470 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June 12, 1884. 
managers of horticultural shows. The fact is obvious, if the best amateur 
productions can be procured at a show the nurserymen will, in their 
own interest, soon be there. Experience, too, has proved that the prizes 
must be sufficiently high to guarantee to the winners ample ompensa- 
tion for their time and labour, for when the prize money was small at 
Manchester the Show was a financial failure, but since the amount has 
been so substantially increased the Shows have resulted in a most satis¬ 
factory balance. These are hints that the committees and secretaries 
of societies may ponder over with advantage. 
THE PEAK DISTRICT ROUTE. 
So it is that scores of gardeners and garden lovers wend their way 
northwards at the approach of the Manchester Show, and with the 
majority the favourite route is the Midland line, which passes through 
the beautiful peak district of Derbyshire. I have travelled over this 
line many times, but on each occasion this portion of the journey presents 
something fresh and picturesque, and if the traveller be favoured with 
sunny weather a more charming ride could not be desired. It is 
especially enjoyable by those who are accustomed to the quieter beauty 
of our southern counties with their modest gently rounded hills and 
extensive commons, or level meadows, for in the Peak district we get 
a miniature representation of some of the great Alpine regions. After 
passing Derby when going northwards, until arriving at Marple, the 
scenery is most varied, always beautiful, and sometimes grand in the 
extreme. Dashing through a tunnel we are the next moment upon an 
embankment perhaps 100 feet high, commanding extensive views of 
deep winding valleys, with a rocky watercourse at the bottom, lofty 
hills sometimes densely clothed with trees and shrubs from base to 
summit, and other times rigid, cold, and bare, except for the scanty 
grass which manages to find subsistence almost on the bare rock. Again, 
perhaps, is seen a steep escarpment, upon which the action of the 
weather is plainly visible, the slopes and valley below being covered 
with the separated portions, sometimes tons in weight, forming geological 
lessons of considerable interest. Especially beautiful is the district 
between Chapel-en-le-Frith and Buxton, and near the former station is 
a grand amphitheatre of hills, rising at several points into sharp peaks 
far above the others, and enclosing a charming valley, through which a 
small river can be seen dashing over its stony bed. There is much to 
admire of a similar character along the entire route, thoughts of which 
the traveller will bear with him amongst the most pleasant memories of 
his visit. 
THE ORCHIDS. 
At the Old Trafford Gardens a great surprise awaited all arrivals in 
the magnificent Orchids which occupied so large a space in the exhibition 
house. These plants have for several years been admirably represented 
at the Whitsuntide Show, hut never has so large a display ef such grand 
specimens been seen there. It was estimated that the total value of all 
the plants in the Exhibition was not less than £20,000, and of this the 
Orchids alone would have formed a large proportion ; for one specimen, 
Mr. Percival’s unrivalled Cattleya Mendeli, has been valued at £300. 
About 220 specimen plants were contributed, and many of these could not 
be equalled in the kingdom. Mr. Percival’s Orchids were, of course, the 
great feature, such large, vigorous, and profusely flowered examples being 
rarely seen either in exhibitions or private gardens. The Cattleya above 
mentioned and Lcelia purpurata with eighty flowers were superb, and 
proved conclusively how well then- culture is understood at Southport. 
Dr. Ainsworth’s Phalasnopsis amabilis with forty spikes, or a total of 
about 200 flowers, was another specimen of special note; while Mr. J. 
Broome’s Vanda teres, 5 feet in height with fifty spikes and about 200 
blooms, was another grand example of culture. These were a few of the 
leaders amongst an army of amazonian beauties which excited the 
astonishment of many visitors and the admiration of all. 
MR. JOSEPH BROOME’S PLANTS. 
Since the establishment of the Manchester Botanical and Horticul¬ 
tural Society, Joseph Broome, Esq., of Wood Lawn, Didsbury, has taken 
an ardent interest in its welfare, and has endeavoured in every way to 
contribute to its success. As Vice-President he has been enabled to still 
further assist the Council and Curator both by his advice and by more 
substantial pecuniary support. His large collections of plants, too, have 
repeatedly added greatly to the attractions of the exhibitions, but never 
has he exhibited so largely or successfully as at the recent Show. Orchids, 
Crotons, Dracaenas, Pitcher Plants, Ericas, new plants, Sonerilas, herba¬ 
ceous and alpine plants, with Pansies and Violas, furnished attractions in 
every tent, and throughout the plants were marked by a fresh healthy 
appearance indicating the best attention. Particularly fine were the 
Nepenthes and Sarracenias, which I have never seen equalled at any 
exhibition. Nepenthes Mastersiana is gradually gaining favour in gardens, 
and such magnificent examples as that from Wood Lawn, with ten massive 
richly and uniformly coloured pitchers, will aid materially in increasing 
its popularity. It is indeed a handsome species, the dark red colour 
being so rich and distinct. Nepenthes bicalcarata from the same garden, 
fully 6 feet in height, growing with the utmost luxuriance and hearing a 
dozen of its gigantic pitchers, is probably unique. The well-known 
N. Rafflesiana was loaded with well-coloured pitchers ; and the Sarra¬ 
cenias, 2 and 3 feet in diameter, grandly coloured, especially S. purpurea, 
which was magnificent in every respect. Sonerilas are charming little 
plants, hut are rarely exhibited and too seldom grown as they should be, 
Mr. Broome’s collection includes some of the most distinct and pretty, 
grown in shallow pans, their neatly marked leaves coming well coloured 
in a light position of a warm house. The herbaceous and alpine plants 
showed the same good culture and neat correct labelling which have been 
previously commended in these pages on several occasions, the other 
miscellaneous contributions being equally creditable. A few such wealthy 
and liberal supporters as Mr. Broome insure a large share of success, and 
the Society is fortunate in having obtained his assistance. 
It may be added that the garden at Wood Lawn, though not extensive, 
is in some respects a model one, thoroughly well kept in every depart¬ 
ment. The outdoor beds, borders, and rockeries are well stocked with the 
choicest and most effective of hardy, herbaceous, and alpine plants, the 
houses being similarly filled with tropical plants. One house, or rather 
a corridor, merits, however, a special note. This is kept bright and 
attractive throughout the year by the most ornamental herbaceous plants, 
which are grown in pots for the purpose and transferred to the house 
when required. Some extremely pleasing displays are thus produced, 
and by a judicious selection of species and varieties it is surprising how 
well a constant succession of bloom can be insured. It is simply a 
conservatory of hardy plants, and the plan might well be more generally 
adopted, as there are many beautiful, but slightly tender, plants which 
are rarely seen at their best in the open border, whereas under glass 
their flowers can develope uninjured. 
MESSRS. W. & J. BIRKENHEAD’S FERNS. 
The charming group of Ferns from this firm was one of the features 
of the Exhibition, a most tasteful combination of elegant foliage and 
varied shades of green. Examples of this style of grouping plants have 
for several years been prominent at Brighton and Eastbourne Shows, 
where classes are specially provided for them ; but the idea does not 
appear to have extended beyond these Societies. Messrs. Birkenhead 
therefore set a bold example in entering the class for a general group of 
plants with one composed exclusively of Ferns. It was, however, so 
greatly admired that it is to be hoped that some special encouragement 
will be given to this form of grouping. 
A large number of species and varieties were represented in the 
group, but to gain an accurate idea of Messrs. Birkenhead’s stock 
a visit must be paid to their Fern Nursery at Sale. There the 
Fern-lover will find ample to interest him, for some seventeen or 
eighteen houses are devoted to these graceful plants, forming probably 
the largest collection of Ferns in cultivation. All the best-known and 
generally useful species of both hardy and exotic Ferns are grown in 
thousands, and a glance at the house of sporelings ready for potting 
occasions a feelings of wmdeiment as to where they will all find homes. 
There certainly appears to be enough to stock the entire country, yet 
Messrs. Birkenhead occasionally find it difficult to meet the demand for 
some particular species. At this time of year, when the majority of the 
plants are making fresh growth, their appearance is especially beautiful, 
their bright green elegant fronds rendering the houses very attractive. 
In every department the Ferns are distinguished by a robust healthiness 
that is most refreshing, and there is an absence of that drawn flaccid 
flimsiness which too often characterises Ferns in private gardens. One 
cause of this greater sturdiness is the practice of exposing the plants 
freely to light without going to the extent of permitting the young 
tender fronds to be injured by bright sun. What might be termed the 
“ dark ” system of culture has too long been followed with Ferns, and 
the result is that in many establishments plants may be seen dragging 
out a miserable existence, unsatisfactory alike to gardener and em¬ 
ployer. There is, however, a gradual awakening to the fact that Ferns, 
like other plants, do not under cultivation require to be perpetually in 
a state of semi-darkness, and with better houses, stages, or shelves nearer 
the glass, and more liberal ventilation in suitable weather, the plants are 
more likely to develope their true beauty and proportions. Another 
matter which has been fully proved in the Sale Fern nursery is that peat 
is by no means so necessary for Ferns as has been so long supposed, 
better and more substantial growth being obtained from Ferns in a 
compost of good loam and leaf soil than from ihe best peat obtainable. 
Indeed, there are some Ferns, and amongst them may be mentioned the 
Scolopendriums, which thrive best in a rather heavy loam. The supply 
of moisture is of great importance, and the soil in which a Fern is grow¬ 
ing should never be allowed to become dry. At the same time Messrs. 
Birkenhead and many other growers find that syringing Fern fronds is 
to a large extent better avoided ; in many ca<es it is of doubtful benefit, 
and in some it is positively injurious. Preserve the requisite amount of 
moisture in the air by damping paths or stages, but beyond an occasional 
sprinkling to keep the fronds fresh and clean do not syringe them. 
Such in biief is their practice, and the proof of its suitableness is apparent 
in the condition of the plants. 
To enumerate only the best of the species and varieties composing 
the Sale collection would fill a volume ; all the leading genera are 
strongly represented, and there are some varieties which it would be 
difficult to find in any garden in England. Those little gems the 
Cheilanthes, Nothochlsenas, and Pellmas are especially numerous, and 
succeed most satisfactorily on a shelf close to the glass in a small lean-to 
house. These charming little plants are reputedly difficult to grow, but 
there they appear quite at home, producing their graceful prettily 
powdered fronds most freely. 
They are seldom seen in gardens, chiefly no doubt because there is an 
impression that they will not succeed ; but those who have seen the Sale 
collection will be inclined to alter any unfavourable opinion that they 
might have formed. There the plants grow freely, unfurling their 
charmingly graceful fronds, and soon forming on the shelf devoted to 
them quite a thicket of growth. An especial favourite is the so-called 
Lace Fern, Cheilanthes elegans, with its finely divided fronds, which needs 
a rather warmer position than most of the other species, Euch as C. Cleve- 
