June 5 , 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
451 
Oncidium ampliatum majus, Dendrobium chrysotoxum’and Bensonise; and 
O. Pescatorei with forty flowers. Altogether a grand group. 
Another group of Orchids was sent from Preston Hall (Henry A. Brassey, 
Esq., M.P.; Mr. Waterman, gardener), who also sent a set of the finest Mar¬ 
guerites we have seen, perfect globes of flower. The best examples among 
the Orchids were a pair of 0. vexillarium, a pair of Vanda suavis, Aerides 
odorata and Lobbi, Dendrobium suavissimum, and Lrelia purpurata. 
G. Ashley Dodd, Esq., Surrenden Park (Mr. Wilson, gardener), sent some 
grand specimens of Palms—Phcenix reclinata and Cocos Weddelliana being 
very large a fine pair of Crotons, and a large well-flowered Erica Caven- 
dishiana being among his exhibits. 
G. A. Spottiswoode, Esq., Coombe Bank (Mr. Bolton, gardener), enriched 
the Show with well-grown examples of Latania borbonica, a Kentia, a pair 
of Statices, large Dicksonia squarrosa, Areca VerschafEeltii, Cycas revoluta, 
and an Anthurium Schertzerianum carrying many fine spathes. 
Roger Leigh, Esq., Barham Court (Mr. Haycock, gardener), sent some 
very large Palms, among which Chammrops excelsa, Seaforthia, and Cordyline 
mdivisa were conspicuous, and gave great character to the Show. 
Fig. 105.—Calochortus Benthami. 
From Linton Park (Mr. McKenzie, gardener) came a large number of 
Dracaenas, Palms, Ferns, &c., all exhibiting high culture. 
James Whatman, Esq. (Mr. Maclean, gardener), sent some useful Palms, 
Ferns, and Gloxinias. 
W. E. Brymer, Esq., M.P., Dorchester, had entered for the Orchid prizes, 
but at the time of reporting they had not arrived ; but no doubt the winner 
at the Botanic would be hard to beat. 
Among the trade groups the most interesting lot came from the 
Colchester New Plant Company, Japanese Maples being among the most 
numerous. In this lot we noticed some curious combination plants with 
many kinds on one stem, Acer palmatum aureum (lately certificated), 
A. p. dissectum ornatum, rubro-marginatum, pictum marmoratum, seven- 
iobed sanguineum. A large number of these were also used as top specimens 
for the rockery, where, owing to the light and position, their beauty could 
not be seen to advantage. Among the Company’s Oichids was a grand 
Cattleya Mossiae with thirty flowers, Hystrix luteo-purpureum, and Odonto- 
glossums vexillarium and Alexandras in fine varieties. The same firm 
showed a fine lot of Cypripedium spectabile, which is there found easy of 
pot culture. 
Messrs. J. Laing & Co., Forest Hill, S.E., sent an effective group of 
Begonias. Among the doubles The Duke, orange-scarlet; Prince of Wales, 
vivid velvety crimson ; Mrs. Brissenden, rose, were conspicuous. The 
single flowers were very large, the seedlings being nearly equal to the named 1 
sorts, Lady Chesterfield, Marchioness of Bute, Ball of Fire, and Snowflake 
being the best. 
Messrs. Richard Smith it Co., Worcester, sent a group of Clematis, globe- 
trained, the best being Madame Desfosse, white, and Duke of Norfolk, 
lavender. 
Messrs. George Bunyard ife Co. of Maidstone staged a group of market 
Pelargoniums, Volonte Nationale, Ida, St. Mande, and Lady Isabel being 
conspicuous; also plants of the new purple-leaved Prunus Pissardii, which 
is a telling plant. The same firm sent rock plants in variety, which added 
greatly to the effect of this group. We also noted some grand examples 
of Adiantum farleyense, and a well-grown Asparagus plumosus, the owners’ 
names not being upon them. 
Prizes were given for Orchids, fruit, and vegetables, but at the time of 
reporting they were not awarded. 
The Exhibition is held about a mile from the town of Maidstone, and 
commands charming views of the Medway valley, the Backbone of Kent 
(Blue Bell Hill) and the Detling hills being conspicuous in the back¬ 
ground. The Show was largely patronised on the opening day. 
EXHIBITING CARNATIONS. 
I beg to say, in reply to “Onwards” on page 419, and as one of 
those who may be classed as a large grower, that I never exhibited a 
flower, plant, or fruit that I did not grow ; and further, that I never gave, 
lent, or sold a plant, flower, or fruit to anyone else to exhibit. I have 
no knowledge that it has ever been done at any of the shows of the 
National Societies, and as one of the Honorary Secretaries I have a right 
to more definite information. I trust that whatever knowledge “ On¬ 
wards ” possesses of this matter he will allow it to be utilised to hunt up 
the real offender, if there is one. I am sure the Editor will feel with 
me that to allow such an imputation to rest upon a Society that calls 
itself “ National ” would be a very grave misfortune indeed.— J. Douglas. 
[We are quite satisfied that our correspondent “ Onwards ” has no 
object but eliciting truth. He is, as his letter suggests, desirous of seeing 
floral societies flourish and made acceptable to the greatest possible 
number of exhibitors, large and small.] 
CALOCHORTUS BENTHAMI. 
For this beautiful little Californian bulb Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham, 
was recently awarded a certificate at one of the Royal Horticultural 
Society’s meetings. It is somewhat nearly related to C. pulcbellus, but 
is distinguished by its bright yellow flowers, upon the upper surface of 
the divisions of which are thickly clustered a number of short yellow 
hairs. It is very dwarf, seldom exceeding 8 inches in height, but is free 
both in flowering and growth. It is particularly well adapted for culture 
in pots, and with the protection of a cool frame it developes its flowers 
early in the year, and is much better than when grown in the open 
border. The species is a native of the Sierra Nevada near Mariposa, and 
has only been in cultivation in England for six or seven years, so that it 
is as yet comparatively unknown. Another pretty companion for the 
above is C. Maweanus, which has bluish purple flowers about the same 
size as C. Benthami, and of similar habit. This is, however, found near 
the coast, and in the neighbourhood of San Francisco. 
PLANT CLEANING. 
In all gardens where plants are grown largely the time and 
labour required to keep them clear of insects is enormous; but 
stove plants need the most attention, because insects multiply 
with greater rapidity in heated than in cool structures. I have 
had every opportunity of testing many different systems of 
eradicating these pests, but the majority of them have proved 
unsuccessful, and resulted only in keeping the insects in check 
and the occupants of the houses in a presentable condition. 
This state of things is not always due to insufficient labour, as 
many suppo e, but because some system is not perseveringly 
followed. Plant-cleaning in many gardens is performed in such 
a way that it has to be done again at intervals of a few weeks. 
In many places the method practised is to select the worst plants, 
and after they are cleaned and return d to their former positions 
they soon again become infested. Another system is to allot 
to one man a certain number of plants, say the Crotons, while 
another does the Ixoras and Gardenias, and so on, and it not 
unfrequently happens that by the time a man has “gone over ’ 
the plants apportioned to him the first plants cleaned are as bad 
as ever, and must be done again. 
Continually sponging plants to keep them clean is wrong, 
even if the solution used for the purpose was strong enough to 
kill the insects, but in many instances it is not. Instead of 
proving an advantage it is often, in the end, injurious to the 
plants, as it is almost impossible for the most careful man to 
carry out this operation without injury to the foliage. Careless 
plant-cleaning not only brings insecticides capable of doing their 
work, if properly applied, into bad repute, but occasions double 
