484 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June IS, 1889; 
The Orchids were scarcely so numerous as we have seen them on previous 
occasions, but they were fresh and bright, and presented to view in the 
best condition, forming a pleasant fringe to larger plants in the Exhibi¬ 
tion house. Fruit was both extensive and very good for the season ; the 
recent hot weather had materially assisted the ripening process and 
added to the flavour. Every part of the Exhibition was replete with 
colour, and the brightness of the atmosphere overhead added materially 
to the effectiveness of the exhibits. There was a remarkably good 
attendance on the two opening days, Friday, the 7tb, and Saturday, the 
8th of June. 
Groups of Plants Arranged for Effect. — The value of these groups 
in making an effective display has long been recognised in connection 
with large flower shows, and at Manchester there is some of the most 
effective grouping seen at any exhibition in the country. Three classes 
were devoted to this feature. The most important was in the amateurs’ 
division for a group of Orchids, Ferns, Palms, and other decorative 
plants mixed together. Two competed, and they made an effective 
display at the end of the Exhibition house. Mr. Samuel Thacker of 
Nottingham, an amateur who makes a speciality of this feature, was 
placed first with an arrangement that had about it a considerable 
amount of originality, and which, though containing but few Orchids, 
was rendered very bright and pleasing by the employment of Crotons 
and other plants supplying rich tints of colour. These were arranged 
in an undulating bed of moss, elegant Palms forming the background, 
the whole grouped with charming effect. Mr. Cragg, gardener to 
A. Heine, Esq., Fallowfields, Manchester, had as a foundation a bed of 
Maidenhair Ferns ; out of this rose bold touches of Palm and Croton, 
interspersed with a large quantity of delightful Orchids. Though the 
award of the Judges went to the former, it is due to Mr. Cragg to say 
that it was not universally concurred in. Both were among the most 
successful attempts at artistic grouping seen in the present day. In the 
case of the class for a group, in or out of bloom, occupying a space not 
exceeding 150 feet, Mr. George Willers, gardener to S. Baerlin, Esq., 
Didsbury, was first with an arrangement of a high order of merit, 
brilliant Crotons and such like being prominent. Mr. Elkin, gardener 
to Mr. Thomas Agnew, of Fair Hope, Eccles, was a good second ; and Mr. 
J. McIntyre, gardener to Mrs. Gurney Pease, Darlington, third. In the 
class for the large group furnished by nurserymen, those past grand 
masters in the art of arranging for effect, Messrs. R. P. Ker & Co., 
Aigburth Nurseries, Liverpool, were first with one of those successful 
attempts at high-class combination which has made this firm so famous 
in the north, and which on this occasion practically left them masters 
of the field. There was also a class for nurserymen corresponding to 
Class 1, but on a smaller and less effective scale. The best came from 
Mr. J. Cypher of Cheltenham, Orchids, Palms, Aralias, &c., being its 
principal feature ; and Mr. H. James, Castle Nursery, Norwood, was 
placed second. 
Orchids.— Of these some grand examples were shown, and though 
they were numerous and highly effective, forming an attractive fringe 
to the larger plants round the circumference of the Exhibition house, 
the competition was not so keen as it was a few years ago. In the 
class for twelve specimens in flower Mr. A. Heme was first with fine 
examples of Dendrobium densiflorum, D. thyrsiflorum, D. Dalhousianum, 
Cattleyas Mossiae, Schroderce, Skinneri, and Skinneri alba, Loelias 
elegans, purpurata alba, a very fine form, and purpurata Aurone, Cypri- 
pedium Stonei, and a fine piece of the old and somewhat neglected 
Calanthe veratrifolia. Second, Mr. Joseph Broome, Llandudno (gardener, 
Mr. A. Cole),with capital specimen? of DendrobiumsWallichianum,nobile, 
densiflorum, and suavissimum, some fine varieties of Cattleya Mossiae, 
Cypripedium Lawrencianum, and Masdevallia Harrvana. Third, Mrs. 
Hodgkinson, Higher Lawn, Bowdon (gardener, Mr. D. Board). In the 
class for six Mr. A. Heine was the only exhibitor, and was placed first with 
Cattleya Mendeli, very fine ; C. Skinneri alba, Calanthe veratrifolia, 
Lselia purpurata, Dendrobium densiflorum, and D. thyrsiflorum. In the 
class for ten bona fide specimens as opposed to made up ones, Mr. A. 
Heine was again first with a good piece of Vanda teres. V. suavis Veitchi, 
Lfelia purpurata and its white variety, Cattleyas Mendeli, Skinneri, 
Mossifc, and Lawrenciana, Dendrobium thyrsiflorum, and Calanthe 
veratrifolia. Second, Mr. J. Broome, his best plants being Dendrobium 
nobile, thyrsiflorum, and suavissimum, Miltonia vexillaria, Saccolabium 
rremorsum, and Cattleyas Mossirn and Lawrenciana. Third, Mr. Hodg- 
inson. Mr. Broome was the only exhibitor of ten Cattleyas, having 
an excellent group consisting of fine varieties of Mossise, with 
Lawrenciana and Mendeli. Mr. A. Heine was the leading exhibitor of 
three Vandas, having a fine piece of teres with fifty expanded flowers, 
and two varieties of suavis ; Mr. Broome being second with the same. 
In the nurserymen’s division for ten plants Mr. J. Cypher was first 
with a good lot, consisting of Miltonia vexillaria, Cattleya Mossite, 
C. Mendeli, Laslia purpurata, Vanda suavis, Dendrobiums Dalhousianum, 
Bensonife, and Jame-ianum, and Odontoglossum citrosraum. Second 
Mr. H. James, with Cattleya Mossise in variety, Oncidium crispum, 
Lselia purpurata alba, and a fine piece of Cymbidium Lowianum. 
Stove and Greenhouse Plants. —There was a falling off in these. 
They were not nearly so large or so striking as they were a few years 
ago. The best eight came from the Earl of Zetland, Upleatham (Mr. 
Nicholas, gardener), who had Boronia elatior, a very fine piece of 
Anthurium Schertzerianum, Epacris miniata, lxora Williamsi, Fran- 
ciscea calycina major, Aphelexis macrantha purpurea, Dracophyllum 
gracile, and Statice profusa. Mr. Geo. Wilkes, Ashton-on-Mersey, was an 
indifferent second. In the nurserymen’s class for ten specimens Mr. J. 
Cypher staged a good lot, consisting of Erica affinis, E. ventricosa mag- 
nifica, E. hirsuta alba, Hedaroma tulipifera, Bougainvillea glabra, a fine 
piece of Stephanotis floribunda, Franciscea calycina, Aphelexis spec- 
tabilis, Statice profusa, and Anthurium Schertzerianum Wardi. Second 
Mr. J. F. Mould, nurseryman, Pewsey, Wilts ; Clerodendron Balfouri- 
anum, Hedaroma fuchsioides, Gloriosa superba, Bougainvillea glabra, 
and Erica Cavendishiana being his best plants. Third Mr. J. James. 
The best specimen stove plant was lxora Pilgrimi from Lord Zetland ; 
Mr. S. Baerlin winning second with I. Williamsi. These two exhibi¬ 
tors were in the same positions in the class for a specimen greenhouse 
plant, having Aphelexis rosea and Erica Spenceriana. 
Azaleas. —In the amateurs’ division only one group of five competed- 
It came from Mr. J. Broome, and was awarded a second prize. In the 
nurserymen’s class for eight there was no entry, so much do specimen 
Azaleas fur exhibition appear to have fallen out of cultivation. 
Ericas. —In the amateurs’ class for six Ericas none were to be found- 
In that for nurserymen Mr. J. Cypher was first with good specimens of 
tricolor elegans, Cavendishiana, Lindleyana, ventricosa, v. hirsuta alba, 
v. magnifies, and tricolor Wilsoni. Mr. H. James was second, his best 
specimens being Cavendishiana, afflnis, ventricosa tricolor, and tricolor 
rosea. 
Tuberous rooted Begonias. —These were disappointing. The plants 
were rough and indifferently bloomed. In the class for six single- 
flowered varieties Mr. G. Wilkes was placed second. In that for six. 
doubles only a third prize was awarded. In the nurserymen’s class for 
twelve single and twelve double there was no entry. Probably the first 
week in June is a little too early for the Lancashire district. 
Pelargoniums. —In the amateurs’ class for six Zonals the first prize 
was withheld, Mr. C. Sergeant, Sa'e, being second with double varieties. 
The nurserymen’s class for ten plants brought no entry. There was no 
entry for six Ivy-leaved varieties. Messrs. C. Rylance & Son, nursery¬ 
men, Ormskirk, were the only exhibitors of eight Show varieties, and 
they put up some very fine specimens indeed of Edward Perkins, 
Corsair, Gaiety, Beauty, Venus, Prince Leopold, Queen Bess, and 
Duchess of Edinburgh. They were also first with six Fancy varieties, 
small in size but fairly grown and bloomed, the leading varieties being 
Ellen Beck, The Shah, Roi des Fantaisies, Juliet, and Exquisite. 
Gloxinias. —These made an attractive feature, and five collections of 
ten plants each competed. Mr. George Wilkes was first with finely 
grown plants, the bloom of good quality ; A. W. Radley, Esq., Congleton 
(Mr. Thos. Grovenor, gardener), being second. 
Roses in Pots. —The amateurs’ class for ten plants brought but one 
entry, and that unworthy oE recognition. In the nurserymen’s class for 
twenty plants and also in that for thirty, Messrs. Paul «fc Son, Toe Old 
Nurseries, Cheshunt, were first with some very good plants indeed, their 
leading varieties being La France, Merveille de Lyon, Catherine Soupert, 
Centifolia rosea, Ulrich Brunner, Madame Lacharme, Celine Forestier, 
Madame Victor Verdier, Innocente Pirola, Comtesse de Serenye, Framjois- 
Levet, and Niphetos, all good varieties for pot culture. 
Hardy Herbaceous and Bulbous-rooted Plants. —These, as is usually 
the case, were a remarkably good feature. In the amateurs’ class for thirty 
Mr. It. P. Gill was placed first with such things as Hemerocallis flava. 
Spiraeas palmata, palmata alba, astilboides, Aruncus, and a species, Del¬ 
phiniums in variety, Liliums, Campanulas Van Houttei, Boughalti, and 
coronataalba, Carnation Mrs. Reynolds Hole,&c. Mr. James Lamb, Bow¬ 
den (Mr. 8. Vicars, gardener) was second with good examples of Lilies, 
Paeonies, Pyretbrums, Saxifraga pyramidalis, Lupinus polyphyllus and 
its white form, and others. In the nurserymen’s class for a collection 
Messrs. Dicksons, Limited, Chester, were first with a very large and 
varied group, comprising Liliums in variety. L. Harrisi being conspicu¬ 
ously fine, early Gladioli, Irises, Hemerocallises, Cypripedium specta- 
bile, &c. The second prize was properly withheld. In the class for 
sixty herbaceous and bulbous plants, in or out of flower, Messrs. Stans- 
field Bros., nurserymen, Southport, were the only exhibitors, and were 
placed first with a good collection comprising Saxifraga cotyledon and 
S. palmata, Primula japonica, P. obconica. Pteonia tenuifolia plena, 
Thalictrum purpureum, Lilium auratum, Epipactis palustris, Orchis 
latifolia var. incarnata, Beilis bellicoides, &c. In the amateurs’ class 
for thirty alpines in or out of flower, Mr. R. P. Gill was first with 
Saxifraga pyramidalis, 8. Hosti, S. McNabiana, S. compacta, Ajuga. 
genevensis, Sempervivum montanum, S. arachnoideum, Papaver nudi- 
caule in variety, Silene pusilla, Carex riparia variegata, Dianthu3cruentus„ 
Lychnis flos-Juvis, &c. Second, The Childrens’ Hospital, Pendlebury. 
(Mr. J. Beowes, gardener), who had Linaria pilosa, Saxifraga Wallacei, 
S. cristata, S. pyramidalis, Onosma taurica, Spergula pilifera, Aster 
alpinus, Primula farinosa, Dianthus ccesius,&c. Mr. R. P. Gill also had the 
best twelve, staging good examples of Spiraea pyramidalis, Sempervivum 
Modgridgi and S. arachnoideum, Papaver nudicaule, Saxifraga Aizoon, 
S. rotundifolia, Arenaria cephalotes, &c. Second, Mr. Robert Tyldesley, 
Wordsley, with Saxifragas pyramidalis, Hosti, and minor, Semper- 
vivums Largeri, arachnoideum, montanum, calcareum, &c. In the 
nurserymen’s class for forty alpines, Messrs. Stansfield Bros, were again, 
first with a highly interesting group consisting of Silene pusilla,. 
S. alpestris, Ophrys apifera, Orchis mascula. Lychnis viscarea splendens, 
Thymus lanuginosus, Hippocrepis comosa, Primula Rusbyi, very pretty, 
indeed ; P. farinosa, Saxifraga Hosti, S. squarrosa, Platycodon ovata, 
&c. Second, Messrs. Paul & Son, also with a very choice collection, 
including Saxifraga lantoscana, Cochlearia, Sempervivum triste, and S. 
Penelli, Thymus serpyllum, Ramondia pyrenaica, Menziesia polifolia 
alba, the Edelweiss, Lithospermum graminifolium, &c. Third, Messrs- 
Dicksons, Limited. 
Pansies and Violas .—The best twelve Pansies in pots came from 
