Hay 17, im J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
403 
baby was born to her, was so glad that it was not black, for my friend 
seems greatly to rejoice in his nigger baby, and when I have the pleasure 
of seeing it again 1 hope it will be sufficiently advanced to receive my 
apologies. 
As to the question of heat, Mr. Horner has detailed his practice, but 
are other growers so careful 1 I still believe that a good deal of the 
rank coarse growth and crumpled character of many of the blooms must 
be laid to the door of fire heat, it may be, injudiciously applied.— 
D., Deal. 
CRYSTAL PALACE SHOW. 
May 12th. 
The summer Show at the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, on Saturday 
last, as usual attracted a large number of visitors, who found plenty to 
admire. Mr. W. G. Head has adopted a method of arrangement which 
must be better suited for a large show in such a building—namely, what 
may be termed the “ extension system,” in preference to the concen¬ 
trated style of grouping the exhibits. When these are confined to a 
smaller area bolder general effects can be produced, but when a show 
is visited by some thousands of persons the disadvantages are very 
much against it. On the contrary, when the plants and flowers are 
arranged over a good portion of both naves with a series of groups round 
the centre transept, the exhibits can be much more readily inspected. 
The season has been unfavourable to cultivators of specimen plants 
as well as in other departments, and the fine-foliage plants, particularly 
t e Crotons, showed the effects in a deficiency of colour that marred 
their beauty considerably. Caladiums, however, as shown by Messrs. 
Laing & Son, Forest Hill, were an exception, as, though they were not 
quite at their best, the delicate markings of the foliage were well 
developed. Roses from Cheshunt, Slough, and Waltham Cross ; Aza¬ 
leas, Pelargoniums, Orchids, and stove and greenhouse specimen flower¬ 
ing plants constituted the chief features, together with large miscella¬ 
neous non-competing collections, very notable amongst which being the 
Daffodils and hardy flowers from Messrs. Barr & Son and T. S. Ware, 
with Mr. Bennett’s and Mr. Bumsey’s Roses. 
The most successful exhibitor in the stove and greenhouse classes 
was Mr. W. Chapman, gardener to J. Spode, Esq., Rugeley, Staffs, who 
won the premier prizes both for nine and six specimens. His plants 
were large globular examples of Erica Cavendishiana, Ixora coccinea, 
Tremandra ericaefolia, Dracophyllum gracile. Erica profusa, Anthurium 
Schertzerianum, and others of the conventional exhibition character. 
Mr. H. James, Castle Nursery, Norwood, also competed in these and 
other classes, seventeen in all, but a large proportion of second and third 
prizes were awarded him, as his plants were not in their best condition. 
Azaleas were not fully out, but Mr. C. Turner’s nine large and eighteen 
small plants which gained the first prizes in their respective classes 
were compact and well flowercil specimens of the most effective 
varieties. From the same nursery came the leading show and fancy 
Pelargoniums, the chief amateur exhibitors of those plants being Mr. D. 
Phillips, gardener to R. W. Mann, Esq., Langley Broom, Slough, and 
Mr. F. Hill, gardener to H. Little, Esq., The Barons, East Twickenham. 
The Roses in pots from Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, won firet 
honours in the class for eighteen plants in 9-inch pots, healthy, well- 
flowered, handsome specimens of moderate size ; Messrs. G. Jackman 
and Son, Woking Nursery, and Mr. C. Turner following. Mr. 1*. Perry, 
gardener to W. G. Rowlett, Esq., Woodlands, Cheshunt, was the only 
exhibitor of six Roses in the amateurs’ class, and secured the chief prize 
for good plants. Calceolarias and Gloxinias do not demand special men¬ 
tion, as they were not in first-rate condition. 
Orchids tvere contributed by Mr. James, who was first with nine 
plants and a specimen, and third with a group which seemed to have 
been arranged too hurriedly to do it justice ; by Mr. H. Little, who had 
some excellent specimens in his second prize collection of nine ; and by 
Mr. F. Cooper, gardener to Walter Cobb, Esq., Silverdale, Sydenham, 
who won the first prize for six plants. 
Messrs. J. Laing & Son, Forest Hill, won premier honours for a bold 
group of miscellaneous plants arranged for effect, which had an imposing 
appearance at one corner of the transept. Palms, Dracsenas, Crotons, 
and Caladiums constituted the background ; choice Orchids, Tuberous 
Begonias, Imantophyllums and Azaleas furnishing abundance of colour. 
Messrs. Laingfc Son were also first with nine Caladiums, which have al ready 
been referred to as characteristically fine specimens. Mr. A. Offer, 
Handcross Park Gardens, Crawley, competed in several of the clashes 
for fine-foliage plants, showing large specimens, but not well coloured ; 
and Mr. T. N. Penfold, gardener to the Rev. Canon Bridges, Beddington, 
contributed some excellent Ferns, which won him first prize in the class 
for nine. Mr. G. Parrott, gardener to W. Wright, Esq., Denmark Hill, 
being second to Mr. Offer in the amateurs’ cla.ss for six Ferns. 
In the bouquet and buttonhole clas.ses Messrs. Perkins & Sons, 
Coventry, took the lead with their customar}’ tasteful elegant contribu¬ 
tions. Miss Hassell, Southfleet, Gravesend, was first with three vases of 
flowers, and Mr. Prewett, Hammersmith, gained a similar position with 
twenty-four bunches of cut flowers ; Messrs. P. Perry, E. Cbadwick, and 
A. Gibson gaining the prizes in that order for twelve bunches of flowers. 
In the class for best brace of Model Cucumber, grown from seed 
supplied from Messrs. Carter & Co., 237 and 238, High Hclborn, the first 
prize won by Mr. G. Collins, gardener to J. A. Rose, Esq., Wandsworth 
Common. Messrs. Sutton & Sons’ prizes for the best six specimen 
Gloxinias, grown from seed or tuber supplied from Reading, were won 
by M. Jacoby, Esq., Lynwood, The Avenue, Gipsy Hill, and Mr. W. 
Monk, gardener to G. R. Higgins, Esq., Eastlands, Dulwich. For the 
best brace of Cucumbers, either Sutton’s Improved Telegraph or Sutton’s 
Purley Park Hero, IMr. W. Monk was first, and Mr. A. Gibson, gardener 
to T. F. Burnaby Atkins, Esq., Halstead Place, Sevenoaks, seeond. 
Extra prizes were awarded to Messrs. Barr & Son, for a group of 
Daffodils ; Mr. W. Rumsey, for eight boxes of cut Roses ; Mr. Thomas 
Ware, collection of Narcissus and spring flowers; Messrs. H. Canncll 
and Sons, for Calceolarias and Mignonette; and Mr. H. Bennett, for four 
boxes of cut Roses. First-class certificates awarded to Messrs. Barr and 
Son for Narcissus, Madame de Gi-aaff, Leeds! Mrs. Langtry, incompara- 
bilis Sir Watkin, bicolor grandis, Leeds! Duchess of Westminster, Band 
Dorothy Wemyss, Leeds! Beatrice, Incomparabilis Beauty, and bicolor 
J. B. M. Camm ; to Messrs. J. Laing & Sons for Caladiums Charlemagne, 
Marquis F. de Albertas ; to Mr. H. Bennett for Polyantha Little Dot ; 
to Mr. J. Chambers for Viola, Snowflake ; and to Mr. H. James for 
Anthurium Schertzerianum sanguineum. 
Events of the Week.— To-day (Thursday) the Royal Horticultural 
Society’s Show in the Inner Temple Gardens will be open to the public 
at 1 P.M., and it will also be continued on the whole of Friday. 
Upon Friday the Whitsuntide Show at Manchester will be opened, and 
will continue until the following Frid.ay. The Royal Horticultural 
Society's Committees will meet on Tuesday, the 22nd inst., at the Drill 
Hall, Westminster. 
- The Weather in the North. —The week ending 14th inst. 
has not been a very genial one. With much brilliant warm sunshine 
there has prevailed more or less throughout cold northerly winds, and 
several of the nights have been decidedly frosty. The effects can be 
seen on the shoots of Phloxes and the young growths of Roses, the latter 
making little progress. In the southern counties the weather has been 
bright with cold winds and several frosts at night. We hear that the 
recent keen winds have injured Peach trees on walls severel}', and 
several gardeners complain that the prospect of a crop of Peaches is 
practically ruined. 
- Horticultural Club.— The usual monthly dinner and con¬ 
versazione took place on Tuesday last at the ” Hotel Windsor,” Victoria 
Street, Westminster, where the future home of the Club ■will be, and 
was largely attended. Amongst those present were the Revs. E. Handly, 
W. Wilks, and F. H. Gall, Dr. Masters, Mr. John Lee (Chairman), 
Messrs. Cousens, Moss, H. Turner, Girdlestone, AValker, &c. The Secre¬ 
tary stated that Mr. T. F. Rivers, owing to illness, was unable to undertake 
the subject he had intended to have spoken upon, “ Pe.aches,” but that 
Dr. Masters had most kindly consented to take his place and speak on 
the subject of “ Sports,” which he did, and illustrated his remarks by 
some specimens of Conifers received that day from M. Naudin’s garden 
at Antibes. An interesting discussion followed, and was joined in by 
the Rev. W. Wilks, Messrs. Cousens, Walker, Lee, and others, and a 
very pleasant and profitable evening was spent. 
__ yiE. Thomas Crosswell, gardener to W. M. Bullivant, Esq., 
Homewood, Eden Park, Beckenham, writes “ With my employer’s per¬ 
mission I have sent you a sample of Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury 
Strawberries that we are now picking from. Our batch of plants of 
this variety was not potted into their fruiting pots (6-inch) till August 
29th. Owing to the dry season we, like many more, were unable to 
obtain young plants earlier, and consequently the desired pots crammed 
full of roots were not in our case realised. In fact, at the end of the 
growing season, which for them was very short, I considered the 
prospect of a crop of fruit was very poor. Nevertheless, they are now 
carrying from ten to sixteen berries on a plant, and my employer has 
favoured me with the remark that “ he thinks he has not seen a finer 
shelf of fruit.” [The Strawberries are very good indeed, both as regards 
size, colour, and flavour. We have not had a better sample of the 
variety .sent to us this season.] 
_ A Profitable Nectarine Tree.—E arly Nectarines if of 
good size and well coloured realise high prices in Covent Garden Market. 
Mr. T. King, gardener at Devizes Castle, has just cleared a tree of Lord 
Napier which perfected eleven dozen fruit. The whole of these were 
sent to Covent Garden, the earliest fetching 3Gs. per dozen, the next 30s., 
