JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 
June 29, 1882. ] 
537 
in flower it is a remarkably handsome little species. It enjoys 
damp peat and sand in a well-shaded position. 
G. Bvrserl .—A very showy species from the Pyrenees. Stems a 
foot or more high, stout, with numerous ovate-oblong shining leaves 
and dense terminal umbels of flowers. Flowers erect, open, yellow, 
spotted with bluish purple, very distinct. It does well in borders 
or on the rockery, and is a very scarce and highly decorative 
kind, flowering in July, and lasting a considerable time in beauty. 
G. gelida .—A splendid Siberian species. Stems numerous, 
9 to 12 inches high, copiously clothed with lanceolate acute leaves. 
Flowers varying from four to eight in number, in terminal 
clusters, about inch long, erect, bell-shaped, with the divisions 
of the corolla limb spreading, bright blue, expanding during July 
and August. This is one of the loveliest species in cultivation, 
quite hardy, thriving well in borders or on the rockery, and is 
easilv raised from seed. This plant is represented in the woodcut 
(fig.‘107).—N. 
(To be continued.) 
ONOCLEA SENSIBILIS. 
Have any of your readers noticed the peculiarity of this beau¬ 
tiful Fern, that it prefers to grow densely shaded by other Ferns 1 
I have had it some five or six years growing in a secluded nook in 
front of a fine plant of Osmunda regalis, and on the northern side 
of it a Lastrea Filix-mas. Last year and the year before, thinking 
to do a kindness to the Onoclea, I raised the fronds of the Osmunda 
on rods, so as to give the Onoclea head room ; but the result was 
Fig. 107.— Gentian a gelida. 
it began immediately to shrivel. This year I have left it to 
struggle as it could through the overhanging fronds of the Os¬ 
munda behind and the Lastrea in front, and have now the largest 
and most perfect fronds I ever saw ; indeed, a well-known Fern- 
grower and collector tells me that he never saw larger fronds.— 
G. 0. S. 
ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY. 
TABLE DECORATIONS AND EVENING FETE, JUNE 22NI). 
The evening fete of this Society is one of the events of the season, 
and when the weather is favourable is a brilliant one. The gardens 
with their fine lawns, trees, and shrubberies are admirably adapted 
for spectacular effect under the illumination of garlands of lamps 
and the sun-like rays of the electric light. In connection with this 
event it is the custom to have an exhibition of table and room deco¬ 
rations, also of bouquets, and it is expected that the best that is 
producible in such matters shall be arranged for the instruction and 
gratification of the visitors, these being distinguished and select. On 
this occasion the night was fine and 7200 visitors, including the 
Duke of Albany and the Duke and Duchess of Teck, attended the 
Gardens. 
We have no intention of giving a formal report of the Show, and 
of submitting the names of all the winners in the different classes— 
for some, we are constrained to say, had little to be proud of; our 
remarks will rather be general and critical, and we shall have the 
misfortune to differ slightly from the Judges in one or two instances. 
Let no one, however, think w r e are prejudiced against the principle 
on which the awards were evidently founded, for we are not; on the 
contrary, we think it highly desirable that the free and tasteful 
arrangement of simple flowers should be encouraged. The trim and 
stereotyped method of furnishing tables at exhibitions is not the 
most agreeable nor extensively adopted in homes of taste, and we hold 
that which gives the most pleasure in families should be honoured 
at shows. Nor do we think the merits of bouquets or baskets of 
