October 17, 1SS9. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
341 
appearance.” It does appear singular that there should be figured in 
two distinct journals in the same month and year two plants answering 
to the character of the plant now known as N. affinis, and then an 
article appearing only four months afterwards further describing 
N. longiflora, all of which descriptions give me a suspicion that there 
existed only one variety at that time, but under two names, and, if not 1 
one is lost while the other has been brought prominently forward, and 
become a general favourite amongst us after the lapse of half a century. 
N. affinis has long terminal tubes which would not be misnamed if 
know as longiflora. It is also sweetly scented, and only expands of an 
evening or early morning, closing up during sunshine after the manner 
of the plants described in the works named for 1833. 
I have not the facilities for pursuing this subject farther, but some 
of your readers may be able to compare N. affinis of to-day with the 
original figures of 1833, of persica and longiflora.—J. W. Moorman. 
CACTUS DAHLIAS. 
We grew long rows of these this season, many more plants than 
formerly, and nothing in the open has proved so attractive or service¬ 
able. All are more or less abundant flowering, and whole basketfuls 
could be cut, towards the end of the season especially, without detracting 
much from the appearance of the plants. For large vases and church 
decorating purposes these Dahlias are of the greatest value, and probably 
have been more extensively and generally used this season than at any 
previous time. Compared with the Cactus varieties so called, the single 
Dahlias are deficient in merit, and it i3 surprising how rapidly the latter 
have lost ground in public estimation. At the present time (October 
3rd) the good old Constance is perhaps the most useful, this variety in¬ 
variably flowering very freely, the blooms also being more nearly pure 
white than earlier in the season, cooler weather evidently best suiting it. 
Henry Patrick we were led to believe will soon supersede Constance, 
and it is certainly an improvement on it, the flowers being more freely 
produced, especially in the early part of the season. They are of good 
form and pure white. Altogether it is a most desirable variety, and 
invaluable to wreath makers. A. W. Tait grows taller than either of 
the foregoing, and is free flowering. The blooms are moderately double, 
with finely cut or fimbriated florets, the colour being pure white. Mrs. 
Hawkins is the greatest favourite of all with the 'adies. It is of 
moderate height, very floriferous, the individual blooms being large, not 
too double, of good form, and of two shades of colour—viz., sulphur 
yellow suffused with pink. We cut this with plenty of foliage and buds, 
large branches looking grand in conjunction with sprays of well coloured 
Virginian Creeper, whether in vases or laid on a dining table. Henry 
Patrick is also very attractive, the colour being a rich yellow. It is of 
medium height, free flowering, the blooms being borne on long foot¬ 
stalks. This is one of my favourites. 
Empress of India will become as popular as any of the foregoing. 
It produces extra fine, well formed flowers of a very dark crimson 
colour. Juarezi is known to all lovers of border flowers, this being the 
true Cactus Dahlia, and distinct in form from any of the preceding. Other 
colours in this type are now to be had, and these will, I trust, be grown 
by me next season. Glare of the Garden we find more free flowering 
than any of those already named, the blooms also being much smaller, 
in colour a rich scarlet. It is of comparatively dwarf habit, and one of 
the best to cut from. Crimson Glare of the Garden is of similar habit, 
but the colour is darker, and an improvement on this will be found in 
Cochineal. The last named is exceptionally showy and fine for massing. 
We frequently cut large branches for vases, and it is most effective. 
Lady Dyke proves to be more of a semi-double than any I have named ; 
it is distinct, of medium height, and free flowering, the blooms being 
borne on long footstalks, and therefore excellent for cutting. The florets 
are white, edged with scarlet.—W. I. 
HARDY FRUIT SHOW. 
Crystal Palace.—October 10th, 11th, and 12th. 
A season so variable as the present, and so unfavourable in some 
districts to Apples and Pears, might been expected to result in an 
unsatisfactory Exhibition ; but so far from this being the case, the 
Show held on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday last will comDare very 
favourably with any held in previous years. In numbers and quality 
the Apples especially were all that could be desired, and in the first of 
the open classes alone about 700 dishes were staged, constituting an 
array of bright and diversely coloured specimens such as are rarely seen 
in competition. As regards exceptional size and merit the Barham 
Court Apples were, however, supreme, and we do not remember having 
seen a finer collection of two dozen varieties than that which obtained lead¬ 
ing honours in the amateurs’ division. Pears were good, those from the 
garden named above being again much the best, but these classes are 
never so attractive, from an exhibition point of view, as the Apples. It 
has frequently been remarked that it would be much more satisfactory 
if separate classes were provided for orchard house fruits, as when these 
are shown in collections of fruit grown outdoors or in competition with 
them the comparison is unfair and misleading. This was still more 
noticeable at the Show under review, and it is quite likely that an 
alteration will be made another season. 
Vegetables constituted an important portion of the Exhibition, the 
samples staged being in nearly every case remarkable for their freshness 
and good culture. Miscellaneous non-competing exhibits were numerous 
and interesting as usual, adding considerably to the attractions of the 
Show. A large proportion of the space in the north nave was occupied 
with the various products staged, and Mr. W. G. Head arranged them 
effectively on tables, with groups of Chrysanthemums, Palms, Ferns, &c. r 
between. 
In the afternoon of the first day the British Fruit Growers’ Associa¬ 
tion held a meeting and conference, particulars of which appear on 
page 327. 
The chief class for Apples was that (open to all exhibitors) in which 
prizes were offered for the best exhibition Apples, kitchen and dessert 
varieties, six fruits of each variety. There were eight competitors, and 
after a careful consideration of the respective merits of the exhibits, 
which approached very closely in value, the premier honours were 
accorded to Messrs. Bunyard & Co., Maidstone, Kent, who had about 
ninety dishes of admirable fruits, many of great size and beautifully 
coloured. The most notable were Worcester Pearmain, Grenadier, 
Calville Rouge Precoce, Yorkshire Greening, Blenheim Pippin, Dutch 
Mignonne, Alfriston, New Hawthornden, Queen Caroline, Lord Derby, 
Peasgood’s Nonesuch, Warner’s King, Wealthy, Mabbott’s Pearmain, 
Stone’s Apple, Emperor Alexander, Bismarck, Washington, Gloria 
Mundi, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Fearn’s Pippin, Stirling Castle, Golden 
Noble, Pott’s Seedling, Beauty of Kent, Cox’s Pomona, Colonel Vaughan, 
Evargil, Mere de Manage, Ecklinville, Calville Rouge, Royal Russet, 
Gipsy King, and King of the Pippins. Mr. C. G. Sclater, Devon Nurseries, 
Heavitree Bridge, near Exeter, was second with a creditable display of 
fine Apples, the most conspicuous being Beauty of Hants, Mere de- 
Mfinage, Peasgood’s Nonesuch, Tibbett’s Pearmain, Cox’s Pomona, Lady 
Henniker, Annie Elizabeth, Bull’s Golden Reinette, Tom Putt, Blen¬ 
heim Pippin, Fair Maid of Devon, and Norfolk Beefing. The English Fruit 
and Rose Company (Cranston’s), Limited, King’s Acre, Hereford, 
secured the third prize : and Mr. II. Berwick, Sidmouth Nurseries, 
Sidmouth, Devon, was awarded the fourth prize. 
For the best collection of Pears and fruits of each variety Messrs. T. 
Rivers & Son won first honours with seventy-five dishes, but not quite 
so many varieties as in the case of larger truits, two dishes were required 
to hold them. Some of the best fruits were Pitmaston Duchess, 
Souvenir du Congres, Doyenne du Comice, Gratioli, Marie Louise, 
Duchesse d’Angouleme, Beurre Alexander, Beurr6 Ranee, Emile- 
d’Heyst, Beurre Diel, Nouvelle Fulvie, Alexandre Lambre, Vicar of 
Winkheld, Gansel’s Bergamot, Madame Treyve, Seedling Bergamot 
(Rivers), Triomphe de Jodoigne, Durondeau, Bishop’s Thumb, Beurre 
Easter, Beurr6 Langelier, Clatillac, Marie Benoist, Beurre Hardy, 
Uvedale’s St. Germain, Fertility (Rivers), Princess (Rivers), and 
Magnate (Rivers). All were clean, fine samples, and well worthy of 
the position accorded them. Mr. J. Butler, gardener to A. J. Thomas, 
Esq., Orchard Lane Gardens, Sittingbourne, was placed second with 
eighty dishes, including capital fruits of Beurrd Diel, Louise Bonne 
of Jersey, Columbia, Beurrd Clairgeau, General Todleben, Duchesse- 
d’Angouliime, Pitmaston Duchess, Durondeau, Nouveau Poiteau, 
Doyennd Boussoch, Marcchal de Cour, Doyenni du Comice, Prevost, 
Fertility, Dunmore, and Beurre Hardy. The third position was accorded 
to Messrs. G. Bunyard & Co., Maidstone, who had about sixty dishes of 
wonderfully fine examples of Grosse Calebasse, Beurre Diel, Pitmaston 
Duchesse, General Todleben, Uvedale’s St. Germain, Vicar of Winkfield, 
Duchesse d’Angouleme, Durondeau, Beurrd Clairgeau, and Doyennd- 
Boussoch. Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons, Crawley, were fourth. 
The class for twenty-four dishes of Apples, kitchen and dessert, six 
fruits of each, was not a large one, as two collections only were staged, 
Mr. Woodward, gardener to R. Leigh, Esq., Barham Court, Maidstone, 
winning first honours with extremely fine specimens of unusual size, 
clean, and handsome. The varieties were Alfriston, The Queen, Belle 
Dubois, of great size; Stone’s Apple, wonderfully fine ; Lord Derby, 
large ; Mere de Manage, large and deeply coloured ; Warner’s King, 
fine ; Peasgood’s Nonesuch, richly coloured ; Calville Malingre, Cox’s 
Pomona, exceedingly bright in colour ; Tower of Glamis, Beauty of Kent, 
Washington, Emperor Alexander, Blenheim Pippin, Minchall’s Crab, Cal¬ 
ville Rouge Precoce, Calville Rouge, Brabant Bellefleur, Melon Apple, 
American Mother, Golden Noble, Ribston Pippin, and Cox’s Orange. The 
second place was taken by Mr. H. Waterman, gardener to H. A. Brassey, 
Esq., Preston Hall, Aylesford, Kent, who also had fine fruits, but not 
quite so many highly coloured samples ; excellent were Peasgood’s 
Nonesuch, Washington, Warner’s King, Tower of Glamis, Cox’s Pomona, 
and Queen Caroline. 
A class was provided for twelve dishes of Pears, six fruits of each, in 
which there were eight competitors. Mr. G. Woodward winning first honours 
with very large and well grown fruits of Durondeau, Pitmaston Duchess, 
General Todleben, Duchesse d’Angouleme, Doyenne du Comice, Beurre- 
Diel, Beurrd Hardy, Marcchal du Cour, Durondeau, Brockworth Park, 
Fondante de Panseil, Beurr6 Superfin, and Brown Beurrfi. Mr. W. 
Chisholm, gardener to Sir Francis Geary, Bart., Oxon Heath Park, 
Tunbridge, was second, showing Pitmaston Duchess very fine; also- 
Durondeau and Gansel’s Bergamot, with Vicar of Winkfield. Mr. 
W. A. Cook, The Gardens, Compton Bassett, Caine, Wilts, was third, 
having remarkable fruits of Duchesse d’Angouleme and Catiliac. 
With twelve dishes of Apples there were seven competitors, Mr. 
Sidney H. Goodwin, Mereworth, Kent, taking the lead with Peasgood’s 
Nonesuch, Stone’s Apple, Nelson’s Glory. Yorkshire Beauty,_ Cellini, 
Kentish Fillbasket, New Hawthornden, Cox’s Pomona, Scarlet Pear¬ 
main, Hoary Morning, Worcester Pearmain, Cox’s Orange Pippin. Mr. 
Wm. Parker, gardener to Mrs. Evans, Moreton Court, Hereford, was 
a close second, his best specimens being Yorkshire Beauty, Blenheim 
Pippin, Warner’s King, Tyler’s Kernel, and Court Pendfl Plat. Mr, 
A. Killick, Weavering, Maidstone, was third also with good fruits. 
