JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
410 
[ May 17, 1883. 
crimson in the foliage than that variety. It is distinct, and the 
specimen staged was superbly coloured. Aralia amboynensis, Ficus 
elastica alba variegata, Leucostegia chaeropbylla, Pritchardia grandis, 
and Alsophila Rebeccas. Mr. James was awarded the remaining 
prize, having good specimens of Selaginella involvens variegata, a 
pretty dwarf-growing variety ; Anthurium Andreanum ; Odonto- 
glossum Chestertonianum, a good spotted variety of 0. Alexandras ; 
Cymbidium Devonianum with one spike, and Odontoglossum Wilckie- 
anum with one good spike. Mr. S. Schloss was the only exhibitor in 
the amateurs’ class for six plants, and the examples staged were a 
credit to him. 
HERBACEOUS AND ALPINE PLANTS. 
These were numerous, and proved a great feature in the Exhibition. 
In the nurserymen’s class for sixty herbaceous and bulbous plants 
Messrs. J. Dickson & Sons, Newton Nurseries, Chester, gained the 
premier position with a grand collection, some of the most striking 
being Lilium Thunbergianum atro-rubrum, Pyrethrum Mont Blanc, 
Dianthus Napoleon III., D. h} T bridus Miss Patterson, Scilla cam- 
panulata, S. nutans alba. Lychnis dioica rubra fl.-pl., Tuliparetroflexa, 
Trillium grandifiorum. Pceonia officinalis rubra fl.-pl., Lilium auratum, 
Gladiolus The Bride, Cardamine pratensis plena, and many others 
equally beautiful and interesting. Mr. EL Brownhill, Maryfield 
Nursery, Sale, was second with a very good collection. In the 
amateurs’ class for thirty plants Mr. Entwistle, gardener to Joseph 
Broome, Esq., Didsbury, was most deservedly placed first for an 
assortment of very choice specimens, Orchis maculata being superb 
amongst many others. Mr. J. Ivay of Prestwich was placed second. 
In the nurserymen’s class for forty Alpines Messrs. J. Dickson & Sons 
were again first with a capital collection of well-grown specimens, 
and Mr. J. Brownhill second. In the amateurs’ class for thirty Alpines 
Mr. Entwistle was again well ahead, and amongst his fine specimens 
was a grand pan of Sempervivum arachnoideum. 
DINNER-TABLE DECORATIONS. 
In the class for a dinner table completely laid out for twelve 
persons Mr. Cypher was the only exhibitor, and was awarded a first 
prize. The centre W'as formed with a small Palm slightly elevated 
and rising out of a small groundwork of Selaginella, in which were 
inserted a few fronds of Adiantum cuneatum, and sufficient round 
the edge to hang upon the cloth. Dotted amongst these were a few 
Eucharis flowers, and rising up lightly from the moss a few flowers 
of Masdevallia and other light sprays of Orchids. At each end wa3 
a vase of flowers arranged lightly, with Fern fronds freely inter¬ 
mixed with such flowers as Spiraea japonica, Ixora, Eucharis, Roses, 
Statice profusa, Stephanotis, and Orchids, four small specimen glasses 
being filled, and two stood near either end. The fruit consisted of a 
Pine, black and white Grapes, Strawberries, Apples, and Oranges. 
BOUQUETS. 
These were fairly represented. Those awarded the premier position 
and staged by Mr. Cypher were very creditable to him ; but those 
staged by Mr. Mason of Manchester and awarded an equal first con¬ 
tained undoubtedly the best bouquet in the Show, but of quite a 
different style from those shown by Mr. Cypher. Mr. Mason’s were 
composed of Rose buds and Lilium candidum principally, and the 
best was composed of yellow and dark red Rose buds. Mr. G. Foster, 
Longford Road, Stretford, was placed second, and Mr. C. Wilson, 
Kendal, third. In the amateurs’ class for two Mr. Elphinstone, gar¬ 
dener to John Heywood, Esq., Stretford, was deservedly placed first; 
Messrs. Plant and B. Johnson, Ascot, second and third respectively. 
MISCELLANEOUS EXHIBITS. 
These were most numerous, and the majority of the exhibits con¬ 
tributed by various nurserymen contained novelties worthy of notice. 
Mr. B. S. Williams staged a very large collection of Orchids, Ferns, 
Palms, Crotons, Dracaenas, Azaleas, and many other choice compara¬ 
tively new plants. Messrs. R. P. Ker & Sons and Messrs. F. & A. 
Dickson & Sons, The Upton Nurseries, Chester, also contributed 
equally interesting groups of choice plants. The Liverpool Horti¬ 
cultural Company and Messrs. W. Cutbush & Sons, Highgate, also 
contributed large quantities of choice plants ; Mr. C. Rylance, hardy 
Ferns ; Messrs. G. & W. Yates, Manchester, staged Azaleas and 
Palms; Messrs. W. Clibran & Sons show Pelargoniums in small 
pots ; Mr. J. Hooley had a similar exhibit; Messrs. Roger M’Clelland 
and Co. had a very interesting group of hardy herbaceous and alpine 
plants ; Mr. Upjohn, Yanda suavis, fine variety and a large healthy 
plant, for which a cultural certificate was awarded ; Mr. John 
Waterer, Bagshot, Surrey, a very large collection of choice Rhodo¬ 
dendrons, Conifers, and Hollies, which were tastefully arranged at 
the lower end of the large tent. 
First-class Certificates.— Mr. B. S. Williams, Upper Holloway, 
London, was awarded certificates for the following plants :—Ama¬ 
ryllis Dr. Masters, Mrs. B. S. Williams, Azalea Baron Rothschild, 
semi-double violet-shaded purple ; Nephrodium Rodigasianum, 
Nepenthes Hibbardi, Gloneria jasminiflora, Nepenthes Mastersiana, 
■ Aralia Kerchoviana, Davallia fceniculacea, and Selaginella grandis. 
To Messrs. R. P. Ker & Sons for the undermentioned plants :— 
Anthurium splendidum, Selaginella grandis, Croton Newmannii, 
Aralia amboynensis, Pritchardia grandis, Ghent Azalea alba plena 
odorata, double white ; Alsophila Rebecca, Azalea Phoebus, dark 
N 
double red ; Begonia Abel Carriere, cross between Rex and discolor ; 
Begonia Bijou ; Azalea Antigone, semi-double, white ground, spotted 
and marked with violet; and Croton Sinitzianus. To Mr. J. H. James 
for Odontoglossum Chestertoniana, 0. Wilckeanum, Selaginella in¬ 
volvens variegata, Cymbidium Devonianum, and Anthurium splen¬ 
didum. To Messrs. Paul & Sons, Cheshunt, for Rose White Baroness, 
which has been described. 
FRUIT. 
The schedule provides six classes for fruit, and the examples 
staged for the prizes offered was much better than was anticipated 
so early in the season. There was a marked improvement in the 
quality of the fruit over that staged last year. Good Strawberries 
that are generally staged in pots at this Society’s exhibitions was this 
year absent. In the class for a collection of fruit, eight distinct 
kinds, there was only one exhibitor. Mr. Mclndoe, gardener to Sir 
J. Peace, Hutton Hail, Guisborough, was awarded the first prize for 
his collection, which does him great credit. He staged a dish of well- 
coloured Black Hamburgh Grapes and one of White Frontignan, 
Royal George, Bellegarde, and Barrington Peaches, Lord Napier 
Nectarine good, Mclndoe’s Scarlet Premier Melon, and a grand dish 
of President Strawberries. For two bunches of black Grapes there 
were three exhibitors. Mr. Mclndoe took the chief prize with small 
but well-finished bunches of Black Hamburgh. Mr. Ackers, Moreton 
Hall, Congleton, was second with the same variety ; and Mr. 
J. Morton, gardener to J. Fielde, Esq., third, the two last exhibits 
being rather short of colour, but very creditable for the earliness of 
the season. For two white bunches the same exhibitor was again 
first with White Frontignan, Mr. Morton being second. For two 
Pines, Mr. Baillie, Heaton Park, was first with two fair-sized fruits ; 
Messrs. C. Breese and Mclndoe second and third. For one fruit, 
Mr. Goodacre, gardener to the Earl of Harrington, Elvaston Castle, 
Derby, first; Mr. Baillie second, and Mr. C. Breese third. 
The limited space at our disposal this week prevents us enumerat¬ 
ing the whole of the prizewinners in the various classes devoted to 
Cinerarias, Calceolarias, Pansies, Violas, Ac. Suffice it to say that 
Messrs. J. H. Hetherington, T. Entwistle, W. Smith, Irvine, Blower, 
D. McCure, and Eden were amongst the successful competitors. The 
whole of exhibits in the classes to which we have not referred in 
detail were all staged in excellent condition. 
We congratulate Mr. Bruce Findlay upon the excellent arrange¬ 
ments of the Exhibition. 
EPIDENDRUMS. 
{Continued from page 3G5.) 
One character that occurs in a few Orchids and is observable 
in some Epidendrums deserves a little attention from those who 
are interested in the structure of these peculiar flowers. It is well 
known that in a typical Orchid flower there are three outer sepals 
and two petals generally more or less resembling those in form 
and colouring ; then there is a third petal which has been strangely 
modified, enlarged, variously formed, and often diversely coloured, 
which is termed the labellum or lip. It is similarly well known 
that this, usually the most conspicuous portion of the flower, is 
lowermost, and seems to serve as a convenient landing place for 
insects who are in search of nectar, and who thus unconsciously 
assist in perpetuating and increasing the diversity of the forms by 
conveying the pollinia from one flower to another. It is found in 
examining the unexpanded bud of Orchid flowers that the normal 
and early position of these organs is the reverse of that described ; 
for instance, the lip should be at the uppermost part of the flower, 
and the middle sepal is the lowest. How, therefore, may be 
asked, does reversion take place, and why ? By carefully observ¬ 
ing the ovary or pedicel of a flower with one of these lowermost 
lips, it will be seen that there is a slight twist, which effectually 
turns the flower upside down and presents the lip at the lower 
part. This is the immediate cause, but why the ovary should 
twist in this manner we cannot determine. It is apparently for 
the benefit of the plant, as the lip which is in a manner the sign 
board or advertisement poster that invites the wandering insect 
to partake of the treasures within, and in the position thus assumed 
it is perhaps better enabled to perform that function. In some 
Epidendrums, however, as in the Disas, the lip is in its normal posi¬ 
tion, and those who know Epidendrum cochleatum or Disagrandi- 
fiora will at once understand the difference. These give rise to 
some curious questions : Are they forms that have not yet advanced 
to the twisting period of their development ? or have they taken 
an independent course and found other means of securing the 
attendance of their ministers ? Who can say ? 
EPIDENDRUM YITELLINUM. 
Resuming the consideration of the most noteworthy species, the 
“ Yolk of Egg ” Epidendrum deserves prominent attention, for it 
has in recent years taken a foremost place amongst useful showy 
Orchids, but also in the ranks of decorative plants generally. 
Though long reputed a difficult plant to grow, experience has 
