604 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
May 18, 1895. 
never having tried the wiring system, which is so 
much better in every way. To these, as to the tyro 
in wreath making, a few hints on the subject may 
therefore not come amiss. 
Having decided to give the wiring system a trial, 
the wreath maker should proceed as follows First 
procure an assistant to help you in wiring the flowers, 
for it is rather trying to have to put your wreath 
down to wire and wrap your flowers. Next proceed 
to cut your flowers and Fern, or better still the hern 
(Adiantum) should have been cut a couple of hours 
previously and steeped in water, which makes it 
more durable. The foundation of the wreath should be 
made of wire, evenly wrapped round with fresh 
damp moss, and the operator should be careful to 
wrap it round firmly to ensure a good hold for the 
wires subsequently to be inserted in it. Then begin 
to wire your flowers. Roses will require to have 
their stalks broken right off, and a stalk wire passed 
through the heart of the bloom, but out of sight; 
no wrapping being necessary with a good firm 
flower. Steplianotis blooms should be broken away 
in pips, then have a wire passed through them with a 
small hook at the end, and have the small stalks 
wrapped with the smallest piece of cotton-wool to 
prevent cutting. Practice will very soon show what 
each individual flower requires to make it look at its 
best. A layer of something slightly stiffer than 
Fern should be the groundwork, and of course this 
and Fern should be wrapped in as you proceed to 
fix the flowers. When you begin to arrange the 
latter, pass the wires straight through the middle of 
the foundation, pulling it to the height required, 
then twist the wire and turn the point into the moss 
underneath. The pips of Stephanotis should be 
slightly raised above the larger flowers so as to give 
the whole a light appearance. Tuberoses and single 
pips of Hyacinths and any small, solid, solitary 
flowers are very useful for the same purpose. 
Shapely pieces of Asparagus tenuissimus placed at 
regular intervals among the flowers greatly improves 
the appearance of the work. 
Of course most gardeners have to make the most 
of what they have got, unlike the florist who can 
buy what he wants, and the quality of wreaths in a 
measure will depend upon the flowers in season. 
Many wreaths, in my opinion, are made very much 
too heavy, but something depends upon the size 
required. For ordinary wreaths, from 12 in. to 16 in. 
across, Callas, Lilium auratum, and L. speciosum 
blooms are much too large. Lightness and firmness 
should be the main points to keep in view, firmness 
especially in wiring and fixing. Let every flower 
stand just clear, bending the wires as required to 
draw them into the right position for showing them 
to the best advantage. A few flowers suitable for 
everyday wreath work are Gardenias, Freesia re- 
fracta alba, Stephanotis floribunda, Roses, Niphetos, 
The Bride, The Queen, Marie Van Houtte, and 
Devoniensis; Azalea Bernard Andreas alba, Tube¬ 
roses, Roman Hyacinths, Lapageria alba, Deutzia 
gracilis, Francoa ramosa, white Chrysanthemums, 
Lily of the Valley, &c.— J. G. P. 
-—-*-- 
SOCIETIES. 
Royal Horticultural, 14 th May .—The exhibits at the 
meeting on Tuesday last consisted to a great extent 
of hardy plants, such as Tulips of the late flowering 
and florists’ kinds, which were very much in evidence. 
Daffodils and Paeonies were also conspicuous, and 
Amaryllis, Gloxinias and fine foliaged stove plants 
also held a place. Orchids were not so numerous as on 
on several previous occasions.but the near approach of 
Temple Show no doubt aSected this section of plants 
causing some exhibitors to keep back their specimens 
for next week. A large group of Orchids was 
exhibited by Messrs. J. Veitch & Son, Chelsea, for 
which a Silver-Gilt Flora Medal was awarded. Con¬ 
spicuous amongst others in this group were large and 
well-flowered pieces of Laelia purpurata, Dendro- 
brium thyrsiflorum, Cattleya Mossiae, Cypripedium 
caudatum Wallisii, Lycaste cruenta, Onci- 
dium superbiens and several others. Pretty and 
interesting were the flowers of Dendrobium tauri- 
num with their strange contrasting colours, and the 
same might be said of D. glomeratum, Laelio-cattleya 
Hippolyta, and the pretty Disa langleyensis. Bold 
and showy were the flowers of Cypripedium Roths- 
childianum, Oncidium concolor and Maxillaria 
Sanderiana, Masdevallia Veitchiana was very highly 
coloured, and the uniformly yellow flower of Onci¬ 
dium concolor were abundant and pleasing. A 
Cultural Commendation was awarded to Henry 
Weetman, Esq., (gardener, Mr. B. Dunn) Little Hay¬ 
wood, for two very tall and well-flowered specimens 
of a species of Phaius. Cirrhopetalum Macraei was 
staged by Mrs. Langton (gardener, Mr. J. Pierce), 
Hillfield, Reigate. Cypripedium candatum Wallisii 
and C tortile were exhibited by H. Grinling, Esq , 
(gardener, Mr. W. Rapley) Harrow Weald House, 
Stanmore. A supposed hybrid Odontoglossum was 
exhibited by Messrs. Fred Korsman & Co., Colchester. 
A beautiful Cypripedium named C. Godefroyae 
leucochilum was exhibited by R. I. Measures, Esq., 
(gardener, Mr. Hy. Chapman), Cambrdge Lodge, 
Flodden Road, Camberwell. Cattleya Mossiae 
Dulcote var. was shown by Walter Cobb, Esq., 
Tunbridge Wells. Some flowers of the pretty 
Cattleya Claesiana and C. Mendelii leucoglossa were 
exhibited by Thos. Staffer Esq., (gardener, Mr. 
Johnson), Stand Hall, Manchester. Cattleya 
Mendelii Glebeland’s var. was also brought up by 
J. Gurney Fowler, Esq., (gardener, Mr. J. Davis), 
Glebelands, South Woodford. A specimen of 
Odontoglossum cirrhosum flowering the second time 
from the same scape was exhibited by A. H. Smee, 
Esq., (gardener, Mr. G. W. Cummins), The Grange, 
Wallington, Surrey. Asmall group of Orchids including 
Cypripedium Gertrude Hollington, Laelia purpurata 
Schroderae, and L. p. Russelliana, was shown by 
Messrs.Hugh Low&Co.,Clapton. Curious also was the 
little Dendrobium strongylanthum. The Cypripedium 
was, however, the gem of the collection. A magni¬ 
ficent Odontoglot named O. crispum Florie, also 
Cattleya Mendelii Princess of Wales, and O. Hallii 
xanthoglossum, all handsome in their way, were ex¬ 
hibited by De B. Crawshay, Esq. (gardener, Mr. 
Sidney Cooke), Rosefield, Sevenoaks. He also had 
a curious case of two pseudo-bulbs growing close 
together with only one bract for the two on one side. 
A fine variety of Odontoglossum crispum was 
shown by Mr. H. W. Ward, Salisbury. A very 
interesting and pretty group of Orchids was shown 
by W. Thompson, Esq. (gardener, Mr. W. Stevens), 
Walton Grange, Stone, Staffs. Odontoglossum 
crispum The Bride, O. cordatum aureum, O. 
Andersonianum Thompson’s var., O. Rossii rubes- 
cens, O. Ruckerianum ocellatum, and Cattleya 
Skinneri alba were one and all of them very choice 
and specially attractive in their rich blotches and 
colouring generally. 
Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham, 
N., exhibited a very showy group of herbaceous 
plants and bulbs in flower, for which a Silver Flora 
Medal was awarded. Tree Paeonies in pots were a 
special feature here, and both showy and handsome 
they looked. Some well-flowered pieces of Spiraea 
japonica nana compacta, S. palmata, and S. 
astilboides were deserving of all praise. Handsome 
plants of the well-known Saxifraga pyramidalis were 
also forthcoming, and some good examples of Cypri¬ 
pedium Calceolus, C. montana, and C. pubescens 
were likewise in evidence. Well-flowered spikes of 
Gladiolus The Bride, Tulips in variety, and Anemone 
narcissiflora all contributed to add to the attractive¬ 
ness of a bright and pretty group. Messrs. John 
Peed & Sons, Roupell Park Nurseries, S.E., were 
again well to the fore with stove foliage plants in 
their usual praiseworthy condition. Caladiums 
Charlemagne, Puvis de Chavannes, Linne, L’lnsolite, 
and Triomphe de Comte were in fine order, as were 
also Dracaenas Lindenii, terminalis alba, splendens, 
and Goldieana (Silver Banksian Medal). 
Messrs. John Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, sent 
some very fine examples of their Prize Gloxinias. 
The plants were remarkably healthy, the blooms 
large and of many and varied colours. Among the 
best of the varieties shown were John Laing, 
Majestic, Mrs. Laing, Leopard, and Lord Hillingdon. 
The excellent examples of Caladiums, Rose Laing, 
La Duchesse, and Pauline Guichard were worthy of 
all praise, and some four or five nice little plants of 
Streptocarpus Royal Purple, carrying large and fine 
flowers, deserve honourable mention (Silver-Gilt 
Banksian Medal). Some interesting contributions 
came from F. W. Moore, Esq., Glasnevin, in the 
shape of fine flower heads of Brownia Ariza, and B. 
grandiceps x B. macrophylla; Acanthephippium 
javanicum, Darlingtonia californica, and some 
hybrid Sarracenias. 
An extensive and meritorious collection of cut 
sprays of hardy ornamental and flowering trees and 
shrubs, which came from Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons, 
Crawley, Sussex, was awarded a Bronze Banksian 
Medal. The examples of Pyrus malus floribunda, 
P. occuparia hybrida, Cerasus Sieboldii Rosa pleno 
amongst the flowering subjects, and Sambucus cana¬ 
densis variegata, Ulmus Dampierii aurea, Acer 
Negundo variegata, and A. Leopoldii illustrated the 
great value of this class of decorative plants. Syringa 
alba grandiflora came from Earl Cowper, Panshan- 
ger (gardener, Mr. J. Fitt), in first-class condition, 
and would appear to be a variety deserving of 
extensive cultivation. Mr. George Mount, The Rose 
Nurseries, Canterbury, sent some six or seven dozen 
cut Roses in excellent style, Mrs. John Laing, 
General Jacqueminot, Ulrich Brunner, Lady Mary 
Fitzwilliam, T. Ducher, and The Bride appearing to 
great advantage (Silver-Gilt Banksian Medal). A 
fine specimen of the well-known stove plant 
Medinilla magnifica, which was contributed by Mr. 
McLeod, gardener to C. Pierrepont Morgan, Esq., 
Dover House, Roehampton, was a very attractive 
feature. Looking at its large size and noting the 
number of racemes of flower which it was bearing, 
the fact that it was raised from a cutting struck in 
February, 1892, appeared remarkable. A number 
of profusely flowered sprays of Turner’s Crimson 
Rambler Rose, also of Cercis siliquastrum, which 
were sent by the Messrs, de Rothschild, Gunners- 
bury House, Acton, were much admired. 
A first prize was awarded to J. T. Bennett Poe, 
Esq., Holmewood, Cheshunt (gardener, Mr. Downes), 
for a collection of Florist’s Tulips amongst which 
some large and fine blooms appeared. Messrs. 
James Veitch & Sons, exhibited an extensive and 
comprehensive collection of Tulips. In the Parrot 
section some very showy examples were to be seen 
Mark Graaf, Lutea Major, Constantinople, Perfecta, 
Cramoise and Brilliant, being among the best. Of 
Bizarres Everett Kroskell, President Thiers, and Sir 
Montefiore were good, whilst William III. and Leon 
d’Holland among the Darwin and Osman Pacha, 
Graaf Buren and Spinosa among the Bybloemen 
sections were well represented (Silver Flora Medal). 
R. Maitland, Esq., Courie Castle, Dunfermline, 
Fife (gardener, Mr. G. Mclvor) was awarded a first 
prize for a collection of cut blooms of Narcissi, both 
double and single flowered varieties being represented. 
C. J. Backhouse, Esq., St. John’s, Walsingham, 
Darlington, took the second place for a similar 
exhibit which although much more extensive than 
that of the first prize-taker’s did not contain such 
good material. Messrs. Barr & Son, 12 and 13 King 
Street, Covent Garden, staged a large number of cut 
flowers of which Tulips formed by far the greater 
part. This was an especially good display and 
thoroughly merited the award that was given it by 
the committee. Rose Pompone, Yellow Queen, 
Vitellina. Gesneriana spathulata, viridiflora, fulgens, 
Gold Flake, Golden Beauty, Fairy Queen, and 
Macrospeila were only a few of the kinds here shown. 
Whilst these were staged in bunches a number of 
single bloom were also shown, Bizarres, and 
Bybloemens being exceedingly well represented. The 
group likewise contained some bunches of flowers of 
Tree Paeonies, Northern Glory, Excelsior and 
Purple Emperor being especially good (Silver-Gilt 
Banksian Medal). 
Fruit and vegetables, although not entirely want¬ 
ing, were only present in very small force. Messrs. 
B. S. Williams & Son, Holloway, had examples of 
their new seedling dwarf French Bean in pots. Of 
Cucumbers some good specimens were shown, some 
of which, of a variety known as Vert's Favourite, 
coming from Mr. James Vert, Audley End, Saffron 
Waldron, were of extra large size. Examples of 
another variety, Allen’s Favourite, sent by Messrs. 
James Veitch & Sons, were but little smaller than 
the former. Some medium-sized but beautifully- 
shaped Cucumbers which were contributed by Mr. 
S. Mortimer, Swiss Nursery, Rowledge, Farnham, 
were in exceedingly meritorious condition, Marvel 
being the variety. A few sprays of the haulm was 
also shown to illustrate the heavy fruiting qualities of 
the variety, which should prove an acquisition. Mr. 
J. F. McLeod sent a bunch of Asparagus, of which 
the heads were of larger size than is usually seen. 
Mr. G. Wythes, gardener, Syon House, Brentford, 
was awarded a Cultural Commendation for a dish of 
Amsden June Peach, the fruit being apparently of 
