I 
254 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. { September ig, isso. 
Moreover, all those varieties raised so far are sorts which ripen 
late and occupy the land for at least six months of the year. This 
of itself is a serious disadvantage. It appears to me that what we 
want is to get rid of all those rank-growing coarse late Potatoes, 
and to substitute for them something of the Early Snowflake type. 
I can cordially endorse most of the statements made by “ Lincoln¬ 
shire Potato Grower ” in his sensible and interesting paper, 
but must demur to his opinion that a Dwarf Champion or Magnum 
Bonum would be a desirable addition. I think the aim is not high 
enough. What is really needed is a Potato of good flavour, white, 
floury, and shallow-eyed ; short-liauimed, ripening early, standing 
wet well, cropping well, and keeping well. Try for this, raisers, 
and when you get it have the kindness to send me a bushel to 
try. Perhaps if you, Messrs. Editors, will yet have patience with 
me I may mention a few kinds which do well here on some future 
occasion. The Journal is just to hand. In it I notice “ W. B. W.’s ” 
explanatory comments. His practice is excellent, all that I ob¬ 
jected to was the use of the largest sets for seed when smaller sets, 
in my experience, produce equal or better results with a smaller 
outlay.— R. W. Beachey. 
TROPiEOLUM SPECIOSUM. 
The following observations upon this lovely trailer may be 
interesting to some of your readers. The plant alluded to in 
this Journal (pages 212 and 230) is in moist sandy soil, to which 
peat and leaf soil have been added. The large-leaved Aristolochia 
is growing close to it, amongst which it twines its slender branches ; 
the roots run into the brick wall and are otherwise completely 
protected and shaded from the sun by herbaceous plants, such as 
Anemone japonica, &c. 
I have tried in vain to grow the Tropaeolum from roots and 
potted plants brought from Scotland, all of which have failed in 
the manner described by “ M. M.” Three years since a lady residing 
in Wales kindly sent me some roots from her garden ; these grew 
without a check, flowering last year, and are this year growing 
and flowering vigorously.—E. E. P., Richmond. 
Tropaiolum speciosum grows well in Cornwall in a Rhododen¬ 
dron bed in a deep peat soil. It has long fleshy roots, which are 
found nearly 2 feet under the ground. It grows also on a west 
wall sheltered by trees, scrambling amongst a Banksian Rose, 
where the soil is principally composed of decayed leaves covered 
with rockwork, which keeps the roots cool. It must have deep 
soil, and its roots protected from drought. When growing it 
delights in copious supplies of water.—M. G. H. 
BRIGPITON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The autumn Exhibition of this Society was held in the Royal 
Pavilion on Wednesday and Thursday the 8th and 9th inst., proving 
in number and quality of the exhibits fully equal to the many fine 
displays that have been produced during the past twenty-seven 
seasons of the Society’s existence. The schedule enumerated over 
seventy classes in two sections, one comprising classes open to growers 
from any part of England, and the other those confined to growers in 
the county of Sussex. In the most important classes liberal prizes 
were offered, and in consequence the competition was in many in¬ 
stances very keen and the entries numerous. Plants generally were 
well represented, though flowering specimens were not quite so 
strongly shown as those which came under the denomination “ fine- 
foliage plants.” Cut flow-ers constituted a bright and important 
feature in the display, while fruit was equally good and abundant, 
several exceptionally fine collections being staged. The majority of 
the large specimen plants occupied a long and spacious marquee, in 
which were also placed such plants as Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, and 
Coleuses, with the cut flower classes provided for Dahlias, Asters, and 
Roses. The central portion of the marquee contained the specimen 
fine-foliage plants in a line or bank extending from end to end. Near 
each side of the marquee was a row of well-flowered Pelargoniums that 
collectively produced a brilliant effect; between these on each side of 
the central bed were the stages devoted to cut flowers, and at the 
ends near the entrances were groups of Fuchsias and Coleuses. In 
the handsome apartments of the Pavilion itself were arranged the 
groups of miscellaneous plants, the specimen stove and greenhouse 
plants, the table decorations, bouquets and fruit. There was sufficient 
colour to produce a good display, which was, however, much more 
brilliant at night when the apartments were lighted with gas, for 
then the rich green tints of the foliage, the brightly coloured flowers 
of such plants as Bougainvilleas, Allamandas, and Rondeletias, com¬ 
bined with the ornate character of the surroundings, constituted a 
scene of great beauty. The whole of the arrangements were satis¬ 
factorily carried out under the superintendence of Mr. E. Spary of 
The Queen’s Graperies, Brighton, who has for many years performed 
his task very creditably. 
Plants. —The most important open class for plants was that devoted 
to fine-foliage plants and Ferns, of which twelve specimens, distinct 
varieties, -were required. Three prizes were offered, the first being 
the “ Corporation cup,” value ten guineas, presented by the Mayor 
and members of the Town Council, the second prize £4, and the third 
£2. Six competitors appeared, who staged admirable collections of 
healthy specimens, all very close in merit. The premier collection 
was that from J. Warren, Esq., Handcross Park, Crawley, Sussex 
(Mr. Rann), for which the cup was awarded. All the specimens were 
exceptionally fine, but the following were particularly noticeable not 
only for their size, but the vigorous healthfulness which marked 
them :—Croton Hendersoni, very handsome, about 5 feet in diameter, 
foliage large and well coloured ; Gleichenia Mendelli and G. rupes- 
tns glaucescens were both large and in good condition ; Thrinax 
elegans, fine graceful specimen over 10 feet high ; Pritchardia pacifica, 
in first-rate condition, with enormous leaves ; Dasylirion acrotrichum 
and Seaforthia elegans, excellent, the latter of great size. Mr. W. 
Balchin, Hassocks Gate, Cliftonville, who has several times been the 
winner of the cup, was on this occasion placed second, the quality of 
Mr. Rann’s plants being irresistible. The most noteworthy specimens 
were Croton pictus, of good size and well coloured ; C. Weismanni, 
also finely coloured ; C. volutus and C. majesticus, all in admirable 
health; but four Crotons in a collection of twelve were rather 
too many. Cycas revolutus and Cibotium regale were the best 
of the other specimens. The third position was obtained by 
Miss Brodie, Eastbourne (Mr. C. Driver), with good examples; 
and Mr. W. Miles, 39, Church Road, was awarded an extra prize 
for a deserving collection. Coleuses were shown in good form 
and colour by several exhibitors. For a collection of six specimens 
the Mayor of Brighton (gardener, Mr. Trangmar), was awarded the 
chief prize, the plants being remarkably fine in every respect. They 
were grown in a somewhat flat umbrella shape, over 5 feet in dia¬ 
meter, well covered with large richly coloured foliage. The varieties 
were Shrive’s Seedling, Princess Louise, Golden Gem, William Bull, 
Sir Bartle Frere, and Jacob Mackoy. Mr. Shrive, gardener to the 
Corporation of Brighton, followed very closely, also with good speci¬ 
mens, more pyramidal in form than the others, but rather less brightly 
coloured. Magic, Glow, George Bunyard, and Shrive’s Seedling were 
the best varieties. Zonal Pelargoniums were very bright, and in some 
collections remarkably well flowered. The chief successful exhibitors 
were A. Granville Uttermare, Esq., Withdeane (Mr. Howick) ; C. 
Armstrong, Esq., Withdeane (Mr. E. Meachin) ; Capt. Thompson, 
Withdeane (Mr. Townshend) ; and Messrs. Balchin and Miles ; a col¬ 
lection of well-grown double-flowered Zonals from the former of the 
two last-mentioned being highly commended by the Judges in addi¬ 
tion to taking the first prize in the class. Fuchsias were generally 
in fresh healthy condition but somewhat deficient in flowers, except 
the specimens staged by Mr. Howick; J. 0. Smith, Esq., Richmond 
Yilla (Mr. Fluck) ; and Mr. Shrive, for which the principal prizes 
were awarded. The stove and greenhouse plants which occupied the 
apartments of the Pavilion were very creditable and satisfactory, the 
Allamandas being particularly fine. Several neat Stephanotises and 
Rondeletias were also shown, but the others do not call for special 
comment. Messrs. Meachin, Driver, Balchin, Miles, Townshend, and 
T. S. Shenstone, Esq., Barcombe (Mr. Yerrall), secured the most im¬ 
portant prizes. Ferns were shown by Messrs. Driver and Meachin in 
admirable condition, the Gleichenias being especially noticeable for 
their freshness and vigour. The competitors were few in the open 
class for a group of plants arranged for effect to occupy a space not 
exceeding 150 square feet; but two very attractive and tastefully 
arranged collections were contributed, one, which secured for Mr. 
Balchin the first prize, being composed of a large number of effective 
and well-selected flowering plants elegantly combined with Crotons, 
Dractenas, Ferns, Ac., and the other, also a meritorious group from 
Mr. Miles, who was placed second, contained some fine Liliums with 
Ixoras, Palms, Crotons, &c., neatly edged with Isolepis gracilis and 
Adiantum cuneatum. 
Cut Floivers .—These constituted a very important feature in the 
display, and the general quality was all that could be desired. 
Dahlias were strongly represented in the four classes devoted to 
them. In the open class for forty-eight distinct show varieties 
three handsome collections were exhibited, the premier position 
being obtained by Messrs. Keynes & Co. of Salisbury, who staged 
some magnificent blooms, excellent in form, substance, and colour, 
and including an admirable selection of varieties. Mr. H. Cannell of 
Swanley, Kent, was accorded the second prize for a remarkably fine 
collection that was but slightly inferior to the first, the varieties being 
judiciously selected and tastefully arranged. Mr. W. Seale, Seven- 
oaks, Kent, followed with smaller but neat blooms. In the class for 
twenty-four fancy varieties the above-mentioned exhibitors obtained 
the prizes in precisely the same order, with very good representative 
blooms. The Dahlias in the county classes were also good, the 
successful exhibitors being Miss Melvil, Henfiekl (Mr. Allfrey) ; Mr. 
W. Steer, Pope Street; and Mr. Smith, Hedge Lane. Messrs. Keynes 
and Co. were the only exhibitors in the class for seedling Dahlias of 
1879, four blooms of each. The chief prize was awarded for their 
collection, which included some handsome and distinct varieties, the 
following being honoured with first-class certificates :—Joseph Green, 
a beautiful and effective variety, the blooms of medium depth, good 
