322 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ April w, uses. 
tageous during the frost winds that lately were so violent and 
protracted. New and rare plants continue to form a feature here, 
and more will be heard of them in due time. At present it can 
only be said that Mr. Bull’s establishment was never so well 
furnished as it is now ; but home rather than public exhibitions 
appear to be getting fashionable, and the different collections of 
plants are eminently worthy of inspection. 
ME. WILLIAMS’ NURSERY. 
If other exhibitors have earned a period of repose surely the 
proprietor of the renowned Holloway Nurseries has done so, for 
long, perseveringly, and successfully has he engaged with honour 
in this exhausting work. At Ghent in 1873 we remember his 
plants, Todea superba especially securing unbounded admiration, 
while his Cyclamens caused a sensation ; but it was at Brussels 
in 1876 that he achieved his greatest triumphs. Here are the 
records : The large gold medal offered by the King for contributing 
most to the splendour of the Exhibition, the great gold medal of 
1000 francs for Orchids, gold medal of 500 francs for miscel¬ 
laneous plants, with two gold medals for Ferns, and two for new 
plants, also one for Odontoglossums, also four or five silver-gilt 
medals for other exhibits. Then at Ghent in 1878 he had a 
magnificent group, which worthily secured him the great gold 
medal there. It is not well to forget these triumphs, and the 
veteran has done his share in the contests of past years, and con¬ 
tributed powerfully to the success of many exhibitions. 
During the past and present months the great attractions at the 
Holloway Nurseries have been the Orchids, the extensive collec¬ 
tion of which always yields something of interest to the visitor. 
The Amaryllises, to which so much attention has been paid by Mr. 
Williams in recent years, and with such marked success, and the 
bulbs, the last including Hyacinths, Tulips, and Lilies of the 
Valley, that assisted in forming the handsome groups at the Royal 
Botanic Society’s recent Show and the spring meetings of the 
Royal Horticultural Society at Kensington. To enumerate all 
that is good amongst these would far exceed our present purpose, 
but a few may be briefly noted. First of the Orchids. The cool 
houses containing the Odontoglossums, Masdevallias, and similar 
plants have been particularly gay, the collection being very large 
and including many superb varieties of the leading species. 
Odontoglossum Alexandras, O. Pescatorei, O. Rossi majus, and 
scores of others are represented by admirable forms, while the 
Masdevallias include fine examples of M. Lindeni, M. Harryana, 
M, Veitchiana, M. ignea, the useful M. tovarensis, and the similarly 
useful and freely flowering M. Shuttleworthi, which is fast be¬ 
coming such a favourite with Orchid-growers. Several choice 
Dendrobes have been also flowering in the warmer houses, to¬ 
gether with Cypripediums and miscellaneous Orchids, amongst 
which that shown in fig. 78 (page 325), Trichopilia lepida, was 
very noteworthy ; it is a rare species with large flowers, the lip of 
a soft rosy hue margined with white. 
The Amaryllises comprise some superb varieties, much care 
having been exercised to improve the colours, with the result that 
scarlet and crimson tints of unsurpassed richness have been 
obtained. The flowers, too, are very neat in form, the outline 
even, the substance good, and they are freely produced, many 
heads having five or six blooms each. The bulbs indicated their 
quality and the culture they had received by the massiveness of 
their spikes and the clean appearance of the flowers, the colours 
fresh and clean. In so brief a glance as this we cannot do more 
than note that the superb collection of Ferns and miscellaneous 
stove and greenhouse flowering and fine-foliage plants are in most 
satisfactory health, the new Rhododendron house being a valuable 
addition to the numerous structures already so well occupied. 
BIRMINGHAM SPRING SHOW. 
April 11th and 12th. 
The third annual Exhibition of this Society took place in the Town 
Hall, and was in every way equal if not superior to former years. 
The centre stage was well filled with Orchids, Azaleas, Roses, 
Genistas, Clematises, and many other flowering plants, relieved with 
Palms, Ferns, Dracaenas, and other ornamental-foliaged plants. The 
stages on either side of the hall contained fine examples of Spiraeas, 
Deutzias, Rhododendrons, Cinerarias, with collections of Tulips, 
Hyacinths, Narcissi, Auriculas, Polyanthus, &c. 
Among the local prizetakers were Messrs. C. Winn, L. Hayman, 
C. E. Mathews, Walter Showed, the Right Hon. Jas. Chamberlain, 
and W. H. Hill. Mr. L. Hayman was first with well-grown Hyacinths, 
Messrs. Hayman and Crook respectively for Tulips. For six Azaleas 
Mr. Hill was first with good plants. Orchids were represented by 
some very choice and rare kinds from the Right Hon. J. 
Chamberlain, M.P., Mr. Winn, and Mr. Elliot. For six specimens 
Mr. Winn took honours, including fine examples of Dendrobium 
Wardianum, D. thyrsiflorum, Odontoglossum Pescatorei, and 
O. vexillarium. Following these very closely were Mr. Chamberlain’s, 
including well-flowered plants -of Dendrobium nobile, Cattleya 
Skinneri, C. Mendelli very fine in colouring, and Masdevallia Lindeni. 
Mr. Chamberlain also exhibited a splendid group occupying the end 
of the stage in front of the orchestra, not for competition, containing 
some very rare and beautiful specimens, the majority being especially 
noteworthy for superior colouring. Over seventy plants were 
employed in this group, of which the following deserve especial 
mention :—Odontoglossum Ruckenanum in two varieties. O. polyx- 
anthum, 0. Andersonianum, Dendrobium crassinode var. Barberi- 
anum, D. Cambridgeanum, Masdevallia cestrade, M. Shuttleworthi, 
M. Veitchiana, Cypripedium niveum and C. calceolus. For stove and 
greenhouse plants Mr. Chamberlain was first, his collection including 
a very fine Rhynchospermum jasminoides. Auriculas and Polyanthuses 
were far below the standard, which is much to be regretted, as they 
ought to be a feature of such a show. 
The local nurseymen were well represented. Mr. R. H. Vertegans 
of the Chad Valley Nurseries contributed some pretty baskets of 
Himalayan Cowslips. Besides the type P. denticulata were the vara. 
P. d. cashmeriana and P. d. pulcherrima. P. rosea was also contributed 
in very good flowering condition. Mr. Vertegans also sent two new 
Azaleas of the A. mollis type, named Ido and Dante, and a collec¬ 
tion of Hyacinths and Tulips, also his new double Cinerarias 
Vortigern and Terra Cotta. Mr. Hans Niemand occupied a corner 
of the hall with a very choice and effectively arranged group of stove, 
greenhouse, and other plants, which were greatly admired. He also 
exhibited the new Balsam Impatiens Sultani in very good character. 
One very important point in connection with this Balsam is that it 
strikes easily from cuttings. Messrs. Pope & Sons showed Auriculas. 
Polyanthuses, and Pelargoniums. Mr. T. Hewitt of Solihull occupied 
another corner with a very effective group consisting of ornamental¬ 
flowering plants. Messrs. R. Smith £ Co. of Worcester sent a collection 
of double and single Clematises and Rhododendrons relieved with the 
delicate-foliaged Japanese Maples. The latter w r ere very fine and 
formed one of the features of the Show. 
The general arrangements were well conducted by the Committee, 
and they may be congratulated on the success of their labours. 
POTATOES FOR TABLE AND MARKET. 
(Continued from page 303.) 
In the following notes the figures 1, 2, and 3 indicate first early, second early, 
and late varieties ; the months the time of planting; and the asterisks those 
varieties that are considered the best for market purposes by the respective 
cultivators. 
SCOTLAND. 
Morayshire. —1. The time of planting will vary according to the 
state of the ground, but as soon in March as possible. Veitch’s 
Improved Ashleaf, Lee’s Hammersmith Kidney, Myatt’s Prolific Ash- 
leaf, and Beauty of Hebron. Soil.—The soil best adapted for the 
cultivation of first-class Potatoes is light loamy soil, and that which 
has been in pasture for some years generally producing the best 
crops. 2. Fortyfold, Grampian, White Don, and Striped Don. 3. *Mag- 
num Bonum, Schoolmaster, ^Scotch Champion, and *Paterson’s 
Victoria. Manures and Application.—The manure most suitable 
for the production of good Potatoes is well-decayed stable manure, 
and it ought to be thoroughly incorporated with the soil before 
planting. Artificial manures are so common now that it is difficult 
to choose the best, but I prefer Amie’s, and it ought to be applied at 
the time of planting. General Culture.—The distance between the 
rows is from 2 feet 3 inches to 2 feet 9 inches according to the variety, 
and from 9 inches to 1 foot between the sets, which are placed 
6 inches deep. After planting all the attention they require is to 
have the hoe run through them as they require it, and to have the 
soil well loosened before earthing-up. The lifting of the crop com¬ 
mences as soon as the haulm shows signs of ripening, and as dry a time 
as possible is chosen for the job. They are stored in narrow pits and 
kept well covered until required for use.— John Webster, Gordon 
Castle Gardens. 
1. Second week in February, weather permitting. Rivers’ Royal 
Ashleaf, *Myatt’s Prolific Ashleaf, *Early Rose, and Ice Cream 
(Farquhar). I plant only a very few Early Rose ; quality only 
second-rate. Soil.—Medium. 2. Middle to end of March. *Dalma- 
hoy, *Fortyfold (Taylor), *Fortyfold (Clark), and Snowflake. 3. 
1st to middle of April. ’•’Grampian, Schoolmaster, *Magnum Bonum, 
and Scotch Champion. Manures and Application.—Mixture of stable 
and farmyard dung and old hotbed manure, consisting of equal parts 
of stable dung and Oak leaves. Sometimes I manure when trenching 
in the autumn, and sometimes when planting in spring. I have 
found the crop equally good with both modes of manuring. I have 
had a splendid crop of Fortyfolds with manure fresh from the stable. 
General Culture.—I generally trench the land in the autumn two 
spits deep, and if the ground is not manured at that time I level the 
trenches and point it over in spring, planting and manuring as we 
go along. I prefer this to dibbling, as sometimes the seed does not 
reach the bottom of the hole made by the dibber ; and if the soil is at 
all wet the vacancy below the Potato does not fill. Cut sets I like to 
dust with quicklime, as that prevents slugs from preying on them. 
