July 38, 1885.] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
87 
they would show signs of suffering for want of moisture ? On the contrary, 
the Grapes, which I maintain are not possessed of porous skins, got charged 
through the stem to such a degree on the hot and sunny day that the 
shins burst. Does this show a similar endosmosic action in both cases ? 
The degree of temperature may not be of much importance in cases where 
endosmose acts direct through animal or vegetable membranes, so long as 
the denser and thinner fluids are present; but where it acts (as I believe 
it does) differently, as in the case of fruits, a high degree of temperature 
is indispensable ; but if it be not as I take it to be, but simply a question 
of the quantity of moisture acting on the skins of fruit, as “A Thinker” 
maintains, why were the Frontignans mentioned hy him in his last letter 
placed in a damp box and kept close in a warm house to cause them to 
split ? “A Thinker ” says that Mr. Mclndoe’s Grapes at home on the 
Vines had ten times more moisture supplied by the roots, and remained 
sound. It would be interesting to know ho w he has arrived at this conclusion. 
How has he found out the quantity of moisture supplied by the roots to 
these Grapes ? I have no doubt that if the Grapes at home had been 
treated with the same atmospheric conditions the result would most likely 
have been the same in both cases, as those at home would have imbibed 
through the roots what the others had done through the stem. 
I gather hy “ A Thinker’s ” letter that he is under the impression that 
he has brought to light a principle of whose existence gardeners had been 
quite unaware. He is, in my opinion, mistaken; it is his application of 
this long-known principle that is denied by— Hugh Henderson. 
SOME ROSE SHOW NOTES. 
Crystal Palace, —Of the chief Rose shows at which it was my good 
fortune to be present, the Crystal Palace, to my mind, was by far the best 
as regards the quality of the blooms, which were for the most part well 
built and of good colour; moreover, they stood well. Whether this 
Exhibition happens to be an early or late fixture, it generally carries off 
the palm as the best, not perhaps as to quantity but quality. There was 
a fair show of Teas, but, on the whole, not, I think, equal to the Teas 
staged here last year. 
National, South Kensington. —This was, of course, numerically 
the largest show, but the heat of the place severely tried the blooms. 
Exhibitors set up Roses with good plump centres, and half an hour 
before the judging many of them were wide awake, gazing at you with 
their yellow eyes, and I for one don’t like to be looked at by a Rose. Few 
fully developed flowers could stand the heat of the conservatory, small 
young blooms being the safest to stage. Besides, I saw several boxes 
awaiting the Judges with the sun shining full upon them. In my opinion, 
but it is not worth much, the conservatory of the R.H.S. is not sufficiently 
large, cool, or shaded for the great exhibition of the National Rose 
Society. But for the heat and its effect, the Show was one of the best the 
Society has held. I was glad to welcome the presence of “ Her Majesty ” 
once again, with “ Mrs. Laing ” in attendance. Is it treason to say of the 
two, I prefer the latter ? Mr. Bennett is to be congratulated. 
_ Bedford. —Of provincial shows there were two that struck me as 
being most successful—viz., Bedford and Norwich. Of the former, since 
it has been noticed in your columns, I will only say hew much I agree 
with the remarks of your reporter, and, judging from the competition that 
took place, thanks to the ladies of Bedford, amongst eight or nine well- 
known growers for sale, and that amateurs were attracted from Brighton 
and Bath, if the Committee will adhere to the present date, and enlarge 
their schedule as suggested, I think that next year we may expect to see 
at Bedford a first-class Rose show. Mr. Burrell had the finest Tea I have 
seen this season, Boule d’Or. Why was there no medal for it ? 
. Norwich.— -No report has as yet appeared in your pages of the Nor¬ 
wich Show, which Society is affiliated with the National Rose Society. 
It deserves a better one than I can give it, writing, not from notes, but 
from memory. The Exhibition was held in the Bishop’s garden, not in a 
field, but on the lawn, and very charming it was with the tents arranged 
unuer the trees and in close proximity to the walls of the fine cathedral. 
The order was good, and the judging true to time. The trade was not so 
strongly represented as at Bedford, but the amateurs made up for it, for 
in this section there were staged eight stands of thirty-six, ten of twenty- 
iour, four of twelve trebles, twelve of twelve of one sort, and a very fine 
exhibition of Teas, just what one would expect from such a Tea-growing 
county as Norfolk. If the ladies of Norwich would follow the lead given 
them hy their sisters of Bedford, the eastern counties would possess a 
first-rate Rose Society. Poor Caroline Kuster to be jilted so cruelly 1 — 
John Hopper. 
STAMFORD HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The second annual Show of this revived Society was held on the 21st inst. 
under much more favourable circumstances than last year’s exhibition. The 
day opened dull and hazy, but with a rising barometer, and eventually the 
sun appeared and brought a good attendance of visitors, which was doubt¬ 
less considerably augmented owing to the kind appeal of the Mayor to the 
tradesmen of the town to support the Show by closing their shops earlier 
than usual. ° r 
• c ^ ass °P en to all England the competition was very good consider¬ 
ing the amount offered in prizes, the funds unfortunately not permitting a 
very long prize list. The chief prize offered was for a group of plants 
arranged for effect, and was secured by Mr. Wilson, gardener to the Earl of 
umdsey, for a fair group of miscellaneous plants, the second prize going to 
Messrs. W. & F. Brown for a very close stiff clump of plants with a fine 
spike of Yucca gloriosa in the centre. The compact nature of this group 
would have disqualified it at a larger show. Mr. Winn, gardener to J. R. 
Lowe, Esq., was placid third. Another group was arranged by Mr. Divers, 
gardener to J. T. Hopwood, Esq., much lighter and more natural in appear¬ 
ance, but deficient in flowering plants. For six stove and greenhouse Ferns 
Mr. Divers was awarded first prize, Mr. Winn second. The prizes for 
Coleus only brought two competitors—Mr. Wilson first, Mr. Winn second, the 
plants of the latter being the better for health and colour, although rather flat 
in shape. Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, and table plants were represented by 
neat specimens. The show of Roses was remarkably good considering the 
dry weather lately iu this locality. Mr. House of Peterborough was awarded 
first for thirty-six trusses, and was the only exhibitor of that quantity. For 
twenty-four trusses Messrs. W. & J. Brown of Stamford were first, Mr. 
Wilson second. Cut flowers of stove and hardy border plants were 
much better shown than last year, the latter class containing some very 
good things. The prizes in most instances fell to Messrs. Brown and Mr. 
Wilson. Messrs. Brown were also deservedly placed first in five different 
classes for arrangement of cut flowers—viz., buttonhole bouquets, ladies’ 
sprays, bride’s bouquet, hand bouquet, and vase of flowei-3 for dinner table ; 
their exhibits displayed great taste and lightness of arrangement, and were 
very much admired. Mr. Divers was second for buttonholes, Mr. Gilbert 
for brides’ and hand bouquets, and D. J. Evans, Esq., for vase for table. 
The principal prize offered for fruit was for a collection of eight varieties, 
and was awarded to Mr. Divers, who showed a good Charlotte Rothschild 
Pine, Black Hamburgh Grapes, Early Albert Peaches, Elruge Nectarines, 
Early Rivers and Governor Wood Cherries, Sir J. Paxton Strawberries, and 
Lord Suffield Apples : this was the only collection shown. For Grapes Mr. 
R. Gilbert was as usual a capital first, having three fine bunches of Black 
Hamburgh and three of Muscat of Alexandria. The same exhibitor also 
took first honours for six Peaches ; second Mr. Divers. For six Nectarines 
Mr. Wilson was first with Lord Napier ; Mr. Divers second with Early 
Newington. Melons were poor in flavour and very scarce, only one green 
and scarlet flesh being shown. 
In Strawberries the competition was very small. Mr. Wilson took first 
prize for four dishes ; Mr. Divers.second ; and for a single dish Mr. Wilson 
was again first with Dr. Hogg; Mr. Gilbert second with Oxonian ; Mr. 
Divers third, also with Oxonian. 
As usual the premier prize for a collection of ten varieties of vegetables 
fell to Mr. R. Gilbert, the fresh healthy appearance of his collection showing 
forcibly the advantage of a deep and good soil in a dry season. Particularly 
noticeable were his White Elephant Onions, which would have been very 
difficult to beat anywhere, one of them measuring 17 inches in circumference. 
He also showed Radstock Beauty Potatoes ; Globe Artichokes, very good ; 
Mushrooms, Canadian Wonder Beans, Intermediate Carrots, Utrecht Market 
Cauliflowers, very solid and good; Telegraph Peas, Tomatoes, &c. Mr. 
Winn was placed second, showing good Onions and Turnips. Mr. Divers 
third, having good Celery, Onions, Mushrooms, &c. For twelve Tomatoes 
Mr. Divers was easily first with good specimens of Hathaway’s Excelsior. 
Mr. Winn second. For one dish of Peas Mr. Divers was first with President 
Garfield, Mr. R. Gilbert second ; and for four dishes the same exhibitors 
were vice versa. 
In Class B, for persons not employing more than one gardener, the four 
Ferns shown by Mr. Pridmore, gardener to Miss Thompson, Stamford, 
deserve especial mention for their fresh and healthy appearance, also the 
Roses shown by Mr. Duncomb and Mr. Canner. 
The cottagers were very good in the vegetable classes, especially Tripoli 
Onions and Potatoes, the form.tr being so good that the eleven collections 
shown were all awarded a prize each. The Grasses and wild flowers were 
very good also in this tent. Some good honey, &o., was shown, and a fine 
plant of Disa grandiflora grown by D. J. Evans, Esq., not for competition. 
Mr. Redshaw of Bourn also exhibited a good collection of rustic garden 
furniture very tastefully made. 
ORCHIDS IN VINERIES. 
The best and most general combination of Orchid plants and Grape 
Vines I have yet seen are under Mr. Hill’s care in the garden of H. Little, 
Esq., Hillingdon Place, Uxbridge. The vineries are of the usual lean-to 
type, with the Vines planted in front, and the rods and branches trained 
overhead. There is a shelf all round the front, and a stage in the centre, 
going up step by step on the same incline as the roof. It is these shelves 
which are filled as full as they can he with Orchids. 
The front shelves contained about 200 plants of Cattleya Trianie, some 
of them being grand masses 4 feet through, and showing eighteen and 
twenty young growths. They were exceedingly healthy, and fibrous 
peat and sphagnum moss was their rooting mixture. Dendrobium Dearei 
was in full flower on the back stage. It was bearing nineteen spikes of 
its handsome white flowers, there being from twelve to fifteen blossoms 
on each spike, and it was a very beautiful object. Some plants of Den¬ 
drobium Falconeri were 4 feet through and exceedingly healthy. 
A plant of D. Devonianum had produced 400 blooms, and had some 
dozens of healthy growths. D. Dalhousianum had produced seventeen spikes. 
This was a fine plant. Closely packed together on one part of the stage 
there were 150 plants of Lycaste Skinneri. They had capital fresh well- 
developed pseudo-bulbs, and many young growths. I counted the old 
fioweiing spikes attached to one growth, and they numbered ten. These 
were all open at one time early in the summer. Cypripedium harbatum 
superbum at one end of the vinery was bearing twenty-three blooms, 
some of them 4 inches across. C. Lawrenceanum had eighteen spikes of 
fine blooms ; one twin purse was curious on this plant. Masdevallias were 
very luxuriant. Lselia purpurata was flowering freely, one plant in a 
basket 3 feet square was a superb specimen. A plant of Cattleya 
Skinneri had thirty leading growths. There were other kinds not 
specified here doing equally well, and Mr. Hill is to he complimented on 
the excellent success he has secured with the Orchids in vineries. 
The majority of the plants remain there all the year round, and prove 
