THE COTTAGE GARDENER, 
July 10. 
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358 
Duchess of St, Albans, the Marchioness of Aylesbury, the 
Countesses of Bradford and Chesterfield, together with a long 
list of other Beers and Peeresses, Ambassadors, and Foreign 
Ministers. The total number of visitors on that day was 
upwards of 15,000. This speaks well for the future prospects 
of (ho Royal Botanic, which, from its close proximity to 
town, gives it a great advantage over Chiswick, where, we 
believe, at the June exhibition there were not more, or little 
more, than 2000 present. 
The following is a list of the prizes awarded :— 
Extra Gold.—Mr May, gardener to H. Colyer, Esq., Dartford, for 16 
stove and greenhouse plants; Mr Mylam, gardener to G. Itead, Esq., 
Burnham, Somerset, for 20 exotic orchids. 
Barge Gold.—Mr Barter, gardener to L. Bassett, Esq., of Stamford- 
hill, for 16 stove and greenhouse plants ; Mr Williams, gardener to P. B. 
Warner, Esq., Hoddcsden, for 20 exotic orchids. 
Medium Gold.—Mr Green, gardener to Sir E. Antrolms, Cheam, for 
16 stove and greenhouse plants; Messrs Fraser, Leyton, Essex, for 
12 stove and greenhouse plants ; Mr Frost, gardener to E. L. Betts, Esq., 
Maidstone, Kent, for 10 stove and greenhouse plants; Mr Woolley, 
gardener to J. B. Ivcrr, Esq., Cheshunt, for 20 exotic orchids; Messrs 
Veitch, of Exeter and Chelsea, for Id exotic orchids ; Mr Gedney, gardener 
to Sirs Ellis, Hoddesden, for 12 exotic orchids. 
Gold Medal.—Mr Cuthush, gardener to Sirs C. Barnet, for 12 stove and 
greenhouse plants ; Sir. Taylor, gardener to J. Coster, Esq., for 10 stove 
and greenhouse plants; Slessrs Rollison, near Tooting, for 6 Cape 
heaths; Sir Slay, gardener to H. Colyer, Esq., Dartford, (or 8 Cape 
heaths ; Slessrs Veitch, of Exeter and Chelsea, for 20 variegated plants ; 
Sir Clarke, gardener, Hoddesden, for 12 exotic orchids; Sir Turner, 
Slough, for 12 pelargoniums; Sir Nye, gardener to E. Foster, Esq., 
Ciewer Manor, Windsor, for 12 pelargoniums; Sir SBEwen, gardener to 
his Grace the Duke of Norfolk, for a collection of fruit (Arundel). 
Large Silver Gilt.—Sir Rhodes, gardener to J. T. Phillpot, Esq., 
Stamford-hill, for 16 stove and greenhouse plants ; Slessrs Pamplin, 
Leyton, Essex, for 12 stove and greenhouse plants ; Sir Hamp, gardener 
to J. Thorne, Esq., South Lambeth, for 10 stove greenhouse plants; Mr. 
Frost, gardener to E. L. Betts, Esq., Slaidstone, for 6 stove and green¬ 
house plants ; Sir Taylor, gardener to J. Coster, Strcatham, for 6 green¬ 
house azaleas ; Sir Ivison, gardener at Sion House, for 6 exotic orchids; 
Slessrs Fraser, Lea Bridge-road, for 12 pelargoniums; Sir Holders, 
gardener to the Rev. FI. Coleridge, Eton College, for 10 pelargoniums; 
Sir Fleming, gardener to the Duke of Sutherland, Trentham, for mis¬ 
cellaneous collection of, fruit.; Sir Tillyard, gardener to the Speaker, 
Heckficld, for 3 dishes of grapes. 
Large Silver.—W. Peed, gardener to Sirs Tredwell, Norwood, for 10 
stove greenhouse plants ; Sir Williams, gardener to Bliss Trail, Bromley, 
Kent; for 6 stove greenhouse plants; Sir Wiggans, gardener to E. 
Beak, Esq., Isleworth, for 6 aeliimenes ; Sir Green, gardener to Sir FI. 
Antrobus, Cheam, for 6 tall cacti: Blessrs Fraser, Leyton, for 6 Cape 
heaths; Sir F’rost, gardener to E. L. Betts, Esq., Slaidstone, for 8 Cape 
heaths; BIr Roser, gardener to J. Bradbury, Esq., Streatham, for 6 Cape 
heaths; Blessrs Henderson, of Pine-apple-Place, for 20 variegated 
plants; Blessrs Rollison, Tooting, for 20 variegated plants; BIr Green, 
gardener to Sir E. Antrobus, Cheam, for 6 exotic orchids; BIr Bray, 
gardener to Baron Goldsmidt, Regent’s Park, for 6 fuchsias; BIr Turner, 
Slough, for 6 fancy pelargoniums; BIr Windsor, gardener to A. Blyth, Esq., 
of Kiddepore Hall, for 6 fancy pelargoniums ; BIr Turner, Slough, for 6 
pelargoniums ; BIr Watson, market-gardener, Ealing, for a collection of 
fruit; BIr F’leming, Trentham, for 4 pine-apples. 
IXTAS. 
This beautiful and attractive genus of bulbous rooted 
plants was first introduced from its natural habitat, the 
(Jape of Good Hope, in 1757, but lias since been much ne¬ 
glected in England, owing to the supposed difficulties at¬ 
tending its cultivation. Too many persons, entertaining a 
love of, and being connected with, floriculture, fancy that if 
a seed, root, or plant, is planted in ground, and sufficiently 
supplied with moisture, it ought to thrive, and put it down 
as difficult to manage if it does not. 
Such an impression, with reference to this particular 
genus, would easily be removed, by committing to memory 
the necessary information respecting its natural season of 
growth, and the particular nature of the soil and situation 
in which it was origiually found growing. The period of its 
vegetation is during our winter, and its season of blooming, 
early spring, which makes it necessary that the roots should 
be planted in the autumn, and that their growth should be 
protected, so as to secure a successful issue at the blooming 
season—May and June; whilst at the same time it is de¬ 
sirable, unless the place in which they are planted is per 
teclly well drained, such as on the brow of a bank, between 
the interstices of a piece of rockwork, or in the crevices of 
natural rock, that they should he transplanted annually, 
as soon as the leaves are decayed, so as to preserve the 
bulbs from putefraction, to which they are very liable after 
the period oi blooming is past. The sands, in which they 
are found growing at the Cape, arc so perfectly dry dur¬ 
ing that season of the year, as to he best imitated in an 
artificial way, by placing the roots in the florists’ root and 
seed drawers, or bagging them, and placing them on a dry 
shelf. 
By taking these precautions, I have never experienced 
much difficulty in the cultivation of these pretty “ gems,” 
and I have devoted much lime and attention to their culture 
during the past ten years, hut have been amply repaid l'or it. 
A clump of Ixia cratcroUlcs is a gorgeous sight, whilst the 
bright, golden-orange hue of Ixia conica bids flowers, as a 
whole, dciiance to imitate it in tint, and the coppei'y hues of 
the varieties Vuprca, with the pale sea - green of viridi- 
! Jlora, are not produced in any other flowers that 1 have ever 
I seen. The spikes of the last, with their flowers expanded 
in the sun, have all the appearance of flowers manufactured 
from tissue paper, and the contrast of the dark centre on 
the pale green is very beautiful. 
Having just seen the following collection in bloom, and 
made Hie following notes, I forward them to you, under 
the impression that they may he interesting to many of the 
readers of The Cottage Gardener. I would add, they 
may be grown in any light, rich soil, by planting them four 
inches deep, in the months of October and November, and 
protecting them during the winter months. 1 do not think, 
from the experience I have had, that it would be well to 
plant them before, as it excites them to earlier growth, and 
renders them the more susceptible of being injured by frost, 
and, consequently, more difficult to protect. A warm, 
sunny exposition is decidedly the best, as the flowers expand 
and look most gay when the sun is upon them. They are 
also adapted to pot culture, and should be planted, three or 
four roots, iu a No. 60, or three-inch pot, and kept plunged 
in ashes or saw dust, or a mixture of both, during the 
winter months, shifted into No. 32’s, or six-inch pots, with 
| a little rotted manure immediately over the crocks, iu the 
■ first week of March, and placed on a gentle bottom-heat, 
so as to excite their growth and start them into bloom. 
i Care must be taken to give them abundance of air in dry 
weather. With this care, success has and will be secured 
; in the cultivation of one of the most elegant, showy, and 
attractive of the genera of bulbous-rooted plants ever known 
or grown in the kingdom. The varieties I have just seen are 
i as follows :— 
I Ixia aulica ; rosy-yellow; growing two feel high. 
■ I. capillaris ; lavender - rose - colour; growing two feet 
high. 
I. conica; beautiful bright orange; one foot high, and a 
very early bloomer. 
I. crateroidcs ; a very early bloomer; bright crimson- 
i scarlet; very slmwy and pretty; growing hut fifteen inches 
high. 
I. euprea capitata ; copper-coloured, with dark centre; 
dwarf iu habit; a large trusser, and a profuse bloomer. 
I. euprea exaltala ; richer in colour than the last, grows 
taller, is branchy, and a very free bloomer. 
I. degans ; white, with rosy centre; tall, light, and 
elegant. 
I. erecta ; pure white; grows two feet high ; is erect and 
handsome. 
I I.fiexuosa; pale lavender-colour; tall growing, hut very 
loose in its habit; a late bloomer, 
i I. lilaeina ; lilac, with dark centre ; grows eighteen inches 
high, and blooms freely. 
I. lilaeina ramosa ; resembles the last in colour, but is 
'• branchy in its habit, and grows taller. 
1. lilaeina Sarnie nsis ; purplish-lilac; grows eighteen 
j inches high, and is a very abundant bloomer. 
I. linearis ; white; a tail-grower; is light and elegant in 
its style of growth. 
I. longijlora ; buff colour; dwarf in habit, and lute- 
llowering. Derives its name from the peculiar length of 
the tube; is synonymous with Trilonia longijlora. 
I. longijlora hybrida ; beautiful porcelain-like rosy- white ; 
| a branched and abundant bloomer ; late flowering. 
I. longijlora purpurea ; like the last, but the colouring is 
purple instead of rose. 
7. longijlora rosea; similar in stylo of growth to longi¬ 
jlora, but rose-colour. 
I. maculata suprema ; buff or nankeen-buff, with crimson 
centre, and crimson tips to petals ; grows but fifteen inches 
