May 21, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
425 
growing mostly in frames a fair share of success followed. I never had 
more useful and showy plants than the year in which I cut the plants 
down on May the 20th. They were cut hard in, and the plants stood in 
the vineryjto break ; when pushed half an inch they were shaken out and 
repotted, and kept in the vinery a week to assist them to become re-esta¬ 
blished, and were placed in cold (now sun-warmed) frames on June 22nd 
On being shaken out the plants were pot'ed in clean pots—that is 
important—a size smaller than those in which they had bloomed the 
previous year. The soil used was equal parts of loam, peat, and leaf 
mould, with a free admixture of silver sand. Towards the end of July 
the pots were filled with active roots and the plants were shifted into 
their blooming pots, using soil considerably richer by substituting cow 
manure for the leaf mould and diminishing the proportion of peat. In 
this final potting mixture lumpy charcoal was freely incorporated and 
the pots were well drained, for although Poinsettias require copious 
supplies of water, any approach to stagnancy must be avoided. The 
fjliage will turn yellow and drop off either by drought or excessive wet; 
therefore both extremes must be provided against, as by losing their 
leaves the plants are robbed of half their beauty. In potting it is well 
not to fill the pots within 14 or 2 inches of the top ; and then, when the 
bracts show, a top-dressing of cow manure can be given, which will 
increase their size and colour. Tbe routine culture in frames is attention 
to air and watering. In bright weather water must be used freely to 
supply the loss by transpiration from the large leaves. In the afternoon, 
at closing time, the plants should be freely sprinkled overhead. Always 
use tepid water. In sultry weather the removal of the lights at night is 
very beneficial. The plants so treated attained a height of 2 feet and 
perfected good heads. It is important that they be removed from the 
frames when the night temperature falls below 00°. Care must be taken 
that they are not placed suddenly in a dry atmosphere, or the foliage will 
inevitably turn yellow and decay. Any check to the roots by whatever 
cause is also a certain precursor of bad foliage, or none at all. 
For dwarf plants I strike young shoot3 in summer. These small 
plants are after all the most useful. They may be had from 4 inches high 
to 1 foot, and are invaluable for many purposes of decoration. Pro¬ 
pagation is also effected by the old wood somewhat after the manner of 
Vine eyes, but for dwarf healthy plants I have always found the striking 
of the young shoots the most satisfactory. The cuttings may be put in 
any time during the summer. If plants a foot high are wanted the end 
of July is a good time, and for very dwarf plants a month later will be a 
suitable time to take the cuttings. With due care and attention not one 
in twenty will fail to strike. The conditions are brisk heat, a close atmo¬ 
sphere, and, for a time, dense shade. For striking the cuttings a bottom 
heat of 90° is not too much. This may be afforded by fermenting manure, 
on which is placed close-fitting handlights or a frame—that is, in case no 
proper propagating house is at hand. 
The cuttings should be selected from stout short-joined shoots and b9 
inserted singly in thumb pots, using light soil surfaced with pure sand. 
They should be laid for half an hour, or less, to dry the wound previous to 
being put in. For tbe first few days they must be densely shaded, 
gradually inuring them to the light. In ten days the young roots will 
protrude through the pots, and the plants can, after being duly prepared, 
be shifted into their blooming pots, having one or several plants in a pot 
as desired. These cuttings if well managed will not lose a siDgle leaf, 
and the bracts they produce will be as fine as if tbe cuttings had not been 
severed from the plants. Long-jointed sappy growth will not strike, but 
select those shoots with the leaves near together, and take them off at a 
time when the stems have attained a dark green and become mature, and 
they will strike freely. Indeed few will fail. 
Thus with plain homely materials and starting late may a supply of 
these attractive plants be had. So long as a properly heated structure is 
provided in which they can bloom their summer culture need not be a 
source of trouble. Cold frames transformed into miniature stoves by 
conserving tbe sun heat, and cuttings of the young shoots being put in in 
the growing season, will result in a stock of admirable plants to brighten 
up the dark winter months. The glo ving heads will last for weeks either 
on the plants or cut and inserted in moist sand for using as cut flowers 
in room?.—S. G. 
CHELTENHAM SPRING SHOW. —May 6th. 
It is to be regretted that the Committee oE the Cheltenham Society were 
not favoured with more propitious weatht r for their first show. Happily, 
there was no rainfall to add to the discomfort of visitors to the Montpellier 
Gardens, but a cold biting wind, combined with damp grass, was quite suffi¬ 
cient to rob the occasion of much of its usual pleasure. Considering the 
condition of the weather, the Committee may be congratulated on the large 
number of persons who patronised the Show, and it was abundantly made 
clear that the love of floriculture in Cheltenham is not on the wane. Nobody 
could have entered the three large marquees and gazed upon the magnificent 
display of flowers without recognising that the Show was one of the best of 
its kind yet held in Cheltenham. The May Show is always famous for 
Azaleas and Orchids, but as the years roll by growers of these choice flowers 
seem to vie with each other in producing specimens surpassing those of the 
past. For Orchids, Sir A. Ramsay, Bart., ran Mr. Neville Wyatt very hard. 
The competition for Azaleas was also good, and Mr. James of Norwood is to 
be congratulated on his endeavour to wrest the palm from the veteran 
Mr. Cypher. A prominent feature of the Show was the magnificent col¬ 
lection of cut Roses exhibited by Messrs. Heath & Son. Sir A. Ramsay was 
a good second in this class. For Roses in pots Mr. J. F. Mould was suc¬ 
cessful. In the centre tent the principal object of attraction was a basket 
of flowers arranged with much skill by Mr. Cypher; under the same canvas 
were the vas?s of cut flowers, in which class Miss Cypher is invariably 
successful. The classes for Cinerarias, Pelargoniums, and Calceolarias, 
whilst not attracting many competitors, embraced exhibits of unusual 
beauty. The season, of course, is too early to allow of a large show of fruit 
or vegetables, but the exhibits on view were good. The Rtv. G. Coventry’s 
Strawberries were very fine, and his collection of vegetables was entitled to 
the honour bestowed on it. This gentleman wa9 successful in many classes, 
and Mr. James, his gardener, is entitled to praise for his contributions 
towards the Show. The band of the Scots Guards occupied the kiosk, and 
played a popular selection of music. Messrs. Arthur Clare and Bridgewater 
divided the duties incident to the secretariat of the Society, and they have 
reason to feel gratified with the result of the first show held under their 
immediate supervision. 
The principal exhibitors in the plant classes were as follows:—Mr. J. 
Cypher; Mr. H. James, Upper Norwood; Mr. J. F. Mould, Pewsey, Wilts ; 
G. N. Wyatt, Esq. (gardener, Mr. Simcoe); Capt. Tickell (gardener, Mr. G. 
Powell); Sir Alexander Ramsay, Bart.; J. Gale, Esq. (gardener, Mr. Henry 
Luker) ; H. Chapman, Esq. (gardener, Mr. H. Sparkes); Mr. Enos Smith, 
Pittville ; Mr. F. Perry, Shirehampton ; Messrs. Heath & Son; H. Chapman, 
Esq.; Hugh Hamilton, Esq. (gardener, Mr. F. Moorman), Mrs. Gillilan 
(gardener, Mr. Mansfield), and T. P. W. Butt, Esq. (gardener, Mr. Hunt). 
ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY. 
SUMMER SHOW.—MAY 20th. 
The weather was very unfavourable for this important Exhibition, and 
during the greater portion of the morning it was raining heavily. Fortunately, 
however, this ceased for a time early in the afternoon, though it continued 
dull. The large marquee devoted to the summer shows at Regent’s Park 
was well filled with plants, which were as usual most tastefully and effec¬ 
tively arranged, the Azaleas and stove and greenhouse plants imparting 
much richness of colour to the display. Clematises and Roses were also 
strong features, and together with the miscellaneous groups rendered the 
Exhibition extremely varied and beautiful. The competition in all the 
principal classes was keen, but in a few cases some very small specimens 
were entered quite unfitting a Show of this character, and it would have 
been well had the prizes been withheld. 
Stove and Greenhouse Plants. —The grand specimens from Mr. 
Cypher formed the leading feature in these classes, and his success was well 
merited, all the plants being extremely fresh and well grown. The pure 
White Azalea Magnificent fully deserved its name, and amongst others were 
remarkably fine examples of Pimelea spectabilis and P. Hendersoni, covered 
with their globular heads of white and pink flowers. Erica Cavendishiana 
was also uncommonly handsome in this collection. Mr. James had some 
extremely well-grown plants, Erica ventricosa magnifies, of globular form 
and nearly 6 feet in diameter, being one of the finest specimens in the 
Show; E. ventricosa coccinea minor, Statice profusa, and Aphelexis 
macrantha purpurea, being also of commendable merit. Mr. Chapman’s 
ten plants were all large and healthy, the majority being profusely 
flowered, especially Tremandra ericsefolia, a very neat Acrophyllum veno- 
sum, Chorozema Chandleri, 5 feet in diameter, Ixora Dixiana, loaded with 
large trusses of orange-scarlet flowers, and Anthurum Schertzerianum, 
with about fifty fine spathes. In his collection of six were Dracophyllum 
gracile, of globular form, 5 feet in diameter, Aphelexis grandifiora, very 
handsome, and Tremandra ericaefolia, well flowered. 
The prizes were as awarded as follows :—Twelve plants (nurserymen).— 
First, Mr. J. Cypher, Cheltenham ; second, Mr. A. James, Lower Norwood ; 
third, Mr. J. F. Mould, Pewsey, Wilts. Ten plants (amateurs).—First, Mr. 
Chapman, gardener to Lady Louisa Goldsmid, Regent’s Park. Six plants 
(amateurs).—First, Mr. Chapman; second, Mr. Rann, Handcross Park 
Gardens, Crawley; third, Mr. R. Butler, Regent’s Park. Six plants 
(nurserymen).—First, Mr. J. Cypher; second, Mr. H. James; third, Mr. E. 
Tudgey, Waltham Cross. 
Orchids. —A beautiful group was formed of these plants, but the com¬ 
petition was not quite so keen as is usually the case, and amateurs were 
poorly represented. Mr. Cypher carried off the leading prizes in the 
nurserymen’s class with healthy, freely flowered specimens, of which the 
following were especially notable :—Oncidium Marshallianum, with two 
large panicles; Oncidium sphacelatum, with profusion of flowers; Den- 
drobium chrysotoxum, with fifteen spikes of flowers; Cypripedium Law- 
rencianum, very fine; Dendrobium thyrs'florum, bearing about thirty 
spikes ; Cattleya Mossim, with three dozen blooms ; and Cattleya Skinneri, 
very bright. Mr. H. James showed several fine Cattleyas, Lnelias, Masde- 
vallias, Cypripediums, and Yandas, a large Anguloa Clowesi with a dozen 
flowers being very noteworthy. Messrs. Jackson & Son also had two pretty 
collections. Mr. Catt had the only amateur’s collection, which comprised 
a fine Lrnlia purpurata, with two dozen flowers ; Dendrobium thyrsiflorum, 
with fourteen spikes; Cattleya Skinneri; Phalaenopsis Luddemanniana 
and Vanda Dennisoniana, with three spikes. It was surprising that there 
were no exhibitors in the amateurs’ class for single specimens, and it is to be 
regretted that only one amateur entered in the other class. The prizes were 
awarded as follows :—Twelve Orchids (amateurs).—First, Mr. H. E. Catt, 
gardener to W. Cobb, E?q., Sydenham. Twelve Orchids (nurserymen).— 
First, Mr. J. Cypher ; second, Mr. H. James ; third, Messrs. T. Jackson and 
Son, Kingston. Twelve Orchids, one plant only in each pot (nurserymen).— 
First, Mr. J. Cypher; second, Mr. H. James; third, Messrs. T. Jackson 
and Son. 
Roses. —Very handsome groups of these were entered, and the large 
specimens from Messrs. Paul & Son were in capital condition, especially 
the magnificent Charles Lawson, which is about 8 feet in diameter, and had 
over 100 large handsome blooms, Celine Forestier, Beauty of Waltham, and 
Centifolia rosea being good, but the latter with Edouard Morren were scarcely 
at their best. Handsome vigorous little plants were those from Slough, the 
majority having substantial highly coloured blooms, many of which were 
fit for the exhibition board. Especially notable were Miss Hassard, Juno, 
Edouard Morren, Celine Forestier, Mons. E. Y. Teas, and Comtesse de 
Serenye. Messrs. Paul & Son’s small plants were also admirably flowered, 
and the contest w r as a keen one between these two exhibitors for the 
premier prize. Messrs. Mould and Rumsey contributed well, their plants 
being vigorous and clean with good blooms. 
