614 
May 28, 1892. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
THE HERBACEOUS BORDER. 
Choice Plants in Flower. 
Tiarella cordifolia. — Although only 6 in. or 
8 in. high, this plant becomes quite an attractive 
subject during May and the early part of June. The 
leaves are cordate, and of a light green, but usually 
more or less blotched with bronze, especially along 
the principal nerves, and form a compact tuft, from 
amongst which the scapes arise in considerable 
numbers. The flowers are of a creamy white with 
orange anthers, and become conspicuous on account 
of their numbers, the stamens being very prominent. 
It grows well in any moderately good garden soil, 
and if grown in the ordinary border should be kept 
well to the front on account of its dwarf habit. 
Anemone alpina sulphurea.— The pale yellow 
flowers of this variety cannot be described as showy, 
yet they have a beauty of their own, and are 
sufficiently large to be conspicuous. The value of 
the plant is also enhanced by its hardiness and 
vigour ; it needs only to be planted in the ordinary 
border, and where the soil is sufficiently retentive 
yet not clayey it maintains its position easily without 
any special care whatever. It may also be grown 
upon the rockery or in pots, but the finely cut foliage 
gets best developed in the open ground. 
Polemon i um Richardsoni. —The proper name of 
this Rocky Mountain plant is P. humile, which 
differs chiefly from our native species (P. caeruleum) 
by its larger flowers, more acute segments to the 
corolla and its downy stems. The flowers of the 
plant under notice are large, bell-shaped, pale blue 
with a white eye, and are produced in great abund¬ 
ance, making quite a feature in the border where it 
is planted and allowed to grow into large sized 
clumps. 
P.eonia decora Pallasi.— The flowers of this 
herbaceous Paeony are single with five or six petals 
of large size and of a beautiful clear rose. The 
stems and foliage are of moderate growth, so that 
the plant on the whole is by no means bulky, but 
suitable for border culture and for cut flowers. 
When once established the fleshy roots should not 
be much disturbed. A top dressing of well decayed 
manure, lightly forked into the ground in winter, 
would greatly assist plants of this class. 
Mertensia sibirica.— The soft sky blue flowers 
of this species harmonise well with the glaucous hue 
of the folhge. At first, before they are fully ex¬ 
panded, they are of a purplish hue like most other 
Borageworts, but they soon change to the soft sky 
blue colour. The leaves are ovate and closely cover 
the stems which vary from 12 in. to ijin. in height 
An entirely different plant, namely, Pulmonaria sac 
charata, is often grown under the name of M. sibirica, 
but the two are entirely different and not to be 
confounded. 
Geum chiloense miniatum. —The ordinary scarlet 
forms of the species, both single and double, are 
well known, and the variety above named will no 
doubt be highly esteemed amongst cultivators of 
hardy plants when they come to know it. The 
flowers are of large size and distinctly orange instead 
of scarlet, and they have the recommendation of be¬ 
ing produced all through the summer and autumn, 
provided the ground is moist enough to keep the 
plant growing. The leaves are interruptedly lyrate 
pinnatifid as in the type, so that altogether the plant 
is a very desirable one. 
Geranium aconitifolium.— One of the chief 
recommendations of this Geranium is its earliness to 
flower. A few others flower contemporaneously with 
it, but by the time the bulk of them are in bloom 
this one is over. The flowers are pure white and 
produced in such abundance that the plant appears a 
mass of snowy whiteness. The plant usually grows 
12 in. to i^in. high, and the leaves are moderate in 
size and five to seven-lobed. Like the bulk of the 
kinds it is perfectly hardy and can take care of itself 
when once established. 
Saxifraga granulata.— The flowers of this 
species are of large size compared with that of the 
plant. The stems are generally about 6 in. high, 
sometimes twice that height, bearing a truss of pure 
white flowers on the top. The leaves are reniform 
and trifid with rounded segments. There is a double 
form of this species that is also very pretty, and 
perhaps more durable when in bloom. The whole 
plant dies down early and should be planted where 
it will not be disturbed. 
THE TEMPLE SHOW. 
Once again has the Royal Horticultural Society to 
thank the trade for making a magnificent show in its 
behalf, in the Temple Gardens, and we trust this 
year with more successful pecuniary results than 
heretofore. The exhibition which was opened on 
Wednesday morning, as a display of lovely flowers 
and foliage is all that one could desire, but we can¬ 
not help expressing regret that so few amateurs 
should have favoured the society with their contri¬ 
butions. The trade have made the show, and a truly 
grand one it is. The Orchids are again the special 
feature, and a great and glorious show they make, 
exceeding in numbers and brilliancy anything seen 
before. In this department such distinguished 
amateurs as Baron Schroder and Sir Trevor 
Law'rence, Mr. Wigan, Mr. Jacomb, and Mr. Lucas 
contribute abundantly from their rich stores of 
Orchidic beauty, but the trade completely over¬ 
whelm them in numbers. Of extra special merit, 
next to the collections of Orchids, will be found 
three specimens of Dendrobium nobile, from Lord 
Portman's garden, at Buxtead Park, which are per¬ 
fect marvels of cultivation, ranging from 5 ft. to 7 ft. 
through, and every bulb carrying a mass of blooms. 
These to Orchid growers will prove of rare interest 
as examples of what is called the cutting down 
system of treatment. Another specimen Orchid of 
rare interest to be seen in Baron Schroder’s collec¬ 
tion is a Ccelogyne Dayana, with twelve handsome 
drooping spikes, some of them 3 ft. 12 in. long, the 
most beautiful example of this species that we have 
ever seen. 
Next in order of merit from a grower's point of 
view is a group of Clematises, from the famed nurse¬ 
ries of Messrs. R. Smith & Co., Worcester, a group 
of some two dozen plants, large in size and most 
magnificently bloomed. They occupy a fine position 
and will demand a large measure of praise from all 
who see them. Another most interesting contribu¬ 
tion is made by Messrs. James Backhouse & Son, 
York, in the form of a miniature rockery planted 
with Alpines,—an exceedingly tasteful and attractive 
exhibit. 
The Orchids which claim our attention first, 
occupy the whole of the central staging in the 
largest marquee, and nearly the whole of the centre 
of another long tent. In the first-named, Baton 
Schroder has a most beautiful display of Cattleyas, 
Dendrobes, rich and rare varieties of Odonto- 
glossums, etc., and the wonderful specimen of 
Coelogyne Dayana before alluded to. Next comes a 
smaller group, but a very bright one, from C. J. 
Lucas, Esq.,Warnham Court. Sir Trevor Lawrence, 
Bart., M.P., contributes a larger collection which is 
specially rich in variety, and good types, and repre¬ 
senting a considerable number of genera. From F. 
Wigan, Esq., Clare Lawn, East Sheen, comes a very 
attractive group of Cattleyas, Cypripediums, and 
Odontoglots, etc., conspicuous amongst which stands 
a flowering specimen of the handsome new Gram- 
matophyllum Seegerianum. A group of Cattleyas, 
Odontoglossums, etc., from the collection of F. C. 
Jacomb, Esq., Cheam Park, also claims a large 
measure of admiration. 
On the opposite side of the stage Messrs. B. S. 
Williams & Son, Holloway, have staged a large and 
brilliant group specially conspicuous in which are 
the fine Vandas and Laelia purpuratas. Messrs. F. 
Sander & Co., St. Albans, do not contribute so 
extensively as last year, but have a most striking 
collection nevertheless, .made up largely of grand 
types and new varieties. Messrs. Charlesworth, 
Shuttleworth & Co., of Bradford and Clapham, also 
have an extensive group—a perfect mass of flowers, 
rich and rare, and including the very beautifully 
spotted Odontoglossum crispum Charlesworthii, and 
a number of plants of the showy Oncidium macran- 
thum. In the long tent running parallel with the 
Thames Embankment, Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., 
Clapton, have a bank of Orchids some go ft. long, 
mainly Cattleyas and Dendrobes, among the latter 
being a number of plants of D. superbum giganteum 
which fills the air with its odour of Turkish Rhubarb. 
In the same tent also Mr. Cypher, of Cheltenham, 
has a splendid group of brilliantly flowered plants, 
and grand indeed are many of the forms of Laslia 
purpurata. Messrs. Heath & Son, of Cheltenham, 
and Messrs. Lewis & Co., of Southgate, also 
contribute largely and well. 
Lining the sides of the principal marquee are a 
number of groups of rare interest and attractiveness. 
Messrs. E. D. Shuttleworth & Co., Peckham Rye, 
have a handsome group of Palms, Cycads, and other 
handsome foliaged plants, interspersed with Lilium 
Harrisii —a very affective group. Near by Messrs 
William Paul & Son show Roses in pots, and as cut 
blooms, in a large and effectively arranged collection. 
Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham, follows on with a strik¬ 
ing group of Tree Paeonies well bloomed and including 
some fine novelties. These are succeeded by a well 
balanced group of Stove and Greenhouse flowering 
and fine foliaged plants from Messrs. John Laing & 
Sons, Forest Hill. Then comes an arrangement 
that all will admire — a collection of forced 
hardy shrubs such as Azaleas, Spiraeas, 
Hydrangeas, &c., set off with the variously 
coloured leafage of Japanese Acers, exhibited by 
Messrs. James Veitch & Sons. Messrs. Paul & Son 
have a very fine display of specimen Roses ; and in 
the opposite corner is the superb group of Clematis 
from Messrs. R. Smith & Co., to which we have 
already referred. Messrs. W. Cutbush & Son, High- 
gate, follow on with a boldly effective arrangement 
of Rhododendrons and Aza'eas, &c., all the more 
showy in contrast with the next contribution—a fine 
one of Roses in pots from Mr. W. Rumsey, Waltham 
Cross. Mr. Charles Turner, Slough, contributes a 
showy group of show and fancy Pelargoniums; 
Messrs. J. Peed & Sons, Streatham, a large bank of 
Anthuriums and Caladiums ; and Mr. Phippen of 
Reading, a very striking arrangement of Lilium 
Harrisi and Spiraea astilboides, the latter forming 
the foreground to three semi-circular groups of the 
former, and the whole exceedingly well set up. 
Returning to the long tent and turning to the right, 
a very fine bank of flowering Ericas is seen, from 
Messrs. Hugh, Low & Co., and opposite, Mr. A. 
Waterer, Knaphill, has a very showy lot of Ghent 
Azaleas. Near by Mr. H. B. May, Edmonton, has 
one of his extensive assortments of Ferns, beautifully 
grown little stuff, and well set up. Mr. H Canned, 
of Swanley follows with a glorious group of Begonias, 
double and single, an excellent representation of the 
Swanley culture. On the opposite side, Messrs. 
Hugh, Low & Co., show from their Bushhill Park 
Nursery, a brilliant mass of well-flowered, decorative 
Pelargoniums; and alongside these Messrs John 
Laing & Sons maintain their high reputation for 
Begonias in worthy style, showing a grand lot. Mr. 
H. J. Jones, of Hither Green, Lewisham, also ex¬ 
hibits decorative Pelargoniums in the best market 
style. 
In a second long tent leading to the main entrance 
gates are also a number of most interesting exhibits. 
Here Messrs. James Veitch & Sons show their best 
of Gloxinias and Streptocarpus, very beautiful 
groups of both. Mr. T. Gabriel, Streatham, has 
some well-done herbaceous Calceolarias, but with 
these Messrs. J. James & Son take the palm for 
dwarfness, floriferousness, and quality of the flowers. 
Messrs. Reid & Bornemann, Sydenham, show 
a very neat group of Pelargoniums, etc. ; and 
Messrs. James Carter & Co., have an extensive 
display of beautiful single and double Petunias, 
Herbaceous Calceolarias, Mimulus, Gloxinias, and 
Cacti. Mr. T. S. Ware is also well to the front with 
Begonias ; Messrs. Kelway & Son, Langpcrt, with 
double and single Paeonies, Pyrethrums, brilliantly 
coloured Cannas, and Amaryllis ; and Messrs. Barr 
& Son with cut Herbaceous plants. Messrs. Laing 
Sc Sons and Messrs. Cutbush & Son are also strongly 
represented in the herbaceous section. The Messrs. 
W. & J. Birkenhead of Sale, occupy their old position 
with a fine representative collection of Ferns. 
In the fourth tent running alongside Crown 
Office Row are the wonderful examples of Dendro¬ 
bium nobile before alluded to. Here also Messrs. T. 
Rivers & Son, Sawbridgeworth, have a very 
meritorious collection of fruit trees in pots ; and 
Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, a very excellent dis¬ 
play of Clivias. and forced Ghent Azaleas — a rich 
mass of colour. Messrs. Wallace & Co., of Colches¬ 
ter, have a fine group of Lilium eximeum giganteum 
grown from Japanese bulbs. Mr. Lucien Linden, of 
Brussels, exhibits some fine new foliaged plants ; 
and Mr. Self Leonard, of Guilford, a beautiful 
assortment of Herbaceous and Alpine plants. 
Messrs. Dobbie & Co., Rothesay, have a lovely 
display of Violas, Pansies, and Sweet Peas — the 
admired of all. Mr. Pritchard, Southbourne, Christ¬ 
church, Hants, also shows a pretty lot of hardy herba¬ 
ceous and alpine plants; and Mr. James Douglas, 
Great Gearies, contributes some of the fine old 
varieties of Florists Tulips. Of fruit Messrs. James 
Veitch & Sons, contribute some sixty dishes of Apples, 
singularly well preserved; and a smail collection also 
comes from the Department of Agriculture, New 
South Wales. Mr. S. Mortimer, Rowledge Nurseries, 
Farnham, makes an excellent display with good 
varieties of Cucumbers of his own raising. 
The Exhibition was opened at half-past twelve by 
the President, but the awards had not been made at 
the early hour we had to go to press, and must be 
given in our next. 
