September 7, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
226 
like. This is written impartially, my object being to discourage the use 
of stove plants with outdoor flowers rather than that of fault-finding ; 
for, as before said, Messrs. Cheal & Sons’ Dahlias were deserving of the 
honour bestowed upon them. _ 
Those persons who went to the Show for the purpose of seeing the 
Orchids, as some did, must have been disappointed, for these were not 
well represented. There was but one small group arranged on a table, 
and the few visitors present made a close inspection of them. The 
plants were from the rich stores of Messrs. F. Sander & Co. of St. Albans 
and Messrs. W. L. Lewis & Co. of Southgate, and comprised some choice 
species. A hybrid Cypripedium named C. Sander-superbiens, shown by 
that well-known amateur grower, Mr. Norman N. Cookson of 
Wylam-on-Tyne, Northumberland, struck me as being exceptionally 
beautiful. This Cypripedium, moreover, is interesting from the fact 
that it is the first Sanderianum hybrid yet produced. Mr. T. Statter of 
Stand Hall, Manchester, I noticed, also had a good hybrid under 
the name of Cypripedium Edwardi, the result of a cross between 
C. Farrieanum and C. Veitchi. _ 
Agaves, like most succulents, are not everybody’s plants, but the 
seedling exhibited as A. Leopold II. by W. B. Kellock, Esq., of Stamford 
Hill, appeared to attract more than ordinary attention. It is, as you 
remarked last week, “ a magnificent plant with an interesting history,” 
the details of which the raiser was good enough to describe to me as 
well as to others. The gist of the matter being given, however, on 
page 195 of last week’s issue of the Journal it is needless to reiterate 
here. It occurred to me, though, that a great amount of patience is 
needed in hybridising Agaves and raising them from seed. Fifteen 
years it has taken to produce the plant which gained a first-class 
certificate, and obviously it has had every attention. Mr. Kellock 
informed me that he had another plant of a similar kind and from the 
same sowing at his home, and which he thought was the better of the two. 
Experts, including Mr. T. Baines, have also expressed the same opinion. 
When will Mr. Kellock bring it before the eyes of an admiring public ? 
So far as I could see your lengthy report appeared accurate in the 
main, but no mention is made of the two specimens of Dracssna lineata 
shown by Messrs. B. S. Williams, and for which a silver Eanksian medal 
was recommended. A similar honour was adjudged the same firm for 
four specimen Tree Ferns of a particularly healthy appearance. Whilst 
on this subject it may not be out of place to ask whether an award was 
made to Mr. W. Cooper for the large number of greenhouses and heating 
appliances ? No mention of such appears in any report that I have 
perused, and upon asking an R.H.S. official I was informed that “they 
had nothing to do with that division.” 
The competition in the plant and cut flower classes was not so keen 
as might have been expected. It was noticeable that in some instances 
there was only one exhibitor, and in others none were forthcoming. 
What was the cause of this ? Where were our leading Begonia growers ? 
A class for a group of Tuberous Begonias arranged with foliage plants 
was provided, and good prizes offered—namely, £7, £5, and £3, but not 
a single exhibitor was forthcoming. The same occurred in the classes 
for groups of Gannas, Liliums, Early Chrysanthemums, and Asters, 
whilst of Zonal and Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums none were shown other 
than in miscellaneous collections. These would have added interest to 
what everyone must admit was really a grand exhibition, and moreover, 
imparted a brightness amongst the rather dull groups of plants. 
One more note and I have done with my observations this week. 
Who did not notice the beautiful Exacum macranthum shown by Sir 
Trevor Lawrence, Bart., and for which a first-class certificate was 
awarded ? That it deserved this distinction no one can doubt, but it 
seems curious no one ha? hitherto exhibited a plant of it before the 
R.H.S. Perhaps it has been shown ; then why not certificated ere 
this ? It is by no means a new plant, having been figured some time 
ago in these pages, and I believe it was introduced from Ceylon in 1853. 
Better late than never.— Obseever. 
NATIONAL DAHLIA SOCIETY. 
SHOW AT THE CRYSTAL PAL ACE.— Sept. 1st axd 2xd. 
The combined effects of the weather and the great Show at the 
Agricultural Hall thinned the Exhibition of the National Dahlia Society 
somewhat, the tabling being in excess of the demands upon it. The 
Islington fixture doubtless kept a number of miscellaneous exhibits 
away, but notwithstanding this there was an excellent display. The 
drought has told against the blooms somewhat, yet the majority were in 
excellent character. Mr. John Walker came out in splendid style, 
scoring a sequence of victories in the smaller classes. Why does he not 
throw down the gauntlet in the largest ones ? The premier class brought 
some excellent stands, and Mr. Turner’s victory was thoroughly deserved. 
Novelties continue to pour in. On this occasion no less than eighteen 
certificates were awarded. We are not going to say that any one of the 
dozen and a half did not deserve to be honoured, but buyers will begin 
to despair of keeping pace with the new varieties if they continue to be 
turned out at this rate. 
Show and Fancy Classes. 
The principal class was that for sixty blooms. Show and Fancy 
intermixed, and there were three competitors. Mr. Turner won with 
a very even and excellent collection. The flowers were not exception¬ 
ally large, but they were as neat, even, and fresh as could be wished. 
The back row blooms were George Gordon, Miss Cannell, Jas. Vick, 
Maud Fellowes, Imperial, John Walker, Clara, John Hickling, 
W. Keith, Seraph, Jas. O’Brien (Fancy), Wm. Rawlings, Rev. J. B. M, 
Camm, Gloire de Lyon, Hy. Walton, Professor Fawcett (self), a yellow, 
rose-tipped seedling, Jas. O’Brien (self), Duchess of Albany, and a 
crimson seedling. Middle row : R. T. Rawlings, Hugh Austin, Wm. 
Powell, John Standish, Professor Fawcett (Fancy), Matthew Campbell, 
Geo. Rawlings, Grand Sultan, Comedian, Agnes, Shirley Hibberd, 
Primrose Dame, Mr. W. Slack, Crimson King, Julia Wyatt, Richard 
Dean, Mrs. Langtry, John Bennett, Burgundy, and Alice Emily. Front 
row ; Willie Garrett, Purple Prince, Sunbeam, Dazzle, Mrs. Gladstone, 
Ruby Gem, John Keynes, a buff seedling; Herbert Turner, Mr. Harris, 
Mrs. S. Hibberd, Nellie Cramond, Flag of Truce, Comedian, Diadem, 
Goldfinder, a seedling, Kathleen, Mrs. Hodson, and Colonist. A heavy 
and fine lot of flowers from Messrs. Keynes, Williams, & Co. secured the 
second prize, Arthur Ocock, T. W. Girdlestone, Eclipse, Richard Dean, 
Gloire de Lyon, Henry Bond, and Rebecca being a few of the best of 
them. Mr. M. V. Seale was third. 
Messrs. Keynes, Williams «fe Co. did better with forty-eight, defeating 
the Slough grower in this class. Probably there were not many points 
between them in either case, and it was the better finish of the flowers 
which gave them the award. In their back row the Salisbury florists 
had Geo. Gordon, J. T. West, Miss Cannell, Colonist, Harry Keith, 
Jas. O’Brien, Henry Bond, Mrs. Glasscock, Dandy, Arthur Ocock, Gloire 
de Lyon, J. T. Girdlestone, Buffalo Bill, Dandy (sport), Jas. O’Brien and 
Rebecca (sport). The first named was a splendid bloom. In the middle 
row they had Mrs. Gladstone, Mrs. Foreman, R. Dean, Mrs. Stancomhe, 
Mrs. J. Downie (sport), Thos. Hobbs, Mrs. Langtry, Wm. Powell, Thos. 
Goodwin, Gaiety, Jas. Cocker, Duchess of Albany, Rev. J. B. M. Camm, 
Wm. Rawlings, Peacock and Majestic. In the front row were John 
Hickling, Joseph Ashby, T. J. Saltmarsh, Nellie Cramond, Robina, 
Harrison Weir, Willie Garrett, Wm. Jackson, M. Campbell (sport), Ethel 
Britton, Crimson Globe, Frank Pearce, Mr. Harris, Mrs. W. Slack, a 
crimson seedling; and Hy. Walton. Mr. Turner’s best flowers were 
Geo. Gordon, Miss Cannell Shirley Hibberd, R. Dean, Crimson King and 
Wm. Keith. Mr. Seale was again third, showing, as before, much 
smaller flowers than his rivals. There were five stands of thirty-six, and 
that from Mr. John Walker, which was first, was without doubt one of 
the very best in the Show. The well known Thame grower has rarely 
put together so heavy, even and well-finished a collection, His back 
row flowers. Seraph, Prince Bismarck, Majestic, Crimson King, J, T; 
West, Harry Keith, Mrs. D. Saunders, W. Rawlings, Hercules, Arthur 
Ocock, Maud, and Jas. Cocker were all splendid flowers, and most of 
the others were very good, notably T. J. Saltmarsh, Duke of Fife and 
Purple Prince. Mr. Humphries was second with a stand quite good 
enough to win in ordinary competition, but for all that he was well 
beaten by Mr. Walker. He had no exceptional flowers, but all were 
fresh, even, well coloured, and finely finished. Mr. S. Mortimer was 
third with heavy blooms, and Messrs. Saltmarsh & Sons fourth. 
Mr, Walker won again with twenty-four, this time defeating four strong 
opponents. He had a splendid stand, though relatively hardly so good 
as his other. W. Rawlings, Geo. Rawlings, T. J. Saltmarsh and 
A. Rawlings were four of the best examples. Mr. Humphries was 
second with smaller but good flowers, Messrs. Saltmarsh, & Son third 
and Mr. Mortimer fourth. The best stand of twelve came from Mr. A. 
Rawlings, who had W. Rawlings, J. T. West, Geo. Rawlings, Rev. J. B. M. 
Camm, Maud Fellowes, Willie Garrett, Mrs. Langtry, Harry Keith, Mr. 
Glasscock, R. T. Rawlings, Professor Fawcett (self) and Mrs. Gladstone 
in excellent order. Mr. H. Harris was second with much_ smaller 
blooms, but even and fresh, Messrs, Cheal & Son third, and 
Mr. Tranter fourth. 
The amateurs came out bravely in the class for twenty-four, no less 
than six competing. Mr. West, gardener to W. Keith, Esq., Corn walls, 
Brentwood, was as usual to the fore, and he was placed first for a very 
fine stand, the flowers being well developed, clean, fresh, and excellently 
finished. The back row flowers were Willie Garrett (very good), Mrs. 
Gladstone, W. Keith, J. T. West, G. Rawlings, Maud Fellowes, John 
Standish (very fine), and Majestic. Middle row : Matthew Campbell, 
Harry Keith, Frank Pearce, Arthur Rawlings, John Britton, W. Raw¬ 
lings, Clara, and Sunbeam. Front row : Victor, Wm. Powell, E. Sheer- 
man, John Walker. Shirley Hibberd, Ethel Britton, Hy. Glasscock, and 
J. C. Vaughan. Mr. Arthur Ocock, gardener to Mrs. McIntosh, Haver¬ 
ing Park, Romford, also had an excellent stand, though his flowers were 
hardly so smooth and well finished as Mr. West’s. He was placed 
second, and his best examples were Geo. Rawlings, Mr. Glasscock, Arthur 
Ocock, and the Rev. J. B. M. Camm. Mr. Thos. Hobbs, Easton, Bristol, 
was third with very neat flowers ; and Mr. W. Mist, Colling wood, 
Ightham, fourth. Six also competed with twelve blooms, the first prize 
going to Mr. Vagg, gardener to J. Theobald, E8q.,_M.P., Havering, Rom¬ 
ford, who had excellent examples of Geo. Rawlings, Maud Fellowes, 
W. Rawlings, Arthur Ocock, J. Rawlings, Duke of Fife, Mrs. W. Slack, 
T. J Saltmarsh, W. Garrett, R. T. Rawlings, Prince of Denmark, and 
Mrs. Gladstone. Mr. T. Anstiss, Brill, Bucks, was a very good second ; 
Mr. Hopkins, New Passage, Bristol, third ; and Mr. S. Cooper, Hamlet, 
Chippenham, fourth. Mr. G. Boothroyd, 17, Orchard^ Place, Chichester, 
had fair flowers of Jas. Cocker, Duke of Fife, Ethel Britton, John Walker, 
Mrs. Gladstone, and W. Rawlings in the class for six, and won from 
Messrs. Wheeler, 53, Bell Street, Henley-on-Thames; J. Gilbert, Brook- 
lands, Freshwater, Isle of Wight; and J. Cousens, Langley Burrell. 
