JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
482 
r June 16, 1881. 
houses and by a sweet combination ©f smells which even Cologne 
could not excel, and yet they were in excellent, nay, vigorous 
health. The house in which they are grown is not an imposing 
one, but it is airy. It is not kept in the neatest order, but the 
plants are sound. The minute directions by which we are told 
how to manage Auriculas are despised. The soil used is no pasture 
loam, but common garden soil. The pots are mostly glazed; 
but as the proof of the pudding is in the eating, so here is a proof 
that the Auricula is much more accommodating than we are in 
the habit of giving it credit for. The collection here is nearly 
a complete one. All the best sorts are represented, not merely 
the older varieties, but such varieties as Simonite’s Frank Simonite 
and Ben Simonite, Horner’s Ringdove, Reed’s Acme, &c. Mr. 
Bolton was a successful competitor in the classes for Polyanthuses 
at the Show at South Kensington, but does not think very highly 
of the taste of the south. He says the Loxford Hall collection is 
one of the largest he knows, but, like most northern growers, 
thinks the plants are grown too coarsely in the south, too much 
forced, the sticks being an innovation no northerner can look with 
any favour upon. Has he the woolly aphis ? Yes, certainly, 
everyone has ; but then my experience and that of others has 
been an advantage to other growers. They look for it and kill 
it as soon as it appears. It is still, as ever, a mystery. America 
has now got the credit of it; and up here they say it was imported 
with some Primulas from the same country to which we owe the 
American Apple blight, the Colorado beetle, and, some will have 
it, the phylloxera. Now here is one instance of what the north 
does in the way of florists’ flowers. You may search the whole 
south of England and you will not find a case like this, and yet 
through all the large towns of the north such growers are to be 
met with—enthusiastic, devoted, and intelligent; and it is because 
we have not this element as we used to have in the south that the 
revival of a taste for florists’ flowers seems so hopeless. 
At Grappenhall, where my journey ended, I had an opportunity 
of seeing how Roses were looking in the north ; and if my friend 
Mr. Tinsley’s are an indication of their general condition all cer¬ 
tainly looks well for a good Rose year. Some of the recently 
planted Roses looked seedy, but his own cut-backs, which had all 
been replanted in the autumn, looked admirably. The buds were 
showing well, and as there has been more rain there than with 
us the plants were full of fine foliage ; and the copious rain we 
have had during this Whitsuntide, while it has sadly interfered 
with the pleasures of our holiday-seekers, has greatly helped on 
our Roses. I had also an opportunity of talking with my friend 
Mr. Hall of Rock Ferry, who gives the same favourable account 
of his plants. I have seen some in the south which look well, so 
that I think we may reasonably hope for a good Rose year.—D., 
Deal. 
[Since the above was written Mr. Tinsley’s Roses have un¬ 
fortunately been much injured.] 
DOUBLE FLOWERS. 
I have been expecting to see some notice taken of the poetical 
article of “ Single-handed ” on “ Double Flowers,” but it seems 
to have awakened few responses amongst your readers. It would 
be useless to try to prove to your talented contributor that a 
double flower may be as beautiful as a single one, and in some 
cases more so, as for example in that of the double forms of 
Ranunculus bulbosus, Achillea Ptarmica, and Cardamine pratensis. 
It would be equally useless to discuss the question whether we 
ought to grow improved forms of flowers or not—say, for instance, 
the improved form of Pansies in place of the weed Viola tricolor, 
or the large and varied forms of Chinese Primroses instead of 
reverting to the poor forms common fifteen to twenty years ago. 
I quite agree with him respecting the beauty of wild flowers ; in¬ 
deed, I was on my way to gather bunches of wild Tulips and the 
wood Forget-me-not when the Journal came to hand containing 
the article in question. These and other denizens of the woods, 
which are sent to London are perhaps as much valued as Orchids. 
I also quite agree with him as to the beauty of the Buttercups, 
though I believe the plant he refers to is Marsh Marigold, and 
known amongst botanists as Caltha palustris. We have a beauti¬ 
ful double form of it growing in the borders, although our soil is a 
dry one. The wild Hyacinths will grow anywhere without trouble ; 
and when about it I would strongly advise your correspondent to 
add many more weeds to his wood garden than he has named. 
Besides those named here, the Woodruff, the Leopardsbanes, 
Monkshood, Primroses, Wood Violets, Wood Shamrock, Lythrum 
Salicaria, Geranium pratense, and G. sanguineum (in open places), 
Snapdragons, London Pride and other Saxifragas, Campanula lati- 
folia, Lily of the Valley, Orchis mascula and O. maculata, Spiraea 
Ulmaria, Sweet Rockets, and doubtless many other wild flowers 
are all suitable for naturalising. I would strongly advise “Single- 
handed” to keep the hoe from them, as I cannot think a carpet¬ 
ing of green grass for such flowers would be in bad keeping.— 
R. P. Brothebston. 
FLORAL EXHIBITION at the ALEXANDRA PALACE. 
The second of the competitions with table decorations, bouquets, 
buttonholes, and other methods of floral adornment, was held on 
Friday and Saturday last, Pelargoniums also being provided for in 
several classes, and occupying the same position as the Roses at the 
previous Show. The former portion of the display was very attrac¬ 
tive, the competitors numerous, and the general quality satisfactory. 
The Pelargoniums imparted considerable brightness to the Exhibition, 
the arrangements as usual being judiciously superintended by Mr. 
J. Forsyth Johnson. 
Dinner tables were well represented, fourteen being staged in the 
two classes devoted to them. The best table set for twelve persons 
was arranged by Miss A. Williams, Victoria Nurseries, Upper Hol¬ 
loway, who was adjudged the first prize in a competition of six for a 
neat and tasteful arrangement. The central vase contained in the 
upper portion Grasses and Rhodanthes, the base being occupied with 
Anthuriums, Gloxinias, Pelargoniums, Orchids, Roses, Lilies, and a 
groundwork of fronds of Osmunda regalis and Adiantum cuneatum. 
The side designs each consisted of a plant of Cocos Weddelliana in 
the centre, surrounded by flowers of Ixoras and Lilies. The fruits 
represented were Cherries, Strawberries, Oranges, and Grapes. The 
second position was accorded to Messrs. Dick Radclyffe & Co., High 
Holborn, who had a light and pleasing design. Mr. J. R. Chard, 
Clapham Common, was a good third. Miss A. Williams was again the 
most successful exhibitor of a table set for six persons, and carried 
off the chief prize with an elegant yet simply decorated table that 
was greatly admired. The centre stand was a trumpet-shaped glass 
vase, bearing in the upper portion flowers of Centaurea Cyanus, 
Rhodanthes, and various Grasses ; while the base contained a diver¬ 
sity of Orchids, with Anthuriums, Spiraeas, Caladium leaves, and 
Adiantum fronds. No fruit was employed, and this was objected to 
by some of the other exhibitors, but the table was clearly the best 
shown. Mr. W. L. Buster, St. Mary’s Cray, Kent, and Mr. W. Brown, 
St. Mary’s Grove Nursery, Twickenham, followed in that order, the 
last-named having a pretty arrangement but containing rather too 
many yellow flowers, though some handsome Allamandas were very 
attractive. The competition with hand-baskets of flowers was spirited 
and interesting, there being no less than eight entries. Miss Williams 
was first with a charming contribution, comprising flowers of Chrys¬ 
anthemum Etoile d’Or, Spiraeas, Dendrobiums, especially D. tortile, 
and Fuchsias, with foliage of Lonicera aurea reticulata, Caladium 
argyrites, and various Ferns. Mrs. A. M. Stuart, 84, Seven Sisters 
Road, was second with a tasteful collection of Ericas, Masdevallias, 
Oncidiums, and Rhodanthes ; Miss Cluse, Woodford Bridge, being 
third with a rather heavy design. 
Seven brides’ bouquets were staged, that very successful exhibitor, 
Miss Williams, taking the lead with a combination of Phalsenopsis 
grandiflora, Gardenias, Stephanotis, Dracophyllum gracile, and Rose 
buds, but with a rather too free intermixture of Fern fronds. Mr. F. J. 
Taylor and Messrs. Jones & Son, Shrewsbury, secured the other prizes 
in the order mentioned. Bridesmaids’ bouquets were well shown by 
Mr. Brown and Mrs. Stuart, who were adjudged the first and second 
prizes respectively. Ballroom bouquets were very bright, but not 
numerous. Miss Williams had the best three ; one containing flowers 
of Franciscea calycina, Ixoras, Oncidiums, Roses, Ericas, and Stepha¬ 
notis was especially tasteful. Mr. Brown was a close second with 
satisfactory contributions. Flower stands for a drawing-room table 
were exhibited by Mrs. Stuart, Miss Baines, Palmers Green, and Miss 
Cluse, who were accorded the prizes in that order for bright and 
pretty combinations of flowers. For six buttonholes Miss Baines 
secured the premier award with neat arrangements, in which scarlet 
and white Bouvardias, Rose buds, Hoya bella, and Forget-me-nots 
predominated. Mrs. Stuart was second with neat combinations of 
Orchids, chiefly Masdevallias ; and Miss Williams was a close third. 
Pelargoniums were contributed by Mr. Wiggins, gardener to H. 
Little, Esq., Uxbridge; Mr. G. Osborne, gardener to J. N. Mappin, 
Esq., Southgate House ; and Mr C. Hammond, gardener to F. Hurst, 
Esq., York Lodge, Stamford Hill, all staging well-grown specimens, 
and obtaining the prizes in the above order. Mr. Little’s plants were 
similar to those which gained the chief honours at the South Ken¬ 
sington Show. 
The next Exhibition is to be devoted to Cherries and Strawberries, 
and is announced for the 1st and 2nd of July instead of the 17th and 
18th of the present month. It is likely to be very interesting, and 
there is promise of good competition. 
PRITCHARDIA GRANDIS. 
Early in the present year we noted that importations of this 
handsome Palm had been received in England, and that young 
plants were being distributed by several nurserymen. We now 
present our readers with an illustration that well indicates the 
chief distinguishing characters of the species. A few years ago 
this Palm was only represented by two specimens from the South 
