August 13, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
143 
Insects. —We have found these plants little troubled with insects 
except aphides, which sometimes affect them. Fumigation is the remedy. 
The nomenclature is accurate throughout, the type is good, and the 
book is well bound. 
POTENTILLA MENZIESII. 
The order Rosaceae, to which the genus Potentilla belongs, may be 
regarded as one of the most important of the vegetable kingdom; for 
it includes within its limit not only some of the handsomest of our 
garden flowers, but also comprehends all the most valuable of the fruits 
of the temperate regions, such as the Apple and Pear, and the different 
varieties of the Peach, Plum, Apricot, and Cherry. Leaving aside, as 
foreign to our present purpose, the fruit-bearing genera, we may claim 
for the Potentillas a high rank among the ornamental plants of the 
order. 
Of the 150 species and varieties known, a'l, with scarcely any ex¬ 
ceptions, are interesting plants, and a considerable number of them are 
indeed scarcely inferior in beauty to any of the hardy perennials. 
Most of the highly coloured varieties now so common in gardens are 
hybrids ; the flowers of the wild species being, with very few exceptions, 
yellow or white. 
Among those species most deserving of cultivation may be named 
P. rupestris, with pretty pure white flowers produced in May ; P. 
pyrenaica, also an early bloomer, of dwarf habit, yielding bright yellow 
blossoms in profusion ; P. mollissima, with primrose yellow flowers ; P. 
Richardsonii, also yellow, with foliage silvery beneath ; P. atrosanguinea 
and P. formosa, two Nepaulese species, the former with deep purple, and 
the latter with pale cherry-coloured flowers. These two species are not 
only interesting for their intrinsic beauty, but also as being the parents 
of many of the numerous hybrids which have adorned our gardens for 
years past. As one of the earliest and best of these we may name 
Russelliana, formerly a very popular p^ant, but now superseded by varieties 
with greater breadth of petal and brighter colours, of which P. Menzieui 
may be regarded as the type. Equally desirable are the varieties Hop- 
woodiana, Macnabiana, Smoutii, Striata multiflora, all more or less distinct 
n colour. But beautiful as these are, they are eclipsed by the numerous 
double and semi-double varieties of recent introduction, which have the 
advantage of not closing their flowers so completely as the single-flowered, 
and their blossoms are also of longer duration. Some of the best of these 
are Louis Van Houtte, large, deep crimson ; Belisaire, bright vermilion ; 
William Rollisson, reddish yellow and orange; Roercflora plena, rich 
velvety vermilion, edged with yellow ; and Vase d’Or, canary yellow, all 
first-class plants, worthy of being added to the most select collection of 
perennials. 
All the species and varieties we have enumerated are perfectly hardy, 
and of the easiest cultivation, though it cannot be said that they will 
flourish in any description of soil. They succeed best in a good rich 
earth of some depth, and require, in summer, a plentiful supply of water, 
especially about the time the flower stems are thrown up^ We have never 
seen the Potentillas grown in beds, but we think that such an arrangement 
would be exceedingly interesting if a proper selection of plants were made. 
For the centre of the bed one of the shrubby species, such as fruticosa, or 
floribunda, both with yellow flowers, and growing about 4 feet high, would 
be well adapted ; and around these might be grouped the erect-growing 
herbaceous species and varieties, reserving the trailers, of which there is 
a fair sprinkling, for the outer circle. 
They are all readily increased by dividing the roots early in spring, 
and as these descend to a considerable depth, care must be taken that the 
fibres are not broken. Many of the species ripen seeds, from which new 
varietits may often be ra s;d, and all the seedlings would flowerthe second 
season after sowing. 
A wide field is here open to the amateur florist, and, with a little care 
and attention, he could scarcely fail to originate seme valuable additions 
to this ornamental family. 
There is an allied genus, of which a few species are occasionally found 
in gardens, and which fully equal in beauty the Potentillas we have 
named ; we allude to the Geums. They are distinguished from the 
Cinquefoils by their lyrate leaves, reflexed calyx when in fruit, and more 
particularly, by the style of the numerous little granular seed-vessels 
being jointed. Geum coccineum (the G. Quellyon or chiloense of some 
authors), is an extremely handsome plant. 
The properties both of Potentilla and Geum, as well as of Torraentilla, 
another allied genus, are very simdar. Many of the species of the three 
genera are astringent and aromatic, and are all perfectly innocuous. 
The common Potentilla anserina, or Silver Weed, has been used by 
tanners; and P. reptens, another English species, of which a pretty 
double-flowerel variety is sometimes met with in gardens, was formerly 
employed as a febrifuge.—W. T. 
NETHER-EDGE FLORAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 
SHEFFIELD. 
August 10th and Uth. 
The sixth annual Exhibition of the above Society was held on land 
adjoining the tram terminus on Monday, the 10th inst. 
The exhibitions of this Society have become very popular, and are largely 
attended, owing principally to the spirited way in which the Committee have 
provided other attractions in addition to those of the Exhibition. On this 
occasion the principal attractions consisted in the splendid band of the Scots 
Fusilier Guards from South Kensington for Monday the 10th, and on the 
second day (Tuesday the 11th) the fine band of the West York Yeomanry 
Cavalry, and in the evening a display of fireworks by Messrs. Brock & Co., 
London. 
The two exhibition tents were fairly well filled, and the quality of the 
exhibits was generally considered to be superior to what has previously 
been seen at the shows of the Society. 
In the open class the principal prize was offered for a group 10 feet by 
10 feet arranged for effect, which brought five competitors and a very close 
competition. The first prize was awarded to Mr. B. Crossland, Richmond 
Nurseries, for a low and somewhat flat group, consisting principally of a 
very dense groundwork of Adiantum cuneatum, relieved by a few fresh 
plants of Bouvardias, Tuberous Begonias, Crotons and Dracaenas, with a 
moderately good plant of Cocos Weddelliana in the centre. The Becond- 
prize group, exhibited by Mr. Hiram Shaw, nurseryman, Richmond, which 
was by many considered to be superior to the one last referred to and the 
best group shown, had as a centre a fine Cocos, around which were arranged 
a number of good plants of Campanula pyramidalis, blue and white, inter¬ 
spersed with Hydrangeas paniculata and hortensis, Hyacinthus candicans, 
and Lilium eximium ; also some finely coloured Crotons and Dracaenas. 
The old-fashioned Chimney Campanula was also freely used in the group 
to which the third prize was awarded, and which was shown by Mr. Thomas 
Foggin, gardener to Mrs. G. Wilson, Tapton Hall. It appears to be one 
of the most effective of plants for this purpose. Messrs. Fisher, Son, and 
Sibrav, Handsworth Nurseries, exhibited a fine group of beautiful and rare 
plants not for competition. 
The competition in the class for six stove or greenhouse plants was not 
strong. The first prize was taken by Mr. Thos. Foggin with a fairly good 
six, containing good specimens each of Stephanotis floribunda and Dipla- 
denia Brearleyana. Ferns were well shown in numerous very fine col¬ 
lections, especially in the classes for British Ferns. In the latter Mr. John 
Eadon secured first prizes in the classes for twenty-four and for six plants, 
showing beautifully fresh and healthy specimens, and numerous rare and 
choice varieties. The second place was obtained by Mr. J. G. Newsham, and 
the third by Mr. H. Davy, who each staged collections of very high merit. 
Next to the groups the collections of British Ferns were undoubtedly the 
finest feature of the how. Carnations and Picotees were shown in fine 
condition by Messrs. Simonite of Sheffield, and Proctor of Chesterfield. 
Dahlias were also very good from Messrs. Chas. Storey & Proctor. Roses 
were not good. 
Fruit was only very moderately shown, the best Grapes being shown 
by Mr. G. F. Shorten, gardener to — Mo3ely, Esq., and Mr. W. Collier, 
gardener to J. Eaton, Esq. 
There were some fairly good collections of vegetables, Mr. Thos. Foggin 
securing nearly all the first prizes for the same. An unfortunate occurrence 
happened, almost immediately after the judging was completed, to the tent 
containing the local gardeners’ and amateurs’ classes, which, owing to a 
heavy gale which was blowing at the time and the exposed situation, sud¬ 
denly collapsed and fell with force upon the exhibits contained therein, 
breaking down the staging and destroying most of the plates and dishes 
with the fruit, &c., exhibited thereon. The plants were also much broken 
and damaged. 
A fresh tent was procured and erected as speedily as possible, but this 
portion of the Exhibition was irretrievably spoiled. During the afternoon a 
luncheon was provided in a tent erected for the purpose, and about fifty 
gentlemen, amongst whom were Mr. Aslimead Bartlett, M.P., Alderman 
Hunter (ex-Mayor of Sheffield), who presided, Alderman Gee (Mayor of 
Chesterfield), Alderman Gainsford, and many more influential gentlemen. 
ORCHIDS IN AUSTRALIA. 
The following extracts from a letter which I have received from my 
brother residing in Australia may be interesting to those of your readers 
who are cultivators of Orchids :—“ Thanks for your graphic accounts of 
the exhibition of the Orchid Congress at South Kensington. The Orchids 
are a very interesting family of plan's. Here, as well as in England, much 
attention is paid to theircultivation. Thelate Sir W. MacArtbur spent 
several thousand pounds in building an O.cbid hruse, and he used to give 
