September 2 , 1880. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 207 
lection. There was quite a rage for this flower at one period, and 
I have had 5 s. each given me for cuttings. I also remember them 
being first exhibited at our Society, and 21s. was given for the 
first prize, and Is. for the one placed tenth in the class. They are 
‘ but partially shown at present, and in collections of six, twelve, 
and twenty-four, and only a few shillings for each prize. I am a 
great admirer of those raised in Belgium, some of which are very 
beautiful. There is no flower that sports more from seed than the 
Pansy, even from the best seed you will have many no better than 
the original. It was in 1828 I was induced to persevere in raising 
Pansies, and by so doing I in a few years had a collection second 
to none. 
Fioricultural novelties were the order of the day. Lady Holland 
introduced the Dahlia, wnich at first was only semi-double. I 
purchased two roots at 155. each, and the blooms only consisted of 
seven petals. A few years elapsed and a double variety was pro¬ 
duced, said to be raised by the gardener at Crowcroft, a little more 
than three miles from Manchester. After a time another improve¬ 
ment took place in one called Springfield Rival, which was a decided 
advance upon any then raised. Dahlias were in the ascendant for 
some time, and from various statements many that were worthless 
introduced. In 1811 only eighteen varieties were catalogued, and 
in 1815 only eight varieties were thought worthy of being grown. 
In 1817 there was catalogued seventy-two varieties, and in 1819 
out of these only fifty-seven were considered worth growing, and 
in 1852 they had not increased very much. 
Fuchsias.—When in 1828 I grew a few plants in my cottage 
windows there were only Fuchsia coccinea and Fuchsia gracilis. 
The next improvement was F. globosa, then F. exoniensis, and I 
leave it to those who now grow them to speak as to their present 
improvement. Having obtained the two Fuchsias mentioned I 
had space for more plants, and in 1828 the only Geraniums, now 
called Pelargoniums, were a variety called Davyana, a dark ground ; 
and Macranthon, one with a white ground and a blotch eye. In 
this class of plants the improvement is really wonderful. To 
Messrs. Foster, Hoyle, Beck, and Turner we are much indebted. 
I have never seen latterly any that are much in advance of what 
were grown a few years back, excepting those called French 
varieties. 
Carnations and Picotees were early grown and exhibited, but 
with the exception of Carnations the Picotees were worthless, 
and only a degree removed from the originals. A variety called 
John’s Prince Albert was the pioneer of our beautiful specimens. 
It was a prolific seeder; and Ely of Rothwell Haigh, near Leeds, 
who was one of our most enthusiastic growers and raisers, took 
advantage of its seed-bearing properties and raised Field Marshal 
and others in advance. Other growers also added to the number, 
and they have so much improved that it is scarcely possible to 
advance further. Mr. Charles Turner, Mr. Dodwell, and Mr. 
Simonite of Sheffield have done much for them. 
A notice of the exhibitions in 1830 will no doubt be interesting, 
as Mr. William Smith and myself were the two acting Secretaries, 
and Mr. Barber the Honorary Secretary of the Manchester Floral 
and Horticultural Society which had been a few years in existence. 
Its revenue for several years amounted to upwards of £500 annu¬ 
ally, and was devoted to the improvement of all classes of plants 
and flowers then known. Its schedules were far different from 
what they are now, and had a very great tendency to encourage 
growers. The Polyanthus and Auricula shows were generally 
held in April, and the flowers were shown in classes ; eight and 
sometimes ten prizes were offered in each, the first prize ranging 
in vrlue from 215. to 105., and the last prize 15. For stove and 
greenhouse plants 215. was the first prize, and the tenth 15. Single 
plants only were shown, not as now twelve or six plants. Fruit 
and vegetables were net forgotten, and any new introduction was 
not left unnoticed. At these Shows I only recollect the exhi¬ 
bition of one Orchid, Oncidium papilio, and few collections were 
in existence. 
Exhibitions have now grown to such magnitude that only those 
who possess large houses and plants can compete in the principal 
classes, and the cottager has generally to content himself with the 
enjoyment of his humble collection at home.— John Slater. 
Plant Portraits. —Last April Sir Michael Hicks-Beach 
transmitted to Mr. J, Gordon Sprigg, Colonial Secretary at the 
Cape of Good Hope, in a circular dispatch that was at the same 
time addressed to the other colonies of South Africa, Australia, 
New Zealand, and the Mauritius, a copy of a letter from that 
zealous botanist, Sir Joseph Hooker, K.C.S.I., C.B., notifying the 
purpose of an accomplished artist. Miss Marianne North, to visit 
those parts of the world, and, with the aid and counsel of scientific 
authorities resident in the several districts, to make faithful 
pictures of remarkable trees and plants, for presentation to the 
Royal Gardens at Kew. These works of botanic portraiture are 
intended to complete a series in which the lady had made con¬ 
siderable progress, insomuch that, before her departure, the 
collection already included hundreds of views which she had 
taken in the East and the West Indies, Brazil, .Java, Ceylon, 
Borneo, Japan, North America, and the Canary Islands. The 
great importance of that labour of love which Miss North has 
undertaken at her own cost can be best appreciated by those 
persons who, in commercial, educational, and industrial pursuits, 
have felt the want of a comprehensive and accurate source of 
pictoral reference, especially in relation to the Gum Trees of 
Australia, the Pines of New Zealand, and the Aloes and Heaths 
of the Cape Colony, which, together with all the peculiar, varied, 
and beautiful flora of South Africa, have hitherto lacked efficient 
illustration .—(Daily Telegraph .) 
SOUND AND DISEASED POTATOES. 
In these days of anxiety respecting the Potato crop most of us 
who are sufficiently interested in the matter are glad to read the 
reports from persons writing from all parts of the kingdom. I 
therefore offer the results of my experience. Last year I planted 
Myatt’s Prolific and Dalmahoys ; my crop of sound Potatoes 
scarcely exceeded the seed planted. This year, at the beginning 
of March, I planted Myatt’s Prolific and Suttons’ Magnum Bonum. 
The early variety is much diseased, but the others—Magnum 
Bonums—have turned out a splendid crop, large, sound, and bright- 
skinned ; in fact my gardener and an old man he had to assist him 
are of opinion that they never before dug up such a fine crop of 
sound Potatoes. The garden soil is a porous sandy loam, which 
never appears sodden after the heaviest rains. The two varieties 
were grown close together, and treated in every respect alike, and 
yet with what different results !—W. G., JElmdale, Sutton , Surrey. 
SALTBURN FLOWER SHOW. 
Although this is but the third Exhibition held here it promises by 
its rapid advancement to become one of the best exhibitions in the 
north. The site selected is an admirable one, being contiguous to the 
pleasure grounds of the Saltburn Improvement Company, the grounds 
being situated in a ravine, with beautiful undulating surface with a 
stream of good width at the bottom. The grounds are tastefully laid 
out, long walks shaded by overhanging trees, others open, with 
flower beds showing great taste in the arrangement, there being a 
great variety of trees and shrubs both evergreen and deciduous, Roses, 
and hardy plants ; indeed, there is everything calculated to afford 
enjoyment. The woods and pleasure grounds of Rushpool Hall ad¬ 
joining were, with the customary kindness of the proprietor (Mr. Bell) 
also open to visitors. The weather (August 19th), though threaten¬ 
ing in the morning, cleared up fine by noon, and remained so, con¬ 
tributing greatly to the success of the Exhibition. The arrange¬ 
ments of the indefatigable Secretaries, Messrs. Adamson and Burn, 
were very satisfactory. 
The show of stove and greenhouse plants was rather extensive, the 
plants being large, well grown, and splendidly flowered. For six 
plants in bloom Earl Zetland, Upleatham Hall (E. H. Letts), was 
first with Stephanotis floribunda, about 4 feet high and nearly as 
much through, and finely bloomed ; a specimen of Erica insignis, over 
4 feet across, and well flowered ; Bougainvillea glabra of similar size, 
the bracts being highly coloured; Allamanda Hendersoni, finely 
flowered ; a remarkably healthy and profusely flowered Erica Fair- 
reana ; and E. ampullacea Williamsi. A close second in the same class 
was H. Pease, Esq., Pierremont, Darlington (W. Yule), with a 
magnificent specimen Eucharis amazonica, with over fifty scapes, and 
five to seven flowers each. Third honours were taken by E. W. 
Swan, Esq., Middlesbro’ (Alex. Kevan, gardener), with neat speci¬ 
mens. For six variegated or ornamental-foliage plants Mr. Letts 
were again first with grand specimens of Croton Wiesmanni, Glei- 
chenia rupestris glaucescens in capital health ; Dasylirion acrotrichum, 
Chamserops humilis elegans, very fine ; Dion edule, and splendidly 
coloured Croton Johannis. Mr. Yule was p!aced first for three with 
well-grown plants of Pandanus Veitchi, Areca sapida, and a Dracaena. 
In the class for three exotic Ferns, equal first prizes were awarded 
to Edmond Grove, Esq. (Mr. J. Rutters), Saltburn, and Mr. Alex. 
Kevan, the former having plants fully 4 feet through of Adiantum 
gracillimum, A. farleyense, and A. cuneatum, the latter having equally 
large and fine specimens. 
Table Decoration .—Table set for ten, with flowers, fruits, glasses, 
napkins, &c., a la Russe. First honours were secured by Mr. Letts, the 
arrangement being very light, chaste, and elegant, having a . neat 
plant of Cocos Weddelliana in a centre, with a ground of Selaginella 
apoda, sprinkled with Lapagerias and Roses, the lower fronds of the 
Cocos supporting fine spikes of Odontoglossum vexillarium ; the ends 
were glass epergnes or stands with Lapageria alba, Odontoglossums 
and Roses, Maidenhair Fern, and vases of Lycopods. The fruit com¬ 
prised Grapes, Peaches, Figs, Strawberries, Melon, and Apricots. 
Mr. S. Taylor (Wm. Mann), Brotton Grange, was a close second with 
a very effective centre of choice flowers displayed in a glass stand, 
