JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
16th 
TH 
17th 
F 
Scottish Pansy Society’s Show at Edinburgh. 
18 th 
S 
19th 
SUN 
1st Sunday after Trinity. 
20th 
M 
21st 
Tu 
Oxfordshire Horticultural Show. 
22nd 
W 
Royal Botanic Society—Evening Fgte. Burton-upon-Trent 
[Horticultural Exhibition. 
SPECIALITIES AT SOUTH KENSINGTON. 
ISITORS to horticultural exhibitions may be 
considered as regarding them from two very 
different standpoints. One. section, much the 
larger of the two, includes the general public, 
who view a flower show simply as a display of 
plants which elicits admiration in proportion to 
the abundance or brilliancy of the flowers and the 
taste exercised in the arrangement. The other com¬ 
prises the gardening fraternity, whether competitors 
or not, who manifest a more critical judgment, and 
visit an exhibition with the intention of gaining if possible 
some hints that may be of service to them in their own practice. 
They desire not only to observe the relative degrees of success 
obtained by different cultivators, but also the most distinct, 
useful, and effective plants, whether new or old, that may be 
advantageously added to the collections under their charge. 
Thus to a gardener a large horticultural exhibition is both 
attractive and instructive, and few of those who visited the 
recent display at South Kensington could have left without 
having increased their knowledge by some few items of more 
or less value. Many gardeners, however, were necessarily 
unable to be present, and these, doubtless, read the full reports 
that have been published ; but as there is much that cannot be 
fully treated in a report, a few additional observations on the 
chief features of the Exhibition and the most remarkable 
plants shown may be welcomed by readers who were debarred 
from the privilege of personally inspecting the Show. 
HARDWOODED PLANTS. 
Those who admire formal training could not fail to he satis¬ 
fied with the handsome specimens included in the classes for 
stove and greenhouse plants, as the species and varieties of 
Cape or New Holland plants which popularly bear the above 
name have been rarely better represented. There was a most 
pleasing freshness and vigour noticeable in all the collections, 
indicating the excellent results that can be attained by careful 
treatment even with plants that are considered to require more 
than ordinary skill. Some excellent examples of neat training 
were also contributed, and for large specimens of slender- 
growing plants this is a matter of great importance ; and 
though the exact globular style may be obnoxious to some, 
plants so trained unquestionably possess beauty, though it 
be of a formal type. However, there is one point upon 
which most will agree—namely, that hardwooded plants in a 
small state and untrained are not only ornamental but almost 
indispensable for greenhouse or conservatory decoration. Groups 
of these small plants were admired by all, and the healthy 
free-flowering specimens of numerous species and varieties 
479 
in pots varying in size from 60's upwards to 32’s or 24's, 
were all that could be desired or expected in decorative plants. 
This is undoubtedly the most profitable way to have hard- 
wooded plants. It does not pay to grow large specimens, 
whereas those a few years old are of considerable service, and 
a stock can easily be maintained by purchase, or, where the 
requisite time can be spared, by propagation. 
ERICA CAVENDISHIANA. 
Heaths were not very largely represented, but several of the 
best summer-flowering varieties were shown, and among them 
the well-known E. Cavendishiana was especially numerous, 
and in one collection remarkably fine. These were from 
Messrs. Cutbush & Son, and attracted as much attention and 
admiration as they received at Regent's Park a few weeks 
since. The plants, though only in 8-inch pots or even smaller 
sizes, were notable for their extraordinary vigour, having robust 
tapering branches of great size and strength, densely clothed 
with their large, rich yellow, tubular flowers. Very rarely is 
this handsome and comparatively easily grown Heath seen in 
such satisfactory condition, and the treatment must have been 
more than ordinarily liberal to ensure such pleasing results. 
Many persons are unaware that this useful Heath is a hybrid ; 
yet such is the case, and horticulturists are indebted to Messrs. 
Rollisson for the production of this among many other forms 
that originated at Tooting. It was obtained about the year 
1840 by crossing Erica depressa with pollen from E. Patersoni, 
and strangely combines the characters of the parents, being 
much more vigorous than the former and erect in habit, but 
with flowers similar in shape though richer in colour. It 
received the name it bears in honour of the Duke of Devon¬ 
shire, and has now deservedly become one of the most popular 
Heaths in cultivation. 
PYRETHRUMS. 
Among summer-flowering herbaceous plants the numerous 
varieties of Pyrethrum roseum deserve a prominent position. 
Whether planted out or in pots they are very beautiful, and 
they yield a serviceable supply of flowers with but little 
trouble. The collections staged at Kensington by Messrs. 
Kelway & Son and Mr. T. S. Ware well exemplified the pro¬ 
gress that has been made with these plants in improving the 
size, form, and colours of the flowers. The double forms are 
very attractive ; but the general favour was accorded to the 
single varieties, 6ome of which could not be excelled in bril¬ 
liancy of rosy crimson tints, while others were unrivalled in 
the delicacy of the pink or the purity of the white distinguish¬ 
ing the florets. In every case the bright yellow central disk 
seemed to afford a contrast or relief to the outer ring of colour. 
That these single forms will grow in favour there can be no 
question, and they well deserve all the attention they may 
receive. All the flowers were unusually fine in the two col¬ 
lections named, some exceeding 2| inches in diameter, with 
broad substantial florets forming a head even and circular in 
outline. Some of the best varieties were the following : In 
Messrs. Kelways' stand—Romeo, bright rcsy crimson ; Mrs. 
Carlyle, very rich crimson ; Mercury, clear bright pink ; Boreas, 
good pink ; and Albion, white. In Mr. Ware's stand—Vivid, 
intense crimson ; Ruby, warm clear crimson ; Morning Star, 
fine pink ; Hamlet, pale pink ; Virginale, blush white ; and 
Warei, very large pure white. 
CRASSULA JASMINEA. 
This plant has been already referred to, but it was so well 
No. 61,—Yol. II., Third Series. 
No. 1707.— Yol. LXY, Odd Bbriss. 
