3£8 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April £8. 1887. 
Mr. J. Hartley, Ryshworth Hall Gardens, near Bingley, 
"Yorkshire, sends us the following note on a remarkably large 
Poinsettia grown at Moreton Hall, YVhalley, Lancashire, which our 
informant states he has known for twenty-five years, and the 
particulars were communicated by Mr. J. Clark, gardener at 
Moreton Hall:—“This Poinsettia now covers an a - ea of 210 
.square feet, and has this winter carried 150 bracts, varying in 
.diameter from G inches to 1 foot, of the most intense crimson. 
The stem, at G inches from the soil, measures 15 inches in circum¬ 
ference. At the above height three main branches are laid off for 
covering the wall. It is about forty years since it was planted. 
From the bottom branches to the top it is 11 feet. It has a border 
16 feet long, 18 inches broad, and 1 foot deep to grow in. But it 
requires to be liberally supplied with liquid manure to keep it 
vigorous. The house it occupies is kept during winter at a tem¬ 
perature of about 50b We have not the command of any more 
iheat for it, or I should let it have a few degrees more. I intend to 
remove as much of the old soil as I can without disturbing the root, 
and give it a top-dressing of good soil, as its present soil seems 
rather sour. I might add it carried about a similar number of 
bracts last year.” 
NATIONAL AURICULA AND PRIMULA SOCIETY’ 
(SOUTHERN SECTION).— April 2Gth. 
Gloomy anticipations regarding the success of the Southern Au imla 
Show w r ■ formed by some pessimistic persons this season ; but though 
there was reason for a feeling of doubt as to the probable tffects of t ie 
peculiar weather we have experienc'd, yet the forebodings have happily 
mot been realis'd. Though the ,T!xhibit : on could not be termed the best the 
Society has held, it was altogether a creditab'e and fairly representative 
display. The competition was good, the entries numerous, and the exhibits 
generally of much better quality than we expected to see—better, we are 
inclined to think, than last jear. Some difference of opinion always 
prevails in these matters, even amongst the cognoscenti. Thus one authority, 
but only one, termed it a ve.y indifferent Show, another considered it as a 
good Show, a third thought it highly satisfactory, and fourth did not 
hesitate to include it amongst the best Auricula Shows he had seen, and 
ithese were all growers and exbibilo s of rote. It is therefore excusable if 
the uninitiated d:ffer slightly in th.ir opinions on technical subjects. Our 
own impression was that there was rather more irregularity in the plautB 
exhibited—that is to say. there were f. w really evtn collections, and all 
seemed to have found a little difficulty in seeming the requisite number for 
<tbe various classes. With regard to the Northern exhibits this might be 
expected, and no doubt in some cases extra heat had been n cessa'y to 
bring them out to time, inducing longer flower stems than are considered 
desirable, and rendering the aid of substantial stakes essential to support 
the heavy trusses of flowers. Then, too, there were many specimens with 
very small heads—some, indeed, with only three pips, certainly much below 
the exhibition standard—but these were the de'ec s. To compensate for 
tthem the plsnts were generally strong, and healthy litt e spe imens, with 
tine vigorous licli green foliage and plenty of good propoitiona'e tiusies, 
could be found, in which the flowers showed all the symmetry and freshness 
that could be desired. 
The northern growers included the Rev. E. D. Homer, Burtor-in-Lons- 
■dale ; Mr. S. Barlow, Manchester ; Mr. A. Potts, Chester ; Mr. F. PoLlina", 
Halifax ; and Mr. W. Bolton, Warrington ; Mr. Ben Simonite being unfor¬ 
tunately absent. These contributed well in most of the classes, and Mr. 
White had the honour of s'ag'ng one of best examples of Trii/s Prince of 
iGreens that has been seen at the Metropolitan Show. Coming as this did 
from the Killing worth Colliery district, it was especially intercsiing, and it 
excited the admiration, perhaps the envy (if floris s are capable of such a 
feeling) of many an Auricula growtr who has been disappointed in his 
efforts to obtain a good example of this wel’-kno wn variety. Mr. White’s 
plant was a strong one with a rather toll flower stem and a tru s of eleven 
fine pips, even, smooth, and beautifuh It was one o' tne sensations of the 
Show. 01 the southern growers Mr. J. Douglas was as usual a succe s'ul 
exhibitor; he did cot, however, tain so mauy honours as usual ia the larger 
classes, though he defeated Mr. C. Turner of Slough with fifty plants—no 
inconsiderable victory. Mr. C. Phi lip3 and Mr. W. L. W-lker, b >th of 
Heading, Mr. E. Spurling of B aekh“ath, and Mr. A. J. Sandeis, Bookham 
Lodge Garden", Cobbam, we e the other principal southern competitors. 
New varieties were abundant, an.l certifieatss were liberally 1 estowed, 
■a’l the following being honoured :— 
Amanda (Hormr).—A grey-edge variety, with deep pu plish black body 
•colour, good pure paste and br ght tub-'. 
S. barlow (Bolton).—Anoth-r grey-edge var ety, hiick body colour, a 
well-proportioned pip, a strong truss with ten fin" even pips. 
J. I'ouglas (Bolton).-A green-edge variety, back body colour, pure 
white d*nse paste, but rath.r dull tube. 
Sir W. Hewitt (D-uglas) — A very dark crimson self, excellent rich colour, 
and a beautiful symmetrical pip. 
Magpie (Horner).—A white edge variety, intensely black holy colour, 
•good dense piste and rich tube, seven pips in the truss shown. 
Dulcie (Horner).—A rich maroon seif, we 1-proportioned pip, ten in a 
t U38 on the strong plant in the first twelve show variet'es. 
Grayling (Horner).—A grey-edge with black bo y colour, pip large and 
(plant strong. 
Rubra (Horner).—A bright red self, very distinct and b autiful in colour. 
Certificates were also awarded for Abbe Lizst (Douglas), which has pre¬ 
viously b- en described when certificated by the Royal Horticultural Society, 
•and E. Pohlman (Turner) which we did not see. 
The prizes for seedlings were awarded as follows:— Selfs, 1, Perfection 
•(Douglas) ; 2. Red Rover (Horne ). Green edges, 1, J. Dougl s (Bolton) ; 
■ii. Conquest (Homer). Grey-edges, 1, Sam Barlow (Bol’oa) ; 2, Grey F.iar 
•(Horner). Hf kite edge, 1, Amanda (Horner). 
SHOW AURICULAS. 
The prizes in the principal general classes were awarded in the follow¬ 
ing order : — 
Twelve Varieties. —Six good collections were staged in this clas", and the 
Judges signified their appreciation of their merits by awarding them all 
prizes. Tue fi st prize was secured by the Rev. F. D. Horner, Burton-in- 
Loasdale, with strong plants of Horner’s Heroine, Simonite’s Rev. F. D. 
Horner, Simonite’s Mrs. Donglas. Headley’s G. Lightbody, Homer’s Magpie, 
Horner’s Dulcie, Horner's Candida, Horner’s Rub a, Horner’s Fairy Ring, 
Horner’s Merlin, Walker’s John Simonite, and Homer’s Ivy Green. Mr. 
J. Dou.lis, gardener to F. Whitbourn, Esq., Great Gearies, Ilford, was 
second with vigorous plants ; Mrs. Moore, Prince of Greens, Marmion, and 
Abbe Lizst were especially fine. Mr. W. Bolton, Warrington, was third; 
Mr. F. Pohlman, Halifax, fourth ; Mr. C. Turner, Slough, was fifth ; and an 
extra prize was adjudged to Mr. A. J. Sanders, gardener to Viscountess 
Chewton, Bookham Lodge, Cobham, Surrey. 
Six Varieties.—- S ;ven competitors entered in this class, the competition 
being keen and the plants generally good for the season. Rev. F. D. Horner 
again won first honoirs with Simonite’s F. D. Horner, Headley’s G. Light- 
body, aud Horner's Heroine, Kathleen, and Grayling. Mr. W. H. White, 
Killing worth, Newcastle-on-Tyne, was second with strong plant", including 
tue premier Auricula, Trail’s Prince of Greens, with a truss of eleven clean 
handsome pips, which excited the aimiration of all the growers present. 
Mr F. Pohluian was third, Mr. J. Douglas fourth, and Mr. W. Bolton fifth. 
Four Varieties.—- Some of ihe six competitors in this class had rather 
small plants and pips, s >me having only three blooms on weak stems. The 
best four came from A. Potts, Esq.. Hoole Hall, Chester, his varieties beiDg 
Mrs. Douglas, F. D. Horner, G. Lightbody, and Mrs. Dodw 11. S. Barlow, 
E-q., Manchester, was a goods'eond. Mr. W. L. Walker, Early, Reading, 
was third, his plant of Traill’s Beauty having seven fine p - p". Mr. C. 
Phillips, Ham Ron Road, Reading, was fourth, and Mr. F. E. Henwood was 
fifth, 
Two Varieties. —Not a 1 irge competition, but including some good 
plants. A. Potts, E q., Hoole Hall, Cheshire, took the had with Walker’s 
John Simonite and Simonite’s F. D. Hormr, the former having five very 
large pip". Mr. S. B irlow was s cond with George Lightbody and Black 
Knight, a seedl ng self. Mr S. Spurling, The Nest, Blackheath, was third, 
and Mr. T. E. H-nwood w .s fourth. 
Single Specimens. —Amongst th'se were some of the best plants in the 
Exhibition, but although there were not quite so many as usual, a total of 
eighty was shown in the four sections devot d to them. Green-edge.—First 
and sixth Mr. F. Pohlman with Prince of Greens and Headley’s New Green ; 
second, Rev. F. D. Horner with his namesake, third Mr. J. Douglas with 
Lancashire Hero, fourth and seventh Mr. A. Potts yv th Rev. F. D. Horner and 
Prince of G-eens, and fifth Mr. Bolton with Prince if Greens. Grey-edge.— 
First and six Mr. J. Douglas with a seedling and Silvia, second Mr. A. Potts 
wuh R’chard Headly, third Rev. F. D. Horner with George Lightbody, 
fourth and fifth Mr. Bolton and Mr. White wiih the same variety, and 
seventh Mr. C. Phi.lips with Riehard Headly. White-edge.—First and 
second Mr. A. Potts with Acme, third Mr. Bolton with John Simonite, 
fourth M-. Henwooi w th Acm“, fifth and sixth Mr. Wh'te with Trail’s 
B auty and Horner's Luna, and seventh Mr. Henwood wiih Conservative. 
Stir's.—First Mr. J. D ouglas with Sir W. Hewitt, second Rev. F. D. Horner 
with Heroine, third Mr. Bolton with Mrs. Douglas, fourth Mr. Phillips with 
Pizarro, fifth Mr. Pohlman with Ellen Lancaster, sixth Mr. White with 
L rd of Lome, and s.venth Mr. G. Barlow with Loveliness (a seedling). 
ALPINE AURICULAS. 
The classes devoted to these are always popular, the colours of the 
floweis are so bright and fresh, an t the public cau understand them better 
than tho show varieties. In the class for t welve varieties Mr. C. Turner 
was firs’, showing capital strong plants with t vo or three trusses each, the 
varieties being Mrs. L'ewelyn, Eclipse, Wrestler, Mungo McGeorge, Sym¬ 
metry, Sceptre, Garnet, Edith, Sir H. Darvill, Sunrise, Faust, and Lady H. 
Grosvenor, all Slough varieties. Mr. J. Douglas was second with smaller 
p’auts, hut very fresh and good. Mr. C. Turner was again first for six 
Alpines, showing Mungo MoGeorg", Unique, Suniise, Symmetry, Olympic, 
and Acquisition, similarly Slough vari tits. Mr. J. Douglas followed, one 
of his b st plants being Ada, a charmingly coloured variety. Lady Howard 
de Walden, aud Diadem; M ssrs. Spin ling, Paul & Son, and R. Dean secured 
the othtr p izes ia the order named. Mr. S. Bar'ow had the best four 
Alpines—mutely, Miss Meiklejohn, Velvet Pi'e (a seedling), Polly, and 
Charley Needham ; Messrs. Poulin n, Henwood, aad Paul it Son following 
cl sely. 
Single Specimens. —Gohl-cen’res.—First and second Mr. C. Turner with 
Sun-ise aud Lord H. Grosvenor, third Mr. E. Pohlman with Emir, four'll 
and fif h M-. J. Douglas with Lovebird and Miss Mollie, sixth Mr. Sand°ri 
with King of Belgians. Cream-centres.—Firct and fourth Mr. C. Turner 
with Lidv 11. C ews and Flo.ence, s coni and third Mr. J. Douglas with 
Ada aud Q :een Victoria. 
POLYANTHUSES. 
In the cl isses for thi s > Mr. S. Barlow was the premier exhibitor, tak n' 
first with s>x and three plants, besides several priz s in the single specimen 
class. Tne leiding six p'ants included Sunrise, Linear, P iuce Regent, 
Ch shire Favourite, Exile, and George IV., Mr. J. Donglas following with 
similar varieties. Mr. B rlow’s be t three plants comprised Sunrise, Prince 
Regent and Exile ; Mr. Bolton, Mr. R. D an, and Mr. Douglas being respec¬ 
tively a sec nd, th’rd, and fourth. In th j single specimen gold-laced Poly¬ 
anthus clsss Mr. Douglas was first and fourth with Naxara aud Lancer, 
Mr. B irlow second and third with Exi e and Cheshire Favourite, and Mr. 
Dean fifth and sixth with William IV. and John Blight. 
PRIMROSES AND PRIMULAS. 
These have considerably increased in numbers, and formed a pleasing 
addition t > the show, M-ssr". Paul & Son, Cheshunt, contributing several 
handsome collections, notably their first prize six double varieties of Prim- 
r >ses, which compiiscd several richly colouied forms, H. S. Leonard, E-q., 
Gui dford, a'so agooi collection of double varieties in tbe same class, ant 
secured tbe second ptize. L r. R. Dean had the best twelveFingle Primroses, 
bright and varied in colours; also the premier twelve Fancy Pel) anthusts 
