March 27, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
477 
O. Thomas, Chatsworth ; Dendrobium Wardianum, 
from Messrs. J. R. Pearson & Sons, Chilwell; a plant 
■with three flowers of the white jErides cylindricum, 
from Mr. Hill, gardener to Lord Rothschild, Tring 
Park, which was awarded a Cultural Commendation ; 
a large, well formed, and showy crimson bizarre 
Carnation, named Madame A. Bernaiux, from 'Mr. W. 
Bealby; Odontoglossum hystrix and other orchids 
De B. Crawshay, Esq. ; Imantophyllum miniatum, 
Mrs. Laing, a fine specimen of a very fine variety, from 
Messrs. John Laing & Co., which received a Cultural 
Commendation ; Ccelogyne cristata varieties, from 
Messrs. F. Sander & Co. ; and some pretty hardy 
Primroses, Beatrice, mauve ; Brilliant, dark crimson- 
maroon ; and Hose-in-hose, Novelty, violet-purple, 
from Mr. R. Dean. 
Royal Botanic.— March 24 th. —The spring shows 
held in the metropolis have been satisfactory up to the 
present, much better indeed than could have been 
expected in such an unfavourable season, for though 
the numbers of exhibitors have not been quite so large, 
yet the quality of the exhibits has left little to desire. 
The Royal Botanic Society’s first show of the season, 
on Wednesday, was a good representative display, 
though smaller than we have seen in previous years. 
Bulbs formed the greater portion of the exhibition, 
Hyacinths being finely shown by such firms as Messrs. 
J. Veitch & Sons, Mr. B. S. Williams, and Messrs. 
Cutbush, while amongst amateurs, Mr. J. Douglas, as 
usual, had the best contributions ; the last named 
exhibitor also succeeded in obtaining the leading prizes 
in most of the other classes, including the Veitch 
Memorial Medal and prize of £5, for the best collection 
of twelve distinct Amaryllises, the plants being healthy, 
and the varieties some of the finest. The Daffodils and 
hardy flowers from Messrs. Barr & Son, Messrs. Collins & 
Gabriel, and Mr.T.S.Ware occupied much space, as they 
did at South Kensington on the preceding Tuesday, but 
an additional attraction was afforded by the Roses in 
pots from Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, and W. Rum- 
sey, Waltham Cross, which were neat, dwarf, well- 
flowered plants, and were much admired. Mr. James’ 
Cinerarias, Mr. Clay’s Cyclamens, and Messrs. H. 
Williams and Son’s Lilies of the Valley were also 
interesting features. The miscellaneous non-competing 
collections constituted in fact the major part of the 
exhibition, some of the amateurs productions, especially 
in the Azalea and Hardy Plant classes, being quite 
unfit for a show of this character. The principal prizes 
in other classes were taken by Messrs. G. Wheeler, 
R. Butler, Eason, H. R. Wright, and D. Phillips, in 
addition to those already named. 
Medals were awarded as follows, Silver to Mr. B. S. 
Williams, small ditto to Messrs. J. Veitch & Son, 
Messrs. Barr & Son, Messrs. W. Cutbush & Son, and 
Mr. T. S. Ware. Bronze to F. Jaeomb, Esq., for a 
group of Odontoglossums ; Mr. W. Rumsey, the St. 
George’s Nursery Company ; and a Certificate to Mr. 
Stephen Castle, for fine bunches of Gros Colmar and 
Alicante Grapes. 
Botanical Certificates were awarded to Mr. B. S. 
Williams, and Messrs. J. Laing & Co., for Cattleya Law- 
renciana ; Messrs. W. Thomson & Son, Clovenfords, 
for Dendrobium Leechianum ; and to Messrs. E. 
Vervaet & Co., for Odontoglossum Pescatorei Vervaeti- 
anum. Floricultural Certificates were awarded to 
Messrs. J. Laing & Co., for Imantophyllum robustum, 
Mrs. Laing, ; to Mr. J. Douglas, for Narcissus, General 
Gordon, and Amaryllis Clarinda; and to Messrs. Veitch 
and Son, for Amaryllises, Plato and Laseelles. 
Birmingham and Midland Counties 
Gardeners’ Association. —At a general meet¬ 
ing held on Wednesday evening, March 17th, at which 
about 110 members were present, Prof. Hillhouse, 
M.A., F.L.S., Professor of Botany and Vegetable 
Physiology at the Mason College, gave a lecture on 
“The Scientific Value of Gardeners’ Experiences.” 
After congratulating the gardeners and the town on 
the formation of the Society, and expressing his own 
desire to do all that lay in his limited power to help it. 
He said that the formation of such a society implied 
that the gardeners not merely were willing to improve 
themselves but felt that improvement was desirable. 
In no part of their work could this need be more 
keenly felt than on its scientific side. In gardening, 
as indeed in most work with which the average 
Englishman had to do, there was too much of the rule 
of thumb principle in use ; ancestral ideas too strongly 
held them captive, to the exclusion of individual 
reasoning power. This has been felt and shown most 
strongly in agiiculture, where the innate conservatism 
of the farmer has much to do with his inability to keep 
his head above water, but has not been realised in the 
case of the gardener, although the work of both is so 
largely alike. In both cases the cause of comparative 
failure has been the same : methods have been learned, 
and learned, met carefully and well, but reasons have 
been left out of the calculation well-nigh altogether. We 
have, it is to be feared, as a nation too far forgotten 
that a method is only of value for its direct results, 
while a reason is far more wide reaching ; without 
reason new methods come only by lucky accident, with 
reason new methods arise naturally, the very failure of 
one is, with the aid of our reasoning powers, often the 
key to anothers success. That man will be most fertile 
of resource who has most thoroughly trained himself to 
look for the reasons for everything he does. There is 
a world of difference between a Priestly groping about 
in unknown regions, and coming across grand discoveries 
by accident, and a Faraday doing everything upon a 
solid ground-work, and keenly alive to the probable 
results of everything he does. 
The lecturer illustrated his ideas upon this point by 
an analysis of the theory of “rotation of crops,” and 
by discussing the object of working the soil for 
gardening purposes. He used these as proofs that 
reasons do not always lie upon the surface, but often 
have to be sought for with all the knowledge and skill 
of which we are capable. He further illustrated the 
value of reasoning by plants of very rapid growth 
during a short period requiring food in the most 
digestible form. From this, and. other evidence, the 
lecturer drew the conclusion that for a gardener to use 
his experience with effect, he needs, at least, a training 
in the principles of botanical science. With ability to 
work fully with his head, a gardener would have 
enormous advantages in scientific investigation, par¬ 
ticularly in connection with the external phenomena 
of plant life, such as their relations with insects, their 
capability of adaptation to new circumstances, their 
general variability, and the power to produce varieties 
of greater economic importance, and many other such 
lines of research. He urged upon every gardener not 
to dissipate his energies over a wide space, but to take 
up some limited sphere of experimental work, giving 
cautions as to the need of absolute accuracy and abun¬ 
dant evidence, and the danger of hasty conclusions, 
and inaccurate observations. In conclusion, he recom¬ 
mended them above all to study the methods of some 
master in the art of experimenting, such as Charles 
Darwin has laid down in his published works, expressing 
the opinion that nearly every line of investigation 
which Darwin followed, was open to the fruitful 
labours of any clear-headed patient observant gardener. 
Preston and Fulwood Horticultural.— 
March nth and 18 th .—As a natural result of the un¬ 
congenial season, the eighth spring flower show of this 
flourishing society showed a slight falling off in quality ; 
nevertheless, it was an admirable display of the floral 
resources of the district, and great praise is due to the 
committee of management and its admirable chairman, 
Mr. Councillor Harding, and indefatigable secretary, 
Mr. John Atherton, for the zeal and energy with which 
they watch over the interests of the society. The 
tables ranged along the central length of the hall were 
aglow with colour, massed most effectively. In the 
middle of the central aisle there was a magnificent group 
of flowering plants and shrubs, shown by Mr. Row- 
botham, the Barks curator. Flanking the entrance to 
the hall, beyond the vestibule, Mr. J. B. Dixon had 
arranged a score or so of tricolour Pelargoniums in an ad¬ 
vanced state of cultivation. At the opposite end of the 
room, and extending the whole breadth of the orchestra, 
Mr. W. Troughton, nurseryman, exhibited a splendidly 
arranged collection of plants, infinite in variety, with 
a fine Stella Azalea for a centre-piece. The most meri¬ 
torious part in the display, however, was played by the 
young Azaleas, which had been brought to a high pitch 
of perfection, their chief characteristics being purity of 
colour. The judges made a note of this feature, and 
awarded special certificates for a delicate white Souvenir 
de M. Yervaine, a handsome red M. Louis Obert, and a 
Max von Froebell, very uniform in colour. A First 
Class Certificate was also given to a very handsome 
new Scolopendrum. It was discovered some years 
ago, and afterwards came into the possession of 
Mr. Atherton, after whom it was named as a new 
variety. It is very large and wavy, and the fronds are 
crested. Another feature of the show was Mr. J. 
Atherton’s curious collection of succulents. Some hand¬ 
some cut flowers and a fine selection of Roses, in excep¬ 
tionally good condition for the season, were shown by 
Mr. J. Whitehead, and Mr. Frisby, gardener to the 
Misses Ffarington, exhibited an unusually big clump 
of Mushrooms, grown from spawn supplied by Mr. 
Troughton, and, as a curiosity, also contributed a 
skeleton plant, the delicate framework of each leaf in 
all its intricacy having been very carefully preserved. 
The larger plants entered for competition in groups 
of various sizes made an unusually good show. Mr. E. 
Payne, who took-the first prize for twenty miscellaneous 
plants, had a very handsome group. He also, in this 
class, which was open to nurserymen and florists only, 
was awarded prizes for Azaleas and Roses, the latter, 
however, being very backward, owing to the recent 
inclement weather. In the next class, open to gentle¬ 
men’s gardeners and amateurs, the groups of three 
foliage plants were very effective, and each had a Cycas 
revoluta in their group. One of the prettiest features 
of the show was a result of the competition in plants 
grouped for effect, and here Mr. Timothy Moss, who 
has been unusually successful in other departments, 
came to the fore. His chief competitors were Mr. J. B. 
Dixon and the Misses Ffarington. The gardener at 
Worden Hall, with the rare material at his disposal 
went in for grandeur and form, and so far as these 
points were concerned, produced an imposing spectacle 
—in itself a credit to his skill—but Mr. Moss aimed at 
achieving a success in variety and harmony of colour, 
and used smaller arnjl more plants than his competitor 
for this purpose, and the judges awarded the palm to 
him. The other groups of miscellaneous plants were 
very beautiful, and special mention might be made of 
the six plants contributed by the Misses Ffarington, 
and which were awarded the first prize. They included 
Clerodendron Balfourianum, a Franciscea calycina, an 
Imantophyllum, and Ferns, overshadowed by a majestic 
Kentia Fosteriana. There was a good show of Deutzia 
gracilis and of Spiraea japonica. The Azaleas formed 
the principal portion of the bloom among the larger 
plants, and there were some very good specimens staged. 
The Hyacinths, though not quite so numerous as they 
have been at previous shows, were all excellent in 
quality. Mr. E. Payne took the first prize, offered for 
twenty-four single Hyacinths, his collection including 
several with remarkably handsome trusses. He was 
equally successful in the single Hyacinths. In the 
class limited to gentlemen, gardeners, and amateurs 
there was an unusually good collection staged by Mr. 
J. B. Dixon, who carried off the chief prizes offered for 
both the single and double varieties, though in a general 
display of pots of bulbs, eorms, tubers, or rhizomes in 
flower he was beaten by Mr. Moss, who staged a hand¬ 
some group composed of Liliums, Cyclamens, Narcissi, 
&c., Mr. J. B. Dixon’s collection including some hand¬ 
some plants and a new variety of Fritillaria, Tulips, 
Polyanthus Narcissus, Lilies of the Valley, Mignonette, 
Musk, Primulas, and Cinerarias ; the two latter especi¬ 
ally, were all in good condition, and the window plants 
and bulbs shown by cottagers, who had entrance to the 
competition free, were of unmistakable merit. The 
show of Orchids was a considerable improvement on 
that of last year. The first prize was taken by a Cattleya 
Trianse, the others being fine examples of Cypripedium 
and Dendrobium. The bouquets and baskets of flowers 
were an interesting feature of the show. 
Liverpool Horticultural Association.— 
March 18 th. —The favourable change in the weather 
took place a day or two too late to be of any benefit to 
this exhibition, and, consequently, it was somewhat 
below the average. It was held, as usual, in St. 
George’s Hall, and attracted a good number of visitors. 
One of the principal features of the show was the splen¬ 
did collection of Hyacinths, indeed, seldom has there 
been a finer lot of Hyacinths seen in Liverpool, and 
lovers of this exquisite and sweet-scented flower were 
thus afforded a rare treat. The 1st prize for eighteen 
Hyacinths was carried off by Mrs. John Aikin, and al¬ 
though in this group there were some capital specimens, 
probably the most perfect ones were to be found among 
those exhibited (not for competition) by Messrs. W. 
Cutbush & Son, Highgate Nurseries, London. The 
Tulips were not a very good class. The Orchids were 
particularly fine, and included a fine Dendrobium ; 
Cattleya Trianse, and Dendrobium crassinode, fine speci¬ 
mens of which were shown by Mr. Enoch Harvey. There 
was also a brilliant display of Azaleas and Rhododen¬ 
drons, and the Cinerarias were of exceptional merit. 
Roses were not very plentiful, and the Narcissus were 
rather poor; but the Cyclamens and Ferns were quite up 
to the average. In the bouquet competition the old fault 
of overcrowding was very successfully avoided in the 
case of Mr. A. Crosbie, gardener to B. Hall, Esq., who 
was awarded the 1st prize in both the open and amateur 
classes. A large quantity of plants were sent in for 
exhibition by nurserymen, including Messrs. R. P. Ker 
& Son, the Liverpool Horticultural Company (John 
Cowan), Limited, and Messrs. Fisher, Son, & Sibray, 
of Sheffield, the latter of whom exhibited a collection of 
lovely greenhouse Rhododendrons. A case of skeleton 
leaves, most artistically arranged by Mr. W. Nicholson, 
gardener to A. M. Smith, Esq., of Roby, attracted con¬ 
siderable attention, and was examined ■with interest by 
the many persons who visited the show. Prizes were 
offered for the best two bunches of Grapes, and there 
was a keen competition for the first prize. Considering 
the time of the year the Grapes were in wonderful con¬ 
dition, this being particularly the case with regard to 
two bunches of Muscat of Alexandria. The onerous 
duties of staging were very efficiently carried out by 
Sir. T. White, vice-chairman of the committee of 
management, and Mr. E. Bridge, the energetic secretary, 
whose arrangements were all that could be desired. 
The usual luncheon took place at the Grapes Hotel in 
the afternoon, and was admirably served by Mr. 
Griffiths. Mr. T. White presided ; and the toast of 
“ The Judges ” was proposed by Mr. Waterman, and 
respoiided to by Mr. Swan, Mr. Harrison, and Mr. Paul. 
The toast of the “Liverpool Horticultural Association” 
was also honoured. 
-- 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 
Erratum. —In the article on “ Soot and the Onion Maggot," 
twenty-two lines from the bottom, on p. 455, read “Although I 
am willing to admit that the maggot is more plentiful in old 
soil than in new,” instead of as printed. 
Small Conservatory. — W. K. G.: It would be much better 
for the plants, to use clear glass entirely; and during the hottest 
part of the summer, to wash the outside of the glass with some 
shading mixture, such as “ Summer Cloud." If you are only 
going to grow hardy plants, you should aim to have the house 
gay in early spring especially, and at that season they will want 
all the light possible, which you cannot get through rolled plate 
glass. By selecting the right sort of plants, such a house may 
be made a most agreeable adjunct to the dwelling, but to make 
