548 
THH GARDENING WORLD. 
April 25, 1896. 
Sibtborpii which is considered to be the original 
form from which the modern blue Primroses have 
sprung. This is a very light coloured variety and of 
a shade, which, for want of abetter term, we shall 
describe as a mixture of soft rose and lavender-blue. 
A PLEASING COMBINATION. 
Some beds of Hyacinths have been in fine condition 
for some time past in the garden of E. H. Watts, 
Esq., Devonhurst, Chiswick, under the care of 
Mr James Gibson. Being of moderate size they are 
simple in design, and filled with three varieties of 
Hyacinths on a groundwork of Myosotis. The 
varieties consist of Czar Peter, pale blue, La 
Grandesse, pure white, and Lord Macaulay, pale 
reddish-pink. All three alternate regularly with one 
another, so that the whole forms a pleasing combina¬ 
tion of soft colours, which blend harmoniously 
together, especially when viewed a short way off. 
The beholder is attracted, not merely by the com¬ 
bination, but by the quality and size of the spikes of 
bloom, which are really wonderful for outdoor 
culture in a London atmosphere. The relatively 
clean state of the latter during the past winter, and 
the unusual mildness which prevailed, may be held 
responsible to some extent for the result; but the 
bulbs must also have been good, seeing that no 
special treatment has been given them. 
-«**- 
NATIONAL AURICULA AND PRIMULA 
SOCIETY. 
Southern Section. 
The popular spring flowers indicated above turned 
up at the Drill Hall on the 21st inst. in good 
numbers, although scarcely so many plants were 
exhibited as last year. The quality of the material 
forthcoming was, however, excellent, the plants 
being well-grown and flowered. The Rev. F. D. 
Plorner, Kirkby Lonsdale, occupied the premier 
position for twelve Auriculas, dissimilar. He showed 
Favourite (Horner), Orient (Horner), lolanthe 
(Horner), Kingfisher (Horner), Melanie (Horner), 
Shirley Hibberd (Simonite), Midnight (Horner), 
Heatherbell (Simonite), Bull’s Eye (Horner), Lustre 
(Horner), Rev. Cecil Dalton (Horner), Dolphin 
(Horner). Mr. A. J. Sanders, gardener to the 
Viscomtesse Chewton, Cobham, was second ; Mr. 
James Douglas, gardener to Mrs. Whitbourn, Great 
Gearies, Ilford, third ; Mr. W. F. Meakin, Duffield, 
fourth ; P. J. Worsley, Esq., Clifton, fifth ; and Mr. 
R. Patterson, Sunderland, sixth. 
Mr. T. B. Henwood, Reading, was first in the 
smaller class for six Auriculas, distinct. He had 
good samples- of Dinham (Penson), Geo. Rudd 
(Woodhead), Acme (Read), Mr. Chas. Phillips 
(Phillips), and Geo. Lightbody (Headley). Next in 
order of merit came the Rev. F. D. Horner; 
Mr. A. J. Sanders; J. T. Bennett-Poe, Esq.; P. J. 
Worsley, Esq. ; and Mr. Meakin. 
Mr. Chas. Phillips, Bracknell, was first for four 
Auriculas, distinct, Mr. W. Badcock, Reading, 
occupying a like position for two plants. 
In the classes for single specimens the competition 
was keen and well sustained. For a green-edged 
variety Mr. A. J. Sanders was placed first with 
Rev. F. D. Horner ; also for a grey-edged variety 
with George Lightbody (Headley), and for a white- 
edged variety with Acme (Read). The first award 
for the finest self-coloured sort fell to the lot of Mr. 
Patterson, who showed Heroine. 
The first prize for fifty Auriculas was carried off 
by The Guildford Hardy Plant Co., Sunderland, 
who had a rich and varied collection ; second came 
Mr. Jas. Douglas, and third, Mr. A. J. Sanders. 
In the class for twelve Alpine Auriculas, dissimilar, 
Mr. Jas. Douglas distanced all other competitors. 
His plants were large, healthy, and bore trusses of 
bloom of extra large size. The varieties exhibited 
were Mrs. P. Campbell, Trilby, Iza, Alexander, 
Edith Lodge, Echo, Admiral, Captain, Orelia, Gany¬ 
mede, Ariel, and Dean Hole. All these were seed¬ 
lings of Mr. Douglas’ own raising. In this class Mr. 
A. J. Sanders was second, Mr. Chas. Phillips third, 
and Mr. R, Patterson fourth. Mr. Chas. Phillips 
had the best six Alpine Auriculas, dissimilar, show¬ 
ing Chastity, Mrs. Martin Smith, Seedling, Pluto, 
and Nelly Martin. These were all of Mr. Phillips’ 
raising. Second came Mr. James Douglas, and 
third Mr. A. J. Sanders. 
Mr. J. J. Keen, Southampton, was placed first for 
our Alpine Auriculas, distinct, Mr. L. Walker, Read¬ 
ing, taking second place ; Mr. A. Fisk, Broxbourne, 
the third ; Mr. J. Gilbert, gardener to the Rev. L. R. 
Flood, Merrow, the fourth; and Mr. J. F. Kew, 
Southend-on-Sea, the fifth. 
In the classes for single specimens of Alpine 
Auriculas Mr. Patterson was credited with the best 
gold-centred variety in Gertrude Jane (Gilbert) ; Mr. 
A. Fisk showed the finest cream-centred variety in 
Mrs. H. Turner. 
A noteworthy class was that for twelve fancy 
Auriculas, not more than two of any variety being 
shown. The Guildford Hardy Plant Co. came out 
at the top of the list with Old Gold, Seedling, 
Innocence, Khartoum, Rosetta, Pott’s Green, Belle, 
Seedling, Bronze, Mrs. H. Selfe-Leonard, and 
Twilight. Mr. Jas. Douglas took the second prize 
with a collection but little inferior to that of the 
first prize-taker’s. Mr. R. Dean, Ealing, was third. 
Mr. Jas. Douglas staged twelve superb specimen 
plants of fancy Polyanthuses, dissimilar, winning 
thereby the first award. He also took a like position 
in a class for twelve single Primroses, distinct. It 
would be hard indeed to obtain plants more freely 
flowered or more vigorous than those contributed by 
this well-known exhibitor. Mr. A. J. Sanders took 
the second place in the last-named class. For six 
double Primroses, dissimilar, Mr. Jas. Douglas was 
again credited with a first. He was followed in this 
case by Mr. R. Dean. 
He added one more success to an already 
formidable list in winning chief honours for twelve 
Primulas of distinct species or well-marked varieties, 
showing in excellent form P. amoena Mauve Queen, 
P. obconica, P. Auricula, P. mollis, P. japonica var., 
P. verticillata, P. intermedia, P. Forbesii, P. 
Sieboldii var., P. floribunda, and P. Souvenir de J. 
H. Veen. 
In a similar but smaller class for six plants 
Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, showed neat speci¬ 
mens of P. Forbesii, P. obconica, P. denticulata, P. 
floribunda, P. mollis, and P. altaica. 
J. T. Bennett-Poe, Esq., was placed first for the 
finest and most tastefully-arranged basket of Prim¬ 
roses and Polyanthuses. Mr. Jas. Douglas was 
second, and Messrs. Paul & Sons third. Mr. Jas. 
Douglas was first for a mixed group of species and 
varieties of Primulas and Auriculas, covering twelve 
superficial feet and arranged for effect. The second 
prize in this class fell to the lot of the Guildford 
Hardy Plant Co. 
In the classes for seedling Auriculas Mr. Douglas 
was awarded a first prize for the new white-edged 
variety, Vesta, and Mr. Chas. Phillips for the new 
Alpine gold-centred Pluto, and for an Alpine cream- 
centred (unnamed). The premier Auricula, picked 
out from amongst the whole of the plants exhibited, 
was decided to be Mrs. Henwood, a large-flowered, 
green-edged variety, shown by Mr. T. E. Henwood, 
Reading. 
-- 
HARDY PRIMROSES AND 
POLYANTHUS. 
To the uninitiated the high prices asked for choice 
named varieties of Polyanthus and Auricula are at 
first a matter of astonishment, but the extreme 
beauty of many choice kinds, coupled with the 
difficulty there is of keeping up a stock, will always 
keep some varieties beyond the reach of many who 
would like to acquire them. It will often take eight 
to ten years to get up a stock of a few dozen plants 
of a new seedling of merit, and things must go on 
very smoothly to do as much in the time. This, 
however, need not debar anyone who is not too 
fastidious from embarking on their culture, because 
a shilling packet of a good strain is certain to 
produce a variety of fine showy flowers well varied 
in colour. We have at the present moment a small 
bank, partly shaded, planted with them. This is 
dotted with a few Narcissus, and, with a view to 
utilise space in the first instance, we scattered among 
the plants some Parsley, the beautiful foliage of 
which forms a carpet between the plants and 
certainly enhances the effect. We deem it one of 
the prettiest things in its way we have ever seen, 
and hope to make this a standing rule. The Parsley 
goes well with many dishes in the kitchen, and the 
Primroses and Polyanthus are no mean adornment 
for the sitting-room table. The senses of sight, 
scent, and taste find ample means for gratification 
from a few square yards of ground, which could in 
but a very few ways be put to any useful purpose. 
We do not know from what source ours were 
originally obtained, buc have never seen any better. 
To those who may be induced to take up their 
culture we would say get the very best seed obtain¬ 
able.- IV, B. G. 
SOCIETIES. 
Royal Horticultural, April 21 st. —Roses, hardy plants, 
both herbaceous and shrubby, were the leading 
features of this meeting on Tuesday last, indepen¬ 
dently of the Auriculas and Primroses. Orchids, of 
course, occupied a considerable portion of table 
space and were distinctly a feature of the hall. 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, staged a large 
and well-flowered group of Orchids, including fine 
pieces of Oncidium varicosum Rogersii, O. Mar- 
shalli, Dendrobium thryrsiflorum, and Odonto- 
glossum ramosissimum. Cattleya citrina was well 
flowered, and bore two flowers on a scape in some 
cases. Choice new things are Epidendrum Endresio- 
Wallisii superbum, Cattleya Schroderae eximia, and 
Angraecum metallicum (Silver Flora Medal). 
A group of Orchids was also exhibited by Messrs. 
F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, including fine pieces of 
Oncidium excavatum aurosum, Cattleya Schroderae, 
C. S. alba, C. lawrenceana, Odontoglossum crispum, 
and various others. 
Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., Upper Clapton, 
exhibited a group of Orchids including a fine variety 
of Odontoglossum luteo-purpureum, and Cattleya 
lawrenceana grandis, the lip and petals of which 
were richly coloured. They also had several Laelias 
and different Cattleyas and Odontoglossums, inclu¬ 
ding the interesting O. stellemicans. 
A Silver Banksian Medal was awarded to Sir 
Trevor Lawrence, Bart., fora varied and interesting 
group of Orchids, noticeable amongst which were 
Masdevallia Arminii, Cochlioda Noetzliana, Sarco- 
chilus Hartmannii, Mesospinidium vulcanicum, and 
others. He was awarded a Cultural Commendation 
for Dendrobium capillipes, and another for Cymbid- 
ium tigrinum (Silver Banksian Medal). 
A group of Orchids was also staged by Mr. R. 
Giilzow, Melbourne Nurseries, Bexley Heath, Kent. 
Laelia purpurata was the most prominent feature of 
the group. Several varieties of Odontoglossum 
crispum and a large piece of Cymbidium lowianum 
were exhibited by M. S. Cooke, Esq. (gardener, Mr. 
Buckell), Kingston Hill, Surrey. A fine spike of 
Phaius Cooksoni was exhibited by Mr. James 
Douglas, Edenside, Great Bookham, Surrey. 
De B. Crawshay, Esq. (gardener, Mr. S. Cooke), 
exhibited a fine piece of O. andersonianum 
hebraicum, and a beautiful variety named O. a. 
Rosefield var. G. W. Schofield, Esq., Rawkshall, 
staged a hybrid Cypripedium named C. schofield- 
ianum. 
A large and varied group of Orchids was staged 
by H. T. Pitt, Esq. (gardener, Mr. R. Aldous), 
Rosslyn, Stamford Hill. Very fine were Odonto¬ 
glossum excellens Warnham Court var., Cattleya 
Trianae delicata Rosslyn var., C. .Schroderae Pitt’s 
var., Odontoglossum crispum Dolly (Lilacinum), 
Dendrobium thyrsiflorum, and several others. Very 
fine was Vanda Parishii Marriotiana (Silver 
Banksian Medal. 
W. S. Ellis, Esq. (gardener, Mr. Masterton), 
Hazlebourne, Dorking, exhibited a splendid lot of 
Odontoglossums, including fine varieties of O. 
triumphans, O. andersonianum, O. Pescatorei and 
others, all exhibiting signs of good cultural treat¬ 
ment (Silver Banksian Medal). 
R. B. White, Esq , Arddarroch, Garelochead, 
exhibited cut spikes of Odontoglossums in many 
very beautiiul varieties. O. crispum Arddarroch 
variety was notable for the great size of the blotches 
on a pinkish white ground (Silver Banksian 
Medal). 
Mr. H. B. May, Dyson's Lane Nurseries, 
Upper Edmonton, had a very nice group of 
stove and greenhouse Ferns, comprising some 
large and exceedingly well-grown plants. Samples 
of the grand yellow Tropaeolum Coolgardie, and a 
superb specimen of Spiraea astilboides floribunda, 
were also forthcoming from the same firm (Silver 
Flora Medal). 
A superb group of miscellaneous plants was set up 
by Messrs. J antes Veitch & Sons. Some magnificently- 
flowered specimens of Pimelia spectabilis, Spiraea 
astilboides, Epiphyllum russellianum Gaertneri, 
Anthurium Scherzerianum atropurpureum, Boronia 
megastigma, and Calla eliiottiana were in striking 
evidence. Other noteworthy plants were Maranta 
major and Tillandsia Zahnii. In a small group of 
hardy plants also sent by the Chelsea firm, 
