September 1,1881. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 199 
Cypher was third with smaller plants, mostly similar to those already 
mentioned, but containing in addition the following well-known plants 
—Microlepia hirta cristata, Crotons Mortii and albicans, Thrinax 
elegantissima, Sabal coerulescens, Ixora regina, and Rhododendron 
Taylori, the last-named being scarcely correctly classed as a new 
plant. 
For six new plants in or out of flower, introduced into Europe by 
the exhibitor, and not in commerce, there was no competition, Mr. 
B. S. Williams being the only exhibitor, and securing the premier 
award for an admirable collection comprising the following— San- 
sevicra aureo marginata , a peculiar variegated Sanseviera, the leaves 
being a foot long, 2 to 2£ inches broad in the middle, tapering to the 
apex ; the centre is greenish, and the margins light yellow, very 
clearly defined. Anthurium Diclcii, somewhat suggestive in habit of 
Anthurium acaule, but with narrower and stiffer leaves. These are 
2 to 3 feet long and 5 to G inches broad, tapering, and of a bright 
shining green ; petioles very short and broad. Heliccmia nlgro-punc- 
tata, a Musa-like plant with dark green leaves, ribbed, margined, and 
tinged with deep red. Croton Bruce Findlay, a handsome new Croton, 
having ovate elliptical leaves 9 to 15 inches long, 3 to 4 inches broad, 
dark green with bright yellow veins. Kenlia cristata , a neat and 
graceful pinnate-leaved Palm ; and Draccena William si, a distinct and 
peculiar form with tapering leaves irregularly streaked with green 
and crimson. 
For one new plant in flower and not in commerce there were two 
competitors—namely, Mr. B. S. Williams, and Mr. E. Mitchell, gar¬ 
dener to Dr. Ainsworth, Cliffe Point, Lower Broughton, who were 
placed first and second respectively. Mr. B. S. Williams showed a 
pretty Orchid, Angrcecum amabile , of dwarf habit and having short 
leaves. The flowers are small, creamy white in colour, wax-like in 
texture, and very fragrant ; the petals and sepals being narrow, 
acute, and strongly recurved. The flowers are borne on a spike 
about G inches in length. Dr. Ainsworth’s plant was also an Orchid, 
Cypripedlum Ainswortlii, the result of a cross between C. Sedeni 
and C. Roezlii, and partaking of the characters of each, that of the 
former predominating. 
For a new fine-foliage plant not in commerce there were three 
exhibitors, Messrs. Ireland & Thomson securing chief honours with 
Croton Thomsoni. This is a handsome Croton with leaves indistinctly 
lobed, somewhat like C. Disraeli, about a foot long and 4 inches 
broad at the widest portion, tapering to the apex. The ground 
colour is green, the midrib and veins being bright yellow. Judging 
by the specimen shown the variety appears to colour extremely well, 
and is likely to become a favourite. Mr. B. S. Williams was second 
with Asplenium liorrldum , a distinct and effective Fern with pinnate 
fronds 2 feet or more in length, the pinnae deeply lobed. The frond 
is triangular in outline, and has a brown stipes. Messrs. R. P. Ker 
and Sons were third with Lomaria obtusata, a New Caledonian Fern 
of neat habit, the fronds G inches long and 1 inch broad, with pin- 
natifid segments. 
In addition to the above plants in competition large numbers of 
new and choice plants were shown by Messrs. Yeitch it Sons, Chelsea, 
and Mr. B. S. Williams, and as several of these were certificated they 
may be fittingly mentioned here. Messrs. J. Yeitch were awarded 
certificates for the following— Cypripedlum porphyrospilum, a distinct 
and pretty form of Ladies’ Slipper, which has previously been cer¬ 
tificated at Kensington and described in these pages. Cypripedlum 
albo-pvrpureum , a hybrid between C. Schlimii and C. Dominii, with 
pinkish flowers and spirally twisted petals. It evidently partakes of 
the characters of each parent. Cypripedlum seUigervm majus, a fine 
form of C. selligerum, the flowers large and colours good. Davallia 
elegans jwlydactyla, a variety of this graceful Fern with long crisped 
points to the fronds. Ileliconia aureo-striata, leaves elliptical, green 
veined with yellow, distinct and pretty. Rhododendron Duchess of 
Connaught , one of the most attractive of the greenhouse hybrid 
Rhododendrons, with neat, wax-like, coral-scarlet tubular flowers in 
compact heads. Asparagus jchimosus nanus, a charming gauze-like 
plant of dwarf habit, the leaves being most delicately and finely 
divided, imparting an indescribably graceful appearance to the plant. 
Yucca Jilamentosa elegantissima, a neat and brightly coloured form of 
this pretty Yucca. Sarracenia melanorhoda, a small Sarracenia with 
short dark red pitchers, which has been previously described when 
certificated at Kensington some months ago. Pachystoma Thomsoni- 
anum , a pretty little Orchid with white and purplish-violet flowers. 
Lillian auratum platypliyllum and L. speciosum gloriosoides, two hand¬ 
some and distinct Lilies which have been frequently referred to. 
Sarracenia formosa, a hybrid between S. psittacina and S. variolaris, 
combining some of the most attractive characters of each. Croton 
HawJccri, the neat form figured in these pages a short time since. The 
plant was in good condition, and evidently well merits the honours 
that have been accorded it. Nepenthes bicalcarata, the large-pitchered 
form now familiar to most visitors to metropolitan shows. Quercus 
cuspidata variegata, a very distinct Yariegated Oak with small leaves 
prettily marked with green and white, l.astrea Richardsli multifida, 
an elegant Fern with neat fronds, dark green, and divided at the 
apex. Ixora Westii , a beautiful hybrid, the result of a cross between 
I. odorata and I. amboynensis. The corolla tubes are long, bright 
pink, the lobes being of a lighter shade ; and Lcelia Sedeni, stated 
to be a hybrid between Cattleya Sedeni and C. devoniensis, with 
purplish sepals and petals, and a very rich crimson lip. 
Mr. B. S. Williams’ certificated plants were the following— Nepenthes 
bicalcarata, noticed above ; Delabecliia rupestris, Alocasla Thibautlana, 
Draccena Lindeni, Aralia Chabrieri, Croton Bruce Findlay, Heliccmia 
nigro-punctata, Asplenium horridum, and Asplenium novce-caledonice, 
which are described in the winning collections already mentioned; 
Begonia Willlamsi , a very free-flowering variety of the Tuberous 
section, with large white flowers of good form. Mr. J. Anderson, 
Meadowbank, obtained a certificate for Cattleya glgas superba, a 
handsome variety with large flowers, the sepals and petals broad soft 
crimson purple in hue, with an extremely rich crimson-tinted lip. 
Messrs. Ireland & Thomson were accorded a certificate for Croton 
Thomsoni, a handsome form with partly lobed leaves a foot to 
15 inches long, and 4 inches broad at the widest part; dark green 
veined with bright yellow. Messrs. Osborn & Sons received a similar 
award for Hedera Helix madeirensis albo-marginata, the handsome 
variegated Ivy already described ; Messrs. Ker & Son for Draccena 
Lindeni, / omaria obtusata, and Aralia Chabrieri; Messrs. H. Waterer 
for Abies canadensis ]>endula and Abies canadensis variegata, recently 
shown at Kensington ; and to MM. Chantrier, freres, for Croton 
Bergmanni, C. Mortefontainensis,a.x\d C. mosaicus, described elsewhere 
in this report. 
GROUPS AND COLLECTIONS. 
The large marquee presented a spectacle such as horticulturists 
and visitors to exhibitions seldom have the opportunity of beholding, 
and when viewed from the upper part of the slope at the end near 
the principal entrance the effect was grand in the extreme. All the 
groups in competition were staged there, together with many of the 
miscellaneous collections ; and not only was considerable taste dis¬ 
played in the arrangement of the groups individually, but judicious 
care had also been exercised in their disposition, so as to produce as 
fine a general effect as possible. Handsome banks of foliage and 
flowers were relieved at intervals by clumps of Lilies, while the noble 
Tree Ferns already referred to were like living columns amidst this 
palatial wealth of beautiful plants. There was but one exhibit that 
seemed out of harmony with the arrangements—namely, a so-called 
“ trophy,” a large polygonal stand of vegetables and fruit, which 
received a very general condemnation from both exhibitors and the 
public. 
Two classes were provided for groups of plants arranged for effect, 
one for amateurs and the other for nurserymen, the prizes in each 
being liberal—namely, £20, £15, £10, and £5. The first was to occupy 
a space not exceeding 20 feet by 10 feet, and in this class there were 
six entries. Mr. G. Smith, gardener to J. Rylands, Esq., Stretford, 
was placed in the foremost rank of the exhibitors for a highly satis¬ 
factory group, which was not only remarkable for the admirable 
quality of the plants composing it, but also for the artistic taste 
manifested in the arrangement. No great efforts were made in the 
direction of originality or elaborateness of design, but the plants 
appeared to have been placed together with easy freedom and with 
the endeavour to render it as diversified as possible with moderate 
materials. The fine-foliage plants comprised good examples of Palms, 
Ferns, Crotons, Dracaenas, and Yuccas, while among the flowering 
plants Lilies, Eucharises, and Ixoras were the most striking, various 
smaller plants being employed to fill up with. Mr. C. Paul, who 
followed closely, also had a group -which was noteworthy for the 
number of well-grown specimen plants it contained ; but it was less 
effective in general arrangement, and to this fact, no doubt, was due 
the second-rate position accorded it. Some of the specimens, too, 
such as the Lapagerias, which were trained on globular trellises, 
though highly creditable as regards their condition, were unsuited 
for associating with other more graceful or less formally trained 
plants. Ixoras, Dipladenias, Coleuses, Tree Ferns, Palms, Crotons, 
and Lilies were the chief components of the group, all being in fine 
healthy form. Mr. J. Hammond secured third honours for a neat 
little group, but scarcely full enough. The plants were placed upon 
the turf slopes at the side of the marquee in step-like form, rising 
in successive semicircles. The plants were chiefly of moderate size, 
much smaller than those in the two preceding groups, but repre¬ 
senting similar kinds, the most noteworthy feature being the margin 
of Adiantum curieatum and Panicum variegatum, which was very 
pretty. Mr. G. Wilkes, gardener to Mrs. Tambaci, Cheadle, was 
placed fourth with a fairly good group that would have obtained a 
much higher position at many exhibitions that have been held this 
year. Ericas, Bougainvilleas, Caladiums, Roses, Lilies, and Pelar¬ 
goniums were the principal plants employed, and these were judi¬ 
ciously disposed. One other group in this class deserves notice, 
though no prize was awarded for it, namely that from Mr. J. Hill, 
gardener to George Hardy, Esq., Timperley, for the plants composing 
it were of unusually good quality, the Ixoras, Stephanotises, Ferns, 
and Crotons being in admirably healthy condition. 
In the class reserved for nurserymen the group was to occupy a 
somewhat large space—namely, 30 feet by 15 feet. There were five 
entries, and the competition w r as fairly keen and interesting, as the 
exhibits w-ere very close in merit. Messrs. R. P. Ker were adjudged 
premier honours for a very pleasing group, in which the principal 
design had apparently been to afford as much diversity of surface 
as possible, much in the style of Messrs. Wills’ or Hudson’s groups, 
w'hich are so much admired at metropolitan shows. If there was 
any defect it was a slight approach to overcrowding, and some of the 
plants could have been advantageously dispensed with, as the really 
handsome specimens might have then been seen to the best advan¬ 
tage. The groundwork was composed of Adiantums, from which 
