802 
THE gardening WORLt). 
August 18, 1894.■ 
between mahogany and cedar, with some of the good 
qualities of both. The Guayacan, or lignum vitae 
is too well known to need description. 
There are two varieties of this tree in Nicaragua, 
black and green, and both are abundant in the 
forests. The Granadillo, Rouron, and Nambaro 
(rosewood) are all beautiful and valuable cabinet 
woods which grow abundantly. The Nispero, 
which produces one of the best tropical fruits, also 
furnishes a most valuable wood which, for cabinet 
uses, rivals mahogany in beauty. The Madrono 
produces a very fine-grained wood, suitable for 
turning, and is useful as a substitute for boxwood 
for wood-engraving and other purposes. The tree 
called Madre de Cacao (mother of cacao), which is 
used extensively to shade the cacao plants does not 
grow to a large size, but produces a wood called by 
the natives madera negra (black wood), which is 
useful for foundation posts, &c., as it is almost 
indestructible when underground. The Guapinol 
produces a fruit from which an edible substance is 
made, and a gum equal in every respect to Copal. 
Its wood is also very beautiful, and useful either for 
construction or cabinet purposes. The Cortes is a 
large tree which produces a beautiful fine-grained 
wood of a pale yellow colour. It is very hard and 
could be made available for many industrial 
purposes. The Zapotillo produces wood which is 
the only kind known that will resist the attacks of 
the teredo, or boring sea-worm, so destructive in the 
Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. 
There are also numbers of trees such as the 
Guachipilin, the Guiliguiste, the Polo de carbon, the 
Coyote, and the Chiquirin, which produce woods 
excellent for underground use, and especially valua¬ 
ble for railway ties or sleepers. Oaks of several 
varieties, and particularly the live oak, which grows 
to an enormous size, and the long-leaved pine, 
called by the natives Jocote, grow abundantly in the 
more elevated regions. The latter are particularly 
rich in resinous juices, and could produce abundant 
harvests of turpentine and tar. Dyewoods also 
abound in the dense tropical forests. One of the 
most valuable of these is called Moran. Brazilwood, 
a variety of which is called in the country 
"Nicaraguan wood" (madera de Nicaragua) is 
abundant, also sandal wood, nance elegueme, and many 
others that produce valuable tinctures and dyes well 
known to the natives, but which have no commercial 
nomenclature, and are unknown in the markets of 
the world, although they can be found everywhere 
in Nicaragua. The trees and plants producing vege¬ 
table oils exist in great variety and abundance, such 
as the Jolio, the Marango, the Cacaguate, and the 
Castor Oil Plant, Among the medicinal plants 
known to commerce Nicaragua produces Sarsapar¬ 
illa, ipecachuana, jalap, croton, hellebore, cundur- 
ango, belladonna, quassia, ginger, copaiva, aloes, 
vanilla, and a large number of others, the virtues of 
which are well known to the natives, though even 
the names of some are unknown outside the country. 
—Society of Arts Journal. 
-- 5 ^-- 
TAUNTON FLOWER 
SHOW. 
There is no more popular exhibition in the West of 
England than that held at Taunton, for despite the 
counter attraction of a first-class cricket match, 
the show ground was thronged during the afternoon 
of the gth inst., and it was extremely difficult to get 
a sight of the exhibits at certain points where the 
interest centred. As is usual, the exhibition was 
held in Vivary Park, and, commodious as the tents 
were, many of the exhibits had to be inconveniently 
crowded. Plants were in many instances very fine ; 
cut flowers were abundant, but showed signs of the 
incidence of the season ; fruit was, on the whole, 
very good; and vegetables proved most conclusively 
what a fine soil for their growth is found in the 
district. Excellent arrangements were made by the 
secretaries, Messrs. A. Hammett and H. Maynard. 
The large tent, the first visited on entering the 
park, contained a fine exhibition in itself; a bank of 
stove and greenhouse plants in flov-’er filled one side 
of it, and was very brilliant in effect. Mr. James 
Cypher, Cheltenham, took the first prize with 
excellent examples of Allamanda nobilis, a splendid 
Ixora salicifolia, Stephanotis floribunda, Statice 
Gilberti and S. profusa, both very finely bloomed. 
Ericas obbata purpurea, Thompson!, and Austini- 
ana, Bougainvillea glabra, etc.; second, Mr. J. F. 
Mould, Pewsey, with one of the best collections he 
has ever staged at Taunton ; he had Dipladenias, 
amabilis, hybrida, and Thomas Speed, Ericas 
Aitoniana, Turnbulli, tricolor Holfordi, and Austini- 
ana, Ixora Dixiana, Statice profusa, etc. A smaller 
collection took the third prize, but owing to the 
pressure of the crowd we were unable to obtain the 
name of the exhibitor. Mr. Cypher was also first 
with six very fine specimens of Allamanda nobilis, 
Statice profusa, Stephanotis floribunda, Ixoras 
Williamsii and Pilgrimii, and Erica tricolor ventri- 
cosa: second, Mr. W. Rowland, gardener to W. 
Brock, Esq., Exeter, with very good examples of 
Bougainvillea glabra, Clerodendron Balfourianum, 
Allamanda nobilis, Stephanotis floribunda, Dipla- 
denia hybrida, and Ixora Williamsii. 
Near these were the groups of eight fine foliaged 
plants. Mr. Cypher being again first with brilliant 
examples of Crotons Sunset, Johannisand Chelsoni, 
Kentias Belmoreana, Forsteriana and Australis, 
Cycas undulatus, etc. Mr. W. Rowland was second, 
a very fine Croton Andreanus being his most striking 
specimen. Mr. Rowland took the first prize with 
eight exotic Ferns, being the only exhibitor. Chief 
among these was a finely developed Dicksonia 
antarctica. The best specimen stove plant was 
Bougainvillea glabra; a Stephanotis floribunda 
taking the second place. Of greenhouse plants the 
white and blue forms of Plumbago capensis took the 
leading prizes. 
Orchids were not up to their usual mark, a 
certain staleness being perceptible. Mr. Thorne, 
gardener to W. Marshall, Esq., Taunton, was first 
with a fine piece of Peristeria elata, Cypripedium 
Morgianae, Cattleya Victoria Regina, and Dendro- 
bium formosum, with six massive spikes. Mr. J. 
Cypher v as second. The best newly introduced 
flowering plant was Cypripedium Chamberlainianum, 
from Mr. W. Thomas, gardener to W. Marshall, 
Esq., Norton Manor, Taunton, and it took the 
second prize also, being shown by Mr. Cypher. 
The best handsome foliage plant was Croton 
Gordon!, from Mr. J. Cypher; Mr. T. Wilkins, The 
Gardens, Inwood House, Blandford, was second, 
with the purple-leaved Strobilanthes Dyerianus. 
Other flowering plants consisted of Begonias, double 
and single, generally well grown and bloomed, 
capital Zonal Pelargoniums, double and single, well 
grown and bloomed plants, which formed striking 
masses of colour. 
In the amateurs’ division some very fine plants 
were staged by Mr. Rowland, and Mr. W. Peel, 
gardener to Miss Todd, Shirley, and there was a fine 
fight between these two growers with twelve foliaged 
and flowering plants, the foliaged plants being 
particularly good. The amateurs’ plants and cut 
flowers filled a large tent, and when we went to it 
to take notes for our report it was so crowded that 
the well-known persistence and courage of a 
Gardening World reporter availed him nothing. 
People had paid to see the show and would not be 
elbowed out of the way, and as to taking compassion 
on a reporter it was utterly out of the question. No 
one would give way, no one would assist, and we 
pocketed our note-book, left the tent, and soothed 
our perturbed spirits in listening to the band. 
In the way of cut flowers in the open classes, 
Roses were as usual a leading feature, and though 
the season had proved unpropitious, some good 
blooms were staged. Messrs. J. Townsend & Sons, 
Nurserymen, Worcester, had the best thirty-six 
blooms, having very fine examples of Dr. Andry, 
Duke of Connaught, Mad. P. Morny, Horace 
Vernet, Lady Sheffield, Alfred Colomb, Ulrich 
Brunner, Mrs. John Laing, &c.; second, Messrs. 
Perkins & Sons, Coventry, who had Ulrich Brunner, 
Mrs. Jowett, Sir R. Hill, Harrison Weir, Duke of 
Connaught, Lady Sheffield, Countess of Rosebery, 
&c.; third, Messrs. Keynes Williams & Co., 
Salisbury. With eighteen varieties, Messrs. Keynes 
& Co. were first, having Duchess of Bedford, 
Madame Cusin, Senateur Vaisse, Duke of Edin¬ 
burgh, &c., very good. Messrs. Perkins & Son were 
second. With twelve blooms, Messrs. Keynes & 
Co. were first, and Dr. Budd, Bath, second. 
Dahlias fell below their usual quality at Taunton, 
but the date is an early one. Messrs. Keynes 
Williams & Co., were first with eighteen show, 
Henry Walton, H. Bond, Agnes, Richard Dean, and 
Miss Fox, being among the best. Mr. W. Smith, 
Kingswood, Bristol, was second, while with twelve 
fancies Messrs. Keynes & Co., were first, and the 
Messrs. Townsend, second, and the same positions 
were held with six varieties of Cactus and decora¬ 
tive varieties. No award was made in the class for 
single Dahlias. In that for nine bunches of Pom¬ 
pons, Messrs. Keynes & Co. were first, and Dr. 
Flegs, Bishop’s Lydeard, second. Collections of 
twelve spikes of herbaceous Phloxes were a good 
feature. German and French Asters showed the 
effects of a hostile season. Gladioli were not good, 
and Carnations and Picotees poor. 
The best twelve bunches of cut stove and green¬ 
house plants came from Mr. S. Kedly, gardener to 
W. E. Hall, Esq., Coker Court, Yeovil, who had 
Eucharis, Allamanda, Ixoras, Stephanotis, &c. 
Mr. G. W. Shelton, gardener to W. K. Wait, Esq., 
was second. Double and single Begonias, shown as 
cut blooms, were a good feature, and the twelve 
bunches of hardy perennials and bulbous plants 
from Mr. M. Prichard, were very fine indeed, Mr. 
Kedley taking the second prize. 
Fruit and Vegetables other than Cottagers’, filled 
a very large tent, and a most attractive one it 
proved to visitors. There were three collections of 
eight varieties. Mr. J. Lloyd, gardener to V. 
Stuckey, Esq., Langport, was placed first with 
Muscat of Alexandria and Black Hamburgh Grapes, 
both very good. Pine-apples, Bellegarde Peaches! 
Negro Largo Figs, Moor Park Apricots, Jefferson’s 
Plums and Melon. Second, Mr. H. W. Ward, 
gardener to the Earl of Radnor, Longford, Salisbury, 
who had somewhat weak Black Hamburgh and 
Muscat of Alexandria Grapes, very fine Sea Eagle 
Peaches, Lord Napier Nectarines, Figs, Apricots, 
Cherries and Melon. With four dishes, Mr. Lloyd 
was again first having Madresfield Court Grapes, 
Hale's Early Peaches, Pine-apple Nectarines, and 
Melon. Second, Mr. H. W. Ward. Mr. Lloyd 
had the best Pine-apple, staging a good Queen. 
Mr. Ward was second with the same variety ; Mr. 
Lloyd was also first with three bunches of Black 
Hamburghs. Mr. J. Webber, gardener to G. 
F. Luttrell, Esq., Demster, was second, larger in 
berry than Mr. Lloyd's, but not so finely finished. 
With three bunches of any other blacks Mr. Ward 
was first with very good Madresfield Court. Mr. 
Lloyd taking the second prize with the same, and 
these exhibitors were severally first and second with 
Muscat of Alexandria, both very good. With three 
bunches of any other white, Mr. J. Webber was 
first with very good Buckland Sweet Water; 
and Mr. Ward second with Foster's Seedling. 
Melons were fairly numerous. The best dish of 
peaches was Noblesse, from Mr. T. Jones. Mr. Ward 
coming second with Sea Eagle. Moor Park Apricots, 
were very good, and are generally so this season in 
the West of England. Pine-apple was the best 
Nectarine from Mr. Lloyd ; Mr. Jones came second 
with Lord Napier. The best dish of pears was 
Bon Chretien from Mr. Ward, Jargonelle taking 
the second prize. Greengage Plums were spa¬ 
ringly shown; the best purple plums were Grand 
Duke, very fine, and Goliath, the Czar, Prince of 
Wales, and Orleans were also staged. Cherries 
consisted of fine Morellos ; the best dessert apples 
were Red Astrachan and Beauty of Bath ; the best 
culinary Lord Suffolk. Currants were good, the 
red being very fine, and Gooseberries also in several 
varieties. 
Vegetables were superb. Special prizes offered 
by Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading ; Messrs. Jarman 
& Co., of Chard ; and Messrs. Webb & Sons, Stour¬ 
bridge, brought also ordinary examples of generous 
culture. Potatos.round and kidney,white and coloured, 
were very clean and bright, but the judges favour 
size far too much, as if mere bulk were the end of 
Potato exhibitions, and it was lamentable to see all 
the object lessons of the International Potato Shows 
so disregarded. Parsnips, Cauliflower, Celery, 
Carrots, Turnips, Onions, Peas, Beans, Salads, etc., 
were all very fine. 
In the cottagers’ tent the same high excellence 
was observed, and the valuable prizes given by the 
Mayor of Taunton for collections of six kinds, 
brought a very keen competition. 
Miscellaneous collections of various kinds came from 
Messrs. R. Veitch & Sons, nurserymen, Exeter ; W. 
J. Godfrey, Exmouth ; B. R. Davis, Yeovil; Kelway 
& Son, Langport; Jarman & Co., Chard; all of an 
interesting character. 
Chrysanthemums and their Culture. By Edwin 
Molyneux. Sixth Edition. By far the best practical work yet 
written on this subject. Price, is.; post free, is. ad. Publisher 
OiREENiNG World, i, Clement’s Inn, Strand, London, W.C, 
