430 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
TMay 
the beautiful single white Himalayan Kose, a variety that ought to 
become very popular among lovers of single varieties. Messrs. Veitch 
and Sons also arranged an effective group of plants, conspicuous among 
which were several very pretty Japanese Maples, as well as several 
Orchids, Rhododendrons, Azaleas, and other flowering plants. They 
also had plants of the new Boronia heterophylla, a showy bright crimson 
variety, sweetly scented, and very floriferous. Numerous photographs 
of rockwork, and the prize plan of the People’s Park, Poole, were also 
shown by this firm, to whom also a certificate of merit was awarded. 
A similar award was made to Mr. A. A. Walters, Bath, who had a large 
group of Pelargoniums, Mignonette, and other popular plants. 
MANCHESTER SHOW. 
May 18th to 25th. 
The Whitsuntide Show in the Botanic Garden, Old TrafEord, Man¬ 
chester, is regarded in the north and over a considerable portion of 
England as one of the great horticultural events of the year, attracting 
exhibitors and visitors from long distances. The Society which possesses 
the garden named, with their Secretary and Curator, Mr. Bruce Findlay, 
have concentrated their efforts for many years past upon this Show, 
and though smaller ones are held at intervals during the year, that at 
Whitsuntide is made as representative as possible by means of a com¬ 
prehensive schedule and liberal prizes. The Show which opened last 
Friday is no exception to the rule as regards being a full, important, and 
beautiful display, but a change seems to be coming over shows of this 
character, and they have to be viewed more as spectacles than examined 
very closely in detail. At one time Manchester was famed for its large 
specimen plants, and we have seen some magnificent exhibitions there in 
which stove and greenhouse plants. Ferns, fine-foliase plants, and 
Orchids were represented by the ga-andest example of cultural skill that 
could be seen in any portion of the kingdom. The owners of some of 
these have left the neighbourhood, others have died, and the collections 
have been dispersed, so that now there are comparatively few who possess 
collections of the giant specimens which have graced so many exhibitions. 
Grouping and miscellaneous collections are taking the place of the 
specimens to some extent, but no show held in spacious tents or buildings 
seems complete without them. Classes with substantial prizes must 
always be provided in the schedules of these exhibitions for the specimens, 
but for a great portion of what may be termed the “filling up,” group 
classes must be depended upon. 
Though difEerences in the style of the Manchester Shows have been 
gradually arising, that just held was quite as remarkable as ever for the 
good culture displayed by the condition of the smaller plants e.xhibited, 
and there can be no question that a healthy, well-furnished or pro¬ 
fusely flowered plant of moderate size is far preferable to a giant de¬ 
fective either in foliage or flowers. In another respect the Show was 
fully equal to many of its predecessors—namely, in the general effect 
and varied interest, and the garden is exceptionally favoured in this 
matter, owing to the capital buildings that are devoted to the purpose. 
Some alterations and improvements have been recently effected as the 
result of the great general Exhibition held in the garden last season, 
and one of the most important of these is the extension of the building, 
which was formerly covered with canvas on the occasion of the shows, 
but now permanently glazed. This was 360 feet long by about 60 
in width, but it has been increased by an annexe at the lower end over 
200 feet long and of similar width, giving a total length closely ap¬ 
proaching 600 feet. At the upper end there was formerly a high bank 
with a path at the top from which a good view of the Show could be 
obtained. This was all cleared away for last year’s Exhibition, a re¬ 
freshment and dining room being new added to that end. Along the 
sides of the building are the banks, alternately and irregularly project¬ 
ing or retiring, so as to form .prominent points for groups or plants of 
importance, and bays or recesses for others of less interest, the centre 
being occupied by a succession of circular, oval, or variously formed 
beds and mounds, upon which Palms are arranged, surrounded by groups 
or collections of plants of various kinds. It is a matter of opinion 
whether too many of these central groups have not been employed, as 
these in part partially obstruct the view of the others, and when seen 
in succession from one end, unless the colours of the plants are judici¬ 
ously contrasted, blended, or relieved by foliage, they have a discordant 
effect. To our mind these might be advantageously reduced both in 
size and numbers, but under any circumstances it is far the finest build¬ 
ing in the country devoted to horticultural exhibitions, A covered 
communication has also been effected between the upper end of this 
building and the Exhibition house, a span-roof structure, 80 yards long 
and 30 or 40 feet feet wide, adequately heated, and devoted to Orchids 
or other tender plants. This also is unique, for at no other summer 
show can choice plants be exhibited with the same safety as at Man¬ 
chester. For many years the Whit Show has been celebrated for the 
display of Orchids, and on the occasion under notice they constituted a 
sjjecial feature, but generally characterised like the other classes men¬ 
tioned by the absence of large specimens. So far, however, from this 
being a disadvantage the appearance of the house was more pleasing to 
many visitors, as there was less formality. The foliage plants, with the 
principal stove and greenhouse plants, were arranged behind the Orchids, 
and the collections not for competition occupied the central table. 
Orchids. —In this house the most interesting class was that for a 
group of Orchids, Ferns, and foliage plants arranged for effect, a mode 
of exhibiting Orchids that we have frequently commended, and which 
has received much more attention from the framers of schedules in the 
past few years than formerly. By far the finest exhibit in this class 
was the group from A. Heine, Esq., Fallowfield (gardener, Mr. J. Gragg), 
who wins this season the champion of the amateur classes for Orchids, 
as he secured no less than six first prizes. The group had an irregularly 
undulating foundation of Adiantums and a background of Balms, 
smaller Palms and other fine-foliage plants rising from the bank of 
Ferns, with such Orchids as Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, Odontoglossums, 
Laslias. Cypripediums, and Masdevallias. Two remarkable specimens 
demand a word or two—namely, Dendrobium Paxtoni and D. Devoni- 
anum. The former was a wonderful mass, about 7 feet high, and as 
much in diameter, and it bore innumerable racemes of its rich golden 
flowers, having a fine effect in the centre of the background. D. Devo- 
nianum was equally notable in its way, for very seldom is this gracefulf 
Orchid seen in such perfection. It was growing in a basket elevated oi^ 
a pedestal around which drooped scores of long growths crowded with 
soft tinted flowers. T. Statter, Esq., Stand Hall (gardener, Mr. R. 
Johns), was second with a collection of healthy, well-flowered Orchids 
and Adiantums, but they were not arranged to the best advantage, and 
too many Crotons were employed. The Duke of Sutherland, Tr'eptham 
(gardener, Mr. Blair), took the third place, Masdevallias being conspi¬ 
cuously bright in this group. Mr. Heine’s exhibits occupied a large 
space in the house, as may be gathered from the fact that he had forty- 
one specimens besides those in the group just mentioned, comprising the 
first prize plants in the classes for ten bona, fide specimens, twelve and 
six Orchids, ten Cattleyas, and three Vandas. It is unnecessary to par¬ 
ticularise all these, but some of his best specimens were Cattleya Skin- 
neri and the variety alba, Laelia purpurata in several beautiful varieties, 
Dendrobium densiflorum, Calanthe veratrifolia with twenty-two spikes, 
and Vanda teres with sixty large flowers. In some of these classes Mr. 
Heine was the only exhibitor, but Mr. R. Elphinstone, Stretford, was 
second with twelve Orchids, and Mrs. Hodgkinson, Bowdon (gardener,. 
Mr. D. Boardman), secured a similar position with ten bona fide speci¬ 
mens, his finest plant being Brassia verrucosa majus having sixteen long 
racemes. In the nurserymen’s classes for Orchids Mr. H. James, Nor¬ 
wood, and Mr. J. Cypher shared the honours, the former taking the 
second prize for a group, and the first for ten Orchids in flower ; Mr. J. 
Cypher following in the last-named class, a rather unusual position for 
him, but he had evidently concentrated his Orchid strength at Regent’s 
Park and the Temple. 
Stove and Greenhouse Plants. —Mr. J. Cypher had the class for 
twelve stove and greenhouse plants to himself, but he would have proved 
a formidable opponent for any other competitor, his specimens being 
in beautifully fresh condition and profusely flowered. An extraordinary 
example of Pimelea spectabilis attracted the attention not only of the 
public but the most experienced plant growers and exhibitors present, 
and it was pronounced to be one of the finest ever shown. It was nearly 
6 feet high, at least 7 feet in diameter, every shoot terminating in a 
large he^ of white flowers. The plant had evidently been grown quickly 
and vigorously ; it was not too formally trained, and it was altogether a 
superb example of skilful culture. A plant of Erica ventricosa mag- 
nifica 6 feet in diameter was scareely less commendable for its health 
and beauty. Mr. Cypher was also first with six Ericas and eight fine- 
foliage plants, followed in each case by Mr. H. James. S. Baerlein, 
Esq., Didsbury (gardener, Mr. G. Williams), had the best ten fine- 
foliage plants in the amateur class, showing large Palms, Cycads, and 
Cordyline indivisa. Mr. Baerlein was also first with six Draemnas, 
Colonel Winafield, Shrewsbury, and Mr. W. Hayes, jun.. Sale, being 
second and third, and with Palms and Yuccas he won similar honours. 
Azaleas and Ericas in the amateur classes were of an ordinary character, 
second and third prizes being accorded to Messrs. Baerlein ; J. Brown, 
Heaton Nursery ; and S. Lord, Brooklands. For ten Pitcher Plants and 
Sarracenias Mr. A. J. A. Bruce, Chorlton, secured first honours with 
good plants, and Mr. H. James had the best twelve Dracaenas. 
Several non-competing groups or collections were staged in thia 
house, the most extensive and beautiful being that from Mr. B. S. 
Williams, Upper Holloway, who has for many years contributed liberally 
to the attractions of the Show, but he has rarely had a more interesting 
collection than on this occasion. Large numbers of choice and new 
Orchids, together with a selection of the most effective stove and green¬ 
house plants, of useful size for decorative purposes or growing into 
specimens. Messrs. R. Ker & Son, Liverpool, had a group of highly 
coloured Crotons and other plants. Mr. J. Charlesworth, Heaton, 
Bradford, showed a group of Odontoglossums, Palms, and Feins ; the 
Liverpool Hortieultural Company exhibited a large and beautiful group 
of Orchids and Ferns lightly and tastefully arranged, and Mr. W. Owen, 
Northwich, had a group of Cattleyas and Ferns. 
The principal competing groups Were arranged in the long eihibi- 
tion building, tivo elasses being devoted to them—namely, one for 
nurserymen and the other for amateurs. The trade groups were required 
to be arranged in a space not exceeding 250 square feet, and Messrs. 
R. P. Ker c& Son, Liverpool, rvere award^ first honours for a brilliant 
and handsome group, the Crotons, for which the firm is noted, being 
extremely well coloured. Rhododendrons, Ericas, Azaleas, and othef 
bright flow'ering plants were employed with abundance of Ferns and 
foliage plants, but it would be somewhat of a relief, and would 
certainly not have lessened the attraction of the group, if a few less 
Crotons had been used. Mr. J. Mason, Ashton-in-Mersey, w'as second 
with a group in which a tasteful style had been adopted, but the 
material apparently was not adequate to carrying it out satisfactorily, 
for it was somewhat weak and deficient in colour. To the amateurs’ 
