250 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 14, 1893. 
tubers are of peculiar shape, brownish, and have been compared to a 
Spanish Chestnut, and the manner of growth is very curious. It has 
been grown in a stove and in cooler quarters, but an intermediate tem¬ 
perature and sandy soil seem to suit it best. 
“ART OUT OF DOORS.” 
This is the title of a work by Mrs. Schuyler van Eensslaer, and 
produced by T. Fisher Unwin in a form which reflects the highest 
credit upon the skill of the publishers. Those who have any acquaint¬ 
ance with New York will at once perceive that the authoress is, by 
name at least, connected with families of genealogies sufficiently 
traceable to have become historical in the oldest of the United States. 
The book is written in the spirit of an enthusiast, and in a style 
which is flowing and agreeable, though here and there are traces of 
journalese that might have been corrected with advantage before the 
issue of the collected articles. Why, we ask, has the good old-fashioned 
word “mark” gone completely out of use now-a-days in favour of 
the words “emphasize,” and “accentuate?” Nobody “marks” or 
“intensifies” an idea or feature in these advanced days, he always 
^‘emphasizes” or “ accentuates” it. There is everything to be said in 
favour of enriching a language with equivalents, but in the effort to 
make the new comers take root writers use them with a persistency that 
becomes monotonous, and without always a delicate sense of what is 
appropriate. It may be becoming in Mr. Gladstone when making some 
of his oratorical flights to vary his diction with such high sounding 
terminology as those words above mentioned, but in more simple styles 
such as this one treating of gardening the older ones would have been 
as good or better. So, too, with many writers on gardening ; no oppor¬ 
tunity is lost of dragging in the word “ environment ” by way of 
making a small subject bigger, instead of being content with the words 
“ surroundings,” “ situation,” “ position,” or the simple word “ place.” 
Mrs. Schuyler van Rensslaer, as we said before, writes very pleasantly 
and voluminously upon the subject of landscape gardening, which is 
clearly a favourite one with her. She lays down, too, certain principles, 
but they are usually of a very broad and indefinite sort, and so variable 
with the conditions of each case as to be scarcely of any service to a 
novice. Indeed, without diagrams it is difficult to see how such an 
intricate subject could be made intelligible except to an expert. The 
first condition is that the materials upon which the landscape artist has 
to work are known. In the absence of this, the most that can be done 
is to indicate the most glaring faults to be avoided. As Mrs. Van 
Rensslaer says, the art is a difficult one, being the offspring of these 
latter and more highly cultured days, and therefore still in its infancy. 
There must be much more aesthetic cultivation of the people before the 
landscape-gardening enormities of the present become offensive and 
unpalatable. In her condemnation of the use of masses of highly 
coloured plants everywhere, she is amply justified, as it is but rarely 
that these are sufficiently subdued. Her quotation of a French artist’s 
definition of ordinary peoples’ idea of gardening is quite in keeping with 
the interest she shows in promoting the art. This is “ the clearing up 
of spontaneous vegetation followed by the accumulation of strange and 
dissimilar objects.” 
In the chapter entitled “A Word for Books,” Mrs. Van Rensslaer 
makes out a very good case in opposition to those who attack the 
scientific names of plants as being unwieldly and unpoetical. In some 
cases the vernacular names may be superior to the scientific, but in 
most cases they are no better or even inferior, and of course are un¬ 
intelligible beyond their own frontiers. It is difficult to see why 
“goose foot,” or “fat hen” is more euphonious than Chenopodium, 
or^ “Flower of the West Wind” than Zephyrantbes. Indeed the 
scientific names being Latinised are better suited for the sweetness and 
dignity of verse than the local ones. Want of familiarity, that is 
want of knowledge, forms in nearly every case the ground of objection 
to them. 
“Art Out of Doors” is written for Americans and for the climatic 
conditions prevailing in the United States, and therefore cannot be 
accepted by English people except in a qualified way. It is, however, 
very agreeable and instructive reading for those who aie interested 
in the domestic life of our kinsfolk across the water, as we can note 
therein how the habits of our ancestors have become modified by the 
force of altered circumstances upon a new continent. 
HORTICULTURAL SHOWS. 
DERBY.— September 6th and 7th. 
This was the annual meeting of the Derbyshire Agricultural and 
Horticultural Society. The entire Show was an improvement on former 
meetings, and the horticultural department was 50 per cent, better than 
it was last year. The display was certainly excellent, admirably 
arranged in three tents, so constructed that while each tent contained 
mainly a separate section, all three were connected, and the entire 
exhibition could be inspected as a whole under one roof, or rather, 
connected series of roofs. This is a first-rate plan at a combined 
meeting of horticulture and agriculture especially, but it is also worthy 
•of adoption for any horticultural exhibition. 
The exhibits in the section for gentlemen’s gardeners were arranged 
m a coinmodious circular tent, the centre being devoted to plant groups, 
tastefully enclosing a bold mass of Palms. The effect as a whole was 
exceptionally fine, the Palms forming a capital background to every 
group, while giving due importance and height to the centre. Admirably 
was the entire space filled in response to a generous offer by the Com¬ 
mittee of twice the amount hitherto given. Class 1, open to all England, 
brought five groups into competition, the whole of them displaying much 
skill both in culture and grouping. The first prize was well won by Mr. 
J. Ward, gardener to G. H. Oakes, Esq., Biddings House, with a charm¬ 
ing group, in which lightness, elegance, and tasteful blending of 
colour was exceedingly well done. There was very little blossom, the rich 
foliage of Crotons, with the brighter hue of Grasses, and the greenery of 
Palms and Ferns, combined in perfect taste to form an artistic arrange¬ 
ment entirely worthy of the £20 awarded it. Mr. Cypher of Chelten¬ 
ham came second, a really good second, the veteran exhibitor having 
no reason to be ashamed of being beaten by so able an adversary as 
Mr. Ward. Mr. Webb, Kelham Hall, Newark, was third with also a fine 
group, having Palms and green Dracsenas springing out of a well 
blended undergrowth of Ferns, Grasses, Caladiums, and small highly 
coloured Crotons, and most remarkable of all was the fourth prize group 
from the fact of the winner being Mr. Shakespere of Tibshelf, a work¬ 
ing collier. 
For twelve stove or greenhouse plants Mr. Finch of Coventry was 
first with large, well-finished specimens. Erica Marnockiana, Crotons 
Prince of Wales and Queen Victoria, Erica Atoniana Turnbulliand Ixora 
being the most noteworthy as noble specimens in perfect condition. 
Mr. Vere, gardener to — Gisbourne, Esq., Allestree Hall, was second. 
He also had a first prize for grand specimen Lycopodiums. For a 
collection of Ferns Mr. Ward was first with some magnificent plants, 
the perfection of high culture and finish ; Mr. Vere being second, a 
Pteris argyrea in his group being very striking. There were only two 
entries for baskets of plants, both being so good that the merit was 
almost equal. Mr. Ward was first and Mr. Vere second. Roses were 
not well represented, only six stands being shown. For twelve, Mr. 
Robinson was first, Mr. Carrington second, and Mr. Henson third. 
Most of the blooms were inferior, and none call for special mention. 
In the class for six blooms the same three exhibitors were in competition, 
the first prize going to Mr. Henson, the second to Mr. Robinson, third 
Mr. Carrington. Dahlias were also in moderate numbers, calling for no 
special mention. Mr. Carrington was first with a grand dozen of doubles, 
second for six, and first with a good stand of Cactus Dahlias. Mr. 
Henson won a second, third, and fourth prize in this class, and 
Mr. Robinson two thirds. Mr. Carrington was well to the front for 
twelve Zonal Pelargoniums, Mr. Henson taking first prize for double 
Pelargoniums. Verbenas and Gladioli were moderately shown, and 
with Asters Mr. Robinson’s first prize stand had some perfect blooms. 
For hand bouquets Mr. Robinson took first honours, Mr. Henson 
second, Mr. Carrington third, and Mr. Bolas fourth. Mr. Bolas also 
had first for a tastefully dressed epergne. 
In the fruit classes Grapes made a grand display, most of the ’ounches 
being exceptionally fine and well finished. For two bunches of Black 
Hamburgh Mr. Campbell had perfect samples, large in bunch and 
berry, of splendid colour and finish. Mr. Woodward was second with 
fine well shouldered bunches, Mr. M‘Vinish a close third, and Mr. Evans 
fourth. Mr. M‘Vinish had two grand bunches of Muscats, and was an 
easy first, Messrs. Innes «& Co. of Littleover being a good second, Mr. 
Billings third with small highly coloured fruit, and Mr. Campbell 
fourth. For black Grapes other than Hamburghs Mr. Campbell’s two 
bunches of Gros Maroc were magnificent, the berries being enormous. 
The champion prize for the finest two bunches of Grapes in the Show 
was also awarded to these splendid examples of skilful culture. Mr, 
M'Vinish was second with his excellent Alicante, and Messrs. Innes & Co. 
were third with enormous bunches of Gros Guillaume. For white 
Grapes other than Muscats Mr. Billings was first and Mr. Read second. 
In the competition for the Mayor of Derby’s (W. H. Marsden, Esq.) 
special prizes Mr. M‘Vinish was first with splendid bunches of 
Black Hamburgh, Muscat of Alexandria, and Alicante, Mr. Campbell 
being second, and Messrs. Innes third. 
Mr. Ward’s first prize Tomatoes were twelve perfect specimens, Mr, 
Webb was second, and Mr. M'Vinish third. They are mentioned here 
as they were placed among the fruits. Pears were a small class. There 
was a fair display of Melons, Mr. Billings taking first honours with a 
fine example of Reid’s 8carlet-flesh, Mr. Evans being first with a green- 
fleshed variety, Mr. Ward’s fine plate of Peaches easily won the first 
prize; Mr. Webb was second, and Mr. Woodward third. Mr. Campbell 
had a first prize for the only plate of Nectarines shown. Among other 
fruit Mr. Read’s Pond’s Seedling Plums are worthy of special mention; 
they were shown in his first prize collection of fruit. 
Collections of vegetables made a good display, a common fault being 
in the usual direction of excessive size. Mr. Ward was first, Mr. Read 
second, and Mr. M‘Vinish third. Collections of eight dishes of Potatoes 
were a remarkable feature, the whole of the six entries being splendid 
examples of skilful culture. The names of the prizewinners were not 
appended, but the first prize went to eight grand plates of Reading 
Ruby, Wormleighton Seedling, Prizetaker, Sutton’s Seedling, Reading 
Giant, Reading Ruby, Satisfaction, and Windsor Castle. 
Section 2, for persons not employing a gardener, contained some 
produce of much excellence. Taking them as we went round, the most 
noteworthy were hand bouquets decidedly superior to those in the first 
or gardeners’section. Roses were more numerous in this class. Dahlias 
were very fine, the first prize flowers of Mr. J. Wood being grand 
specimens. There was also a creditable display of Asters, Gladiolus, 
Pansies, Marigolds, and baskets of cut flowers. Grapes were well shown. 
