28 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 12, 1888. 
information in reference theieto are requested to communieo,te with 
Mr. A. F. Barron, Superintendent, R.H.S. Gardens, Chiswick. 
PRIMULA ROTUNDIFOLIA. 
Since the advent of Primula rosea, which is one of the most charm¬ 
ing of early spring flowers, none of the many species introduced from 
the Himalayas can be compared with the subject of our note, and for 
which we venture to predict a great future. The accompanying sketch 
was taken from a plant which flowered in the herbaceous grounds at 
Kew in April and May of this year, and it is the only figure since 
Wallich’s time, the original being in his “ Tentamen Florae Nepalensis 
1 llustratse,’’ fig. 32 (uncoloured). The plants flowered at Kcw were 
small, but the size and distinct colour of the flowers, together with the 
two or three sets of whorls produced, give great promise of something 
unusual when the plants are fairly developed. It appears to be quite as 
FIG. 3.—PRIMULA ROTUNDIFOLIA (REDL'C'ED). 
hardy as P. rosea, with a similar habit, and requiring much the same 
kind of treatment. The leaves, as in P. rosea, are deciduous, dying off 
in winter, forming a small compact sulphury white bud, which may be 
easily protected from the ravages of birds and insects with a few small 
pebbles or a handful of cocoa-nut fibre. The leaves are orbicular, cor¬ 
date, crenately toothed, bright green above, and entirely covered with 
meal on the under side, somewhat resembling P. Stuarti or purpurea (of 
Boyle) ; the stalk 4 to 12 inches long, and the blade 3 to 4 inches in 
diameter. The flower stem grows from 6 inches to a foot in height, with 
two and often three whorls of bright rosy red flowers as large as those 
of rosea, with a pale yellow ring round the throat. So far as our expe¬ 
rience at present goes it will grow as readily as the hardy P. rosea, all 
the capsules being large and promising plenty of seeds. It is found on 
the Singahilah range from 12 to 18,000 feet above sea level, and from 
Kashmir to Sikkim. (Syn., P. odontophylla, 1 Vail. Cat., 7016).—D. 
TWICKENHAM SHOW. 
July 10th. 
ONE of the most satisfactory Exhibitions held by the Twickenham 
Horticultural and Cottage Garden Society since its establishment nine¬ 
teen years ago, was that which attracted so many competitors and 
visitors to the Orleans House Gardens on Tuesday last, very pleasing 
evidence of a strong local interest in a district of historical fame for 
its gardens and gardeners. Seventy-nine classes were provided for 
plants, flowers, floral decorations, fruit, vegetables, and cottagers’ pro¬ 
ductions, the entries, with very few exceptions, being far more numerous 
than is general in suburban shows. In some classes where only two 
prizes were offered there were from eight to twelve competitors, and in 
the cottagers’ classes the entries were even more numerous. The result 
was that, four large tents were filled, one with plants and fruit, another 
with groups, a third with floral decorations, and the last with the 
cottagers’exhibits. In addition there were non-competing groups and 
cut flo vers of considerable interest, including excellent Iioses from 
Messrs. W. Paul & Son and Messrs^ J. Veitch & Sons, miscellaneous cut 
flowers from Mr. I’oupart and other growers in the district. The sup¬ 
porters of the Society, the Committee, and their popular Hon. Secretary, 
Mr. J. J. G. Pugh, who works assiduously and well in its behalf, with 
Mr. Bates and the widely known horticultural amateur, H. Little, Esq., 
as chairman, have ample reason to be satisfied with the result of their 
efforts. 
Only a brief notice can be given of the exhibits, for to describe them 
as they merit would occupy too much space in such a show-crowded 
issue as the present one. In the first tent a group of Orchids from 
Mr. II. Little (gardener, Mr. Hill), not in competition, included several 
fine specimens and varieties from the large collection at The Barons, 
the same exhibitor winning the first prize for six Orchids, easily defeating 
Mr. H. James of Norwood. T. Twininv, Esq. (gardener, Mr. J. rai¬ 
sons), had the best six fine-foliage plants in the class provided by 
Messrs. Hooper & Co., Latania borbonica and Dracaenas Sliepherdi being 
conspicuous specimens. E. J. D. Paul, Esq. (gardener, Mr. Munro), was 
a close second, an excellent Adiantum constituting his finest plant. For 
six greenhouse plants Mr. H. James won the premier prize by a few 
points gained on two well flowered Heaths ; Mr. Munro’s second six com¬ 
prised a handsome globular Gloriosa superba. Mr. Hill was also first 
with Tuberous Begonias, handsome bushy specimens of fine varieties. 
The groups were of exceptional interest, particularly in the class for 
an arrangement of plants on the turf in a space not exceeding 100 
square feet. Three of the four groups entered possessed uncommon 
merit, but there was little difficulty in selecting the first staged by 
Messrs. Hooper & Co., and arranged by Mr. Bruckhaus in his most 
graceful style. Concerning the other two there was some little discus¬ 
sion, but Mr. II. Fordbam was ultimate'}' placed second for a group 
distinguished by its brightness and effectiveness, though rather thin at 
the back, Mr. Filscll being third with an admirably tasteful arrange¬ 
ment but deficient in colour. The stands of flower baskets of Boses, 
bouquets, buttonholes, sprays, &c., were exceedingly tasteful in the 
majority of cases, and the number of competitors rendered the Judges’ 
duties somewhat difficult. Very rarely is such even merit seen in these 
exhibits, which are chiefly from ladies in the district. With cut Iioses 
J. P. Kitchen, Esq., J. Bateman, Esq., and Mrs. Bust secured the 
leading prizes. 
Fruit was well represented, and the Committee might safely add a 
third prize to most of these classes. Sir G. Bussell, M.P. (gardener, Mr. 
W. Allan), was first with a collection of six dishes of fruit, including 
good Black Hamburgh and Foster’s Seedling Grapes, Peaches, Nectarines, 
and Strawberries. Mr. C. J. Waite followed. Black Grapes were shown 
by eight competitors, Mr. W. Allan leading with three even well-coloured 
bunches of Black Hamburgh ; and Messrs. H. & E. Wells (gardener 
Mr. T. Thompson) were second for fine bunches and berries of Madres- 
fiehl Court, wanting a little more colour. For white Grapes H. Labou- 
chere, Esq., M.P. (gardener, Mr. Fitzwater) won first honours for hand¬ 
some bunches of Muscat of Alexandria ; Mr. Allan following with large 
bunches of Foster’s Seedling. Mr. Allan was first with Peaches, and Mr. 
Otto Iliehle with Nectarines, both fine fruits. Melons, Strawberries, 
Tomatoes, and Cucumbers were also represented by good specimens. 
Vegetables from Messrs. Waite, Coomb, and Garrod secured the prizes 
for a collection in that order. 
In the Journal of August 19th, 1886, appears au interesting 
communication under the above title, in which the writer, “ B„” in 
referring to O. maculata, says :—“ The colour of this species varies 
from nearly white to crimson.” It would be interesting to know if 
one has been met with hitherto pure white. In this pait of 
Somersetshire the species is very plentiful. I have enjoyed many 
pleasant rambles in search of them, and have found hundreds of all 
shades, as stated by “ B.,” from nearly white to crimson ; and it 
was not until a week ago that I found what I think may be termed 
pure white, not a washed-out colour, but a snow-like spike in a 
setting of emerald green. A most rigid search in places where the 
coloured kinds grow by scores has not resulted in the discovery of 
its fellow. I send you the flower, so that, although it is past its 
best, you may be able to form some opinion of the purity of the 
flowers. — W. H. Morton, Shelton Mallet, 
[We have some like it, but flowers so pure are not plentiful.] 
EPIDENDRUM ATRO PURPUREUM VAR. RANDI. 
Plants of an Orchid under the above name were shown at the 
Drill Hall on June 26th last as E. Randi both by Sir Trevor 
Lawrence and Mr. F. G. Tautz, but the Committee determined it to 
be a variety of E. atro-purpureum, though flowers of the latter 
brought by the gardener, Mr. Cowley, for contrast were very 
