80 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 12, 1863. 
are ample to support it. It is also more suitable for growing on narrow 
wall borders than a Pea that will attain a height of 4 feet.—W. Babdney, 
Liverpool. 
KINGSTON AND SURBITON SHOW. 
The nineteenth annual Exhibition of the Kingston Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society was held on Thursday last in a well-wooded park-like 
enclosure, peculiarly adapted to an exhibition of this kind, for the fine 
densely foliaged trees afford shelter from the rain or shade from the sun, 
whichever may be needed; and it is almost always either too wet or .too 
hot for somebody on flower-show days. Last Thursday, however, was one 
of those agreeable days with which it is difficult to find fault. The Show, 
like the weather, was in turn almost proof against adverse criticism. 
Plants, flowers, and vegetables were excellent, as also were table decorations, 
while some good fruit was staged. The weak point was the bouquets, 
but fortunately, considering their quality, there were not many of them. 
In the large plant tent the semicircular groups were prominent. There 
were eleven of them; and when such an exhibitor as Mr. Henry James, 
The Castle Nursery, Norwood, was placed third in the open class it is 
evidence that the collections were good. Mr. Beckett, gardener to J. P. 
Currie, Esq., Esher, secured the premier prize with a beautiful group— 
bright without being gaudy, full without being crowded, and bold without 
being lumpy. Tuberous Begonias shone through a canopy of Palms, and 
the front was chaste yet cheerful, with Perns and Isolepis pleasingly 
associated with Gloxinias, and sparingly with variegated Panicum. Messrs. 
Fromow & Sons, Turnham Green, were a close second, this group being 
striking by a margin of small Silver Tricolor Pelargoniums, which gave 
quite a bead-like finish to the group. The most valuable plants of all were 
those arranged by Mr. James. Only one 50-feet group was arranged— 
namely, by Mr. Waite, Glenhurst, Esher, who was awarded the first prize. 
The smaller—35-feet—groups were better, that of Mr. Brand, gardener to 
W. Clay, Esq., Grove Park, Kingston, being noticeable by the pleasing 
association of Agrostis nebulosa and Lobelias ; the second-prize arrange¬ 
ment of Mr. Clark, gardener to A. Nagle, Esq., Kingston, being bright with 
Kalosanthuses. With this fine summer-flowering greenhouse plant the 
same exhibitor secured the first prize in the single specimen class ; and 
grand examples was staged by Mr. Beckett in his first-prize group of six 
plants ; Mr. Child, gardener to Mrs. Slade, Claygate, Esher, being a good 
second in this class. Mr. Henry James, Norwood, was first with twelve 
specimens, his Ericas Paxtoni and tricolor impressa being particularly 
effective. 
Fuchsias were very creditably shown, the first-prize six of Mr. Dorset!, 
gardener to Mrs. Welsh, Westcroft, being 4 feet high and 3 feet in diameter 
at the base, the pots being nearly veiled by drooping sprays and fine flowers. 
Mr. Beckett was a close second wiih very healthy plants. Caladiums were 
grandly staged by Mr. Gregory, gardener to J. F. Weymouth, Esq., Bushy 
Nook, Teddington, who also had the first prize for six foliaged plants, a 
Caladium among these being 6 feet in diameter, and in shape and colour 
faultless. Tuberous Begonias from Mr. Child were exceedingly bright and 
good. Excellent also were Achimenes and Gloxinias from Messrs. Brand, 
Waite, French, Slade, and Croxford, who secured the prizes in the classes. 
Mr. Watson’s Selaginellas were fine, as also were Hydrangeas from Messrs. 
Atrill and Beckett, the last-named exhibitor having the best Pelargoniums. 
For Ferns the prizes were well won by Messrs. Gregory and Atrill, Davallia 
pyxidata being admirably shown by the last-named exhibitor. 
In the cut-flower tent Roses were the chief attraction, and Mr. Moorman 
the chief prizewinner in the leading classes, Messrs. Starr, Orchard, Otley, 
and Waite being also successful exhibitors ; but the majority of them might 
take a hint from Mr. Moorman in staging, at which he is an adept. Mr. 
Bennett sent magnificent blooms of the right royal Rose Her Majesty and 
other beautiful seedlings. Messrs. Yeitch staged a grand collection, and 
Messrs. Lee of Hammersmith contributed boxes of handsome blooms. Messrs. 
Yeitch also staged a group of Roses in pots, remarkable by their freshness 
and close compact growth. Messrs. Jackson & Son contributed effectively 
to the Exhibition by a choice assortment, the specimens being admirably 
grown and tastefully arranged; Ericas, Dracophyllums, and Impatiens Sul- 
tani being in superb condition, while Orchids imparted richness to this valu¬ 
able collection of plants. It is wonderful what a pretty effect can be pro¬ 
duced by arranging flowers in soup plates. There was great competition in 
the class for these, Mr. Orchard being the most successful exhibitor ; and in 
dinner-table decorations Mrs. Clay secured Lady Peek’s prize with charming 
stands, such indeed that we have rarely seen excelled. 
Fruit was sparingly exhibited, but was generally good. The prizes for 
Grapes went to Messrs. Starr, Wilson, and Gregory ; for Melons to Benson 
and Child ; Peaches to Wilson, Croxford, and Atrill ; Nectarines to Waite 
and Croxford; and Strawberries (fine) to Messrs. Waite, Gregory, and Beckett. 
Vegetables were wonderfully fine, better collections of twelve dishes being 
seldom seen than those arranged by Messrs. Beckett, Waite, and Starr. The 
produce of the first-named exhibitors was of striking excellence and admir¬ 
ably staged. This is a very brief sketch of a very good Show, admirably 
conducted by the Hon. Secretary Mr. Clay and his skilled and industrious 
co-worker Mr. Moorman. 
CUTTING DOWN CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
In your last two issues the reader’s attention is drawn to the 
plan of cutting down Chrysanthemums at tbis time of the year 
that are intended for the production of exhibition blooms. Such 
was practised a few years ago, and I believe is still by some of 
the most successful growers around Liverpool with good results. 
There is one good point in its favour which should not be 
overlooked. The plants are dwarf, and ai-e quite as eligible for 
home display as the so-called pinched plants. With regard to 
the flower, I have found plants that have been topped generally 
carry the most perfect flowers; those, on the other baud, that 
have been allowed to grow naturally may carry with some 
varieties larger flowers, but they will be coarse, and generally 
will be unsuitable for an exhibition table. 
No doubt for the south the present would be a very good 
time for tbis operation, but here and far north I am afraid with 
many varieties it is rather late. However, I am trying a few, 
and will note the result. The northern growers have, as a rule, 
generally produced the finest flowers. They select the crown 
bud; in the south the terminal bud is taken, for the crown bud 
there would be too early. Mr. Harding has solved the difficulty. 
He simply retards his plants, works the crown bud. The flowers 
consequently are of equal substance to them grown in the north. 
Both are placed'upon a more equal footing. The final issue will 
then rest with him who is the most clever with the tweezers. 
I should like to see this and disbudding thoroughly discussed, 
for I bel eve there is still room for improvement in the Chrysan¬ 
themum, not with soils, stimulants, or the time of propagation, 
but by the selection of buds.—C. Waring, Liverpool. 
The advice recently given on cutting down Chrysanthemums 
is so totally opposed to what has been advocated by recognised 
authorities hitherto, who always advised all who desired grand 
blooms to take out nothing but the extreme point of the shoot 
when stopping. I think, therefore, we may safely call the cut¬ 
ting-down system a new departure in Chrysanthemum culti¬ 
vation, and one that if found workable will be largely followed 
by all growers, as dwarf plants must be so much easier to manage 
than tall ones. My own plants now range from 2 feet 6 inches 
to 4 feet 6 inches high, and some of the tallest will doubtless 
reach nearly 9 feet by the time of blooming. How much better 
5 or 6 feet would be as a maximum height. The questions I 
should like answered, and doubtless many others will be glad 
of the information, are : When are the cuttings inserted ? "W hat 
size pots are they in now ? What size pots are they flowered 
in? Are all varieties equally free to break after cutting down ? 
I ask the question about the time of propagating, as mine are 
propagated in December and January and are in their flowering 
pots by the first week in June.— Cornubia. 
CYPRIPEDIUM SPECTABILE. 
Of all the hardy Orchids that are grown successfully in this country 
none can compare with Cypripedium spectabile. There are several other 
North American species that are well worth growing in gardens, but 
the colours of the flowers are not nearly so bright and showy. Although 
the species under consideration has been introduced to this country more 
than 150 years, yet how seldom do we see it in perfection in gardens, or 
how seldom do we see it at all. Plants are annually imported from 
North America, and from the quantity imported one would feel inclined 
to ask the question, What becomes of them all ? This question can be 
answered in the following manner—that more plants are killed than are 
grown, for the simple reason that the plants are not studied, are planted 
in almost any situation, the consequence being they dwindle away and 
die right out. Yet C. spectabile is one of the easiest plants to cultivate 
if properly managed, and anyone desirous of giving it a trial will, I am 
sure, be satisfied with it. If this plant were of recent introduction, and 
a tropical species, it would no doubt cause quite a sensation amongst 
Orchid fanciers ; but like many other plants that have been in the country 
for upwards of a hundred years, and comparatively easy to manage, is 
thought but little of, although at the same time it equals in beauty 
many of the tropical species which are purchased at enormous prices. 
It is greatly to be regretted that C. spectabile is not more generally 
cultivated, for this is one of the plants that will thrive where others 
will not ; indeed, it should be cultivated in every garden where choice 
flowers are required in quantity. 
At Messrs. R. Smith & Co.’s, nurserymen, Worcester, may now be 
seen in perfection a splendid bed of these beautiful Ladies’ Slippers. 
The above firm have long enjoyed a very high reputation for fruit 
trees, Conifers, Roses, Clematis, &c., but on coming to Worcester some 
six or eight months ago I was most agreeably surprised to find 
herbaceous plants grown in such large quantities. I had often seen 
C. spectabile grown before, but never have I seen it better than it is 
at Worcester. I will describe the way in which it is so successfully 
managed. In the first place it must be understood that the best 
position that can be selected for it is behind a hedge or tree where the 
sun has little or no power, but at the same time it should have 
abundance of light. The position having been decided, the soil should 
be taken out about 15 or 18 inches deep, and filled in with a compost 
