December 5, 1885. 
220 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
special attention in the way of airing them, and in 
order to prevent steam from rising and getting pent up 
in the frames, it will he advisable to leave a little air on 
them day and night for the present, and subsequently 
to give sufficient to prevent the occupants from making 
a weakly growth— H. TV. Ward, Langford Castle. 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
The continuation of dull and wet weather which 
we have experienced during the last month has 
been very injurious to plants generally, but more 
especially to winter-flowering subjects, and it will 
require an extra amount of care and attention to keep 
up a good supply. In the first place, sufficient fire-heat 
should be kept up to allow of air being given freely on 
all favourable occasions, but in case of foggy weather, 
when it is advisable to keep the ventilators closed, the 
temperature should be kept as low as is consistent with 
safety ; all plants should be gone through and cleaned, 
as opportunity occurs. ’Winter-flowering Begonias are 
very liable to rot off if any leaves that have fallen off are 
allowed to remain about the stems. Many plants will do 
better if stood up on inverted pots, as this gives a better 
chance of the air passing through them, besides bring¬ 
ing the plants nearer the glass. 
Soil for Potting. —It is very important that any 
compost required for potting should be in good con¬ 
dition ; that is, that it should not be too wet or too 
dry, and w T ere there is any difficulty in obtaining it 
dry enough, it will be better to delay potting until the 
soil has been dried. We like to mix a little soot with 
any manure, or leaf-mould that is required for potting, 
and allow it to lay for some time before using it ; or for 
some plants a little slack lime mixed with dung and 
laid up for some time before it is required for use, will 
be very beneficial. 
-- 
FLORICULTURE. 
Auriculas. —I do not know what is the experience of 
other cultivators of the Auricula, but I have had fewer 
autumn trusses than usual this season. The plants are 
losing their leaves and falling off to their winter’s rest; 
they are gone over occasionally, any dead leaves re¬ 
moved, and where necessary the surface soil is gently 
stirred. Damp is hurtful at this season of the year, and 
I keep a current of air passing through the house on all 
favourable occasions. Water is given only to those 
plants that need it, but I have a great objection to 
allowing the plants to go dust-dry. The stage in my 
house being a raised one, any water running out of the 
pots on to the shelves is soon dried up, and damp does 
not gather about the pots as it would were they standing 
on an ash bottom in a cold frame. It is during December 
and up to the middle of February that a collection of 
Auriculas has the least interest for the cultivator, but 
he can yet find some delight in visiting his collection 
even at the darkest and deadest period of the year. 
The absence of autumn trasses leads me to hope that I 
may have an earlier bloom in consequence, and the 
strongest blooming plants look as well as one can well 
desire to see them .—R D. 
--- 
CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOWS. 
Liverpool.— Nov. 24 th <k 25th .—The autumn 
exhibition was held at St. George’s Hall, and was a 
most successful and satisfactory undertaking. This 
show deservedly ranks among the finest in the kingdom, 
and the one just closed was no exception to the rule. 
It was admitted to have been one of the finest, if not 
the best autumnal show ever held in Liverpool. The 
cut blooms were very numerous and of excellent quality ; 
the collections that were staged for the silver vase being 
exceptionally fine. Trained Chrysanthemums were of 
an excellent order, whilst the fruit was first-rate in 
every particular. In almost every class, and there 
were about seventy, there was a very strong competition, 
some having eight collections, whilst in one class for two 
bunches of black Grapes fifteen stands were put up for 
the prizes given. Thefirst sight of the show on entering 
was of a very pleasing character, the handsome hall 
when filled with articles of a high-class character adding 
very considerably to the beautiful character of the 
show. There were many plants of a miscellaneous 
character staged round the hall, Palms, Ferns, and stove 
and greenhouse plants being well blended with the 
trained, Incurved, and Pompoue Chrysanthemums. 
With a good working committee alrd such an enterpris¬ 
ing secretary as Mr. Bridge, it is no wonder that the 
exhibits were arranged in a pleasing manner, and in 
sufficient time for tliejudges to get to their duties, so 
that at the appointed time all was ready for an admiring 
and appreciative public. Though a steady downpour of 
rain continued during the whole of the first day, and 
there was the counter attraction of an exciting election 
the second day, there would appear to have been little 
or no falling off in regard to the numbers who visited 
the show, as a constant stream of visitors were passing 
through all the time ; during the evenings it was diffi¬ 
cult even to get a glance at some of the cut blooms. 
Among the Japanese were some of very recent intro¬ 
duction ; such as Yal d’Andorre, Punch, F. A. Davies, 
Balmoreau, and Belle Pauline, while Cullingfordii in 
other stands stood out very boldly. In the class for 
thirty-six blooms, eighteen Incurved and eighteen 
Japanese, the 1st prize was a ten-guinea vase, tire fortu¬ 
nate winner being Mr. J. Jellicoc, gardener toF. H. 
Gossage, Esq., Woolton, who had excellent examples 
all through ; a capital lot was put up by Mr. F. Roberts, 
gardener to W. D. Holt, Esq., _ who was 2nd; a fine 
collection also was staged by Mr. T. Leadbetter, gardener 
to R. X. Dale, Esq., who was awarded the 3rd prize. 
With twenty-four Incurved F. H. Gossage, Esq., was 
again 1st, and E. N. Dale, Esq., 2nd. Mr. J. Marten, 
gardener to Mrs. W. G. Bateson secured the 1st prize 
with eighteen blooms ; J. E. Reynolds, Esq., being 
placed in the premier position with twelve. A most 
magnificent display was made with Japanese ; Mr. A. 
E. Cox, gardener to W. II. Watts, Esq., coming in well 
with twenty-four, and ill’s. IV. G. Bateson, 2nd. ; 
whilst with twelve, W. S. Taylor, Esq., was 1st, and 
W. H. Jones, Esq., 2nd. For six anemone and six 
reflexed, the highest prizes in both cases were secured 
by Mr. H. Cunningham. 
A class set apart for exhibitors who had not won a 
prize at any of the society’s exhibitions, and including 
six Incurved and six Japanese, was well contested; the 
prizes falling to R. FT. Greenshields, Esq. ; E. Cain, 
Esq. ; and H. J. Robinson, Esq. A good lot of trained 
plants were staged, the large flowering section compris¬ 
ing plants about 2 ft. high, with from 30 to 40 blooms; 
whilst the trained Pompons were capitally shaped 
plants, with abundance of bloom upon them. Mr. J. 
Hughes, gardener to H. Maclver, Esq., was 1st for six 
large-flowered plants, which included Jardin des Plants, 
Empress of India, Mrs. G. Glenny, Mrs. Shipman, John 
Salter, and Lady Hardinge ; Mr. C. Finnegan was 2nd 
with a very fine half dozen. Mr. J. J ones, gardener to 
W. Clark, Esq., was 1st with three. With six Pompons, 
Mr. Finnegan, New Brighton, was 1st, having splendid 
examples of White, Yellow, and Lilac Cedo Nulli, St. 
Michael, Mrs. Wheeler, and Mr. Astey; H. Maclver, 
Esq., 2nd. Mr. Finnegan was again 1st with three. 
Mr. W. Busland, gardener toll. Lewis, Esq., succeeded 
in being placed 1st with six untrained specimens, 
which were full of bloom, but by the side of trained 
specimens looked rather rough and untidy ; Mr. J. 
Vaughan, gardener to E. C. Coltart, Esq., was 2nd. 
The stove and greenhouse plants were very numerous, 
and in capital form. For six, H. Watts, Esq., came 
well to the front with good examples of Latania bor- 
bonica, Dicksonia antarctica, Ciotou Queen Victoria, 
Erica hvmalis, and Ixora coccinea ; F. H. Gossage, 
Esq., was 2nd. W. H. Watts, Esq., was again 1st 
with four plants, staging a splendid Croton Disraelia, 
Ixora Dixiana, Cypripedium insigne, and a Calamis ; 
Mrs. A. Johnson was a capital 2nd. The last named 
exhibitor was 1st with four Ferns, staging Davallia 
Mooreana, Dicksonia antarctica, a grand plant of Miro- 
lepea liirta cristata, and Adiantum trapeziforme. Mrs. 
A. Johnson was again successful with three palms, 
showing large plants of Seaforthia elegans, Areca 
lutescens, &c. 
Many good collections of Roman Hyacinths were 
staged, the 1st prize falling to R. Singlehurst, Esq. ; 
while Mr. F. Foster, gardener to Mr. J. Brancher, was 
1st with six fine pots of Chinese Primulas. Poinsettias 
were shown by Mr. B. Hall and Mr. J. Woolwright, 
the former being 1st; Mr. J. Cunningham was 1st with 
Mignonette. For six table plants Mrs. J. Watts was 
1st, beating numerous competitors. Some very nice 
Orchids were shown, E. Harvey, Esq. (Mr. T. L. Worth, 
gardener), winning with three and a single plant; W- 
Holland, Esq. (Mr. W. Moss, gardener), was 2nd. W. 
Holland, Esq., was also 1st with one Cypripedium, two 
pots of C'alanthes, and a Single Calanthe. Some nice 
Bouquets were shown, B. Hall, Esq., Mrs. Watts, Miss 
A. Cooke, and Mr. G. Downs being successful in the 
two classes. 
A fine lot of fruit was shown, Mr. Goodacre, gardener 
to the Earl of Harrington, winning with twelve dishes, 
also with six sorts of Grapes. S. Smith, Esq., 
(Mr. A. Collins, gardener), showed grand examples of 
Gros Guillaume, and was 1st. For Black Hamburghs 
Mr. Goodacre was well 1st; Mr. Alderman Eaynes, 2nd ; 
and F. H. Harrison, Esq., 3rd. Splendid Muscats were 
shown by R. Pilkington, Esq. (Mr. G. (Middleton, 
gardener), 1st; A. C. Jones, Esq., (Mr. J. Bounds, 
gardener), 2nd ; and A. R. Gladstone, Esq. (Mr. T. 
Elsworthy, gardener), 3rd. Apples and Pears were 
shown in large quantities and of excellent quality, 
(Messrs. E. Smith &Co., Worcester ; (Messrs. J. Dickson 
& Sons, and Messrs. F. & A. Dickson & Sons, Chester ; 
and Mr. C. Rylance, staged large collections of Apples 
and Pears, and were awarded First Class Certificates. 
From Messrs. R. P. Ker & Sons, came splendid varieties 
of Cyclamen, the pure white form being splendid 
examples. The Liverpool Horticultural Company (J. 
Cowan)* Limited, also staged a fine lot of miscellaneous 
plants, including Palms, Callas, Dracaenas, Crotons, 
Primulas, &e., also numerous pots of Due van Thol 
Tulips. — TV. 
York.— Nov. 25th, 25th, <£• 27th. — Whether or not 
the ancient society of York Florists comprises among 
its ranks any young men is not quite clear, it may be 
that its members when they reach (say the age of fifty) 
never become older; but if they are ancient men, they 
are certainly endowed with a good deal of that go-a-liead 
spirit which is characteristic of younger citizens of the 
horticultural world. On this occasion they originated 
an exhibition worthy of their ancient city. It was held 
in the Fine Arts Exhibition Building, a commodious 
and airy building, not far removed from their noble 
Minster, and therefore central and easily accessible. 
The plants and cut flowers were in the large ante-room 
and spacious hall, together with the c-hoiee fruits, and 
in the gallery were the vegetables, collections of Apples 
and Pears, competitive for the special prizes offered by 
Messrs. Backhouse & Son, of York, and an extraor¬ 
dinary collection of Onions shown by Mr. Henry 
Deverill, of the Seed Stores, Banbury, which appeared 
to thoroughly astonish the “tykes.” I have seen his 
exhibitions of Onions before, but I think this fairly 
eclipsed them all, as several hundreds of extraordinarv 
bulbs were staged on stands which covered a space of 
12 yds. by 1 yd. Among them were samples of Rousham 
Park Hero, the Anglo-white Spanish, and the Wroxton, 
some of the specimens being perfect models, and scaling 
1^ lbs. each. Dotted here and there on the stand were 
specimens of stems of the Wroxton strain of Brussels 
Sprouts, a remarkably fine one, the stems being quite a 
yard in length. To this stand a special prize and a 
First Class Certificate was awarded. 
The specimens of Chrysanthemum plants shown here 
were with very few exceptions untrained, that is to say, 
they wera of upright growth, and simply tied out with 
stakes. A few of the specimen Pompon Chrysan¬ 
themums were trained in the usual fashion, but they 
were the exceptions. The plants were placed under the 
galleries on either side, the groups of Chrysanthemums' 
arranged for effect were placed in circles along the hall, 
and a line of tables running down the centre accommo¬ 
dated the cut flowers. The weather was very, dull and 
heavy on the opening day, but there was a great deal 
of colour, and looked at from the organ-gallery the 
general effect was very good. The arrangements did 
great credit to the secretary, Mr. J. Lazenby, who, with 
a staff of assistants, got the exhibits in order in good 
time. 
In the ante-room were the groups of plants of a miscel¬ 
laneous character, arranged for effect ; these were well 
done, the 1st prize going to Messrs. Simpson & Son, 
Ileworth Nurseries, York, to a group of Palms, Ferns, 
&c., lit up with gaily coleured Crotons, Dracainas, and 
other foliaged plants ; 2nd, Mr. J. T. Kingston, Clifton 
(we regret we cannot give the names of the gardeners); 
3rd, Mr. T. S. Brogden, Ileworth Hall; 4th, Mr. J. 
Key, Clifton. Here too are the specimen Palms and 
Drachmas, and the groups of six exotic Ferns. Messrs. 
Simpson & Son had the best Palm ; Mr. Kingston being 
2nd ; Mr. Kingston had the best Draciena ; Mr. Key 
being 2nd ; Mr. T. S. Brogden had the best six exotic 
Ferns ; Miss Stewart being 2nd. The groups of Chry¬ 
santhemums lost somewhat in effectiveness, by being 
