230 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. t March 24, issi. y 
ments of the new range at Kew, It is well worth growing in a 
stove or intermediate house, the latter, perhaps, suiting it rather 
better, as the growth is more robust and the flowers last longer in 
a cooler temperature. Iu habit it is moderately compact and 
bushy, with shining dark green ovate leaves, and brilliant orange- 
scarlet tubular flowers produced singly in the axils of the leaves 
near the summits of the shoots. The corollas are strangely bent 
or curved downwards, and have a small limb of five acute seg¬ 
ments, which are of a lighter colour than the tube, the throat 
being yellow. In striking contrast with these lively tints are the 
deep blue anthers, which are united in a ring round the style, and 
protrude a short distance beyond the mouth of the corolla. The 
stigma is two-lobed, and is surrounded by a hair which acts as a 
kind of brush ; and when the style is growing and forcing the 
stigma through the ring of anthers, the lobes being then folded 
face to face, the pollen is removed and pushed out of the flower. 
After this the two lobes of the stigma expand and become recep¬ 
tive. This peculiar process closely resembles that which takes 
place in many members of the natural order Composite. The 
plant is a native of Peru, and first flowered at Mr. W. Bull’s 
nursery in 1866, from which a coloured plate was prepared for 
the “ Botanical Magazine.” Three years later Mr. C. Green 
exhibited a plant before the Royal Horticultural Society and 
obtained a first-class certificate for it. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
March 22nd. 
After a week of brilliant spring-like weather it was unfortunate 
that a snowstorm accompanied by a keen cold wind should have pre¬ 
vailed on the morning of the first Show of spring flowers. The 
inclemency of the weather, however, did not prevent exhibitors 
staging beautiful collections, although it could not fail to have a 
deterrent effect on visitors ; yet these were numerous, select, and 
appreciative, a change to clear and sunny weather fortunately oc¬ 
curring shortly after noon. The display was satisfactory in the 
highest degree ; rarely, indeed, has it been equalled, as is evidenced 
by the large number of gold medals awarded, no less than eleven 
having been adjudged to the chief exhibitors. The general ex¬ 
cellence of the plants staged was remarked by many visitors, and all 
seemed to have done their best to render the Show as successful as 
possible. The Floral Committee’s duties were comparatively light, 
as the bulk of the plants were staged in the conservatory, but the 
Fruit Committee had not a single exhibit to adjudicate upon—a re¬ 
markable and rare occurrence. 
SPRING SHOW. 
The conservatory bore an unusually gay aspect, and rarely has a 
greater number of beautiful plants been arranged there thus early in 
the season. Hyacinths were of course the chief feature, but there 
was abundance of other plants, so that the general appearance was 
not only bright but varied. A stage extended down the centre of 
the broad path ; this was entirely occupied, and tables on each side 
were also filled with floral treasures, the general disposition of the 
groups being highly creditable to the Superintendent. 
Three special prizes were offered by a Fellow of the Society, and 
these were supplemented by two others, the class being for nine 
pots of Hyacinths and the same number of Tulips. The competi¬ 
tion was good ; five exhibitors entering the lists, though the two 
first were far ahead of the others. The silver cup was allotted to 
Mr. J. Douglas, gardener to F. Whitbourn, Esq., Loxford Hall, 
Ilford, who staged an even collection of Hyacinths and Tulips, all 
the plants being in excellent condition. The Tulips represented 
were white Pottebakker, Van der Neer, Proserpine, white Joost 
Yan Yondel, Keyset's Kroon, Yermillon Brillant, and Fabiola ; all 
were very fine, the flowers neat, and the colours bright. The Hya¬ 
cinths had massive spikes with good bells, the varieties being Grand 
Lilas, Gigantea, Koh-i-Noor, Marie, Mont Blanc, Vuurbaak, Lord 
Macaulay, King of the Blues, and Le Grandesse, all admirably grown. 
Mr. Moorman, gardener to Miss Christy, Coomb Bank, Kingston-on- 
Thames, was a very close second with a good collection, the Hya¬ 
cinths not quite so fine as Mr. Douglas’s, but the Tulips were rather 
better in general condition. One yellow variety of Tulip named 
Mon Tresor was especially noteworthy for the excellent form of the 
flowers and the purity of their colour. Among the Hyacinths the 
most noticeable were Czar Peter, very fine; and Lord Derby. Mr. 
C. Parker, Clay Hall Works, Old Ford, E.; Mr. J. R. Roberts, 
79, Mile End Road, E.; and Mr. C. J. Dance, 437, Mile End Road, E., 
were respectively awarded the third, fourth, and fifth prizes for rather 
small but healthy specimens. 
Of the numerous collections exhibited by nurserymen and others 
the most imposing was that from Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons, Chelsea, 
which occupied at least 100 feet in length of the central staging, in 
addition to a group at the end of the conservatory. First were the 
Hyacinths, which alone constituted a magnificent display, for probably 
finer plants have never been exhibited. Massive and compact spikes, 
large flowers, and clear bright colours indicated not only the excel¬ 
lency of the bulbs but the carefulness of the culture bestowed upon 
them. The varieties were also numerous, and an excellent oppor¬ 
tunity was afforded visitors of making a selection ; this many seemed 
to appreciate, for note-books and pencils were in great request, especi¬ 
ally among the ladies. Over two hundred plants were shown, and 
the Council signified their high estimation of the group by awarding 
a gold medal for it. Amaryllises were also staged by the same firm 
in large numbers, many handsome varieties being represented, the 
symmetrical form of the flowers being especially notable. Their 
bright colours, too, contrasted well with the Hyacinths, but the latter 
constituted the attraction of the day, though a gold medal was also 
awarded for the Amaryllises. Following them were groups of 
Spiraeas, dwarf Guelder Roses surprisingly w’ell flowered, the pretty 
Rhododendron Early Gem, with specimens of the snowy white- 
flowered Japanese Quince, Pyrus japonica alba nivalis, which were 
flowering very freely. In addition to these a group of Camellias in 
pots was arranged near the entrance to the conservatory. They com¬ 
prised healthy well-grown plants 4 t© 6 feet in height, and bearing 
some excellent flowers. Another gold medal was awarded for this 
group, being the third obtained by Messrs. Yeitch on this occasion—a 
fact which in itself speaks highly for the quality and beauty of their 
exhibits. 
Still keeping to the chief exhibits of bulbs, the next deserving 
attention was the group from Messrs. Osborn & Sons of Fulham. This 
comprised about 120 Hyacinths and fifty Tulips, representing a very 
large number of varieties generally in admirable condition, among 
the Hyacinths ; the spikes being large, the bells of good shape, and 
the colours good. The Tulips were not so fine, but a good selection 
was shown, well meriting the gold medal awarded for them. A 
similar award was made to Messrs. Wm. Cutbush & Son, Highgate, 
London, for large and handsome groups, comprising about a hundred 
Hyacinths notable for the size of the spikes and the good selec¬ 
tion of varieties, which well entitled them to the medal awarded. 
They also had a pretty group of Azaleas of the indica and mollis 
types. The former were compact specimens in 24-size pots and re¬ 
markably well flowered. Six boxes of Camellia blooms were staged, 
including good examples of Bealii, Miniata, Countess of Orkney, 
Saccoi nova, Teutonia, Mathotiana, and the old Alba plena. Some 
small Camellias in pots were also shown. 
The chief amateurs’ collections were the tvro following, for both of 
which gold medals were awarded. Captain Patton, Alpha House, 
Rfegent’s Park, had a large and handsome group of Hyacinths, with 
a back row of Spiraeas and Dielytras arranged alternately, and an 
edging of Isolepis gracilis. The Hyacinths were in admirable con¬ 
dition, the spikes massive, and the colours good. They appeared to 
have been very well grown, as the foliage was well developed. Mr. 
Moorman had also an extremely fine group comprising about a hun¬ 
dred Hyacinths and 120 Tulips, all in very satisfactory condition. 
The Tulips in particular were in fine form, the flowers neat, and the 
colours bright and diversified. The w'hole group was very creditable 
to Mr. Moorman’s cultural skill, and he deserved the honours he 
received. 
The miscellaneous groups were uncommonly fine, the most remark¬ 
able being that from Mr. B. S. Williams, for which a gold medal 
was awarded. This handsome group comprised 120 Orchids in ex¬ 
cellent condition. Cypripedium villosum was represented by several 
large specimens with a number of flowers. Phaius grandifolius was also 
in fine condition, and a number of Dendrobes. The rare little Laelia 
harpophylla, with small orange-coloured flowers, w r as represented 
by several specimens, and many other both rare and beautiful Orchids 
indicated not only the extensive stock of the Holloway nurseries but 
the energy of the proprietor in bringing them out on such an unpro- 
pitious morning. The General Horticultural Company (John Wills, 
Limited), Onslow Crescent, Anerley, and Regent Street, exhibited an 
extremely graceful group of plants that was very much admired by 
visitors. It chiefly consisted of Palms, the elegant Cocos Weddel- 
liana predominating, with Adiantums, Dracaenas, Crotons, and other 
fine-foliage plants. The central plant was a fine specimen of Anthu- 
rium Schertzerianum, bearing over two dozen large spathes, and on 
each side of this were nooks filled with Forget-me-nots, with a few 
plants of Odontoglossum cirrhosum gracefully intermingled, and 
brightened by some Masdevallias, small Anthuriums, and Azaleas. 
A gold medal was awarded as a recognition of the taste displayed in 
the arrangement of this charming group. A gold medal was also 
awarded to Messrs. Paul & Son, The Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, for a 
collection of handsome Roses in pots very well flowered. Among 
them the following were especially notable :—Annie Laxton in a 
10-inch pot with twenty flowers, Madame Lacharme with about 
thirty blooms, and La France with twenty blooms. Other noticeable 
varieties were the Duke of Teck, large flower, rich rose colour ; 
Madame Alphonse Lavallee, with a fine rich pink bloom ; and Gloire 
de Bourg la Reine, intense crimson. Mr. J. Aldous, Gloucester Road, 
South Kensington, was awarded a silver Banksian medal for a taste¬ 
fully arranged group of flowering and fine-foliage plants, including 
Azaleas, Spiraeas, Hyacinths, Tulips, Mignonette, Pelargoniums, 
Palms, Ferns, c&c. The edging was very pretty, consisting of plants 
of Scilla siberica and Isolepis alternately. Henry Little, Esq., Hil¬ 
lingdon Place, Uxbridge (gardener, Mr. Wiggins), was awarded a 
silver Flora medal for a collection of Cyclamens and Cinerarias in 
very good condition, the colours of the latter being particularly 
bright. Mr. H. B. Smith, Ealing Dean, obtained a gold medal 
for an extensive group of Cyclamens, flowering freely and com¬ 
prising over two hundred plants. Messrs. William Paul & Son, 
