July 31, 1834. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
97 
Princess of Wales, and Lady Satin Rose, and the attractive Spotted 
'Carpet. A breadth of about an acre of Lady Albemarle exhibits the 
merits of this splendid Godetia in perfection, but it is questionable if it 
is not surpassed by Lady Satin Rose, which was described above. 
Spotted Carpet is prettily spotted with crimson, but is not as effective in 
the beds as the crimson varieties. 
Few flowers are grown at St. Osyth in larger quantities than Lark¬ 
spurs, and nowhere can better selections be seen. One bed of perhaps two 
acres in extent of the dwarf rocket varieties was strikingly good, the 
clo-.e Hyacinth-like spikes of bloom being remarkably large in size and 
diversified in colour. A splendid bed of Auricula-eyed Sweet Williams 
also attracted great attention, the flowers being excellent alike in size, 
form, and colour. Near them, about half an acre each of three varieties 
of another sweet-scented flower—namely, purple, white, and yellow 
Sweet Sultans, were doubly attractive, the handsome flowers dissemi¬ 
nating a pleasing perfume. Eschscholtzias are also cultivated exten¬ 
sively, the most attractive variety being, perhaps. Rose Cardinal ; but 
Mandarin is bright and showy, as are the well-known orange-yellow 
sorts crocea and californica. To allude, however briefly, to every 
flower that added to the charms of St. Osyth at the time of our visit 
■would be manifestly impossible. In addition to those already men¬ 
tioned, brilliant masses of such popular annuals as Linums, Marigolds, 
Rhodanthes, Candytufts, Phlox Drummondi, Sweet Peas, Clarkias, 
Convolvulus, Mignonette, Poppies, Leptosiphons, Lobelias, and numerous 
ther s, were in splendid bloom, and increased the effect of a display of 
unequalled beauty. 
These notes would not, however, be complete without reference to 
the vegetable crops, which form an important feature of these seed 
farms. The three famous Peas, Telephone, Stratagem, and Pride of the 
Market, were well represented ; but their merits are now well known and 
need no recapitulation. Several acres of Fern-leaved Parsley bore 
forcible testimony to the popularity of this selection, while another 
vegetable that meets with equal favour—namely, that excellent Cabbage, 
Heartwell Early Marrow, was largely grown. Other vegetable crops 
were Incomparable Crimson Celery, Mammoth Beef-heart Cabbage, 
Jersey Wakefield Cabbage, and Champion Broccoli, and all were in 
excellent condition. 
The task of maintaining in cleanliness and order an extent of ground 
■covered with such an immense variety of occupants is not by any means 
a light one ; and when to this is added the task of selecting and improving 
the various crops, and hunting out and destroying intruders of doubtful 
hue, it will be conceded that every credit is due to the skilful and expe¬ 
rienced manager of the farms for the more than admirable way in which 
his duties are performed—a credit which extends to the firm he re¬ 
presents for the energetic and able management of their Essex seed 
farms.—W. P. W. 
THE INTERNATIONAL FORESTRY EXHIBITION. 
Second Notice. 
The question that was being asked by many people before this, the latest 
of special exhibitions, had been opened was. Will it pay? Could a vast 
building and a large uncovered space be filled with articles connected with 
forestry in so novel and attractive a manner as to draw sufficiently large 
•crowds to make the undertaking a success financially? Judging by 
appearances the Executive have succeeded in doing both. On the occa¬ 
sion of our last visit to the Exhibition it was uncomfortably crowded. True, 
the advertising element was of the most pronounced type, sometimes, if not 
to the exclusion of those exhibits most akin to forestry, at least to the 
placing them in the background. But as it seems the only way of drawing 
the shilling from the purse of the ordinary sightseer to provide him with 
things novel and pleasing to the eye and ear, why those who have the more 
scientific part of the question at heart must put Up with this state of matters. 
In the out-of-door exhibits there is not much to complain of in this way, but 
in the main Exhibition building practical forestry seems to have been allocated 
to the corners left after more pretentious though less useful exhibits had been 
provided for. Unfortunately the catalogue is so arranged to be of little use 
in enabling visitors to find special collections. We have to thank Mr. 
McLaren, the courteous Secretary of the Scottish Arboricultural Society, for 
kindly helping us to much interesting matter which would have been other¬ 
wise overlooked. 
The shrubs and Coniferse bedded out in the open ground fill some six or 
seven acres, in conjunction with the sheds of machinery devoted to sawmill¬ 
ing, planing, &c., modes of fencing, and several systems of greenhouse glazing 
and other matters of general interest. The Lawson Seed and Nursery Co., 
Edinburgh and London, have been allocated the space on each side of the 
entrance to this outside space, and have arranged their produce in a very 
satisfactory manner. Large plants of Conifer® with standard Sweet Bays 
are placed in the background, while in the main body of the group are several 
plants of the variegated Retinospora plumosa, variegated Lawson’s Cypress 
and others. Some very pretty Japanese Maples are in the foreground. Next to 
these on the left-hand side Messrs. Little & Ballantyne, foresters to the Com¬ 
missioners of Woods and Forests, have the most tastefully executed arrange¬ 
ments on the ground. The specimens are all good of their kind, and aa-e 
planted wide enough apart to show the distinctive feature of each, while the 
ground between them has been sown with grass, which has already formed a 
thick green sward. Elmagnus japonica variegata was very fine among a 
number of other good things, Podocarpus Koriaina being also notable. 
Away to the right Messrs. Methven & Sons, Edinburgh, have directed their 
energies more to showing the adaptability of shrubs to hardy bedding effects 
than to exhaustion. Collections of ornamental species, although from a firm 
with such resources as are possessed by the above, these are not wanting. The 
bedding arrangements were effected with dwarf Ivies, Retinosporas, Lawson’s 
Cypresses, and Japan Spindle Trees in variety. A summer-hoitse made on the 
Balmoral estate from native Scotch Fir is placed in the centre of the Messrs. 
Methven’s group. The beauty of this common wood for cabinet work is 
shown in a remarkable manner in the wainscotting of this building as well 
as in some articles of furniture exhibited in the building. 
Behind this is a small collection of rare Conifer®, i&c., from ilessrs. Jas. 
Yeitch &, Sons, Chelsea. The central plant is a grand example of the Umbrella 
Pine (Sciadopitys verticillata). By far the best example of Abies polita 
shown is also here, as also fine specimens of Abies Hookeriana, A. Veitchi, 
A. Tsuga Sieboldiana, A. brachyphylla, Quercus cuspidata, the fruit of which 
is used as a food, Olea ilicifolia, Arthrotaxus selaginoides, d'c. In a neigh¬ 
bouring group Messrs. Ben. Reid & Co., Aberdeen, had the following very 
fine; indeed for robust health these northern-grown plants were superior to 
any shown—Arthrotaxus Doniana, Abies acicularbs, A. Alcoequiana, A. Pattoni, 
A. Engelmanni, and A. Alberti. In Messrs. Ireland & Thomson’s group were 
the largest variety of the Pine tribe in the Exhibition, numbering over 
100 sorts in all. Some of these were more curious than beautiful, as was 
the case with Abies excelsa viminalis erecta ; but others, such as the drooping 
Wellingtonia, Picea compacta pyramidalis, A. mucronata, A. inverta pendula, 
and Buxus japonica, useful for planting on lawns. This, and a neigbouring 
collection were the only ones which showed good plants of the Scots Fir. 
A variegated form of this was also shown, as well as a yellow-leaved 
Spruce, &c. 
Messrs. James Dickson ik Sons, Newton Nurseries, Chester, also showed a 
large and fine collection, the Conifer®, i&c., being generally represented by 
the commoner kinds. A very varied collection of Horse Chestnuts were 
remarkable, and some fine varieties of Japanese Maples with wonderful 
names were noted. The prettiest of these were Toyamanishiki, Taniyuki 
Benioshadara, Okima Taimennishiki Iwamotonishiki, and Sangotsu. A most 
instructive collection of over forty kinds of Hollies were grouped by Messrs. 
Cunningham & Fraser, Edinburgh. The plants were in the most robust 
health, and the leading kinds were all represented, as well as some not very 
commonly met with. 
Several examples of hothouses and modes of ventilating and glazing are 
exhibited. Messrs. Drummond & Lindsay, Edinburgh, exhibit an in¬ 
destructible system of glazing which we had not previously seen. Mr. 
Helliwell, Brighouse, Yorkshire, has an example of his patent glazing, and 
the Pennycock Patent Glazing and Engineering Company showed their new 
sashbar of zinc and lead, with combined system of glazing with putty. 
This is a remarkably simple, and apparently an efficient system of glazing, 
worth the attention of those wishful of keeping down garden expenses. 
The conservatory erected by Messrs. Mackenzie ik Moncur had been sold. 
Instead of being painted the woodwork in this building has been varnished, 
the general effect being very good indeed. Their patent system of ventilation 
is introduced in this house. Messrs. Robertson & Sons, Messrs. Meikle and 
Philp, and Mr. David Lowe have each examples of modern conservatories, 
besides many accessories required for these, the “ Finsbury,” boiler, shown by 
Mr. Robertson, being an obvious improved form of the “ Loughborough ” type, 
so popular among amateurs. In the Windsor Park exhibits of the Royal 
Woods and Forests is shown a fence of cleft oak pales, deer and rabbit-proof, 
which is of great durability, and most suitable for enclosing garden ground 
where the expense of a wall is objected to. Close by are examples of trees 
which have been grown in the midst of a rabbit warren, the protection 
afforded by Mr. N. Ahlbottn’s tree-protective composition having been 
sufficient to keep these destructive creatures away. 
The interesting collection of cones, seeds, &c., staged in the exhibition 
building we must reserve for another notice. 
UTRICULARIA VULGARIS. 
There is an account of the Utricularia vulgaris, accompanied by a 
figure, in the Field of June 2l8t, at page 879, which is deserving of some 
notice. Allusion is made hy the writer to the vesicles or hlalders at the 
outset of his observations, in a sentence wherein he confidingly remarks 
that he at first supposed them to be “fruit vessels” provided with “ mouths,” 
by which little fish were held fast (description being very suggestive of a 
jam-pot-bearing plant). 
Proceeding to quote from Bentham’s “ Handbook of British Flowering 
Plants” with respect to its distribution, and from Mr. Darwin’s observa¬ 
tions with regard to some of its characteristics, the floating root-like 
branches are described as extending to a length of from half an inch to one 
inch ; but this is evidently a lajJsus calami, for detached branches from 
fully developed plants are generally 6 to 12 inches long, and we have seen 
specimens measuring nearly 18 inches in length within a few days of the 
date mentioned in the first line of the communication in question. 
As regards the numerous bladders which, in some stage of their growth, 
contain both air and fluid, thereby naturally contributing more or less to 
the buoyancy of the branches, it is asserted that “ these bladders, in reality, 
exercise no such functions,” and that in the case of fish being captured 
thereby, “it is solely due to their restless inquisitiveness.” Some of Mr. 
Darwin’s experiments are related in connection with U. vulgaris, and it is 
not easy to reconcile the manifest errors and discrepancies until we dis¬ 
cover that the experiments in question were chiefly confined to the rarer 
specimens of U. neglecta. 
The paper is a remarkable one. As an instance, the writer mentions 
having “ watched a large worm which had been caught in a small bladder 
after a violent and protracted struggle swim off minus a small portion of 
his tail!” In referring to the plant as “ one of the numberless and un¬ 
looked-for enemies which assail the denizens of our rivers in all stages of 
their existence,” the author, in a paragraph immediately preceding the one 
recording the catastrophe that befell the large male worm has considerately 
prepared his readers for the surprising announcement affecting the capacity 
of its vesicles, “ that animals enter the bladders.” Related as a personal 
discovery, all this is amusing enough, but when it is subsequently stated 
that “ the U tricularia is seldom met with in rivers,” we begin to roaliso 
that the river side may be approached by animals with comparative safety, 
although it is not easy to understand the consistency of the assertion that 
