garret gazes on the 
beautiful flower beds that adorn the London parks and many of those con¬ 
nected with other large towns, and yet he does not injure them, although 
the innate desire he has for mischief would have found vent had these 
flowers been something else ; but to him they are sacred, he gazes at them, 
and admires them in his way, and passes on. Let us hope their presence 
may bring better things into his mind. Certain it is that wherever flowers 
make their appearance in a window the visitor is sure to find peace and 
goodwill in that room ; but I must not dwell further on this subject here, as 
my purpose is to find fault with flowers being placed where they ought not 
to be, or in a way not to be approved of. 
For many years, I may say centuries, before horticultural and other 
societies gave encouragement to well-arranged bouquets, those tokens of 
good feelings had existed under the modest but expressive title of nosegays ; 
and if we searched into their early history it would most likely be found 
that they originated with children. No one who has watched the playful 
actions of the young can have failed to observe the fondness they display 
for flowers, collecting them with great assiduity, and evidently admiring 
them with all the relish of a connoisseur almost as soon as they can toddle 
alone ; years afterwards when their turn comes to attend the village school 
the girls may often be met with on a spring morning making up for their 
governess a nosegay that a royal gardener cannot excel. Primroses and 
Violets, with an outside bordering of the foliage of the latter, make one of 
the prettiest of all bouquets, and exceeded by none in point of sweetness. 
The agreeable contrast these two flowers offer to each other cannot be 
surpassed, and their quiet and unassuming beauty is never excelled by the 
riches of the flower garden in advanced summer. I have often instanced 
these flowers as being the best from which a nosegay could be made, and 
one confined to them alone as a model of what a nosegay ought to be, not 
only because of the beautiful combination of colours, but from the fact of 
their seldom exceeding those moderate dimensions to which I think all 
bouquets intended to be carried in tbe hand ought to be confined. Here I 
expect to meet with much opposition from the fair sex, who assume to be 
the only judges in such matters, but 1 nevertheless make the attack on 
those huge artificial bundles of flowers which they affect to prize so much, 
and some of which as objects of manufacture are certainly deserving of 
great praise, but as objects of beauty there may be some difference of 
opinion. On the equally important point of utility there can be no ques¬ 
tion that the size of hand bouquets often renders them an unwieldly 
appendage ; but as fashion has ordained so they have to be, and one can 
only have the privilege of grumbling about them. Let us now endeavour 
to see in what way they can be made to serve the purposes for which they 
are required, and at the same time present the best appearance the materials 
will allow. 
At most horticultural shows of late years it has been the custom to offer 
prizes for the best bouquet for the hand, as well as one for the table; and 
here I shall confine myself to the first named. I have on some occasions 
acted as one of the judges in this department, and there is nothing, perhaps 
at a show on which the judgment is more likely to be criticised. An expe¬ 
rienced friend told me he would rather undertake a judge’s duty in any 
department than in that of bouquets and Grapes, the difficulty in discrimi¬ 
nating between the rival merits of specimens of the latter being as unplea¬ 
sant as that arising from the different views which each one takes as to 
what should guide the censorship of bouquets. The critical eyes of the 
many fair lookers-on in the after part of the day show that the bouquets 
are amongst the most attractive features at the show, and it is almost sure 
