618 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
May 28, 1898. 
carmioe-crimson leaves of massive breadth The 
carmine centre of Excellent, and the creamy marbling 
on the outer border also marked this as a meritorious 
sort. The broad, shield-like leaves of Rose Laing were 
delicately shaded with pink on a creamy ground. In 
striking contrast to the creamy ground ofMme. Koe- 
chlin were the bright blood-red blotches. AmoDgst the 
dwarfer sorts Ladas, with its large, rich, rosy-red 
leaves, was very noticeable. The delicate pink 
veins of Martha La Forge made a chaste tracery on 
a creamy ground. 
GLOXINIAS. 
The fine display of Gloxinias made by Messrs. J. 
Veitch & Sons, Ltd., in former years was more than 
sustained by their profusely flowered and grand 
strain. The plants were grown in 48 and 32-sized 
pots, yet bore from fifty to sixty flowers and buds 
each; in some cases this number was greatly 
exceeded, thus establishing the free-floweriDg 
character of the strain. Where such a high standard 
of merit can be sustained from seeds it seems super¬ 
fluous to give names to the seedlings ; yet so fine are 
some of the sorts that names are given to preserve 
their identity. Amongst those we noted were the 
violet-purple Cicera and Irene deepening to maroon 
in Electra, which had a black spot at the junction of 
every two lobes, the edge in all three cases being 
white. The large flowers of Cordelia had six to seven 
imbricate segments densely spotted with violet. The 
broad blue border of Cygnet Improved was also fine. 
Very floriferous were the rosy-scarlet Eclatant; the 
soft scarlet, rose-edged Seraph; the scintillating 
scarlet of Mars; the pure white Virginalis, which 
sometimes carries one hundred flowers and buds ; 
Flambeau Improved brilliant scarlet and free ; the 
large, crimson-scarlet Columbus; and Evatina, 
densely spotted with rose, and having a band 
consisting of darker spots. The quantity of fully 
opened pure white flowers of Galatea marked this 
out as a most valuable variety. Many of the 
varieties had two rows of segments, making a distinct 
break. Six to seven segments in a flower are now quite 
common, and include Adine, crimson with broad 
white border, and Cordelia, already mentioned. The 
dwarf and sturdy habit of Mars, Adine, and others, 
was notable. The crimson lobes and white edge of 
Oberon were very decided ; and the same may be 
said of the delicate blue band on a white ground of 
Alraine; the velvety-maroon and blue edge of 
Sidonic ; and the purple of Achilles extending in the 
form of broad, rounded rays out of a white throat. 
Hebe was intense crimson and a great improvement 
on Monarch ; and the intense crimson of Empress 
of India was fortified by great substance. It would 
be futile to attempt grasping all of the shades of 
colour. Drooping flowers are not neglected, and 
Eveline was a very fine white in this section. The 
bigeneric hybrid Gloxinera Brilliant, having scarlet 
and rose flowers, still reminded us that Gloxinia and 
Gesnera are capable of being crossed. Mr. West, 
who has charge of the Gloxinias has done his work 
well. 
Messrs. John Peed & Sons occupied 100 sq. ft. 
with some of their choicest Gloxinias. The plants, 
which were all in 32's and 48’s, were of named 
varieties, of which the Messrs. Peed have a capital 
collection. The setting of Maidenhair Fern served 
admirably to show off the bright colours of the 
Gloxinias, and gave both finish and variety to the 
group. One of the finest of the varieties on view 
was one named Mrs. G. W. Sawday. This was a 
pure white flower of the highest type—large, well 
opened, of good substance, and perfectly erect on 
scapes of great strength and medium height. 
Aigburth Crimson was equally conspicuous by 
reason of the richness of its crimson flowers. This 
is a very free-flowering and valuable form. Duchess 
of York, lilac ; Exquisite, pink ; Ethel, deep purple ; 
and Pelioa, light blue with a pure white throat were 
other good sorts that gave a good account of them¬ 
selves. 
Messrs. J. Laing & Sons staged a group of their 
fine strain of Gloxinias, showing large self, edged, 
and spotted types, generally well defined. Some of 
them were named, including Mrs. Laing, with large 
violet flowers and a broad white border to the seg¬ 
ments. On the contrary, the violet flowers of Lady 
Edridge faded to a paler blue edged like an Alpine 
Auricula. Handsome was John Laing, the crimson 
flowers of which faded to a rose edge. Most of the 
group, however, which was arranged close by the 
Begonias, consisted of unnamed seedlings. Very 
choice was that having purple lobes, and a white 
border spotted with blue. The flowers consisted of 
seven segments. Other handsomely spotted sorts 
were scarlet, spotted on the white border ; purple in 
the tube and spotted with violet on a white ground ; 
and that which w T as spotted with dark blue on a sky 
blue ground. Gloxinias are certainly showy and 
sprightly flowers of great decorative value. A group 
of Streptocarpus, exhibited by the same firm, may 
also be noted here. The great size of the flowers 
was a notable feature of the strain. They varied 
from dark violet-blue, through various lighter shades 
of the same colour to a dead white, marked with 
violet bands in the tube. A variety named Gigantea 
exhibited great vigour and large, deep blue flowers. 
Very choice was that named Her Majesty, being 
pure white, except the violet in the throat. Others 
had lavender, rose, and purple flowers of great merit. 
The well-flowered plants consisted of last year's 
seedlings of a strain to which Messrs. Laing have 
been devoting considerable attention for some years 
past. 
The Gloxinias sent by Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, 
consisted of some wonderfully handsome varieties, 
and a considerable range of colour was apparent. 
The varieties were all named, some of the best being 
White Queen, Perfection, Princess of Wales, Prince 
of Wales, and Petunia. Maidenhair Fern was used 
as a setting for the plants. The shades of greea thus 
obtained were very striking. 
The Anglo Continental (late Ohlendorfl s) Guano 
Works, 30, Mark Lane, E.C., sent a batch of 
Gloxinias grown with their special guano, which is 
evidently a good plant food. 
A small group of seedling Gloxinias was forth¬ 
coming from Messrs. A. W. \oung & Co., of 
Stevenage, Herts: 
BEGONIAS. 
Tuberous Begonias have always been a strong and 
noticeable feature of the Temple Show, and attract 
attention by the brightness of their large and strong 
flowers. The plants are also dwarf and fresh in 
spring and early summer. Lack of space prevents 
extension and limits the size of the groups. 
Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, set up a bold mass of 
single and double varieties, a large proportion of 
which were select, named sorts. The doubles were 
massed in the centre, with the single sorts at either 
end. Some Cocos stood here and there, relieving the 
blaze of colour, and the group was finished off with 
an edging of Isolepis. Countess of Dartmouth, with 
large double white flowers, is a choice new variety 
for this year. Equally fine in its way was a new sort 
with broad-petalled, primrose flowers. A number of 
seedlings included double blush-pink, salmon-rose, 
and red flowers, the latter being carried erect and 
suitable for bedding. Very fine sorts were Clio, 
large, crimped and yellow ; Dr. Jim, fiery scarlet, 
Duke of Fife, a salmon-rose sort, excellent for bed¬ 
ding ; Lady Tweedmouth, a fine cerise colour; Miss 
Griffiths, goffered white and blush, making one of the 
largest and most refined flowers in cultivation ; Lady 
Powerscourt, delicate salmon; Lady Gifford, rich 
pink with broad petals ; and Diamond Jubilee, a full 
yellow. All of the above were double varieties of 
great merit. Single flowered sorts were abundantly 
represented and fine in form. New varieties for this 
year were Lord Charles Beresford, fiery scarlet; 
Model having perfectly circular rosy salmon flowers, 
in keeping with the name, and of excellent habit; 
and Lord Dartmouth, having maroon-crimson flowers, 
several times the size of those of its antetype, Duke 
of Edinburgh. Striking bicolors were Esther Smith, 
cerise with white centre; and Duchess of West¬ 
minster, carmine with white centre. A sweet- 
scented variety is Marechal Niel. Other good siDgles 
were Viscount Grimston, intense crimson; Dr. 
Nansen, bright salmon ; Lady Ampthill, soft salmon- 
pink and pretty; Mrs. Davis, a fine yellow; and 
Countess of Aberdeen, pure white. One of the most 
distinct in the group was the fringed, flesh-coloured 
Duchess of Fife, possessed of close and bushy habit. 
In tent No. 3 there was an exceedingly bright 
and showy group of tuberous Begonias sent by Mr. 
H. J. Jones, of Ryecroft Nursery, Lewisham, S.E. 
All Mr. Jones’ Exhibits are characterised by taste 
and skill in setting up, as well as by the excellence of 
the material of which they are composed, and this 
one was no exception to the general rule. Maiden¬ 
hair Fern was freely used as a setting for the 
Begonias, and the elegant Cocos weddeliana formed 
an excellent background, and dotted about over the. 
whole area served to give the group both height and 
lightness. The general contour of the exhibit pre¬ 
sented three mounds, of which the central one was 
the highest and the most massive. The plants, 
which were all in 32’s and 48V, were sturdy and 
short-jointed subjects, and in the glory of their first 
flowers made a pretty picture. Both single and 
double-flowered sections were shown, and the colours 
varied from pure white to intensest crimson. The 
double flowers in particular were noticeable by 
reason of their size and refinement, the Camellia 
type being here well represented. Most of the plants 
shown were unnamed seedlings, but some of the 
finer forms were named. Of these we must make 
mention of H. J. Jones, a grand double flower of 
bright crimson-scarlet, and one of the finest in the 
whole exhibit. 
A magnificent display of tuberous Begonias came 
from Mr. J. R. Box, the West Wickham Nurseries, 
Kent. Both single and double flowered sections 
appeared to great advantage, for not only were the 
plants well foliaged and flowered but the individual 
flowers and leaves were of large size, and the colours 
of the former very brilliant. Canary bright yellow ; 
Hecla, rich rose; Distinction, rose-pink, edged 
cerise ; and Belona, large, pure white were the best 
named, single varieties. Of the double Defiance, 
rich crimson scarlet; The Bride, creamy white; 
Harmony, salmon-pink ; and Opal, salmon, were the 
best. There was a background of Kentias to the 
group, Maidenhair Ferns were interspersed with the 
plants, and the edging was composed of Caladium 
argyrites and Isolepis gracilis. 
Messrs H. Cannell & Sons, of Swanley, Kent, had a 
a small group of tuberous Begonias. The rich crim¬ 
son, double, Lord Rothschild was the best variety 
here. There were several good single forms but these 
were unnamed with the exception of Miss A. Stewart, 
yellow; W. H. Foster, rich scarlet-rose; Miss 
Newman, salmon, and one or two others, 
The tuberous Begonias submitted by Mr. T. S. 
Ware, of Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham, N., 
were from all points of view first class. There were 
comparatively few single flowered varieties shown, 
but these were of the very finest. They included 
Mrs.Sharp,white and rose ; BexleyWhite.pure white ; 
Alba fimbriata, pure white with fimbriated margins ; 
and Attraction, bright bronzy yellow. The double 
flowers constituted by far the larger bulk of the 
exhibit, and it would be difficult to overpraise their 
beauty and choiceness, Mr. James Portbury, bright 
scarlet; Samuel Pope, creamy pink, edged rose; 
Mrs. John Fowler, white; Her Majesty white, with 
gophered petals ; Duchess of Devonshire, flesh pink ; 
and Pride of Kent, rose, were the cream of the 
collection. Cocos weddeliana was dotted here and 
there along the bank of flowers, and the margin was 
of Isolepis gracilis, interposed with the variegated 
Poa trivialis, 
CROTONS. 
A beautifully arranged and highly-coloured group 
of Crotons was set up by Messrs J. Veitch & Sons, 
Ltd., who had over three dozen of the best varieties 
in cultivation, representing the broad and narrow¬ 
leaved sections with other characteristic types. 
Broad-leaved varieties were well represented by 
Baroness James de Rothschild, Evansianus, 
Warrenii, Queen Victoria, Prince and Princess of 
Wales, and others. Some of the above are notable 
for the length of their leaves and beautiful colours 
rather than their breadth. The three-lobed leaves 
of Disraeli are very distinct, and the variety has 
long been a favourite. Hawkeri is handsomely 
variegated with creamy-white, and Reidii shows a 
similar combination. The rich yellow of Johannis 
has always been popular and much admired, Of 
another type are Caudatus tortilis and Golden Ring, 
whose colours are supplemented by the peculiar 
twisted form of the drooping leaves. Aigburthensis 
is essentially a narrow-leaved form, much in request 
for table decoration. Other grand forms, furnishing 
endless variations of beautiful colours were Sunbeam, 
Emperor Alexander III., Goldii, Aigburth Gem, 
Mortii, Thomsoni, Rodeckianus, Challenger, Alice, 
Flamingo, Sinitzinianus, Dairsii, Elegantissima, 
Magnificent, Delight, Gordoni, Superba, Eugenie 
Chantrier, Newmanni, Hammondi, &c., all in the 
finest condition, 
NEW PLANTS. 
At the northern end of the central stage in the 
large tent, Messrs.F.Sander & Co , St. Albans, set up a 
