510 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. t Ju ne 22 , 1 m. 
It comes freely from seed. Can anyone tell me where D. triste 
can be obtained? Is it lost?—M. J. B. 
YORK FLORAL FETE. 
June 14th, 15th, akd 16th. 
For nearly a quarter of a century the annual Exhibitions in York 
hare attracted visitors in thousands from the surrounding district, 
and each year the popularity of these extensive gatherings seems to 
increase. Exhibitors, too, enter the competition with even greater 
interest than formerly; and in all the most important of the very 
numerous classes provided, plants, flowers, fruit, or vegetables are 
generally represented in admirable condition. The Show held last 
week, the twenty-fourth, w r as no exception to the rule, and a pro¬ 
gressive improvement in many departments was noticeable. In the 
eighty-eight classes there were eighty-seven exhibitors, as many as 
ten entering in some of the classes. Seven large tents were appro¬ 
priated to the exhibits, a large central circular marquee containing the 
large specimen stove and greenhouse plants ; and from this radiated 
six long tents containing respectively Pelargoniums, groups, fine- 
folip.ge plants, Ferns, Boses, and fruit. The most imposing portion 
of the Show was, as indeed is usual at York, the Pelargoniums, which 
were shown in superb condition and produced a brilliant effect. The 
fine-foliage plants were distinguished generally by their vigorous 
health, the Boses also with the hardy aud bedding plants forming 
features of considerable interest. These were all arranged to good 
advantage, and Mr. Wilson earned well-merited praise by his judicious 
management. 
Pelargoniums. — Undoubtedly these deserve the first position, 
taking the exhibits in the order of merit and abundance, for they 
have not been nearly so well represented elsewhere this season. A 
long central stage was occupied with the Show, Fancy, and Zonal 
varieties, the long side stages bearing the bronze and tricolor varie¬ 
ties that are invariably in grand condition at this Exhibition. The 
Fancy section was not very strong, but Mr. C. Bylance, Aughton, 
Ormskirk, gained the chief position with six well-grown specimens 
of Henry Bailey. Boi des Fantaisies, Sarah Turner, Lucy and Juliet, 
neatly trained with flowers of good size and bright colours. Mr. II. 
May, Hope Nurseries, Bedale, followed with smaller plants but 
bright. In the class for three plants Mr. Eastwood, gardener to 
F. W. Tetley, Esq., Fox Hill, Weetwood, Leeds, secured the leading 
position with fairly good specimens, the others in that class being 
rather poor. The greatest feature, however, were the Show Pelar¬ 
goniums, Messrs. Lazenby & Sons, Clarence Nursery, York, carrying 
off chief honours with magnificent specimens, well flowered, healthy, 
and of good size, some of the best being Bebecca, Lavinia, Duchess 
of Edinburgh, Aughton Favourite, Exhibitor, Brigantine, Duchesse de 
Moray, and Triomphe de St. Mande. Mr. C. Bylance took the second 
place with a creditable collection, the flowers being very large, of 
excellent form and substance, but less numerous than in the previous 
collections. Messrs. May and Eastwood were placed equal seconds 
in the same class for moderately fresh and bright plants. In the 
smaller class Mr. B. Gawthorpe, gardener to Miss Steward, Bishop- 
thorpe ; Mr. Olroyd, gardener to J. T. Hingston, Esq., North Biding 
Asylum, Clifton ; and Mr. Eastwood were the prizewinners in that 
order, the first-named having Bridal Bouquet, Desdemona, Blue Bell, 
and Queen Bess in excellent condition. Zonal varieties produced a 
most brilliant effect, so bright indeed that it was almost too dazzling, 
something being needed as a foil. For six specimens Mr. Winter¬ 
bourne, gardener to T. Simpson, Esq., Bardon Hill, Weetwood, Leeds, 
was adjudged the chief position for even plants of Florence Durand, 
Lucius, Grand Duke, Cherry Cheek, La Dame Blanche, and Bose 
Bendatler. Mr. Gowthorpe took the second place with similar ex¬ 
amples ; Major Davison, Fulford House, York, being third. In the 
larger class for twelve plants Messrs. Pybus & Son, Monkton Moor, 
York, took the lead w-ith profusely flowered specimens, Warrior, Dr. 
Hogg, George Peabody, and Mrs. Chandler being admirably repre¬ 
sented ; Messrs. Eastwood, Winterbourne, and Olroyd being the other 
prizetakers, all showing well. The bronze and tricolor varieties, as 
already noted, were both abundant and good, most of the latter being 
richly coloured. Mr. G. Clarke, gardener to Miss Wharton, Burton 
Grange, York ; Mr. Hemming, gardener to J. Cholmley, Esq., Newton 
Hall, Billington, York ; and Messrs. Jackson & Co., Cross Lane, 
Bedale, were the principal exhibitors and prizetakers. 
Stove and Greenhouse Plants. —One of the principal classes in the 
schedule was that for ten stove and greenhouse plants in bloom and 
six fine-foliage plants, the prizes being £20, £14, and £8. Though 
only two collections were staged both were of good quality; but the 
leading plants from Mr. Letts, gardener to the Earl of Zetland, 
Upleatham, were extremely fine, and deservedly attracted much 
admiration. They were all in surprising health, fresh, evenly trained, 
and well flowered, some of the most noteworthy being the following :— 
Dracophyllum gracile 5 feet in diameter, even, and superbly flowered, 
certainly one of the best plants in the Show ; Phcenocoma prolifera, 
of similar size and equally good condition ; Allamanda grandiflora, a 
vigorous specimen, bearing a large number of its bright yellow flowers ; 
Croton majesticus, richly coloured; Stephanotis floribunda ; Croton 
Weismanni, .8 or 9 feet high and finely coloured ; Ixora Williamsi, 
Erica insignis, and Anthurium Schertzerianum with over four dozen 
large deeply coloured spathes. This collection contained some of the 
finest specimens that have been shown this year, and they most 
worthily deserved the position accorded them. Mrs. E. Cole & Sons, 
Withington, Manchester, took the second place with healthy speci¬ 
mens, the Palms and Azaleas being especially noteworthy for their 
size, but the others were not remarkably good. 
For six specimens Mr. Letts was again the most successful exhi¬ 
bitor, having neat, fresh, healthy plants ; Ixora Dixiana, Clerodendron 
Balfourianum, Allamanda grandiflora, Anthurium Schertzerianum 
with fifty spathes, and Erica Shannoni Turnbulli being the best. Mr. 
E. Tudgey, gardener to J. F. G. Williams, Esq., Hen wick Grange, Wor¬ 
cester, followed with smaller plants, Erica Cavendishiana being in 
very fine condition. The amateurs’ class for three specimens was fairly 
well filled, Mr. Noble, gardener to T. Fry, Esq., Darlington, leading ; 
followed by Mr. H. Wright, gardener to G. Talbot, Esq., Southfield, 
Burley, and Mr. Winterbourne. 
Orchids. —The display of Orchids, though far from equalling that at 
Manchester recently, was yet very attractive, and several good speci¬ 
mens were staged. Mr. J. Hill, gardener to G. Hardy, Esq., Timperley, 
Manchester, gained chief honours for six plants, having Anguloa 
Clowesii with fourteen flowers, Odontoglossum Alexandra with three 
fine spikes, Cattleya Mendeli, Cattleya Mossise, Yanda suavis, and 
Odontoglossum vexillarium, being very healthy and well flowered. 
Mr. Mitchell, gardener to Dr. Ainsworth, Cliff Point, Broughton, 
Manchester, followed closely, staging Odontoglossum Alexandrae, 
Yanda tricolor with three fine spikes, and Oncidium Marshallianum, 
being excellent specimens. Mr. Hayward, gardener to Capt. Hincks, 
Thirsk, was a good third ; Mr. Bonsall, gardener to J. Bhodes, Esq., 
being fourth, both showing small but healthy plants. In the class 
for three plants the competition was keen, seven collections being 
staged, mostly of nearly equal merit. B. P. Percival, Esq., West 
Cliff Boad, Birkdale, Southport, was accorded the chief prize for 
specimens of Odontoglossum, 4 feet in diameter, with scores of flowers ; 
Cypripedium barbatum nigrum with sixty blooms, and Cattleya 
Mossise of considerable size and well flowered. Mr. Hill was second 
with well-grown plants of Cypripedium Lawrencianum, Dendrobium 
Jamesianum, and Odontoglossum vexillarium. Mr. Bollinson, 
gardener to W. Bateman, Esq., Harrogate, followed, the best plant 
being Lselia purpurata ; and Mr. Mitchell secured the fourth position, 
having an excellent example of Oncidium macranthum amongst 
others. For a single specimen there were ten entries, the competition 
causing the Judges some little difficulty in determining the awards. 
Mr. Percival was first with Cattleya Mossise, 4 feet in diameter; Mr. 
Eastwood had second honours for a good plant of Aerides Fieldingi 
with three long spikes, and Mr. Hill was third with Yanda tricolor 
superba bearing four fine spikes. 
Roses. —A considerable portion of a large tent was occupied with 
the plants staged in the classes devoted to Boses ; the blooms were 
also numerous, the side stages being filled with stands, and the centre 
staged with plants. Amongst the nurserymen in the former section 
the chief prizetakers were Messrs. Pybus & Son, H. May, and W. 
Jackson & Co., who had very vigorous plants with excellent foliage ; 
but though in a few cases the blooms were abundant and fine, the 
majority were not quite so freely flowered as might be desirable, 
though the general effect produced by the plants as arranged in the 
centre of the tent was very bright and pleasing. The amateurs also 
showed well, the principal being J. T. Hingston, Esq., Miss Steward, 
W. W. Gatliff, Esq., Mr. Eastwood, and Mr. Gowthorpe. The varie¬ 
ties best represented were Marquise de Castellane, Juno, Dupuy 
Jamain, Francis Michelon, Peach Blossom, Marie Baumann, Madame 
Lacharme, Boule de Neige, and Jean Cherpin. 
•The Bose blooms were generally of very fair quality, particularly 
in the collections staged by Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, who had 
the premier honours for thirty-six and twenty-four blooms respec¬ 
tively. These were distinguished by their fresh bright colours, good 
size, and substance, very creditable to the firm. Numerous varieties 
were represented, including all the best of those in general cultiva¬ 
tion with several of the new forms. Messrs. H. May and Jackson 
and Co. were the other prizewinners in the nurserymen’s classes, both 
having very satisfactory collections, the blooms clean and of good 
varieties. The amateurs also were well to the fore, E. B. Whitwell, 
Esq., Barton Hall, Darlington ; Miss Steward ; Mi-. J. Oldroyd, gar¬ 
dener to Mrs. Grimston, Cranswick; and Mr. Eastw-ood were the 
chief exhibitors and prizewinners. A fine collection of Teas and 
Noisettes from the first-named was especially noteworthy, the blooms 
large and of excellent substance. 
Fine-foliage Plants. —As well as the special classes for these, such 
as the Ferns and Coleuses, which added greatly to the extent of the 
Exhibition and the beauty of the display. For eight fine-foliage 
plants Mr. Letts won the premier honours with large vigorous speci¬ 
mens. Encephalartos Yroomii was extremely fine, and such a grand 
example is rarely seen; Croton Queen Yictoria, Dasylirion acro- 
trichum, Croton Johannis, and Gleichenia rupestris glaucescens were 
similarly fine. Mrs. Cole & Sons followed closely, having Cocos 
Weddelliana, Croton Disraeli, and Cycas revolutus in good condition. 
Mr. Tudgey gained the third place with healthy specimens. Mr. 
McIntyre, gardener to Mrs. G. Pease, Woodside, Darlington, and Mr. 
Winterbourne, were the prizetakers in the amateurs’ class for four 
plants, their contributions being fairly creditable, and earning them 
the first and second prizes respectively. 
Ferns. —Invariably at exhibitions of such magnitude as that at 
York Ferns constitute an important portion of the display, and when 
