I 
224 THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTPC 
Of Exotic Orchids the first prize (A8), for twelve, was 
awarded to Mr. Bassett, gardener to R. S. Ilolford, Esq., of 
Weston Birt. The most remarkable plants were a mag¬ 
nificent Sobralia, with twenty-five expanded blossoms; 
handsome plants of J r aitda snavis, V. tricolor, Dendrobium 
densiflorum (six spikes), I). nobile , and D.fmbriatum ; large 
plants of Brussia brachial a, Calanthe veralrifolia, and 
Oncidium sphacelation. 
Some good Exotic Ferns, in twelves, were exhibited. 
Mr. Bassett’s collection (first prize, A3) contained fine 
plants of Gymnoyramma chrysophylla, calomelatios , and tomen- 
tosa ; Lomaria Chilensis, Aspidium trifoliahim, Anemidictyon 
lonyifo/iurn, Blackmon Brazilieitse, and Platyloma rotundifolia. 
The Lycotods were well-grown, large, and healthy. Mr. 
Bassett’s collection of six (first prize, 30s.) contained Wil- 
denovi, dichotoma, mnbrosa, Daniehiana, Sehotti, and Gitl- 
liolli. 
The Thants with Ornamental Foijace were many of 
them fine. The best collection of fifty (prize A5), from 
Mr. Tan ton, gardener to G. O. Wintle, Esq., would not have 
disgraced the Crystal I’alace. A bushy plant of Croton 
pictum, four feet by three feet, short-jointed, and dense in 
foliage, was a very striking plant. Fine plants were in 
the same collection of Pandanus utilis, Mahonia Nepalensc, 
Scindapsus pertusus, Cissns discolor, Banksia speciosa, Dra- 
ccena ferrea, and a narrow green-leaved species, Dicffen- 
bachia, MniaiUn, Ac. 
The. Stove and Greenhouse Plants occupied the greater 
part of the largest tent. The first prize (A8 for twelve) 
was given to Mr. Shipton. Amongst the best plants we 
noticed an Eriostcmon scabntm, very dense, four feet by 
three-aud-a-half feet; Pimelia Hendersonii, four feet by four 
feet; Polygala cordata, very fine, three feet by two-and-a- 
half feet; Azalea Gledslanesii, four feet by three feet; Les- 
chenaultia fonnosa and Baxter/, each two-and a-half feet by 
one-and-a-half feet; a well-flowered Rhyncospcrmnm; a good 
and healthy Boronia serrnlala; and a well-grown Aplielexis 
macrantha. 
The Heaths were about as good as they have usually 
been seen of late years, but we regret much to observe a 
manifest falling oil' in the cultivation of this very beau¬ 
tiful family. The first prize for eighteen plants (TO), was 
gained by Mr. Shipton, who had a good plant of Caven- 
dishii. The first prize for four plants (A3), by Mr. Thomas, 
whose collection contained nice plants of T'enlricosa minor 
and alba, and a fine plant of E. Cavendishii. 
The Geraniums were not so good in proportion as many 
of the other classes. The prizes were awarded to the 
plants which exhibited the nearest approach to well-cul¬ 
tivated specimens. The first prize for twelve (A4), was 
taken by Mr. Scott, of Bathford. The first prize for six 
(A3), by Mr. S. Noltle, Box, Wiltshire. The first prize for 
twelve fancies (A3), by Messrs. Garraway and Mayes. First 
prize for six (30s.), by Mr. Tanton. 
The Fuchsias (in sixes) were well grown, handsome, and 
in good condition. The first prize (A3), was awarded to 
Mr. Owen, gardener to R. Castle, Esq. He had a very fine 
and healthy plant of the rather delicate Climax ; a plant of 
Purity, symmetrical, and loaded with blossoms; and a large, 
| healthy specimen of Glory. 
The Calceolarias were abundant, and amongst them 
were some pleasing varieties. Some Gloxinias and Cine¬ 
rarias were also exhibited, the former not sufficiently for¬ 
ward, the latter past these; but Pansies were good and 
abundant. There were also three good collections of 
British Ferns. 
The fruit and vegetables were generally good, and the 
Strawberries were particularly flue. 
CHILDREN’S GARDENS. 
(Concluded from p. 175.) 
Of late much has been written about the utility of teach¬ 
ing “ common things,” by which phrase it seems to be 
meant things that everybody is supposed to know and doesn't. 
Estimating greatly the valuo of such teaching, I think I 
cannot conclude these notes better than by pointing out a 
, few modes in which the garden may be made subservient 
to it. 
I 
GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION.— June 24,1850. 
For this purpose I would select a piece of ground in a 
warm situation, to be devoted to experimental and economic 
botany, in which to lead my pupils through a series of prac¬ 
tical experiments, new and old, illustrative of the leading 
points of vegetable physiology, the principle of fructifica¬ 
tion and hybridising, the comparative effects of manures, 1 
with many other things which might here be exemplified on 
a small scale; nothing, in fact, is too simple for those who 
have everything to learn. For instance, transplanting, bud¬ 
ding, or grafting, both in the right and the wrong season, j 
will lead to the query, “ Why should the time of year cause ! 
a difference?" the “because’’ affording an opportunity of ! 
explaining the theory of sap circulation, upon which, again, 
fresh experiments may be based. 
I admit that a certain amount of knowledge is requisite ; ! 
more, perhaps, than is possessed by many, but not more 
than is easily acquired. The other part of the scheme is, 
however, free from any such difficulty. 
In the remainder of the ground I would plant such things 
as, though generally known by name, are confined in their 
cultivation to limited localities. To show the use of such a 
collection, I will relate the circumstance which gave birth 
to the idea. Some years since I was travelling in Kent a 
few weeks before harvest. Next mo sat a young man, appa¬ 
rently from some northern county, who criticised Kentish 
farming pretty freely as we went along. By-and by, however, 
we passed a field of Canary seed, with its graceful little- 
cones still green. The young man inquired what kind of 
corn it was. “Those, Sir?” said the coachman; “ those are 
nutmegs, Sir.” “Nutmegs! I thought they only grew 
abroad.*’ “Quite a mistake, Sir; can’t you see the green 
nuts a-top?’’ The passenger could not but believe his own 
eyes, and asked further how many pounds’ weight an acre 
was a good crop, which caused a violent explosion of the 
listeners’ pent-up laughter. 1 could not but admit that the 
victim merited the ridicule for his self-conceit, and at the 
same time my thoughts were directed to the discovery of a 
remedy, or rather, a preventive, for such ignorance of things 
miscalled “ common.” 
The object, then, should be to select such plants as would 
not otherwise come under notice in the locality. Thus, in 
Kent, Hops and Canary are plentiful enough, but in many 
other counties they require to be grown expressly for the 
purpose of making the young acquainted with them. Flax 
and Hemp, Tobacco and Maize, are also worthy of a place, 
for though all persons know their uses, yet few are familiar 
with them in their living state. These examples suffice to 
exemplify my idea; and as my object is not to write a treatise, 
but only to afford tiints capable of development-, I proceed. 
The collection of an herbarium of British wild flow T ers is 
continually recommended as a healthful and instructive pur¬ 
suit ; yet I suspect it to be among the things more generally 
approved than practised. I doubt not that the experience 
of some of my readers is much as follows. Having read 
with delight one of the interesting treatises on “ Wild 
Flowers,” he lost no time in providing himself with a plen¬ 
tiful stock of blotting paper, and, full of zeal, issued forth 
on a fine summer’s day to gather specimens. Truly it was 
an easy task! The tin box was speedily filled and home re- j 
gained. But oh, the naming! What hunting over his j 
book! what poring over descriptions only half understood 
does it cost to identify the miscellaneous collection ! Plant 1 
after plant is laid aside and named at a venture, till at last- ; 
the task is given up in despair. Such was literally my own 
case, and for years after I never thought of it except with 
disgust. The error lay in attempting too much at first, and 
I desire to spare others from a similar disappointment by 
advising them to adopt the maxim, “ Divide and conquer.” 
Let only one or two classes be taken in hand at a time; sup¬ 
pose we say, the Nettles, the Grasses, the Ferns, the 
Mosses. The first three of these, at least, are easy, though 
the young collector will find, as his eye gets sharpened by 
practice, that there are more species of them hi his neigh¬ 
bourhood than he before suspected. 
A good beginning may be made by forming a collection of | 
sprigs of all the forest trees and Firs, with accompanying sam- ! 
pies of their fruits or cones; the leaves are easily dried in I 
perfection, and the English name affords a key by which the ; 
scientific one may be discovered. If the description be care- 
