714 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
July 6, 1895. 
class of plants. Ptychoraphis augusta. a new plant, 
closely resembles a Cocos or a Geonoma. This and 
Bentinckia nicobarica will form two very useful and 
highly decorative new Palms. Then there were 
those splendid Miltonias, with quantities of delicately 
coloured blooms. There were quite a dozen varieties 
represented, two of the best beiDg M. vexillaria and 
M. v. cruentum. Their new Dipladenia atropur- 
purea is a splendid plant. A well-bloomed plant of 
Bougainvillea glabra was also shown. Cattleya 
Mossiae, and Dendrobium Johnsoniae were also in 
fine trim. Likewise the insectivorous plant, Sar- 
racenia flava picta, which was represented by a 
splendid specimen. One could hear many expre- 
sions of wonder come from people concerning a few 
of these curious specimens of plant life that were 
most amusing, especially about the Hairy Cactus, 
Pilocereus senilis.— J. G. Pettinger, Strawberry Dale 
Nursery, Harrogate. 
-«*•- 
RICHMOND FLOWER SHOW. 
The people of Richmond were once again favoured 
with exceptionally fine weather for their annual 
flower show, which was held in the Old Deer Park 
on Wednesday, June 26th. Crowds of people 
attended, and the various exhibits of decorative 
plants, cut flowers, fruit, and vegetables, to the 
accommodation of which four spacious and com¬ 
modious tents were devoted, had plenty of admirers. 
Mr. H. J. Jones, of Ryecroft Nursery, Lewisham, 
received a Silver Gilt Medal for a very tastefully 
arranged group of single flowered tuberous 
Begonias, which contained much that was worthy of 
praise. A like award went to Mr. William Iceton, 
Putney Park Lane, for an imposing collection of 
foliage and flowering plants. Mr. F. Wigan, Clare 
Lawn, East Sheen, won a first prize for a group of 
specimen plants, a similar place being taken by 
Mr. A. Offer, Handcross Park, Crawley (gardener, 
Mr. J. Warren), who had splendid specimens of 
Cycas revoluta, Croton Queen Victoria, and C. 
Williamsii among other fine plants. Very charming 
was the group of decorative plants set up by Mr. 
W. Thompson, Sheen Nurseries, Richmond, a 
Silver Medal being given. Mr. A. Offer also 
exhibited a magnificent plant of Croton Warreni 
receiving a first prize for the same. Very pretty 
groups of plants were also contributed by Messrs. 
John Peed & Sons, Roupell Park Nurseries, S.E. Mr. 
H. E. Fordham, Twickenham (Silver Medal), and 
Messrs. W. Fromow & Sons, Sutton Court Road, 
Chiswick, a Silver Medal also being given for this 
latter, and Messrs. John Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, 
S.E., who received First-class Certificates for their 
fine new double Begonias, Prince Adolphus of 
Teck, rich scarlet, and Marchioness of Salisbury, 
lovely clear yellow, in addition to the Silver Medal 
for the group. A first prize collection of tuberous 
Begonias came from W. N. Troy, Esq., Putney 
Heath, Malmaison Carnations from Messrs. Wm. 
Cutbush & Sons (Silver Medal); and a fine group of 
Roses in pots and cutblooms of the same from Messrs. 
J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea (Silver Gilt Medal); hardy 
trees and shrubs from Messrs. Charles Lee & Son, 
Hammersmith (Silver Gilt Medal), and Carnations 
from Mr. Geo. May, Upper Teddington (Silver 
Medal). 
In the tent set apart for the exhibits of cut 
flowers and table decorations, some very pretty and 
effective combinations were on view. Roses were a 
host in themselves, most of the best growers con¬ 
tributing. Among them Messrs. Paul & Son, The 
Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, Mr. Frank Cant, Colches¬ 
ter, Mr. G. Mount, Canterbury, and Mr. William 
Rumsey were very successful, and well sustained 
their reputation. In another large tent the display 
of cut flowers was continued, the hardy herbaceous 
element here predominating. Extensive groups of 
this class of material were contributed by such well- 
known cultivators as Mr. M. Pritchard, Christ¬ 
church, Hants, Messrs. Paul & Sens, of Cheshunt, 
Messrs. Geo. Jackman & Son, Woking (Silver 
Medal), Messrs. John Peed & Sons, Messrs. J. 
Veitch & Sons, Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons, Crawley, 
Messrs. Carters (Silver Medal), Messrs. Barr & 
Son, Covent Garden (Silver Medal), and Mr. T. S. 
Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham (Silver 
Medal), and the tent was a blaze of floral beauty. 
Very imposing was Mr. Charles Turner’s exhibit of 
show and fancy Pelargoniums, for which a first prize 
was given. Mr. Iceton was successful in obtaining 
a Silver Gilt Medal for Caladiums, and well-flowered 
pots of Lily of the Valley, whilst Messrs. Dobbie & 
Co., of Rothesay, N.B., were once more to the fore 
with their grand samples of bedding Violas and 
Sweet Peas (Silver Medal). Orchids were repre¬ 
sented by a praiseworthy group in which were some 
showy Cattleyas, Miltonias, Cypripediums, Odonto- 
glots, and Dendrobes coming from H. Little, Esq., 
Twickenham, for which a Silver Gilt Medal was 
awarded. 
The exceptional dryness of the season did not 
prevent vegetables from making a brave show. 
Indeed, the greater part of a large tent was pretty 
well filled with some really fine samples that would 
have graced any show table in the kingdom. The 
coveted "Williams Memorial Medal” for the best 
collection of vegetables in the show, in addition to 
the first prize in its class, fell to the lot of Col. the 
Hon. Talbot, Glenhurst, Esher (gardener, Mr. C. 
J. Waite), who had Cauliflowers, Dwarf French 
Beans and Tomatos, Peas, Carrots, and Potatos in 
excellent condition. Second came Mr. Thos. 
Wilkins, Hentsridge, near Blandford, and third Mr. 
Gibson, gardener to E. H. Watts, Esq., Devonhurst, 
Chiswick. Mr. Ford, gardener to W. H. Ellis, 
Esq., Hounslow, carried off first prize for Tomatos, 
showing Sutton’s Perfection. 
Fruit was by no means wanting, Grapes 
both black and white being in fine order. W. H. 
Ellis, Esq., took first place for three bunches 
of a black variety. Mr. Tidy, gardener to 
W. K. D’Arcy, Esq., Stanmore Hill, Middlesex, 
taking a like position for three bunches of a white 
sort. The Silver Medal for a collection of Grapes, 
Peaches, and Tomatos fell to Messrs. W, and E. 
Wells, Hounslow. The exhibits throughout were of 
a high-class character, and besides reflecting great 
credit upon the cultivators who contributed them, 
leave room for much congratulation to the suppor¬ 
ters, who, by their liberal awards of prize money 
and medals have succeeded in making Richmond 
Flower Show one of the very best local shows in the 
country. 
- I- 
ARDENING 
ISCELLANY. 
BRODIAEA COCC1NEA. 
Several handsome garden plants are included in 
this genus, not the least noteworthy of which is B. 
coccinea. Indeed, where it can be planted in a 
warm, well-drained and sheltered position and left 
undisturbed for a long time it does well, looks 
exceedingly pretty and is deserving a place in any 
herbaceous border. The flowers are long, tubular, 
rich dark crimson in colour, the top of the tube and 
the segments tinged yellowish-green, and produced 
in umbels composed of from five to fifteen flowers 
each. The scapes although not particularly stout 
are strong and erect, and rise to a height of about 
18 in. Some very fine examples of it were recently 
sent us by Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, 
Tottenham. 
THE VARIEGATED JAPANESE HOP. 
This is a very pretty climber, and it grows so rapidly 
that one can easily procure shade on and around 
piazzas, or other places, very early in the season. 
The foliage is handsomely variegated—white and 
green, sometimes a little yellow, and the effect is very 
pleasing to the eye. But it has a very serious draw¬ 
back. Its seeds are abundant, and they have a way 
of getting all over one’s place. Last season we had 
these Vines growing around a verandah. This spring 
the whole premises are full of seedlings. Not only 
around the verandah, but behind the house, on both 
sides and on my neighbour’s premises. So I will 
plant no more of the Humulus Japonicus, and I shall 
have to do considerable work in eradicating the crop 
now swarming about me.— E. G. Fowler in “ Garden¬ 
ing"' (American). 
LILIUM HANSONI. 
Exceedingly pretty is the effect produced by this 
charming Lilium at the present time in the American 
garden at Kew. A couple of beds filled with neat 
dwarf specimens of Osmanthus ilicifolius, golden 
Yews and variegated Euonymus have had these 
beautiful Liliums planted in the spaces intervening 
between the shrubs, from which they rise in a mass 
of gorgeous bloom to a height of some 4 or 5 ft., thus 
bringing their long loose racemes of showy flowers 
well above and clear of the underlying matter. The 
flowers are not large, but the segments are wonder¬ 
fully thick and fleshy, and a good deal reflexed. In 
colour they are a rich orange-yellow on the inner 
sides, a few black or dark purple spots being apparent 
in the centre of the segments, which are of a 
greenish-yellow hue on the outer side tipped and 
edged silvery-white The leaves are disposed in 
whorls on the stem of from eight to twelve, are some 
4 or 5 in. in length, about three quarters of an inch 
broad, and oblanceolate in shape. Lilium Hansoni, 
like many others of its most showy congenors, hails 
from Japan. Planted among dwarf shrubs, as at 
Kew, the effect produced is a singularly happy one 
and one worthy of extensive imitation. 
COMMON GARDEN WEEDS. 
May I be permitted through the medium of your 
extensive circulation to address some of your sub¬ 
scribers who live at a distance from London, and 
say how much indebted I should feel if they were to 
te furnish me with a list of the common garden weeds 
of their neighbourhood. I desire to find out whether 
in localities distant from this centre they differ to 
any extent from those commonly met with in our 
gardens, and I require the information for the pur¬ 
pose of a paper I am preparing on the subject. I 
wish to include if possible, Scotland and Ireland. 
All communications addressed to me will be grate¬ 
fully acknowledged.— A. Sewell, 62, Ranelagh Road, 
Ealing, London, W. 
THE BLADDER SENNAS. 
While it may be said of some plants with perfect 
truth that they are more curious than pretty it may 
be stated with equal exactitude of the Coluteas, or 
Bladder Sennas, that they are both curious and 
pretty. W 7 hen in bloom the showy yellow flowers 
and graceful foliage impart a decidedly handsome 
appearance to the plants, whilst even the most care¬ 
less of observers will tarry a moment to give another 
glance of something closely akin to interest at the 
inflated bladder-like pods in which the seeds are 
enclosed, and which when given a gentle pressure 
between thumb and finger burst with a slight re¬ 
port. A bed filled with fine bushy plants of C. 
arborescens is an interesting feature at Kew at the 
present time. This species is said to grow upon the 
crater of Mount Vesuvius, where from the natural 
aridity of the surroundings, vegetable life is con¬ 
spicuous by its almost total absence. All the 
Coluteas indeed are remarkably easy of culture with 
us, and will grow freely in almost any situation and 
under nearly all kinds of circumstances. Propaga¬ 
tion may be conducted either by seeds, which ger¬ 
minate freely, or by cuttings. Fine strong plants 
may quickly be obtained from either method. 
ROBINIA VISCOSA. 
A decidedly interesting plant this,although notone 
perhaps that is gifted with any very high degree of 
merit from a gardener’s point of view. At any rate 
it is not nearly so showy as R. Pseudacacia or some 
of its well-known varieties. It flowers somewhat 
later than them, the blooms being of a soft rose 
colour and disposed in short, crowded, almost globular 
racemes. The foliage of the tree is, however, like 
that of most of the Robinias distinctly ornamental, 
and it is well worth growing on that account as single 
specimens on lawns, etc. It is a native of North 
America, and has been described in the Botanical 
Magazine under the name of R. glutinosa. It is to be 
seen flowering at the present time in Kew Gardens,, 
not far from the Chinese Pagoda. 
CYTISUS NIGRICANS. 
A bed of this comparatively rarely met with, legu¬ 
minous subject in the Pagoda vista in Kew Gardens, 
not far from the refreshment pavilion, is at the time 
of writing a very pretty object. The plants are 
some four or five feet in height, and nice bushy little 
specimens they are. The racemes are six or eight 
inches in length, quite erect, and carry large quanti¬ 
ties of the rather small bright yellow flowers. The 
leaves are trifoliate, and, like the branches, thickly 
covered with short, adpressed, woolly hairs. A native 
of Europe the plant is perfectly hardy, and looks 
very well when planted in masses as at Kew, much 
better indeed than when it is only allowed to exist as 
single specimens in a mixed shrubbery. Its cultiva¬ 
tion is of the easiest possible discription as it will 
grow in almost any soil or situation. 
