624 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
June 3, 1893. 
that the magnificent exhibits suffered 
severely from the monotony of grouping. 
This same fault handicapped exhibitors who 
could in few cases do other than make formal 
groups or banks ; and yet with a free hand 
and an artistic touch the material would 
have produced one of the most beautifully 
arranged shows ever seen. 
he Orchids. —Even if there were not so 
many orchids exhibited as last year— 
and it is a matter of little moment—the 
entire collection was one of the most varied 
in character, and to all real lovers of 
orchids it was a literal feast ; but the 
groups suffered from two defects. First, 
they were much too crowded, an almost 
inevitable fault in the system of setting up 
in banks in straight lines; and second, 
that whilst so charmingly lending them¬ 
selves to decorative effects they could not 
in this case be so applied. Those who 
have seen the very beautiful decorative 
groups in which orchids play so striking a 
part, designed by those masters cf the art, 
Mr. Cypher and Mr. Holmes, will under¬ 
stand the distinction which exists between 
a mass or crowded bank of orchids in which 
the beauty, form, originality and charm of 
the individual varieties are lost in the 
density of the whole, and a group in which 
each plant or each distinctive section is so 
grouped and displayed that each feature is 
at once recognised and regarded with the 
most profound admiration. If the singu¬ 
larly superb groups from The Dell, or 
Burford Lodge, or Mr. Sander’s splendid 
collections could have been thus displayed, 
at least each side of the large tent would 
have been needed for these only. But then 
what banks of beauty, not merely in 
colouring, but also in design, in arrange¬ 
ment, in effect would have been produced ! 
Were the traditional New Zealander to 
have dropped in at the Temple last week 
he would have said that whilst the British 
people were the most capable plant growers 
in the world, and of orchids especially, 
that we were the poorest floral decorators. 
And yet everyone knows the charge would 
be untrue, for with orchids and other 
plants given ample room and material, our 
decorators can hold their own with com¬ 
petitors anywhere. 
Hardy Flowers. —No one section of 
plants was, perhaps, more productive 
of surprise at the Temple Show than were 
the enormous quantities of hardy flowers 
displayed. After hearing so much of the 
mischief wrought by the drought, we hardly 
thought such a wealth of out-door flowers 
possible. Still these things were in bewild¬ 
ering numbers. We have here to find 
serious fault with all trade exhibitors of 
these products that they set them up in 
bewildering mixture, without any apparent 
effort to help the multitude of visitors in 
selecting those which are the most effective 
or striking. Because one grower sets up 
his bunches in inextricable confusion, 
literally a jumble of variety and nomen¬ 
clature, it does not follow that another 
might not bring all his kinds into bold 
effectiveness, and thus, by presenting strik¬ 
ing groups of colour rather than the spotted, 
bizarre banks now seen, arrest attention 
and command admiration. 
The general absence of plants, and the 
almost exclusive presentation of hardy 
flowers in a cut form naturally tends to 
sameness, but it does not at all follow that 
good effects should not be aimed at. It is 
not always that plants are presented in the 
best condition, but we cast back to the 
earlier days of the showing of hardy plants 
longing recollections when Robert Parker, 
T. S. Ware and others did show how finely 
and how very attractively they could be 
presented in pots or chimps. 
In one time some effort of an undoubtedly 
pleasing kind was made to present Alpine 
plants in natural condition of growth. 
These certainly reaped a reward in com¬ 
manding popular attention in a remarkable 
degree. They were at least beautiful with¬ 
out being bewildering. Naturally our 
Scotch friends set up their favourite Pansies 
and Violas in great numbers, and those in 
pots were more interesting than were the 
plucked flowers; whilst Messrs. Barr & 
Son’s exhibition of florists’ Tulips may have 
served to revive in some minds recollections 
of days for them never more to return. 
Much as we admire the florists’ Tulips, it 
must be admitted that they just now find 
in the South few growers. 
Wruit and Vegetables. —It is an un- 
— doubted fact that let the floral portions 
of an exhibition be ever so great and beauti¬ 
ful, the public always fasten with-marked 
avidity and interest upon any fruit and 
vegetables that may be presented. Yet at 
the Temple the show of these products was 
relatively very poor. To see these pro¬ 
ducts in all their glory it was but needful, 
it is true, to walk over to Covent Garden, 
but then there is the somewhat saddening 
fact that so much of what is there pre¬ 
sented is from abroad. What of these 
different articles were found at the Temple 
.were of home productions, but still so poor 
a representation. 
Perhaps it is not the best season of the 
year to see these products, but when 
gardeners hesitate not to say that they 
would have sent plenty had it been worth 
their while, we can but conclude that not 
having before their eyes the trade glory 
and publicity which exhibiting at the 
Temple gives to the trader, they needed 
some more potent stimulus in the form of 
prizes, and that stimulus was wanting. 
Such an apology has been made elsewhere, 
and we have no doubt but that it is quite 
true. A marked feature, so far as fruit is 
concerned, was the absence of the fine col¬ 
lections of Apples we have seen at some 
previous May exhibitions, evidence no 
doubt of the exhausting effects of the dry 
atmosphere on the fruits. 
Mr. Rivers’ splendid new early Nectarine, 
as shown, attracted great attention, as also 
did Mr. Mortimer’s fine show of Melons, 
Tomatos and Cucumbers, but these formed 
the chief exhibits, all others being insig¬ 
nificant, and far below what may often be 
seen at the Drill Hall. Really, for such a 
grand show some special effort should be 
made to secure representations of our best 
ediblegarden products,for with somany from 
other nations visiting the show it is rather 
humiliating to present to them so poor a dis¬ 
play. We could have done a hundred times 
better if we tried, but the stimulus to that 
end should begin by the offering of 
adequate prizes by the society, and were 
that the case, it is certain the response 
would be worthy the gardeners of the 
Kingdom. 
-- 4 -- 
Rose Show at Earl’s Court.—Arrangements have 
been made by the authorities of the Gardening and 
Forestry Exhibition at Earl’s Court for an exhibition 
' of Roses (supplementary to those already provided 
for) to be held on June 14th and 15th. The schedule 
comprises seventeen classes ; nine for cut blooms, 
open; seven for amateurs; and one, open, for thirty- 
six plants in 7-in. pots. 
Death of Mrs. Steel.—We regret to learn of the 
sudden death, recently, of the wife of Mr. George 
Steel, of Heatherslaw, Cornhill-on-Tweed, so well 
known for his seedling Violas, and in the raising of 
which Mrs. Steel took an active interest. Much 
sympathy is felt for Mr. Steel by his floricultural 
friends. 
First Fruits at Falkland Park. —Mr. A. Wright, gar¬ 
dener to John McMeekin, Esq., Falkland Park, 
South Norwood Hill, tells us that he has had no 
rain of any consequence for the last twelve weeks, 
consequently everything is very much burnt up. 
The elevated position of the garden and the nature 
of the soil must be held accountable for this to a 
great extent. The fruit crops are, however, more 
satisfactory. Mr. Wright commenced gathering 
Strawberries from Laxton’s King of the Earlies on 
the 14th ult., and Cherries from the wall on the 
24th. His first dish of Peas was gathered from Blue 
Express on the latter date. The seeds were sown 
in the open and received no protection. The Pea 
named First Crop was eight days later under the 
same conditions and sown at the same time. 
Jersey Potatos.—A writer in a daily paper of the 
25th ult. remarks that the cessation of the Hull 
strike came just in the nick of time for the'‘Jersey 
trade ” of the port, a trade which is wholly in the 
hands of the Wilsons. The “Jersey trade” is the 
Potato trade, and Hull is its port of distribution for 
northern England. For some days before the end of 
the strike large quantities of early Potatos v'ere 
ready for exportation to Hull, and had the struggle 
continued, the Wilsons would have experienced 
much difficulty in dealing with the imports. The 
Wilson steamers run the distance between Hull 
and the Channel Islands in about forty hours. The 
unloading of a Potato steamer at Hull, and the 
transference of her cargo to the railway trucks at the 
quay sides, is a wonderful spectacle in its way— 
wonderful for the rapidity of the process. The 
Jersey trade has been a mine of gold for the Wilsons. 
Bristol and West of England Carnation and Picotee 
Society.—-We are glad to hear that this young 
society, which has been formed for the purpose of 
increasing’ the cultivation of these beautiful flowers in 
the West of England, is making satisfactory progress. 
At the present time there is no show of Carnations 
held nearer than London, and it is thought that if 
annual shows can be arranged for in the West, such 
as the Oxford and Midland Societies’ Shows, they 
would be appreciated by numerous small growers 
who do not care to go to the expense and incon¬ 
venience of sending their would-be exhibits to more 
distant shows, but who would be glad to exhibit, if 
they could do so, within a reasonable distance. 
Arrangements have been made with the Clifton Zoo¬ 
logical Society to hold the show this year in their 
gardens, and owing to the earliness of the season the 
date has been fixed for the gth of July. The High 
Sheriff of Bristol, Alfred Deedes, Esq., is president, 
and Mr. F. W. Baker, Olton Villa, Avon Mill Lane, 
Keynsham, near Bristol, is the hon. sec. 
Death of Mr. J. B. Webster.—In the person 
of Mr. J. B. Webster there has just passed 
away, at the age of 74 years, one of the 
oldest and most respected of British foresters. 
Gaining his knowledge on several of the best known 
Scottish estates, he was at a comparatively young 
age appointed forester to H.R.H the Prince 
Consort at Balmoral, and superintended the planting 
of many of the hill-sides on the royal property, as 
also the supplying of native wood for the building of 
the Castle. For many years he acted as estate 
manager and forester to Sir William Verner, in 
County Armagh, Ireland, and there got together one 
of the finest selections of coniferous and other trees. 
The Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland 
awarded to him many medals for essays on matters 
pertaining to forestry and farming, including their 
Gold Medal for “ Formation and Management of 
Young Plantations,” " Planting on Peat Bog,” “ The 
Growth of the Roots of Coniferous Trees after being 
Felled,” “ Stem and Branch Preserving of Conifers,” 
“The Diseases of Forest Trees," “ Growth and 
Management of Scotch Fir Forests,” " Pasture 
Lands,” etc. He contributed regularly to several of 
the leading farming and horticultural papers of the 
day, and gave advice legarding the formation of 
woods and plantations in almost every part of the 
British Isles. 
The Nature and Properties of Atmospheric Air.— 
About a year and a half ago Mr. T. G. Hodgkins, of 
New York, made a donation to the Smithsonian In¬ 
stitution, the income from a part of which was to be 
devoted “ to the increase and diffusion of more exact 
knowledge in regard to the nature and properties of 
atmospheric air in connection with the welfare of 
man.” In pursuance of the donor’s wishes, the 
