May 29, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
621 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
In this department, work comes on apace, as from 
the'late rains, weeds grow so rapidly, and—from the 
state of the ground, preventing hoeing—making us 
rather uneasy. However, we have to-day started to 
hoe and clear all the seed beds, preferring to devote 
time to the picking up of all the larger weeds as the 
work proceeds ; for should rain follow us, our work 
otherwise would be almost useless. Parsnips and 
Onions are ready for thinning, and so also is the spring- 
sown Parsley. Beet comes on very slowly ; absence of 
sun may account for it. A good breadth of Turnips 
should be kept, and give some cool quarter to them ; 
and I would advise sowing Veitch’s Red Globe from 
this onward ; it is by far the best, and keeps well all 
through. 
We have planted out about six dozen seedling Rhu¬ 
barb, as advised previously, and have sticked all but 
our last sowing of Peas, which are only just showing 
through the ground. As soon as the ground will 
permit, give all the Potato squares a good deep hoeing 
with a large-sized draw or hacking hoe, so as to prepare 
them for moulding up ; the early square having been 
already done, will be moulded up without delay. 
Remove all flower stalks from Rhubarb as they appear, 
and also from the beds of Horse-radish ; Seakale, of 
course, has been done some time. Cos Lettuce should 
be tied up according to the demand, and be careful to 
make a good sowing for succession. Mustard and Cress 
and Radishes should be frequently sown ; in fact, the 
utmost vigilance should prevail, or later on, failure 
will follow, and probably be keenly felt.— Walter 
Child, Croome Court. 
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HORTICUL TURAL SOCIETIES, 
Royal Horticultural.— May 25th. —The prizes 
offered for competition to day, though small and in¬ 
sufficient to bring out really first class specimens all 
round, nevertheless sufficed to draw a sufficient amount 
of variety to make up a pleasing little show. Roses 
formed the leading feature, notwithstanding that the 
average quality of the blooms did not run high. Only 
three collections of plants in 12-in. pots were staged 
viz., by Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt; Mr. Turner, 
Slough; and Mr. W. Rumsey, Waltham Cross, and 
the prizes went in the order named. In the two Orchid 
classes, the competition was poor in the extreme, only 
two amateurs and one trade grower entering the lists. 
In both classes the number required to be staged was 
nine, and Mr. P. Hill, gardener to Henry Little, Esq., 
The Barrons, Twickenham, beat Mr. A. Luff, gardener 
to R. H. Hyatt, Esq., Hetherst, Leigham Court Road, 
Streatham, in that for amateurs, while Mr. H. James, 
Lower Norwood, secured the first prize in the class for 
nurserymen. There was no competition with a dozen 
Indian Azaleas, and Mr. Turner took the highest award 
with an admirably bloomed collection of half specimens. 
With eighteen Pelargoniums, Mr. Turner also secured 
a first prize, beating Mr. Little’s gardener, and showing 
a collection of plants in every way worthy of the repu¬ 
tation of the Slough Nursery for the cultivation of these 
showy decorative subjects. The same successful grower 
also secured another first prize with a collection of Tree 
Carnations. 
Amongst the miscellaneous collections exhibited, from 
a cultural point of view, there was nothing to beat a 
superb collection of herbaceous Calceolarias from Mr. 
J. James, Farnham Royal, Slough, the plants forming 
which were large, with bold healthy foliage, and com¬ 
pact, massive heads of flowers of the finest quality, 
though including, perhaps, too great a proportion of seifs 
to suit the average grower’s taste. Messrs. 11. Lane & 
Son, Berkhamstead contributed large groups of Indian 
Azaleas and Rhododendrons, and both Messrs. Paul & 
Son, Cheshunt, and Messrs. William Paul & Son, 
Waltham Cross, showed collections of Roses of con¬ 
siderable extent ; the last-named firm and Mr. W. 
Rumsey, Waltham Cross, also contributing fine displays 
of cut blooms. Mr. T. S. Ware, as usual, had a large 
and singularly interesting display of hardy plants ; and 
Messrs. Barr & Sons had a smaller group of the same 
casls of plants. Messrs. James Carter & Co., showed 
a small group of plants of their Queen’s prize strain of 
Mimuluses, remarkable for their clean healthy growth 
and large, bold, well-formed and showily coloured 
flowers. Mr. West, gardener to Major Lendy, Sunbury- 
on-Thames, staged cut blooms of two exceedingly good 
varieties of 'Cattleya Mosskc, the best in the show ; 
half-a-dozen spikes of Lrelia purpurata, one with seven 
flowers on the spike ; and a very healthy well-grown 
plaut of Saccolabium curvifolium, which had developed 
twenty-three spikes, and to which a Cultural Com¬ 
mendation was awarded. To the Orchid section, 
A. PI. Smee, Esq., The Grange, Hackbridge (Mr. 
Cummins, gardener), also] contributed a group of 
Cattleya Mosske varieties, fifteen in number, and no 
two alike, but mostly broad petalled and highly- 
coloured varieties. With the Cattleyas were also 
associatad three good varieties of Odontoglossum Alex¬ 
andra, plants which were out in the open air for four 
months last summer, and throwing vigorous spikes of 
flowers. 
The new plants certificated were as follows:— 
Cattleya Mendelii var., Duke of Marlborough, from 
Mr. F. Sander, one of the most beautifully coloured 
varieties that has ever been seen, the blooms being 
large and massive, the lip broad, the rich purple 
colour clearly defined, and the broad petals of a lovely 
shade of violet. Amaryllis Her Majest} 7 , from Mr. 
B. S. Williams, a good-shaped medium-sized flower of 
a rich crimson or dark red wine colour. Houlletia 
odoratissima antioquensis, also from Mr. B. S. Williams, 
a fine variety with deep blood-red sepals and petals, 
and the lip white, tinged with yellow ; Vanda coerules- 
cens var. Vesta, from Captain Vipan, a pretty variety, 
distinct from the type in its white sepals and petals. 
Moutau Pieony, Madame Laffay, from Mr. T. S. Ware, 
a. magnificent variety, with blooms quite 9 ins. in 
diameter, fully double, and in colour pink, flushed 
with satin-rose. Lithospermum graminifolium, also 
from Mr. Ware, a distinct species from the Austrian 
Alps, 'with terminal clusters of small cobalt blue 
flowers, on stems 4 ins. to 6 ins. high. Pelargonium 
purpurea (Foster), shown by Mr. Turner, a free-flower¬ 
ing and showy variety, with the lower petals rich rose, 
the centre white, and the upper petals deep maroon ; 
and Odontoglossum vexillarium var. Sunrise, a large- 
flowered and richly coloured variety from the collection 
of H. M. Pollett, Esq. 
At the meeting of the Fruit Committee some splendid 
samples of Apples and Pears from South Australia and 
New South Wales were again exhibited. Mr. C. 
Herrin, gardener, Chalfont Park, Gerrard’s Cross, re¬ 
ceived a Cultural Commendation for very fine samples 
of Citrus indica ; and Messrs. Veiteh & Sons exhibited 
examples of The Sandringham Apple, to show its late- 
keeping qualities. From Mr. Chittleburgh, The Gar¬ 
dens, Worstead House, Norwich, came good examples 
of Carter’s Golden Tripoli Onion ; and Mr. T. Lockie, 
gardener, Oakley Court, Windsor, sent a seedling white- 
fleshed Melon, raised from Hero of Lockinge and 
Sutton’s Invincible. 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons offered prizes for Melons aud 
Cucumbers—a brace of each in separate classes ; and 
Mr. Lockie was successful in taking the highest awards 
in both classes. In the Melon class, Mr. Ward, The 
Gardens, Longford Castle, Salisbury, was second ; and 
Mr. G. Malcolm, Willington Hall, Temporley, Cheshire, 
was third, all showing Hero of Lockinge. In the Cu¬ 
cumber class, Mr. Lockie won with the handsomest 
brace of Purley Park Hero we have ever seen, the fruits 
being about 15 ins. long, evenly matched, and carrying 
a beautiful bloom. Mr. Robins, gardener, Hartwell 
House, Aylesbury, came in second with a good brace of 
the same variety ; and Mr. J. Neighbour, Bickley Park, 
was third with Improved Telegraph. 
Messrs. James Carter & Co. also offered prizes for a 
brace of Cucumbers—Carter’s Model—which brought 
out a good competition, in which Mr. Lockie again 
distinguished himself by taking the lead ; Mr. J. C. 
Waite, gardener, Glenhurst, Esher, coming in second ; 
and Mr. Neighbour again third. 
The Crystal Palace Show. — May 21 st and 
22nd. —It is always much more pleasant to record a 
success than a failure in flower shows, and we are there¬ 
fore glad to be able to state that the exhibition at the 
Crystal Palace, last week, was a success in all respects 
—competition, quality of exhibits, and lastly, but by 
no means least, the weather. A comprehensive and 
liberal schedule was provided, and the contributions of 
the numerous exhibitors who were thereby induced to 
enter, were arranged with excellent judgment by Mr. 
W. G. Head, the garden superintendent. The whole 
of the transept was occupied, besides a considerable 
space in each nave, the plants being grouped together 
in the centre, with spaces between, allowing plenty ot 
room for the visitors. 
One of the features of the show was the handsome 
group of plants with which Messrs. J. Laing & Co., 
Forest Hill, gained the premier prize in the class : and 
as this occupied a prominent corner near the orchestra, 
it was exceedingly effective. The specialities of the 
firm — Tuberous Begonias and Orchids — were nu¬ 
merous, including many novelties of great merit, as 
there were also amongst the Caladiums, which have 
some space devoted to them in the Forest Hill Nur¬ 
series. At the opposite corner was the slightly less 
varied but tasteful group from Messrs. Hooper & Co., 
which took the second prize. In the centre were 
tables, upon which were arranged the Calceolarias 
from Mr. James, Farnham Royal, and Mr. C. J. Salter, 
gardener to J. Southgate, Esq., Selbornc, Streatham; 
the Pelargoniums from Mr. C. Turner ; and the Roses 
from Messrs. Paul & Son, Mr. Turner and Mr. Rumsey, 
who gained the chief prizes in the respective classes with 
admirable plants. Then there were the collections of 
Orchids, Mr. H. James’s Sarracenias and Nepenthes, 
and at each end were the stove and greenhouse flowering 
and fine foliage plants, with groups of Orchids arranged 
for effect. The cut flowers, bouquets, stands of flowers, 
table plants, Gloxinias, Mignonette and miscellaneous 
exhibits also had much space devoted to them. 
The groups of Orchids were much admired, and as it 
was a somewhat novel feature, they were all the more 
pleasing. The prizes were awarded to Mr. C. J. Salter, 
Mr. H. James, and Mr. H. Luff, gardener to R. R. 
Hyatt,_ Esq., Hethurst, Streatham, each having a 
collection of small plants, but all very well grown, 
and mostly flowering freely. Mr. Salter’s group was 
especially valuable for the number of choice varieties 
it included, Odontoglossums, Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, 
Masdevallias, and Oncidiums, being iargely represented. 
In the other Orchid classes, Mr. H. G. Catt, gardener 
to W. Cobb, Esq., Silverdale Lodge, Sydenham, was 
the most successful, taking the first place with nine and 
six plants, mostly large and vigorous specimens. Very 
fine were Lselia purpurata, Cattleyas Mossise and 
Skinneri, Cypripedium Lawrenceanum, with about two 
dozen large flowers, Odontoglossum vexillarium, twelve 
spikes, Dendrobium Bensoniae, Phalaenopsisgrandiflora, 
and Dendrobium thyrsiflorum, bearing a dozen trusses 
of flowers. With nine Orchids, Mr. H. James and Mr. 
F. J. Hill, gardener to LI. Little, Esq., The Barons, 
Twickenham, were the other prize-takers ; and for six, 
Mr. H. Luff, followed with excellent plants ; and Mr. 
C. J. Salter, third ; equal second prize going to Messrs. 
Chadwick and Salter for single specimens Vanda suavis 
and Oncidium sphacelatum. 
Stove and greenhouse plants were chiefly shown by 
Mr. H. James, Mr. W. Chapman, gardener to J. 
Spode, Esq., Hawkesyard, Rugeley, Mr. C. Rann, 
gardener to J. Warren, Esq., Handcross Park, Crawley, 
and.Mr. J. F. Mould, Pewsev, who had the large 
specimens which are familiar to most visitors to horticul¬ 
tural shows at this time of year. Messrs. James and 
Chapman were respectively first and second in the open 
class for nine specimens, the former having large even 
examples of Bougainvillea glabra, Aplrelexis maerantba 
purpurea, and Erica Lindleyana, with others ; the latter’s 
plants were equally fresh, but less symmetrical, the 
Ixoras and Ericas being wonderfully fine. In the .Azalea 
classes, Mr. C. Turner was the premier exhibitor, having 
beautiful plants loaded with flowers of the best exhi¬ 
bition varieties. Mr. C. Rann was easily first in both 
classes for fine foliage plants, staging fine specimen Palms, 
&c., in capital condition. Mr. Rann also had the best 
six Ferns, followed by Mr. J. Bolton, gardener to W. 
H. Spottiswoode, Esq., Combe Bank, Sevenoaks, and 
Mr. T. N. Penfold, gardener to the Rev. Canon Bridges, 
Beddington House. Messrs. Laing & Co., Forest Hill, 
were first with Caladiums, showing nine specimens over 
4 ft. in diameter and excellently coloured. Mr. Bird, 
gardener to J. A. Causton, Esq., Lodgemore, Alleyn 
Park, contributed the best Dracaenas and Crotons, taking 
the first place in a good competition. The floral 
decorations comprising vases, epergnes, bouquets, &c., 
from Mr. J. R. Chard, Clapham Common, were very 
tasteful, and secured him the principal prizes in the 
different classes. 
Extra prizes were awarded to the following ex¬ 
hibitors :—Messrs. W. Paul & Son, for a magnificent 
group of Roses ; J. H. Causton, Esq., for a group of 
tree Mignonette and Crotons ; Messrs. Paul & Son, for 
a group of Alpine plants ; Messrs. J. Laing & Co., for 
a collection of tree Pseonies ; Mr. W. Rumsey, for 
boxes of cut Roses; Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons, for col¬ 
lections of Apples and flowers ; Mr. J. R. Chard, for 
floral decorations ; Mr. J. Wiggins, for group of Pelar¬ 
goniums ; and Mr. R. End, for a floral cross. 
Several Certificates were awarded, Messrs. J. Laing & 
Co. securing these honours for the following :—Tuberous 
Begonias : Charmer, single, white centre, edged with 
rose, very handsome; and Marquis of Stafford, double 
scarlet. Tree Pteonies : Lactea, pure white ; and Odo- 
rata Marie, very large, full crimson. Caladiums: 
Raymond Lemoinier, and Comte de Germiny. Mr. J. 
Wiggins had a Certificate for Pelargonium Delight, 
white, spotted crimson; and Mr. J. A. Causton, for 
Croton Improved Sunset, a brightly-coloured form of 
this beautiful Croton. 
Nottingham Horticultural and Botan¬ 
ical. —A special general meeting of the members of 
this society was held at the Mechanics’ Lecture Hall, 
on Wednesday evening, May 19tli, when there was a 
large attendance of members and friends. The meet¬ 
ing was called for the purpose of giving the members 
an opportunity of contributing anything in the shape 
of spring flowers, which are of special interest at this 
season of the year, and a very liberal response was 
made by them to the invitation sent out by the ener¬ 
getic Secretary, Mr. E. Steward, to whom "thanks are 
due for the excellent manner in which he carried out 
