404 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
is Pelargonium Queen Elizabeth, which has flowers of good 
size and excellent form, the colour being a rich rose shading to 
white at the] base of the two upper petals. They are borne in 
compact umbels, which are produced very freely during the 
winter, when the plant is especially valuable. Several other 
promising forms will be sent out this season. A few plants of 
Matricaria eximea crispa aurea that has recently been referred 
to in these columns are very pretty, and if they retain the cha¬ 
racters they at’ present possess the variety will become a great 
favourite, as the foliage is neatly crisped and of as good a yellow 
tint as the Golden Feather. 
- A correspondent sends us the following relative to the 
South Shields Cemetery. —“ To the lovers of floriculture a visit 
to the cemetery will amply repay the persons making the journey. 
The grounds are beautifully laid out, and there is an excellent 
display of spring flowers in full bloom. Several beds of Tulips 
have lately been much admired by many persons. The massive 
rockeries in the same quarter are resplendent with Wallflowers, 
Primroses, and other kinds of flowers. In the conservatory there 
are some rare Ferns of considerable beauty, and an extensive 
assortment of flowering plants. Many of the graves are neatly 
adorned, and a stroll through the grounds is rendered agreeable 
by the variety of colour and taste displayed in the decoration. 
Since the appointment of Mr. B. Cowan to the post of superinten¬ 
dent the cemetery has undergone a marked change, and it has 
become much more frequented by visitors than was the case 
previously.” 
- One of the plants seldom employed for conservatories is 
Saxifraga CymbAlaria, but at Kew it is much appreciated for 
that purpose, and at the present time the plants are covered with 
bright yellow flowers, its dwarf habit admirably adapting it for 
the front row of the side stages. Euryops pectinatus is a very showy 
plant when in flower, closely resembling Chrysanthemum frutescens 
in shape and size of flower, but the colour is bright yellow, and the 
florets, however, are not so closely set as in C. frutescens. Arctotis 
grandiflora, a South African plant, and one of the most showy and 
useful Composites for indoor decoration, would well repay for more 
extensive cultivation, and just now is superb. The flowers are 
3 or 4 inches in diameter, and remind us of that grand old plant 
Mutisia decurrens that is so seldom seen. It thrives well in any 
light rich soil. 
- A correspondent writes :—“ One of the most showy and 
attractive plants that is now in flower in the conservatory at Kew 
is Schizanthus pinnatus. This is a first-rate annual for culture 
in pots, and'deserves to be more generally grown. Large bushy 
plants grown singly in small 48-size pots are loaded with their 
charming blossoms. Amongst them are many of very superior 
quality, varying considerably in habit, colour, and size of flower. 
Some are of the darkest purple, others of a light rosy pink, whilst 
others are] almost] pure ]white with dark spots. They look ex¬ 
tremely pretty associated with other flowering plants, and last a 
long time in perfection. S. retusus is even better than the last 
species in colour. The corolla is rosy pink, the upper lip bright 
yellow. ^ The latter species does not grow nearly so strong a3 
S. pinnatus, but is very free-flowering.” 
- The annual display of Calceolarias at Bedford 
Hill House, Balham, is now approaching its best condition, 
the blooms being well advanced and the colours well developed. 
The excellency of the strain, which Mr. Rapley has obtained by 
such careful and long-continued crossing and selection, is well 
known, but improvement is being constantly effected in every 
respect; the size, form, and colour of the flowers, with the dwarf¬ 
ness and vigour of the plants, all receive attention with highly 
satisfactory results. One very noticeable feature is the general 
good quafcty of the plants. Any of doubtful merit are rigorously 
excluded, and though the variation in colours and markings is 
so great any approach to deterioration is at once observed, and 
means are adopted to prevent its affecting the stock. Though 
large the blooms are not coarse, and they are mostly very full 
and rounded—just of the type most pleasing to a Calceolaria 
fancier. Many rich and varied tints distinguish the numerous 
forms—rose, crimson, maroon on deep golden or pale yellow 
nearly white grounds, the colours being dispersed in dots, veins, 
or heavily massed. Of the seifs Cloth of Gold Btands pre-eminent 
in al characters. It is very dwarf and free, the blooms large, 
usually about 2|- inches in diameter, of good form, full, and clear 
bright yellow in colour. Arranged with the darker forms it is 
most effective. Considerable advance towards a pure white 
variety of good quality has also been made. It is found the 
rosy crimson self varieties are the most unsatisfactory in habit, 
but already this has been much improved, and progress is being 
steadily made in dwarfing the plants and increasing the sturdiness 
of the flower stems. The plants are arranged in a long bank in 
lean-to house with a north aspect, and the tasteful contrast of 
the various tints produces a brilliant effect. 
- The schedule of the Liverpool Horticultural Asso¬ 
ciation announces that the fourth Exhibition will be held in 
Sefton Park, August 5th and 7th, and the third Chrysanthemum 
Show in St. George’s Hall, November 21st and 22nd. At the 
summer Show liberal prizes for plants, flowers, fruit, and vege¬ 
tables will be offered in eighty-six classes, a large number being 
open to all competitors, the others restricted to amateurs residing 
within ten miles of Liverpool. In the plant classes the chief is 
that for twelve stove and greenhouse plants, for which £15, £10, 
and £5 will be given as first, second, and third prizes. In the 
cut-flower classes Roses are liberally provided for, a total of 
£9 10.?. being offered in three prizes for forty-eight cut blooms. 
£12, consisting of £6, £4, and £2, are offered for eight dishes 
of fruit, distinct kinds, not more than two varieties of Grapes; 
and vegetables have several classes devoted to them. At the 
autumn Show, in addition to special provision for Chrysanthe¬ 
mums, both cut blooms and specimens, miscellaneous plants and 
fruit have thirty-nine classes devoted to them. The Committee 
of this Association have adopted a very laudable method of 
encouraging the writing of original essays upon horticultural 1 
subjects by under gardeners. Prizes of 10s. 6 cl. and first-class 
certificates are offered for the best essays on Vine Culture, Azalea 
indica and Cape Heaths, and Rotation of Vegetable Crops, which 
must be sent to the Secretary by August 31st of the present year. 
BATH FLORAL FETE. 
May 10th and 11th. 
Horticultural exhibitions in Bath, as arranged by what is known 
as the Band Committee, are better recognised and appreciated insti¬ 
tutions than is the case in most cities of the same dimensions. All 
the leading inhabitants, if they do not subscribe quite so freely as is 
desirable, at any rate appear to be generally interested in the success 
of the shows, and for miles round the same interest is taken in them. 
The exhibitions are held in the Sydney Gardens, these being very 
convenient and suitable. Fairly liberal prizes are offered, the classes 
are open, and concessions are made to those exhibitors whose ex¬ 
penses are necessarily heavy ; consequently, if favourable weather be 
experienced, the result is certain to be satisfactory. Unfortunately 
the Committee have in several previous years been disappointed in 
this respect; but on the present occasion the weather could not 
possibly have been more propitious, and we should imagine the 
attendance on the first day equalled the most sanguine expectations. 
Spacious tents were erected for the various exhibits, and these were 
fairly well filled without infringing unduly on the path room—a wise 
provision worthy of general imitation, as crowding destroys the 
visitors’ pleasure. 
Azaleas were a prominent feature in the display, notably the twelve 
obtuse pyramids staged by Mr. W. F. Biggs, gardener to J. C. Hurle, 
Esq. All these were in the best possible condition, averaging about 
6 feet in height; and very beautiful were the specimens of Model, Sir 
C. Napier, Due de Nassau, Flag of Truce, and Duchesse Adelaide de 
