July 28, 1894. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
757 
NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE 
FLOWER SHOW. 
It was a pity the opening day of this show, the i8th 
inst., should have been accompanied by such un¬ 
settled weather. A new departure was taken this 
season, somewhat on the lines found so successful at 
Shrewsbury, and which we trust will be equally so 
at Newcastle. It will be seen from the summary 
below that the show was an excellent one; but it is 
quite impossible to note more than a few of the 
chief features. 
In the chief class fpr stove and greenhouse 
flowering plants Mr. Letts, gardener to the Marquess 
of Zetland, Aske, Yorkshire, was a splendid first, 
and had, among others, good examples of Dipladenia 
amabilis, Phenocoma prolifera Barnesi, Darwinia 
macrostegia, and Anthurium Scherzerianum ; better 
grown plants than these we have seldom seen. A 
grand piece of Ixora salicifolia in Mr. Morris’s second 
prize lot was also noticeable. The Marquess of Zet¬ 
land’s head gardener at another seat—Upleathum— 
was also first for six plants in bloom ; here again the 
best were Dipladenias, Anthurium, Ixora Pilgrimii, 
and Erica depressa. 
For a group of 200 ft., Mr. J. McIntyre, gardener 
to Mrs. Gurney Pease, Darlington, was first with a 
beautifully informal arrangement. A class for eight 
fine foliaged plants saw Mr. Letts well in front. His 
three best plants were Cordyline indivisa, Cycas 
circinalis, and Dasylirion acrotrichum. The Marquis 
of Zetland also took third, through Mr. Nicholas, 
Mr. McIntyre splitting the two. Mr. Nicholas beat 
Mr. McIntyre for six Ferns, Davallias fijiensis, 
plumosus and tenuifolia Veitchiana, with Gleichenias 
Mendeli and rupestris glaucescens being especially 
praiseworthy. Mr. McIntyre was in front for 
smaller Ferns, and also for three Dracaenas. For 
three Crotons Mr. Letts was successful with beauti¬ 
fully coloured specimens, although not so large as 
sometimes seen. Mr. Nicholas was a good first for 
four Ericas, having very fresh and healthy speci¬ 
mens. 
Roses:—Messrs. Harkness, Bedale, won in the 
class for forty-eight varieties, Gustave Piganeau, 
Victor Hugo, Black Prince being remarkably bright. 
In the second prize lot from Mr. Prince, Oxford, 
Comtesse de Nadaillac, as usual, was very good Mr. 
Prince, however, had his revenge in the succeeding 
class for thirty-six varieties, but the contest, like the 
former class, was very close. Mr. Prince w.^n with 
Prince Arthur for twelve of any sort, staging this 
Rose in grand form and colour ; and again for twelve 
Teas or Noisettes, distinct. This was a grand lot of 
flowers, even and fresh throughout. Messrs. W. & 
D. Croll, Dundee, were second, but they beat Mr. 
Prince for twelve of any yellow, with beautifully 
tinted blooms of Marie Van Houtte. In the 
amateurs’ division Mr. A. Robson, The Cemetery, 
Hexham, was first for twenty-four varieties ; Mr. 
A. Whitton, Bedale, first for twelve varieties, and 
also for twelvd Teas or Noisettes. All of these first 
prize stands were fresh and good. 
The hardy herbaceous cut flowers were a feature, 
Messrs. Harkness winning with one of the best 
collections we have seen. In the second prize lot 
from Mr. T. Battensby, Blayden, were many grand 
examples. Stove and greenhouse cut flowers were 
most successfully exhibited by Mr. Nicholas, who 
was first both for twelve and six bunches. 
Fruits ;—These were generally spoken of as a de¬ 
cided improvement upon the last few years. Mr. 
Mclndoe, gardener to Sir J. W. Pease, Hutton Hall, 
took first for a collection of eight and also for one of 
four varieties. His best dishes were Grapes (Black 
Hamburgh and Muscat of Alexandria), Nectarines 
(Pitmaston Orange), Pears (Clapp’s Favourite), and 
a fine Monarch Melon. Mr. Goodacre, gardener to 
the Earl of Harrington, Elvaston Castle, was a good 
second for eight dishes, and Mr. Hunter, gardener to 
the Earl of Durham, Lambton Castle, equally close 
for four dishes. 
For four bunches of grapes there was a very keen 
fight between Mr. Hunter and Mr. J. Wood, gardener 
to E. Hopper, Esq., Morpeth, Black Hamburgh 
and Gros Maroc were in the first prize lot, and 
some splendid Mrs. Prince and Muscat Hamburghs 
in the second. In the class for Muscats Mr. Mclndoe 
was first, also for another white Grape with Golden 
Champion. But Mr. J. Ward beat him for Black 
Hamburgh, and also for any other black, with 
Muscat Hamburgh in grand form and finish. Mr. 
Goodacre was first for Peaches, Nectarines, and 
Tomatos, beating Mr. Mclndoe in the first of these 
classes. 
Miscellaneous exhibits came from Messrs. W. & 
J. Birkenhead, Sale, who had an excellent collection 
of Ferns staged in their usually eflective style. A 
collection of Conifers from Messrs. W. Fell & Sons 
Hexham, was a taking feature. Begonias from 
Messrs- J. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill; Orchids and 
other foliage plants from Messrs. B. S. Williams & 
Son, Upper Holloway ; and the new seedling Carna¬ 
tions from Mr. J. Douglas were the most noticeable. 
- ^ - 
SPIRAEA JAPONICA 
BUMALDA. 
The varieties of this Spiraea are now pretty numer¬ 
ous in gardens, and some of them are dwarf and 
beautiful, either on account of the high colouring of 
the flowers, or their distinctness.* The species must 
not be confounded with the Spiraea japonica of the 
florist, for that is Astilbe japonica. That under 
notice is a hardy,deciduous shrub,flowering for great 
part of the summer, particularly in the case of 
young plants making growth. The flowers are pro¬ 
duced in corymbose cymes, and are of a deep red in 
bud, fading to rose as they expand and become fully 
developed. The stems are dwarfer than the more 
typical forms of S. japonica, and are usually seen 
about 2 ft. to 3 ft. high. Altogether it is a very 
Spiraea japonica bumalda. 
select and ornamental kind for the shrubbery, or for 
planting in isolated clumps or beds upon the grass 
in the pleasure ground. If at all inclined to get 
straggling this can easilj- get rectified at the winter 
pruning, or even in summer, after flowering is com¬ 
pleted or mostly so. The accompanying illustration 
will give an idea of the foliage and the arrangement 
of the flowers of a shrub which should be more 
widely disseminated in gardens than it is at the 
present time. 
BEGONIAS AT FOREST 
HILL. 
The Begonia houses in the nursery of Messrs. J. 
Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, are now, or rather have 
been at their best for some time and are well worthy 
of inspection. The visitor soon becomes aware of 
the fact that double varieties for pot culture at 
least are the most popular at the present day, judging 
from their numbers, for whereas two large houses 
are devoted to the single varieties, five of them are 
filled with double sorts, including all the best selec¬ 
tions of recent years, and which are annually being 
largely augmented. A large number of .the newest 
ones, to which no names have yet been affixed, are 
kept under number. 
Single Varieties. 
Only a few of this class can here be noticed, as the 
interest in them at present is largely overpowered 
by the great advance that has recently been made 
amongst their more favoured rivals, Duke of 
Wellington has huge, intense scarlet flowers, but is 
■ notable for the large pyramidal mass of .stamens in 
the centre. Fringed White, with its doubly-fringed 
petals, is still unrivalled in that way, although 
several seedlings have been raised from it. One of 
them is much more floriferous than the parent, 
though less deeply fringed, and another is edged 
with rose. A seedling of last year is notable for its 
huge, circular, white flowers. Another has large, 
rich salmon flowers. Those of Miss Alice de Roths¬ 
child are bright yellow and of great size for that 
colour. Duchess of Lymington, on the contrary, 
has large, rich orange flowers, and the leaves have 
bronzy markings and gray veins. Amongst basket 
plants the White Pendula is very conspicuous at the 
present time. A large plant suspended from the 
roof has numerous spreading and even drooping 
stems with decidedly pendulous clusters of flowers; 
there are 150 open or half expanded, and all on 
stems, springing from a single tuber. Duchess of 
Teck also answers fairly well as a basket plant. 
Amongst the newer developments are some striped 
varieties which, though not yet perfected, are tend¬ 
ing towards a better development. One is 
orange-scarlet striped and splashed with yellow, 
while another has bronzy-red flowers striped with 
pink and white. 
Double Varieties. 
The flowers of Old Gold are small, globular, of the 
colour of old gold, and very freely produced. It is 
well suited for basket work, as the leaves are 
variegated with bronze underneath, and hang down 
so as to cover the pot or basket, and yet show the 
beautiful markings. The flowers of Laing’s Triumph 
are of huge size with wavy, salmon petals tinted 
with pink. Mrs. Hudson has very full, cerise-rose 
flowers, with nearly flat petals. A delicately- 
coloured variety is Mrs. Laing, being white, tinted 
with soft salmon. The very numerous, brilliant 
scarlet petals of Stanstead Gem are slightly folded, 
and form a very deep flower. In brilliancy, how¬ 
ever, it is far surpassed by a new variety named 
Electricity, with refulgent, orange-scarlet flowers. 
A brighter one we have never seen. The outer 
petals are longer than those forming the neat centre. 
The stems are 2 ft. high, and clothed with deep 
green leaves. Alba Fimbriata has fringed white 
flowers suitable for basket work or for cutting. On 
the contrary, Octavie is an upright habited sort with 
small white flowers that are highly appreciated in 
winter. A closely allied plant raised here from a 
separate parentage has the outer petals tinted with 
pink. 
The flowers of Alfred Rothschild are crimson- 
scarlet. The flowers of Duke of York are of great 
size, with deep rose, wavy petals. Earl of Cran- 
brook has huge scarlet flowers and dark foliage. 
Those of Lady Dorington are of great size and 
tinted with rosy pink on a white ground. The 
flowers of Countess of Craven has the nearly flat, 
white petals arranged in a single rosette, and are 
carried erect on short stalks. The slightly crisped, 
soft rose flowers of Lottie Collins are large and 
handsome. On the contrary, the smaller blooms of 
Rosebud are remarkably neat and pretty. Though 
some years old it will hold its own for some years 
to come. The soft salmon petals of Duchess of 
Northumberland are arranged round several centres 
forming a flower of great size. Another kind that 
has stood the test of some years is Mrs. French with 
soft primrose flowers of even build and moderate 
size. A large batch of Duchess of Teck in another 
house shows what fine effects can be produced with 
a telling sort like this. The flowers are clear yellow 
and massive, while the stems are bronzy striped 
with gray. A delicate and pretty one is Mrs. Lynch 
with soft pink and wavy petals. The scarlet petals 
of Mrs. Jo'nn Laing are compactly and neatly 
arranged, but so wavy that they appear fringed. 
A large number of new kinds are still under 
number, including a very promising one with soft 
yellow but larger flowers than Duchess of Teck, 
with the petals very much interwaved with one 
another. Others had dark magenta rose, white 
tinted pink, scarlet tinted with rose and Camellia¬ 
like in form, cerise-rose, pale salmon, and primrose- 
yellow flowers, many of which are faultless in form. 
A seedling in a basket with white flowers tinted pink 
is very floriferous, bearing five to six flowers in a 
cyme. A seedling from Mrs. Hudson has developed 
bright rose flowers. Another from Lady Wantage 
has rosy pink flowers, but a larger white centre than 
that variety. A soft yellow one with much crimped 
