200 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 1, 1881. 
arose the Palms, Crotons, Lilies, Dracaenas, and numerous other 
plants employed with such excellent results. Mrs. E. Cole & Sons, 
Withington, took the second place, staging a rather more formal 
hut brighter group than the first, as flowering plants were more 
freely employed, Zonal Pelargoniums contributing a large share 
of colour. Dipladenias, Ericas, and Lilium auratum were also well 
represented, the usual fine-foliage plants being included with nume¬ 
rous small examples of the charming little Caladium argyrites near 
the fore part of the group. Messrs. W. G. Caldwell & Sons, Knuts- 
ford, were third, having a collection of remarkably well-grown plants, 
but mostly a little too formal in outline to admit of successful or 
effective arrangement. A great diversity of plants was included, 
Petunias, Gloxinias, Ericas, and Bougainvilleas being some of the 
most noteworthy among the flowering plants, Palms and Perns 
among the fine-foliage contingent being generally large. Mr. It. 
Simpson, Selby, secured the fourth prize, and Mr. T. Pope, Astley 
Bridge, an extra prize, both contributing meritorious groups, the 
former containing a large proportion of softwooded flowering plants, 
and the latter a similar proportion of fine-foliage plants. The nume¬ 
rous other handsome groups not in competition are described in 
another portion of the report. 
The only class for a collection of specimen plants in which arrange¬ 
ment for effect was not required was that for twenty miscellaneous 
plants, eight in flower and twelve fine-foliage, which was open to all 
competitors, the prizes being £20, £15, and £10. There were four 
entries, Mrs. E. Cole & Son and Mr. Tudgey contesting keenly for the 
first place, which honour was finally adjudged to the former, who 
had their well-known handsome specimens in excellent condition. 
The following were included in Mrs. Cole’s collection :—Croton Weis- 
manni, a grand example, 6 feet high and superbly coloured ; Croton 
Disraeli, also large and richly coloured ; Cocos Weddelliana, 7 feet 
high, and very healthy ; Gleichenia Mendelli, 5 or 6 feet in diameter, 
fresh and vigorous ; Latania borbonica, large ; Pritchardia pacifica, a 
noble specimen ; Kentia Fosteriana, Cibotium Schiedei, Cycas revo- 
luta, Phormium tenax variegatum, and Gleichenia rupestns glauces- 
cens, all large and handsome, were the best of the fine-foliage plants. 
Among the flowering plants were neat specimens of Dipladenia ama- 
bilis and D. Brearleyana, the flowers being abundant and bright in 
colour ; Ixora coccinea and I. Fraseri formed another pretty pair, 
compact and well flowered ; Erica Eweriana superba, E. Marnockiana, 
E. Turnbulli, and Allamanda nobilis were the others in that section, 
and were of similarly good quality to those already mentioned. Mr. 
E. Tudgey had smaller specimens, but very compact, well trained, 
and as fresh and healthy as could be desired. Croton Queen Victoria 
was remarkably bright, Gleichenia rupestris was large and vigorous, 
Cycas circinalis and C. revoluta both handsome, Latania borbonica of 
enormous dimensions, Allamanda nobilis beautifully flowered, Fran- 
ciscea calycina major good, and Anthurium Schertzerianum, fair, were 
the most notable among the plants. Mr. G. Smith was third with 
meritorious specimens, his Lapageria rosea and alba, globularly 
trained and very healthy, being two of the best. Alocasia Lowii 
and Croton variegatus were also handsome. 
VARIOUS SMALL PLANT CLASSES. 
Several of these, though not individually large or imposing, proved 
of great utility in the general arrangements of the Exhibition, the 
Heaths, Liliums, Achimenes, Petunias, Balsams, Fuchsias, and Pelar¬ 
goniums being employed to great advantage as small groups in the 
recesses between the larger collections in the marquee. The Orchids, 
Nepenthes, Sarracenias, and medicinal plants were placed in the glass 
house, the dinner-table plants and Cockscombs forming a line down 
the centre of the fruit table in the large marquee. 
Orchids. —Those who have seen the magnificent displays of Orchids 
at the Whitsuntide shows of this Society would probably be a little 
surprised that a larger number of plants was not contributed on this 
occasion. Certainly the end of August is not a favourable season for 
such plants, as comparatively few are in flower, yet many more might 
have been reasonably expected. Two classes were provided, one for 
amateurs the other for nurserymen, eight plants being required in 
each, and the prizes were equal—namely, £8, £5, and £3. Only two 
competitors appeared in the nurserymen’s division—Mr. B. S. Williams 
and Mr. Cypher, who secured first and second honours in the order 
named. The collection shown by the former included Dendrobium 
Pierardi with eight growths and bearing a large number of flowers ; a 
brightly coloured variety of Vanda suavis, the plant very healthy ; 
Oncidium prsetextum with seven panicles ; Oncidium macranthum 
having a large panicle of its fine yellow flowers ; Lselia elegans 
Turneri, beautiful soft crimson ; Saccolabium Blumei, handsome, with 
six spikes ; Cypripedium Harrisianum in excellent condition with 
thirteen flowers ; and Cattleya crispa with seven spikes, a handsome 
plant and perhaps the most attractive in the collection. Mr. J. 
Cypher’s specimens were smaller but clean, fresh, and healthy, one 
example of Disa grandiflora being remarkably noteworthy, having 
eight spikes bearing together about two dozen flowers. Cypripedium 
Sedeni, Saccolabium Blumei, Odontoglossum Uro-Skinneri, and Epi- 
dendrum vitellinum majus were also well shown. 
In the amateurs’ class there were three competitors, who exhibited 
neat plants but no specimens of unusual size or especial rarity. Mr. 
James Hill, gardener to George Hardy, Esq., Pickering Lodge, Tim- 
perley, was the most successful, being placed first with Laelia Dayana, 
well flowered ; Cattleya crispa superba, good ; Cattleya Loddigesii, 
very pretty, the pale pink sepals and petals contrasting agreeably. 
Miltonia spectabilis superba and Oncidium prastextum were attrac¬ 
tive among several other smaller plants. Mr. W. Perry, gardener to 
H. C. Miles, Esq., Penpole, Bristol, was a good second. Disa grandi¬ 
flora, Pilumna fragrans, and Epidendrum cochleatum majus were the 
best plants, the Pilumna being in very satisfactory condition as 
regards the number of flowers. The third position was accorded to 
Mr. E. Mitchell, gardener to Dr. Ainsworth, Cliffe Point, Broughton, 
for neat but not particularly large plants. 
Pitcher Plants and Sarracenias. —In the nurserymen’s class for the 
best collection of the above Mr. B. S. Williams was the only exhi¬ 
bitor, but his group was of great merit, and included most of the best 
forms both of Nepenthes and Sarracenias in commerce. The plants, 
too, were in a very healthy fresh condition, and it was surprising to 
observe what a proportionately large number of pitchers some small 
specimens were bearing. It would be unnecessary to give the names 
of all, but the following were some of the most noteworthy. Nepen¬ 
thes bicalcarata, N. ampullacea, N. Hookeriana, N. Outramiana, N. 
sanguinea, N. Raftlesiana, and N. Courtii. The Sarracenias were 
S. Drummondi and varieties, S. flava and varieties, S. purpurea, 
S. rubra, S. variolaris, and others all good. In the amateurs’ class 
two collections were staged, the premier by Mr. A. Williams, gardener 
to Joseph Broom, Esq., Wood Lawn, Didsbury, and the second by 
Mr. J. Morton, gardener to Jas. Fildes, Esq., Chorlton-cum-Hardy. 
The Didsbury plants were very healthy, indeed they form one of the 
specialities in Mr. Broom’s garden, and receive every attention re¬ 
quisite to ensure their success. The Nepenthes were the chief repre¬ 
sented, N. phyllamphora, N. Hookeriana, N. robusta, N. Laurenciana, 
N. Rafflesiana, N. gracilis, and N. Dominiana were particularly fine. 
The Sarracenias purpurea and flava were also in good condition. 
The other plants were smaller but carefully grown, and represented 
some of the best forms known, including several of those named 
above. 
Economic and Medicinal Plants. —Though these were represented by 
only one collection—namely, that from Mr. B. S. Williams, the premier 
award secured was well deserved, as twenty plants were shown, in¬ 
cluding examples of many useful and interesting plants. They were 
also sufficiently developed to fairly indicate their respective characters. 
Some of the most remarkable were Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa), Arenga 
saccbarifera (the Sugar Palm), Maranta arundinacea (Arrowroot), 
Phytelephas macrocarpa (the Ivory Nut Palm), Coffea liberica (Libe¬ 
rian Coffee), Salvadora persica (the reputed Mustard Tree of the 
Scriptures), Areca oleracea (the Cabbage Palm), the African Man- 
gosteen, Pepper, the Traveller’s Tree, Tapioca, the Balsam of Peru, 
and several others made up this very interesting group, which at¬ 
tracted much admiration and attention from the general visitors, who 
have not often the opportunity of seeing such plants at horticultural 
shows. 
Dinner-table Plants. —In the two classes devoted to these the com¬ 
petition was keen, the plants staged forming a central line on the 
fruit table. In the nurserymen’s section for twelve plants Mr. B. S. 
Williams was an excellent first with even plants of moderate size, but 
healthy, graceful, and well selected. The kinds shown were Aralia 
elegantissima, Rhapis humilis, PandanusVeitchii, Delabechia rupestris, 
Croton Weismanni, Aralia Yeitchii gracillima, Dracaena Ernesti, Geo¬ 
noma gracilis, Croton Prince of Wales, Aralia spectabilis, and Aralia 
Chabrieri. They were all in 48-sized pots, and therefore appeared 
light and elegant, well suited for the purpose for which they were 
intended. Messrs. Ireland & Thomson followed closely, also with 
useful plants, Messrs. Jones & Son, Shrewsbury, taking the third 
place. The amateurs’ exhibits in the class for half a dozen plants 
were neat and well grown generally, but in some of the collections 
the pots were slightly too large. Mr. W. Plant, gardener to R. P. 
Gill, Esq., Wood Hayes Hall, Ashton-on-Mersey, was adjudged chief 
honours, bis best plants being Cocos Weddelliana, Croton Disraeli, and 
Pandanus Yeitchii variegata. Mr. H. Beard, gardener to G. D. Adams, 
Esq., Ashton-on-Mersey, was a close second, and Mr. H. German, gar¬ 
dener to F. B. Cutts, Esq., Nottingham, followed. 
Ericas. —In the nurserymen’s class for six Heaths Mr. J. Cypher 
was accorded chief honours for plants of moderate size, but well 
flowered and healthy. Mrs. Cole & Son followed with fairly good 
specimens, but not remarkably profusely furnished with flowers. Mr. 
Thomas Pope, Astley Bridge, took the third position for similar plants 
very little inferior to the preceding collection in merit. 
Liliums, Pelargoniums, Balsams, Petunias, Coleuses, Y'uccas, suc¬ 
culent plants, and Achimenes were all small classes, and, except the 
first-named, do not require special mention. Mr. C. Turner of Slough 
had a collection of Lilium auratum, which was very fine, and well 
merited the chief prize which was awarded it in the class for six 
plants. The specimens were bearing fine heads of flowers, and being 
arranged around the Tree Ferns the effect was very satisfactory. 
Several groups of Lilium lancifolium were also contributed, the 
plants generally being in good condition. Mr. B. S. Williams’ group 
of variegated Yuccas was especially noteworthy at one end of the 
large marquee. It was the only collection staged in the class for 
eight specimens, and was awarded first honours. 
CONIFERS AND JAPANESE PLANTS. 
These were arranged in groups outside the Exhibition house and 
large tent, and on the terrace in the front of the house. Some of the 
large Conifers were remarkable for their bright colour. For the 
