May 24, 1883. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
425 
have been far too attentive to the bushes, and I do not expect the 
crop will be a heavy one, though the berries may grow out and 
fill the measure. Those plantations which last year were “ struck ” 
with the saw fly are naturally deficient, and growers should wait 
od the bushes with hellebore powder as soon as the “grubs ” again 
appear. 
Black Currants are unusually full of blossom, so that port wine 
will be plentiful in a few years. Red Currants are blooming 
freely, but not copiously. The severe attack of the Currant aphis 
is making itself felt now in the plantations, and many bushes are 
quite dead. 
The Peaches and Nectarines I have seen in gardens are well 
set with healthy thriving fruit, and, taken all round, matters look 
very promising. Trees are very clean in foliage at present, and 
we must at least look with hope and faith for these “fruits of the 
earth in due season.”— George Bunyard, Maidstone. 
CRYSTAL PALACE SHOW. 
May 19th. 
On Saturday last a most satisfactory exhibition was held in the 
Sydenham Palace, the competition in many of the principal classes 
being more keen than usual, which was partly due to the fact that 
more prizes were offered. The arrangement was as effective as the 
position admits, the formal stages which bear the majority of the 
plants being unsuited to a tasteful display. The central portion near 
the orchestra and theatre was, however, very bright and attractive, 
large specimen Azaleas occupying the corners, with Messrs. Jack- 
man’s handsome Clematises immediately in front of the theatre ; and 
facing that in front of the orchestra was the diversified and bright 
collection of plants from Messrs. Laing & Co., while a group of well- 
grown Calceolarias from Messrs. J. Carter & Co. had a central and 
commanding position. The weather throughout the day was very 
fine, and a large company of visitors assembled during the afternoon. 
Orchids. —The entries in these classes were very satisfactory, and 
had all of them been arranged together a magnificent group would 
have been produced. Especially beautiful were the two collections 
staged in the class for a group of not less than forty plants, which 
occupied a large table and proved one of the greatest attractions. 
Premier honours were awarded to Mr. C. J. Salter, gardener to 
J. Southgate, Esq., Selborne, Streatham, for one of the most tasteful 
and pleasing groups of Orchids that we have seen at a public exhi¬ 
bition. It was about 20 feet long by 8 feet wide, and comprised a 
large number of choice species and varieties, all in excellent health 
and flowering profusely. These were associated with Adiantums 
and small Palms, sufficient being employed to conceal the pots or 
blocks and impart a gracefulness to the group. Of the numerous 
Orchids included Odontoglossums were particularly fine, 0. Pes- 
catorei, 0. citrosmum, and 0. Alexandras being represented by superb 
varieties. Dendrobiums were similarly abundant, D. thyrsiflorum, 
D. Wardianum, D. Devonianum, and the charming D. Ainsworthii 
being the most notable. Cattleya Skinneri, C. Mendelli, C. Schiller- 
iana, Colax jugosus, Masdevallia Shuttleworthi, M. Veitchiana, On- 
cidium concolor, and Lselia cinnabarina were only a few of the many 
good plants shown in this excellent collection. Mr. H. James, Castle 
Nursery, Lower Norwood, followed closely with a group similarly 
arranged, and including many choice plants flowering well. 
There were also four good collections in the amateurs’ class for 
nine Orchids, the chief award being obtained by Mr. Catt, gardener 
to W. Cobb, Esq., Silverdale Lodge, Sydenham, for fine specimens 
comprising Cymbidium Lowianum with two long spikes, Vanda curvi- 
folia with ten spikes of its deep orange-red flowers, Dendrobium 
thyrsiflorum with eighteen spikes very handsome, Vanda Denisoniana 
with two spikes, together with Masdevallia Ilarryana magnifica, 
Oncidium phymatochilum, Odontoglossum vexillarium, Vanda suavis 
Veitchii, and Cattleya Mossise. Mr. Child, gardener to W. J. Bell, 
Esq., Garbrand Hall, Ewell, was placed second, a decision which was 
unfavourably criticised by some visitors ; but notwithstanding the 
high quality of Mr. Child’s plants, they were surpassed by the pre¬ 
ceding in a few points. The Ewell collection, however, comprised 
several particularly fine specimens ; Dendrobium Wardianum, D. 
nobile, D. Farmeri with eight large spikes, Lrelia cinnabarina, and 
L. purpurata pallida being very good, and all the plants were in 
admirable health. Mr. Salter was third with smaller plants, including 
several good Cattleyas and Dendrobiums, of which, indeed, the col¬ 
lection was almost entirely composed. In the nurserymen’s class for 
nine Orchids Mr. James, Lower Norwood, and Messrs. Jackson & Son, 
Kingston, obtained the prizes in that order with similar collections 
to those staged at Regent’s Park a few days previously, and described 
in our last issue. 
In the classes for stove and greenhouse plants and Azaleas the 
principal prizes were awarded for collections that appeared at the 
Regent’s Park Exhibition and need not be particularised. In the 
nurserymen’s classes the prizes were secured by Messrs. Jackson and 
Son ; Tudgey, Waltham Cross ; and Peed & Son, Lower Streatham, 
for stove and greenhouse plants ; by Messrs. C. Turner, Slough, Jack- 
son it Sons, and Peed & Sons for Azaleas. In the amateurs’ corre¬ 
sponding classes Mr. Chapman, gardener to J. Spode, Esq., Hawkes- 
yard Park, Rugeley, and B. Peed, gardener to Mrs. Treadwell, 
St. John’s Lodge, Lower Norwood, were first and second in the first- 
named class ; Messrs. J. Child, Ratty, gardener to R. Thornton, Esq., 
The Hoo, Sydenham, and B. Peed being the winners with Azaleas. 
Heaths were chiefly shown by Messrs. Jackson, Peed & Son, and 
Tudgey, and Pelargoniums by Messrs. Turner, W. Griffin, Gothic 
Cottage, Church Street, Sydenham, the Slough plants being in very 
good condition. 
Fine-foliage Plants. —These were represented by several credit¬ 
able collections, that from Mr. Penfold, gardener to Canon Bridges, 
Beddington House, Beddington, which was placed first in the open 
class for nine specimens, being of unusual merit. All the plants were 
exceedingly vigorous, but two were remarkably so—namely, David- 
sonia pruriens, 6 feet or more high, with fine healthy foliage, and 
Asparagus plumosus (tenuissimus), of similar height, and 4 or 5 feet 
in diameter, one of the largest specimens in cultivation. Alocasia 
macrorhiza and Dracaena Lindeni were also of great merit. Mr. 
James followed with smaller examples. For nine Dracaenas Mr. 
Bird, gardener to J. A. Causton, Esq., Lodgemore, Alleyn Park, 
Dulwich, secured the principal award, staging highly coloured 
healthy plants of Bausei, Goldieana, Thomsoni, Tellingi, Glad¬ 
stone^ porphyrophylla, and salmonea. Mr. James and Mr. J. Wake- 
ham, gardener to H. Barrett, Esq., Merivale, North Dulwich, were 
second and third respectively. In the class for nine Crotons Mr. 
Bird was again the most successful, several of his specimens being 
C to 8 feet high, healthy, and well coloured. The second prize was 
withheld, Mr. James being placed third with small but useful plants. 
Ferns were not very abundant. Mr. Penfold had the best nine good 
examples of Adiantum gracillimum, A. Sanctas-Catlierinae, Davallia 
fijiensis, D. polyanthum, and Cyathea Smithii being included. Mr. 
B. Peed was second, his best plant being Adiantum farleyense. 
Messrs. G. Jackman & Sons, Woking, were awarded the first prize 
for twelve Clematises, the only collection staged, and which have 
been already referred to as forming a beautiful bank in front of the 
theatre. The plants were in admirable condition, and attracted 
quite as much attention as they did at the Royal Botanic Society’s 
Show. 
Mr. C. Turner was the only exhibitor of eighteen Roses in pots, 
and was deservedly awarded first honours. The plants shown were 
of moderate size, very fresh, healthy, and well flowered, the blooms 
large and finely coloured. Star of Waltham, Edward Morren, Marie 
Baumann, and Sir Garnet Wolseley were especially good. 
Tuberous Begonias were shown by two exhibitors, Mr. Child and 
Mr. Penfold, the former taking the lead with strong plants fairly 
well flowered, Reine Blanche, Paul Masurel, and several seedlings 
being notable. Mr. Penfold’s plants were healthy but had few 
blooms—in fact, were not up to exhibition standard. 
Calceolarias were represented by three good collections in the class 
for twelve plants, Messrs. Carter & Co. being first with vigorous 
specimens bearing large and richly coloured flowers. Mr. Salter was 
placed second with a very even collection, and Messrs. Dobson of 
Isle worth third, also with even plants. 
Messrs. J. Laing & Co., Forest Hill, were awarded the premier 
prize for a handsome group of flowering and fine-foliage plants, 
which were arranged in the form of a semicircle in front of the 
orchestra. Ericas, Begonias, Ferns, Dracaenas, Dieifenbachias, Palms, 
Crotons, and a number of new and beautiful Caladiums constituted 
the bulk of the group. 
First-class Certificates were awarded to Messrs. J. Laing & Co., 
Forest Hill, for Tuberous Begonias Black Douglas, Mrs. Morgan, 
Canary Bird, Prince of Wales, and Queen of Scots, and Caladiums 
cardinale, ornatum, and Verdii. To Mr. C. Turner for Azalea 
Madame Van Houtte, Rose Merveille de Lyon, and Pelargonium 
Dresden China. To Messrs. T. Jackson ifc Sons, Kingston-on-Thames, 
for Impatiens Sultani. 
Miscellaneous. —A number of collections of plants were staged 
not for competition, and contributed greatly to the interest of the 
Exhibition. Extra prizes were awarded to Messrs. Carter & Co., 
High Holborn, for handsome groups of seedling Dracaenas and Cal¬ 
ceolarias. To Mr. C. J. Salter for a group of Calceolarias. To Mr. 
J. R. Bird for extremely well-grown specimens of Mignonette, pyra¬ 
midal and standard plants 2 to 4 feet high. To Messrs. Dobson and 
Son for a group of Calceolarias. To Mr. H. Hooper, Bath, for a 
collection of Pansies and Tulips ; and to Mr. J. Churchfield, Syden¬ 
ham, for Anthurium Schertzerianum gloriosum, a fine variety of this 
well-known Aroid. 
PANSIES FROM SEED. 
In the Journal of the 10th inst. you inserted a short notice of 
some seedling Pansies which I left at your office. I have thought 
that as at the present time I have some 250 plants in bloom, many 
of which are carrying between thirty and forty flowers, a short 
account of the very simple plan of their cultivation might be 
interesting to your readers. 
The seed, which was procured from Messrs. Sutton and Veitch, 
was sown under handlights in a vacant space in the kitchen 
garden about the beginning of June, and shading was given to 
keep off the heat of the sun. As soon as the seedlings appeared 
plenty of air was admitted, the lights being removed during the 
