THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
August 22.] 
2nd Prize to Mr. Ward, of Woolwich, for 
Pulley's Albert. Jenny Lind, Miss Burton, Simpson's Queen, General 
Moore, Kay’s Majestic, Conquering Hero, Martin's President, Geor¬ 
gina, Admiral Curzon, Hale’s Prince Albert, Squire Trow, Vivid, Atter- 
ton's Fanny Gardener, Atterton's Earl Spencer, Atterton's Margaret 
Evans, Bratus, Sir H. Smith, Milwood’s Premier, Juba, King of Scar¬ 
lets, Lady of the Lake, and Queen of Purples. 
An Extra Prize was awarded to Air. Bragg, of Slough. 
We give a few names of the best: 
Cartwright's Rainbow, Duke of York, King of Scarlets, Greig's Mary, 
Lady of the Lake, Calcutt's Juba, May’s Prince Arthur, May’s Edgar, 
Bounty of Wuodhouse, Ely's Prince of Wales, and Village Maid. 
An Extra 1'iuze was also awarded to Air. Wilmer, of Sud¬ 
bury, for a fine stand, several of which were seedlings raised 
by himself. Wo noted a few of the best, namely, 
Wilmer’* John Hepworth, Hale's Prince Albert, Wilmer’s Defiance, 
Martin’s President, Wilmer’s Solander, Strong’s Duke of 1 ork, Bar- 
renger’s Premier, Hufton's Duke of Wellington, Wilson’s Harriet, Ely’s 
Duke of Bedford, Cartwright’s Rainbow, and Hepworth’s Brilliant. 
PICOTEES.-AMATEURS. 
1st Prize to J. Edwards, Esq., Holloway, for 
Alpha, Coronation, Sebastian, Constance, Mary Ann, Sophia, Duchess 
of Sutherland, Amethyst, Mrs. Barnard, Sally, Ne Plus Ultra, Portia, 
Miss B. Coutts, Sylph, Duke of Newcastle, Shaw’s Beauty, Trahur’s 
Rosalind, Agitator, Emma, Norman’s Beauty, Mrs. Annesley, Lady 
Chesterfield, Lucretia, and Elizabeth. 
2nd Prize to — Newliall, Esq., for 
Woolwich, Duchess of Bedford, Sebastian, Rosalind, Prince of Wales, 
Prince Royal, Emperor, May’s Jessica, Lady Smith, Cox’s Regina, 
Isabella, Mrs. Barnard, Hardstone’s Sarah, Mrs. Bevan, Norman’s 
Beauty, Miss B. Coutts, Princess Augusta, Brenklow’s New Purple, 
Portia, Venus, Constance, Duchess of Sutherland , Craske’s Prince 
Albert, and Burrough’s General Jackson. 
NURSERYMEN. 
1st Prize to Air. Norman, Woolwich, for 
Sir R. Peel, Ne Plus Ultra, Brinklow’s Leader, Rosalind, King John, 
Mrs. Bevan, Lord Chandus, Portia, Mrs. Barnard, Shaw’s Beauty, Em¬ 
peror, Mary Ann, Emma, Elegant, Regina, Prince Albert, Duchess of 
Sutherland, Princess Louisa, Venus, Seedling, Garratt's Red Edge, Nor¬ 
man’s Beuuty, Duke of Newcastle, and Isabella, 
2nd Prize to Air. Ward, Woolwich, for 
Exquisite, Mrs. Bevan, Duchess of Bedford, Agitator, Ne Plus Ultra, 
Leader, Norwich Rival, Shaw's Beauty, May’s Portia, Atterton’s Sun¬ 
beam, Duchess of Sutherland, Bidding's Diana, Wilmer’s Prince Royal, 
Craske’s Albert, Sharp’s Elegant, Sarah, Norman’s Beuuty, Hudson's 
Nymph, Cox’s Regina, Lady Chesterfield, Princess Augusta, Countess 
of Gray, Lord Hurdinge, and Gidding’s Vespasian. 
The exhibitors of carnations and picotees have reason to 
be proud of their achievements at this exhibition. We are 
sorry that the Society does not afford better encouragement. 
The Silver Banksian Medal, value twenty shillings, being 
the highest prize, is hut a sorry recompence for the great 
pains and labour requisite to produce a good stand of 24 
carnations or picotees. Can we hope the amount of the 
prize will he increased next year ? We are quite sure such 
tine stands of exquisitely beautiful flowers are worthy of 
better prizes. 
SEEDLING FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
Fancy Pelargoniums.—T he best were sent by Air. Am¬ 
brose, of Battersea. Eclipse and Crimson King we consi¬ 
dered worth growing. 
Carnations. —Alay’s Romeo, rose flake; Alay’s Antonio, 
ditto, are good varieties, with a clear white ground, rose 
edges, and fine clean stripes of clear rose colour. In scarlet 
flakes, Puxley’s Mars is a superior thing, being of a fine 
form, substance, and colour; heavy edged. 
1’icotees. —Red edged IJodwelVs Mary, purple edged 
Alfred, were large flowers, with clear distinct edges. These 
are all worth looking after. 
Fuchsias. —Mr. G. Smith, of Homsey-road, had his seed¬ 
ling, F. Sidonia; a good showy variety ; the corolla is a deep 
! purple ; the sepals well turned up to show it to advantage. 
The only deficiency is in the tube, which is rather short. It 
is a desirable kind. Bank's Expansion, exhibited by Air. 
Turner, is also a desirable variety, flowering profusely; 
colours very distinct, and the parts of the flower of good 
size. 
FRUITS. 
The fruit tent was again a great attraction, hut upon the 
whole there was not so much as was shown at the Park ten 
days previously; hut the grapes, especially the black varie¬ 
ties, were better coloured, and some, in other respects, 
superior. Peaches, Nectarines, and Strawberries, were also 
excellent. To give our country readers some idea of the 
extent of a metropolitan exhibition of fruit, we need only 
821 
mention that there were exhibited on this occasion 28 Pine 
Apples, all handsome fruit; . r >7 dishes of Grapes, 24 large 
dishes of Strawberries, 17 dishes of Peaches, and 10 dishes 
of Nectarines, and a goodly lot of Melons. The weight of the 
heaviest Queen Pine was 5 lb 14 oz. It came from Air. Jones, ! 
gardener to Sir J. Guest, Bart. The heaviest Providence 
Pine weighed !) lb 13± oz., from Mr. Spencer, gardener to the 
Marquis of Lansdowne, Bowood, near Bath. Our limited 
space prevents us giving more particulars of the winner's 
names, varieties of fruit, Ac., exhibited on this occasion. 
Sufficient it is to state, that most of the exhibitors were the 
same whose productions we described in our account of the 
last show in the Regent's Park. 
WHITE FLOWERS, AND THEIR UTILITY IN 
GARDEN DECORATION. 
In the various improvements which florists’ flowers have 
undergone the last few years, it must be admitted that but 
little has been done to obtain tilings purely white; the 
dazzling scarlet, rich purple, or gay yellow, have been more 
sought after than the simple colour whose claims to our 
notice it is my purpose here to call attention to; and as the 
number of plants blooming white is no ways meagre, a few 
remarks on the disposal of them may not he out of place. 
1 should think there are few visitors of a flower-garden by 
twilight, but who have been struck by the gay appearance a 
large plant of the double white rocket has at that time; a 
large white campanula (whose name I cannot call to memory), 
is equally conspicuous, as also are all other free-blooming 
white flowers, while their more gay brethren of the blue, red, 
and other dark hues, appear little different from the foliage 
they wear; if you go into the greenhouse the effect is the 
same, the white azalea, pale-coloured cineraria, and similar 
things attracting your attention. Now, my readers will he 
saying—“ We know all that, hut we seldom visit such places 
at that time; hut what has that to do with daylight gar¬ 
dening?” Have patience, and we will explain. We have said 
that white looks better than other colours in the dark, it is 
because it forms such a strong contrast to all around it,—the 
foliage, the ground, or it may he the turf, nay, even the 
very atmosphere wearing a murky aspect, tend to strengthen 
that contrast, and show its perfection to greater advantage. 
Now, the same thing, or nearly so, may be done by daylight, 
and we will attempt to explain liow and when it may be 
made to do so. 
In very many gardens there are more or less of shrubbery 
borders having a front of flowers, and as such borders are 
generally at some distance from the house and principal 
walks, and their appearance at a distance is an important 
matter, in such borders we say, plant abundance of white 
flowers—as dahlias, roses, phloxes, rockets, and similar 
things. The reason is obvious, the back ground of shrubs, Sec., 
being higher, show the white blooms of such things to every 
advantage, while it is only on closer inspection (that is, when 
the eye takes a more limited view), that deep-coloured 
flowers look well at all. Let any one dubious of this matter 
just examine a scarlet and a white thorn closely, and then 
walk a distance from them and look again; the white one 
which looked well even on close inspection, will look equally j 
so as far off as tlio eye can discern colours at all; not so its , 
companion, a very short distance is sufficient to confound 
the bloom and foliage. Now, this is just the same if a pink, 1 
red, or blue flower is planted in front ot a mass of foliage ot 
other things, the eye being unable to separate these colours J 
from tlie green against which they are placed, they are con¬ 
sequently lost to view. Next to white are those pale colours J 
approaching nearest to it, even yellow and white with a 
mixture of other colouring, but it is surprising how much | 
the latter detracts from the effect white would have alone ; I 
how gay an orchard of cherry-trees in bloom looks at the dis- | 
tance of a mile, compared.to one of apples at the same range . 
of view, the mixture of pink neutralizing the latter; look 
also at an elder-tree, its bloom forming a strong contrast 
with its rich green foliage. The Gueldre rose might form 
another example, if such were wanting, hut it is hoped we 
have said enough to call the attention of your young friends ; 
to the subject; and if they have borders backed by shrubs or j 
trees, or even where the eye of the spectator passing over 
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