808 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 1C, 1891. 
CROCUSES ON LAWNS. 
In December last a notice was given of Mr. F, M. Moles’s method 
of growing fruit trees in town gardens, and I received a letter from 
him a few days ago, saying that if I would call at his gardens in the 
Westfield Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, he thought I should be 
interested in a display of Crocuses planted in a tennis lawn, about 
a third of an acre in extent. I found a very beautiful display, for 
the day happened to be bright, and the flowers were seen in all 
their beauty. The corms, some thousands, were planted three .to 
four years since, three roots together, each cluster about 18 inches 
apart, just making a hole in the grass for the bulbs, and filling with 
soil. The sorts used are the finest varieties, such as David Rizzio, 
Prince Albert, Purpurea Grandiflora, an extra fine purple ; Baron 
von Brunow, Madame Mina, Mont Blanc, Non Pius Ultra, Queen 
Victoria, and others, including a good proportion of the large Dutch 
Yellow. The flowers at the beginning of April were as fine in 
quality as if grown in the open ground, and from newly planted 
strong bulbs ; and standing a little distance away, the lawn has the 
appearance of a magnificent piece of fancy woolwork or an immense 
carpet of harmonious shades of colours. 
But what about mowing the grass ? Well, Mr. Mole just waits 
until the foliage has died ; and by the beginning of June, if not 
before, the lawn can be mown for the first time, and he attaches 
much importance to allowing the foliage to die naturally. A dress¬ 
ing of bonedust or some other stimulant occasionally keeps the 
green sward in good condition and helps the Crocus roots. The 
little delay in spring mowing is amply compensated for by the very 
beautiful display at the end of March and early part of April, and 
there is no fear of the bulbs being disturbed by digging. 
Much can be done by ornamenting portions of pleasure ground 
plots of grass in this way, and by Snowdrops, Winter Aconites, and 
the blue and white Wood Anemones, and other plants. The 
Narcissi alone, planted in clumps on parts of the grassy portions of 
the pleasure ground when early mowing is not cared for, would be 
objects of beauty, and I think the time is coming when the lawn 
planting of bulbs will be done very much more than it is at 
present.—W. D. 
LIVERPOOL HORTICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 
The eighth spring Show was held on April 7th and 8th in St. 
George’s Hall, Liverpool, and, as stated in our last week’s issue, sur¬ 
passed all previously held. It is much to be regretted that the attendance 
was not of the highest order, owing, no doubt, to the great attraction of 
the Japanese Bazaar, which has drawn crowds the whole of the week, 
Foremost amongst the exhibits were the Orchids arranged in front of 
the orchestra, and certainly nothing approaching them has ever been 
seen in St. George’s Hall. So superior were they that many which 
failed to gain prizes would have bad not the slightest difficulty in being 
in the front rank at previous exhibitions, and if the Committee could 
wisely see their way to arrange a class for six Orchids it would no doubt 
be warmly contested by those passessing large collections, and enable 
smaller growers to compete with more success in the classes as at present 
constituted. 
For three Orchids^ Mr. B. Cromwell, gardener to T. Sutton Timmis, 
Esq., Cleveley, Allerton, took premier honours out of ten competitors 
with splendid examples of cultivation, Dendrobium Wardianum, eighty- 
five flowers; Cattleya Trianfe (grand variety) eight flowers; and 
Cymbidium eburneum, sixteen flowers. Second, Mr. J. Jellicoc, gardener 
to F. H. Gossage, Esq., Camp Hill, Woolton, who had a beautiful piece of 
Cymbidium Lowianum with five spikes; Cymbidium eburneum and 
Dendrobium Jamesianum, thirteen fine spikes. Third, Mr. A. Smith, 
gardener to D. de Yborrondo, Esq., Prince’s Park. Nineteen competed 
in the class for one Orchid, and the Judges had no difficulty in awarding 
first prize to Mr. J. Wilson, gardener to J. E. Keynolds, Esq., Sandtield 
Park, W. Derby, for a glorious plant of Dendrobium Ainsworthi with 
over 1000 flowers. Second, Mr. J. Madeley, gardener to W. C. Atkinson, 
Esq., with a flne variety of Dendrobium thyrsiflorum earrying twenty- 
two spikes. Third, Mr. Cromwell, who had a charming pan of the 
Trentham variety of Coelogyne cristata which covered the foliage with 
its 480 flowers. Extra, Mr. C. Duke, gardener to G. E. Sandbach, Esq., 
Fulwood Park; and Mr. J. J. Craven, gardener to J, G. Morris, Esq., 
Allerton Priory. 
Next in importance were the Azaleas, and here again Mr. Cromwell took 
the lead with perfect examples in the class for three with Eoi Leopold, 
Model, and Due de Nassau, not a leaf to be seen. Second, Mr. J. Wilson, 
gardener to H. Cunningham, Esq., Gorsey Cop, Gateacre ; third, Mr. 
Jellicoe. Mr. Wilson was also placed first for one Azalea, being closely 
followed by Mr. Cromwell ; third, Mr. T. Hitchman, gardener to A. 
Earle, Esq., Chilwall Lodge. For four Azaleas, 8-incli pots, Mr. C. 
Osborne, gardener to H. J. Kobinson, Esq., Aymestry Court, Woolton, 
was deservedly awarded fir=t prize for excellent examples and flowers 
of fine substance, the varieties being Plato, Hlustra, Bluthiana, and Mrs. 
Turner. Second, Mr. Cromwell ; third, Mr. Moorhousc, gardener to 
E. Brocklehurst, Esq., Sandfield Park. Stove and greenhoirse plants 
formed the next feature, and here Mr. Jellicoe gained first honours with 
an excellent collection, including a very fine Ehododendron Gibsoni, 
splendid specimen Crotons Queen Victoria and Warreni, a grand 
healthy plant of Anthurium Andreanum, Kentia Fosteriana, and a 
beautiful Ehododendron fragrantissimum. Second, Mr. Cromwell with 
a capital Phoenix rupicola, Kentia Fosteriana, Dendrobium nobile (very 
fine), and Croton Queen Victoria. Third, Mr. A. E. Cox, gardener tp 
W. H. Watts, Esq., Elm Hall, Wavertree. One stove plant iii flower,, 
first, Mr. J. Bounds, gai'Jener to A. L. Jone.s, Esq., Oatlands, Aigburth, 
wdth a chaste plant of Coelogyne cristata. Second, Mr. Cromwell; third, 
Mr. J. Wilson, jun., both with Dendrobium nobile. One greenhouse 
plant in flower, first,' Mr. T. Winkworth, gardener to E. Brocklebank, 
Esq., Childwall Lodge, with a noble plant of Imantophyllum miniatum. 
Second, Mr. Jellicoe ; third, Mr. Cromwell. 
Mr. A. E. Cox was first for four exotic Ferns with a seedling Dayallia, 
seedling Goniophlebium, a fine Microlepia hirta cristata oyer 6 feet 
across, and Adiantum cuneatum ; second, Mr. A. Smith; third, Mr. T. 
Moorhouse. One exotic Fern, Mr. Cromwell, with a splendid Nephro- 
lepis davallioides furcans some 5 feet across; second, Mr. J. Bounds, 
with a beautiful Adiantum tenerum; third, Mr. JelEcoe. Mr. Crom¬ 
well took the lead with six forced hardy plants, three Callas, and twp 
pots Mignonette. Dracrenas well shown, Mr. T. Carling, gardener tp 
Mrs. Cope, Dove Park, Woolton, leading with six fine well-grown plants ; 
second, Mr. A. E. Cox; third, Mr. Jellicoe. Mr. J. Bounds was first for one 
greenhouse Ehododendron Gibsoni, a superb plant, but getting a little 
past its best; second, Mr. Jellicoe ; third, Mr. Moorhouse, the last-named 
being first for four hardy Ehododendron s and one hardy Ehododendron, 
The Azalea mollis were perfect pictures, the first for four falling to Mr. 
J. Harrison, gardener to Mr.s. W. G. Bateson, New Heys, Allerton, and 
for one to Mr. J. Taylor, gardener to H. H. Hammond, Esq., Sefton Park. 
Cinerarias and Primulas were only moderate. Mr. J. Warrington, gardener 
to Tyndall Bright, Esq., was first for the former, and Mr. Jellicoe for the 
latter. For two Amaryllis, Mr. A. E. Cox was first. 
The Cyclamens were well flowered, Mr. J. Wilson, jun., taking the first 
prize for six pots. Lily of the Valley was exquisitely shown and greatly 
admired, that by Mr. C. Ford, gardener to Mrs. C. Hazlehurst, Euncorn,. 
for first honours being wonderfully well grown. Second, Mr. T. Stephen¬ 
son, gardener to L. H. MacIntyre, Esq., Aigburth, and Mr. Carling third 
with good pots. Mr. Bounds secured first prizes for six table plants (pretty 
specimens) for one bouquet, and in the open class for ten pots hardy 
herbaceous and bulbous plants, and for the most tastefully arranged 
box of Eoses. In the latter Mr. T. Wilson, gardener to 0. H. Williams, 
Esq., Fulwood Park, and Mr. J. Mather, gardener to W. H. Evans, Esq., 
Charlwood House, Huyton, staged most meritorious boxes in the order 
named. Mr. T. Wilson was successful for three Palms or Cycads and 
one Palm or Cycad, first for twelve Hyacinths and six, and second for 
six pots three bulbs in a pot and eighteen Hyacinths. In the open cla s- 
for table of miscellaneous plants for effect Mr. A. E. Cox was an easy 
first with a light and bright arrangement. Maidenhair Ferns forming 
the groundwork, interspersed with small Palms and Orchids. Mr. 
Jellicoe second with a rather flat arrangement and wanting in colour. 
Third, Mr. Moorhouse. 
Hyacinths and Tulips were fairly well shown, and with the excep¬ 
tion of the eighteen Hyacinths, which were good, which secured 
Mr. Cox first position, need no comment. Mr. T. Hitchman being first 
for six pots (three bulbs in a pot), six pots Polyanthus Narcissus, and 
six pots double Tulips, second for twelve pots Hyacinths, and second for 
six Hyacinths. Mr. D. Heany, gardener to H. G. Schintz, Esq., 
Mossley House, first for twelve and six pots of single Tulips. Mr. 
Jellicoe was the only exhibitor of six pots of Daffodils, but they were 
attractive and well flowered. He was also first for three excellent pots 
of Lilium Harris!. Mr. J. J. Craven had six pots of Laxton’s Noble 
Strawberry (very fine fruits well coloured), and secured the prize. 
Mention must be made of the grand display made by the nursery¬ 
men, all of whom received certificates of merit—viz., Messrs. T. Davies 
and Co., W’'avertree, for a stand containing bulbs. Azaleas, and a large 
number of seedling and named Amaryllis ; Messrs. E. P. Ker & Sons, 
Aigburth, for stand containing all the finest varieties of Azaleas and 
Lilium Harrisi ; Mr. Henry Middlehurst, Manchester Street, for pot 
Mignonette ; Messrs. Dickson, Limited, Chester, for four boxes of cut 
flowers. The back row of each box was made up of Lilium Harrisi ^ 
the centre of the boxes comprised shields of Narcissus blooms cut with 
foliage, and contained all the best varieties ; the front rows were made 
up with Chionodoxas Luciiire and sardensis. Scilla siberica, and the 
smaller flowered Narcissi, set off with sprays of Freesia Leichtlini major. 
This was a charming exhibit, and found many admirers. Messrs. B. S. 
Williams & Son, Upper Holloway, who exhibited for the first time at the 
spring Show, had a magnificent collection of rare plants, including the 
choicest Amaryllis, Cypripediums, Anthuriums, Odontoglossums, Heaths, 
and Cyclamens. A certificate of merit was also awarded for Calanthe 
Williamsi. Messrs. Fishlock Bros, had splendid wreaths, crosses, 
and bouquets, and were awarded first prize for one bouquet. Mr. 
P. Harbordt showed Harbordt’s Perfection Tomato. The following were 
highly commended :—3Ir. T. Elsworthy, gardener to A. E. Gladstone, 
Esq., Court Hey, Eoby, for two fine bunches of Black Alicante Grapes ; 
Mr. Bounds for pot Eose ; J. T. Brunner, Esq., Sefton Park, for three 
Eoses ; and Isaac Davies & Sons, Ormskirk, for Ehododendron Bridesmaid, 
and Mr. Cromwell for Dendrobium crassinode. A simple and most 
useful invention in the form of a union for fastening indiarubber hose 
piping was on view. 
The Chairman (Mr. White), Vice-Chairman (Mr. T. Powell), Secretarv- 
(Mr. E. Bridge), and the Committee all workc 1 most assiduously to make 
