JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
June 21, 1883. ] 
circular stage were not so abundant, and in a few other classes a 
slight falling-off was observable ; but, on the contrary, to compensate 
for this, some other classes were more than usually well filled, the 
competition being keen and the exhibits highly satisfactory. These 
remarks especially apply to the Pelargoniums, which were magni¬ 
ficent, and the large marquee devoted to them was alone worth a 
long journey to see. Ferns, too, were in stronger force, both hardy 
and exotic, and very rarely do we see such healthy vigorous specimens 
staged ; indeed, there was scarcely one that was not in highly satis¬ 
factory condition. Then, too, the Boses in pots were an important 
feature, mostly superior to the exhibits in the same classes at several 
preceding shows ; while groups, bedding plants, stove and greenhouse 
plants, fine-foliage, ar_d many other plants were all contributed in 
large numbers. 
The general arrangement was similar to that adopted at previous 
Shows—one large central circular tent, witfi a stage in the middle, 
contained the large specimen stove and greenhouse plants and Ferns, 
while from this radiated six long marquees, devoted respectively 
to Pelargoniums, Eoses, fine-foliage, Ferns, groups, fruit and 
vegetables. The tents are very spacious, each having a stage in 
the centre and one round the sides, so that an enormous amount of 
produce can be accommodated. Of course tents thus formally 
arranged do not admit of any artistic effect being produced, such as 
can be done at Eegent’s Park ; but the respected Secretary, Mr. J. 
Wilson, does the next best thing—he studies the convenience of 
exhibitors and judges, the entries in the respective classes being 
placed together, and the public also thus have a better opportunity 
of comparing the merits of the exhibits than wnen they are scattered 
over a large tent, and perhaps after all not producing a more effective 
display. 
PELARGONIUMS. 
These deserve prominent notice, because they undoubtedly consti¬ 
tuted the chief feature of the Exhibition, and, beautiful as they 
always are at York, they were even finer than ordinary on the 
occasion now being noted. A grand central bank of Show and Zonal 
varieties was simply unique, the plants being in fine condition, well 
and neatly trained without being too formal, the flowers most abun¬ 
dant, and the colours very clear and bright. The side stages were 
principally occupied with the Bronze and Tricolor varieties, which are 
always so well shown there, better probably than at any other exhi¬ 
bition in the kingdom. Fancy varieties were not numerous, and 
rarely are, which is greatly to be regretted, as the plants staged are 
invariably admirably grown though of moderate size, and they serve 
to break the uniformity of the other types, being so distinct in 
character. The class for twelve Show varieties was the principal one 
of that section, and in that Mr. C. Eylance, Ormskirk, took first 
honours with superb specimens as nearly perfect as possible; such 
well-known varieties as Claribel, Amazon, Jewess, Grandiflorum, and 
F. A. Dickson were all in grand condition. Mr. Eastwood, gardener 
to Mrs. Tetley, Foxhill, Westwood, Leeds, was a close second, his 
most noteworthy varieties being Queen Bess and Kingston Beauty. 
Messrs. Lazenby & Sons, York, followed ; Mr. H. May being awarded 
an extra prize. These four collections nearly filled one side of the 
central stage. On the other side were the Zonals, and for twelve 
plants Mr. Eastwood was again successful in obtaining the first 
place, some of his finest examples being Lucy, Caxton, Masterpiece, 
Princess of Wales, and Lord Derby. Mr. J. Carter, gardener to 
J. Bellerby, Esq., Burnholme, Heworth, York, was a good second, 
other prizetakers being Messrs. E. Simpson and Hingston. Messrs. 
Eastwood, May, and Eylance were the principal exhibitors of Fancy 
varieties, which, as already stated, were not very large or abundant. 
The Bronze and Tricolors were, however, far more numerous, and 
most of the best varieties in cultivation were represented by well- 
grown, healthy, richly coloured plants. The Eev. — Gardner and 
Messrs. Cholmley, Eylance, and Jackson secured the majority of the 
leading prizes in the various classes for these plants, all exhibiting 
well. 
GROUPS. 
Though the competition was not remarkably keen in the classes for 
groups arranged for effect, the collections entered were sufficiently 
close to cause a little difficulty in determining the awards, at least in 
one class—namely, that for a group to occupy a space of 250 square 
feet. In this there were four competitors ; Mr. Berry, gardener to 
W. Dove, Esq., York, securing the chief honour for a light, graceful, 
and bright group, but a little formal m shape—a square with rather 
sharp corners. The foliage plants comprised Dracaenas, Cordylines, 
Palms, and Coleuses, the latter with Pelargoniums, Ericas, and other 
flowering plants forming a pretty groundwork surrounding the larger 
specimens. The margin of variegated Panicums was pretty, and the 
whole group was very pleasing. Mr. McIntyre, gardener to Mrs. G. 
Pease, Woodside, Darlington, was placed second, and in the opinion 
of some this deserved a higher position, and it was undoubtedly very 
close in merit to the first. Its merits were a light and very informal 
margin and graceful outline, and its defects a slight tendency to 
crowding in the centre, and scarcely sufficient colour. It could, 
however, easily have been rendered equal to or even superior to 
the first. Mr. E. Simpson, Selby, was accorded the third position 
for a group arranged in a similar style to the two preceding, but 
much more crowded ; Messrs. Bailey of Fulford taking the fourth 
place with a collection to which the same remark applies. In the 
other class for a group to occupy a space of 150 feet Mr. McIntosh, 
gardener to J. T. Hingston, Esq., Clifton, York, took the lead, having 
a bright collection of ordinary fine-foliage and flowering plants. Mr. 
J. Noble, gardener to T. Fry, Esq., M.P., Woodburn Gardens, Dar¬ 
lington, and Mr. A. Scott, gardener to J. Buckle, Esq., Monkgate, 
York, were respectively second and third. 
STOVE AND GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 
The great class for these is always that for ten specimens, in which 
prizes of £20, £14, and £8 are offered. These usually bring some fine 
collections, but this season both Mrs. Cole’s and Mr. Tudgey’s plants 
were missed. Mr. Letts, gardener to the Earl of Zetland, Ashe, 
Eichmond, was awarded first honours for very handsome specimens 
of considerable size, the fine-foliage plants being especially large. 
Croton Queen Victoria, Cycas revoluta, and Croton majesticus were 
in grand condition, extremely vigorous, and the Crotons beautifully 
coloured. Amongst the flowering plants the finest was a magnificent 
specimen of Anthurium Schertzerianum with sixty or seventy large 
richly coloured spathes, and for which the Veitch Memorial medal 
and prize of £5 for the best stove or greenhouse plant in the Show 
was deservedly awarded. Other good plants were Ixora coccinea 
and Allamanda grandiflora, both well flowered. Mr. J. Cypher, 
Cheltenham, secured the second prize, his two leading specimens 
being Cycas revoluta and a wonderfully fine Erica Cavendishiana 
6 or 7 feet in diameter, the same height, and flowering abundantly. 
The third prize was awarded to Mr. Noble for rather small but 
healthy plants. For six specimens Mr. Letts was again the leading 
exhibitor, having a plant of Allamanda Hendersoni 6 feet high by 
6 feet in diameter, and most profusely flowered, a good Ixora coc¬ 
cinea, and Dipladenia amabilis in superb condition, with fifty or 
sixty large and richly coloured flowers. Mr. Berry was second, and 
his best plant was Clerodendron Balfourianum 8 feet high. Mr. 
Sunley, gardener to W. M. Champion, Esq., Halifax, took the third 
place with plants of average merit. In the class for three specimens 
Mr. Eollisson, gardener to W. Bateman, Esq., Harrogate, was the 
principal exhibitor, gaining the first prize, Kentia Fosteriana and 
Croton variegatus being remarkably good. 
ORCHIDS. 
It is regretable that more attention is not given to Orchids at the 
York Fete, as it occurs at a time when a very fine display might be 
readily obtained. It is true a three-days show is rather too long for 
choice Orchids, but if some kind of special provision was made for 
them it would be a great additional attraction to the Show. Only 
three classes are devoted to them, and the prizes are not very high in 
amount. For six plants Mr. Mitchell, gardener to Dr. Ainsworth, 
Broughton, Manchester, won chief honours with fairly good speci¬ 
mens, principally, however, “ made up.” Phalsenopsis amabilis was 
very notable in this respect, quite a number of plants being placed 
together, though these, it must be stated, were flowering well. Aerides 
Lobbi Ainsworthi had a fine spike of its rich rosy crimson flowers, 
and Phalsenopsis Luddemanniana was good. Mr. Cypher had well- 
grown examples of Cypripedium Lawrencianum, Aerides Fieldingi, 
and Odontoglossum vexillarium, the latter a genuine specimen of 
moderate size and very healthy, and with nine or ten fine spikes of 
dark-coloured flowers. Mr. E. Bridge, Greenhill, Hington, was third, 
Cypripedium villosum being his finest plant. Mr. Mitchell was also 
first with three Orchids—Dendrobium Parishi superba, a finely coloured 
variety of this beautiful species, Phalsenopsis grandiflora with four 
spikes, and Saccolabium prsemorsum with three spikes. Mr. East- 
wood was second with several good plants, but his finest was Aerides 
Fieldingi with two spikes, one with three branches, the central one a 
foot long, and for which the Veitch Memorial prize for the best 
Orchid in the Show w'as awarded. Mr. Mitchell had the best single 
specimen, Vanda Dennisoniana, with fourteen flowers on two spikes. 
FERNS. 
Well-grown specimens of Ferns always contribute greatly to the 
beauty of an Exhibition, and this was very decidedly the case at 
York in all the classes. The largest specimens w’ere those in the 
class for eight exotic Ferns, in which Mr. Berry was adjudged the 
leading prize, Gleichenia rupestris glaucescens, nearly 8 feet high 
and 6 feet in diameter, Cyathea medullaris, 10 feet high, was similarly 
noteworthy. Microlepia hirta cristata in fine vigorous health being 
one of the largest examples of this fine Fern we have seen exhibited. 
Messrs. Bailey and Noble followed ; each had good plants, but con¬ 
siderably smaller than the first-prize lot. The best four exotic Ferns 
were staged by Mr. A. Scott, gardener to J. Buckle, Esq., Monkgate, 
York, Todea superba and Adiantum gracillimum being the two finest 
examples in his collection; Mr. Wright, gardener to G. Talbot, Esq., 
Southfield, Burley, Leeds, being a very close second with Pteris 
scaberula in fine form, and Gleichenia Mendeli in similarly good con¬ 
dition. Mr. G. Lister, gardener to H. S. Brogden, .Esq., Heworth 
Hall, York, was a good third. In the hardy and British Fern classes 
the prizetakers were Messrs. W. E. Eobinson, Scott, Eodwell, and 
Eylance, who contributed a great number of beautiful specimens. 
Very noteworthy in Mr. Eobinson’s collection was a noble Struthi- 
opteris pennsylvanica, the Athyriums and Lastreas being represented 
by a number of handsome varieties. Three beautiful collections of 
Selaginellas were staged, Mr. Scott winning chief honours with good 
pans of Wildenovii, Martensii, csesia, and stolonifera. Mr. Berry 
was a close second, and Mr. McIntyre third, each with similar 
varieties. 
