JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
r Ma th S7, ISr". 
26 G 
Ibose exhibited by some of the leading amateurs at the last National 
Hose Society’s show at the Crystal Palace. The blooms come well, 
though occasionally divided, but they must be cut young for show 
(when there is often a greenish lemon tinge in the strong buds which is 
very becoming), as the shape is not lasting, and when the outside petals 
<io comedown they fall completely, giving the idea of a total collapse. 
It is free blooming throughout the season, but the autumnal buds will 
not come large, and require fine weather. This well known Rose 
sloes much best as a standard. I can get no show blooms from 
ilwarfs, and the wood being neither stiff nor upright the petals get 
much injured by wind and rain unless the flowers are held well up 
^ibove the ground. 
A climbing sport of Niphetos has been issued this year, which gives 
■a promise of being exceedingly valuable for the production of cut buds 
•of this ever useful sort.—W. R. Raillem. 
(To be continued.] 
THE BATH FLORAL FETE. 
The spring Show provided by the Committee of the above took 
qdace in the Assembly Rooms on the 19th inst., and proved to be re¬ 
markably good all round, and it was regarded as one of the best 
Exhibitions ever held in Bath. Spring flowering bulbs, such as 
Hyacinths. Tulips, Narcissi, Crocus, &c., were a good feature. The best 
■eighteen Hyacinths came from Messrs. R. T. Veitch & Son of Exeter, a 
well-grown and bloomed collection. Mr. G. Garraway, Bailbrook, was 
:i good second. The best twelve in pairs of six varieties came from Mr. 
Garraway ; Mr. Davis, gardener to Dr. S. P. Budd of Bath, was second. 
Tn the class for twelve distinct varieties shown by amateurs. Dr. Budd 
was first, and Mr. Marsh, gardener to J. M. Dunlop, Esq., Bristol, second. 
Dr. Budd was also first with a very good half dozen ; Mr. G. White, 
gardener to J. Watts, Esq., Bristol, was second. The same exhibitors 
were successful with Tulips. 
Daffodils were a good feature, there being a class for twelve pots. 
Mr. E. Kerslake, gardener to the Rev. E. Handley, Bath, won first prize 
with well-flowered examples of such sorts as Emperor, Empress, Countess 
•of Annesley, Horsfieldi, Sir Watkin, Golden Spur, &c. Dr. Budd was 
second with good flowers also. The Rev. E. Handley offered special 
prizes for a group of Daffodils shown in pots or boxes tastefully arranged 
in pots, and took the first prize. Messrs. R. T. Veitch & Sons were second 
with a more representative collection, but not so well arranged. Some 
fine pots of Inly of the Valley were shown by Dr. Budd. Amaryllises 
were well grown and flowered, but they consisted of old-fashioned types 
with pointed petals. The best three came from Mr. A. Hawkins, gar¬ 
dener to Mrs. Jolley, Bath. 
Orchids made an excellent feature, and, as usual, the Rev. E. 
Handley was first with fine examples of Dendrobium nobile, D. nobile 
pendulum, Cymbidium Lowianum, Odontoglossum triumphans, O. 
Edwardi, and Cattleya Trianm Leeana, he being the only exhibitor in 
this class. The best three came from Mr. R. B. Cator of Bath, who had 
capital specimens of Cypripedium vil'osum, Dendrobium Wardianum, 
and Cattleya Trianoe. Mr. A. Taylor was second with Pha’asnopsis 
Schilleriana, Dendrobium crepidatum, and Dendrochilum glumaceum 
insigne. The best specimen Orchid was Cattleya Trianm from the Rev. 
•E. Handley ; Mr. Howell, gardener to J. T. Holmes, Esq., Bath, being 
second with Coelogyne cristata. A remarkably interesting collection of 
plants. Orchids predominating, was set up by Mr. J. Cypher, nursery¬ 
man, Cheltenham. 
Groups of plants arranged for effect were placed on tab'es, and they 
had a charming appearance. In the open elass Messrs. Geo. Cooling 
and Sons were first. Ferns, Orchids, Acers and other foliage and 
flowering plants being tastefully displayed. In the amateurs’ class Mr. 
R. B. Cator was first with a charming group a’so, Mr. J. T. Tate, 
gardener to W. Pumphrey, Esq., Bath, being second. Cut flowers com¬ 
prised boxes of twelve Roses, Dr. Budd being first with an excellent 
dozen, and Mr. R. B. Cator second. In the classes for a hand bouquet, 
buttonhole bouquets, ladies’ sprays, and a vase or epergne, Mr. C. Win- 
stone won all the first prizes in a most worthy manner. 
Fruit was confined to Apples and Pears. Mr. S. King had a very 
fine dish of Cornish Gilliflower, and Mr. R. H. Taylor a capital dish of 
well preserved Beurre Ranee Pears. Vegetab'es were shown well for 
the season of the year. The best collection of six varieties came from 
Mr. W. Evry, Bath. 
First-class certificates of merit were awarded to Mr. Cypher for 
•Odontoglossum baphicanthum superbum, Dendrobium nobile Cypher- 
anum, a very fine pale form, and to Phaius tuberculosus. 
BULB SHOW AT HAARLEM. 
Few British horticulturists need to be told that Haarlem, in Hol¬ 
land, is the centre of the great trade in what are known as Dutch bulbs. 
In and around that town are cultivated the millions of Hyacinths, 
Tulips, Crocuses, and other bulbs which are distributed by seedsmen 
and nurserymen in this country in autumn. It might naturally be 
supposed that in the home of the bulb, interest in its culture would be of 
so great a nature as to culminate at times in a grand display of bulbous 
flowers. That is so, but either from excess of native modesty or of 
business cares the growers only indulge themselves in a large show 
once in every five years. These Exhibitions are organised by the Dutch 
Bulb Growers’ Union, and the fourth of them was held at Haarlem on 
March 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 2Ith, and 2.)th of the present year. Perhaps it 
will not be without interest to endeavour to give bulb cultivators in 
this country some idea of what their brethren in Holland, who are 
experts in bulb culture, are capable of effecting when they turn once in 
a while from the commercial to the decorative aspect of the bu b 
industry, and endeavour to excel each other in the quality of the 
flowers for exhibition, as they do in the ordinary course in the quality 
of bulbs for sale. 
A general comparison between a Dutch and an English bulb show 
could hardly be made, nor would it be strictly fair to attempt it when it 
is considered how different the conditions are. In the former case bulb 
specialists select the best roots from the enormous stocks at their com¬ 
mand, and devote to them all the knowledge and care that the experi¬ 
ence of generations has supplied them with. In the latter ordinary 
bulbs, limited in number, without special treatment, have to be relied 
upon. Nevertheless, the result of a comparison would not be discourag¬ 
ing to British growers. Visitors to the Show of the present year would 
see a magnificent Exhibition in every way, one worthy even of so long 
a journey, but not overwhelmingly superior in some respects. 
It is doubtful if better Hyacinths were ever exhibited than those 
shown at Haarlem this year. It is in these flowers that the interest of 
the Dutch growers, ani of the general public also, largely centres. This 
is hardly the case in England. In Holland, Hyacinths ; in England, 
Daffodils—that is the position of the two countries as regards spring 
bulbous flowers; small wonder, therefore, that both exhibitors ancl 
visitors shou'd view the Exhibition, mainly composed as it was of the 
former flowers in the very best condition, with pride and satisfaction. 
Without doubt they were a magnificent display, several of the most 
famous growers in Holland showing in better form than at any previous 
exhibition. Tulips were bright and beautiful, but not perhaps of such 
exceptional quality as the Hyacinths. They were hardly dwarf enough 
to be perfect, and the flowers were not above the average size. Narcissi, 
as has been before hinted, do not command the same attention in Holland 
as in England. There were none of the grand collections seen at the 
London spring shows, and here was a great point of difference ; still 
there was some material on which the Daffodil lover conld feast. 
The arrangements of the Dutch shows differ materially from those in 
vogue here. All the exhibits have to be sent in two days before the 
Show opens. On the intervening day the Jury make their awards, and 
then arrange the plants to give the best general effect, not grouping 
them in the order of the schedule. This deliberation serves its purpose, 
and is possible in a quinquennial show, but we have not time for it here 
with our numerous annual displays. The Committee, with Mr. J. II. 
Krelage, President of the Union, at its head, worked most energetically 
in the arrangement of the Show, and great credit is due to them for the 
successful i.ssue to which it was carried. The representative of the 
Journal of Horticulture was enabled to pursue his duties in connection 
with the Exhibition under the most favourable and convenient con¬ 
ditions, thanks, in a great measure, to the courteous assistance of 
Mr. G. H. van Waveren, an active member of the Committee. 
And now a few remarks as to the special features of the Show. 
Hyacinths. 
As before stated, the display of these was very large and fine. In the 
first class, four groups of 100 distinct varieties, all fine spikes, produced, 
as would be imagined, a very beautiful effect. Two of the most famous 
Hyacinth growers in Holland, the Brothers Byvoet of Overveen, near 
Haarlem, and Messrs. J. H Kersten of Haarlem, between whom the struggle 
for supremacy is always close and keen, were in competition, and other noted 
cultivators had also entered. Between the first two, as on the occasion 
of the last Show five years ago, the issue lay, but history failed to repeat 
itself, Messrs. Byvoet turning the tables on their former conquerors. 
More interesting to British bulb growers, perhaps, than the names of the 
exhibitors, which are in most cases unfamiliar to them, though not to 
tradesmen, will bo the names of some of the varieties which represented 
them, and some idea of their quality'. Some of the best varieties are 
comparatively unknown to cultivators in England ; on the other 
hand, many of the varieties best known to us were also used extensively. 
In the class under notice, for instance, the splendid gold medal group of 
Byvoet Brothers included such familiar Hyacinths as Gigantea, La Tou'' 
d’Auvergne, Couronne de Celle, Fabiola, So faterre, Pieneman, Marie, 
Von Schiller, King of the Blues, Noble par Merite, Czar Peter, Madame 
Hodgson, Gertrude, Lady Derby, Snowball, and La Grandesse. These 
are known to almost every British bulb grower, but somewhat less 
familiar are Queen of the Blues, a magnificent pale blue ; Roi des Beiges, 
rich sparkling crimson ; Veronica, bright red ; Cardinal Wiseman, pink, 
very large bells ; Thackeray, deep bronzy purple, small spike but very 
distinct in colour; Leviathan, white with faint rosy tinge, very close 
truss, a beautiful variety ; Princess Amalia, blush, very large bells ; 
Menotti, rich red ; and Moreno, pale rose. These are all charming 
varieties, worth adding to any collection. Messrs. Kersten & Co., who 
raise a very large number of seedlings, had numerous unfamiliar 
varieties, amongst them Dr. Windthorst, white, large, substantial belD, 
good spike; Miss le Jeune, mauve; Tolstoi, blush, double; La Nuir, 
black ; Blush Perfection, beautiful semi-double ; Snowflake, pure white ; 
Duke of Albany, very fine double red ; Jacques, blush, enormous truss, 
but somewhat loose ; The First, double, soft rose ; Grand Concourant, 
double, blush ; and some good unnamed varieties. Mr. T. van der Horst 
of Noordwijk had a fine collection, including L’Ornement Rose, blush, 
with waxy substantial petals; The Sultan, shining purple ; George Pea¬ 
body, somewhat small spike, but bells of enormous size and substance, 
