June 12, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
471 
landi, C. Fendleri, C.frigida, C. myriophylla, and C. vestita, which succeed 
best in an ordinary intermediate Fern bouse. The Nothochlsenas are 
similarly divisible into two classes, the warmer section including N. 
chrysophylla, N. nivea, N. rufa, and N. sinuata; while in the cooler group 
we have N. canariensis, N. Candida, and N. lanuginosa, all pretty species, 
but little known. 
In every house there are numberless attractions—Adiantums and 
Aspleniums in abundance, with scores of varieties over which a Fern-lover 
would go into ecstacies. In addition to the usual tropical Ferns there is a 
good collection of the best “ Filmies,” which, like all the others, are in 
most satisfactory condition. The hardy Ferns are grown in hundreds of 
thousands, and more vigorous specimens I have never seen in cultivation. 
The beautiful little Beech and Oak Ferns, everyone’s favourites, are very 
strongly represented; w'hile the most distinct and handsome of the varieties 
of British Ferns are grown in abundance. Throughout the collection is 
most interesting, and no horticulturist should visit Manchester without 
spending an hour or two at Sale.— Lewis Castle. 
EXHIBITING CARNATIONS. 
In answer to Mr. Douglas at page 451, I beg to state that my informa¬ 
tion came in this way. While admiring the stands at some of the 
Carnation Society’s shows, other lookers-on, and apparently without any 
concealment of their remarks, freely gave expression to their convictions 
that the majority of the flowers in the small winning stands were not 
grown and prepared by the exhibitors of them, but that they were 
obviously the production of a larger and more experienced grower. I am 
positive of the truth of what 1 stated—namely, that such “ remarks ” 
were prevalent. Beyond that I made no assertion, and I had no other 
object in asking a question thereon than to “ elicit truth.” It is open for 
other exhibitors to make a statement as plainly as MrJDouglas has done ; 
and his letter I look upon as an invitation, if not a challenge, for them to 
do so. Can all the great growers say they “ never gave nor lent a flower 
to anyone else to exhibit,” nor permitted any flower to appear in other 
stands than their own ? And can they also assert that they have “ no 
knowledge nor reason to suppose that their flowers have appeared in other 
persons’ stands ?” Next, can all the winners in the smaller classes state 
plainly and unequivocally that they “ never staged a flower that they did 
not grow themselves in their own gardens ? At present an opinion un¬ 
doubtedly exists that flowers in both the larger and smaller classes were 
the products of the same grower. Is this so or is it not ? I write for in¬ 
formation solely on matters of unquestionable public importance, and 
which one of the leading officials of the Society asks for in a public 
manser. I am a deep lover of the flowers in question, and should like 
to see the removal of every possible impediment to the increase of culti¬ 
vators and exhibitors. One word more. Personal differences are known 
to exist between florists, and some readers may suppose that I have some 
small grievance against someone or other connected with the Society. 
This is most certainly not so. I have never had the smallest difference 
with any exhibitor or member of the Society, but I deal with the matter 
exclusively on its merits as a question of public interest to florists and 
horticulturists, and as a perfectly proper subject for discussion in the 
horticultural press.— Onwards. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
June 10th. 
Pybethrums and miscellaneous hardy flowers constituted the great 
attraction at Kensington on Tuesday last, and rarely has a more extensive 
and beautiful display of these plants been contributed. The conservatory 
presented a charming appearance, and was thronged with visitors during 
the afternoon. The majority of the groups will remain on view during this 
and the following week. 
Fruit Committee. —Present: Henry Webb, Esq., in the chair; Dr. It. 
Hogg, H. J. Yeitch, H. Burnett, G-. Paul, J. Roberts, Gf. Bunyard, J. Smith, 
G. T. Miles, S. Lyon, W. Paul, P. Crowley, R. D. Blackmore, and J. Lee. 
Messrs. Richard Smith & Co. of Worcester sent a seedling dessert Apple 
resembling the Birmingham Pippin, which was not considered to be of 
great merit. Mr. George Aslilett, gardener to R. Butler, Esq., Manor 
Wood, Hatfield, sent a dish of Royal George Peach. Captain Leblanc 
(gardener, Mr. May), Northau House, Barnet, sent a fruit of Melon Master¬ 
piece, a pretty-looking golden and netted-skinned Melon, which was 
inferior in flavour in consequence of being too far gone. J. N. Hibbert, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. Herrin), Clialfont Park, Gerrard’s Cross, sent a seedling 
Melon Chalfont Favourite, a pleasantly flavoured fruit, but rather thin in 
the juice. It is peculiar in being a green-flesh with a red lining next the 
seed. A letter of thanks was awarded. J. Thompson, Esq, (gardener, Mr. 
Parker), Oakfield, South Edin Park, Beckenham, sent a pair of Cucumbers 
united by the process of fasciation. 
Floral Committee.— Section A.—Present : Thomas Moore, Esq., in the 
chair ; J. Fraser. J. Laing, F. R. Kinghorn, Rev. G. Henslow, H. Williams, 
J. Dominy, J. Woodbridge, E. Hill, J. O’Brien, H. Ballantine, and Dr. 
Masters. Section B.—Present : Shirley Hibberd, Esq., in the chair ; J. 
James, W. Bealby, G. F. Wilson, G. Duffield, W. B. Kellock, H. Bennett, 
H. Cannell, and J. Douglas. 
Hardy flowers from Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham, formed a beautiful and 
interesting group, representing a large number of choice useful plants for 
the outdoor garden. Such displays as this do much to popularise hardy 
flowers, as no collection is so greatly admired by the visitors ; the diversity 
of colours and forms is surprising to many who have little idea of the 
abundance there is now to choose from. Irises were well shown in all their 
numerous shades of blue, purple, yellow, and bronze. Ixias were also in 
strong force, the shades of rose and crimson being especially beautiful. 
Yery notable were the varieties Glory, bright rose ; Lady Slade, soft pink; 
Lady of the Lake, crimson ; crateroides, rosy crimson ; Sarnia’s Glory, yellow 
striped with rose ■ rosea, of an exceedingly bright rose tint, and the peculiar 
green viridiflora. The Poppies were attractive, especially the neat-flowered 
Papaver nudicaule, of which two excellent varieties were shown— i.e., mini- 
atum, bright orange-scarlet, and album, pure white. Pyrethrums, Aquilegias, 
and Pansies were largely represented by selected varieties, and amongst 
other notable plants were the following: The Water Hawthorn, Aponogeton 
distachyon ; the yellow Day Lily, Hemerocallis flava ; the dense dark 
purplish-blue Bellflower, Campanula glomerata dahurica ; the pretty Horned 
Poppy, Glaucium luteum ; the rich rose-coloured Lychnis viscaria splendens 
plena ; the scarlet Larkspur, Delphinium nudicaule ; Lilium tenuifolium and 
L. bulbiferum, the former with neat orange-scarlet flowers, and the latter 
with larger, paler, orange-tinted blooms ; the Golden Columbine, Aquilegia 
chrysantha; the handsome rose-and-white Lady’s Slipper, Cypripedium 
spectabile, and the pretty rose-tinted Allium Ostrowskianum. In addition 
there was a large collection of varieties of Ranunculus asiaticus, richly and 
diversely coloured neat little globular flowers of great beauty. The Council 
awarded a silver-gilt medal for the group, an honour which it well deserved. 
Irises formed the principal feature in the collection of hardy flowers from 
Messrs. Barr & Son, Covent Garden, and a good idea of the beauty of these 
plants at this time of year from the specimens of the different sections ex¬ 
hibited. The Iris neglecta group includes a large number of varieties, some 
of the best being Yictorine, with purple falls and white standards ; Rolandi- 
ana, with violet-streaked falls and purple standards ; Hannibal, with 
purple-veined falls and mauve standards. The Spanish Irises with their 
yellow, bronze, and purple flowers were very striking, one. of the best yellow 
seifs being California. The blue and purple English Irises were similarly 
beautiful; the curiously coloured I. squalens and its varieties furnished 
another attraction, and Iris versicolor kermesina, with crimson purple-veined 
falls and pale nearly white styles, was charming. Iris variegata, I. aphylla, 
and I. pallicla were also noteworthy in one of the finest collections of early 
Irises that have ever been shown. Grand blooms of the large Papaver 
orientalis maculatus ; Pyrethrums in many varieties, both single and double ; 
Scillas, and other attractive plants, completed this group, for which a bronze 
Flora medal was awarded. 
Handsome groups of Irises, Ixias, Aquilegias, and Stocks were also exhi¬ 
bited by Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons, Chelsea. Both the former included 
numerous fine varieties. Two English Irises—namely, Alba grandidissima, 
pure white, and Prince of Wales, blue with purple standards, were remarkably 
good, the Spanish varieties also comprising several notable forms. Hybrid 
Aquilegias were much admired for their pretty colours and graceful forms ; 
the shades most represented together were white and blue, yellow and white, 
with yellow and red. The scarlet Brompton Stocks were very handsome, 
with enormous dense spikes of large brightly coloured flowers ; seldom indeed 
are these fine old plants seen in such perfection, and Messrs. Veitch evidently 
have an excellent strain of seed. A bronze Flora medal was awarded for the 
group. _ 
Pyrethrums were superbly shown by Messrs. Kelway & Son, Langport, 
fourteen boxes being staged, each with sixty blooms of a dozen varieties. 
The boxes of double varieties were placed at the back, the single varieties 
occupying the foremost position, where the superior brightness of their 
colours could be seen to the best advantage. Phese lovely plants. are 
extremely effective, and now such a diversity of colours has been obtained 
they should be grown everywhere. , . . 
A great number of good varieties were included in this fine collection, 
but the following are the most distinct under the several colours. It is, 
however, to be regretted that so many obscure classical names should have 
been chosen for the plants, as it will militate considerably against their 
popularity. . . 
Single Varieties.— Magenta and Crimson : Marcius, Rhodus, Aculum, 
Favorius, Ophias, Rubi, Almanzor, Theodotus, Nero, Menandra, and Genesus. 
Rose • Abacena, Devona, Nanus, Belarius, Amaryllis, Cerinthus, Babyrsa, 
Celelates, Sabatium, and Yestatis. Blush: Abderites, Muta, Abannion, 
Abradatus, Barkis, Acacisius, and Alexas. White : Marica, Blucium, Sabus, 
and Nisbola. 
Double Varieties. —Crimson : C iptain Boy ton, J. M. Twerty, Rembrandt, 
Capt. Nares, Gloire d’ltalie, and Galop. Rose : Iveryana, Progress, Duchess 
of Edinburgh, Marquis of Salisbury, Floribundum plenum,and Ros ■ Perfection. 
White : Princess de Metternich, Carneum plenum, Penelope, Mont Blanc, 
and Niveum plenum. Yellowish : Solfaterre and Cleopatra. Blush : Peach, 
Mons. Duvivier, Lady Derby, La Yestale, Lady Derby, and Yirgo. 
in addition some boxes of semi-double Pyrethrums were shown, the 
centre of the blooms being very full and globular, with an outer row of 
broad florets much brighter than in the ordinary doubles.. Some fine 
Poppies and Preonies were also included, and in the opinion of many 
persons the exhibit merited a higher recognition than the bronze Flora 
medal awarded for it. , TTr 
Calceolarias formed a pretty group from Mr. Rapley, gardener to W. 
Brand, Esq., Bedford Hill House .Balham, the blooms being fine richly 
and diversely coloured. Yery notable was the handsome yellow sell Cloth 
of Gold, which is remarkable alike for its strong habit, large flowers, and 
constancy. A bronze Banksian medal was awarded. A vote of thanks was 
adjudged to Messrs. Hooper & Co., Covent Garden, for a handsome col¬ 
lection of Paeonies and Lilium Harrisi, the former flowers being very large 
and richly coloured. , ,,_„ 
Amongst the miscellaneous new plants and flowers very notable was 
a collection of fancy Pansy blooms of the Rainbow strain from Messrs. 
Cannell & Sons, Swanley. These were extremely beautiful, the. pre¬ 
dominating colours being blue, purple, maroon,, and gold, chaiiningly 
varied and combined. A vote of thanks recognised the merit of this 
exhibit, and a number of fine double tuberous Begonia blooms, the 
scarlet and rose shades of which were especially good. Messrs. J. Veitch 
and Sons sent several new plants, of which the most noteworthy were 
Weigela hortensis nivea, a charming white-flowered variety, wonderfully 
free and early, that will undoubtedly become a great favounte for forcing. 
With it was shown a dark claret red-coloured form or Weigela named 
Dr. Baillon, which is also very distinct. Gloxinia Flambeau is one of the 
richest scarlet varieties that has yet been obtained, the .flowers being of 
moderate size, but produced in great numbers. Metrosideros flonbunda 
alba, a white variety of the well-known beautiful Bottle-brush tree, was 
m 
