178 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
ends, as new seedlings, variegated Plants, Ferns, and 
Lycopods. 
There were several exhibitors whose names I did not 
hear at Chiswick, or at the Regent’s Park; and there are 
some who show regularly at both places who did not 
appear at the Crystal Palace. Mrs. Lawrence made a 
poor figure; she could not win a third prize in a collec¬ 
tion of twelve plants; but she had some extra medal, 
and had better luck with a collection of twenty varie¬ 
gated plants. Her style of growing plants into huge 
bushes is now out of fashion. We had only one plant 
of that style at this Show—a Pimelea spectabilis, from 
Mr. Collier, of Hartford, which completely spoiled the 
“effect” of his thirty-plant group setup purposely for 
that end. 
The first prize of .£30, for a collection of thirty 
PLANTS IN FLOWER, OR OUT OF FLOWER, PLACED FOR 
effect, was given to the Messrs. Rollison, of 'l ooting. 
This group consisted of Erica Lindleyana, that splendid 
specimen I noted at Gore House ; Rhopala corcovadensis, 
and Auracaria excelsa glauca, each nine or ten feet high. 
Then a fine Oncidium Jlexuosum, with Cissus discolor, 
and a Pitcher plant; then the “ Elk-horn Fern,” from 
Moreton Bay, called Platycerium grande, with Erica, 
ventricosa magnifica, and Aphelexis macrantha purpurea. 
These were the three principals, and the two flanks to 
each, in the centre of the group, as a butler would begin 
to set a dinner-service; but more of this next week. 
Two Caladiums, an Eriostemon and Azalea; a beauti¬ 
fully-variegated Pandanus, and a Fern called Nepliro- 
lepis davallioides; a Dendrobium nobile, and Lycopo¬ 
dium stoloniferum, with Adenaiulra frag runs; two match 
Heaths, Cavendishii and Depressa; two match Varie¬ 
gated Pine Apple plants; two match Heaths again, 
Erica Westphalingia and Elegans, with a Pitcher plant; 
a largo Eriostemon, and a Gardenia intermedia to 
match; the extraordinary leaved Philodendron per- 
tusum, matched by the no less remarkable Fern called 
Angiopteris evitica, a strong stove Fern; a medium¬ 
sized Azalea, and a Polygala to match. This group 
was in the centre of one side. 
The next thirty were from Mr. Veitch, who had £15 
for putting them in their proper places. These were 
arranged at the west end, and round the south and north 
corners of the stage—the best situation for showing off 
the plants individually; but the very worst place in the 
Crystal Palace for exhibiting the “ effect ” which was 
desired. How can you tell the effect of any pattern 
without seeing all the lines or figures in it at one glance 
or view ? or how could I tell the effect of a certain 
i number of plants, when I could hardly see two-tliirds 
i of their number from any one point ? There was a 
| highlander once, who wanted a gun to shoot round a 
! corner; but the Crystal Palace authorities, and some 
nurserymen, ought to have known better than that 
plants, and splendid plants, too, could be seen round j 
two corners. It was not the value of the individual 
plants, nor the beauty of their flowers or foliage, nor the 
skill displayed in their cultivation, which were so much 
! desired, as the effect which the whole would produce on 
j the eye when seen at one glance; but their value, 
j rarity, and cultivation, would add a good deal to that 
I effect in the eyes of practical men, though these qua¬ 
lities might not tell on the multitude. 
Mr. Yeitcli’s plants were better matched even than 
: those who had the first prize ; and if the two collections 
j were on two flat surfaces, so to speak, there could not 
■ be a five shilling difference between the “ effects ;” and 
i as such differences are not so well understood and 
1 appreciated by the bulk of gardeners as they certainly 
j deserve to be, I must be excused, as an old gardener, 
j for this free criticism ; for there is no part of our art 
which I value so much as that of giving effect to even 
the simplest things with which we have anything to do. 
June 12. j 
A man may spoil the appearance of the best pudding 
that ever was made by putting it on the wrong dish; 
and so with everything else under the sun. 
There were three principals, or centres, in this, as in 
the first group, consisting of a large Dicksonia squamosa 
— a tree Fern from New Zealand, with seven wide- 
spreading branches; an Acrides virens, and a Cissus 
discolor ; two match Philodrendron pertusum ; two match 
red Azaleas ; two match Orchids, Dendrobium nobile and 
Oncidium sphacelatum; two ditto, Cattleya Mossicc and 
Dendrobium densiflorium. On one side were Lilium 
giganteum, with twelve flowers; Coleus Blumei, Platyce- 
rium grande, and Erica depressa; and on the other side, 
another gigantic Lily, also with twelve blooms; a golden I 
variegated Pandanus; a Dracccna draco and Erica \ 
Bruniades; then three dwarf Palms, and two Azaleas 
to match. 
The third collection, for effect, was at the other end of 
the stage, and was liable to the same objections; butthe j 
faults were not so apparent, as little or no “ effect ” was ; 
attempted by any of the three gardeners who competed 
for the highest prize. It seems as if most gardeners 
require a drilling first, as under butlers, to set the dinner 
service, and to learn the value of a centre and two 
flanks, a “ top,” and a “ bottom,” and four corner dishes; 
then, between the top and centre, and between the 
bottom and the centre, the rest of the dishes in the bill 
of fare must come in as match dishes, either cross 
corncrwise or straight aloDg. Nothing under the sun 
is easier when you once get the key to the plan. That 
key is the centre, whether it be one plant or a single 
group of plants; then put something different on each 
side of the centre, and let every two, or pair, to the 
right hand, and to the left, be as near alike as possible, 
till your space is filled. If the third plant from the 
centre on the right hand is Allamanda catluirtica, let us 
say, and the third on the left is Dracocephalum gracile, 
of the same bulk as Allamanda, how would you stand? 
You would just be saved from having a pig with one 
ear, and that would be all. You matched the size, but 
a bold, single, yellow-flowered plant, with large, glassy 
leaves, is the very opposite to a small, wiry-leaved, 
slender plant, with numerous heads of very small white 
flowers, and, therefore, the two can never make match 
plants for effect; but come to the nicety of “ effect,” 
and you will find it difficult to allow Erica Cavendishii 
and Erica depressa to match one another ; as, although 
they are so much alike that Uncle Tom could not tell 
| the one from the other, by the leaves and flowers, their 
I modes of growth split the difference. Cavendishii 
shoots up like a Scotch Fir, while Depressa spreads like 
a thorn Acacia. 
All this applies equally in cutting out beds, in plant¬ 
ing them, in making nosegays, in trimming bonnets, 
and in a thousand other ways; and looking at things 
which are done on a contrary system, or rather on no 
system at all, affects the eyes of some people like vinegar 
or hartshorn, while others can look on such opposite 
things alike, or with equal’pleasure or indifference. 
The third prize of £7, for effect, was awarded to Mr. 
May, gardener to — Collier, Esq., Dartford. His top I 
plant was the said huge Pimelea spectabilis, which is j 
three or four years older than is now thought exhibit- ! 
able, but a useful size to fill a large conservatory. A | 
good Ronddetia speciosa, in front of the Pimelea, and ; 
completely drowned by it; lLedaroma tulipifera, badly ! 
coloured ; two fine Eriostemons, two Vincas, two Epacris, \ 
two Aphelexis, Allamanda Neriifolia, Dendrobium cal- j 
ceolare, Epidendron crassifolium, Steplianotis Jloribunda, j 
Boronia pinnata, Dillwynia nudis sanguineum, Erica j 
propendens, Phamocoma prolifer a, in bull, Leschenaultia, ! 
Polygala Dalmatiana, Azalea exquisita, and Chorozema j 
Lawrenciana. 
\ An extra prize of £7 was given to Mr. Reed, gar- ! 
