May 14, 1S92. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
577 
THE TRADE OF COVENT 
GARDEN. 
During the past quarter of a century an immense 
change has taken place in the trade of Covent 
Garden. Until about 1871 the provision of plants 
and flowers for the supply of London was practically 
left in the hands of some twenty or thirty growers 
for market and a few private firms who may then 
have been said to have had a monopoly of the 
decorating business. This small number of growers 
was then sufficient to meet the demands made upon 
them, which were not large. But about the time 
named a change came over the scene, the public 
taste for flowers and floral decorations increased by 
leaps and bounds, and the demand for plants and 
flowers increasing in a proportionate ratio, the 
resources of the growers had to be greatly extended 
in order to keep up the supply. This again brought 
about a demand for increased market accommodation 
to facilitate distribution. 
The area at the disposal of the flower growers in 
Covent Garden was not only limited in extent, but 
wanting in such needful essentials as a roof above, 
and stands upon which to display the produce. To 
remedy this defect and make suitable provision for 
the growing trade, the late Duke of Bedford con¬ 
verted a certain piece of ground into a flower market. 
At first the arrangements were of a rude and 
temporary character, but subsequently a lofty 
market with a glass and wood roof supported on iron 
pillars, and conveniently placed stands, was provided. 
This market has from time to time been extended as 
its extension became necessary, and houses adjoining 
it became available, until the handsome and com¬ 
modious building now in use was completed. 
The old market of 1S72 accommodated about 100 
tenants or stand-holders, and there was plenty of 
room for casual traders and places for all comers. 
The present market contains 371 stands, and has 
about 230 tenants, besides making provision for a 
large number of casual stand-holders, who rent from 
day to day any vacant places, and who in the busy 
season are crowded out into the outer roadway, and 
on to the site of old Tavistock row, where an over¬ 
flow market is carried on during the busy season. 
Flowers and shrubs in pots formed at one time 
the staple trade, but such is the demand for cut 
bloom that this is now the most popular branch, as it is 
the most extensive—and it is still increasing. Plants 
in pots must be grown within such a radius as will 
admit of their being sent to market by van a railway 
journey is out of the question ; but it is not so with 
cut flowers. These come from Nice, Paris, Holland, 
the Channel Isles, the Scilly Isles, Ireland, and the 
remotest corners of Great Britain. The choicest 
hot-house flowers, the commonest wild ones, and the 
cultivated hardy flowers all find their way into 
Covent Garden in competition for public favour, 
Violets, Hyacinths and Daffodils from Italy, France, 
The Waban Rose, an American sport from 
Catherine Mermet, which obtained a certificate at 
the meeting of the Floral Committee of the R.H.S., 
on the 3rd inst., does not (according to Miss Taplin 
in The American Florist) appear to be giving general 
satisfaction in the States this season. There has 
been a general complaint about the number of mal¬ 
formed flowers produced, but this may be due to 
temporary weakness of constitution, owing to ex¬ 
cessive propagation. As seen at the Drill Hall, it is 
a pretty flower, soft rosy pink in colour, and promises 
to make a popular button-hole flower. One of the 
blooms exhibited had been worn in a gentleman s 
coat all the previous day, and was still perfectly 
fresh. 
The Sunderland Girdeners' Association met on 
the 5th inst., when a paper was read by Mr. 
Falconbridge on the Cultivation of Figs, and a long 
discussion ensued, the following members taking 
part:—Messrs. Vosper, Whitley, Hall, Gilchrist, 
and Honey. Mr. Gilchrist exhibited a well-finished 
bunch of black Hamburgh Grapes, grown in 90 days. 
Mr. Whitley gave notice that on the i6thjunehe 
would read a paper on the Cultivation of Indian 
Azaleas. The subject for next meeting will be Mush¬ 
room Culture, by Mr. George Wrigglesworth, 
gardener, Thornhill. Arrangements have been made 
for Mr. Goaring, lecturer to the Hants County 
Council, to address the society in September next. 
Great Flower Show in the Inner Temple Gardens.—- 
On Tuesday and Wednesday, May 25th and 26th, by 
PHAIUS COOKSONI. 
Hybrid forms of Phaius are as yet by no means 
numerous, indeed that here mentioned is the only 
one between two species of Phaius, while there 
are a few others which have been raised between 
P. grandifolius and some of the forms of Calanthe, 
thus producing what are termed bigeneric hybrids. 
There are few cultivators of Orchids who can grow 
P. tuberculosus successfully for any length of time, 
but the hybrid under notice will not we presume pre¬ 
sent the same difficulty. It was raised from P. 
Wallichi as the seed parent, fecundated with pollen 
taken from the more difficult subject P. tuberculosus. 
Judging from the vigour of growth the seed parent 
has infused a strong constitution into it, while the 
pseuso-bulbs are similar to those of that species. 
The foliage is intermediate between the two, and 
slightly overtops the flower scapes. The latter 
bear a raceme of four to five or more flowers accord¬ 
ing to their strength. The sepals are lanceolate and 
pale rose, more or less tinted with yellowish-brown 
along the centre ; the petals are simliar but smaller. 
The lip has been more influenced by the 
pollen parent than perhaps any other part of the 
flower, and is convolute at the base, forming a tube 
round the column, while the lamina is expanded into 
a wide-mouthed funnel, reflexed at the apex, the 
sides are beautifully undulated or crisped. The 
central line is yellow, and this extends downwards to 
the basal area, which is wholly of this colour ; on 
each side of the central line the ground colour is 
rose, spotted with carmine-purple. The hybrid was 
raised by Norman C. Cookson, Esq., Wylam-on- 
Tyne and a large plant of it, no doubt the original, 
was exhibited recently at a meeting of the Royal 
Horticultural Society, and from this our illustration 
was prepared. 
and Holland jostling with Primroses from sheltered 
nooks in our southern counties, and the magnificent 
hot-house-grown Roses, Carnations, &c., grown 
within the twelve mile radius. 1 he early, open-air 
produce of the Scilly Isles competes with the same 
flower grown under glass near London. 
The choicest and best flowers are in demand as 
offerings alike of affection and respect, and the 
extent to which this particular line has increased has 
during the last few years greatly stimulated the in¬ 
vestment of capital in their production ; businesses 
have been established which in the aggregate give 
employment to thousands of hands; and literally 
acres of glass have sprung up in certain favoured 
localities, such as would astonish the fathers of the 
present growers. 
Flowering plants in pots are closely followed by 
foliage plants in popular esteem. In man}- houses 
flowers die quickly, but a bit of green gladdens the 
eye, especially if variegated leaved, or the plant is at 
all times of graceful habit. Palms take the lead of 
course, and they are now produced in enormous 
numbers, and sold at prices which even ten years 
ago would have been thought ruinous. 
A large trade is done with boxes of bedding plants, 
generally one kind in a box, such as shrubby 
Calceolarias, Pelargoniums, Lobelia, Pinks, Lupins, 
Pansies, Mimulus, Creeping Jenny, Daisies, Nastur¬ 
tiums, and other popular favourites, including Holly¬ 
hocks and Dahlias. Above all we must not forget to 
mention Chrysanthemums, the show of cut towers of 
beautiful cross of Lily of the Valley and Orchids, 
from Mr. Austin Chamberlain, M.P. and his brother 
Mr. Neville, who is at present in the Bahamas ; 
another from the Misses Chamberlain ; also from the 
Birmingham Chrysanthemum Society, the two 
Gardeners’ Associations, from Messrs. Thomson, 
Pope, and Hewitt the nurserymen, and numerous 
other friends. 
A Valuable Odontoglossum. —A fine healthy plant, 
with a spike of thirteen flowers, of one of the most 
beautiful spotted Odontoglots yet seen—Odonto¬ 
glossum crispum Wruleyanum—was sold by auc¬ 
tion in Protheroe & Morris’ Rooms on Friday of 
last week for 60 guineas, the purchaser being Mr. 
George Hardy, of Timperley. The only other known 
plant of the same variety was in the late Mr. E. G. 
Wrigley’s collection at Howick House, and this, we 
believe, has passed into the possession of a Belgian 
amateur, M. Jules Hye. 
The Scottish AuriculaSociety’s Show, held at Dundee 
on the 6th inst. owing to the late spring, the frost 
and the snow-, was not so extensive as heretofore but 
of good quality all round. By far the most success¬ 
ful exhibitor was Mr. J. D. Ker, Douglasfield, who 
took all the 1st prizes, nine in number. Mr. Ben. 
Simonite, Sheffield, was the judge, and the Rev. F. 
D. Horner was also present. Both of these noted 
growers exhibited a few choice show varieties. 
kind permission of the Treasurer and Masters of the 
Bench, the Royal Horticultural Society will hold its 
fifth great annual Flower Show in the gardens of 
the Inner Temple, London, situate close to the 
Temple, Blackfriars and Ludgate Hill Railway 
Stations, and overlooking the Thames Embankment. 
Last year over 10,000 people visited the exhibition, and 
it may be fairly assumed that the show this year will 
bein every respect at least as successful and interesting 
as those which have preceded it—if the weather be 
favourable. To enable gardeners (that is bona fide 
employes in a private garden, nursery, market 
garden, or seed establishment), who are not already 
fellows or associates of the society, to visit the show, 
the council have decided to allow them to purchase 
2/6 tickets for 1/- each, admitting at 10 a.m. on 
Thursday, provided that applications for same, 
accompanied with stamped and directed envelope in 
addition to the price, be made to the secretary, 117, 
Victoria Street, S.W., prior to the opening of the 
show on May 25th. Arrangements have been made 
with Messrs. J. Lyons&Co., of “Olympia,” to supply 
refreshments of all kinds, and music will be performed 
each day by the band of Her Majesty’s Royal Horse 
Guards (Blues), under the able conductorship of Mr. 
Chas. Godfrey, R.A. Mus. A catalogue of the show 
will also be presented to every person visiting the 
exhibition. 
Phaius Cooksoni. 
