April 25, 1880. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
341 
Duchess of* Albany, General Gordon, John Forbes. Eighteen best 
Show—Mrs. Gladstone, Hon. Mrs. P. Wyndham, James Cocker, Harry 
Keith, Henry Walton, William Eawlings, Goldfinder, J. T. West, Mr. L. 
Harris, Mrs. W. Slack, T. J. Saltmarsh, Ethel Britton, Prince of 
Denmark, Mrs. Langtry, Prince Bismarck, Colonist, Joseph Ashby, 
James Vick. 
The mode of exhibiting Show Dahlias on green boards is regretable, 
but it is not easy to see what to propose instead. So it must go. 
All the other sections, however, Pompon, Decorative, and single, are 
exhibited with very telling effect in bunches of about ten (or six) 
flowers each. And now that ingenious wire frames have been devised 
for the staging and safe travelling of the bunches, there is comparatively 
little trouble in exhibiting them, and it may be hoped that amateur 
competitors will rapidly become very numerous in the classes provided 
for these sections at the autumn shows. 
The statement frequently made that it is not worth while to grow 
named varieties of single Dahlias because just as good may be obtained 
from any packet of seed is absurd. Seedlings may be raised without 
the least difficulty by the thousand, but not one in a hundred will be 
■worth growing, and intending exhibitors are counselled not to depend 
for flowers to show upon their own seedlings. 
Among singles, no one should omit to plant Amos Perry, Enchant¬ 
ment, Formosa, Mr. Kennett, Walter Ware, and Mrs. J. Coninck ; and 
■some of the most beautiful of the decorative Dahlias are Charming 
Bride, Panthea, Prince of Wales, Henry Patrick, King of Cactus, 
Empress of India, Lady Marsham, and Mrs. Hawkins, in addition of 
course to Juarezi. 
The year 1889 being the centenary of the introduction of the Dahlia 
into England, the National Dahlia Society propose to hold a Dahlia 
Conference on the first day (September the 6th) of their great Exhi¬ 
bition of Dahlias at the Crystal Palace, when it is desired that there 
should be displayed as complete, and if possible historical, a collection 
of Dahlias as can be gathered together. It is confidently hoped that all 
florists will afford the National Dahlia Society their heartiest support, 
■and then there will be no doubt that the celebration of the centenary 
of one of the most invaluable garden plants ever introduced will be 
worthy of the record and development in English gardens of what 
has been not inaptly styled the queen of autumn flowers. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
April 23rd. 
Never has the Society’s Exhibition Hall at Westminster been better, 
more interestingly, and more attractively furnished than on the present 
occasion. The National Auricula Society’s Southern Show was far in 
advance of the exhibition of last year, both in the number and quality 
of the plants staged. Possibly it may be described as the best display 
yet held in the south, and was undoubtedly highly meritorious. In 
addition enormous and valuable collections of Narcissi were exhibited 
by Messrs. P. Barr & Son and Mr. J. Walker ; Primroses and other 
hardy plants by Mr. T. Ware, Alpines by Mr. G. Paul, beautiful stands 
of Boses by Mr. Walker, blue Primroses by Mr. G. F. Wilson, an im¬ 
posing display of Primula Sieboldi by Messrs. Byder & Son, a group of 
plants by Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, including Spiraea confusa, 
Staphyleas, Lilium Harrisi, and others ; interesting plants from Kew ; 
also a great variety of plants, including choice Orchids, submitted to 
the Committees, the whole forming an exhibition of great and varied 
■excellence, and it was admired by an unusually large number of visitors. 
Fruit Committee. —T. Francis Bivers, Esq., in the chair, and Sir 
Charles W. Strickland, Bart., J. Cheal, G. Cummins, G. Haycock, 
J. Hudson, F. T. Lane, W. Warner, J. T. Saltmarsh, Harrison Weir, 
and other members whose names we failed to obtain. As is usual at this 
period of the year, few products were submitted for examination. Mr. B. 
Gilbert sent from Burghley very fine well-coloured stalks of Hawke’s 
Champagne Ehubarb. This is, no doubt, one of the best early varieties, 
combining good size, appearance, and quality. Some persons consider 
it the earliest Ehubarb, but at Chiswick Early Bed was a foot high 
when Champagne was 3 inches. Mr. Gilbert also sent stalks somewhat 
small, but very rich in colour, of Salt’s Crimson Ehubarb. A vote of 
thanks was accorded for both the samples. Messrs. James Veitch and 
Sons sent a dish of Apples, Niton House, firm, good sized, well shaped 
fruits, but not considered superior to others in cultivation. The same 
firm also exhibited a highly meritorious collection of nearly forty 
dishes of Apples, the fruits being of good size and firm. The most 
noteworthy dishes were of Niton House, Bramley’s Seedling, Sandring¬ 
ham, Loddington Seedling, Annie Elizabeth, Washington, King of 
Tomkins County, Dumelow’s Seedling, and Norfolk Beefing. A silver 
medal was recommended by the Committee. 
Floral Committee. —Present: W. Marshall, Esq., in the chair, 
and Messrs. T. Baines, H. Herbst, B. Wynne, W. C. Leach, F. Boss, 
B. B. Lowe, C. Noble, J. Fraser, G. Paul, W. H. Williams, Shirley 
Hibberd, W. Goldring, J. Walker, and B. Dean. 
Mr. A. Waterer, Woking, had an extensive display of hardy Prim¬ 
roses and Polyanthuses most varied in colour, the flowers large and well 
formed (silver Banksian medal). Messrs. Barr & Son, Covent Garden, had 
a choice collection of Daffodils, comprising a selection of the most 
distinct varieties (silver Banksian medal). Messrs. W. Paul & Son, 
Waltham Cross, sent plants of Tea Bose White Perle, very neat in the 
bud, white and fragrant, also of a climbing Polyanthus Bose named 
Claire Jacquier (award of merit) full and free in growth, and flowering. 
Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, had a group of Doronicums, Primulas, 
hardy flowers, and Amaryllises (bronze Banksian medal). An award of 
merit was granted to Messrs. Paul & Son for Aubrietia Leichtlini with 
pale rose flowers, large, and of good shape ; also for Amaryllis Sea 
Nymphe, the flowers of admirable shape, crimson, with a well-defined 
central bar in each petal. Mr. Walker of Whitton contributed his 
usual beautiful group of Daffodils tastefully arranged in ornamental 
glasses (silver-gilt medal). Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham, also had an 
interesting group of hardy flowers (bronze Banksian medal). Messrs. 
Byder & Son, Sale, Manchester, exhibited a remarkably handsome 
collection of Primula Sieboldi varieties, the plants being shown in pans 
18 inches in diameter. Awards of merit were granted for the follow¬ 
ing—Mrs. Byder, blush white ; Miss Nellie Barnard, bright rose, 
fringed, handsome ; and Queen of Whites, pure white, large flowers, 
free. Several Primulas were also shown, amongst them being P. viscosa 
splendens of a pale purplish pink colour (award of merit). Mr. J. 
Walker, Thame, exhibited boxes of Niphetos and Marshal Niel blooms, 
very fine (bronze medal). Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, showed 
a plant of Gloxinia Model, a variety with deep purple flowers margined 
with a paler tint. Mr. B. Dean had a group of Primulas, and one 
plant of a hybrid between ciliata purpurea and an alpine variety ; the 
flowers were deep purple with a light centre. Messrs. Alexander 
Bailey & Sons, Southwick, Sunderland, sent a collection of fine Pansy 
blooms representing many good varieties. 
Mr. Wm. Bumsey, Waltham Cross, had an especially fine group 
of Boses in pots, the plants dwarf, compact, all bearing substantial and 
fresh (silver-gilt Banksian medal). Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, 
contributed a group of Staphylea colchica, Japanese Maples, Lilium 
Harrisi, Amaryllises, Spiraea confusa, Chionanthus virginica, Pteonies, 
and Narcissus Bulbocodium (silver Banksian medal). 
From the Eoyal Gardens, Kew, came a collection of Primulas, hardy 
Orchids, the bright-flowered and graceful Heuchera sanguinea ; the 
strange Tooth-worts, Lathraea squamaria and L. clandestina ; Khododen- 
dron kewensis, a hybrid between E. Aucklandi and B. Hookeri, having 
neat blush-tinted flowers in compact clusters, very freely produced ; 
the small lilac-flowered Cineraria cruenta, and many other interesting 
plants. D. T. Hodges, Esq., Lachme, Chislehurst, sent a plant of 
Gentiana angulosa, with small deep blue flowers. Mr. F. Boss, Pendell 
Court Gardens, Bletchingley, exhibited specimens of Alpinia nutans, 
having large racemes of fleshy white and orange flowers ; the orange-red 
Ixora-like Saraca indica, and the white Crinum asiaticum. G. F. Wilson, 
Esq., Weybridge, showed six seedlings from Primroses Scott Wilson of 
different shades of blue and plum colour. Awards of merit were granted 
for Quakeress, large, of a bluish tint, and having a yellow centre ; and 
G. F. Wilson, deep blue, yellow centre, and a narrow red ring. The other 
varieties were Mrs. Harrison, Mrs. Dickins, E. Dickins, and Miss North. 
Mr. W. H. Divers, Ketton Hall Gardens, Stamford, sent sprays of 
Mackaya bella. Mr. Hill, Forest Gate, obtained an award of merit for 
Coleus Eureka, with deep crimson leaves edged with cream ; and Messrs. 
Garaway & Co., Bristol, secured a similar recognition for a fine double 
white Mignonette, very compact spikes, and extremely fragrant. 
Mr. W. Harper, Guildford, showed a basket of alpine plants, chiefly 
Saxifragas. 
CERTIFICATED PLANTS. 
Epiphyllum Malioyanum (J. Veitch & Sons).—A garden hybrid 
apparently between the Epiphyllum and Phyllocactuses, the flowers 
borne at the tips of the flattened fleshy noded branches, bright red, the 
petals narrow and spreading in a star-like manner. 
Rhododendron Her Majesty (J. Veitch & Sons).—A hybrid between 
B. Forsterianum and B. arboreum, but the characters of the latter 
parent are not much shown. The flowers are 5 inches in diameter, open 
and shallow, somewhat crumpled, white tinged with rose at the back, 
slightly fragrant. 
Tulipa Leichtlini (Paul & Son).—Flowers of medium size, pale straw 
colour, the petals narrow and acute, the leaves are also narrow and 
glaucous. 
Orchid Committee. —Present: Dr. M. T. Masters in the chair ; 
Messrs. J. O’Brien, F. Moore, E. Hill, J. Boberts, H. Williams, II. M. 
Pollett, F. Sander, J. Dominy, and J. Douglas. 
T. Lange, Esq., Heathfield Lodge, Gateshead-on-Tyne (gardener, 
Mr. A. Methven), exhibited a plant of Dendrobium nobile Heath- 
fieldianum, also known, in error, as Cooksonianum, but the latter name 
was adopted by the Committee. It will be remembered that it is 
remarkable for the petals being coloured like the lip, giving the flower 
the appearance of having three lips (see page 333). Sir Trevor Lawrence, 
Bart., M.P., showed several well-flowered plants of the pretty white and 
crimson Leptotes bicolor, one variety being named serrulata. A plant 
of Dendrobium melanodiscus, f rom Ainsworthi crossed withFindleyanum, 
the sepals and petals tipped with rosy crimson ; the lip is round with a 
dark crimson central blotch. Mr. J. P. Leadbeater, Tranby Croft 
Gardens, Hull, sent some good varieties of Odontoglossum cirrhosum, 
heavily blotched with rich chocolate (vote of thanks). 
