JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 417 
specimens, including a very fine Platycerium alcicorne, such as is 
seldom seen at exhibitions. Mr. Hope was a close second with clean 
and even plants, Adiantum cuneatum being pnrticularly fine. For a 
single specimen Mr. Bezant secured the first prize with a large Also- 
phila australis, Mr. Mortimer following very closely with a similarly 
large and remarkably healthy Davallia Mooreana, 5 or (i feet in 
diameter and bearing some uncommonly large fresh fronds. These 
two plants were nearly equally meritorious. The only collection of 
Selaginellas was that from Mr. Mortimer, who exhibited his cus¬ 
tomary neat conical specimens for which the first prize was deservedly 
awarded. 
Groups .—These formed an important feature in the Show, and were 
generally bright. For a group to occupy a space 10 feet by 12 there 
were five competitors, the most successful being Mr. Baskett, who had 
a tasteful arrangement of Roses, Dielytras, Azaleas, Spirieas, and 
Gloxinias, with sufiicient fine-foliage plants to tone the brightness 
imparted by the others. Mr. Bennett, who was second, had a group 
containing rather more colour, Zonal Pelargoniums and Cinerarias 
rather too strongly predominating. Mr. Burbidge, gardener to 
B. Simonds, Esq., was third with a neat collection, chiefly noteworchy 
for the fine Richardias and the edging of Adiantum gracillimum, 
Isolepis gracilis, and Selaginellas. Extra prizes were obtained by 
Mr. Powell, gardener to F. J. Blandy, Esq., and Mr. Mayne, gardener 
to Miss Moon, both staging attractive groups, but the first-named 
was rather too formal, and the last too thin. Mr. Pound was the 
only exhibitor of a smaller group (0 feet by 4), which included several 
fine Dendrobes, especially D. Faleoneri. Two groups of Rhododen¬ 
drons were exhibited by Mr. Ashby, gardener to W. Fanning, Esq., 
Whitchurch, and Mr. Bennett, the former including plants with fine 
trusses of blooms representing some of the best varieties. Groups of 
harciy plants were also shown, but not of any remarkable merit. 
Messrs. Lees and Bennett were the chief prizetakers. 
Cut Flowers. —Mr. Bennett contributed the finest collection of 
twelve bunches, and easily won the first prize ; some of the most note¬ 
worthy in his stand being Brugmansia Knightii, Dendrobium Pierardi, 
Begonia nitida alba, and Gloxinias. Mr. Atkins was second, staging very 
neat blooms ; the Eucharis, Tacsonia exoniensis, and Rhododendron 
Gibsoni being unusually fine. In the amateurs’ class Messrs. Mortimer, 
Hope, and Burgess were the chief exhibitors, the first-named having 
handsome blooms of Pancratium fragrans and Dendrobium Devoni- 
anum. Cut Roses were represented by three collections from Messrs. 
Tranter, Lees, and Lockie, who were awarded the prizes in that order. 
The premier blooms from Mr. Tranter included some fine examples 
of Marechal Niel, Madame Victor Verdier, Emilie d’Hausburg, Sou¬ 
venir d’un Ami, and Richard Wallace, all fresh, of good substance and 
form. The other exhibitors also contributed fair blooms—Madame 
Bravy, Jean Pernet, and La France. Mrs. Owen Knox of Caversham 
sent a handsome collection of twelve Fancy Pansy blooms, very even 
and brightly coloured. Bouquets, buttonholes, and ornamental stands 
of flowers were numerous as usual from various lady residents of the 
town. Mr. Phippen carried off several prizes ; and Mr. Millen, gardener 
to the Marquis of Donegal, Hampton Park, was also successful. 
Fruit and Vegetables. —Strawberries were not abundant, but 
several of the collections included some remarkably fine fruits. Mr. 
Mortimer was adjudged the first prize for a dish of thirty-six fruits, the 
variety being President in extremely fine condition, very even in size 
and of excellent colour. Another box of the same variety from Mr. 
Mortimer, containing fifty-four fruits nearly as good as those in the 
class, was highly commended by the Judges. Mr. Hope followed 
with the same variety. Peaches were shown by Mr. Fowle, gardener 
to Sir H. St. John Mildmay, Bart., Dogmersfield,and Mr. Ashby, those 
from tbe former being well ripened and of good size. Grapes were 
poor, the best being a neat bunch of Black Hamburgh from Mr. 
Ashby. Mr. Atkins obtained a certificate of merit for fruits of 
Melon Hero of Lockinge, finely netted, neat in form, and excellently 
ripened. In the Society’s class for the best brace of Cucumbers there 
was close competition. Mr. Lockie was placed first with Masterpiece, 
even, handsome, and bearing fine bloom. Mr. Atkins was second 
with Improved Telegraph, not quite so even, but very good examples. 
There was also very keen competition for Messrs. Suttons’ prizes, the 
premier award being secured by Mr. Howe with a brace of handsome 
Cucumbers, the produce of a plant raised from seeds obtained from a 
cross between Freeman’s Yard Long and Telegraph. They were long, 
even, and bearing good bloom. A certificate of merit was awarded 
for the variety, which was named Challenger , and is described as very 
prolific. Mr. Lockie was second with fine examples of Model ; and 
Mr. Ross, gardener to C. Eyre, Esq., Welford Park, was third with 
Tender and True. 
Collections of vegetables were shown by Mr. Lockie, who was first 
with good Asparagus, Model Potatoes, Enfield Market Cabbage, <fcc. 
Mr. Read, gardener to F. Wilder, Esq., Purley Hill, was a good 
second. In the class for Peas the first prize was awarded to Mr. 
Burbidge for Suttons’ new variety American Wonder ; and in Potatoes 
Mr. Lockie was first with Woodstock Kidney, very fine. Other 
vegetables, such as Cauliflowers, were also fairly represented. 
The chief miscellaneous group was from Mr. C. Turner of Slough, 
and comprised a number of handsome young Azaleas and Pelargo¬ 
niums. Certificates of merit were awarded for the beautiful double 
white Azalea indica Madeleine, previously noted in this Journal, and 
for the tricolor Pelargonium Mr. Henry Cox with neatly formed 
richly coloured foliage. Mr. Tranter contributed a box of un¬ 
commonly fine Mardchal Niel Roses, for which an extia prize was 
deservedly awarded. They were of good size, excellent form, and 
great substance, being very creditable to the grower. 
BOUVARDIA ALFRED NEUNER. 
The double Bouvardia represented in the annexed woodcut is 
of American origin, and has been described by Mr. Meehan as 
possessing considerable beauty. The flowers are said to be pure 
white and completely double, as shown in fig. 91, which has been 
forwarded to us by Messrs. J. Carter & Co. of High Holborn, who 
state that they have been appointed the sole agents in England 
of the American firm now sending it out. Should the plant prove 
equal to the representation, it will undoubtedly be valuable for 
Fig. 91.—Bouvardia Alfred Renner. 
decorative purposes and affording a supply of flowers that would 
be well suited for bouquets. We may add that it is said to be a 
sport from Bouvardia Davidsonii, and was certificated by the 
New York Horticultural Society early in the present year. 
ROYAL WESTERN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
May 17th and 18th. 
This Society last year discontinued their spring Show for want of 
sufficient means, but it is now reconstituted, and by the energy and 
tact of the new executive a display was collected in the spacious 
building, St. Andrew’s Skating Rink, Plymouth, worthy of the town 
and neighbourhood, and the best this old-established Society has 
ever held. 
Many special prizes were offered, and among them were the follow¬ 
ing :—The President’s prize, E. C. Baring, Esq., of ten guineas for 
dinner table, 4 feet G inches by 10 feet, completely and fully laid for 
ten persons ; the Mayor’s prizes of three guineas for table decora¬ 
tion, a vase or ornamental stand ; the borough member’s prize of five 
guineas given by P. S. Macliver, Esq., M.P., for twelve stove and 
greenhouse plants, six in bloom ; the borough member’s prize of five 
guineas given by E. Clarke, Esq., M.P., for the best collection of 
Azaleas sent out since 1874 ; the Chairman’s prize of ten guineas 
given by W. Derry, Esq., for twelve Roses in pots ; and a silver cup, 
value three guineas, given by C. R. Barden, Esq., for the best speci¬ 
men plant in bloom. The schedule contained fifty classes, the majority 
of which being well represented, and completely crowding a large 
hall 1GG feet long by 109 feet broad. 
Messrs. Lucombe, Pince & Co. of Exeter contributed a group of 
miscellaneous and decorative plants which is acknowledged to be the 
best that was ever seen at Plymouth before ; amongst others were 
some grand examples of Bougainvillea glabra, Stephanotis floribunda, 
Allamanda grandiflora, Anthurium Schertzerianum, Crotons undu- 
latus and interruptus, a large collection of Azaleas including the best 
varieties ; Ferns, Palms, and decorative plants, including a couple 
