186 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 27,18M 
A BLACK COUNTRY SHOW—BILSTON. 
Bilston is said to be in the heart of the “ Black Country,” where 
the earth has been turned inside out in coal mining. Travelling from 
Birmingham onwards to Wolverhampton, anything more desolate, so far 
as regards vegetation, could not easily be imagined. A large district is 
practically treeless, and the only tinge of green visible is in the form of 
struggling grass and Coltsfoot. Millions of tons of debris have been 
dragged out of the earth, and heaped on the surface in huge irregular 
mounds. It is a dismal scene. As Bilston is approached improvement 
is manifest, and on entering the town, which is two or three miles from 
Wolverhampton, it is evident that trees and flowers are cherished by the 
inhabitants. 
With the object of creating a taste for gardening the Bilston Horti¬ 
cultural Society was formed about eleven years ago, and thanks to able 
and earnest officials the years succeeding have been years of increasing 
success. Considering the fact that the surface of the ground is repre¬ 
sented by a series of hummocks, “ pit mounds,” and “ spoil heaps ” it 
seems little short of marvellous that such splendid produce could be 
grown in the form of vegetables, and flowers especially, as was seen in 
the tents. Even for these level ground could not be found in the field, 
and it was a question of walking uphill and down between the tables 
and banks of plants. 
The exhibits were most commendable throughout the three sections 
■—gardeners, amateurs, and cottagers ; but taking all things into con¬ 
sideration the productions of the latter must be accorded the palm. 
Vegetables and flowers were surprising by their excellence, equalling 
the average of the great Show at the Crystal Palace the week previous, 
while the window plants were better. The character of the Show is 
admirably condensed in the following extract from the Midland 
Herald :— 
“ The produce was staged in three ten's, the open tent being 200 feet 
by 40 feet, the cottagers’ 100 by 36, and the amateurs’ 100 by 40. In 
each of the open amateurs’ and cottagers’ classes the competition was 
remarkably keen, and w r hile there was a larger display of produce in 
the two first mentioned classes, a leading feature of the Show was the 
splendid collection of vegetables to be found in the cottagers’ section. 
This was admitted on all hands to be much superior to anything of 
the kind ever seen at these shows. In this tent, too, were several 
splendid groups of plants not intended for competition, which had 
been lent by Sir Alfred Hickman and Messrs. J. Harper, B. White- 
house, J. Mothershaw, and Harris. The Potatoes were a grand lot— 
undoubtedly the best shown in the district this season—and Celery, 
Shallots, Turnips, Peas, Lettuce, Onions, Leeks, Parsnips, and Beans 
were alike creditable. The cut flowers were capital, Asters, Marigolds, 
and Pansies especially so, but fruit was only fair. There were several 
good garden bouquets, and the window plants were very meritorious, 
well grown, and clean. 
“ The tent set apart for the open class was filled with a magnificent 
collection of stove and greenhouse plants, and in some cases the Judges 
had considerable difficulty in awarding the prizes owing to the general 
excellence of the exhibitors’ displays. The first prize for best arranged 
group of plants was awarded to Mr. Dyer, gardener to Mrs. Marigold, 
Edgbaston ; and the second was taken by Mr. Horton, gardener to Mr. 
W. H. Fowler, Sedgley ; Mr. J. E. Knight, Wolverhampton, being third ; 
and an extra prize was given to Mr. S. Dean, gardener to Mr. L. Foster, 
Sedgley. Several fine groups of plants, arranged in half-moon form, 
were shown, and in this class the first prize was taken by Mr. Kenrick, 
Edgbaston, Mr. Dyer being second, and Mr. Fewkes, gardener to Mr. 
T. Clayton, Castle Bromwich, third. Mr. Dyer and Mr, Fewkes were 
awarded equal first prizes for their six specimen stove or greenhouse 
plants, and Mr. Dyer carried off premier honours for three stove or 
greenhouse plants and for three Ferns. Mr. S. Horton of Sedgley well 
deserved the first prize for six Coleus which he showed, and also for a 
single specimen stove or greenhouse plant. In the class for six dis¬ 
similar Ferns Mr. S. Dean of Woodsetton carried off the first prize. Mr. 
Fewkes was first for Fuchsias, and Mr. C. Barlow, Tettenhall Wood, first 
for Lilies. 
“ The display of cut flowers was of a most attractive character, the 
principal features being the Roses, Dahlias, Asters, Picotees, Carnations, 
and Pansies. The prizetakers for Roses were Messrs. Perkins & Sons, 
Coventry, Messrs. Heath & Son, Cheltenham, and Mr. Townsend, 
Worcester. The amateurs’ section was on the whole creditable. The 
centre of the tent was occupied by several excellent groups and specimen 
plants, the exhibitors of the former including Messrs. R. Jones, High- 
fields ; S. Fullwood, Bilston; J. Kirkland, Bilston, and Taylor, West 
Bromwich. The principal features were Dracaenas, Crotons, Palms, 
Ferns, Gloxinias, and Liliums. The specimen plants were very fine. 
There were also four half-moon groups, one by Mr. W. Knight con¬ 
taining fine Dracaenas, Orchids, Caladiums, Crotons, &c., and the others 
by Messrs. Kirkland, Fullwood, and Jones. Mr. G. Knight of Oxford 
Street, Bilston, showed, not for competition, a collection of stove and 
greenhouse plants, including shrubs, Ferns, Ivie 3 , Palms, Coleuses, 
Myrtles, Mosses, and Lilies. 
. “ The vegetables here were also excellent, Turnips, Lettuce, and Peas 
being a strong lot, but the Potatoes were not equal to the cottagers’. 
Fruit was only moderately good, and cut flowers were not a great 
feature, though French Marigolds were extra good. Table decorations 
were fair, and collections of vegetables commendable. The bouquets, 
baskets, &c., of wild flowers were a highly pleasing feature, and reflected 
creditably on the children, who had tastefully arranged them, and 
deserve every encouragement. The Judges were Messrs. W. Dean 
(Birmingham), Latham (Botanical Gardens, Birmingham), Coombes 
(gardener to the Earl of Dudley), E. Cooper (gardener to the Right Hon. 
J. Chamberlain), W. Spinks (Birmingham), and W. Jones (gardener to 
J. E. Matthews, Esq , Birmingham).” 
The luncheon, which followed, was as good as the Show. ’ It was 
attended by more than a hundred ladies and gentlemen, and the 
speeches afforded convincing evidence of the earnestness of the desire 
that exists to see horticulture flourish. Interesting presentations were 
made on the occasion to Mr. C. J. Morrell, who has been the valued Hon. 
Secretary for many years, and now retiring. The President, J. L. 
Gibbons, Esq., J.P., asked Mr. Morrell’s acceptance of a beautiful case 
of dessert cutlery, and Mr. F. Nokes, Chairman, followed with a hand¬ 
some marble clock and bronze ornaments from the Committee. 
Mr. R. J. Rogers has succeeded Mr. Morrell, and intends trying to 
do as well as he has done, while Mr. Nokes, it is said, is untiring in his 
efforts on behalf of the Society and garden or “ pit mound ” cultivators- 
in the district. All the officials who have worked so well must be con¬ 
gratulated on the results of their labours. 
A Chrysanthemum and Fruit Society is formed at Bilston. and the 
Show is to be held on November 17th and ISth. Mr. Alfred Folkes is 
the Secretary. 
NEPHRODIUMS. 
This large group contains many species that are of value from a 
commercial point of view, and several of them have already so proved 
their usefulness as to be included in the regular trade lists of florists” 
Ferns. In point of general utility I am inclined to rank the Nephro- 
diums third, placing Adiantums first and Pteris in variety second, 
though possibly the correctness of this classing may be disputed in some 
localities, it being well known that the demands of all markets are not 
alike. But be this as it may, the fact remains that the Nephroliumsare 
a useful family, being easily reproduced, mostly of rapid growth, and iQ 
general not requiring a high temperature or special cultivation in order to 
secure a satisfactory result. It is scarcely necessary to state that these 
Ferns are propagated from spores, this fact being patent in .most places 
where any plants of this class are grown, at least so far as the well- 
known N. molle is concerned, this species appearing in the form of self- 
sown seedlings in the most unexpected places. 
Among the best species of this genus is N. aristatum var., a bold¬ 
looking Fern with dark green leaves, that are marked down the centre 
of the pinnules with a band of yellowish green. ^The fronds of this 
species are of medium size and of good texture, and the plant is 
sufficiently hardy to frequently survive after all the others in a table 
fernery have succumbed to the furnace-heated air. N. aristatum 
var. also stands well when cut, but possibly would not pay for this 
purpose on account of the limited number of fronds produced by each 
plant. 
Another good one is N. varium, also known as Lastrea opaca, which 
is of similar outline to the preceding, though having but one colour in 
the mature fronds, these being very dark green, and having the stems 
much covered with brown chaffy scales. The young fronds of this 
species are also very noticeable in colour, being a peculiar shade of light 
brown, and sometimes tinted with pink. In habit N. varium is compact, 
and makes a useful plant in a 3-inch pot, though it will not grow much 
during the winter, and if forcing by extra heat is attempted the result 
is likely to be an attack of thrips. 
N. Richardsi multifidum is also a handsome variety, and is of more 
recent introduction than the preceding. It has long bi-pinnate fronds, 
finely divided and much crested, the colour of which is light green. 
This form also come3 true from spores, and consequently is easily 
multiplied, the young plants when in 3-inch pots being of a useful size 
for table ferneries. 
Still another very distinct and easily grown species is N. Sieboldi, 
probably better known as Lastraea Sieboldi, a strong growing Fern of 
bold aspect and nearly hardy. The fronds of this species are pinnate, 
and composed of from five to nine broad pinnules with slightly serrated 
edges, the stipes and crown of the plant being covered with brown 
chaffy scales. N. Sieboldi should be grown in a moderately cool house 
in order to keep it in good condition, for when grown too warm it is- 
liable to become infested with thrips. 
N. molle is too well known to need description, though a useful 
species for certain purposes ; for instance, it is an excellent Fern to 
plant among rockwork when filling a conservatory, and will produce a 
good result with very little care. The crested forms of this species are 
very pretty, and may be used with good effect at times, though too 
brittle to become generally useful. The most peculiar of these forms is- 
N. molle corymbiferum, the fronds of which are upright, quite stiff, and 
terminated by a large cre3t. Another of these forms of N. molle is 
N. m. grandiceps, in which the fronds retain the outline of the type, 
while the tip of each pmnule is nicely crested in much the same way as 
those of N. Richardsi multifidum. N. molle Langwelli is a comparatively 
recent form, having been distributed about six years ago, but is, however, 
of little value commercially. 
N. glabella is a finely divided species of dwarf habit, and deserves 
more recognition, the fronds being nearly triangular in outline and 
from 8 to 12 inches in height. This is also a cool house species, and will 
flourish under the same treatment as N. Sieboldi—that is, with a 
temperature of 50°. 
The short list here presented contains some of the most useful species 
