JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
September 1, 1881. ] 
197 
hunt, for the best dish of Strawberries was won by Mr. J. M. Smith, 
gardener to the Earl of Crawford, with large unnamed fruit. 
PLANTS. 
As regards the comparative importance of the several sections in 
the Exhibition pre-eminence must undoubtedly be accorded to the 
fruit and vegetable classes, the plants occupying a second-rate 
position both in numbers and excellence. This was principally due 
to the fact that it had intentionally and judiciously been the object 
of the projectors to give special encouragement to the exhibitors of 
fruit, as the season selected was one at which that important portion 
of garden produce could be most largely and best represented. Plants, 
especially those grown chiefly for the beauty of their flowers, are 
shown in their prime at earlier periods of the year, and the end of 
August is somewhat late to expect an imposing display. Many of 
the handsome specimen stove and greenhouse plants which grace 
the exhibitions of May, June, and July have now lost their principal 
charms, and consequently anything like a great floral display could 
not reasonably be expected. Notwithstanding this, however, flowering 
plants were sufficiently numerous to impart that much-needed richness 
and variety of colour without which a horticultural exhibition is com¬ 
paratively tame and uninteresting to the general visitor. Pine-foliage 
plants, and particularly Crotons, were in strong force and grand 
condition, the fine yellow and crimson tints that distinguish the last" 
Jig. 33.—Mn. BItUCE KIND LAY. (See page -‘CO.) 
named being extremely well developed, thus contributing an addi¬ 
tional and magnificent attraction to the Show. 
The large permanent iron-framed marquee and the handsome glass 
buildings that are usually employed for the Society’s celebrated Whit¬ 
suntide shows were completely filled with the ltd entries in the forty- 
six classes devoted to plants, the numerous groups and collections not 
for competition, staged by nurserymen and others, adding very largely 
to the extent of the Exhibition. The large marquee chiefly contained 
the competing groups and some of the smaller classes, while the 
exhibition house was occupied with the Crotons, Dracmnas, Ferns, 
new plants, Orchids, and general collections, which, being very taste¬ 
fully arranged, constituted in themselves a display of remarkable 
beauty. As they formed the most important portion of the Show in 
the section now under consideration it may be well to first notice the 
classes devoted to 
FINE-FOLIAGE PLANTS. 
Not only were Crotons well shown, but Dracaenas, Palms, and 
Ferns were also healthy, fresh, and beautiful; but as the first named 
were especially remarkable they deserve attention first. 
Crotons .—Two classes were appropriated to these plants—namely, 
one for nurserymen and the other for amateurs, ten specimens being 
required in the first, the prizes being £5, £4, and £3, one pound less 
