150 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTIAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 14, 1884. 
arrangements are to be carried out at this point. Possibly the narrow way 
alluded to may be carried a little further westward, and the present 
thoroughfare taken into the flower market. It has, however, been deter¬ 
mined to effect an important improvement on this southern side of Covent 
Garden, by setting back both fronts of the line of buildings lying between 
the market and Tavistock Street, thus at once widening Tavistock Street, 
and so improving the access to the market, while it will extend the actual 
market area by widening its southern roadway. Demolitions for this purpose 
are now in rapid progress. 
KOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. ^ 
AufiusT 12 th. 
The exhibits before the two Committees were not very numerous, nearly 
all the available space in the conservatory being occupied by the competing 
collections of fruit and vegetables in the Cottagers’ and Artisans’ Show. 
The chief attraction amongst the floral exhibits were the magnificent Gladioli 
spikes from Langport, which furnished great brilliancy of colour. The 
Slough Dahlia flowers were similarly beautiful, and several smaller collec¬ 
tions of diverse plants furnished additional subjects of interest. 
Fruit Committee. —Present, Mr. John E. Lane in the chair, and Messrs. 
John Lee, S. Lyon, J. Willard, Arthur W. Sutton, and G. Goldsmith. Several 
seedling Melons of little merit were shown, and no award was made for them. 
A vote of thanks was, however, accorded to Mr. Rutland, The Gardens, 
Goodwood, for two large fruits of the Goodwood Melon, weighing 17^ lbs., 
oval, and strongly ribbed. Mr. W. Benwick, Redhill, sent a peculiarly mal¬ 
formed Cucumber, strangely twisted, and with the petiole of the leaf springing 
directly from the middle of the fruit. Mr. H. Herbst, Richmond, showed a 
dish of a brightly coloured oblong Tomato, named King Humbert, which was 
considered by the Committee to be the same as Chiswick Red, or too near it to 
merit a special award. Several Apples were also sent for name. At a recent 
meeting at Chiswick first-class certificates were awarded for the following 
Peas, of which descriptions have not yet been obtained :— 
Pea Bliss's Abundance (Howcroft and Watkins). 
Pea Magnificent (H. Eckford). 
Pea Early Paragon (Sharpe & Co.). 
Floral Committee. —Present.—Section A.—Dr. Masters in the chair, 
and Messrs. JohnLaing, F. R. Kinghorn, H. Herbst, John Dominy, and 
E. Hill. Section B.—Shirley Hibberd, Esq., in the chair, and Messrs. J. 
Douglas, W. B 'alby, G. F. Wilson, J. James, and G. Duffield. 
The Gladioli from Messrs. Kelway & Co., Langport, Somerset, were superb, 
the spikes of great size, the flowers large, with broad substantial petals most 
diversely, delicately, or brightly coloured. Many grand collections of these 
handsome flowers have been exhibited by this firm, but their contribution of 
Tuesday last was undoubtedly one of the best they have staged in London. 
About 130 spikes, mostly different varieties, were staged, and they were well 
arranged, so that their colours were either strikingly contrasted or pleasingly 
harmonised with each other. Of so many that were good it is not easy to 
make a small selection, but the following were prominently attractive owing 
to their rich colours or massive blooms :—Marshal Bazaine, scarlet with a 
yellow centre and mauve stripes; Electra, white with rose and crimson 
streaks ; Earl Airlie, salmon scarlet; Lord Powis, white with purple stripes ; 
Sir S. Northcote, brilliant scarlet; Augustus, white with a central blotch of 
crimson in the lower petal; Mrs. Dombrain, very delicate and pretty, pale 
creamy or pinkish white; Pictus, salmon red, crimson-streaked ; Duke of 
Teck, white, blotched and streaked with crimson ; and Lady Carrington, 
which was certificated, and is described with the other plants so honoured. 
A silver-gilt Flora medal was awarded by the Council for Messrs. Kelway’s 
beautiful collection. 
About seventy blooms of Show and Fancy Dahlias, but chiefly the former, 
were exhibited by Mr. C. Turner, Slough, and were throughout of remarkable 
merit. The flowers were distinguished by that smoothness of form and 
clearness of colour which invariably characterise the Slough Dahlias as well 
as other florists’ flowers, and a large number of the best varieties in cultiva¬ 
tion were represented in the stand. A seedling Fancy variety was shown 
under the name of General Gordon, the blooms of which were of great 
size, a trifle loose perhaps, but of a most peculiar colour—yellow with 
claret or pale crimson streaks. A vote of thanks was accorded for this con¬ 
tribution. 
Mr. C. Ivoble, Bagshot, sent a box of Clematis flowers, including some fine 
examples of the white Jackmanni, very pure and of good form. Ascotensis 
deep purple ; Lady Bovill, purplish lilac; Star of India, crimson purple, with 
a bright central bar in each division ; and Proteus, a very floriferous pale lilac 
variety, which is said to bear unusually large flowers in the spring were the 
most noticeable of those shown. The New Plant and Bulb Company Col¬ 
chester, had an interesting collection of hardy flowers, amongst which the 
following deserve special mention. Montbretia crocosmmflora with fine 
tubular scarlet flowers ; Montbretia sulphurea, bright yellow; Tritoma nobilis 
large hatidsotae, of a bright coral red j Crinum Moorei, bearin'^ several 
of Its delicate blush-tinted blooms ; Eremurus Olgm, fine spikes of its white 
pale pinkish blooms, each division of which has a dark central line that with 
the yellow ovpy gives the flower a very pleasing appearance; Littonia 
Keitzei with shining green tapering leaves and bright orange-coloured flowers 
Specimens were also sent of the Orchids Cattleya Gaskelliana grandis, which 
has handsome pale rosy purple flowers, and Scuticaria Steeli, which has pale 
yellow flowers spotted with maroon. 
The single Dahlias contributed by Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham, formed 
a charming contrast to Show varieties from Slough. Repeated careful 
selections from great numbers of seedlings have gradually enabled Mr. 
Ware to obtain a collection of unsurpassed beauty both in the shape and 
colours of the flowers. The tints are particularly rich and varied, and they 
never appeared brighter or more telling than on this occasion. Six boxes 
were filled with blooms, and the award of a bronze Banksian medal 
recognised their merit. Mr. Ware also had a box of blooms of a fine yeUow 
self Antirrhinum named Yellow Dwarf. 
Amongst numerous smaller exhibits for which votes of thanks were 
awarded were the folloiving Messrs. C. Lee & C6. showed a basket of 
Statice floribunda, very compact in habit, with abundant lilac-blue flowers 
Mr. Noble sent flowers of four species of Soiraea, very beautiful—namely 
S. Douglasii, with large bright rosy spikes ; S. Nohleana, with flatter 
panicle-like clusters of pale rose blooms ; S. callosa, similar, but paler ; and 
S. Lindleyana, with white flowers and large pinnate leaves. Three hand¬ 
some cones of Picea nobilis were also sent, and a small one of Pinus 
parviflora. H. H. Smee, Esq., The Grange, Wallington, exhibited a plant 
of Tropseolum aureum flore-pleno, a free-flowering variety of semi-climbing 
habit, having double yellow and crimson blooms. A Lycaste Deppei was 
also sent to show a variation, one flower having dark sepals and the other 
nearly white. Mr. J. Keene, Englefield Green, showed a collection of 
double Hollyhocks, rather small, but of fair colour. G. F. Wilson, Esq., 
Weyhridge, sent flowers of Govenia fasciata, white, with a few fine dots. 
It is an American terrestrial Orchid, but little known in gardens generally, 
through not wanting in attractions. Mr. Bealby, Roehampton, had a plant 
of the double white Zonal Pelargonium Blanc Parfait; and Mr. H. B. 
Smith, Ealing, showed flowers of Carnation James Veitch, a pale yellow 
self with fringed petals. 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, showed some flowers of the beautiful 
Tigridias, conchiflora being yellow with red spots ; alba, creamy white with 
crimson spots ; and pavonia, scarlet and yellow with heavy dark spots. 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons sent several choice plants, including Rhododendron 
Crown Prince of Germany, reddish scarlet, large flowers in a rather loose 
truss ; and Curcuma sumatrana with bright green prominently ribbed leaves, 
and a spike of imbricated reddish bracts, in the axils of which appeared the 
yellow flowers. Mr. King, Rowsham, showed several Tuberous Begonias of 
dwarf habit with Coleuses, one of which was certificated. 
First-class certificates were awarded for the following plants ;— 
Ixora JVesJi (Veitch).—A hybrid between I. odorata and I. amboinensis. 
The flowers are long, of a pale coral pink hue, very distinct and delicate, and 
are borne in full trusses. It is free in habit, and altogether a most desirable 
variety. 
Tigridia Pavonia alba (Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons and the New Plant and 
Bulb Company, Colchester).—A most beautiful variety of the well-known 
Tiger Flower, from which it differs in having a creamy white ground with 
numerous heavy crimson spots. 
Lcxlia elegans superbissima (Sanders & Co).—A variety which well merits 
its eulogistic title. The sepals and petals are narrow, tinted with pale 
purple, the lip being of an intensely rich crimson magenta, brighter in the 
throat. 
Coleus Countess of Dudley (Mr. G. King, Rowsham, Aylesbury).—An 
exceedingly handsome and distinct variety with bold leaves, deeply crenated, 
bright green, having a broad central vein of gold, and smaller lateral veins of 
a similar colour. A valuable addition to the really effective and useful 
Coleuses raised by Mr. King. 
Montbretia elegans (New Plant and Bulb Company).—This differs con¬ 
siderably in the flower from the other Montbretias, and is easily recog¬ 
nised. The flowers are small, scarlet at the base of the tube and yellow at 
the upper part, and are borne in freely branching spikes. 
Gladiolus Lady Carrington (Kelway).—Several spikes were shown of this 
variety, which at once attracted attention by their soft blush or pale lilac- 
tinted flowers. The petals are large and round, forming handsome symme¬ 
trical blooms and dense massive spikes. 
A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Goldsmith, The Gardens, Hollanden, 
Tonbridge, for a branch of Passiflora quadrangularis bearing six flue flowers, 
one from each node, and it is seldom this handsome species produces its 
flowers so freely. 
THE COTTAGERS’ SHOW. 
This proved in all respects a wonderful success, there being over 700 
entries, and the quality of the exhibits generally was most satisfactory. In 
some of the classes the competition was extremely keen, as many as forty 
exhibitors entering in some of them, especially those for Potatoes, which 
formed a really fine display. Onions, Beans, and Peas were also well 
represented, collections of vegetables and small fruits being in similar strong 
force. The only class which could be termed a failure was that for a collec¬ 
tion of fruit and vegetables, in which liberal prizes were offered for compe¬ 
tition amongst local horticultural and cottage garden societies or allotment 
holders. This did not seem to have been understood, as, although six prizes 
were offered, there were only two competitors. 
The exhibition was a thoroughly representative one, for there were 
entries from the majority of English counties as far north as Cumberland, 
and the uniform merit of the productions afforded most satisfactory evidence 
of the attention given to vegetable and fruit culture by cottagers. 
TWO NOTTS NOTES. 
I HAVE been trying for some time back to get a few minutes, so that I 
might give you a note or two from Notts; but the rush of the summer’s 
work—that perpetual lawn-mowing and tennis-ground preparing, those 
everlasting weed subduings, the periodical seed-sowings, added to the 
general tittivating of the whole place, and a nuisance of a hay harvest 
coming on the top of that, taking one’s labour for the best part of every 
working day for three weeks or a month, that too at the very height of 
the season. All these things have so filled my hands with duties, my head, 
with cunning plans whereby the work could be all done and things kept 
going right, and one’s tongue with growls and grumblings audible and 
inaudible, that there has not been either spirit to write or time to do 
writing in. 
The first note I must make is on our Notts Horticultural and Botanical 
Society’s Summer Show, and such a show, or rather such weather ! The 
first day of the Show was the wettest day of the present season, July 9th. 
It rained all day or thereabouts, and rained the hardest just when the most 
money should have been coming in. Even you, Mr. Editor, who are 
accustomed to moving spectacles and therefore somewhat callous, would 
have been moved to tears almost, certainly to the deepest sadness, to have 
seen the officers of the Society on that first day of the Notts Horticultural 
and Botanical Society’s Show in Mapperley Park, Nottingham. They 
were objects of the tenderest pity as they moved about with macintoshes 
. on and shoulders up, and feet slish-slosbing in the wet grass as they kept 
