Jane 8, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
435 
3 
th 
Linnean Society at 8 p.M. 
4 
F 
5 
S 
6 
SUN 
Sunday after Ascension. 
7 
M 
Royal Geographical Society at 8.30 P.M. 
8 
TU 
Royal Horticultural Society—Committees at 11 a.ji. Orchid Show. 
9 
W 
GROUPS OF PLANTS. 
FERNS AND ORCHIDS. 
ARGE specimen plants of all kinds do not seem 
to be increasing in numbers for exhibition, and 
many provincial societies now find it difficult to 
secure a good competition in such classes. For 
some time the demand has been increasing for 
small or medium-size plants that can be con¬ 
veniently and quickly grown in ordinary houses, 
and which can be usefully employed in decora¬ 
tion. The giant specimens that were such 
favourites at one tinm are still admired as examples of 
cultural skill, but it is only in a few establishments that the 
requisite time and labour can be devoted to them. They 
occupy considerable space and usually require houses speci¬ 
ally appropriated to them, and except in large conservatories 
or winter gardens where they can be allowed plenty of room, 
they have a crowded appearance that is far from pleasing. 
Small plants, on the other hand, are useful for many purposes. 
They can be had in large numbers and great variety, and 
they can be inspected in their houses with some satisfaction. 
The greater demand for the decoration of rooms with plants, 
and the large quantities of flowers needed for cutting, have 
also had some effect upon this alteration of taste, but it is 
an undoubted fact that the popularity of large specimen 
plants is declining. 
This has been recognised by the majority of horticultural 
societies, and one result has been that more classes have 
been devoted to groups at the principal shows throughout 
the country. At some exhibitions, tastefully arranged 
collections of plants now constitute the chief attraction, 
where a few years ago the competition was confined to two 
or three exhibitors, or there was no class specially provided 
for them. This advance must be regarded as a decided 
improvement, for such classes are advantageous in many 
ways. They enable a greater number of gardeners or 
amateurs to compete, they permit the exhibitors to show at 
the same time their skill in cultivation and their taste in 
arrangement, and they form a most effective portion of any 
exhibition. At the chief provincial displays like those at 
York and Manchester such groups are invariably admired 
by the visitors as much as, and sometimes more than, any 
other part of the show; they are less tiring than the long 
formal rows of plants on stages or the boxes of cut blooms 
frequently presented to the public. There is another point 
which serves to render groups popular with exhibitors, and 
that is the cost of carriage is much less than for the huge 
plants entered in what are termed “ the great prize classes,” 
for sufficient plants for an ordinary sized group can be packed 
iu a cart or small van. It is not, therefore, surprising that 
with all these points in their favour groups of plants have 
received more encouragement at exhibitions of late years. 
It is usually stipulated that groups in competition should 
comprise flowering and fine-foliage plants, the proportion of 
each being left to the taste of the exhibitor; in a few cases, 
however, classes have been provided for foliage plants alone 
No. 310. —Yol. XII., Third Series. 
with excellent results. This can be done with the best 
effect at large shows where adequate encouragement can be 
given to flowering plants as well, as otherwise the general 
appearance of an exhibition would not be sufficiently bright, 
but with a due proportion of floral colours a few groups of 
foliage plants are most refreshing, and serve as an admirable 
foil to the brighter hues. One of the best innovations of this 
kind is that which has become popular with some exhibitors 
at the Brighton and other shows on the south coast—namely, 
groups of Ferns arranged for effect. The experiment proved 
very successful and gave immense satisfaction to all the 
visitors, for several cultivators admirably proved what beau¬ 
tiful displays can be provided by employing such plants alone. 
In habit, form of fronds, and shade of green, the Ferns are 
extremely varied ; and by the exercise of some little taste in 
forming an undulating surface to work upon, with a few 
mounds to increase the diversity and a careful choice of 
material, a group of Ferns can be rendered a charming 
addition to any floral gathering. 
Quite recently another form of grouping has attracted 
attention and is one that is likely to advanco very rapidly in 
public favour, and that is the arrangement of Orchids with 
Ferns. The cultivators of Orchids have increased consider¬ 
ably in the last ten years, and much larger numbers of these 
plants are now grown than has ever been the case before. It 
is quite reasonable, therefore, that they should have due 
provision made for them at exhibitions. This has been done 
for some time by forming classes for a certain number of 
specimens, prizes of substantial value being usually offered, 
but this has been found to be insufficient. Those amateurs 
or others who possess large plants can command the prizes 
at will, and the number of competitors is correspondingly 
diminished. In addition to prizes for the “ specimens,” it 
has been found that the best way to increase the number of 
exhibitors is to give those a chance of success who have only 
small plants to contribute, and who would on that account be 
deterred from entering the ordinary classes. To meet this 
difficulty several societies have offered prizes for groups of 
Orchids arranged for effect with Ferns and Palms, and the 
results so far have been highly encouraging. At Birmingham 
a beautiful effect was produced by the judicious employment 
of foliage plants, chiefly Ferns. At the Crystal Palace recently 
several pretty groups were arranged in a similar way; 
and the Royal Horticultural Society is offering prizes at the 
Liverpool Show which may be expected to bring an equally 
satisfactory competition. Orchids are admirably adapted for 
grouping. The majority are extremely graceful, they are varied 
in forms and colours, and altogether they are scarcely 
equalled by any other flowering plants for this purpose. The 
London nurserymen have repeatedly proved the truth of this 
in their displays of Orchids, and it is recognised and acted 
upon in every amateur’s collection of Orchids. Plants of 
medium size can be much more effectively employed in such 
groups than the large specimens, and thus all growers can 
compete with a prospect of success depending chiefly upon 
their taste in arrangement. 
Many other provincial and local societies might well give 
attention to this matter, as by providing classes for groups of 
Ferns or Orchids, or a combination of the two, they are not 
likely to lessen the interest of any other portion of their show, 
and they may add features of much beauty and importance. 
—L. C. 
TOMATO CULTURE IN THE OPEN AIR. 
There is no more popular vegetable at the present time than 
the Tomato. Not many years ago its culture was wholly con¬ 
fined to glass houses and large gardens. I can remember a rough 
red variety being grown in a duke’s garden a quarter of a century 
ago, and 1 do not iliink it was to be found in another part of that 
county; but now they are to be found in almost every parish, 
and as fine crops are often produced by a keen amateur or 
enthusiastic cottager as in the largest of gardens. It is not often 
we hear of the Tomato by the name of Love Apple now. When 
No. 19GG.— Yol. LXXIV., Old Series 
