34 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 13, 1882. 
Gardens for the purposes of their Exhibition, reserving for them¬ 
selves that portion known as the Ante-Garden, of which they 
intend to resume possession. The Council are happy to report 
that the friendly spirit in which the Executive Committee met 
them has enabled them to make a satisfactory working agreement 
with the Fisheries, which, whether the ulterior negotiations with 
the Commissioners are successful or not, secures to the Society, 
subject to the user required by the Fisheries, the ornamental part 
of the Gardens which lies to the north of the circular basins, until 
the end of the year 1883. The Council are not in a position to 
anticipate the result of these negotiations, but they believe the 
Commissioners wish to act liberally towards the Society, and they 
have no reason to anticipate that its connection with South 
Kensington will cease after 1883. As some further time must 
elapse before the negotiations with the Commissioners can be 
completed, the Council think it right to issue the foregoing state¬ 
ment for the information of the Fellows.” 
- Messes. Brookes’& Co. of Manchester, the makers of the 
tubular flower stakes referred to on page 425 of our last volume, 
send us the following note:—“We observe that a desire is ex¬ 
pressed for light wire flower stakes of less than 2 feet in 
height. To meet this want we have designed a new wire stake 
with a foot and convenient top, and beg to send you a specimen 
for your examination and judgment. We have tested it practi¬ 
cally, and think we find it strong, neat, stable, and certainly it will 
be very cheap.” These stakes will be serviceable to many. The 
circular projection about 8 inches from the point will impart 
stability, but the loop at the top is much too large, if needed at 
all. 
- We are informed that Mr. Sydney Woods has succeeded 
Mr. Raffill as gardener to Lord Tredegar, Tredegar Park, Newport, 
Monmouthshire. 
- The following paragraph has been sent to us, which we 
readily publish :—“ It has been proposed to hold a Carnation 
and Picotee Show AT Oxford, in connection with the Ex¬ 
hibition of the Royal Oxfordshire Horticultural Society, on 
August 2nd, the Show to be regarded as supplementary to that of 
the National Carnation and Picotee Society, which takes place 
at South Kensington on July 25th. ^We understand that Mr. E. S. 
Dodwell has been requested to make the necessary arrangements 
for carrying out this proposal, which has our hearty concurrence, 
as it will provide, in consequence of the later date, a more favour¬ 
able meeting ground for northern and southern growers than the 
meeting at Kensington will do. To provide the necessary prizes 
it is suggested that the two above-named Societies should each 
vote ten guineas towards a fund to be raised for that purpose, and 
that the remainder, about a similar sum, shall be raised by special 
subscription—say one-half from friends of the Oxford Society, 
and one-half from friends of the National Society. We cannot 
doubt the needful aid will be forthcoming, and we are heartily 
glad that Mr. Dodwell’s health and strength has been so much 
recruited by his residence in the country that he is able to under¬ 
take the supervision of the arrangements. Several donations 
have been already promised, and a schedule of prizes has been 
issued.” 
- Writing in reference to border Auriculas a corre¬ 
spondent of the “ Gardener ” observes :—“ The border Auricula is 
not cultivated to the extent it should be. True there are not 
many herbaceous borders where samples of the ‘Dusty Miller’ 
are not to be found. But there is no comparison between the 
older and commoner kinds and the great, robust, rich-coloured 
kinds that are now to be had, and we doubt if there exists 
another perfectly hardy plant with so many claims. Less re¬ 
fined it may be than the edged show varieties, or even the hardier 
named Alpines, although it is itself included among the latter ; 
but against that there is to be placed the fact that a good strain 
is more robust, more floriferous, and possessing colours as rich, as 
varied, and as effective. Then it requires neither'frame nor pots, 
special situations, nor special soils. Moreover, a stock can be got 
up with greater speed, or indeed be created. A packet of seed if 
from a good strain will produce numbers of beautiful forms, and 
when once a stock is secured the road is open, for then one has 
only got to select what pleases, and seed from such, to get any 
number of plants in a year or two.” 
- A correspondent writes us that “the July monthly 
meeting of the Tooting Horticultural Society was a great 
success, the members well responding to Rule 1. Among the 
most noteworthy exhibits were some grand Gloxinias from Mr. 
Todman, measuring upwards of 2 feet diameter and carrying 
between eighty and ninety flowers : they received a cultural com¬ 
mendation. A fine Hydrangea from Mr. Eade was similarly 
noticed, as also was a very handsome Melon called Prizetaker. 
New plants were represented by a very fine and distinct dark 
Fuchsia from Mr. Bunby, the new curled Golden Feather sent by 
Mr. Gower, and a beautiful and most profusely flowered Pelar¬ 
gonium of the decorative type from Mr. Todman : these were 
granted certificates. Amongst cut flowers were good examples of 
seedlings and hybrids consisting of Gloxinias, Begonias, Fuchsias, 
Zonal Pelargoniums both single and double. Herbaceous plants 
were also well shown.” 
WEST KENT HORTICULTURAL SHOW. 
July 8th. 
For some years the annual Exhibition of this Society, held either 
in Bickley or Chislehurst, has been especially distinguished by the 
number, extent, and choiceness of the groups contributed by metro¬ 
politan nurserymen, which have indeed formed one of the principal 
features of the Show. On this occasion, however, notwithstanding 
the fact that the pleasantly situated grounds of Camden House were 
selected for the site, there was a considerable falling-off in this 
respect, the marquees devoted to the exhibits having in consequence 
a rather bare appearance. Some compensation for this deficiency 
was, however, to be found in the excellence of the plants and other 
productions staged in competition, for the majority of the principal 
classes were very well represented. Four spacious marquees were 
devoted to the exhibits, one containing the table decorations—always 
abundant and good at this Show ; in another the cut flowers, fruit, 
and vegetables were arranged ; the third and fourth comprising the 
specimen plants and groups, which were all carefully and effectively 
disposed. Most unfortunately, the weather in the early part of the 
day was extremely unfavourable, heavy showers of rain occurring at 
short intervals. 
Plants .—The principal class in this section was that for “ a collec¬ 
tion of stove and greenhouse plants to be staged with a frontage of 
10 feet,” as it is rather vaguely described in the schedule ; a further 
clause, however, stating that the prizes will be awarded to those 
“ which are staged with the greatest taste and symmetry, at the 
same time the quality of the exhibits will receive careful considera¬ 
tion.” It was quite evident from the collections shown that the 
exhibitors had not all taken the same view of this stipulation, and in 
consequence the awards of the Judges would give dissatisfaction to 
some. If the Society really wishes for groups arranged for effect 
why is it not plainly stated ? None of the groups staged could be 
considered as remarkable for the taste displayed in the arrangement, 
but at least two included some well-grown plants. The first-prize 
collection from Mr. Kent, gardener to F. Heritage, Esq., Orpington, 
was, it is true, distinguished by a little more freedom and taste in the 
disposition of the plants ; but these were not very select, nor were 
they in first-rate condition generally. Another defect was the com¬ 
parative scarcity of flowering plants, the preponderance of Palms and 
Ferns imparting a dull appearance to what might have been easily 
made an effective group. Mr. Gibson, gardener to J. F. Burnaby- 
Atkins, Esq., Halstead Place, was placed second, and it is an open 
question whether his collection was not entitled to a higher position; 
for though the plants were large for arranging to the best advantage, 
and rather too great a formality characterised the group, yet the 
plants were of such excellent quality, so healthy, neat, and well 
flowered, that many could not understand then - secondary position. 
Mr. Mitchell, gardener to Mrs. Arbuthnot, Bridgend, Bexley, was 
placed third, also with healthy plants, but much too large for effec¬ 
tive grouping. 
Stove and greenhouse plants were represented by several collections 
of moderate-sized specimens, prominent amongst the best being the 
premier six from Mr. Gibson, which comprised Allamanda Hender- 
soni, Dipladenia Brearleyana in superb condition, the latter beautiful 
