168 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 21, 1884, 
Mr. Taylor was third with Erica Austiniana, of similar dimensions and fairly 
well flowered. 
Foliage plants, including Ferns, were similarly well shown. In the class 
for twelve variegated plants Mr. Eliott was the only exhibitor, being awarded 
the first prize for plants of medium size, but in excellent health and very 
handsome. Particularly notable were Aralia Veitchi, Areca lutescens, 
Dracsena Cooperi, Maranta princeps, Croton pictus, Croton Baron James 
Rothschild, and Dracaena ShepherdL With one specimen fine-foliage plant 
Mr. Aitkin was the premier exhibitor, having a beautiful example of Croton 
Queen Victoria, 4 feet high and as much across, fresh and beautifully 
coloured. Mr. Eliott was second with Croton Veitchii, 6 feet high and very 
bright in colour; Mr. G. Hopkins, gardener to J. W. Burrows, Esq., The 
Elms, Cookham, taking the third place with Latania borbonica, 5 feet high, 
well developed, and clothed with fronds to the base. The Ferns deserve 
much praise, as in healthy vigorous freshness they could scarcely be surpassed, 
though larger specimens are frequently seen. Mr. R. H. Taylor had the 
best six handsome examples of Adiantum farleyense, 4 feet in diameter ; 
A. Lathomi, similar ; A. cardiochlsena, very strong ; Gymnogramma chryso- 
phylla, healthy and brightly coloured ; Davallia polyantha, with very 
vigorous fronds ; and A, cuneatum, fresh and beautiful. .Mr. Aitkin secured 
the second place, his plants comprising a large Adiantum cardiochlsena, 
6 feet in diameter; Pteris serrulata cristata ; Gymnogramma peruviana 
argyrophylla, of medium size, but extremely healthy ; Davallia dissecta, 
Pteris scaberula, and Microlepia hirta cristata, Mr. Gey ve was third; his 
best examples were Adiantum formosum and A. cuneatum. 
Seven admirable collections of six table plants were shown, and with 
scarcely one exception they were all well fitted for the purpose for which 
they were intended, the only difference being in the neatness of the pots and 
the surfacing of the soil. Mr. Phippen was adjudged first honours for 
graceful little plants of Dracmna gracilis, a dark narrow-leaved variety, and 
Cocos Weddelliana. These were shown in pairs, which was permitted by the 
terms of the schedule, though it is rare that this is the case, as six distinct 
varieties are usually required. They, however, well deserved their position, 
being neat, fresh, and healthy, without being too large. Mr. Aitkin was 
second with a more diversified and almost equally elegant collection, com¬ 
prising Aralia Veitchii, Croton Rodeckianus, Cocos Weddelliana, Dracaena 
gracilis, and Aralia elegantissima. Mr. Lockie took the third place with 
Dracaenas hybrida, nigra rubra, Guilfoylei; Crotons Weismanni, interruptus ; 
and Pandanus Veitchi. A collection from Mr. W. Potter, gardener to 
C. Laxton, Esq., Riverdene, Cookham, of Dracaenas and Crotons was highly 
commended. Cockscombs were capitally shown by Mr. Lockie, who was 
first in the class for six plants, with dwarf sturdy specimens about 1 foot 
high, the “comb” being as much in diameter and of rich colour. Mr. 
Eliott and Mr. Hopkins were second and third. Fuchsias were contributed 
by Messrs. E. Jones and Hopkins, who were awarded the first and second 
prizes, the plants in both collections being rather thin, the first much the 
best flowered, and the second more vigorous and better clothed with foliage. 
With Tuberous Begonias Mr. Gardner, gardener to C. Hammersly, Esq., 
Bourne End; and Mr. Geyve were first and second respectively for well- 
flowered plants. 
Cut Flowers. —The most noteworthy of the classes in this section was 
that for bridal bouquets, of which several tasteful examples were contributed. 
Mr. Phippen was deservedly placed first with one of the charming arrange¬ 
ments so frequently seen at the Reading Show. The flowers employed were 
Stephanotis, double white Primulas, Lilium speciosum album. Gardenias, 
white Asters, with Fern fronds and a few leaves of Caladium argyrites. 
Mr. A. Bridgeman, gardener to T. S. Cocks, Esq., Thames Bank, Great 
Marlow, was second, his bouquet chiefly consisting of Tuberoses, Stepha- 
notises, and Francoa ramosa; Mr. Broughton following with a pleasing 
arrangement. In the class for three buttonholes Mr. Phippen was again 
first, the flowers he employed being Rose buds, Bouvardias, and Pelargonium 
echinatum. Mr. Potter was second, Bouvardias and Orchids constituting the 
chief flowers used. Mr. Tranter was third with some pretty Rose buds. 
Special classes were also provided for cut flowers of the following :—Twelve 
Zinnias, Mr. Eliott took the lead with fine flowers, followed by Mr. F. W. 
Chaundry, Brampton HousCjGreat Marlow. Of Asters the principal exhibi¬ 
tors were Messrs. Phippen, Eliott, J. Mason, gardener to C. C. Ellis, Esq., 
Shottisbrooke ; and W. Taft, gardener to H. Norsthworthy, Esq., Clarefield 
House. Dahlias were shown in admirable condition, Messrs. Geyve, Eliott, 
and Dixon being the prizetakers for single blooms, all very bright and 
attractive. For twelve Show Dahlias Mr. Tranter was placed first with 
beautiful blooms—fresh, clean, and substantial. Roses were shown by 
Mr. J. H. Powell, gardener to Montague Williams, Esq., Farnham Royal, 
who was first with neat blooms ; Mr. J. Wills, Fernhill, Winkfield, and 
Mr. Tranter securing the other prizes. 
Fruit. —Several classes were devoted to fruits, and in most of them the 
competition was good and the quality of the exhibits satisfactory. For six 
dishes Mr. Goodman was first with Foster’s Seedling and Black Hamburgh 
Grapes fairly coloured, fine Moorpark Apricots, Dagmar Peaches^ eighteen 
handsome fruits, and about the same number of Dryden Nectarine, and a 
well-netted Victory of Bristol Melon. Mr. H. Cakebread, gardener to Sir 
Philip Rose, Raymers, was second with fine Hale’s Early Peaches and Black 
Hamburgh Grapes of good colour. Mr. Aitkin was third, his best dishes 
being Pine Apple Nectarines, very handsome. With four dishes Mr. Lockie 
took the lead, showing Buckland Sweetwater Grapes, large in bunch and 
berry ; Hero of Bath Melon, finely netted ; Red Magdalene Peaches, large 
and of rich colour ; and a dish of fine Figs. Mr. Bridgeman was second, 
having excellent examples of Buckland Sweetwater Grapes and Royal 
George Peaches ; and Mr. D. Paxton, gardener to Lady Boston, Taplow, was 
third with rather green Muscat Grapes, but good Ischia Figs. Mr. Hopkins 
had the best three bunches of Black Hamburgh Grapes, very fine in berry, 
and excellently coloured ; Messrs. Moore and Cakebread following with 
smaller and less well-ripened samples. In the Any other black variety class 
Mr. Goodman gained first honours with Black Alicante, beautifully coloured. 
Mr. J. Wells, Fernhill, was second with Cooper’s Black, fine bunches and 
berries ; and Mr. Blackball was third with Black Prince, fairly good. With 
three bunches of Muscats Mr. Geyve secured the first position for medium- 
size bunches, well coloured. Mr. Cakebread followed with small well-ripened 
bunches, and Mr. Wright was third with much larger but green samples. 
In the Any other white variety class Mr. Bridgeman deservedly won the 
leading prize with Buckland Sweetwater, large in bunch and berry, and 
handsomely coloured. Very rarely indeed are such good examples of this 
variety seen at exhibitions. Mr. Goodman took the second place with large 
bunches of Foster’s Seedling. Equal third prizes were awarded to Mr. Cake¬ 
bread and Mr. Wells for Trebbiano and Buckland Sweetwater, both good 
specimens. Peaches and Nectarines were well represented, Mr. Lockie 
leading in the former class with fine Noblesse Peaches, followed by Mr. 
Wright, gardener to W. H. Grenfell, Esq., Taplow Court, beautiful fruits 
of Late Admirable, and Mr. Taylor with Stirling Castle. In the Nectarine 
class Mr. Goodman was first with Dryden, and Mr. Jones second with 
Violette Hative. Plums, dessert and culinary Apples, Melons, outdoor fruits, 
Cucumbers, and Tomatoes were all well shown, the prizes being secured by 
the exhibitors already named. 
Vegetables. —There was an excellent display of Potatoes and Onions in 
the classes provided by the Society, but the principal vegetable exhibits 
were those in the special class for nine dishes, for which Messrs. Sutton and 
Sons, Reading, offered three prizes of £2 2s., £1 Is., and 15«. There were 
nine exhibitors in this class, and the whole of the collections were remark¬ 
ably close in merit—even, clean, admirable samples. Mr. T. Lockie won 
chief honours for a superb collection of well-grown vegetables, comprising 
fine solid Reading Onions, beautiful fruits of Sutton’s Perfection Tomatoes, 
clean handsome Negro Kidney Beans, handsome even Royal Windsor Cucum¬ 
bers, Ashleaf Potatoes, Sulham Prize Celery, Snowball Turnips, Improved 
Champion Carrots, and Vegetable Marrows. Mr. Eliott was an extremely 
close second, his dishes being fine Hathaway’s Excelsior Tomatoes, large and 
handsome Giant Rocca Onions, Cauliflowers, Sutton’s Latest of All Peas, 
Intermediate Carrots, and Snowball Turnips. Mr. Cakebread was third with 
Hathaway’s Selected Tomatoes, Cream Vegetable Marrow, Tripoli Onions, 
Veitch’s Ashleaf Potatoes, Canadian Wonder Beans, Globe Artichokes, 
Early Nantes Carrots, and British Queen Peas. A very close and beautiful 
collection was also shown by Mr. G. Goodman, which included some extremely 
fine Trophy Tomatoes and Canadian Wonder Beans. 
TASTE IN FLOWER GARDENING. 
No time of the year is better than the present for reviewing flower 
garden arrangements of all kinds. We have the plants themselves before 
us—impartial exhibitors of their own defects or beauties, and quite as im¬ 
partial in showing any defects in the judgment of the person responsible 
for their arrangement, while an opportunity for a revision of past judg¬ 
ments is at the same time freely given. We are now so extremely rich in 
flowers suitable for decorative effects, that there is ample means for all 
purposes. As regards ordinary bedding plants, we are almost in a position 
to defy the weather of ordinary seasons. We can, as it suits the taste, have 
some “wild gardening,” by employing Snapdragons, Marigolds, Marguer¬ 
ites, Pentstemons, early Starworts, Ox-eye Daisies, Japanese Windflowers, 
Vittadenias, Evening Primroses, Gladiolus, &c., and have our gardens 
rough enough to please the most ardent sesthete. Or from the multitude 
of carpet-bedding plants we can select a few of the most choice, a few sub¬ 
tropical plants, a few from the hardy flower borders, and some of the old 
bedding plants, which, notwithstanding the hard names showered upon 
them, do not refuse to lend their aid in making gardens beautiful; and 
from all these combined, secure fine autumn display, I have always 
thought it would be a pity to turn out the ordinary bedding plants from our 
gardens in the same way as the few rubbishy plants were in bygone times 
turned out of their ill-kept borders ; and I am glad to believe that there is 
no fear of such mishaps occurring. There is plenty of room in all country 
gardens for growing the few hardy plants really worth growing; plenty of 
room for Pinks and Carnations, for Daffodils, for Anemones, for Roses, for 
Phloxes, for lumpy Dahlias, and for tall-growing Hollyhocks without oust¬ 
ing the bedding plants—as they have been rather unhappily termed—from 
the position they have so long occupied. 
Now it is only fitting that we should remember, in connection with these 
matters, that nothing can be said against bedding plants themselves. A 
yellow Calceolaria, a scarlet Pelargonium, and blue Lobelia are flowers 
which no one can be offended with; but if we mass the three flowers, or 
make lines of them in juxtaposition, then the result is often unsatisfactory. 
No matter how rules may be laid down as to the treatment of primary, 
secondary, and tertiary colours, it will only be the few who will be found 
capable of making satisfying effects out of their material. It would 
be just as unreasonable to expect a signboard painter to develope the pic¬ 
ture of a high-class artist out of his material, as untrained gardeners to 
make the same effect as those who have trained themselves in their younger 
days in studying effects of arrangement, capability of flowers, and the 
peculiarities of colouring. 
I am not going to lay down any code of rules for guidance in these 
matters, for the simple reason that rules are useless. Had we a strictly 
defined enclosure with the same surroundings in every case to make beau¬ 
tiful with a living picture, it would even then be difficult to lay down any 
rule ; but, when the framing to every such picture varies—nay, to be more 
correct, when what we have to do is not so much to make a picture our¬ 
selves as to add one small feature to a grand ever-changing picture 
already formed, rules are impossible. In one garden it would not only be 
admissible but simply the only way to make effect to employ masses of 
primary colours very largely—blocks of yellow, or of crimson—while in 
another a very little yellow might be detestable. We may descend to the 
use of a particular bed, and where one man would make it a bright effec¬ 
tive spot with common materials another would make it an eyesore. No¬ 
thing is commoner than crimson bedding Ptlargonium, purple Viola-Pansies, 
and “ Golden Feather.” Mass the Pelargonium as a central block, band 
that with the Viola a widish band, and a very narrow line of the Golden 
Feather will not be out of place as an edging. There will be nothing 
vulgar about it, but, on the other hand, a simple and effective bed. Too 
little purple or too much yellow, however would completely alter appear- 
