23 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 9, 1885. 
rTElise, Madame Margottin, Catherine Mermet, Belle Lyonnais 0 , and 
Niphetos, the last-named being also selected for the award of a silver 
medal for the best Tea in the Show. Miss Watson Taylor was a good 
second, and Mr. J. Grant, Hereford, third. With six Teas the prizewinners 
were Messrs. Narroway of Oxford. J. Smith, and G. Tanner. 
Local Amateurs’ Classes. —The competition in these was surprisingly 
poor, and Mr. S. P. Budd easily secured the award of the National Society’s 
gold medal for a stand of twentv-four distinct varieties, included among 
which were good examples of Ulrich Brunner, Lady Mary Fitzwilliam, 
Dupuy Jamain, Countess of Rosebery, Merveille de Lyon, and Duke of 
Teck. The winners with twelve distinct varieties were Mr. F. Clerk, Rev. 
G. E. Gardiner, and Mrs. Horne, and with nine Teas Mr. S. P. Budd was 
again successful. 
Open Classes. —In the classes for stands of one variety the competition 
was close, and many fine blooms were staged. There were twelve stands 
of twelve trusses of any Rose, Messrs Paul & Son being placed first with 
Ulrich Brunner in fine condition. Miss Watson Taylor followed with a 
creditable lot of Catherine Mermet, and equal thirds were awarded to Mr. 
Cant and the Cranston Company, who respectively staged Marie Cointet 
and Merveille de Lyon, the latter being much discoloured. A moderately 
good stand of Mardchal Niel staged by Mr. Evans won the first prize for any 
yellow variety, the Cranston Company following with the same variety, and 
Miss Taylor was third with fairly good Belle Lyonnaise. The best stand of 
any crimson variety, Marie Baumann, fresh, and of good size, was staged by 
Mr. Cant, Curtis, Sanford & Co. following with Alfred Dumesnil, and the 
third prize went to the Cranston Company for A. K. Williams. Mr. Cant 
won the first prize for any pink variety with a good stand of the lovely 
Mdlle. Gabriel Luizet, Messrs. Paul & Son following with the same 
variety, the third prize going to Mr. S. P. Budd for La France. 
In the class for any new Rose of 1883 or 1881 Messrs. Curtis, Sanford, 
and Co. were easily first for Alphonse Soupert in excellent condition, the 
Cranston Company following with Merveille de Lyon, and Mr. Mat'ock was 
third with Lady Mary Fitzwilliam, which happened to he sent out in 1882. 
As usual a large number of bouquets of Roses were staged. Messrs. 
Cooling & Son had the best twelve, these being very fresh and relieved 
with Moss Rosebuds and Rose foliage. The second prize lot staged by Mr. 
Mattock were very formal. Mr. W. C. Drummond, Bath, was third. In the 
amateurs’ classes for six bouquets Miss W. Taylor was first; Mr. Warden, 
Clarendon Park, Salisbury, second ; and Mr. J. Stuckey third, all displaying 
good taste. Messrs. Cooling & Son were also first for the most tastefully 
arranged basket of Roses, Mr. Mattock being second, and W. C. Drummond 
thi r d. 
FARNINGHAM.— July 1st. 
In this pleasant little piscatorial village on the Darenth the annual Show 
of Roses was held on Wednesday last, July 1st. With it was combined also 
a show of plants, table decorations, and cottagers’ productions ; hut the 
Roses were the piece de lesistance , and although not equal in extent or 
quality of blooms to that of last year, a pretty show was brought together. 
The only nurseryman from a distance who exhibited was Mr. B. R. Cant 
from Colchester, but amateurs wers fairly represented by those in the neigh¬ 
bourhood, where several good rosarians cultivate the queen of flowers. It 
ought to be a good district, and one was not surprised to see many good 
stands; still there was nothing that shone out pre-eminently above the 
others—no such Horace Yernets as Mr. Pemberton exhibited last year, or 
such blooms as Mr. Wakeley showed at Canterbury of Xavier Olibo. The 
Rev. F. R. Burnside, to whom the Society owes its existence, but who has 
now removed to Gloucestershire, brought his Roses from the western 
county and showed exceedingly well, while Mrs. J. M. Fuller of Bexley was 
rewarded for the care she bestows on her favourite flower by securing two 
first prizes. 
In the class for thirty-six blooms, open to all comers who are members 
of the Society, Mr. B. R. Cant was easily first with a box containing the 
following flowers :—Marquise de Castellane, Catherine Mermet, John 
Hopper, Lady Mary Fitzwilliam, Edouard Morren, Madame Lacharme, 
Yiolette Bouyer (which has as yet this year been everywhere shown well), 
Beauty of Waltham, Niphetos (a very large bloom, reminding one of that 
shown by Mr. Jowitt some years ago at the Crystal Palace), Marie Baumann, 
Madame Marie Cointet, Dr. Sewell, Madame Alfred Dumesnil, Maurice 
Bernardin, General Jacqueminot, Madame Bravy, Henri Schultheis, Ulrich 
Brunner, La France, Madame Isaac Pereire, Madame Ducher, Mdlle. 
Eugenie Yerdier, Mrs. Baker, Marie Verdier, Duchesse de Yallombrosa, 
■Charles Lefebvre, Madame Gabriel Luizet, Dr. Andry, Marechal Niel, 
Frangois Michelon, Duke of Teck, Annie Laxton, Souvenir d’Elise, Prince 
Arthur, and Dupuy Jamain. The second prize was awarded to Messrs. 
Eongley of Rainham, and the third to Messrs. George BuDyard cfe Co., Maid¬ 
stone. For twelve Teas Mr. R. B. Cant was again first with Comtesse de 
Nadaillac, Souvenir d’un Ami, Marie Van Houtte, Catherine Mermet, Etoile 
de Lyon, La Boule d’Or, Madame Angele Jacquin, Madame Hippolyte 
-Jamain, Caroline Raster, Niphetos, Marechal Niel, and Souvenir d’Elise. 
Messrs. Longley were second, and Messrs. George Bunyard & Co. third. 
In the class for twenty-four varieties for amateurs and gardeners, Mr. W. 
H, Wakeley was first with an excellent stand containing Henri Lfiechaux, 
Ferdinand de Lesseps, Marguerite de St. Amand, Dr. Andry, Caroline 
Kuster, Thomas Mills, Marechal Niel, Marie Baumann, Charles Lefebvre, 
Madame Gabriel Luizet, Captain Christy, John Bright, Eugene Fiirst, 
Innocente Pirola, Violette Bouyer, Duke of Edinburgh, Abel Carriere, Marie 
Yan Houtte, Louis Van Houtte, Marquise de Castellane, Etienne Levet. 
Franqois Michelon, Camille Bernardin, and Catherine Mermet. Mr. G. Christy 
was second, and Lord Stanhope third. In the class for twelve varieties 
Mr R. E. West was first with Franqois Michelon, Duke of Teck, Prince 
Camille de Rohan, Marie Finger, Baroness Rothschild, Abel Carriere, Annie 
Wood, A. X. Williams, Madame Eugene Verdier, Violette Bowyer, Madame 
Victor Verdier, Baroness Rothschild. The Rev. J. R. Burnside was second, 
■and Mrs. Spottiswoode third. In the class for nine Teas the Rev. F. R. 
Burnside was first with a fresh and clean stand, consisting of Souvenir de 
Paul Neron, Hon. Edith Gifford, Jean Ducher, Souvenir d’un Ami, Madame 
Bravy, Madame Hippolyte Jamain, Rubens, Madame Willermoz, and 
'Catherine Mermet. Mr. Julius Sladden of Badsey, Evesham, was second, 
and Mr. Wallis third. In the class for six of any one dark Rose Mr. R. E 
West was first with Annie Wood, Mr. G. Christy second with Duke of Edin¬ 
burgh, and Earl Stanhope third with Charles Lefebvre. For the best six of 
any light Rose Earl Stanhope was first with La France, Mr. Wakeley se¬ 
cond with Madame Gabriel Luizet, and Mrs. Fuller third with La France. _ 
For the best twenty-four for amateurs and gardeners residing within 
ten miles of the village of Farningham Mr. .T. Burnaby Atkins was first with 
La France, Duchfss of Vallombrosa, A. K. Williams, Marguerite de St. 
Amand, Marie Rady, Alfred Colomh, Duke of Edinburgh, Edouard Morren, 
Louis Van Houtte, Horace Vernet, Marie Van Houtte, E. V. Teas, 
Madame Victor Verdier, Jean Ducher, Marechal Niel, Marechal Vaillant, 
Madame Cldmence Joigneaux, Madame Gabriel Luizet, Charles Lefebvre, 
Heinrich Schultheis, Marquise de Castellane, Comtesse d’Oxford, and Marie 
Baumann. The prize for the best twelve was awarded to Mrs. J. M. Fuller 
for a very beautiful stand, also for the best six Teas. The bronze medal for 
the best box in the open classes was awarded to Mr. W. H. Wakeley, the 
silver medal for the best box in the local classes to Mr. F. Burnaby Atkins, 
and for the best Rose in the amateur classes to Mr. W. H. Wakeley.— 
D., Deal. 
CYMBIDIUM LOWIANUM. 
Some time ago we received a magnificent raceme of this Orchid from 
Dr. A. Paterson, who, amongst his other treasures, grows it uncommonly 
well in his Bridge of Allan collection. A reduced representation of this is 
given in fig. 5, page 28, but no real idea of its beauty can be conveyed in a 
wood engraving. The species has become a great favourite with growers 
chiefly on account of the great length of time the flowers last, which is 
astonishing, for some plants have been in good condition for fully six 
months : and a specimen which opened i ts flowers at Christmas wa 
shown at one of the summer exhibitions of the Royal Botanic Society, 
when it was as fresh and beautiful as anyone could wish. The long 
racemes also have a graceful appearance, arching over the sides of the 
pots, especially when a slight support is afforded them. The flowers 
cannot be termed brilliant, but they are very striking, and the contrast of 
the yellowish or creamy sepals and petals with the reddish brown lip 
renders them remarkable. For exhibition the plant is admirably adapted) 
as it suffers much less than many of its relatives; and at the Orchil 
Conference in May it was very strongly represented. 
VEGETATION AND FRUITS OF NEW BRITAIN. 
An interesting essay was read a Bhort time since before the Society of 
Arts by Mr. Wilfred Powell, and in the course of a very full description of 
the customs of the inhabitants he thus refers to the vegetable products :— 
The fruit of Duke of York Island consists of the Banana, Cocoa-nut, Tan, 
Mummy Apple, and a description of wild Mango. Yams and Taro are also 
grown on the island, but Sweet Potatoes are the chief product, and serve a3 
one of the main articles of trade between this and the other islands. The 
Bananas also are in some parts of the island very fine, but the Yams and 
Taro are not to be compared with those of New Britain, or the Yams of New 
Ireland, which are noted for their large size. The Taro of New Britain is 
also considered the finest in the South Seas. Taro is a large bulb-like tuber, 
with leaves much of the shape of the Caladium. I have never seen the 
flower. There are two different kinds, one of which grows in swampy 
ground, and the other on the hill sides; the latter is the largest and best, the 
swamp Taro being waxy to eat. Taro is planted in rows about one pace 
apart, and is kept clear of weeds by the women ; the hill Taro grows to the 
size of 15 inches long by 1 foot circumference. When cooked in a Bmall 
quantity of water the starch that exudes from it makes the water into a 
thick paste, therefore it requires more water added continually, and when 
cooked is soft and mealy, and is one of the very best vegetables I have even 
eaten. The native way of cooking it is even better than boiling ; the outside 
rough brown coating is scraped off with a sharp shell, and after cutting the 
Taro in halves lengthways, it is wrapped up in Banana leaves and placed on 
a fire where it is not too hot; when cooked it is much like good new bread, 
and is excessively nutritious. After taking the Taro out of the ground the 
tuber is cut off, leaving about an inch still adhering to the stalks and leaves, 
this is again placed in the ground, and in about three months has another 
large tuber ready for cutting. The leaves aer terribly astringent, and are 
eaten raw, will take the skin off the mouth and render it very sore for some 
days, hut the young leaves cooked are very delicious. 
There is also a fruit called the “ Tan,” which I do not suppose many 
Europeans know much about. It grows on very high trees, whose w ood, by 
the way, is beautifully grained and very hard, though nice to work. The 
fruit is shaped much like an Apple, and also grows in bunches as some 
Apples do ; but if you take one in your hand and press it when ripe the 
skin will come clean off, and the inside is then found to be beautifully clear 
jelly-like substance, which when planed in the mouth melts into water. This 
jelly surrounds a brown stone, of which the natives make a sort of cake, 
after it has been soaked for some days. The “ Papau,” or Mummy Apple, 
has also some curious facts connected with it that are useful to know. The 
very young Apples when boiled make a most delicate substitute for Vegetable 
Marrow ; the stalks and leaves if boiled with clothes will render them 
beautifully clean and white ; they come out of the boiler a bright gamboge 
yellow, but when hung up to dry in the air they turn perfectly white again ; 
a small piece of the leaf or stalk boiled with an old fowl or tough piece of 
meat makes it quite tender. 
HORTICULTURAL SHOWS. 
CROYDON. 
The eighteenth summer Show was held on the 1st inst. in the grounds 
of Wellesley House, kindly placed at the disposal of the Committee for the 
