June 6, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
639 
Devonshire House, Stamford Hill, for Lidias, Cattleyas, 
Anguloa Clowesii, &c. A similar award was made to 
Major-General E. S. Berkeley, Spetchley House, 
Bitterne, Southampton, for a group of Phalrenopsis, 
prominent amongst which was P. speciosa and its 
varieties. Messrs. Heath & Son, Cheltenham, showed 
some Orchids, as did Mr. G. Burnham, Stoke Newington. 
Odontoglossum crispum guttatum, White’s var., was 
shown by R. B. White, Esq. (gardener, Mr. ,T. Brown), 
Arddarroch, N.B. 
Around the sides of the same tent were large groups of 
various flowering plants. A Silver Cup was awarded to 
Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, for a group of Roses, 
including some huge specimens. A similar award was 
made to Messrs. W. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross, for a 
large group of Roses in pots, and cut flowers. A Silver- 
gilt Flora Medal was awarded to Mr. W. Rumsey, 
Waltham Cross, also for pot Roses. A Silver Cup was 
awarded to Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons, for a very effective 
and showy group of hardy flowering shrubs. A similar 
award was made to Messrs. W. Cutbush & Son, High- 
gate, for a group of Palms and hard-wooded flowering 
plants. A Silver-gilt Flora Medal was awarded to 
Mr. Jennings, gardener to Leopold de Rothschild, 
Esq., for a magnificent group of Souvenir de la 
la Malmaison Carnations with flowers of enormous size. 
A similar award was made to Mr. J. Ford, gardener to 
Sir C. Pigott, Wrexham Park, Slough, for an admirably 
grown lot of Calceolarias, the flowers of which, some 
visitors declared, resembled Strawberries. A Silver 
Flora Medal was awarded to Mr. C. Turner for Roses 
and show Pelargoniums in pots ; and he received a 
similar award for Azaleas. A Silver Flora Medal was 
awarded to Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, for Caladiums, 
and another for a group of stove plants. A similar 
award went to Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, for stove 
plants of various kinds. A Silver Banksian Medal was 
awarded to Messrs. J. Peed & Sons, Roupell Park, 
Norwood Road, for a showy group of Anthuriums, con¬ 
sisting largely of A. Scherzerianum in variety, A. 
Ferrierense and some Orchids. A similar award was 
made to Mr. W. Chambers, Isleworth, for some floral 
devices. Mr. W. Iceton, Putney Park Lane, had a 
bold and effective group of Palms, Lilies, and Ophio- 
pogon, which was quite unique in its way, and was 
accorded a Silver Flora Medal. 
The fourth tent contained a miscellaneous lot of 
flowers, fruits, floral devices and horticultural imple¬ 
ments. A Silver Flora Medal was awarded to Messrs. 
Paul & Son for herbaceous plants, and another to Mr. 
G. Phippen, Reading, for Violas in pans. The latter 
had a Silver Banksian Medal for floral devices. A 
Silver Banksian Medal was awarded to Messrs. Dobbie 
& Co., Rothesay, N.B., for a charming collection of 
Pansies and bedding Violas, the latter being both 
varied and attractive. A similar award was made to 
Mr. F, Hooper, Bath, for fancy Pansies, Tulips, and 
Roses. Cut flowers of Pelargoniums and Marechal 
Niel Roses, shown by Mr. J. Walker, Thame, Oxon, 
secured him a similar award. A group of Calceolarias 
was here shown by Messrs. J. Peed & Sons. Poppy 
Anemones were shown by Messrs. Hennequin, Denis 
& Co., Angers. A beautiful collection of florists’ Tulips 
was shown by Mr. J. Lakin, Temple Cowley, Oxford. 
Primula Sieboldi in variety was shown by Messrs. 
Ryder & Son, Sale, Manchester; and Ocean flowers 
shown by Mr. M. Smout, Hastings, secured him a 
Silver Banksian Medal. 
A collection of eighty-five dishes of Apples, still 
mostly in excellent condition, and plants of St. John’s 
Fig in pots were shown by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, 
securing them a Silver Flora Medal. A Silver Cup 
was awarded to Messrs. T. S. Rivers & Son, Sawbridge- 
worth, for a collection of Peaches, Plums, Cherries and 
Oranges in pots. Apples were shown by Messrs. Cheal 
& Sons, Crawley, who received a Bronze Banksian 
Medal. Home-grown Grapes, Melons, Peaches, and 
Tomatos, and a similar collection from the Channel 
Islands, were shown by Mr. G. Monro, Covent Garden, 
who received a Silver Cup. A Bronze Banksian Medal 
was awarded to Messrs. 'W. & E. Wells, Hattonhurst, 
Hounslow, for Strawberries in pots. The Duke of 
Northumberland (gardener, Mr. G. Wythes), Syon 
House, Brentford, exhibited Figs and Strawberries. 
Peaches were shown by Messrs. T. Burton & Son, 
Bexley Heath ; and Tomatos by Mr. Foster, Berkham- 
sted. A Bronze Banksian Medal was awarded to 
J. F. Campbell, Esq. (gardener, Mr. J. Hollingwortli), 
Woodseat, Uttoxeter, for Grapes, Melons and Tomatos. 
E. Pettit, Esq., Broadwater, Weybridge, showed ten 
dishes of fruit. Peaches were shown by Mr. J. 
Mclndoe, Hutton Hall, Gainsborough, Yorks ; and 
Melons by G. R. Allis, Esq., Old Warden Park, 
Biggleswade. Mildura Raisins were shown by Messrs. 
Alford, R. Miller & S. Miller, employes on the 
irrigation colonies of Mildura, Australia. 
THE CHRYSANTHEMUM IN 
NEW SOUTH WALES. 
The annual exhibition of the ‘''Golden Flower,” in 
connection with and under tho auspices of the Strath- 
field and Western Suburbs Horticultural Society, was 
held in the School of Arts, Burwood, April 17th and 
18th. In a horticultural sense it was a decided success, 
financially it was not so owing to the miserable weather 
prevailing at the time. Amongst the most successful 
exhibitors were Mr. J. Upton, gardener to — Smith, 
Esq., The Briars, Strathfield, who was well nigh 
invincible, and Mr. G. Kerslake, gardener to Von der 
Heyde, Esq. It will no doubt be pleasing to my old 
friend, Mr. Mitchiscn, gardener at Perry Hall, Bir¬ 
mingham, to note the success of the former exhibitor, 
for Mr. Upton served for some time under this old and 
respected member of the Birmingham Chrysanthemum 
Society. The second exhibitor referred to reserved 
himself to some extent for the Metropolitan show, held 
a few days afterwards, nevertheless his name appeared 
frequently as a first-prize winner at the Strathfield 
show. As the initials of this excellent gardener are 
not unknown in your columns in connection with 
N.S.W. notes you will be pleased to note his success 
in this far-off land. [Most pleased.—-E d.] 
For the best six incurved, any variety, Mr. Upton 
was decidedly first, with Pio Nono, a variety, it is true, 
not much thought of in the Old Country, but which 
does exceedingly well here. Here I may mention that 
amongst our most reliable varieties are to be found 
many which scarcely ever are found in the front rank 
at English shows. The reverse too holds good, for up 
to the present we have been unable to stage in character 
either Lord Alcester or any of the Queen family, and it 
seems next door to the impossible to stage a presentable 
bloom of that most reliable (with you) incurved sort, 
Prince Alfred. This you will understand clearly when 
I tell you that on their undoubted merits—as seen at 
the exhibition—the Star occupied the premier position 
as a Japanese, and Pio Nono was the champion bloom 
amongst the incurved section—both selected from Mr. 
Upton’s boards. Under the able superintendence of 
Mr. C. Bennett, who occupies with advantage to the 
society the position of hon. secretary, everything went 
off without the slightest hitch, in fact so well arranged 
was everything in the show; that the judging was a 
real pleasure to those who undertook to perform that 
duty. For this we had undoubtedly to thank “ C. B., ” 
another old correspondent of The Gardening World. 
The judges were Mr. Miles, gardener to Sir John Hay, 
and former pupil of your own “leviathan” of Swanmore 
Park ; Mr. Ireland, gardener to — Fairfax, Esq., and 
the present writer. 
The Horticultural Society of New South Wales held 
its annual exhibition in the Centennial Hall, on 
Wednesday and Thursday last, and this was without 
the slightest question undoubtedly the finest exhibition 
of the golden flower ever seen in New South Wales or 
in the Colonies. Here Mr. Kerslake played his trump 
card, for undoubtedly to him belongs the honour of 
first introducing to our notice the Chrysanthemum as 
a specimen plant. Authorities have not been wanting 
to affirm that never would this particular plant become 
popular as a pot plant in these regions, owing to the 
difficulty of cultivating it in these receptacles. Many 
times have growers brought miserable apologies to the 
exhibitions, in order probably to show us how not to 
do it. Your occasional correspondent, Mr. Kerslake, 
has given the sceptical an eye opener, for the twelve 
magnificent specimens staged in the special class for 
that number of plants were truly grand, even from an 
Old Country view. 
This skilful grower kept himself well within the 
stipulations of the schedule—pots not more than 12 ins. 
in diameter, for actually the plants, all from one clear 
stem, occupied pots of 10 ins. only in diameter. Sun¬ 
flower and Gloriosum were undoubtedly the two premier 
plants of the group. The former, about 4 ft. in diameter 
and about 3 ft. 6 ins. high, measuring from the base of 
the pot, carried upwards of 100 flowers, the great 
majority of these being 6 ins. and 7 ins. in diameter, 
and with good depth. Gloriosum, equally good, was a 
full circle of bloom, about ninety flowers. George 
Daniels, a handsome plant, seventy-six flowers, many 
fit to stage in the cut bloom classes. Edwin Molyneux, 
3 ft. 8 ins. in diameter, a sheet of crimson and gold. 
Mrs. Wheeler and Cullingfordii, equally good—in fact 
Mr. Kerslake’s group did not contain one single weak 
plant, and the whole were a revelation indeed as to 
what can be accomplished with this plant under pot 
culture. These noble plants, Mr. Kerslake informs me, 
were grown from the cutting in a little under nine 
months. So pleased indeed were the members of the 
committee with Mr. Kerslake’s effort, that in addition 
to the first prize of 10 guineas, it was unanimously 
decided to award also tho special certificate of the 
society to him for his magnificent display. 
Some truly grand Japanese varieties were staged in 
various classes, Mr. R. Forsyth finally taking the 
Challenge Cup offered by Messrs. Searl & Son last year. 
The incurved varieties of the Chinese section were not 
numerously represented, though some good flowers 
were shown in the competing classes, Mr. Upton being 
here, as at Strathfield, well to the fore, carrying off 
the special prize of 8 guineas for the best twelve 
distinct varieties in the show. Mr. Forsyth (winner 
of the Cup) exhibited what in the opinion of the judges 
was considered the best incurved (single bloom) in 
Antonelli. Our old friend “C. B.” staged an excellent 
collection, as is his wont, of those Tea and H. P. Roses 
for which Homebush is getting so greatly celebrated. 
In every respect the show was a success, and a great 
step in advance of all previous efforts. This you will 
be prepared to admit when I tell you that the sum of 
nearly £300 was taken at the doors during the two 
days over which the exhibition extended. In the class 
for seventy-two distinct varieties there were five entries 
—Mr. Kerslade in the end occupying the premier 
position—four for the forty-eight distinct, and six for 
the twenty-four. You will at once see that whoever 
obtained prizes had first to win them, for the com¬ 
petition was keen. Among the most prominent flowers 
exhibited were Lady T. Lawrence, Lady Cave, 
Pelican, Etoile de Lyon (very bad in colour 
this year), Mrs. H. Cannell (the most reliable 
Japanese variety we have), Comte de Germiny, 
Mrs. Alpheus Hardy, Syringa, Condor, The Star, and 
Moonlight. 
I forgot t’o mention the fact that in two special 
classes—twelve incurved and twenty-four Japanese— 
entries were received from a noted Tasmanian grower 
resident at Hobart, but unfortunately they arrived too 
late for competition. The flowers were small—very 
small—but in colour they could scarcely be surpassed 
anywhere. The beauty of the Tasmanian women has 
long been proverbial, owing, experts tell us, to the 
magnificent climate of that island. To a great extent 
the garden flower must participate in this, and benefit 
accordingly, for the lovely tints in some of the 
Tasmanian blooms were indeed a revelation to me. I 
have never seen anything approaching it iD many of 
the varieties staged. In this respect, Source d’Or and 
Amy Furze were perhaps the most remarkable. With 
this colour, and about 50 per cent, increase in size, the 
Tasmanian flowers would be invincible in any part of 
the -world ; of that I feel assured.— J. H. H ., Crxnbrooh, 
April 27th, 1891. 
-«->$<———- 
Hardening Miscellany. 
—— 
Sawdust for Propagating. 
As a propagating and plunging material I do not think 
sawdust can be so much used as it deserves to be by 
gardeners. I have been using it in the propagating 
bed, and with most satisfactory results. Cuttings of 
stove plants, such as Crotons, the tops of Dracsenas and 
offsets of Pandanus, and a great many more things root 
in it in far less time than they will in the ordinary 
way (plunged in pots under a hand-glass). The same 
remark is equally true with regard to cuttings of green¬ 
house plants, and all sorts of bedding plants will strike 
in it most readily. Alyssum, Troppeolutn and Carna¬ 
tions are more difficult to root, but sawdust seems to 
possess a charm for most things, and if the cuttings are 
dibbled into it, well watered and shaded, that is all 
they require. Sawdust absorbs water in large quantities 
and retains it for a long time, always keeping the 
plants moist. It is also valuable for plunging, being 
always free from weeds. Perhaps some other of your 
numerous readers may have tried it and will give us 
the benefit of their experience. — Gifford. 
Ranunculuses. 
It often happens that in seedsmen’s shops, roots of 
Ranunculus and Anemones are forgotten until late in 
the season. Last October or November, I am not quite 
sure which, I saw bunches of lovely blooms of Ranun¬ 
culus which were not planted until June and only in 
common garden soil, the roots about 1J in. deep, and 
received no treatment beyond leaving them to do the 
best they could. It proved one thing—how easy it is 
