June 22, 1882. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
511 
judiciously arranged they afford a most agreeable foil to the flower¬ 
ing plants, softening the brilliancy of colour which is apt to displease 
if not accompanied by sufficient green foliage to break and diversify 
the effect. Several classes were devoted to these both for hardy and 
exotic forms, each section being well represented. For eight exotic 
Ferns Messrs. Letts, Cole & Sons, Bonsall, and Lyon were the success¬ 
ful exhibitors ; but although the specimens were large and in fair 
condition, those staged in the class for four plants were rather more 
satisfactory in a cultural point of view. Mr. Noble’s leading collec¬ 
tion was particularly good ; Goniophlebium subauriculatum, Davallia 
Mooreana, Gleichenia Mendeli, and G. speluncse being vigorous 
specimens of moderate size, but as fresh and healthy as could be 
desired. Mr. Berry, gardener to W. Dove, Esq., Crown Cottage, 
York, who followed, also had some well-grown plants, Gleichenia 
rupestris glaucescens 5 feet in diameter being grandly shown. Mr. 
Nash, gardener to Capt. Starkey, Tang Hall, York, was a good third, 
having Pteris argyrea and Todea superba in admirable form. Hardy 
and British Ferns were staged in excellent condition by Messrs. 
W. R. Robinson, Lowther Street, York, A. Scott, C. Rylance, and J. 
Rodwell, Burton Lane, who secured the principal prizes in all the 
classes. Messrs. Scott, Berry, and Bonsall contributed collections of 
Selaginellas mostly healthy, but the plants were in rather large pans, 
and in several cases the nomenclature was far from satisfactory. 
Coleuses. —Large and richly coloured specimens were staged in 
the class for six plants, and though few of the newer and greatly 
improved varieties were represented, some of the most distinct 
amongst the older forms were shown to the best advantage. Mr. 
Young, gardener to T. F. Wood, Esq., Munthorpe, was placed at the 
head of the class with vigorous specimens 5 feet in diameter, Royalty 
and Beauty of St. John’s Wood being the most noteworthy varieties. 
Mr. R. McIntosh was accorded the second position with tall pyramidal 
plants fairly coloured, being rather poor varieties ; Messrs. Lazenby 
and Sons securing the third prize with plants very dissimilar in 
training to the others, being much smaller and flatter, but in the 
opinion of many these were really the most useful, being better 
adapted for general decorative purposes. 
Cut Floivers. —In addition to the Rose blooms already noticed 
numerous choice miscellaneous collections of cut flowers were con¬ 
tributed, and together with the bouquets and ornamental stands 
constituted an attractive feature. The principal class was that for 
twelve bunches of flowers, in which Mr. Mclndoe won premier 
honours with choice and beautiful specimens, including Phalsenopsis 
amabilis, Ixora eoccinea superba, Erica ventricosa grandiflora, Taber- 
nsemontana coronaria flore-pleno, Allamanda Wardleana, Odonto- 
glossum Roezli, the rare and curious Ataccia cristata, and the bright 
Anthurmm Andreanum. Seldom is so fine a collection of blooms as 
this seen at exhibitions, and they received much attention from the 
visitors. Mrs. E. Cole & Sons also showed extremely well in the 
same class, securing the second prize with fine blooms that would 
have been entitled to as high a position as the preceding had the 
collection been a little more diversified. For instance, four trusses 
of Ixoras were rather too many for a small collection, though they 
were very handsome, representing I. coccinea, I. Prince of Orange, 
I. Fraseri, and I. Williamsi. Erica ventricosa Bothwelli and Alla¬ 
manda grandiflora were also in good condition. Mr. C. W. Baynes, 
gardener to R. Dickinson, Esq., Shotley House, Durham, followed 
with a bright selection. In the class for six bunches Messrs. Mclndoe 
and F. Faulkner were the prizewinners in that order, the former 
having a similar collection to that in the larger class, the latter 
showing several fine Orchids, Sobralia macrantha being especially 
noteworthy. The bouquets were not of remarkable quality, no very 
striking originality of taste being displayed in the arrangements. 
The stands of flowers, too, were generally of an ordinary character. 
The groups which have been already mentioned as collectively 
forming an extensive and attractive display were not individually of 
remarkable quality, too much sameness prevailing in the styles, the 
plants in the majority being crowded, consequently having a rather 
heavy appearance. In the leading groups a little more freedom was 
noticeable, but there was not one that could be considered a really 
desirable model. The hardy plants from Messrs. W. H. Rodwell, 
York, and Simpson of Selby, were praiseworthy, as were also the bed¬ 
ding plants from Messrs. Simpson & Son, Heworth, Simpson of Selby, 
and Lazenby <t Sons. Fuchsias,Calceolarias,and Gloxinias were also 
contributed by several exhibitors, the first and last-named being very 
well shown. 
Miscellaneous exhibits not for competition were not numerous, but 
three noteworthy groups were staged, which were highly commended. 
Mr. B. S. Williams, Upper Holloway, London, had a large collection 
of new and choice stove and greenhouse plants. Messrs. R. Smith 
and Co., Worcester, had collections of Pyrethrums, Pmonies, Spanish 
Irises, and hardy plants that were greatly admired by the visitors; 
and Messrs. Downie & Laird, Edinburgh, sent stands of Fancy Pan¬ 
sies and Violas, including several new varieties, the following being 
honoured with first-class certificates :— 
Pansy May Tate. —A Fancy variety, with large even well-formed 
flowers, the ground colour deep rich maroon, bordered with a clearly 
defined bright yellow band. L. Dawson. —Also a Fancy variety, the 
upper petals purplish claret, the lower deep violet purple margined with 
creamy white ; flowers large and symmetrical. Iiuby. —Another of the 
same section ; three lower petals reddish black edged with yellow, 
the upper being purple margined with creamy white. 
Viola Duchess of Albany. —A beautiful variety, with large pure white 
flowers having a small bright yellow centre. Duke of Albany. —Deep 
violet purple with a yellow eye, very handsome, and of good form. 
Countess of Hopetown. —Colour delicate, bright blue shading to white 
near the margin, eye deep yellow. Very distinct. 
Fruit. —At some previous shows the entries in these classes have 
been more numerous than the one now being noted, but the quality 
was most satisfactory in the leading collections. For ten sorts of fruit 
Mr. Mclndoe, gardener to Sir J. Pease, Bart.,M.P., won chief honours 
with well-finished bunches of Black Hamburgh and Muscat of Alex¬ 
andria Grapes, and Grosse Mignonne and Barrington Peaches ; Pit- 
maston Nectarines, Mclndoe’s Premier Melon finely netted, Best of 
All Melon, and well-ripened Brown Turkey Figs, were the chief 
dishes, and all were highly creditable to the exhibitor, who also 
secured honours in several other classes. Mr. A. Mann, gardener 
to Mrs. Hornsby, St. Vincent’s, Grantham, gained the second position 
with good samples of Black Hamburgh Grapes, Golden Drop Plums, 
and Brown Turkey Figs remarkably well ripened. For six sorts 
Mr. Mclndoe was again in the first place with similar quality 
fruit to that in the preceding collection, the best being a fine Queen 
Pine Apple. Mr. F. Faulkner, gardener to F. R. Leyland, Esq., 
Woolton Hall, Liverpool, gained second honours, having good Black 
Hamburgh Grapes, fine James Veitch Strawberries, and a well-ripened 
Golden Queen Melon amongst others of similar quality. Mr. J. 
Clayton, gardener to J. Fielden, Esq., Grimston Park, Tadcaster, was 
a close third, his Madresfield Court Grapes, A Bee Peaches, and Best 
of All Melon being noteworthy dishes. Messrs. W. Wallis, gardener 
to Sir H. M. Thompson, Bart., and R. Westcott, gardener to the Duke 
of Cleveland, Raby Castle, Darlington, were respectively first and 
second with collections of four sorts, both showing fairly creditable 
samples. 
Grapes were not extensively represented, but most of those staged 
were well coloui-ed, and in several cases the berries and bunches 
were large. Black Grapes were much better than the white varieties, 
and in the class for one dish of the former there were ten entries—a 
keen and interesting competition. The Judges selected for premier 
honours a bunch of Black Hambnrghs of moderate size but admir¬ 
ably coloured, from Mr. Wallis ; the second prize being accorded to 
Mr. J. P. Leadbetter, gardener to Admiral the Hon. O. Duncombe, 
Kilnwick Percy, Pocklington, for a particularly handsome even 
bunch, the fine berries indicating excellent culture, but the upper 
portion of the bunch was slightly deficient in colour, which doubtless 
determined the second-rate position of this exhibit, as in other 
respects the bunch was the finest shown. Mr. R. Westcott took the 
third place with a fairly well-coloured bunch of good size. The best 
white Grapes were shown by Mr. Clayton, who gained the chief prize 
in that class, but all the others were of indifferent quality. 
Peaches were mostly large, but in few cases thoroughly ripened. 
Nectarines were more satisfactory ; Messrs. Clarke, J. Lyon, and 
Clayton carrying off the prizes, the first-named having Elruge in ex¬ 
cellent condition. Melons were numerous and generally good. In 
the class for scarlet-fleshed varieties Mr. Mclndoe led with a beauti¬ 
ful specimen of his Scarlet Premier ; Mr. Swanwick taking a similar 
position in the class for green-fleshed varieties with Best of All, large, 
fairly netted, and well coloured. 
Vegetables. —Half a dozen collections of vegetables were staged in 
the class for a tray of ten distinct varieties, the first and second 
prizes of £3 and £2 being offered by Messrs. Backhouse & Sons. Mr. 
Mclndoe was deservedly accorded the leading prize for a highly 
satisfactory collection of clean neat vegetables, comprising Carters’ 
Telephone and Culverwell’s Telegraph Peas very fine, Verdant 
Green Cucumbers, Stamfordian Tomatoes, Major Clarke’s Celery, 
and Cauliflowers. Mr. J. Hemming, gardener to J. Cholmley, Esq., 
York, followed closely with well-grown specimens, extra prizes being 
awarded to Mr. H. Weble, gardener to T. H. M. Sutton, Esq., Notts ; 
Mr. Kirk, York ; and Mr. W. Swanley, gardener to G. W. Elliott, 
Esq., M.P., Northumberland. 
SCIADOCALYX LUCIANA. 
This Tydea-like plant is useful for stove decoration on account 
of its blooming during winter, and for that purpose should be 
grown ; in fact, its free disposition to bloom at any season renders 
it useful for that purpose all the year round. It is not common 
in gardens, but is quite as attractive when in flower as any 
Tydea. The contrast between its light green foliage and crimson 
hairy stems gives it a pleasing appearance, and adds materially to 
its beauty when out of flower. The flowers spring from the axils 
of the leaves, and as a rule there are about three on each stem. 
The flowerstalks and outer portion of the corolla are the same 
colour as the stem of the plant, while the inner surface of the 
corolla is beautifully spotted w T ith light and dark markings on a 
crimson ground. Few plants are more easily cultivated, or more 
readily and rapidly propagated. It should never be subjected to 
a drying-off system as is practised with some varieties of Tydeas, 
for it is evergreen and forms no tubers. 
The best mode of propagation is to take the young shoots from 
the base, which root quickly in heat, and soon grow rapidly into 
good plants. Tall specimens can also be cut in lengths of two 
