462 
F H E GARDENING WORLD 
March 18, 1899. 
several Cypripediums. J.T. Gabriel, Esq. (gardener, 
Mr. Ranson), Palace Road, Streatham Road, 
exhibited a grand form of Dendrobium wardianum. 
W. Thompson, Esq (gardener, Mr. W. Stevens), 
Walton Grange, Stone, Staffs., exhibited Dendro¬ 
bium, Ainsworthii intertintum, Odontoglossum cris- 
pum Duke of York, and Zygopetalum Perrenoudi. 
M. Jules Hye, 8, Le Coupure, Ghent, Belgium, 
exhibited Odontoglossum excellens hyeanum, a very 
fine thing. Wellbore S. Ellis, Esq. (gardener, Mr 
W. S. Barrett), Hazelbourne, Dorking, exhibited the 
beautiful Odontoglossum andersonianum Hazel- 
bourne var. 
A magnificent display of Camellias came from 
those renowned growers, Messrs. Wm. Paul and 
Son, Waltham Cross, Herts, and we scarcely know 
which to praise the most—the symmetry, habit and 
vigour of the plants, or the size, and shape and colour 
of the flowers. There were upwards of seventy 
plants of various sizes, all of them well sprinkled 
with flowers. The cut blooms which weie set up in 
boxes in front of the group were really grand. Of 
the numerous varieties showD, Mathotiana alba, 
Comtesse d’ Hainault, Pride of Waliham, March¬ 
ioness of Exeter, Martioni, Princesse Charlotte, 
L'avenir, and Adelina Benvenuti were some of the 
chief. (Silver Gilt Flora Medal.) 
Messrs. Thos. Cripps & Son, Tunbridge Wells, 
had a charming group of large flowered Clematises 
in pots; also several stands of cut flowers of great 
substance. (Bronze Flora Medal.) 
Mr. Geo. Mount, The Nurseries, Canterbury, 
brought out a grand lot of cut Roses, the rich and 
delicate hues appearing to advantage even in the 
fog. Mrs. John Laing, La France, Catherine Mer- 
met, Captain Hayward, Bridesmaid, aDd Niphetos 
were all well up to Mr. Mount’s own high standard. 
For this meritorious exhibit a Silver Gilt Banksian 
was given. 
A big display of Cyclamen came from St. George’s 
Nursery Co , Hanwell. The plants were first-rate 
examples of high-class and intelligent culture, and 
both foliage and flowers were excellent. White, 
pink, crimsoD, and blush flowers were all represented. 
(Silver Flora Medal.) 
An extensive exhibit of exotic, tinted and coloured, 
Ferns was made by Messrs. J. Hill & Son, Lower 
Edmonton. The plants were for the most part 
small, but a'l were in the best of health. There 
were big clumps of such choice things as Pteris 
rubricaulis, P. Victoriae, Adiantum rhodophyllum, 
A, tinctum, Blechnum latifolium, and B. occidentale. 
This was a very meritorious and uncommon exhibit. 
(Silver Banksian Medal.) 
From Messrs. R. & G. Cuthbert, Southgate, 
Middlesex, came a showy group of Azalea mollis, and 
hybrids raised from that species, and A. sinensis. 
Of the hybrid forms, Anthony Koster was a very 
conspicuous variety with its huge trusses of rich 
yellow flowers The whole of the plants were re¬ 
markably well bloomed, and a sprinkling of Ferns 
helped to set off the numerous shades of pink, 
oraDga, and yellow to the best advantage. (Silver 
Flora Medal.) 
Mr. John R. Box, West Wickham, put up a nice 
group of Cinerarias. The flowers were for the most 
part of good size and substance, and the colours 
were exceptionally fine. (Bronze Flora Medal). 
A Gold Medal was awarded to Mr. A. Chapman, 
gardener to Captain Holford, Weston Birt, Tetbury, 
Gloucester, for a superb lot of Hippeastrum that 
filled one side of a wide table running the whole 
length of the hall. The range of colour was fuller 
and wider than we have ever before seen in one single 
exhibit and the size and noble presence of the blooms 
were much admired. 
The new plants shown by Messrs. F. Sander & Co. 
comprised the now notorious Acalypha hispida, and 
Dracaena Sanderi 
From Messrs. Jas. Veitch & Son, Ltd , Chelsea, 
came an interesting exhibit of flowering shrubs. The 
curious Azalea linearifolia, the handsome Spiraea 
confusa, and the hybrid Deutzia Lemoinei were 
included. 
On the floor on the left hand side of the doorway 
was a semi-circular group of well flowered Clematises 
in pots, sent by Mr. H. B. May, Dyson's Lane 
Nurseries, Upper Edmonton. Such varieties as 
Miss Bateman, Lady Londesborough, Lord Londes- 
borough, and Fair Rosamand were worthily repre¬ 
sented, The group was prettily margined with 
Ferns. (Silver Flora Medal). Acalypha hispida was 
also shown by Mr. May. 
A Silver Banksian Medal was awarded to Messrs. 
Barr & Sons, Covent Garden, for an imposing array 
of spring flowers. Narcissi in pots formed a chief 
constituent of the group, such forms as Golden Spur, 
Johnstoni, Queen of Spain, Victoria, and Horsfieldii 
beiDg well to the fore. There was also a capital dis¬ 
play of the Polyanthus variety Bazelman Major. 
Such Hellibores as Lothair punctatus, and Porphy- 
romalis were well shown. Tulipa Leichtlinii was in 
first-rate condition, and Anemone Rose de Nice was 
very showy. 
A very interesting group was composed of the 
hybrid Deutzia Lemoinei, remarkably well flowered, 
shown by Messrs. F. Sander & Co. Messrs. Jas. 
Veitch & Sons, Ltd., showed a few fine forms of 
Amaryllis ; also the rare Xeronema Moorei in 
flower. 
A group of choice early spring flowers was shown 
by Messrs. R. Wallace & Co., Ktlnfield Gardens, 
Colchester. Included were the charming Fritillaria 
plurifolia, Iris reticulata, I. stylosa, and the massive 
I. sindigarensis. 
At a meeting of the fruit and vege able committee 
a Silver Knightian Medal was awarded to Mr. A J. 
Thomas, Sittingbourne, for fifty dishes of Apples, 
which were in good preservation, considering the 
advanced season. 
Mr. J. Watkins, of Hereford, received a Silver Gilt 
Knightian Medal for seventy dishes of Apples in 
perfect preservation and colour. 
Samples of Seakale were shown by Mr. John 
Russell, Richmond, Surrey. The variety Russell’s 
Solid Ivory was remarkable for weight, solidity, and 
finish. 
A Cultural Commendation was given to Mr. Jas. 
Masterton, gardener to the Earl of Camperdown, 
Weston House Gardens, Shipston-on-Stour, for a 
dish of gigantic fruits of Pear St. Germain. A 
similar award went to Mr. Masterton for six huge 
bulbs of Onion Deverill’s Ailsa Craig. 
-- 
QUe3C10D$ ADD ADS®SR$. 
Will our friends who send us newspapers be so good 
as to mark the paragraphs or articles they wish us to see. 
We shall be greatly obliged bv their so doing. 
[Correspondents, please note that we cannot undertake to 
name florists' flowers such as Carnations, Pelargoniums , 
Chrysanthemums, Roses, nor such as are mere garden 
varieties, differing only in the colour of the flower. 
Florists' flowers, as a rule, can only be named by those who 
groiv collections of them.] 
Cucumbers in Frames .—James Slavin : If you have 
not already done so you should sow the seeds in 
heat at once, so as to get good plants to put in the 
frames next month. A temperature of 6o° to 65° 
will bring them along quickly enough, and when 
they have made the first rough leaf have them potted 
off singly into 6o-size pots, replacing the pots in heat 
till the plants make a fresh start. After this they 
may be put in cooler quarters to come along slowly 
and steadily without Decoming drawn. Shift the 
plants into larger pots as the latter become partly 
filled with roots, aud this will prevent their getting 
a check. When the weather is promising with 
plenty of sunshine you should get the frames in 
order to receive the plants. About 1 ft. in front 
and iA ft. at the ba k will be high enough, if these 
heights are reckoned from the top of the soil and 
manure. If you have sufficient manure to make a 
bed, the frame may be stood on the top of this. In 
any case you should have four good barrow loads of 
manure, as the fermenting of this will be highly 
favourable in giving the plants a good start during 
the colder time of spring. By the end of June the 
sunhiat will be sufficient to grow the plants without 
any further bottom heat. Get the manure about a 
week before you want to make up the bed. Shake 
it up in a heap to ferment, and when fairly hot 
shake it up afresh, turning all the rank material in¬ 
side the heap. When it has heated fairly well, again 
put it in the frame or make a bed of it, treading it 
down firmly. Chop up some turfy or fibrous loam, 
mixing with it about one-fourth part of well-rotted 
manure. Put this on the manure in one or two 
heaps, according to the size of your frame, to let it 
get warmed up before planting a Cucumber on each 
mound. After about three days it will be safe to do 
the planting without injuring the plants by the 
steamy heat of the manure. 
Propagating Erica carnea — J. Andrews: The 
plants may be lifted after they have finished flower¬ 
ing and separated into moderately small pieces with 
as good roots to each piece as possible. A peaty 
soil is necessary in the drier parts of the country, 
but where the soil keeps fairly moist duringsummer, 
peat is net absolutely necessary, as it will thrive in 
sandy soil with plenty of leaf mould. In your case 
it would be advisable to mix a good quantity of peat 
with the soil. Tread the soil firmly about the plants, 
which should be covered well up to the leafy portion. 
Supply them with water in dry weather till growth 
is tairly active at least. This Heath gives little or 
no trouble, as a rule, in getting it established. 
Planting Rhubarb.— W. Read : Select a piece of 
ground of good depth and fertilitv. Avoid that 
which is of a clayey nature, but if merely a good 
holding or stiffish loam it may be made to produce 
large and crisp stalks of good quality. It should be 
well trenched to a depth of 2 ft. or 2jft. ; and while 
the trenching is being effected work in plenty of well 
fermented farmyard manure. Horse manure is not 
so lasting as cow manure, but it would answer very 
well for heavy soil. Keep the bulk of the manure 
well down, seeing that vou can give heavy top-dress¬ 
ings on the surface afterward?. Get good young 
crowns with plenty of roots, letting them well down 
without crumpling them up. The crowns or leaf 
buds should be close to the surface, as they come 
away earlier than if buried too deeply. 
Size of Sets of Pot&tos— A. M.\ Medium-sized 
sets generally give most satisfaction, even in the case 
of main crops, the tubers of which grow to large 
size. In the case of early varieties, the tubers are 
generally smaller, so that if you cut the largest sets 
in two with a strong bud to each, and plant the 
second s'ze whole, the crop will give you every satis¬ 
faction. If previously sprouted in heat, with the 
sprouts of medium length by exposure to light, they 
will come away strongly and in good time. 
Rose Book. — La France: " Roses and Rose 
Culture,” by William Paul, F.L S. Published by 
Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co. Price 
is. “Cultural Directions for the Rose,” by John 
Cranston, King’s Acre Nurseries, near Hereford. 
SeveDth edition. We believe this also is is. “ The 
Book of the Rose.” bv Rev. A. Foster-Melliar, 
M.A. Price 8s. 6d. Macmillan & Co., Ltd., 
London. “The Rose Garden,” by Wm. Paul, is 
probably out of print, but may sometimes be 
obtained second-hand. The first two mentioned 
above are good, cheap books, the others are larger. 
The Best Way of Growing the Royal Fern — H.J.: 
This may be grown with perfect success under vari¬ 
ous conditions, the chief requisite being an abundance 
of moisture within easy reach of the roots. If planted 
in full exposure to sunshine the plants will be dwarf, 
but otherwise perfectly healthy if planted on the 
margin of a stream, pond, or lake. On the other 
hand if you desire the fronds to be of considerable 
length, the plants must be shaded by trees or walls 
during the hotter parts of the day at least, but not 
overhung by anything. Let the plants have plenty 
of light and air, but shaded from the direct rays of 
the sun. If the ground is not naturally moist you 
should dig out a hole about 3 ft. or 3J ft. in depth, 
and build a close wall of bricks or stones and mortar 
so as to form a sort of tank. A layer of stiff clay 
should be put in the bottom so as to hold water 
when applied artificially. Then fill up the tank with 
good loamy soil and plant the Ferns. Give a good 
watering now and again during the hotter parts of 
summer. 
Names of Plants.— Sigma : The blue flower is not 
a Symphytum but Borago orientalis, sometimes 
named Trachystemon orientalis, and is a native of 
Asia Minor, the Caucasus, &c.; the Privet is Ligus- 
trum vulgare ovalifolium .—J. C. : 1, Dendrobium 
wardianum ; 2, Dendrobium primulinum ; 3, Odont¬ 
oglossum Mulus; 4, Cypripedium Sedeni.— M.L.: 
1, Scilla sibirica; 2, Anemone Hepatica alba; 3, 
Chionodoxa Luciliae; 4, Iberis saxatilis; 5, Cvcla- 
men Coum ; 6, Leucojum vernum.— R. M. : 1, Eup- 
atorium ianthinum ; 2, Libonia floribunda ; 3,Carex 
brunnea variegata; 4, Primula denticulata; 5, 
Primula verticillata.— T. W. : 1, Spiraea Thunbergii; 
2. Forsythia suspensa; 3, Saxifraga burseriana 
majus. 
Communications Received.—J. Laing & Sons.— 
John Duff —A P —J M —R. B —L. B. - A. C — H. 
W— C. O.-J. R.—Q. O.—T. T. S.—Mens.—For¬ 
ward.—G. K.—Primula.—L. 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
Barr & Sons, 12 and 13, King Street, Covent Gar¬ 
den, London.- Barr’s Hardy Perennials and Alpines. 
F.R. Pierson Co, Tarrytown-on-Hudson, N.Y., 
U.S.A.—Choice Selections in Seed; and Plants. 
Toogood & Sons, Southampton. — Toogood’ s 
Royal Farm Seeds. 
CECOND AND CHEAPER EDITION 
OF “HARDY ORNAMENTAL FLOWERING 
TREES AND SHRUBS," by A. D. Webster. Price *s., post 
tree ss. 3d., from Gardening World Office, 1, Clement s tnn 
Strand, London, W.C. 
