306 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April IG, liOi. 
p^enera, and they constitute about 10 per cent, of the flowering plants of 
that vast country. This is a larger proportion than that recorded for the 
rich Orchid flora of Mexico and Central America Among epiphytal^ 
or tree Orchids, the beautiful genus Dendrobium contributes upwards 
of 150 species, and Ilabcnaria among ground Orchids numbers 106 
species. All lovers of Orchids will welcome this masterly synopsis of 
the Indian species, and all botanists will wish the eminent author health 
to finish his great u ork.— (^Nature.') 
THE BIRMIXGHAM SPRING FLOWER SHOW. 
The weather was very unfavourable on the 8th and 9th inst. for 
the eighth annual Exhibition, still there was a larger attendance than 
last year, and a first-class display was brought together. Hyacinths, 
always a feature at these Exhibitions, were very numerous, but not up 
to the usual standard of excellence ; and this was not to be w'ondered at 
with the many difficulties growers have had to contend with. The chief 
exhibitors w'ore Mr. J. Palmer, gardener to Wm. Brown, Esq. ; Mr. 
Dyer, gardener to Mrs. Marigold ; Mr. E. Cooper, gardener to the Bight 
Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, M.F. ; J. B. Manley, Esq , and others. Of 
some kinds there were good specimens, especially in blues, of Czar Peter, 
Grand Maitre, Blondin, Marie, and King of the Blues. In reds Roi des 
Beiges is very bright and fine, so also Lord Macaulay, Cardinal Wiseman, 
[)ale blush pink and very fine spike, and Mont Blanc were conspicuous. 
There was a rich and extensive display of Tulips in the various classes, 
none of them drawn, and all with good foliage, excellent culture pre¬ 
dominating. The white variety of Joost Van Vondel was conspicuous 
as a very lovely white, and Proserpine, Keysers Kroon, Chrysolora, 
Vermilion Brilliant, White Pottebakker, Joost Van Vondel, Ophir d’Or, 
Boyal Standard were in almost all the collections. Mr. Cooper, gardener, 
was first for six excellent pots of Lily of the Valley, also for six 
Cyclamens. Some very fine specimens of Dielytra spcctabilis were 
shown, especially the first prize lot of these, exhibited by Mr. Palmer, 
Mr. Cooper being a good second. Large specimens of Spiraea japonica 
were very numerous, and there were good Deutzias, and a large number 
of Cinerarias. The Indica Azaleas were good, Mr. Brasier taking 
the first prize for six medium-sized specimens, profusely flowered, 
and not tco formally trained, Mr. Cooper being placed second with 
larger plants, not sufficiently in flower. The class for three specimen 
Azaleas also brought out a new competitor, Thomas Clayton, Esq., with 
very fine specimens. Mr. Brasier, gardener to Sir Thomas Martineau, 
and an excellent cultivator, took first prizes respectively for six and 
three stove or greenhouse plants in flower, and his plants were certainly 
well grown. Very noticeable were a grand Thomas Hogg Hydrangea, 
Rhyncospermum jasminoides, Anthurium Schertzerianum, and Franciscea 
calycina. In the class for three fine-foliage plants a handsome specimen 
of Dracaena Lindeni was corrspicuous, exhibited from Highbury. The 
bouquet classes are generally well represented at the Birmingham 
Shows, and some very beautiful examples were staged on this occasion. 
Mr. Finch, gardener to Mr. Alderman Marriott, Coventry, took first 
honours for bridal and ball bouquets with artistic work, and Messrs. 
Pope & Sons, nurserymen, were first in the open classes for a grand 
bridal bouquet. Three fine stands of twelve varieties of cut stove and 
greenhouse flowers were staged, Mr. Finch taking the first position 
with a very fine lot, containing some Orchids. 
The Committee wished to have a largo display of Orchids, and 
offered for groups arranged with Ferns and foliage plants, handsome 
prizes in the hope of inducing distant visitors to come ; but the very 
cold weather upset these calculations. Two grand lots from local 
growers were set up, that from Highbury, staged by Mr. Burberry, who 
is at the head of tbe Orchid department, being especially meritorious. 
In this group there must have been close upon a hundred plants of 
Orchids, amongst them Cattleyas Schroedcri and Lawrenciana, and 
others ; Dendrobium Falconcri, a very fine Densoni, Devonianum, 
Wardianum and others ; Odontoglossum Ruckerianumand others ; Mas- 
devallias, Oncidiums, Cypripediums, Ac. Mr. Powell, gardener to 
G. A. Kenrick, Esq., was second with an excellent lot, and would have 
been a stronger opponent, but Mr. Kenrick objected to his fine Dendro- 
biums being taken out in such weather. 
Some very fine specimens were staged in the classes for Orchids. 
For six plants Mr. Burberry again came first for six and three speci¬ 
mens. They consisted of Dendrobium thyrsiflorum, a fine variety of 
Dendrobium fimbriatum, D. nobile, Cattleya Lawrenciana, and Odonto¬ 
glossum Pescatorei. These were all massive plants, especially the Den¬ 
drobium Wardianum, a fine variety, and D. fimbriatum. The three 
plants consisted of Dendrobiums nobile pulcherrima, Frcemani, and 
Wardianum ; very fine specimens. The second prize for six Orchids, 
and the first prize for single specimens were won by Mr. Palmer, 
the single specimen, a large mass of Cypripedium villosum, with about 
seventy blooms. 
Exhibits not for competition were numerous. Mr. Thos. Ware, Halo 
Farna Nurseries, Tottenham, contributed a very extensive display of cut 
Narcissi, the beautiful Chionodoxa sardensis. Anemones in variety, 
•louble scarlet Ranunculus, and other plants. Messrs. Cutbush & Sons, 
Highgate Nurseries, London, sent a large display of hard wooded plants, 
some fine Olivias, their new Mignonette “ Snowdrift,” excellent Mush¬ 
rooms, and other things. Messrs. Richard Smith & Co., Worcester, 
contributed a group of winter decorative plants, such as forced Rhodo¬ 
dendrons, Clematis, Azaleas, Japanese Maples, &c. Messrs. Ryder and 
Son, Sale Nurseries, Manchester, contributed forty pans of Prinaula 
Sieboldi varieties, including the newer kinds—Maiden’s Blush (exhibited 
for the first time), Bruee Findlay, Mrs. S. Woodward, alba magnifica, 
Mrs. Ryder, Queen of the Whites, Mrs. A. H. Jones, and Miss Nelly 
Barnard, all very desirable varieties. 
Messrs. Hewitt & Co., Solihull, staged a group; at the back a 
large specimen in bloom of Magnolia Soulangeana Alexandrina, several 
Japanese Maples; also a good assortment of early spring-blooming 
alpine and other plants, and Auriculas staged in boxes. The Auriculas 
were very good indeed for this early season. Messrs. Vertegans & Co. 
sent a very interesting collection of Himalayan Primroses and fruit 
of the Melon Pear, which the Judges regarded with considerable favour, 
the fruit having a flavour somewhat rc.sembling that of a Melon 
combined with the Banana. Messrs. Thomson & Son set up one of 
their always admired artistic groups, which had a well thought out 
design throughout, and a rich display of floral work in baskets of 
flowers, sprays, bouquet, and especially a harp of Erin, beautifully made. 
Messrs. Pope & Sons set up a good group, in which were some very 
fine specimen Clematis Marie Boisselot, a large-flowered very fine 
white. There was a good plant of the Golden Latania borbonica, and a 
group of the fine double scarlet Zonal Geranium Le Bruant in it. 
Henry Hollis, Esq., Edgbaston, was awarded a certificate for a good 
specimen Dendrobium densiflorum, and a cultural certificate was given 
to Mr. W. Jinks, gardener to J. E. Wilson, Esq., Edgbaston, for Phalae- 
nopsis Stuartiana. Messrs. Pope & Sons also exhibited a superb cross 
of Narcissus Irish King and Variegated Ivies and Euonymus, all from 
out of doors. Mr. J. Shuttleworth, Edgbaston, exhibited a display of 
rustic garden furniture of various designs, in which lightness and 
elegance prevailed ; and Messrs. Frazer & Co. a patent tap splicer, 
which the Judges thought useful for repairing damaged indiarubber 
tubing. 
RUTHIN CASTLE. 
On an eminence commanding an uninterrupted view of the 
greater portion of the exceedingly picturesque and fertile Vale of 
Clwyd in Denbighshire stands Ruthin Castle, a noble castellated 
mansion, erected in the early part of the present century by the 
Hon. Frederick West on the site of a previous castle founded by 
Edward I., and most probably of a much more ancient British 
fortress. It is now in the possession of Col. W. Cornwallis West, 
M P., who is also Lord Lieutenant of the county. The grounds 
are entered by massive oaken doors from nearly the centre of the 
quaint old town bearing the name, and from entrance to exit as 
we pass along circuitous paths, and through subterranean passages, 
we are held almost spell-bound by the enchanting interest of the 
various scenes presented. Nature and Art on every hand seem to 
have successfully combined to render the once scene of conflict, 
strife, and bloodshed a scene of peaceful and perfect beauty, and 
where instruments of war and torture once glittered in defiant 
hands, the more noble instruments of tillage are now brandished in 
the arts of peace. To notice at any length these glorious scenes 
would be quite impossible here, so a few halts only will be made 
in our tour. We start through some of the underground passages 
already referred to, and into some dungeons from which we 
hurriedly escaped with a feeling of relief—these are portions of 
the old castle. What is called the Little Flower Garden is then 
reached, and a glance at the accompanying illustration (fig. 57) 
will afford the reader a better idea of it than a description. The 
figure “standing at ease” in the illustration is Mr. H. Forder, 
the genial head gardener, who, by the way, both designed and 
made the Little Garden, and, it may be added, keeps it in brilliant 
order. Many thousands of plants are required for this garden 
alone, to say nothing of other parts of the grounds that are so 
bountifully provided for, and it speaks volumes for the gardener’s 
management that with such limited glass accommodation at his 
command, together with a reduced staff, he is able to meet these 
heavy demands so successfully. We pass more and more of the 
grand old ruins and come to a long Ivy clad building, supposed to 
have been an armoury, where two long herbaceous borders contain¬ 
ing a fine collection of this class of plants claim our attention. 
In addition to their own beauty and attractiveness the surrounding 
ruins lend much additional charm, the whole forming a picture of 
exceeding beauty. Descending two flights of steps the tennis 
ground is entered, which was formerly a courtyard and main 
entrance to the old castle. Here we find one of the old gateways 
well preserved, if preservation be indeed needed for walls of solid 
masonry about 8 feet thick. Ascending by another flight of steps • 
another flower garden comes in view—the front terrace garden, 
equalling in effect the first. The arrangements of colour seemed 
perfect, and a bed in the centre of the design containing sub¬ 
tropical plants, conspicuous among them being Lavatera arborea 
variegata, was a fitting crown tD the surrounding beds, with their 
complement of dwarfer growing plants of the ordinary bedding 
kinds. Magnificent views are obtained from this terrace, the most 
extensive being towards the sea and coast in the direction of Rhyl, 
