450 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Jll-e 4 1891. 
possessing some special merit. The last tent of the series contained the 
miscellaneous exhibits, the fruit, which was more largely represented, 
and of a more interesting character than might have been expected at 
this time of year and in such a season. There were also cut flowers and 
floral decorations, besides various implements, models, and horticultural 
sundries, giving a rather more comprehensive character to the Show 
than has hitherto been the case. 
Much credit is due to both exhibitors and Superintendent for the 
promptitude with which the arrangements were completed without confu¬ 
sion or trouble of any kind. The positions were all marked out the night 
before the Show ; the exhibits mostly came in good time, and it was 
astonishing what a magical change was effected in a few hours of well- 
regulated hard work, and all was ready for the Judges by the appointed 
time— 10.45 A.M. Although not a competitive show in the true sense of 
the term, silver cups and medals were offered by the Council, and these 
had to be awarded to the exhibits in the order of merit. The Judges 
selected for performing this task were as follows :—Orchids and fine- 
foliage plants, Messrs. H. J, Veitch, James O’Brien, and Lewis Castle ; 
miscellaneous plants and cut flowers, Messrs. T. Baines, H. Herbst, J. 
Fraser (Leyton), and J. Fraser (Kew) ; fruit, &c., Messrs. Gr. Bunyard, 
J. Smith, J. Hudson and A. H. Pearson. 
Orchids. 
For convenience in noting the exhibits these will be grouped under 
their respective heads, taking them as nearly as possible in the order of 
their extent and importance. None could refuse the first place on this 
occasion to the Orchids, which w'ere grandly represented, and it may be 
safely said that such a magnificent display of these beautiful plants 
had never previously been publicly provided. Their adaptability to 
grouping, to which we referred last week, was admirably illustrated in 
several instances, but in others, owing to the unfortunate crowding, 
much beauty was lost, and twice the space would have been needed in 
one or two cases to have done full justice to them. The amateurs’ 
exhibits were allotted the whole of the central stage in the large 
marquee, and to these we will first devote a few notes. Taking them in 
the order they were visited Horn the entrance the first silver cup group 
was that from Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., Burford Lodge, Dorking 
(grower, Mr. White), who contributed liberally from his great collec¬ 
tion, and the group was an extremely bright one, owing to the prepon¬ 
derance of finely grown, richly coloured varieties of Masdevallias. 
These plants are most successfully grown at Burford Lodge,, and not 
only are the plants vigorous, but they also flower with astonishing 
freedom, and the two conditions are not always combined, as many 
amateurs can testify. In fact, it is not unfrequently the case that really 
strong plants are the least satisfactory in their flowers. At Dorking 
they have struck the “ happy mean,” and with sturdy growth, suflicient 
rest, and constant attention, the plants both grow and flower splendidly. 
Some of the finest forms of the M. coccinea and M. Harryana types were 
represented similar to these recently exhibited at the Drill Hall, bearing 
dozens of flowers each. A handsome specimen of Cypripedium 
Eothschildianum was also very prominent in this group, the stately 
flowers of considerable size and the dark veins in bold relief. The 
singularly distinct Maxillaria Sanderiana, which caused so great a 
sensation when shown at the Orchid Conference in 1888, was another 
characteristic plant, the ivoiy white substantial flowers having a peculiar 
dark claret purple centre (fig. 83). The exquisitely delicate Cattleya 
Mossire Wagneri was another notable member of the group, together 
with choice Odontoglcssums, the graceful and useful yellow Oncidiums 
ampliatum majus and Marshallianum contributing important features to 
the group, while several distinct Cypripediums were included, especially 
C. Swannianum and Cypripedium Fraseri, the latter with purple tinted 
flowers from a cross with D. hirsutissimum. Of Vanda teres and the 
strange rich brownish Masdevallia Schlimi numerous plants were also 
shown. 
Immediately following the above was the group from Baron 
Schidder (gardener, Mr. Ballantine), The Dell, Egham, which were 
awarded a silver cup of equal merit. The wonderful collection at this 
garden is noted alike for the rarity and beauty of the Orchids it con¬ 
tains, for their remarkable culture, and for the unique specimens 
represented. It was not, therefore, difficult for “ the Baron ” to find 
something to please and astonish the visitors to the Temple, and much 
more space could have been filled with ease, in fact even the plants 
shown would have benefited by more room. There was a grand mass 
of rich flowers varied both in form and colour, most of the principal 
genera that flower at this time of year being noted. A^ery conspicuous 
were two magnificent specimens of Cattleya Skinneri with scores of 
rosy flowers each, and scarcely less remarkable was Masdevallia Veitchi 
grandiflora, having thirty brilliant flowers. To enumerate the Odonto- 
glossums alone would require more space than can be spared, for superb 
forms of 0. vexillarium, 0. AVilekeanum, 0. Halli, and 0. excellens, with 
O. Pescatorei A''eitchi and many others were there in abundance. Laslia 
purpurata in select varieties, rare Cypripediums, the Golden Spatho- 
glottis aurea, the charming white Aerides Fieldingi AVilliamsi, the old 
familiar but in its way still unsurpassed Ada aurantiaca were admirably 
shown. Of the Phillippine Aerides Savageanum, with rosy crimson 
flowers, the best variety was included in this ’group, and secured for 
Baron Schroder (with Sir Trevor Lawrence and and Mr. F. Sander) a 
first class certificate of merit. 
A successful attempt was made in the group from T. B. Haywood, 
Esq., AVoodhatch Lodge, Reigate (gardener, Air. C. J. Salter), to show 
how Orchids should be arranged, and the silver Flora medal awarded was 
well deserved. Arising from a ground of fresh green Adiantums were 
elegant Palms with fine Odontoglossoms, a few Masdevallias for colour, 
Phalsenopses, and the golden Dendrobium chrysanthum. Though com¬ 
paratively few plants were employed, the effect was good, light, and free. 
Cattlej'ts have long been a speciality with A. H. Smee, Esq, The 
Grange, Carshalton (gardener, Mr. Cummins) and his group was in con¬ 
sequence mainly composed of the choice varieties of C. Mossias and C. 
Alendeli he has so carefully collected. AVith them were tastefully asso¬ 
ciated Lrelia purpurata, Masdevallias, Odontoglossum vexillarium, Ferns 
and Pa'ms,the high quality of the group securing a silver Flora medal as 
in the preceding case. 
The Duke of Marlborough, Blenheim (gardener, Mr. AVhi'lans), had a 
group of large specimens bearing abundant beautiful flowers—Cattleya?, 
Dendrobiums, Lrelia purpurata, Odontoglossum citrosmum, Vandas, and 
Cymbidiums were the most noteworthy, the whole group being neatly 
margined with small Ferns (silver Flora medal). F. Wigan, Esq , Clare 
Lawn, East Sheen (grower, Mr. W. H. Young), had a smaller but bright 
and creditable contribution—Vanda teres, Cypripedium laevigatum, 
with Cattleyas, C, purpurata, Oncidium Marshallianum, and Odonto- 
glossums in variety, all healthy and good (silver Banksian medal). A 
similar award was secured by Malcolm S. Cooke, Esq., Kingston Hill, 
for well-grown Orchids, amongst which were Cattleyas, Laelias, capital 
examples of Epidendrum vitellinum majus, and Oncidium crispum. 
Vanda teres is a favourite Orchid with many cultivators, but too few 
can manage it successfully. Strange to say, however, in several of the 
gardens owned by the members of the Rothschild family this Orchid is 
grown with the best results. It is even sakl that in some instances as 
many as 250 spikes of flowers have been cut for decoration in one 
year. Therefore the admirable group of this Vanda from Messrs. 
Rothschild, Gunnersbury Park (gardener, Mr. Reynolds), which com¬ 
prised sixty strong well flowered plants, was especially interesting, and 
the honour accorded—a silver-gilt Flora medal—was a fitting recogni¬ 
tion of so important a contribution to the Show, and such creditable 
examples of good culture. Most of the spikes had from four to six 
large flowers each, the colours also being rich. Mrs. Arbuthnot, Bridgen 
Place, Bexley (gardener, Mr. Mitchell), had some good plants of 
Odontoglossum vexillarium and Lrelia purpura'a, a large Sobralia 
macrantha, with Cypripediums and Anthuriums, but ths latter would 
have been better omitted from an otherwise satisfactory group (silver 
Flora medal). 
Still, taking the exhibits in their order, in the central stage we have 
next to notice the group of Phalaenopses (bronze Flora medal) from 
Major-General Berkeley, Bitterne, Southampton (gardener, Mr. J. 
Godfrey), and though it was only a small col'ection of P. speciosa, 
P. Luddemaniana, and P. tetraspis, with a few others of those types, 
it was full of interest. This was not only because the plants were 
very healthy and attractive in themselves, but for the reason that the 
exhibitor has himself been an amateur Orchid collector who has 
succeeded in introducing several well known plants to England. 
AV. F. Darnell, Esq, Devonshire House, Stamford Hill (gardener, 
Air. Elliott), staged a small but pleasing group of Cattleyas and 
Lfelias arranged with Palms (bronze Flora medal). Air. G. Burnett, 
17, Paget Road, Stoke Newington, contributed examples of Lrelia 
purpurata, well grown and freely flowered, the varieties also good. 
R. B. AVhite, Esq., Arddaroch, Garelochhead, N.B., sent a plant of 
OdontogLs-um crispum guttatum, a handsome variety with finely 
proportioned flowers, heavily spotted with brown, also a capital 
Cattleya Alendeli. To conclude the amateurs’ Orchid contributions 
we have only to record that T. Statter, Esq , Stand Hall, AA^hitefield, 
near Alanchester, showed a beautiful collection of cut flowers, repre¬ 
senting most of the popular Orchids obtainable at the present time, 
but the gem was Lrelia elegans Statteriana, a superb variety for which 
an award of merit was adjudged with a silver Banksian medal for the 
whole of the exhibit. The Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, Highbury, 
Birmingham, sent a collection of Alasdevallia flowers tastefully arranged, 
including several very handsome varieties (silver Banksian medal). 
Prominence has been given to the amateurs’ groups, for they consti¬ 
tuted an important part of the Exhibition, and they moreover occupied 
the post of honour in the great marquee. Now some space must be 
devoted to the trade collections which filled the central stage in the 
second tent. One side of this—the left entering from the Embankment 
—was allotted to Alessrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, who succeeded 
in providing the most sensational attraction in the whole Exhibition. 
It was a triumph in Orchid grouping which excited admiration in those 
who know what can be accomplished with Orchids, and astonishment in 
those to whom the plants were comparative strangers. AVe have never 
had the satisfaction of seeing such a group at any other show in the 
kingdom, and though it may be altereil another year, and possibly 
equalled, it is not likely it will ever be exce’led even by the same firm. 
Having an enormous collection to select from obviously gave a great 
initial advantage ; then again it is only in a large space that a repre¬ 
sentative Orchid display can be successfully attempted, and although 
less staging was at disposal than originally expected, yet the full run 
of about 140 feet allowed a chance to effect something of an uncommon 
character. AVe cannot attempt in the present issue to enumerate 
a’l the notable fine plants shown, but reserving that for another 
occasion, the general features of the group may be indicated. As 
a background and foundation handsome bushy specimen Areca 
lutescens were employed with some fine Kentias, Cocos AA’^eddelliana, 
and Adiantums ; then a series of effective groups of the same kind of 
Orchids formed the next leading feature. For instance, at one end of 
the stage were numbers of vigorous plants of Cymbidium Lowianum, 
