August 21, 1831. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
1G7 
Treasure!’), Colonel Sir Francis Bolton, Sir Philip Cunlifle-Ovven, C.B., 
G.T.E., Prof. Dewar, F.R.S., Mr. Joseph Dickenson, Sir George Grove, 
D.C.L., Mr. E. W. Hamilton, Mr. Henry E. Jones, M.Inst.C.E., Mr. 
W. H. Preece, F.R.S., Sir E. J, Reed, M.P., F.R.S., Prof. Chandler 
Roberts, F.R.S., Mr. John Robinson, Mr. Waringtou AV. Smyth, F.R.S., 
Dr. Stainer, and Mr. R. E. AVebster, Q.C., with Mr. Edward CanlifiEe- 
Owen as Secretary. Mr. J. R. Somers A^’ine will be the City and 
official agent. The idea upon which the Exhibition is planned is not 
to bring together a mere collection of models of inventions, but rather 
to illustrate the progress which has been made in the practical applica¬ 
tions of science during the past twenty years. In order to carry out 
this intention the Council will, as far as possible, confine the exhibits 
to processes and appliances, products being admitted only where they 
are themselves novel or where their introduction is required to make 
the purpose or advantages of that which is new in any process more 
interesting and intelligible. It is not proposed to allot space for 
manufactured goods unaccompanied by any illustrations of the process 
of manufacture. Generally it may be said that, as far as is practicable, 
inventions will be shown by models, with, in the case of models of 
entire machines, actual specimens of the portions improved under the 
exhibitor’s patent, and when the invention relates to parts only the 
whole machine will not be admitted, unless, indeed, the improvement 
effected cannot be sufficiently shown without the exhibition of the 
entire apparatus. 
-New Melons. —“AV.X.” writes: “It seems strange that gardeners 
should continue to send so many new Melons to the meetings of the 
Royal Horticultural Society when so few are now honoured with certifi¬ 
cates. There appears to be something approaching to a mania for 
raising Melons, and some of the raisers seem to think that by giving an 
elaborate record of the parentage they will secure recognition. I some¬ 
times think that it is almost a waste of time, for there are sufficient 
really good Melons in cultivation now to satisfy anyone, the chief diffi¬ 
culty being to keep these true. After all, in the matter of flavour very 
much depends upon culture and proper ripening, and for my own part I 
think there is none to surpass the old Cashmere when well grown. In 
any case, those who are anxious to figure as Melon-raisers should exercise 
some discretion in the exhibition of new varieties, well testing their 
merits previous to submitting them for honours, and if this were done 
judges and committees would not be ti’oubled with so many.” 
- Buttonhole Bouquets.—A young Scotch gardener de¬ 
sires a few hints for the making-up buttonhole bouquets for com¬ 
petition, and the best flowers to use ; he will be obliged to those of our 
readers who can give him information on the subject. 
- AVhat a delightful evening plant is the Marvel of Peru 
gro-wn as Mr. Major grows it at Croydon. He has huge bushes of it in 
tubs, in some instances having two or three plants in a tub, so as to have 
a variety of colour. These hushes produce hundreds of flowers, rich and 
variable in colour. In the daytime the flowers are closed, and there is 
little more than a mass of green, but towards evening they expand and 
fill the air -with fragrance, rendering the garden delightful when it can be 
enjoyed in the cool of the evening. The perfume is more powerful than 
that of the Night-scented Stock, or Nicotiana affinis, both of which are 
grown for the same purpose. The Marvel of Peru bushes are stood on the 
terrace and along the sides of the walks, the tubers of the plants, which 
are very large, being preserved from year to year. Any number of plants 
can be raised from seeds, and they will render any garden sweet during the 
evenings of summer and autumn. 
- In the same garden brightness is imparted by growing the Red- 
hot Poker Plant— Tritoma Uvaria— in pots. They are in 10-inch pots, 
and the “ pokers ” are among the finest we have seen, the stout stems 
being 7 or 8 feet high, and the orange-scarlet flower heads nearly a foot 
long. Arranged with other plants on the terrace they have a telling 
effect and continue attractive for weeks. Good soil, very copious supplies 
of water with liquid manure frequently, are requisites to support such 
fine spikes of dazzling flowers. 
- In an article in another column reference is made to the care 
that has been taken in Planting Conifers at Dropmore and the excel¬ 
lent results of such care. Mr. Major j)oiuts as an example of the import¬ 
ance of good and deep stations of soil to two examples of Pinus sylvestris, 
both of the same age and planted at the same time some twenty-five years 
ago, one merely being put in the ordinary gravelly soil without any prepara¬ 
tion, the other having several feet in depth of good soil to grow in. The 
former is a stinted, almost a miserable example, not 20 feet high; the 
other is a stately handsome specimen, 50 feet high, with a straight, 
stout, clean stem, well furnished with healthy branches, and a prominent 
ornament of the garden. 
- The D.ahlia season is fast approaching, the plants are growicg 
freely, and nothing but a softer atmosphere and cooler nights are needed 
to bring out good blooms. AVe are asked to remind those who are 
interested in the Grand National Dahlia Show to be held at the Crystal 
Palace on September oth and 6th, that the entries should be sent in during 
the ensuing week, along with the amount of the promised subscriptions 
when not already paid. Further subscriptions, we may add, are much 
needed, and those who love the Dahlia should remember that it is their 
privilege to furnish the necessary aid. Both entries and contributions 
should be sent to the Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. T. Moore, Botanic 
Gardens, Chelsea, S.AV. 
MAIDENHEAD SHOW. 
August 14th. 
In many gardens of moderate extent as good examples of cultural skill 
can be seen as in establishments of much greater pretensions, and it often 
happens that in the smaller garden there is a much more noticeable uniformity 
of merit in the several departments than can usually be the case where the 
gardener’s attention is spread over a much more extensive charge. It would 
seem to be in some respects similar in the case of horticultural shows; for 
though the leading exhibitions where large prizes are offered generally 
abound in what is termed “ fine produce,” yet smaller shows are often quite 
as satisfactory as regards the cultural skill displayed in the exhibits. One 
of the best examples of this kind that we have recently seen was at Maiden¬ 
head on Thursday last, when the annual Exhibition of that pretty town was 
held in Kidwells Park. The prizes offered are of moderate amount in all the 
classes, but the district is a good one, the local growers are proud of 
their Show, and do their best to render it what it undoubtedly is—a success. 
Plants, flowers, fruits, and vegetables are all equally and admirably represented, 
and very rarely do we see an exhibition in which the quality is so uniform. 
True there were few of the enormous specimen plants to which visitors at 
the metropolitan shows are accustomed, but the majority of the smaller 
examples were distinguished by a most satisfactory freshness and high 
colour in the case of the fine-foliage plants, and abundance of blooms on the 
flowering plants. Fruit, too, was shown in good condition, except perhaps 
a few white Grapes; and vegetables were most creditable to the growers 
who staged them. 
Two tents sufficed to contain the exhibits, the larger one being occupied 
with the plants, flowers, and fruits, and the other with vegetables and 
cottagers’ productions, which showed the prevailing good quality of the 
amateurs’ and gardeners’ contributions. 
Pl.\nts. —Two of the most interesting of the classes devoted to plants 
were those for Grapes arranged for effect, and though these were of moderate 
size some very tasteful arrangements were contributed. The principal was 
for a group to occupy a space 12 feet by 10 feet, in which there were five 
most commendable exhibits. Mr. R. H. Taylor, gardener to James AFatson, 
Esq., Langley House, Slough, secured the first position with most graceful 
group—light yet well filled, and bright without an undue preponderarce of 
colour, jlhe groundwork was formed of small Adiantums with Caladiums, 
Alocasias, and Coleuses, the central plants being some tall Cordylines and 
Cocos, around which were freely grouped Statices, Tuberous Begonias, 
Gymnogrammas, and Francoa ramosa, the last being very liberally employed 
with excellent effect. The margin consisted of Adiantums, Selaginellas, 
Tradescantias, and Panicum, forming a neat but not formal finish to a most 
praiseworthy group. The second position was accorded to Mr. A. Aitken, 
The Gardens, Richings Park, Slough, who also had a very tasteful group of 
somewhat similar style to the first, the Cocos and Araucarias constituting 
the tallest plants in a bed of Ferns, with well-coloured Crotons, Caladium 
argyrites, Kalosanthes, Gladiolus, Coleuses, and Ericas, margined with 
Panicum, Tradescantia, Lobelias, and Selaginellas. Mr. Eliott, gardener to 
J. Hibbert, Esq., Braybrook Lodge, followed closely with a very bright and 
showy group—Gladiolus, A’^allotas, Fuchsias, and Achimenes being liberally 
employed. Extra prizes were also awarded to Mr. Lockie, Oakley Court 
Gardens, AFindsor ; and Mr. G. Phippen, Reading, both of whom had pleasing 
groups, the last-named including in his arrangement several fine plants of 
the beautiful Lilium spec'osum album, flowering most freely. Another class 
was provided for a group G feet by 5 feet, in which the competition was less 
keen, though the three groups entered were most creditable. The premier 
honour was adjudged to Mr. G. Geyve, gardener to Mrs. Langworthy, Geys 
House, Holyport, for an elegant arrangement, in which Celosias, Gloxinias, 
Dracmnas, Cockscombs, Allamandas, and F’ariegated Grasses predominated, 
with a central Cocos and a groundwork of Ferns. Mr. Moore, gardener to 
Mrs. Haig, Br.ay Court, and Mr. AF. Broughton, nurseryman. Maidenhead, 
were respectively second and third with more formal but pretty groups. 
Stove and greenhouse plants were not very largely shown, but some neat 
and well-grown specimens were included in the collections of four. Mr. 
Aitken won the chief position with Croton Johannis, 5 feet high and beauti¬ 
fully coloured—a really handsome plant; Lagerstroemia indica, 7 feet high, 
large, tree-like, and abundantly flowered ; Allamanda Schotti, a globular 
specimen, bearing numerous large flowers ; and Kentia Fosteriana, strong 
and healthy. Mr. Geyve followed, his plants being Hydrangea ; Pandanus 
Veitchi, large and healthy ; Clerodendron Balfourianum, and Latania bor- 
bonica. The best single specimen was a wonderfully fine Myrtle (Myrtus 
communis) shown by Mr. Bridgeman, gardener to T. S. Cocks, Esq., Thames 
Bank, Great Marlow. The plant was about 10 feet high, and as much in 
diameter, in splendid healthy condition, and flowering most abundantly. 
Another plant of similar size was also shown from the same garden, forming 
a handsome pair. Mr. Aitkin took the second place with a globular-trained 
Clerodendron Balfouriananum, about 4 feet in diameter, and flowering freely. 
