April 18, 1896. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
581 
male arid female cones are abundantly produced, the 
latter being almost globular, about three-quarters of 
an inch in diameter, usually singly and erect, with the 
scales serrated at the edges, so that the fully- 
developed cone is rough and prickly. Quite a 
feature of the tree is the male catkins which grow 
thickly in axillary spikes in the leaf-axils usually 
towards the branch extremities. A peculiarity of 
the cones is that in some instances the axes elongate 
and produce foliage leaves at their apices, thus 
imitating in a marked degree those of Cunninghamia 
sinensis, and several species of Picea. Better, indeed, 
than the generality of Conifers, the Japan Cedar 
seems to thrive in the dense, still air of mid¬ 
woodland ; indeed, the finest specimens I have seen 
are so situated, the soil being largely composed of 
decayed vegetable matter and never becoming dry. 
The rate of growth is rapid; one specimen that I 
measured having reached the height of 74 ft. in 
forty-two years, the trunk girth being 4 ft. 8 in. at a 
yard up, and 4 ft. 6 in. at 5 ft. from the ground. 
Home-grown timber of this tree is very light in pro¬ 
portion to the bulk and bears a marked resemblance 
in the specimens I have examined to that produced 
in its native country. It is white, or rather inclined 
to yellowish-white, soft, easily indented, and 
pleasantly perfumed. 
C. japonica elegans differs both in habit 
and appearance from the species, and produces 
cones very sparsely, these, however, being 
indistinguishable from the former. It is, unquestion¬ 
ably, one of the most desirable and beautiful of 
ornamental Conifers, the remarkable change in 
colour from the bright green of the warm season to 
the bronzy-crimson of the winter and early spring 
months, combined with the elegant outline, and 
perfect hardihood, placing this variety in the front 
rank of useful and ornamental trees of medium pro¬ 
portions. It stands exposure better than the species 
and like that tree will grow on cold, stiff soils where 
only a limited number of Conifers could subsist. In 
a young state it is apt to form several leading shoots, 
and sometimes ungainly side branches, which 
should be removed by timely and well-directed 
pruning. The cones are five-eighths of an inch long, 
and the leaves, in which the primordial shape is 
retained, rather longer than the cones, flattish, 
velvety in texture, and abundantly produced. 
C. japonica elegans nana should not be confused 
with the dwarf form of the species, which is also 
known under the varietal name of nana, the present 
plant retaining its coppery tint during the winter 
and early spring months. It is of small growth, 
thickly branched and foliaged, the branchlets being 
shortly pendulous. 
C. japonica araucarioides is a small-growiDg 
and neat-habited tree with short, regularly- 
arranged leaves, and slender, almost undivided 
branches. The foliage being thickly arranged 
causes the plant to have a thick and massive 
character, while the colour in healthy specimens is 
a dark bluish-green. From dried specimens of 
C. japonica lycopodioides (Carriere) that have been 
sent me, I am inclined to believe that the two 
varieties are identical. 
C. japonica nana is a somewhat irregularly- 
shaped, thick, and tufted bush from 2 ft. to 3 ft. high. 
The rate of growth is remarkably slow, and the plant 
generally wears a bright and healthy appearance. 
For border or rock work it is useful. 
G. japonica Lobbi. —Compared with the species, 
this forms a tree of narrower and more compact out¬ 
line, the leaves also being of a brighter and more 
vivid green colour. It is equally vigorous with the 
species, and in this country has attained to stately 
dimensions with a straight, well-formed trunk that is 
well furnished throughout with bushy, thickly- 
foliaged branches, the spread of which is usually less 
than one third of the height. 
C. japonica spiralis, though quite distinct and 
noteworthy, cannot be described as ornamental. 
The branches are lithe and weak, irregular as to 
length and arrangement, and having short, closely- 
appressed leaves of a dull green colour, and so thickly 
and shortly set as to appear in a spiral manner 
throughout the entire length.— A. D. Webster. 
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LIVERPOOL HORTICULTURAL 
ASSOCIATION. 
The twelfth spring show ot this society was held in 
St. George’s Hall on Wednesday and Thursday of 
last week during splendid weather ; but, although the 
weather was favourable, the attendance proved but 
small, only /31 being taken at the doors for both 
days. The total attendance of subscribers and by 
payment would only be about a couple of thousand, 
a very poor number for such a magnificent show 
as that provided by the society. The entries 
numbered about 270 in forty-five classes or an 
increase of sixty over that of last year. The show 
was an excellent one in every detail, the bulbs alone 
showing a want of freshness. For the group of 
miscellaneous foliage and flowering plants A. L. 
Jones, Esq. (gardener, J. Bounds), Aigburth, staged 
the premier collection, a strong background being 
formed of Cocos weddeliana, Lomaria gibba and 
Crotons. The base was of Adiantum relieved by 
Crotons, Dendrobiums and a variety of spring 
flowering plants, the whole proving bright and 
pretty, but just a *' wee bit" thin. W. H. Watts, 
Esq. (gardener, H. Bracegirdle), was second with a 
greater profusion of Ferns but wanting in bloom. 
W. B. Bowring, Esq. (gardener, Thomas Ankers), 
Grassendale, led with ten pots of hardy herbaceous 
and bulbous plants, the finest being Convallaria and 
Spiraea astilboides. He also was first for four 
Azaleas, distinct, with well-flowered plants ; for six 
forced hardy plants, amongst which was a well- 
flowered Clematis Princess of Wales ; and for six 
Cyclamen. R. P. Houston, Esq., M.P. (gardener, 
J. Heaton), had a most tastefully-arranged pan of 
Lily of the Valley. O. H. Williams, Esq. (gardener, 
Thomas Wilson), Aigburth, had the finest eighteen 
Hyacinths distinct, good dwarf spikes. Mrs, John 
Aiken (gardener, C. Waring), Prince’s Park, was to 
the fore for a dozen varieties. W. P. Sinclair, Esq. 
(gardener, J. V. Thompson), Prince's Park, had the 
best six Hyacinths and the best six single Tulips. J. 
W. Hughes, Esq. (gardener, J. McColl), Allerton, 
took the lead for six pots of Hyacinths, three bulbs 
in each pot, carrying the finest spikes in the show. 
C. Mclver, Esq. (gardener, H. Holford), Heswell, 
scored with a dozen pots of single Tulips, and also 
for six pots of Freesias. C. J. Procter, Esq. 
(gardener, J. Williams), Birkenhead, had the finest 
double Tulips and the single Bouquet. E. Pryor, 
Esq. (gardener, E. Tayloi), Aigburth, staged the 
most tastefully arranged basket of plants, somewhat 
crowded (prizes presented by Messrs. Ker & Sons). 
He also had the two best Orchids (prizes presented 
by Messrs. John Cowan & Co., Garston), with 
Lycaste Skinneri, twelve flowers, and Cattleya citrina. 
For the single specimen he scored with Dendrobrium 
thrysiflorum, having over twenty spikes; for two 
hardy forced plants, and one hardy Rhododendron, 
he was also successful. G. W. Moss, Esq. (gardener, 
T. Johnson), Aigburth, was to the fore with a pair of 
Amaryllis and for trebles with good varieties. H. 
Cunningham, Esq. (gardener W. Wilson), Gateacre, 
scored with Dendrobium nobile, well flowered and 
four feet in diameter, as a stove flowering plant; 
also for a specimen Azalea. T. Sutton Timmis, Esq. 
(gardener, B. Cromwell), Allerton, secured the chief 
honour for the flowering greenhouse plant with 
Imantophyllum miniatum superbum with twenty 
spikes; for four exotic Ferns with Goniophlebium 
subauriculatum, Microlepia hirta cristata (ten feet 
diameter), Davallia fijensis and Adiantum cuneatum ; 
for three Azaleas distinct, with fresh well-flowered 
plants : for three Palms or Cycads, showing Kentia 
fosteriana ten feet in height and diameter, and 
beautifully fresh ; and for two Mignonettes. W. H. 
Watts, Esq., led with three Orchids including 
Angraecum sesquipedale with four spikes and nine 
flowers. 
W. H. Shirley, Esq. (gardener, G. Eaton), 
Allerton, had the best single Fern with Pteris major 
six feet in diameter, and was also first for three 
well-flowered Callas. J. H. Wilson, Esq., was first 
for four hardy Rhododendrons, and also for four 
Azalea mollis, good varieties, well-flowered. A. L. 
Jones, Esq. (gardener, J. Bounds), Aigburth, led 
with the greenhouse Rhododendron Gibsonii. S. G. 
Waring, Esq. (gardener, J. Pattison), had the best 
single Palm. E. C. Leventon, Esq., staged the best 
Cinerarias in a strong competition. Miss Fowler 
had the leading Primula sinensis. Mrs. W. G. 
Bateson (gardener, J. Harrison), Aigburth, staged the 
premier Lily of the Valley. H. H. Hammond, Esq., 
had the best single Azalea mollis, a good plant. 
Thomas Gee, Esq., Allerton, had a charming com¬ 
bination of cut Roses. 
Certificates of Merit were awarded to Messrs. R. 
P. Ker & Sons for a group of fine Amaryllis and 
Azaleas; to Mr. Henry Middlehurst fora group of 
well-flowered Lilium Harrisii; and to Messrs. 
Dicksons, Chester, for cut Daffodils. Thejudges were 
Messrs. W. Tunnington, Calderstones, Mr. Ashton, 
Lathom House, Mr. Paul, Manchester Botanic 
Gardens, and Mr. Kipps, Warrington. 
-- 
CALCEOLARIA DEFLEXA. 
This handsome winter-flowering plant is not taken 
advantage of nearly so much as its merits demand. 
Introduced in 1878 from Peru, its claims are there¬ 
fore well tested, and require no word of mine to 
sound its praises. It is also known as C. grandiflora 
and C. fuchsiaefolia, the latter name being perhaps 
the most correct of the three. A very fine batch of 
these occupies a prominent position in one of Mr. 
John Forbes’ houses at Hawick at the present time. 
The plants are well furnished with lovely clear 
lemon-yellow flowers, which show to great advantage 
against the shining green Fuchsia-like foliage. 
It is a continuous and effective decorative subject, 
and lasts a long time in a cut state. It also travels 
well, which is a desirable trait in a Calceolaria, or, for 
that matter, in any other plant. I am certain were 
this plant better known amongst gardeners generally, 
it would be oftener met with than at present.— Coila. 
- - 
THE EDINBURGH SPRING SHOW. 
The Royal Caledonian Society held their annual 
exhibition of spring flowers on the 8th and gth inst. 
in the Waverley Market, Edinburgh ; and the show 
this year comprised a great wealth of bloom in con¬ 
trast with the poverty of last year’s show at the 
same season. This had been anticipated to a con¬ 
siderable extent by reason of the mildness of the 
winter and the favourable springtime; and the 
result as indicated was a full entry in all departments 
of well-developed exhibits. Many of the tables may 
be justly described as consisting of a perfect 
blaze of colour, the Narcissus, the Azalea, and the 
Daffodil, in addition to the Hyacinth and Tulip, 
being all pressed into duty, each contributing its 
share in the pleasing appearance of the show. A 
noticeable change in the schedule consisted of the 
innovation of circular tables of plants, 12 ft. in 
diameter, arranged for effect. This formed a welcome 
change from the old plan of occupying the end space 
of the market with one large group, and, moreover, 
the class as it stands at present not only opens up 
the competition to a greater number of exhibitors, 
but also affords better opportunities of tasteful 
display in arrangement. 
With a very fine table Mr. Malcolm McIntyre, of 
The Glen, Innerleithen, takes the first prize, and Mr. 
Geo. Wcod, Oswald Road, the second. Mr. 
McIntyre was also similarly successful in several 
other classes, including that for ten forced plants in 
bloom, excluding Hyacinths and Tulips ; here Mr. 
W. Bennett, Hanley Lodge, Corstorphine, was 
second, followed in the third place by Mr. James 
Bald, Canaan House. In the class for three Azalea 
indica, distinct varieties, Mr. Geo. Wood was first, 
with Mr. McIntyre closely following, whilst Mr. 
William Murray, of Restalri^ House, took third 
place in an excellent competition. Roses in pots 
made a good show, Mr. W. Galloway, Liberton, 
leading in the class for sixes.*. In the Hyacinth 
section Mr. J. Meiklem, Bridge-of-Weir, was an easy 
first, followed by Mr. R. Lawrie, of Cramond, and 
Mr. R. T. Rae, of Sunlaw. Collections of Daffodils 
were well shown by Mr. W. Crawford, of Udding- 
ston (who had the Silver Cup); Mr. G. Mclvor, of 
Sunningdale, Berks. (Large Silver Medal); and Mr. 
A. Mclnnes, of Irvine (Small Silver Medal). Cut 
flowers were also a strong section, whilst the fruit 
and vegetable classes formed a similarly-interesting 
department. 
In the nurserymen's classes Messrs. R. B. Laird 
& Sons, of Pinkhill Nurseries, as usual took a very 
prominent position. Their centre table was one of 
the features of the show in staging, for which very 
many choice plants had been drawn upon ; and by 
grouping each section by itself a brilliant effect was 
produced. A fine strain of Amaryllis, Messrs, 
