534 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Jane 56, 1890. 
Hodgson and Mr. C. W. Simmons (the Secretary), and other gentlemen 
were equally zealous in the entertainment branch of this great “ floral 
and musical” Exhibition, which is usually attended by about 45,000 
visitors. The numbers, it may be expected, depend on the weather ; but 
though rain fell heavily at the opening on the first day and continued 
till night the attendance was remarkable, for in addition to the subscrib¬ 
ing ticket-holders upwards of £100 was taken by payment at the gates ; 
and on the second day it is not unusual to take nearly £1000. excursion 
trains bringing the people in thousands. The “ Grand Yorkshire Gala ” 
is the event of the year in the great county, and the Show of last week 
was the thirty-second of the series. It is popular with all, well con¬ 
ducted in every way, and financially successful. The schedule contained 
110 classes, in most of which there was brisk competition by 120 exhi¬ 
bitors, nearly £000 being offered in prizes, and all claims paid at the 
close of the Show. 
Akrangement for Effect Groups. 
Tflro classes were provided for these, and £47 provided in prizes. 
The stipulations were that the plants should be arranged and banked 
for effect. But only two exhibitors “banked,” or distinctly elevated, 
their chief plants, and these worthily secured the three most valuable 
prizes. The large groups (open) had to be within 250 square feet of 
space ; the smaller (amateurs, which in this case means nurserymen 
excluded), 150 square feet. Mr. John McIntyre, gardener to Mrs. 
Gurney Pease, Darlington, won the first prizes in both classes, £12 in 
the large, £G in the small class. Mr. P. Blair was second in the large 
class, the prize being £9, and did not compete in the other. Only the 
three groups indicated merit special attention by their distinctness, as 
the others were similar in character to the arrangements usually seen 
at shows—namely a sort of carpet of Ferns and other small plants, and 
taller kinds rising above them individually. In the “ banking” eleva¬ 
tions are formed of a number of plants, each group so formed being 
separated from the others by a carpet of moss or dwarf Ferns ; or to put 
it in another form, several small groups are made to form a large one. 
Tastefully done these arrangements are picturesque, but it is easy to 
err in the use of too much brown moss gathered from the ground under 
trees or elsewhere, and thus suggest extreme—not to say chilling— 
artificiality. Mr. McIntyre used a good deal of this moss in his large 
group, very little in the small one. Most persons at the first glance 
thought the former the more striking, but eventually regarded the latter 
as the more pleasing and satisfying. 
It is not easy to make the arrangements intelligible in a few words. 
Briefly, in the centre of the 250 space Mr. McIntyre raised a very 
beautiful mound of plants and flowers, small Crotons, Ferns and Orchids 
predominating. This mound was about 6 feet wide at the base, and 
4 or 5 feet high, a fine specimen of a graceful Palm, Phoenix rupicola, 
rising from the centre, the arching leaves being quite above the floral 
bank. The plants were in the best of condition and charmingly 
arranged. Distant from the central mound were six smaller elevations, 
slender Palms rising from two of them, Dracfenas from two others, and 
Liliums from the third pair, the base in each case being artistically 
formed of small bright and elegant plants. Along the back of the 
group was an arrangement of cork partly covered with moss and plants 
resembling a rockery. Along the front next the spectator was a low 
irregular fringe of low plants, from the centre of which rose to the 
height of 2 feet a bright and beautiful specimen of Croton Hawkeri, 
and near the corners were less tall, but massive and bright young plants 
of C. Morti. Now to the moss. It simply covered the ground between 
the elevations, like a miniature valley curving around them. This was 
from 1 foot to 2 feet wide, but presumably to take off the formality, 
and, shall we say, “ deadness,” a small Maidenhair Fern was stood here 
and there, but still in places the moss was too obtrusive. The front of 
the whole arrangement consisted of a slightly raised verge of flakes of 
moss, with a few such plants as Caladium argyrites inserted in it. Such 
was the large group. Next to it was the smaller of the same exhibitor. 
It was in the same style as the other except the mossed ground between 
the mounds and tall plants. This was simply occupied with a low 
graceful surface of Adiantum cuneatum—dwarf healthy plants and 
perfect for the purpose. There were no flakes of browny green moss, 
except the front verge, and it had a dull, formal appearance in com¬ 
parison with the fresh young Ferns beyond. Taking the two groups 
together, and regarding them as one—the work of one man over a 
surface of 400 square feet—the equal has not, perhaps, been seen at an 
exhibition, and Mr. McIntyre well deserved the prizes he won for his 
admirably grown plants and their picturesque association. 
Mr. Blair’s group in the large class was about equally admired by 
visitors for its extreme lightness and the superlative beauty of its 
central raised mound of Orchids under the spreading leaves of the clear 
stemmed Palm. The ground was a plateau of moss, from which tall 
slender beautiful plants rose like miniature trees, with tasteful touches 
of flowers, and here and there a jutting moss-covered stone. The back 
was a sort of hedge of Bambusas and Ferns with flowers rising from the 
bank—a trifle too heavy perhaps, and the front of the arrangement a 
little too sparsely furnished—too much moss. The exhibitor was, how¬ 
ever, handicapped, for just where his space was the ground sloped down 
from the spectators, and had the reverse been the case the whole 
arrangement would have appeared fuller and more imposing. It was 
what the ladies called “ lovely,” and some of them appeared as if 
tempted to trip over the mossy carpet to examine more closely the 
arching spikes of Orchids so pleasingly associated under the Palm tree 
in the centre of the group. These “effect arrangements” of plants 
were a feature of the Show. 
Orchids. 
Very good prizes were offered for these, for which superior examples 
of culture were exhibited by the Duke of Sutherland, Trentham 
(gardener, Mr. P. Blair), and a few other exhibitors, the whole pro¬ 
ducing a somewhat extensive and a decidedly rich and meritorious 
display. For ten plants, distinct, the first prize of £10 was won by 
Mr. Cypher with healthy well flowered examples of Cattleyae 
Sanderiana, Mossias, and Mendeli; Dendrobiums infundibulum, thyr- 
siflorum, and suavissimum ; Odontoglossums vexillarium and cit- 
rosmum ; Lmlia purpurata, and Cypripedium barbatum, the plants 
ranging from 2 to 3 feet in diameter, and in superb condition. Mr. 
Blair followed with excellent specimens. In the class for six Orchids 
he turned the tables on his rival, winning first honours with Cattleya 
Sanderiana, very fine ; C. Mossiae ; Odontoglossums vexillarium and 
Alexandras, and a very good Masdevallia, Mr. Cypher staging excellently 
also for the second prize. Mr. Blair followed his success with four 
plants—Dendrobium transparens, very superior ; and Cattleya Mossirn^ 
C. Mendeli, and Odontoglossum citrosmum. Splendid examples of 
Dendrobium thyrsiflorum, Cattleya Mendeli, and Odontoglossum 
citrosmum secured Mr. Cypher the first position with three, but Mr. 
Blair followed him very closely, third honours going to Arthur Wilson^ 
Esq., Tranby Croft, Hull (Mr. Leadbetter, gardener), for smaller yet 
fresh and healthy plants. In the single specimen Mr. F. Nicholas, 
gardener to the Earl of Zetland, Upleatham, overweighted his com¬ 
petitors with a remarkable specimen of Calanthe veratrifolia in robust 
health, and bearing about thirty spikes of flowers. Mr. Blair was 
second with a large well grown and freely flowered example of Masde¬ 
vallia Harryana, and Mr. J. Walker, gardener to C. G. Broadwood, Esq., 
York, a close third, with a well flowered specimen of Odontoglossum 
vexillarium. Messrs. Charlesworth, Shuttleworth & Co., Heaton, Brad¬ 
ford, contributed meritoriously and effectively to the Exhibition in the 
form of a splendid group of Orchids, comprising 200 or more plants in; 
choice forms and admirable condition. A certificate of excellence was 
awarded to the exhibitors, and a special prize recommended. 
Stove and Greenhouse Plants, 
Two collections of sixteen stove and greenhouse plants were staged, 
Mr. Letts, gardener to the Earl of Zetland, being first with admirably 
grown plants such as he invariably exhibits. The Aske plants have a 
well-earned celebrity for high class culture, and Mr. Letts was the 
leading exhibitor throughout for stove and greenhouse plants. Mr. 
Cypher of Cheltenham was second, but his plants were weak compared 
with what he usually sets up. Mr. Letts was also first for six stove 
and greenhouse plants, and for six ornamental plants. His Crotons 
Johannis and montfordiensis were both superbly coloured, and his 
Cycas circinalis a grand plant. T. B. Hodgkins, Esq., was a good first 
for three stove and greenhouse plants, and Mr. Letts first for four grand 
Crotons. Mr. McIntyre, gardener to Mrs. Gurney Pease, Darlington, 
was first for Dracaenas, excellent specimens ; and Mr. Hodgkins was a 
close second, and a good first for three Cape Heaths, Erica gemmifera, 
E. ampullacea major, and a superb E. ventricosa magnifica ; second, 
Mr. Letts ; third, Mr. Cypher. 
Several groups of alpine and herbaceous plants were staged, and 
Ferns in the various classes were numerous and good, Mr. Letts taking 
first prizes for both si.x and three specimens. Gloxinias were numerous, 
but small plants, not so fine as we have seen at York; and Tuberous 
Begonias and Calceolarias were not so good as usual. 
Pelargoniums. 
The Pelargoniums at York are famous, and although there was & 
little falling off this year in quantity, the first and second prize 
plants were all (hat could be desired, grand specimens of high-class 
cultivation such as cannot well be surpassed, and are now never seen> 
in the London district. Mr. Eastwood, gardener to Mrs. Tetley, Leeds, 
a very successful exhibitor for many years at York, was again first 
for twelve p’ants, magnificent specimens, amongst them a wonderfully 
fine Kingston Beauty nearly 5 feet through, and a very fine plant of 
Lovely Bride, raised by Mr. Harrison of Leeds, a well-known amateup 
and regular attendant at the York Gala. Mr. McIntosh, gardener to 
J. T. Hingston, Esq.. York, was second for superbly cultivated plants, 
but not so much in bloom as Mr. Eastwood’s, still an excellent second. 
In the class for six Pelargoniums the positions were reversed, Mr. 
McIntosh being first, Mr. Eastwood second, and the prizes for three 
Pelargoniums were in the same order. For years prizes were offered 
for Fancy Pelargoniums, and years ago Mr. Turner, Mr. May, and others 
showed fine plants, but the Fancies seem to be out of fashion, and tha 
Committee have withdrawn the classes for them as there was such in¬ 
different competition. 
The Zmals are always a grand display at York, many of the plants 
4 to 5 feet in diameter and wonderfully flowered. Mr. Eastwood took 
first prizes for twelve, six and three plants, and very high praise is due 
to him for turning out such finished specimens. In some of the exhibits 
of Zonals a much too formal system of tying exists in order to get a 
concentrated head of flower. Experienced judges are opposed to such 
practices, and a more natural habit of the plant is preferred. There 
were large numbers of plants staged, including some very fine specimens* 
of double Pelargoniums, Mr. G. Cottam, jun., taking first for eight 
and Mr. Eastwood second ; and for four specimens Mr. Eastwood was 
first, Mr. McIntosh second. Miss Steward third, and Miss Wharton fourth,. 
Some specimen double Ivy-leaved Geraniums were a pleasing feature 
