April 1, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
253 
massing in beds generally, and certainly most useful at this season of the 
year for cut flowers. Nowhere have I seen forms of greater substance and 
brilliancy than at Belvoir, where they are grown extensively ; they enjoy 
a well enriched soil of a loamy nature. Following these we have the 
golden blossom of A. ranunculoides and the lovely sky blue A. Robin- 
soniana ; while still later come the form of the Wood Anemone and 
A. apennina. All these are beautifully adapted for naturalising, spring 
gardening, or the like, and make pleasing patches in any ordinary soil. 
In turning to the Primulas, rosea, cashmeriana, and denticulata are 
among the first, soon to be succeeded by our native Primrose. There 
are many forms, single and double, all of which are valued in spring. 
They mingle well, too, with other flowers. Few, however, are of greater 
value than the acaulis section and those above-named for the earliest days 
of spring, and speaking of our wild Primrose reminds me of a charming 
companion it has in the blue Forget-me-not, which we all admire—I 
refer to Myosotis dissiti flora, than which we have nothing more deliciously 
sweet and elegant in all our spring flowers. A plant of easy culture, of 
easy propagation, and adapting itself to an almost endless variety of uses, 
it is a favourite everywhere. Daisies, red and white, now come in the 
category of spring plants ; so, also, the early-flowered portions of bedding 
Violas. These are valued groups among spring plants which give variety 
to the garden and continue long in perfection. For spring gardens they 
should be planted early in October, and for summer beds may be planted 
at once. Triteleias uniflora conspicna and lilacina—the former with its 
waxy-white flowers produced in the greatest possible profusion, and the 
latter with pleasing blue flowers equally free—continue for many weeks 
in succession early in the year P The Wood Lilies of North America, 
Trilliums, delighting in moist sandy peat in shady sheltered positions, 
are useful for spring. T. grandiflorum, T. g. preecox, and T. g. maximum 
are the best of the genus. The second-named is the earliest to flower, 
being succeeded by the other two ; the last is a grand form, and quite the 
giant in every respect. To become well established all they need is to be 
let alone. This is coveted by numerous hardy plants, which do not 
readily establish themselves after being moved, and we find examples in 
the Posonia, Hellebores, Cypripediums, with the group under notice, and 
many more, whose requirements are simple if grown on the let-alone 
system, and beyond supplying a liberal top-dressing of well-decayed leaf 
soil and old manure annually. When dormant these Trilliums may re¬ 
main fcr years undisturbed, only to increase year by year in strength and 
beauty. 
There are yet many more spring beauties, but which 1 cannot detail 
now, so many must be omitted. In passing, however, I would call atten¬ 
tion to Saxifraga Burseriana, with its tiny glaucous, almost silvery com¬ 
pact tufts of Juniper-like rosettes studded with its sparkling white flowers 
on reddish stalks. The buds, prior to expanding, are of a ruby red, the 
successional ones contrasting most pleasingly with the already expanded 
blossoms. It is pretty for a sunny position, coming in flower from 
January onwards through February and March, only 2 or 3 inches high ; 
it is a sturdy little plant. Later on we have the purple-flowered form of 
S. muscoides, a plant very effective in spring bedding, studded with its 
pretty flowers on mossy cushions, and with it the Megaseas, whose bold 
towering panicles of flowers render them conspicuous in spring. Some of 
the finest and hardiest are ligulata, having immense panicles of rose- 
coloured flowers, cordifolia, purpurea, and Stracheyi with spreading 
panicles of white flowers. But we have not long to wait ere Leucojum 
vernum, the Spring Snowflake, and Erytbroniums, or Dog’s Tooth Violets, 
so pleasing and quaint, the Vernal Gentian, and Wallflowers, Tulips, and 
innumerable spring-flowering plants will all be expanding. I have only 
named some of the most worthy of our earliest flowers of the year.— 
J. H. E. 
PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL HORTICDLTUAL EXHIBI¬ 
TION FOR 1887 AT SOUTH KENSINGTON. 
[A paper read at the Royal Botanic Society's meeting last Saturday, by Mr. W. S. 
Manning, Woollands, Maize Hill, S.E.] 
It is most important this proposal should not be dropped for next 
year, because— 
1st, It is much more certain of success if held immediately after the 
present successful series, the public having got into the habit of going to 
South Kensington during the summer. 
2nd, The foreign exhibits would serve to offer valuable hints as to the 
most advanced systems and laws on the Continent regarding training in 
the rural schools : also as to the many kinds of market-garden produce 
and hardy fruits grown in North Europ°, at present unknown here. 
3rd, The crisis in the farming world has become so severe that no time 
should be lost in promoting any scheme that might aid in solving the 
knotty questions of agricultural distress, and in showing how land is 
profitably cultivated abroad. Our consuls could probably look up exhibits 
for this purpose. 
4tb, The allotments agitation and proposed land law reforms will tend 
to popularise such an exhibition, and it would serve to help in selecting 
the most lucrative crops for small holdings. 
5th, We can best compete with America in our Apple-growing and 
with other foreign fruit growers when we see the finest and best paying 
varieties that are grown in climates like our own in Europe. 
6th, Indirectly it will tend thus to relieve the terrible distress in the 
towns by promoting profitable spade culture and increasing food supplies 
in our rural districts. 
7th, The Queen’s jubilee may probably be kept next year, and this 
exhibition, in its floral and festive elements, afford especially appropriate 
means of celebrating it. 
8 th, Whatever may be the difficulties in carrying out the scheme this 
year, they must be overcome whenever it is undertaken, and the guarantee 
fund would be most liberally reponded to if the above items can be all 
included in the project, so that all classes in the community may take a 
special interest in its success, from Royalty and our large landowners 
downwards. 
The leading features in such an exhibition would be permanent and 
occasional shows. Amongst the latter a grand display of flowers from all 
Europe would probably produce the finest spring show ever held. 
A series of similar shows for Orchids, Roses, Liliums, Clematis, Coleus, 
and cut flowers will be held during the summer ; shows of market-garden 
produce, with the most complete possible selection of the large varieties 
of Continental kinds, unknown almost at present here, such as Carrots of 
upwards of thirty kinds, Turnips of fiffy-eight sorts, Haricots of seventy- 
five sorts, &c., salading, &c. 
Every variety of fruit, especially of the best and most profitable 
Apples and Pears to keep up a regular supply “ all the year round,” can 
be shown from all parts, thus affording valuable opportunities of com¬ 
paring notes, and enabling both producer and consumer to see what i3 
done abroad in hardy fruit culture. Such fruits as Strawberries, already 
largely grown by our farmers, might be produced of sorts that would 
prolong the season, by planting a larger variety for successive supplies. 
These educational and economic objects to be made the leading 
features, to show the best system of culture for small farmers, cot¬ 
tagers, &c. Specimens of such culture from all ihe more advanced States 
of Europe to be kept on show in successive relays, and similar exhibits 
from each of our counties in the United Kingdom. 
The permanent shows would include fruit trees in pots, showing 
pyramid, bush, cordon, and espalier trees. Specimens of all fruits and 
vegetables, manufactured and dried, apparatus for canning, &c.; table 
decorations, window cases, vases, Palms, Conifer®, flowering shrubs, 
evergreens, plans for gardens, irrigation works, reservoirs, and aqueducts. 
ORCHIDS AT THE FOREST HILL NURSERY. 
The Forest Hill establishment of Messrs. J. Laing & Co., so famous 
for its wonderful collection of single and double Begonias, will soon 
become noted for another speciality, a unique collection of Orchids. 
This enterprising firm has only recently commenced to form a collection, 
and within a short space of time has got together several large housefuls 
of select types of the various leading genera of these curious, but never¬ 
theless beautiful flowering plants. The houses have, for the most part, 
been specially erected for Orchid growing, and are in every way thoroughly 
adapted for the purpose, as the present condition of the plants abundantly 
testify. A notable feature in the internal construction of these structures 
is the employment of galvanised corrugated iron, with iron cross bearers 
and uprights for the middle and side stages in lieu of wood and slate, as 
generally used. A layer of shell shiDgle is spread over the stages, and 
the firm speak highly of the advantages of the increased amount of 
moisture afforded by its retention in the channels of the iron in sufficient 
quantity to keep up a constant humidity in the atmosphere. 
It is not, we believe, the intention of this firm to grow large specimens, 
but for those of moderate size suitable for general demand. Of Odonto- 
glossums there are a vast quantity, representing the finest types of such 
species as 0. Rossi’, 0. Pescatorea, 0. cirrhosum, 0. Alexandi®, 0. vex- 
illarium, 0. Wilckeanum, O. Londesooroughianum, and 0. gloriosum, 
many of which were in flower at the time of my visit. 
The Cattleyas are looking remarkably well, many of which are flower¬ 
ing within a year of their importation. Among these are a couple of 
plants of that beautiful species C. Lawrenciana. The colour and substance 
of tbe flowers of one of these plants is unusually rich and good, its labellum 
being of a well defined and regular outline, and of a very rich deep purple, 
of a much deeper hue than any that has yet flowered. The petals and 
sepals, too, are well formed, and tbe delicacy of their colouring contrasts 
beautifully with that of the labellum. Yet another gem of greater beauiy 
than the preceding attracts the eye. Close by, in the shape of a charm¬ 
ing variety of C. Trianre, indeed it is supposed to be a natural hybrid 
between Triac® and Warneri, as it possesses the characteristic petals of 
the former with the labellum and throat of the latter. The labellum is 
large and well formed, and of an intense rich purple crimson colour, whilst 
the sepals and petals, which are unu-ually large, are of a delicate blmh, 
faintly suffused with the rich c louring of the labellum. Another beautiful 
Cattleya we noted in flower—0. delicata, which, as its name implies, is of 
a soft pleasing colour, a great favourite with ladies. 
A group of Dendrobium War' ianum .in flower was interesting, 
amongst which was a very superior tj po as regards size and depth of 
colour of flowers. The petals and sepals were considerably above the 
average in size, and in point of colour tbe tips were of a much deeper hue 
than is generally met with, as als > was the colouring of the lip. Above 
the average, too, in depth of colour and size of petals, sepal?, and lip, was 
a small plant of Dendrobium crassirode Barberianum. Several other in¬ 
teresting Orchids were in flower, such as Lmlia barpophylla, the sweet- 
scented Dendrochilum glumosum, Lycaste Skinneii, Sophronitis grandi- 
flora, &e. 
After our biief hurried inspect’on of the Orchids wo had a glance 
through xhe other houses. Perhaps the m st interesting sight of all was 
to see the houses devoted to raising seedling Begonias. Seated on high 
stools before a bench in one of these houses were several expert young 
men busily engaged in the difficult and tetious task of pricking off the 
