110 
THE FLORIST AND FOMOLOGIST. 
[ July, 
since tlio famous Intcniatiuiial Horticullural Exhibi¬ 
tion of 1866. It was a flower show in every sense of 
tlie word, the fine-foliaged plants which of late years 
ha^•o almost entirely monopolised the show-tents 
being more restricted in numbers, while the grass- 
covered slopes and terraces under the large marquee 
were clothed with a brilliant display of Flora’s 
brightest ornaments, arraiiged in the happiest 
manner possible by Mr. Barron. The most striking 
feature was undoubtedly the wonderful display of 
Pot Roses contributed by Messrs. Paul and Son, of 
Chcshmit, and Mr. Turner, of Slough; and the e.xtra- 
ordinary collection of Clematises sent from Woking 
by Messrs. George Jackman and Sou. Next to these 
should probably be placed a large group of flne- 
foliaged and flowering plants, arranged for effect by 
Mr. John Wills, and arranged, too, in a manner so 
simjjle, elegant, and effective as to win additional 
credit even for Mr. Wills, who surpassed himself on 
this occasion. As an exceedingly chaste and novel 
combination of flowers and foliage, we may also 
name the group of Roses and Japanese Acers, set up 
by Messrs. Veitch and Sons, which were so happily 
blended together as to produce a perfectly unique 
effect of the most pleasing character.-The Whit¬ 
suntide show of the Manchester Society, which has 
become one of the chief horticultural events of the 
year, despite the concurrent attraction of a rival 
exhibition in London, was not in any ap]ircciablc 
degree shoni of its usual grandeur, or sensibly cur¬ 
tailed in its propoi-tions. It may be specially noted 
as remarkable for the very tine display of stove and 
greenhouse plants, the merit throughout this class 
of subjects having never before, as we think, ranged 
at so uniformly high a standard. Another remark¬ 
able feature consisted of Mr. Turner’s Pot Roses, 
which, notwithstanding the giants displayed in the 
tents of South Kensington, were of a very high order 
of merit. Throughout the show, moreover, there 
was a manifest reduction in the number of the 
coarser-looking foliage ])lants, and a corresponding 
increase m the number of flowering .subjects, the 
consequence of which was that a much brighter and 
more cheerful aspect pervaded the whole scene. 
There was a falling-off in the number of exliibits 
amongst the Orchids, through the defection of one or 
two leading exhibitors, but the reduction in bulk was 
met by a greater amount of variety, and the empty 
space was well filled by noble plants from the collec¬ 
tion of Mr. W. Turner, a sou of the late noted Orchido- 
philist of Pendlebuiy, the display altogether being 
abundant, and the quality exceedingly good.-The 
Rhododendron Shows from the Surrey nurseries—Mi'. 
A. ATaterer’.s, at the Regent’s Pai’k, and Messrs. J. 
Waterer and Sons’, at Chelsea—have been good of 
their kind, notwithstanding that the late severe 
winter had left its mark on many of the flower- 
trusses of the tenderer sorts. 
— JJThe American Pomological Society 
will bold its seventeentli session at Eoebester, 
New York, on September 17, and three follow¬ 
ing days. All persons interested in the cultivation 
of fruits are invited to be present and take seats in 
the convention. The meetings will be held in the 
Council-chamber of the city of Rochester, and the 
cxliiijitiou of fruits will be held in the grounds of 
the Western New York Agricultural Society. Several 
gentlemen have been invited to prepare papers for 
the session ; amongst others. Prof. W. J. Beal, on 
“ Distinguishing Varieties of Apples by the Flowers 
W. Saunders, Esq., on “Experiments in Fruit-cul¬ 
ture;” J. Bush, E,sq.,on “ Grape-rot in America and 
Mr. T. Meehan, ou “ The Sexes of Flowers in Relation 
to the Fruitfulness of Orchards and New Varieties.” 
It is earnestly hoped that there will bo a full attend¬ 
ance of delegates from all quarters, thereby stimu¬ 
lating more extensive cultivation by the concentrated 
information and expei’ience of cultivators, and aiding 
the Society in perfecting its catalogue of fruits. 
— ©F Asparagus culture, tbe Gtu-clener’s 
McKjazine points out that nine times in every 
ten everywdiere, in large and small gardens alike, 
the plant is treated as though light and air were of 
little value to it. It is not ouongli to eirsuro snf- 
licieut space in the first planting, but to take care 
to avoid a cause of ultimate crowding, that the 
most careful cultivators arc apt to neglect. It is 
very simple and very natural, thi.s unobserved mis¬ 
chief. Tbe plant sheds abundance of seeds, and tbe 
beds soon bristle with self-sown plants, and these 
are sdlowed to remain, instead of being ruthlessly 
pulled out. Thus many thousands of 'well-mailo 
and possibly pirofitable asparagus-beds prove to be 
worthless, and a mere vexation to all concerned. 
Youug gardeners, in particular, ueed to lay firm hold 
of the fact that “weeding” includes thinning, 
although in our calendars we may not often say so. 
Young asparagus plants that apjicar in an asparagus- 
bed already well furnished are woods and usurpers, 
and should bo removed as ruthlessly as any other 
weeds, no matter what their names may be. 
— ®HE Croton Fenzii, recently offered in 
commerce by M. Salviati, of Florence, is de¬ 
scribed as a jewel among tbe Crotons. It is tbe 
result of a cross effected, in the grcoubouscs of Sesto, 
between C. Ycitchii and C. Weismauni, and lias 
moderate-sized oval acuminate leaves, richly veined 
with golden-yellow, the iirincipal nerves being 
purplish-red, which colour extends to tbe stem and 
the petiole. The habit is so dwarf and compact that 
plants only a foot high arc often seen in all tlioir 
splendour, the yellow streaking then extending to 
almost tbe whole surface of the leaf, and the red 
nerves shining on the yellow ground. It is a variety 
especially fitted for the decoration of small green¬ 
houses, as it requires very little room to be able to 
develope all its charms. This variety has been 
dedicated to the Chevalier E. O. Fenzi, president of 
the Royal Horticultural Society of Tuscany. 
— E NEW Variegated Myosotis (J/. dissiti- 
fioraf) bas,says the A-fs// Fm-meds Gazette, been 
raised in tbe garden of Mr. Percy and Lady 
Annette La Touche, at Newberry, in Kildare. It has 
maintained its character for two years, and has been 
extensively propagated, both by cuttings and division 
of the roots, so as to have been used largely as an 
effective indoor decorative plant, and for bedding 
purposes in the flower garden. “ The bold and ele¬ 
gant variegation of tbe leaves, tbe bright blue, with 
small yellow eye, of the flowers, the particularly 
ueat and compact habit of the plant, and the facility 
with which it may be multiplied, combine to render 
it particularly suitable for bedding purposes.” The 
plant was shown at one of the meetings of tbe Royal 
Horticultural Society of Ireland, and bad a certitieuto 
and the Society’s bronze medal awarded to it. 
— ®wo Hardy Shrubby Plants of tbe 
Central Nevada region, writes Prof. Sargent, in 
tbe American Journal of Science and may 
be mentioned wind), from their beauty, are especially 
worthy of introduction to cultivation. (1.) Cowania 
mexii-ana, a large rosiiceou,s shrub, nearly allied to 
Cercocarptis, with elegant piimutilidly-lobed leaves, 
