492 
JOUR^\AL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June 12, 1890. 
Odontoglossum Fescatorei Tilgate Variety (Jlr. K. Young, Crawley). 
—An exceedingly well grown plant, with strong pseudo-bulbs and two 
large panicles of small flowers, white, the sepals heavily spotted near 
the margin with purple, the petals and lip having fewer spots. An 
award of merit and a cultural commendation were adjudged for this 
plant. 
Achillea (_Ptarmioa) mo7igolica (Paul & Son).—Flowers about an 
inch in diameter, and pure white. 
Xcrophyllum asphodelioicles (Paul & Son).—Flowers small, creamy 
white, in long dense racemes. A tuberous plant with grass-like leaves ; 
native of North America. 
Lobelia Reine Blanche (Mr. J. Witney, Purvey, Bedford).—A pure 
white, compact growing, free variety (award of merit). 
Gloxhiia Agnes Cook (H. Cannell & Sons).—A beautiful variety, the 
flowers of excellent shape, densely dotted with a purple on a white 
ground (award of merit). 
Begonia Golden Queen (H. Cannell & Sons).—A double variety, the 
flowers very large and deep yellow (award of merit). 
Begonia Madame Pfitzer (J. Laing & Sons).—A handsome double 
yellow variety, the flowers of great size and excellent shape, the habit 
compact. 
PcBonies (Kelway & Son).— Stanley, single dark red ; Princess Mary, 
double creamy white, very large flower ; Buchess of Tech, double, blush 
pink and white, flowers of great size (awards of merit). 
READING HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
June 4th. 
In showery weather this Society commenced its thirty-seventh- 
season by an extensive display of early summer products tastefully 
arranged on the terraced slopes within the massive high flint walls 
known as the Abbey Ruins, once a rich and splendid monastery. The 
ruins are situated close to the centre of the town, and are connected 
with the Forbury Gardens, which are kept in fine order by Mr. G. 
Phippen, at the cost of the corporation. The summer bedding being 
completed the executive were hoping for a large company to inspect 
the gardens and the Show; but alas 1 persistent rain till near the 
hour of closing kept the limited attendance under the shelter of the 
canvas. 
A liberal schedule of prizes had been provided, and generally the 
classes were well filled, great interest being concentrated in the section 
devoted to Orchids, which were presented in fine condition. For three 
Mr. Cypher, Cheltenham, led with good examples of Cypripedium 
barbatum, forty flowers ; Cymbidium Lowianum, eight spikes furnished 
with nearly twenty flowers; and Catileya Mendeli, eight prime 
blossoms. W. J. Palmer, Esq., second, with a noble example of 
Oncidium sphacelatum, eight spikes, twenty-five flowers each; Cypri¬ 
pedium barbatum, twenty flowers; and Dendrobium thyrsiflorum, 
fifteen racemes ; the thud prize falling to J. Marriott, Esq., Coventry, 
who had Dendrobium suavissimum, ten racemes ; Lselia purpurata, nine 
flowers ; and Cypripedium barbatum, twenty-five slippers ; an extra 
prize being awarded to Mrs. Owen Knox, Caversham, for choice bits 
of Dendrobium Falconeri, D. Dearei, and Cypripedium ciliolare. For 
•one specimen H. J. Simonds, Esq., took the premier honours with a 
splendid example of Vanda teres, 120 flowers. Mrs. Knox was second 
with a large plant of Sobralia macrantha, twelve blooms of intense 
colour ; the third prize being taken by a choice example of Cattleya 
Mendeli, staged by J. Marriott, Esq. 
Stove and greenhouse plants comprised a wide range of varieties, 
J. Marriott, Esq., leading in the class for nine in flower, securing the 
first prize for fresh weli-flowered specimens, including Cattleya gigas, 
eight grand flowers ; Anthurium Schertzerianum, Dipladenia regina, 
Dracophyllum gracile, Azalea Model, Ixora Fraseri, Clerodendron 
Balfourianum, Erica affinis, and E. ventricosa minor ; Mr. Cypher filling 
the second position with Ltelia purpurata, Anthurium Schertzerianum 
Wardi, Hedaroma tulipifera, H. fuchsioides. Erica tricolor Wilsoni, 
B. ventricosa hirsuta alba. Azalea Fran 9 ois Dubois, Aphelexis ma¬ 
crantha rosea, and A. spectabilis (the last two did not expand their 
flowers owing to the low temperature). Mr. James, Norwood, was 
third. For one specimen the first and second prizes went to immense 
convex bushes of Clerodendron Balfourianum, W. J. Palmer being first, 
and H. J. Simonds second. Mr. Mould, Pewsey, third, with a large 
•example of Erica Aristella, he being the only competitor in the class 
for six, his best pair being Statice profusa and Erica ventricosa 
enagnifica. 
Heaths were excellent, though few. Mr. Mann occupied the post of 
honour with bright looking plants of Erica Cavendishiana, E. Shannoni 
glabra, E. Fairreana, E. ventricosa rosea, and E. depressa multiflora. 
Mr. Cypher was second; his selection embraced Cavendishiana, Lindleyana, 
effusa, tricolor Wilsoni, ventricosa rosea, and v. grandiflora. 
Pelargoniums as a whole scarcely reached the standard of a Reading 
Show, the premier four of W. Palmer, Esq., being grand for size of 
blooms, although small plants ; but the best group were nine from Mrs. 
Fanning, Whitchurch, whose varieties were Norma, Duchess of Edin¬ 
burgh, Spotted Gem, Alice, Lilacea, Mrs. Lewis Lloyd, Empress, Lady 
Isabel, and Triomphe de St. Mande. 
Azaleas were somewhat uneven in size, the premier four being dis¬ 
qualified as wanting distinctness, the leading prize eventually going to 
Mr. T. Lockie, Windsor, for neat pyramids of Model, Duchesse Adelaide 
de Nassau, and La Superbe ; a second prize being conceded to G. W. 
Palmer, Esq., for nine varieties. 
Foliaged plants were'fairly good. J. Marriott, Esq., was first for 
large examples of Dasylirion acrotrichum, Cycas revoluta, Kentia 
australis, Thrinax elegans, and Croton Disraeli. Mr. James second 
with similar families ; his group included a fine Theophrastis imperialis ; 
G. W. Palmer, Esq., filling third place. 
Ferns and Lycopods formed a refreshing feature in contrast to 
the blaze of colour produced by Gloxinias and Calceolarias. For six 
Lycopods, G. W. Palmer took the palm with perfect convex and pyra¬ 
midal pans of Selaginellas Braunni, apoda, denticulata, emsia, 
Kraussiana aurea and variegata. Lord Saye and Sele was second. A 
large collection of Ferns and Mosses whs staged by G. W. Palmer, Esq., 
who secured a premier ; W. J. Palmer, Esq., being to the front with four 
Ferns, including Gymnogramma Martensi, Davallia Mooreana, Adiantum 
farleyense, and Microlepia hirta cristata. A. Palmer, Esq., second, with 
Davallia Mooreana, Lomaria gibba, Leucostegia immersa, and Todea 
superba. 
Roses were staged in plenty, the plants manifesting an unequal 
development of bloom. There were nice examples of La France, Mdlle. 
Th^rese Levet, Oxonian, Comtesse de Serenye, &c., W. J. Palmer, Esq., 
and Mr. Mould sharing the awards for six, the prizes for four specimens 
being divided between Mr. Lockie and Mr. G. W. Palmer. 
Rhododendrons made a fine display, the exhibitors being the Messrs. 
Lee, Reading, the senior staging about three hundred trusses of cut 
flowers, while the junior took the award for thirty plants. 
Messrs. Buttons’ special prizes for Tuberous Begonias, Gloxinias, and 
Calceolarias, value £30, maybe said to have very largely contributed to 
the chief features of the Show, the competition keen, the plants dwarf 
and grandly flowered. For Begonias Mr. Lockie was first, Mr. C. Ham- 
mersley second, Mr. W. J. Palmer third. For Gloxinias, first, Mr. W. J. 
Palmer ; second, Mr. B. Simonds ; third, Mr. M. Lonergan ; fourth, Mrs. 
H. La Malet. Calceolarias, first, Mr. G. W. Palmer ; second, Mr. Lockie ; 
third, Mr. W. J. Palmer ; and fourth, Mr. J. 0. Taylor. 
Groups arranged on 12 by 10 feet were very tastily disposed, being 
enriched with Orchids and neat specimens of decorative varieties gene¬ 
rally, W. J. Palmer and J. 0. Taylor, Esq., taking the prizes ; while on 
10 by 5 feet space, Messrs. W. Palmer and J. W. Hounslow produced the 
most effective groupings. 
Cut flowers included a table 40 feet long, on which were displayed a 
large number of epergnes in pairs and triplets all dressed with wild 
flowers and grasses, demonstrating that hedgerow, field, and roadside 
furnish subjects which, properly utilised, prove as effective as the more 
costly greenhouse productions. The Reading ladies well sustained their 
noted skill on the occasion, the choicest arrangements being those of 
Miss L. Phillips, Miss L. Cole, and Miss Creed. 
Roses largely composed of Tea-scented varieties ; the boxes in com¬ 
petition contained many full-sized blossoms, the first prize for twelve 
falling to J. Hargreaves, Esq., Maiden Erleigh, for Grace Darling, 
W. A. Richardson, Reine Marie Henriette (very fine), Mardchal Niel,' 
Jean Pernet, Jean Ducher, Rubens, Catherine Mermet, Gloire de Dijon, 
and Avocat Duvivier; no name being attached to the second-prize 
collection, but very choice were Merveille de Lyon, Marquise de Castel- 
lane, Marie Baumann. Gloire de Dijon, Francois Michelon, Abel Grand, 
Ulrich Brunner, and Magna Charta ; equal thirds going to E. D. Lee, 
Esq., Aylesbury, for prime blooms of Adam (grand), C. Mermet, 
Madame Lambard, Marhchal Niel (the largest development in the com¬ 
petition), and Souvenir d’un Ami ; and C. Hammersley, Esq., who had 
a good Marhchal Niel, Catherine Mermet, Cheshunt Hybrid, and 
Devoniensis. 
There were a few good fancy Pansies, but the florists’ types were 
small. Cuttings of twelve varieties of stove and greenhouse flowers 
were very choice, J. Marriott, Esq., taking the card ; while for hardy 
subjects Mrs. H. La Malet was deservedly placed first. 
Fruit was a good average for an early June Show. For white 
Grapes the cards went to J. Hargreaves, Esq., for Foster’s Seedling, and 
C. D. Crews, Esq., for Buckland Sweetwater, the Black Hamburgh 
prizes being taken by Mrs. Fanning and J. Hargreaves, Esq. E. D. Lee, 
Esq., staged the best dish of Peaches (Alexandria), and Mrs. Fanning 
Elruge Nectarines, and A. Waterhouse, Esq., Yattendon, the only dish 
of Figs (Brown Turkey). Melons were in plenty, but smallish fruits, 
the card being placed on Blenheim Orange. Strawberries were extra 
fine. The premier dish (.James Veitch) came from C. Hammersley, 
Esq. ; W. Palmer, Esq., second with Sir Joseph Paxton; a very credit¬ 
able lot of Noble coming from Malshanger Park. 
Vegetables included several choice collections, although the prizes 
were insignificant as compared with the quantity of varieties staged, 
Mr. Lockie taking the premier award, his arrangement including fifteen 
kinds ; C. Hammersley, Esq , second ; and W. Wilder, Esq., third. For 
the Society’s prize, and also for Carter’s special class for Cucumbers, 
Mr. Lockie secured both with Carter’s Model in keen competition. For 
Potatoes (round and kidney) Mrs. Fanning first in both classes with 
Goldfinder and Suttons’ Seedling ; Buttons’ Ashleaf and Early Border 
taking the second cards. The remaining classes were for Asparagus and 
Cauliflowers. 
Miscellaneous Contributions.—In this section may be mentioned a 
collection of decorative plants, bouquets, wreaths, crosses, floral baskets, 
&c., from Mr. G. Phippen, whose contribution received a “ three guinea ” 
honorarium ; from Mr. C. Fidler two dozen seedling Cueumbers (a solid 
useful variety) and a number of Winter Green Cos Lettuce, large 
and very solid ; from The Vineries, Wokingham, a collection of Melons 
