416 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
adding a small proportion of the Birch bark gum to gutta percha 
or to indiarubber (one twentieth part will suffice), the durability 
of the rubber or the gutta percha will be greatly increased, the 
new mixture not being acted upon by the air or by acids .—(The 
British Mail.') 
READING HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Mat 19th. 
In some respects the spring Show held at Reading on Thursday 
last has scarcely been surpassed by previous exhibitions of the 
Society at the same period of the year, for though the number of 
exhibits has been greater, the general freshness and health of the 
plants has not been excelled, and in several of the leading classes 
admirable examples of cultural skill were noticeable. Flowering 
plants were in point of numbers well balanced by those grown chiefly 
for their foliage, and the tasteful arrangement produced an effect 
that was bright, but agreeably toned by the Palms, Ferns, and similar 
plants in the last-mentioned classes. As usual the picturesque Abbey 
Ruins was selected for the Show, and the day proving fine induced 
a very large company to assemble. 
Stove and Greenhouse Plants. —Several very satisfactory col¬ 
lections were contributed in the classes devoted to these plants, but 
in the principal class there was no competition though the prizes 
were liberal. The only exhibitor of twelve specimens was Mr. Lees, 
gardener to Mrs. Marsland. The Wilderness, who was deservedly 
awarded the first prize for healthy well-flowered plants. The most 
noteworthy were the following—Musssenda frondosa, about 4 feet in 
diameter, not formally trained, but extremely vigorous, and bearing 
a very large number of its bright yellow tubular flowers accompanied 
by large pure white bracts. This well-known and beautiful stove 
shrub is rarely seen in better condition that that staged by Mr. Lees ; 
in fact it is by no means a common exhibition plant. Franciscea 
calycina major was also well represented with flowers fully 4 inches in 
diameter, and of the rich purple colour that characterises the variety. 
Clerodendron Balfourianum was healthy and well flowered ; Erica 
Cavendishiana, notable for the deep colour of the flowers ; Rhyncho- 
spermum jasminoides, vigorous, but with few flowers ; Vinca alba, 
Azalea Bernhard Andreas, Erica depressa major, and several others 
completed this satisfactory collection. There were two competitors 
in the class for six specimen stove and greenhouse plants ; Mr. Hope, 
gardener to the Hon. R. Boyle, Purley, securing the chief prize with 
Plumbago capensis profusely flowered; Lantana splendens, 5 feet 
high, trained on a balloon-shaped trellis and remarkably healthy. 
Tecoma jasminoides was rather rough, but Bougainvillea glabra and 
Tabernremontana coronaria flore-pleno were creditably shown. Mr. 
Bennett, gardener to M. Lonergan, Esq., Cressingham, was adjudged 
the second place with neat specimens, among which a good specimen 
of Azalea Fielder’s White was notable. In the amateurs’ class for 
four specimens Mr. Mortimer, gardener to Major Storer, Purley Park, 
was the only exhibitor, securing the second prize for moderately good 
examples of Plumbago capensis, lthynchospermum jasminoides, and 
Bougainvillea glabra. For a single specimen Mr. Ashby, gardener 
to W. Fanning, Esq., obtained the chief award with Rhododendron 
Michael Waterer bearing numerous large trusses of flowers. Mr. 
Armitage, gardener to N. Clarke, Esq., followed with an evenly 
trained Tetratheca vcrticillata ; and Mr. Baskett, gardener to W. j. 
Palmer, Esq., took the third position with Tabernsemontana coronaria 
5 feet in diameter and very healthy, though the flowers were not 
quite sufficiently advanced. 
Azaleas. —The principal collection of Azaleas formed a bank at 
the lower end of the tent, the enormous specimens from Mr. Bennett 
—for which the chief prize in the open class for nine was awarded— 
particularly attracting attention. These were of pyramidal form, 
some exceeding (3 feet in height, well clothed with foliage and flowers. 
The best were Etoile de Gand, Stella, and Flag of Truce, the last- 
named being in especially satisfactory condition. Mr. Lees secured 
the second position with a less even collection, but including some 
fine specimens ; Souvenir du Prince Albert was flowering profusely, 
Vivid brightly coloured, and Admiral Napier a very large plant— 
even larger than most of Mr. Bennett’s, and also satisfactory in other 
respects. Mr. Armitage was third with much smaller but neat plants. 
Mr. Lockie, gardener to Lord O. Fitzgerald, Windsor, and Mr. Mor¬ 
timer were the prizetakers in the amateurs’ class for four Azaleas in 
the order named, the former showing neat well-flowered specimens of 
medium size, Duchesse Adelaide de Nassau, Blushing Bride, and Iloi 
d’Hollande being the best. The others were not trained, but fairly 
good. In the class for six Azaleas in 8-inch pots three neat collec¬ 
tions were staged, Mr. Lees taking the chief position with even well- 
flowered plants, including Roi d’Hollande, Hermine, and A. Van Geert 
in first-rate form. Mr. Lockie was a close second with rather smaller 
specimens, Mr. Armitage securing the third prize with a less even 
contribution. 
Pelargoniums. —These were not so numerous as they have been at 
some previous shows, but moderately good plants for the season were 
staged by several exhibitors. For nine show varieties in 8-inch pots 
Mr. Ashby gained the first prize with well-flowered healthy plants, 
the best being Dnchess of Edinburgh, Ruth, Triomphe de St. Mande, 
Alchemist, and Prince of Pelargoniums, all useful and well-known 
varieties. Mr. Mortimer followed with fairly good plants, among 
which Empress Eugenie, Red Gauntlet, and Lady of the Lake were 
particularly noteworthy for the size and substance of their flowers. 
Mr. Burgess, gardener to Colonel Clayton, Maidenhead, was accorded 
the third position for neat examples of Maid of Honour and Spotted 
Gem, and others nearly as good. This exhibitor also sent the only 
collection of six Fancy varieties, for which the chief prize was 
deservedly awarded. Fanny Gair, The Shah, East Lynn, and Pil¬ 
grimage were finely represented, all the plants being even and the 
flowers brightly coloured. 
Poses were neither numerous nor generally in very satisfactory 
condition, only one really first-rate collection of plants being staged. 
In the open class for six specimens, distinct varieties, Mr. Lees was 
awarded the principal prize ; but though his plants were healthy they 
were rather rough, and except on John Hopper the blooms were not 
of such substance and form as might be desirable. Mr. Tranter, 
Upper Assenden, was second with plants of medium size and well- 
developed foliage. Dupuy-Jamain had some good blooms, and 
several other varieties were fairly represented. In the amateurs’ 
class for four Roses Mr. Lockie was the most successful exhibitor, 
and very well he merited the prize awarded him, for the plants were 
by far the best in the Show. They were even, vigorous, with fine 
foliage, and several bore really handsome blooms ; Madame Hippolyte 
Jamain, Oxonian, and Madame Therese Levet being the varieties 
best represented. Mr. Baskett followed, his plants being taller and 
not so compact. La France had several flowers of good substance. 
Gloxinias and Calceolarias .—The chief prize for six Gloxinias was 
secured by Mr. Baskett, who exhibited large handsome specimens in 
8-inch pots. The foliage was remarkably fine, the flowers large, of 
good form, and bright colours. The plants,it was stated, had been 
raised from Messrs. Sutton & Spns’ strain of seed. Mr. Durman, 
gardener to W. Workman, Esq., was second, also staging plants 
bearing good flowers. Mr. Mortimer followed with fair examples. 
The best six Calceolarias were contributed by the last-named exhi¬ 
bitor, who well deserved the prize accorded him. The plants were 
compact, even, with abundant well-formed brightly coloured flowers, 
the only defect being the slightly yellowish foliage; with that ex¬ 
ception the plants were very satisfactory. Messrs. Lockie and Bennett 
secured the remaining prizes in the order named with moderately 
good plants. Fuchsias and Ericas were not numerous nor in excel¬ 
lent condition. 
Orchids .—Very liberal provision is not usually made for Orchids 
at Reading, nor is the display extensive, yet in the five or six small 
collections staged at the last Show there were several pi'etty little 
specimens of considerable merit. For three specimens Mr. Pound, 
gardener to G. May, Esq., Caversham Warren, was first with a robust 
example of Dendrobium thyrsiflorum in a small basket, and bearing 
three fine trusses of flowers ; a handsome variety of Dendrobium 
Falconeri with large richly coloured flowers, this was also in a basket 
and very vigorous—there could not have been much less than a hun¬ 
dred flowers and unexpanded buds; Vanda suavis was represented 
by a small plant of a good variety bearing four trusses. The second 
position was secured by Mr. Baskett with Oncidium sphacelatum, 
Odontoglossum citrosmum, and Dendrobium ’thyrsiflorum, all neat 
and healthy. An extra prize was accorded to Mr. Atkins, gardener 
to Col. Lloyd Lindsay, M.P., Lockinge Park, for Cattleya Mossise; 
Dendrobium nobile, fine variety, well flowered ; and Cypripedium 
barbatum. The best single specimen was Dendrobium Falconeri 
from Mr. Pound, a fine example of a beautiful Orchid. It was 
growing on a Tree Fern stem about 2J feet high, and had abun¬ 
dance of richly coloured flowers. Mr. Hope took the second prize for 
a healthy Dendrobium thyrsiflorum with over a dozen trusses of large 
flowers. 
Fine-foliage Plants. —The chief class was that for nine speci¬ 
mens, and two satisfactory collections were staged. Mr. Mortimer was 
a good first with large well-grown specimens, of which Cissus discolor, 
Croton Weismanni, well coloured and healthy, Alocasia macrorhiza 
variegata, variegatum, clearly and distinctly marked, Latania bor- 
bonica, Alocasia metallica, and Yucca aloifolia variegata were the 
most notable. Mr. Bezant, gardener to H. T. Sinmnds, Esq., Caver¬ 
sham, was second with healthy examples of Maranta Makoyana, 
Croton variegatus, and Cissus discolor. In the amateur class for 
four specimens two collections were also staged—namely, by Messrs. 
Lees and Hope, who were awarded the first and second prizes in that 
order. The former had a vigorous Pandanus Veitchi, a large well- 
furnished Cycas revoluta, Croton Weismanni of good colour, and 
Latania borbonica, very large. The most noticeable plants among 
Mr. Hope’s were Cissus discolor and Pandanus Veitchi, both ad¬ 
mirably grown. 
Perns. —Mr. Mortimer was again to the front with nine Ferns, 
staging the large healthy specimens which have often obtained 
similar honours, and been approvingly noted in these pages. Adi- 
antum cardiochlsena, A. concinnum latum, A. gracillimum, and 
Gymnogramma chrysophylla were in unusually fine condition with 
abundance of healthy fronds. These Ferns constituted an imposing 
group arranged on one of the mounds sloping to the centre of the 
tent. Those from Mr. Bezant, who was placed second, were much 
smaller but healthy, the best in his collection being Adiantum tra- 
peziforme and A. pinctum. Mr. Lees was the chief exhibitor of four 
