316 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 21, 1881. 
particularly conspicuous ; Turner's Charles Perry was very pleasing 
and prominent; a splendid truss of Simonite’s Frank Simonite was 
magnificent; Turner’s Col. Champneys, Clipper, and a few good seed¬ 
lings were all beautiful. Mr. Llewelyn had Frank Simonite, George 
Lightbody, and a few others very good, but the generality of the plant 
were smaller than those of the other competitors. 
In the class for twelve Alpine Auriculas, dissimilar, Mr. Turner was 
placed first with a very fine collection. The whole of the plants with the 
exception of Gorton’s Diadem were of his own raising, including four 
seedlings unnamed, also Mariner, Unique, Mrs. Llewelyn, Mrs. Thom¬ 
son, Evening Star, Rembrandt, and Mrs. Dodwell. Mr. Llewelyn was a 
very good second, and exhibited a very pleasing collection consisting 
of Dolly Varden, Ovid, Mrs. Meiklejohn, Echo. James Fowle, Percival, 
Gwendoline, Mrs. Llewelyn, Evening Star, Distinction, Unique, and 
one or two seedlings. Mr. Douglas was awarded the third prize for a 
fresh and bright collection. For six dissimilar Alpines Mr. Douglas 
was deservedly awarded the first prize ; his collection was remarkably 
clean and fresh, with the colours well blended. Turner’s George 
Lightbody, Mrs. Llewelyn, and Queen Victoria, with two or three 
seedlings of Mr. Douglas’s raising, were very noticeable. Mr. Turner 
obtained the second prize ; Marginata and Sensation were particularly 
fine. Mr. E. Adams, Swalwell, Newcastle-on-Tyne, was placed third ; 
Mr. Llewelyn fourth, and Mr. Barlow fifth, all exhibiting well. 
For a single specimen Alpine, gold centre, Mr. Douglas was first, 
third, fourth, fifth, and sixth. First with Gorton’s Diadem, third with 
Col. Scott, fourth with President, fifth with a seedling, and sixth with 
Gorton’s Diadem. Mr. Turner obtained second prize with a seedling. 
For white or cream-centre Alpines Mr. Turner was first, second, and 
fourth ; Mr. E. Adams third, Mr. Douglas fifth, and the Rev. E. L. 
Fellowes sixth. Twelve Fancy Auriculas, Mr. S. Barlow secured the 
first prize and Mr. W. Bolton the second, both exhibiting seedlings 
which were more curious than beautiful. 
Only two certificates were awarded for Auriculas—namely, to Mr. 
Douglas for Mabel , a grey edge which may occasionally come green, 
it is a very fine flower, with smooth circular paste and a thin line of 
body colour. It bears somewhat a close resemblance to George 
Lightbody, but differs from that variety, and especially in the foliage. 
Also for an unnamed seedling exhibited by Mr. Horner, the parentage 
of which is George Lightbody and Smiling Beauty. Special prizes 
were awarded for Auriculas, but as all the cards were not affixed 
when we left the Exhibition we can only name the following :—To 
Mr. Horner for a fine dark self, Erebus (first), Intrepid (second), and 
Snowdrift, white-edged (first); and to Mr. Douglas (first) for Mabel. 
The last-named exhibitor and Mr. Turner has also prizes for some 
Alpines. 
Polyanthuses. —In the class for six gold-laced varieties S. Barlow, 
Esq., Stakehill House, Castleton, near Manchester, was first, all the 
plants being his own seedlings. To Criterion a first-class certificate 
was awarded. It is a circular clearly defined flower, rich in colour 
and lacing. It was also awarded a first prize as a seedling. John 
Bright had a first-class certificate, and a second prize as a seedling. 
It is a large and very bright flower, but a little irregular in form. 
Firefly , a sparkling flower with a red ground, was awarded a first 
prize as a seedling. The others in the group were Sunrise and an 
unnamed seedling. Mr. Douglas was placed second with the best 
grown plants that have perhaps ever been exhibited at the Society’s 
southern shows. They included Lancer, Cheshire Favourite, Exile, 
George IV., President, and Rev. F. D. Horner. Mr. W. Bolton secured 
the third prize. For three plants the prizes went in the following 
order to Messrs. Douglas, Bolton, and Barlow. For one plant Mr. 
Douglas was first with Exile, Mr. Barlow second with George IV,, 
Mr. Cauldwell third with George Buck, Mr. Llewelyn fourth with 
Lancashire Hero, Mr. Barlow fifth with Sunrise and sixth with 
Lancashire Hero. 
In the class for tw r elve Fancy Polyanthuses Mr. R. Dean, Ealing, 
was first, the plants being vigorously grown and in good varied 
colours. Mr. Hooper, Bath, was an excellent second with dwarf 
plants and good varieties ; Mr. Douglas being third with larger but 
rather less sturdy examples. Messrs. Dean and Hooper'were the 
only exhibitors in the class for twelve Primroses, the prizes being 
awarded in the order named. The plants were admirably grown and 
flowered, and their varied colours from pure white to rich crimson 
had an excellent effect. Fer twelve hardy Primulas, distinct, Mr. 
Douglas was placed first with P. rosea, a fine plant; P. japonica, 
P. intermedia, P. Munroi, P. marginata, P. sikkimensis, and several 
forms of P. amoena. Mr. S. Barlow was second, his collection in¬ 
cluding the true Bardsfield Oxlip; Mr. Llewelyn v'as a very close 
third. P. viscosa was extremely fine; P. cashmeriana and P. ver- 
ticillata also showed to great advantage. 
Miscellaneous Exhibits.— These contributed greatly to the effect 
of the Show. Mr. Turner staged about 100 Auriculas, chiefly Alpines, 
which were very much admired. Mr. Cannell had a large collection 
of Auriculas, Alpines predominating, many of which were very 
singular. He also staged Polyanthuses and Primroses, and a good 
plant of the fine double Tropseolum Hermine Grasshoff. Mr. G. F. 
Wilson, F.R.S., staged a small group of Primulas, including the rich 
Bunch Primrose Herman Wilson. Mr. Dean exhibited a group of 
hardy flowers, amongst which Polyanthus Meteor was extremely 
telling, the two colours, crimson and gold, being very rich. Messrs. 
Lane & Son had a very fine group of Rhododendrons in pots admirably 
flowered, also Roses in similarly good condition. Messrs. Osborn 
and Sons a mixed collection of decorative plants, to which Anthu- 
riums and Imantophyllums, good varieties of both, contributed 
brightness. Mr. Charles Turner staged a collection of Azaleas, half¬ 
standard plants in 6 and 7-inch pots, the heads 18 inches in diameter, 
the varieties and flowers being of the best quality, and the whole 
highly effective. Messrs. Veitch had a choice group ; very fine was 
Dendrobium aggregatum majus, and Boronia megastigma imparted 
perfume to the group. Mr. B. S. Williams contributed a large and 
excellent group of stove and greenhouse plants; Mr. Aldous, deco¬ 
rative plants ; Mr. Barr, Narcissuses, Grape Hyacinths, &c. ; Mr. 
Hooper, Bath, very fine Pansies ; and a group of remarkably dwarf, 
well grown and flowered Cinerarias was sent from the Society’s 
garden at Chiswick. 
NO FLOWERS TO CUT. 
“ We have neither a flower to cut, a plant fit to bring in the 
house, nor a single expanded bloom out of doors, yet we keep a 
gardener with nothing else to do but grow these things for us. 
In the cottage gardens are Snowdrops and Crocuses in full bloom, 
Christmas Roses just going out, and Daffodils and Poet’s Nar¬ 
cissus promising an abundant succession ; but our poor garden, 
where we spend at least £100 a year, has at present neither a 
flower nor the immediate promise of one. True, we have had 
some Primulas, but they are over, and the Cyclamens, of which 
I am very fond, did not succeed. John says they had worms at 
the roots.” 
Something like this was the lament of the proprietress of a 
moderate sized garden during the early part of last month, with 
whom I could but sympathise, and express a wish to find out if 
possible where the fault was. A hasty look through the garden 
soon convinced me that the fault was not altogether on John’s 
side. He may have faults, poor man, like other mortals, but 
laziness certainly is not one of them. I found the vegetable gar¬ 
den in excellent condition for such a season, the lawn and walks 
in faultless trim, and a mixed greenhouse and vinery full from 
floor to roof of plants as healthy as we could wish to see, with 
the single exception of the Cyclamens, the treatment of which 
apparently had not progressed as in most other places during the 
last dozen years, But, of course, this was a very small affair, 
though an unfortunate one, as the proprietress was fond of Cycla¬ 
mens. However, if I had only one failure in a season I should 
think myself very fortunate. What, then, was the fundamental 
error in management ? It was simply this—John was concentrat¬ 
ing all his energies in the floral department to produce a grand 
display in the flower beds in summer. The greenhouse contained 
thousands of bedding Pelargoniums, a score or two of beautiful 
healthy Fuchsias, three or four Azaleas not yet showing flower, 
and the usual assortment of odds and ends which every amateur 
picks up and places between his other plants, leaving them waiting 
there for a better day which never comes. John may be respon¬ 
sible for this state of things, inasmuch as his “hobbies ” may be 
“ bedding-out ” and Fuchsias, but certainly the proprietor has an 
easy remedy in his hands. His beautiful piece of sloping lawn 
is at present cut-up by several fantastic-shaped beds, and as they, 
at least for half the year, show only the black bare earth, they 
would be much better turfed over. Thus far the lady of the house 
would go with me, but she would like the turf taken away later 
and the bedding plants placed there. Well, I should like to per¬ 
suade her to do without the beds near the middle of the beautiful 
green sward for just one summer, and then I really believe she 
would have no desire to have them again. 
I have nothing whatever to say against masses of colour in their 
proper places, and I would on no account check John’s enthu¬ 
siasm for Fuchsia growing; but I could say very much against 
the system which must have a flower bed in every neat piece of 
lawn. But supposing the bedding arrangement to be all that is 
right in point of taste so long as it lasts in good condition, is it 
worth the ten months’ labour and self-denial which it costs to 
produce the two months’ display ? Remember, this display is at a 
time when Nature is doing her very best to clothe all around with 
beauty, and when the air is such that all but confirmed invalids 
can spend a portion of their time in enjoying the rich feast she 
provides. Remember, too, that but for the excessive display of 
scarlet and yellow in summer you might have had Primulas, Tea 
Roses, Spirseas, Trumpet Lilies, Lily of the Valley, and Violets 
indoors while the cold east winds were blowing in spring ; and 
you might have looked through your window and feasted your 
eyes on thousands of Snowdrops, Crocuses, and waving Daffodils ; 
while at intervals, even during winter, a small opening of the 
window would have admitted air laden with the perfume of a 
thousand Violets. 
Do not expect John to produce all these in addition to what he 
does now, he is already overworked. It is the last straw which 
