September 20, 1883. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
247 
season are Prince of Wales, Nil Desperandum, and Jardin des Plantes. 
-C. Waking. 
MONTB RETIAS. 
The genus Montbretia, though small, consists of very showy bulbous 
plants, which are oftener placed in the greenhouse or bulb pit than out 
of doors ; yet most of them are hardy, and with a little care in choosing 
a sunny situation, with light soil, they will stand our severest winters. 
The following are a few of the best. 
Montbretia Pottsii, Baker,—The subject of the woodcut (fig. 47), 
was introduced by Mr. G. H. Potts of Lasswade, Edinburgh, and is 
one of the most valuable additions of late years to our hardy Cape 
bulbs. It possesses the habit of Irids with a combination of the small 
scariose spathe valves of Ixia, and the irregular funnel-shaped perianth 
and parallel unilateral stamens of the Gladiolus. It is unusually large 
for a Montbretia, being between 3 and 4 feet high ; leaves four, in a 
rosette at the base of the stem. The flowers, of which there are from 
twelve to twenty on each of the five or six spikes, being of a very 
bright reddish crimson, give the plant a very pleasiDg effect, especially 
when in clumps. It flowers from August to September, and should find 
a place in every collection of hardy bulbs. 
M. rosea , Baker.—Similar in habit to above, but having bright 
rose-coloured flowers with longer tube and larger segments. Very 
desirable. 
M. crocosmceflora (Belg. Hort. t. 14, 1881) is a hybrid between 
Tritonia aurea, which it much resembles, and M. rottsii, raised by 
M. Victor Lemoine. It has the habit of a Gladiolus, with an erect 
many-flowered panicle arranged in a zigzag fashion. Flowers large, 
orange scarlet, funnel-shaped, tube slightly curved, with three deflexed 
stamens. A plant that should have a place in every garden. 
M. securigera, D.C.—Named from a supposed resemblance of the 
three projecting lamina or thin plates contained in the flower to a 
hatchet. Introduced more than a century ago by Mr. Masson. The 
flowers are of a beautiful copper colour borne on a more or less branched 
stalk ; outer valve of spathe three-toothed ; leaves smooth. Flowers in 
May and June. 
M. Jiara, Klatt.—Introduced first by Colonel Paterson in 1780, is 
closely allied to the above, but differing in having the bracts acuminate, 
the whole corolla intensely yellow, and broader leaves. The spots from 
which the three prominences of the corolla arise have been designated 
“ nectarostigmata.” This is a very pretty dwarf species, with largo 
flowers and flat lanceolate leaves. Flowers March and April. 
M. lineata, Baker.—Larger than any of the preceding. The flowers, 
which are of a delicate straw colour, are curiously pencilled with dark 
lines, which make it as much an object of admiration as brilliancy of 
colour does in the others. It grows about 2 feet high ; leaves well marked 
by a prominent midrib. A very desirable plant.—D. 
PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF 
VEGETABLE PRODUCTS. 
An announcement having been made, and apparently official, that 
an International Horticultural and Forestry Exhibition would be held 
at South Kensington next year, letters on the subject have appeared 
in the press appealing for support in the undertaking. These letters 
have been followed by other announcements ; and when we see two 
in the same issue of one journal, one asserting that the Exhibition 
will undoubtedly be held next year, the other that it has been postponed 
till 1885, it is at the least conceivable that the public mind is becoming 
somewhat perplexed on the subject. Although we do not pretend to 
speak with an authority that cannot be questioned relative to what 
will be done in the matter of an International Horticultural and Forestry 
Exhibition, we think we may venture to predict that no such Show 
will be held next year, and that when an Exhibition is held it will be 
on a much larger scale and be much wider in its scope, far more varied, 
interesting, and instructive than any mere display of flowers could be, 
even if supplemented with everything that pertains to horticulture and 
forestry. 
There has been a lingering feeling for some years past throughout the 
country that there ought to be a repetition of the Great International 
Horticultural Show which was held at South Kensington in 18GG. The 
success which attended that undertaking was so great that many felt 
assured that there wanted but the needful effort to secure an equally 
successful result; but those who were engaged in the former knew too 
well the risks that were run, and the narrow escape from its being a 
failure, to run heedlessly into such another adventure. There is no 
question that the resources of this country are sufficient to produce a 
grand exhibition, but whether a display of plants and flowers on a scale of 
great magnitude can be maintained for six months is quite another matter. 
Past experience on this point is not encouraging. We cannot forget, 
nor would it be prudent to endeavour to do so, the extreme difficulty 
that was experienced in inducing exhibitors at the great Show just 
alluded to, to permit their valuable productions to remain for a few days 
beyond the prescribed time to avert a crushing financial failure. If there 
was a nearly insuperable difficulty, as there undoubtedly was, in main¬ 
taining a magnificent show for a fortnight, would the difficulty not be 
increased in supporting an exhibition worthy of the nation over a period 
of half a year'? A protracted horticultural exhibition on a large scale 
cannot be held without an enormous outlay of money and great risk of 
loss. The public of this country have been familiar with flower shows 
of every extent and variety for many years, and to expect that one on a 
scale however extensive would be an attraction for any length of time 
would, we fear, be disappointing. If, however, a horticultural exhibition 
on an extended scale were to be associated with some kindred objects 
we see no reason why it might not be carried out to a successful issue. 
For examples of exhibitions of plants and flowers stretching over a 
season we must go to the European continent and to America. Has 
any one such exhibition been maintained in anything approaching the 
manner that would meet the expectations of horticulturists and the 
public in this country ? Has there been any one of those efforts that in 
itself would have been even half self-sustaining ? From time to time we 
willingly concede an imposing spectacle has been produced at home and 
abroad, but it was transient in comparison with the project alluded to. 
On the occasions referred to horticulture was represented with other arts, 
not independent of them. It may be said that the Exhibition announced 
is to be held in conjunction with forestry. Great as the result might be, 
we are convinced it would fall short of public expectations, and it would 
not be worthy of the opportunity that is now presented of having, what 
has never yet been seen, an exhibition of the vegetable products of all 
the world. The Fisheries Exhibition is great and wonderful in its 
