46 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 15, 1886. 
Esq., Chadwick Manor, Knowle, second ; Mr. Chas. Collcutt third ; and Mr. 
H. Poulter, Oxford, fourth. For six trusses of any H.P. Mr. E. Thorne and 
Mr. W. Narroway were first and second, each staging Mdlle. Marie Rady ; 
Mr. C. Collcutt third with Charles Lefevre; and the Rev. E. Penwarne- 
Wellings, fourth with La France. For six distinct Tea or Noisette the 
successful competitors were Mr. F. Freeman, E. Eamsden, Esq., and Mr. E. 
Collins, the prizes being awarded in the order named. For a specimen H P. 
bloom Mr. E. Thorne was first with A. K. Williams ; Mr. A. Evans second 
with the same variety: and Mr. Chas. Collcutt third with Marie Baumann; 
while for a specimen Tea or Noisette bloom Mr. Freeman was first with a 
high-coloured Marshal Niel ; Mr. E. Thorne second with Niphetos ; and 
Mr. W. Narroway third with Devoniensis. A noticeable feature was the 
larger proportion of Teas staged as compared with previous exhibitions of 
this Society.—I. B. E. 
BATH.— July 8th. 
Although the exceptionally hot and dry weather recently experienced 
proved highly detrimental to the Roses grown by local exhibitors especially, 
there was no appreciable falling off in the number of exhibits generally, 
and on the whole a very excellent display was made. The trade growers 
were strongly represented, but many impartial judges were disposed to 
consider the amateurs were in better form, and they certainly had a fine 
fresh lot of blooms. All the best-known varieties were included in several 
of the leading exhibits, and such popular favourites as Merveille de Lyon, 
C. Lefebvre, A. K. Williams, La France, Horace Vernet, Dupuy Jamain, 
Marie Baumann, Marquise de Castellane, E. Y. Teas, Marechal Niel, Cathe¬ 
rine Mermet, J an Ducher, Marie Van Houtte, Niphetos, Souvenir d’un Ami, 
and Comtesse de Nadaillac were largely shown. 
Nurserymen’s Classes. —The competition here was close and good, the 
Judges eventually awarding the first prize for seventy-two single trusses, 
distinct, to Mr. B. R. Cant, Colchester; Mr. F. Cant, Colchester, being a 
good second ; and Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, third. In the next class, 
that for thirty-six varieties, three trusses of i a. li, the first p ize was de¬ 
servedly awarded to Mr. George Prince, Oxford ; the second prize going to 
Mr. B. R. Cant, and the third to Messrs. Keynes, Williams, & Co., Salis¬ 
bury, each lot including many fine blooms. Wi'h eighteen varieties, single 
trusses. M ssrs. Curtis, Sanford, & Co., Torquay, were first, and Messrs. 
J. Jeffries it Sons, Cirencester, second ; and in the next class, that for thirty- 
six single trusses, distinct, Messrs. Curtis & Sanford were first, Messrs. J. 
Jeffries it Sons second, and Mr. J. Mattock, Oxford, third, all staging very 
creditable blooms. Mr. G. Princ^ had the best collection of Teas, Mr. F. 
Cant being second, and Mr. B. R. Cant third. 
Amateurs’ Classes. —The Rev. J. H. Pemberton, Romford, was a good 
first for thirty-six single trusses, distinct; Mr.W. J. Grant, Ledbury, second, 
and Mr. T. W. Girdlestone a creditable third. With twenty-four single 
trusses, distinct, Captain Christy, Sidmouth, was first, Mr. W. Narroway 
second, and the R. v. C. C. Layard third, all having good blooms. The be-t 
twelve single trusses, distinct, were shown by Mr. W. J. Grant, Mr. T. B. 
Hall, Rock Ferry, being a good second, and Mr. T.W. Girdlestone third; and 
with six varieties Mrs. Mary A. Weston was first, Mr. J. Smith second, and 
Mr. W. T. Ball third. The Rev. J. W. Pemberton had the best twelve Teas, 
single trusses, distinct; Mr. W. J. Grant being a good second, and Captain 
Christy third ; while with six varieties Mr. S. P. Budd, Bath, was first, Mr. 
Narroway second, and Mr. J. Smith third. 
Open Classes. —Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co. were first for twelve 
trusses of any Rose. M-ssrs. Curtis, Sanford & Co., second, and Mr. Cant 
third. For a like number of any yellow Rose the prizewinners were Messrs. 
F. Cant, B. R. Cant, and W. J. Grant. Any crimson Rose, Messrs. G. Prince, 
Keynes, W illiams & Co., and Curtis, Sanford & Co. La France, Messrs. 
W. J. Grant, F. Cant, and Curtis, Sanford & Co., the prizes going in the 
order the names are giv>n for very creditable exhibits in each instance. 
Mr. B. R. Cant was first for any new Rose of 1884 or 1885, Messrs. Curtis, 
Sanford & Co. second, and Messrs. G. Cooling & Sons, Bath, third. Mr. J. 
Mattock had the best basket of Roses, Messrs. G. Cooling ifc Son being a 
good second, and Mr. G. L. Hobbs third. Mr. Mattock was also first for 
nine bouquets of Roses though many preferred the second prize lot exhibited 
by Messrs. G. Cooling & Son. 
The most successful of the local exhibitors were Messrs. S. P. Budd, 
Jolly, H. James, the Rev. G. E. Gardiner, Messrs. J. S. Pope, G. Ilorsell, F. 
Clerk, and H. J. Walker. ’ 
The silver medal of the National Rose Society offered for the best 
Hybrid Perpetual Rose in the Show was awarded to the Rev. J. H. Pember¬ 
ton, for a grand bloom of Horace Vernet, and another medal for the best Tea 
Rose went to Mr. F. Cant for a beautiful example of Souvenir d’Elise. 
Among the m scellaneous exhibits the most attractive was a display of 
Japanese Roses (Rosa polyantha) and for which Messrs. G. Cooling & Son 
more than deserved the award of a certificate of merit. Messrs Cooling had 
also several other interesting exhibits not for competition. 
CALANTHE WJLLIAMSI. 
In Mr. B. ?. Williams’ handsome publication, the “Orchid Album,” 
an excellent llluitration of the above-named Calanthe is given, and 
represents the di-tinguishing characters faithfully. It is of the C. vestita 
habit with exceptionally large flowers frequently over 2 inches in 
diameter, the sepals white with the two lateral ones bright rose on the 
margin ; the petals are also white bordered with rose, the lip being an 
intensely li h rosy crimson. The plant was introduced by Mr. B. S. 
Williams from Eastern Asia, and flowers freely in the winter months 
rather later than some of the other forms. 
Referring to the culture of these and allied Calanthes in the work 
above noticed, the author remarks, “ These Calanthes are very accommc- 
dating, since they will thrive well in baskets suspended from the roof, as 
well as in pets suspended by wire in the tame way as the ba-kets; they 
will also thrive in pots standing oh the tables, where room is not an object. 
If grown in baskets, they will require more room in the growing season. We 
prefer them in this manner where there is room, as they look so pleasing 
with the spikes hanging gracefully from the roof. Their flowering season 
follows that of the completion of the growth of the bulbs, and their growing 
season commences when they have finished blooming. When this is 
observed, let them be fresh potted. We have found it best to do this 
every year, as they lose all their old roots annually. We shake the soil 
away and cut off the roots and repot them, when, as soon as they begin 
to grow, they will send out their new roots into fresh soil. The material 
we use for potting is good rough fibrous loam and leaf mould, with a layer 
of rough peat and moss on the top of it. In potting, fill the pot with the 
soil and place the pseudo-bulb on the top, just making it firm ; it will 
soon root and support itself. If planted in baskets, it is necessary to 
place some rough fibrous peat round the sides and at the bottom to keep 
the soil from being washed out; fill the basket with the same kind of 
compost as that recommended for the pots, wiih drainage at the bottom ; 
place the bulbs upright in the basket, about three in number, on the top of 
the soil, and finish by giving a little water. After the plants have com¬ 
menced growth and are making roots freely, they should be kept constantly 
moist, but after growth is finished less water will be required, and after 
flowering a good rest can be given. When the plants are in vigorous 
growth a little liquid manure once or twice a week, but it must be well 
diluted before being used.” 
The woodcut has been kindly lent by Mr. B. S. Williams. 
NOTES FROM MY GARDEN IN 1885.—No. 4. 
AURICULAS. 
Yes, I will venture to say something about these, although I have no 
very startling experience to record nor any very great novelty either of 
sorts or of culture to make known ; nor, happily, had I the same misfortune 
to announce as overtook me in 1884, when my plants got such a roasting. 
I am every now and then reminded of my loss by noticing the appearance 
of some plant which had been hardly hit, which had made a fight to 
recover its position, but at last had succumbed ; and I may briefly say 
that, although my collection is not in extent what it was, that I have never 
had it more healthy or the plants more vigorous. And now with regard 
to management, I have not made any change in the respect which I may 
briefly recapitulate. 
I am confirmed in the opinion that the praclice of repotting in May 
or the early part of June is the most suitable time, for I do not think 
that the prevention of autumn blooming is attained by late potting. This 
autumn flowering is a puzzle : some sorts are more given to it than others, 
and in some seasons it is more prevalent. Where it does not occur so 
much, it is probably owing to situation more than to anything else. 
Wnere they can enjoy a cool breezy position and not be stimulated by too 
much sun it is less likely to occur ; and I should imagine that it is more 
prevalent with us in the south of England than in the north or in Scot¬ 
land, and certainly during very warm seasons there is a much greater 
tendency to this than in cooler years. That it is detrimental to the 
spring flowering of the plant there can he no doubt, and those who have 
been looking for some “ crack ” to give them a good flower at exhibition 
time are grievously disappointed to see it throwing up its autumu bloom. 
Where these varieties are grown by the score it does not so much matter, 
but the small grower who has only two or three to depend upon is pro¬ 
portionately disappointed. 
The woolly aphis plague has not yet disappeared, but we can, I think, 
regard it with more equanimity than we used to do. When I had repotted 
my plants in 1885 I saw but very little of it, yet when I examined them 
a few months afterwards I found several plants on which they were 
flourishing. So loDg as it is confined to the toots it does not seem to do 
much harm, although it may do more than we imagine, but when it 
attacks the neck of the plants and punctures it about there, extracting 
their juices, it seems to me impossible that it is not injurious; and yet 
this was not the opinion held when it first appeared. Many well-known 
and experienced Auricula growers promised it to be a death-dealing plague, 
and probably if left unmolested it would, like its first cousin the American 
blight, be most destructive. But the Auricula is so frequently handled 
that they get disturbed and have not time to complete their work of 
destruction. Where they appeared round the neck of the plant they were 
of course rubbed off, and the pot was turned out on the hand to see if they 
were in any quantity, and if so, they were treated in the same manner 
and returned to the pots. 
I am often asked about compost, and my opinion is that if you can get 
good fibrous loam it does not much matter about the rest. One part of 
decayed cow manure some leaf mould and charcoal to three parts of the 
loam, placing some of the rougher parts of the compost over the drainage 
and potting firmly, is about all that is required. The loam that I have 
used lately has been the top spit of rather light land which had been 
turned up for the making of our new railway, and although it has not the 
strength of some of our Kentish loam it seems to have answered very 
well, for not only Auriculas but other things for which I have used it. 
Supposing that the loam is sweet and has plenty of fibre, I think that we 
- may be indifferent on the point of strength. 
