August 6, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
113 
exhibitors, showing several of similar character to those previously noted— 
namely Dieffenbachia gemmata, Cryptanthus Lubbersi, Maranta Arreati, 
Alocasia Closoni, Dieffenbachia aureo-variegata, and Ktempferia spectabilis, 
Mr. D’Haene had the best three new plants—Pandanus D’Haenei, Croton 
Roezlii, with small elliptical leaves, yellow, red, and dark green, and 
Pinanga kentiajformis, with pinnate leaves, the pinnae 1 to 2 inches broad, 
of strong habit. MM. Jacob-Makoy & Co. followed with Schismatoglottis 
rotundifolia, Hoplophytumrobustum variegatum, a pretty variegated plant, 
the leaves streaked with green and white, and Anthurium loricatum, leaves 
triangular, dark green, velvety surface, very distinct and striking. Several 
other classes were devoted to new plants, M. Auguste Van Geert winning 
the leading prize for twelve new and rare Palms with a good collection, a 
few other exhibitors also showing single specimens. 
ORCHIDS. 
Several collections of these were staged, but the competition in the 
classes was not strong, and two of the best collections were those from 
Messrs. Peeters & Vuylsteke. There was only one collection of fifteen 
Orchids from an amateur, M. Cannart d’Hamale, Malines, who had some 
well grown plants, his Yandas being especially fine, and the collection of 
Orchids at Malines is famous for the large plants of this genus. V. suavis 
Lindeni, 7 to 8 feet high, had three fine spikes ; V. suavis (Yeitch’s variety) 
had two spikes of ten flowers each, richly spotted, and Vanda tricolor 
insignis had two good spikes. Other notable plants were Calanthe veratri- 
folia, with twelve spikes ; Epidendrum vitellinum, twelve spikes. Cypri- 
pedium Yeitchii, C.Lawrenceanum, and C. barbatum superbum were all good, 
the latter with forty flowers, and a specimen of Oneidimn superbiens had 
two large panicles of flowers. All these plants were in excellent health, and 
as fresh as could be wished by the most fastidious of orchidists. The same 
remark would also apply to the twelve Cypripediums with which Mr. 
Heye-Leysen, Ghent, gained the chief prize, for they formed a most 
creditable group, and were selected from a collection of ninety-three species 
and varieties, the exhibitor having made a speciality of the genus. Those 
represented were Yeitchianum, seven flowers; Lawrenceanum, superciliare, 
marmorophyllum, oenanthum, Hooker®, Stonei, Ashburtonise, Parishi, 
barbatum, and selligerum. 
An honorary gold medal was adjudged to M. Peeters, Brussels, for a 
large and handsome group of very choice and well-grown Orchids, one of 
the most notable of which was a plant of the beautiful Cypripedium 
Morganiie, with six flowers, the first which have opened in Belgium. Phajus 
Humboldti, a pretty rosy flowered species, with a yellow blotch in the centre 
of the lip, had a spike of ten flowers, and was much admired. Numerous 
Cypripediums, Odontoglossums, and Oncidiums made up the bulk of the 
group; but there was a remarkable plant of Cattleya guttata Leopoldi, 
with a dense massive spike of about forty flowers, one of the finest we have 
seen. The pretty white Dendrobium Dearei, the rosy crimson Phalfenopsis 
Esmeraldi, the bright yellow Anguloa Clowesi, with Masdevallias, Disas, 
and many others, constituted a group of exceptional merit, and proved how 
well the culture of Orchids is understood in Belgium, and the crowd of 
visitors round it on the opening day also showed how the popularity of these 
plants is extending. M. Vuylsteke was also awarded a medal for a collection 
chiefly composed of Odontoglossums, but containing a wonderful specimen 
of Acineta Humboldti, with three spikes of ten dull red-spotted flowers. 
Notes on several other classes, especially the Bromeliads and Palms, 
must be reserved for another week, and it can only now be further added 
that some of the principal exhibitors, in addition to those already mentioned, 
were—MM. IVartel Freres, De Griet Freres, Pynaert Van Geert, M. Dalliere, 
M. Spae, M. Pauwels, M.M. Wallem fils, and M. Everaerts. Special awards 
were also granted to the Compagnie Continentale d’Holticulture, Ghent, for 
some extremely fine specimen Palms ; to M. Van den Wonwer for a large 
group of miscellaneous plants, most tastefully arranged, and containing 
numerous handsome specimens ; and to several other exhibitors for single 
plants or small groups. 
Upon the opening day the Exhibition was crowded with visitors and there 
was also a good attendance on the succeeding days. The Banquet was held 
on Sunday evening at C P.M., and was attended by nearly all the Jury pre¬ 
sent at the Exhibition—over 100. The English representatives were Pro¬ 
fessor W. T. Dyer, Shirley Hibberd, Dr. R. Hogg, T. Rivers, and H. 
Turner; about a dozen others who were invited not being present. 
THE BOTANICAL AND HORTICULTURAL CONGRESS. 
There was a large attendance of the members of the Congress at the 
opening on Sunday at 10.30 in the Grand Hall of the Cercle Artistique, 
Rue d’Aremberg. Dr. Baillon of Paris made an interesting speech in 
announcing the programme and work for the Congress, and there were 
several notable personages present. During the afternoon a visit was paid 
to the celebrated Mus6e Plantin, when each member of the Congress was 
presented with a souvenir printed from the old type and on hand-made 
paper. For Monday, Tuesday, 'Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday a very 
complete programme was drawn up, which included, besides discussion 
upon a variety of botanical and horticultural subjects, visits to the principal 
places of interest in Antwerp, Ghent, and Brussels. The weather proved 
fine, not quite so hot as in the previous week, and the visitors were thus 
enabled to more thoroughly eDjoy their short period of residence amongst 
a mo3t hospitable and enterprising people. 
SAWBRIDGEWORTH IN JULY. 
a 8 rcat emporium of fruit trees such as the world-famed nurserits 
of Messrs. Thomas Rivers Sc Son, there is something worth seeing at a 1 
seasons of the year; in winter, methods of pruning, and the results in 
k rl8 “* n 8 buds ; in tbe spring a magnificent display of blossom, really a 
grand undulated flower garden upwards of 150 acres in extent; in 
summer a wonderfully diversified collection of fruit, both as regards 
variety and the differing forms of trees. Hardy fruits of all kinds, trees 
(nearly all sizes, from orchard standards in bearing to heavily laden 
pyramids and bushes, cordons double and single, horizontal, vertical, and 
oblique, with forests of maidens, are all represented. Then under glass 
the miniature orchards of Peaches, Nectarines, Cherries and Oranges 
cannot fail to arrest attention ; and not less so tbe long ranges devoted 
to the culture of Vines in pots and Vines in bearing, all of which will 
bear the most critical inspection, for the canes and the crops are o! tis 
first order of merit, representing, as they undoubtedly do, high excellence 
in cultivation, while in addition to these there is in July a great feast of 
Roses, the soil evidently being as suitable to these flowers, conducing both 
to sturdiness of growth and brilliancy of colour, as it is to the production 
of fruitful trees and superior fruit. The soil is a calcareous loam, medium 
to strong in texture, and contains distinct traces of iron, and this soil, with 
the full exposure, incites not sappy but sturdy growth, which appears to 
ripen as it is made, imparting to the trees early and marked fertility. 
Sawbridgeworth, then, both as regards soil and position, possesses great 
natural advantages for fruit culture, and when to this is added the aggre¬ 
gation of professional skill through three or four generations of Rivers’, 
something good may reasonably be expected, and a great deal that is 
excellent is produced. The nurseries are continually expanding, field after 
field being added, and if the progress continues, as no doubt it Will, 
200 acres will soon be covered with trees. It will be convenient and 
perhaps not uninstructive to refer briefly to the leading departments. 
PEACHES AND NECTARINES. 
These are grown in pots mainly, but some, that may be termed 
standard orchard trees, are planted out in great plain glazed structures, 
wooden sheds they may be termed, roofed with glass, with wide side lids 
for ventilation, and ventilators next the ridges over the doors at each end 
of the houses. That this provision for changing the air suffices is evi¬ 
dent by the condition of the trees, for they are as healthy as can be 
imagined, nourish no red spider, but perfect abundant crops of superior 
fruit. The soil in which the trees are planted is as bard as a floor could 
be made with rammers, those in pots having similarly firm soil, and 
top-dressed with kiln dust and horse-droppings saturated with liquid 
manure. There is no better material than this for the purpose, and it 
will, perhaps, on a future occasion be more fully referred to, as many 
persons have procured and used the wrong material—the dried sproutings 
of barley from the germinating chambers of malt kilns, which is not “kiln 
dust ” as used by Mr. Rivers and other persons who know what they are 
about. 
With the exception of two American varieties, the Alexander and 
Hales’ Early, the best early and late Peaches in cultivation have origi¬ 
nated in the establishment under notice, and delicious fruits can now be 
gathered without forcing yet with tbe aid of glass, from the middle of 
July till November. Alexander was gathered in the middle of July, and 
Early Beatrice was being gathered daily—a fine crop of medium-sized 
highly coloured and delicious fruits; Early Louise, Hales’ Early, Early 
Rivers (pale, but good), and Rivers’ Early York following closely in suc¬ 
cession ; then follow the Condor and Dr. Hogg, Early Grosse Mignonne, 
all good in colour and quality, with the old favourites Grosse Mignonne, 
Royal George, Noblesse, Bellegarde, and others not sufficiently knowD, 
such as Goshawk, Sea Eagle, and the Princess of Wales, and Gladstone, 
all of the first size and quality. They are worthy of trial wherever con¬ 
venience is afforded. The yellow-fruited American Peaches are good in 
appearance, but there is no certainty of their flavour being developed in 
this country. Pyramid trees, from C feet to 9 feet high in the houses, are 
very handsome when laden with fruit, and numbers are bearing at half 
that height. Thousands of trees are prepared in pots either for shifting 
into larger or planting out as may be desired, and, well managed, are 
certain to bear freely, for they are studded with blossom buds. 
Great attention is given to Nectarines, in fact this fruit has been 
practically revolutionised at Sawbridgeworth, and it is only right to say 
by the present proprietor, Mr. T. Francis Rivers, from careful fertilisation 
in his younger days, and years of patient waiting and testing, for varieties 
are fruited for years before tbe public hears anything about them. The 
earliest of all Nectarines is Advance ; it is of medium size and superior 
quality. Then comes Lord Napier, an excellent grower and bearer of 
large fruit, which well produced is quite first-rate in quality, and, exposed 
to the sun, good in colour. It may be fairly described as one of the most 
valuable Nectarines ever raised. Then follow Stanwick Elruge, and the 
poets’ Nectarines—Byron, Newton, Milton and Spenser, all fine—the 
last-named wonderful in colour, with Albert Victor, Pine Apple, and 
Victoria, the excellence of which will be admitted when produced in good 
condition, and they are all good growers and bearers.' All these are 
natives of Sawbridgeworth, as are other good sorts, but only one can be 
mentioned, the new Goldoni, that has recently been certificated. It is 
quite distinct in every way, brilliant in colour, oraiige scarlet, and ex¬ 
ceedingly rich; the tree is, moreover, a free grower and bearer, and the 
fruits are of good size. Its merit has been severely tested, and now it is 
introduced to the public. Let it have a fair trial. Of this it is worthy, 
and it is not likely to disappoint. Possibly the name, that of an Italian 
poet, expressive also of the colour oE the fruit, may have led some persons 
to imagine this variety to be of continental origin. Something to that 
effect having reached Mr. Rivers, he has put the matter right in the 
following historical note. 
“The ‘Goldoni’ Nectarine is rather mixed in its parentage. It is a 
seedling from a stone of a seedling white Nectarine which was raised 
from a stone of the ‘ Galande Noire ’ Peach. The register of these suc¬ 
cessive seedlings is carefully kept. The seedling tree is here in a cool 
orchard house, where it ripens about the 28th August. I have tested it 
for some years, andhave not introduced it until I was quite sure of its 
, high excellence. Rumour in this case is a ‘ false thief.’ There are a very 
