16 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
C. elegans in much the same way as I should describe this—white 
with purplish hairs, almost reminding one of the mouth of the goat¬ 
sucker—it may be that it is the same, for there has been a curious 
confusion both of the generic and specific names of these bulbs. 
C. albus.—Pretty, drooping, white-fringed flowers. C. luteus.— 
I received some years ago from Messrs. Backhouse a variety of 
this called oculatm, very beautiful, with deep black spots in the 
petals, which I have found the most easily grown of any I have. 
It has bloomed every year, and is really very pretty. C. pulchellus. 
—Drooping yellow curiously formed flowers. I have recently 
had it in flower, and it is sure to attract anyone coming into the 
greenhouse by the quaintness of its appearance. C. splendens.— 
Large, deep, open lilac flowers. This is one of those very beau¬ 
tiful species which have earned for them the name of Butterfly 
Tulips. C. venustus.—This I think is the most beautiful of the 
whole tribe. Nothing can be more charming than its combination 
of colours—white, yellow at the base, with crimson pencillings in 
the petals. 
There is one provoking thing connected with all these Cali¬ 
fornian bulbs—viz., that their foliage is so unsatisfactory, it is 
lowly and spreads about over the pots—no neatness whatever in 
it, and adding nothing, as in so many plants, to the beauty of the 
flower.—D. O 
ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY. 
July Cth. 
The second Summer Show of this Society, though not quite so 
large as in some previous years, was yet extremely attractive, fruit 
being remarkably well shown. The following is a brief review of 
the principal features. 
Stove and Greenhouse Plants.— In the open class for twelve 
Messrs. Jackson & Son, Kingston, were easily first with neat specimens, 
two fine Kalosanthuses being noteworthy—viz., K. coccinea superba 
and Mr. Duphemis. Messrs. B. Peed & Son, Lower Streatham, were 
second with smaller plants ; Mr. G. Wheeler, gardener to Lady Louisa 
Goldsmid, Regent’s Park, being third. For six plants from amateurs 
Mr. D. Donald, gardener to J. G. Barclay, Esq., Knott’s Green, 
Leyton ; and Mr. Child, gardener to Mrs. Torr, Garbrand Hall, Ewell, 
were the prizetakers. The best nurserymen’s six was from Messrs. 
Jackson & Son, Ivalosanthus Dr. E. Regel being especially fine. 
Messrs. B. Peed it Son, Lower Streatham, took the second place with 
fine specimens. 
Pelargoniums .—These were not largely represented, nor were the 
specimens of extraordinary merit, but the flowers were fine and the 
colours good. Mr. C. Turner, Slough, was first in the nurserymen’s 
classes for Show and Fancy varieties, showing very fair examples of 
good varieties. Mr. J. Wiggins, gardener to H. Little, Esq., Hil¬ 
lingdon Place, Uxbridge, also carried off the prizes in the amateur 
classes with neat specimens. Zonals were shown by Mr. J. Catlin, 
gardener to Mrs. Lermitte, Finchley, and by Mr. W. Meadmore, 
Romford, the former having very well-flowered plants. 
Tuberous Begonias .—Only two collections were staged, Mr. H. 
Coppin, Shirley, Croydon, being first in the nurserymen’s class with 
compact specimens fairly well flowered; Mr. J. Child obtaining a 
similar position in the amateurs’ class with larger, looser, but freely 
flowered specimens. 
Orchids. —A very pretty bank of these was- formed in the usual 
position, many handsome specimens being staged. Mr. B. S. Wil¬ 
liams, Upper Holloway, secured the chief position in both nursery¬ 
men’s classes with good examples of Brassia verrucosa major, Cypri- 
pedium barbatum major, C. superbiens, Epidendrum vitellinum 
majus, Cattleya Mossise superba, and Lselia purpurata. Mr. H. 
James, Norwood, was a good second with twelve, and also second with 
six, Messrs. Jackson & Son being third. The prizes for amateurs 
were taken by Mr. J. C. Spyers, Orchid Grower to Sir Trevor Law¬ 
rence, Dorking, who showed Epidendrum nemorale in magnificent 
condition ; Dendrobium McCarthiaj, the brilliant Renanthera coccinea, 
and Laelia purpurata being also very fine. Mr. C. Coningsby, gar¬ 
dener to C. Dorman, Esq., Sydenham, obtained the second prize for 
twelve with a very interesting collection of well-grown plants. The 
winners of the prizes for six were Messrs. Coningsby and Child, both 
staging fine plants. 
Fine-foliage Plants. —The best six fine-foliage plants in the 
nurserymen’s class was from Mr. B. S. Williams, who had good Crotons, 
Palms, Ferns, ic. The same exhibitor had the best six Ferns, the 
Gleichenias being very fresh. Mr. H. James was second in the former 
class. The chief amateurs’ collection of six fine-foliaged plants was 
contributed by Mr. Rann, gardener to J. Weston, Esq., Handcross 
Park, Crawley, the plants composing it having been frequently men¬ 
tioned at previous shows this year. Mr. Rann was also second with 
six Ferns in fine condition. Mr. G. Wheeler was second in the 
former class ; Mr. R. Butler, gardener to H. Gibbs, Esq., St. Dunstan’s, 
Regent’s Park, being third. The first prize for Ferns was secured by 
Mr. H. Brown, gardener to T. A. Steel, Esq., Littlecote, Streatham, 
with very large Davallias and a handsome Gleichenia microphylla. 
An extra prize was accorded for a good collection of Ferns. 
Cut Flowers. —Roses were fairly represented by Mr. C. Turner, 
Slough, Messrs. G. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, Mr. B. R. Cant, Colchester, 
among the nurserymen ; and by Mr. Moorman, gardener to Miss 
Christy, Coombe Bank, Kingston, Mr. G. P. Hawtrey, Slough, and Mr. 
J. Hollingworth, Maidstone, among the amateurs. The other classes 
were well filled. 
Fruit. —The Fruiterers’ Company’s prizes for collections of fruit 
were awarded to Mr. W. Coleman, The Gardens, Eastnor Castle, for 
a handsome collection, Black Hamburgh and Gros Maroc Grapes, 
Bellegarde and Royal George Peaches, Lord Napier and Yiolette 
Hative Nectarines being especially fine; and Mr. W. Wildsmith, gar¬ 
dener to Viscount Eversley, Heckfield, for a collection nearly equal 
to the other in merit. The Society’s prizes for six kinds were secured 
by Messrs. Wildsmith, Coleman, and G. Miles, The Gardens, Wy¬ 
combe Abbey, Bucks, all showing very well. There were eight com¬ 
petitors. For a basket of black Grapes there were eleven entries, 
mostly of fair quality. Mr. P. Edwards, gardener to Miss Tristram, 
Liphook, Hants, Mr. Wildsmith, and Mr. Coleman were the prize- 
takers in that order. In the other classes for Black Grapes Mr. W. 
Allan, gardener to Lord Suffield, Gunton Park, Mr. Wildsmith, Mr. 
Edwards, Mr. Bolton, gardener to W. Spottiswoode, Esq., Sevenoaks, 
and Mr. Tucker, gardener to J. L. Lovibond, Esq., Farnborough, 
were the prizetakers. Pine Apples were well shown by Mr. G. Bailey, 
The Gardens, Shardeloes, Amersham ; Mr. J. Wilkinson, gardener to 
Viscount Gage, Lewes ; and Mr. W. Pratt. The Gardens, Hawkstone, 
Shrewsbury, who secured the prizes. White Grapes were rather 
unripe. The chief prizes were accorded to Mr. P. Feist, gardener to 
J. Ashton, Esq., Bishopgate House, Staines ; Mr. Blundell, gardener 
to T. Holman Esq., Sussex ; Mr. Tucker ; Mr. J. Douglas, gardener to 
F. Whitbourne, Esq., Loxford Hall; and Mr. W. Mowbray, gardener 
to the Earl of Leven and Melville, Slough. Melons, Peaches, Nec¬ 
tarines, Strawberries, and Cherries were also shown in large numbers. 
Miscellaneous. —Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons contributed a handsome 
group of novelties, and were awarded a small silver-gilt medal. Mr. 
B. S. Williams sent a group of choice plants, and was accorded a large 
silver medal. Messrs. John Laing & Co. were awarded a large silver 
medal for a group of fine-foliage plants and Begonias. The General 
Horticultural Company staged a magnificent collection of Crotons 
and Ferns, the former remarkably well coloured. A silver medal was 
awarded. Messrs. J. Carter & Co., High Holborn, secured a similar 
award for a large collection of Petunias and Coleuses similar to those 
they had at Kensington. Mr. B. Morrell, gardener to E. Rutter, Esq., 
Richmond, obtained a small silver medal for a group of very fine 
Gloxinias. A silver medal was awarded to Messrs. Low & Co. for a 
collection of Orchids and Anoectochili. Large bronze medals were 
awarded to Mr. G. Wheeler fora group of plants ; to Messrs. W. Paul 
and Son, Waltham Cross, for several boxes of Roses ; and to Messrs. 
H. Cannell & Son, Swanley, for a collection of Pelargonium blooms 
and Mr. Wiggins secured a small silver medal for a group of new 
Pelargoniums. 
New plants were abundantly shown, and many were certificated, 
but we are compelled to defer their description to our next issue. 
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WORK fouthe WEEK..' 
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HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Notwithstanding the cold and drought of the spring and early 
summer months the fruit crop is now found to be in a more satisfac¬ 
tory state than might have been expected. Apples are plentiful, so 
also are Plums and Cherries. Pears are very thin, in some cases 
nearly a failure. Apricots are light, the best being Blenheim or 
Shipley, Kaisha, St. Ambroise, and Moorpark. Peaches and Necta¬ 
rines with Figs are very variable. Bush fruits, with the exception of 
Raspberries, which in many instances had the fruiting canes injured by 
the severe frosts of winter, are exceedingly abundant and fine, espe¬ 
cially Currants—Red, White, and Black. Strawberries are abundant 
and the fruit generally of good quality, though not so large as could 
be wished, no doubt owing to the drought. Continue to carry out 
former directions as regards stopping or removing superfluous or fore¬ 
right shoots, nailing, tying-in, or laying-in to the wall the necessary 
supply of young shoots, so as to admit increased light and air to ripen 
the wood and buds. Pay particular attention to the trees, and do not 
allow insects to spread, but promptly apply an insecticide. Red 
spider is appearing on wall trees, which should be forcibly syringed 
