JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
July 6, 1382. ] 
in quality it is always excellent. Growers put forth their best efforts, 
and there were some grand blooms displayed. Especially was this 
the case with Tea Roses. The boxes of blooms shown by Capt. 
Knight and Mr. Biron were gi and specimens of this beautiful class ; 
while the box which obtained the prize for the best box in the Show, 
exhibited by Mr. Biron, contained blooms which would have done 
credit to any grower. Where, however, all were so good it seems 
almost envious to particularise, and I therefore add the names of the 
winning flowers in the first prizes in each class, and can only express 
the hope that the Society may long flourish. 
I would like to take the opportunity of saying that the name of 
the place where the first shot was fired was not Bibbing, but Bobbing. 
—D., Deal. 
[Only the premier winners in the different classes have been for¬ 
warded to us, and are as follows :—In class 1, Mr. R. L. Knight. 
Class 2, Mr. H. H. Wakeley. Class 3, Rev. H. B. Biron. These 
classes are not designated. In the class for twelve Teas Rev. H. B. 
Biron and Mr. R. L. Knight were equal firsts. Mr. Wakeley was 
first with eight trebles, Mr. Mount with nine varieties, single trusses ; 
Mrs. Heawood with six varieties, Rev. H. B. Biron with six Teas, 
and Mr. Knight secured the first position in the class for six blooms 
of one variety with La France. 
The silver medal of the National Rose Society was awarded to the 
Rev. H. B. Biron for the best box of blooms in the Show, and the 
bronze medal to Mr. Knight for the best Rose in the Show—Marie 
Rady. 
In consequence of the extreme pressure on our columns we are 
unable to publish the names of the varieties in the winning stands, 
which have been obligingly sent to us, but were not received until 
after the whole of our space was occupied or allocated.] 
OBSCURE BOTANICAL PHENOMENA. 
A lecture on this subject was delivered on the 22nd inst. by 
Rev. W. H. Dallinger, F.R.S., before the Sheffield Floral and Horticul¬ 
tural Society, the chair being taken by H. E. Watson, Esq., Shire- 
cliffe Hall, President of the Society. 
Mr. Dallinger, who was cheered on rising, said he did not propose 
to himself the formality of a lecture, but rather to lay before them a 
series of diagrams (which were illustrated by means of the oxy- 
hydrogen light) of some of the more obscure and rare phenomena of 
vegetable life. He first drew attention in a forcible and very lucid 
manner to the group of putrefactive organisms with which the 
scientific world is becoming more and more acquainted, and which 
could not yet be classed with any degree of certainty with either the 
animal dr vegetable world, but which form a connecting link between 
the two. After pointing out how these putrefactive organisms set 
free at death the elements needful to living creatures, he proceeded 
to illustrate and describe the development of these organisms from 
the germs of oval form through the oblong to the globular and 
matured, and their methods of reproduction. Protoplasm and its 
continued activity after being set free from Algse, and the method of 
reproduction of the Confervas, Desmids, dzc., were described ; also of 
the fungoid growth which attacks flies in autumn, and of its identifi¬ 
cation with the salmon disease. The Peronospora infestans, or Potato 
disease, was well illustrated as to its method of fertilisation and 
reproduction. After giving descriptive illustrations of the organisms 
(Protococcus pluvialis) to be found in all rain water, particularly 
pools that have stood for some time, with their generation and 
development, an interesting and highly instructive lecture was 
brought to a close by the passing of hearty votes of thanks to the 
rev. lecturer and to the chairman.—J. U. S. 
IIITCHIN ROSE SHOW. 
June 28th. 
“Within twenty miles of Hitchin,” the limit according to the 
advertisement of the district covered by the Hitchin Rose Society, 
and in which is included a good deal of chalk, sand, and hungry clay 
country, several of the great growers also, although resident in the 
same county, being by the limit excluded, it will hardly be surmised 
that a large display would attend the zealous endeavours of the Hon. 
Sec., the Rev. F. H. Gall, especiall}' as there was no open class and 
the time full early for the locality. Nevertheless, a fine Rose day, 
with occasional gleams of sunshine to light up the bright flowers and 
the equally bright faces and dresses of the goodly array of admirers 
who were present in remunerative numbers, rendered the Hitchin 
Show a fair success, and sufficiently so, I trust, to induce the genial 
Hon. Sec. to renew his efforts next year on a somewhat more extended 
scale, and perhaps to add an open class or two. 
The flowers were, on the whole, hardly so good as those shown at 
Hitchin in 1881, and with the exception of the stands of Messrs. E. P. 
Francis k Co. of Hertford ; the Rev. W. H. Jackson of Stagsden, 
Beds ; and the Rev. E. Fellowes of Wimpole, Cambs, will not need 
much comment. In Class 1, open to nurserymen, Messrs. Francis 
were the only competitors, and were fairly awarded the first prize for 
a very good stand of twenty-four trusses of any variety, amongst their 
best blooms being A. K. Williams, Marquise de Castellane, Duke of 
Edinburgh, Antoine Mouton, Francis Michelon, a very bright and good 
17 
Baron Adolphe de Rothschild, and an unusually large Paul Neyron. 
In the amateurs’ class for twenty-four trusses a good tryst came off 
between Mr. Jackson and Mr. Fellowes for first and second places, 
Mr. Jackson being ultimately placed first by the Judges with large, 
fully developed, and generally smooth blooms, including Etienne 
Levet, Gabriel Luizet, and Charles Darwin—all three model and per¬ 
fect Roses. Mr. Fellowes had smaller and rather fresher blooms, his 
best being Madame Lacharme (pure white and exceptionally large), 
Le Havre, Madame Gabriel Luizet, Baroness Rothschild, and Louis Van 
Houtte. Mr. U. Heathcote of Sbeephall was third. For the twelve 
varieties in the same division Mr. Jackson was easily judged first 
with large and well-formed blooms ; Mr. Fellowes second; and the 
Rev. F. Jenyns, Knebworth, third. 
In the open class for twelve Teas Mr. Fellowes was first with a fine 
stand, Bouquet d’Or, Anna Ollivier, Catherine Mermet, and Gloire de 
Dijon being well represented. Mr. Jackson was here second, having 
a very fine Catherine Mermet, Rubens and Innocente Pirola being also 
noticeable. 
The silver medal of N. R. A. was secured by Dr. Swaine of Arlesey 
Asylum for nine trusses of any variety ; and the Rev. F. Gall, who is 
an experimental farmer of Roses on the Hitchin Irrigation Farm, not 
by the acre nor the thousand trees, but by the yard and the dozen, 
was not disheartened with the baser metal for an approximately good 
stand of nine varieties. A few good Roses were shown in other stands, 
and a passable bloom of Duchess of Connaught, h.t. ; but Alfred 
Colomb seems this year conspicuous by its absence.— T. Laxton, 
Bedford. 
OUR SHRUBBERY. 
Since I wrote the first paper (page 320) many good varieties 
are over for this season, but at the present time there are several 
worth noting. Berberis canadensis has this season been loaded 
with its terminal drooping racemes of bright yellow flowers. There 
are several varieties of B. vulgaris, all of which are extremely 
pretty when in flower. B. vulgaris var. iberica is noteworthy, and 
B. vulgaris var. purpurea is certainly worth a place in every shrub¬ 
bery border if only for the purple foliage ; and when in flower is a 
very attractive shrub. Small plants from 2 to 3 feet high look re¬ 
markably well near the margin, the foliage contrasts well with 
shrubs of a lighter colour. B. chinensis is also good, the young 
foliage being remarkably handsome. B. aristata is a very distinct 
species on account of its upright growth, the majority being spread¬ 
ing or drooping ; the flowers are like B. vulgaris. 
The Calycanthuses are shrubs that are not often seen in private 
gardens ; this is to be regretted, for when in flower they are very 
handsome, and should be planted in the fore part of the borders. 
The genus Calycanthus is but a small one, embracing only four 
species. C. floridus (or Carolina Allspice) is most commonly met 
with in gardens. There are several varieties in nurseries under the 
names inodorus, asplenifolius, with cut leaves ; bullatus, with 
bladdery leaves; pennsylvanicus, and nanus. It is a very 
compact-growing species, and the flowers are very agreeably 
scented. 
Magnolia acuminata has been in flower for two or three weeks 
past. The flowers of this species are not so large and showy as 
many of the others, being of a greenish yellow and relatively 
small. It is commonly known as the Cucumber Tree, the young 
fruit somewhat resembling small Cucumbers. Small plants 12 or 
15 feet high look very handsome amongst other commoner shrubs ; 
the foliage is large, and of a soft green colour. 
The Weigelas have been all aglow with their pink, rose, and 
white flowers. W. rosea is too well known and appreciated to need 
much comment ; it was the first of the group that was introduced, 
and is certainly the most showy. There are, however, several 
others that are distinct and well w r orth growing. Amongst them 
are W. amabilis, W. Lowii, and W. multiflora, a "Japanese species, 
very distinct in its narrow tubular purplish corollas, only slightly 
expanded towards the mouth. 
I do not remember seeing the Viburnums flowered better than 
they have this season, for V. Opulus or the Snowball Tree 
has been weighed down with its snowball-like heads of flowers, 
especially in the morning when the dew is on them. This must 
be considered as the most useful for borders, and for single 
specimens it is well suited also. With a little pruning every year 
the single specimens can be kept well within bounds. V. pruni- 
folium is a spreading shrub, and produces large clusters of pure 
white flowers. V. dentatum and V. plicatum tomentosum are 
amongst those that are now in flower. 
The Lilacs have been glorious this season, and would have 
lasted much longer had it not been for the rough gale recently 
experienced. If Lilacs are judiciously planted throughout the 
shrubbery nothing could look better and more pleasing than they 
when in flower. There are many remarkable fine varieties of 
the common Syringa vulgaris ; and amongst the many forms now 
