May 27, 1899. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
621 
Gardening Jiscellany. 
HERACLEUM GIGANTEUM. 
As a stately, ornamental subject none surpasses the 
Giant Cow Parsnip for use as an effective back¬ 
ground in our dwarfer shrubberies, or for general 
work in outlying parts of the rougher grounds 
surrounding the lawns of private or other gardens. 
According to its environs, and the suitability of the 
soil, its height varies from 6 ft. to 12 ft. To give it 
a popular description it will not be misleading to say 
that it resembles a Hemlock in foliage and stem 
and flowers, all of which are from 10 to 20 times 
larger than that of Hemlock. 
ABUTILON SAWITZII. 
For a bright leaved, light, and decorative plant, this 
white and green leaved variety is eminent. Once 
seen and adopted, gardeners generally like to ensure 
a batch of a goodly number, for have they not 
proved it as serviceable in the houses during autumn, 
winter, and spring, and as an ornament for the beds 
in summer, or all-the-year-round table or house 
decorations ? It can be raised from spriDg-struck 
cuttings, and grown on in a house of, say, 6o° at the 
lowest. It makes all the sturdier a plant if the pot¬ 
ting is firm. It is not so hardy as A. Thompsonii, or 
such others, but more fitting as a house decorative 
plant. 
FORCING SEAKALE. 
Recently in your columns there was an excellent 
note from Mr. Carmichael on the forcing of this for 
early work. I can quite endorse all he said regarding 
the growing it in rows and throwing out a trench 
between the rows, placing the soil over the crowns ; 
then filling these trenches with fermenting dung or 
other material, I well remember when serving under 
Mr. Vallance at Ven Hall, in 1870, he obtained his 
first lot in this way; and I have never seen better. 
But every place does not lend itself to this mode of 
culture. A farmer near me grows grand Kale by 
covering it with ashes, placing a stick to show where 
the crowns are, and then covering the whole with 
dung to obtain heat.— J. C. F. A., Chard. 
-- 
SOCIETIES. 
ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY. —May 17th, 1899. 
This society held an exhibition of plants and flowers 
in their gardens at Regent’s Park, on the above date. 
The show was attractive and varied but was 
composed almost entirely of nurserymen’s exhibits. 
Mr. Wm. Rumsey, Joynings Nursery, Waltham 
Cross, near London, N., exhibited a fine group of 
H. P., Polyantha, and other Roses, arranged in 
stands or vases. Adiantum cuneatum formed a fine 
edging. Of H. P.’s, Mrs. Rumsey was excellent. Of 
Teas, Marechal Niel, May Rivers, and The Queen, 
were very fine ; also Souvenir d'un Ami in long 
sprays springing from the back. (Silver Medal.) 
Messrs. A. W. Young & Co., The Nurseries, 
Stevenage, were first with a collection of hardy 
plants. The exhibit was arranged on a bank of grass 
with cork bark between the groups of plants, 
Alyssum saxatile compactum, numerous Saxafragas, 
Violas. Sedums, Anemones, and the little Daphne 
Cneorum were the chief plants. Mr. A. Smith 
Prospect House, Downley, High Wycombe, put up 
thirty-six varieties of Pansies in pots; also a 
collection of cut Roses. Of the Pansies, Guardsman, 
Premier, and W. G. Head were the pick. (Large 
Bronze Medal.) 
Mr. Charles Turner, The Royal Nurseries, Slough, 
received a Small Silver Medal for h's Malmaison 
Carnation, “Princess May.’’ 
Messrs. R. & G. Cuthbert, Southgate Nursery, 
Southgate, Middlesex, exhibited a group of new 
hybrid hardy Azaleas. This was a large and bright 
exhibit, aiding the show very much. A. Queen 
Victoria, A. Charles Darwin, A.Baron von Heicheros, 
A. Ariadne, A. rustica fl. pi. Phoebe, A r. fl. pi. Aida 
from among the hybrid mollis and sinensis types, and 
Gloria Mundi were among the Ghent Azaleas. 
(Silver Medal.) 
Purnell Purnell, Esq., Woodlands, Streatham 
Hill, S.W., put up a collection of Alpines and Sem- 
pervivum brachiatum. Primulas, in variety, Alpine 
Auriculas, Sedums, and Saxifragas completed the 
list. (Large Bronze Medal.) 
Messrs. A. W. Young & Co., Stevenage, exhibited 
twenty-four plants of King of Denmark zonal Pelar¬ 
gonium. It is of a sweet pinky-salmon colour, dwarf, 
and floriferous. They were awarded the second 
prize. 
For six plants, suitable for table decoration, 
Walter C. Walker, Esq., Percy Lodge, Wincbmore 
Hill, was placed first. He had nice plants of 
Reidia glaucescens, Aralia gracillima, Croton Mrs. 
Dorman, C. undulatum, Dracaena Warrenii, D. 
Doucettii, and Eulalia gracilis. Campbell Newing¬ 
ton, Esq (gardener, Mr. T. Abbott), The Holme, 
Regent's Park, was second ; and Mrs. Abbott, (gar¬ 
dener, Mr. G. Keif), South Villa, Regent’s Park, 
equal second. 
Campbell Newington, Esq., was first for a magni¬ 
ficent group of flower and foliage plants, comprising 
fine Azaleas, Palms, Tree Ferns, Dracaenas, Cocos 
varieties, Pandanus Veitchii, Caladiums, Anthu- 
riums, Coleus, Adiantums, Pteris, Spiraeas, Gloxinias, 
and Musk. 
Messrs. John Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, London, 
put up a very fine group of flowering and foliage 
plants. Acer Negundo variegatum and Palms made 
a fine background for the Lilium Harissii, Ixora 
coccinea, with grand trusses, Carnations, Cattleyas 
in quite a large variety, Miltonias and Odontoglot- 
sums; also Azaleas of the Ghent types, and a fine 
lot of Crotons, Dracaenas, Alocacias, Caladiums, 
&c. It was a well arranged group. (Large Silver 
Medal.) 
Messrs. John Peed & Sons, Roupell Park Nur¬ 
series, Norwood Road, London, S.E., exhibited a 
bank of their famous Caladiums in all colours,and each 
the very picture of health. Some of the plants must 
have been 3 ft. and 4 ft. through,and equally tall. Some 
of the finer were C. Mercedes d'Argent, Lily Burke, 
John Laing, Madam J. Box, Reine de Danemark, C. 
minus erubescens, Wm John Peed, and Arassuahy. 
(Silver-Gilt Medal.) 
Messrs. Wm. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross, Herts , 
arranged a very lovely bank of Roses in pots and in 
stands, including Tea Rose Enchantress, a creamy 
variety, H. P. Gloire de Margottin, &c. (Large 
Silver Medal.) 
Messrs. Kelway & Son, of Langport, Somerset, 
staged a lovely show of their beautiful and strong 
Paeonies. This formed a sweet corner of the exhi¬ 
bition. Countess Crew, a large pink sort; Countess 
Cadogan, with a deeper base, but otherwise pink, 
Clothos, Meand Wild, and others were very fine. 
(Small Silver Medal.) 
Walter Walker, Esq , Percy Lodge, Winchmore 
Hill, N., was first with a very handsome group of 
Orchids. Cattleya Mendelii Morganiae, C. 
Skinnerii.C.citrina, Dendrobiumnobile sanderianum, 
Odontoglossum crispum, O. Pescatorei, Oncidiums, 
and Cymbidiums, with Eulalias and Crotons, &c., 
interspersed, made up a high-class group. 
Ludwig Mond, Esq., 20, Avenue Road, N.W. 
came second with a group far less showy, but having 
some good Cattleyas. C. Mendelii, Miltonia vexil- 
laria, Odontoglossums, Lycaste Deppei, and Den- 
drobium wardianum were some of the best. 
Mr. J. Prewitt, Connaught Nurseries, Rayleigh, 
Essex, arranged a very pleasing table of small 
Spanish Irises, Lily-of-the-Valley, Forget-me-Nots, 
Primrose Marguerites, and Saxifragas, with 
Festuca grass in a green state. (Large Bronze 
Medal.) 
Mr. H. W. Moss, Florist, 44, Sandbrook Road, 
Stoke Newington, N., had his arrangement in the 
shape of three epergnes, a taller centre one and two 
smaller side ones. Pink Rodanthes, Poet's Nar¬ 
cissi, Primrose Marguerites, dried Carex, and grasses 
were tastefully arranged. (Small Silver Medal.) 
Mr. L. H. Calcutt, Fern Bank Nursery, Stoke 
Newington, had a very large table, which was well 
got together. Springing from cork basins at either 
side was a tall circular arch, gracefully decked with 
violet and deep yellow varieties of Spanish Irises. 
Asparagus plumosus formed an underlining, and 
Gloxinias, Narcissus, Ferns, Cocos, blue Centaureas, 
Saxifragas, and white Rodanthes made up a beauti¬ 
ful display. (Small Silver Medal) 
Mr. Thos. Rivers & Son, Sawbridgeworth, showed 
Nectarine Cardinal in a box, and also nine splendid 
standard Nectarines in pots, and laden with fruit. 
(Large Silver Medal.) 
ROYAL NATIONAL TULIP -May 17th. 
The sixth annual southern exhibition of this society 
was held at the Royal Botanic Society’s Gardens, 
Regent s Park, London. The competitive entries 
were not numerous, but the quality of the blooms 
was very fair. 
The premier prize specially designed by G. H. 
Moon and presented by Messrs. Barr & Son, 12 and 
13, King Street, Covent Garden, for eighteen 
dissimilar Tulips was won by James W. Bentley, 
Esq., Kersal, Manchester. The sweetest and best 
were Annie McGregor, Clio, Masterpiece, Excelsior, 
Rose Hill, Goldfinder, and San Jose. 
The first prize for twelve varieties of rectified 
Tulips, two feathered and two flamed in each class, 
vtfent to A. D. Hall, Esq., Wye, Ashford, Kent. 
Aglaia, Sam Barlow, Sir J. Paxton and Lord F. 
Cavendish were the most superior blooms. C. W. 
Needham, Esq., Royton, Manchester, came second 
with very good Duchess of Sutherland, Sam 
Barlow, Masterpiece, Talisman and Annie McGregor. 
The third prize went to A. Chater, Esq., Cambridge. 
Dr. Hutchison, Black Prince and Guide were the 
most select in his stand. In the class for six rectified 
Tulips, James W. Bentley, Esq., Kersal, Manchester, 
took the lead, with good forms of San Jose, Mabel 
and Masterpiece. The second award went to A D. 
Hall, Esq. ; the third to C. W. Needham, Esq. ; and 
the fourth to A. Chater, Esq. 
In the entry for three feathered Tulips, J. W. 
Bentley, Esq., was first, but the blooms were rather 
of poor quality. For three flamed Tulips, A. D. 
Hall, Esq , stood first with Talisman, Dr. Hardy, 
and Aglaia. J. W. Bentley, Esq., was second ; C. 
W. Needham, Esq., third ; A. Chater, Esq., fousth ; 
and G. Edom, Esq., Walton-on-Hill, fifth. For a 
pair of rectified Tulips, C. W. Needham, Esq., was 
first with Samuel Barlow and Modesty, thus winning 
the “ Samuel Barlow ” prize. J. W. Bentley, Esq., 
was second; A. D. Hall, Esq., third; and A. 
Chater, Esq., fourth. For three varieties of 
breeders, A. D. Hall, Esq., was first; J. W. Bentley, 
Esq., second; J. Edom, Esq, Surrey, third; and 
C. W. Needham, Esq., fourth. For six breeders, 
A. D. Hall, Esq., came first; C. W. Needham, 
second; and A. Chater, Esq., third. In the collec¬ 
tion of English florists' Tulips, arranged for effect, 
A. D. Hall, Esq., came first. 
For a collection of Darwin Tulips Messrs. Barr & 
Sons, 12 and 13, King Street, Covent Garden, were 
first with a magnificent array. Salmon King, Early 
Dawn, Apricot, Queen of Brilliants, Peter Barr, 
Joseph Chamberlain, Zephyr, and Orange Prince 
were the finest. The same firm also put up a table 
(for exhibition) of Tulips and miscellaneous hardy 
plants, which composed half the show. Among the 
curious and the beautiful flowers were Euphorbia 
pilosa major, Caltha parnassifolia, Iris pumila lutea, 
Megasea cordifolia, Cytisus praecox, Scilla campan- 
ulata rosea, Saxifraga Camposii, Alyssum gemonense 
sulphureum, various Primulas, and alpine plants. 
(Large Silver Medal.) They also received a Gold 
Medal for a collection of May-flowering Tulips, of 
which Masterpiece, Sir J. Paxton, George Hayward, 
Goldfinder, and Mabel were extra grand. 
MANCHESTER BOTANIC. —May 19 th to 26 tli. 
The Show was held under the usual conditions but 
we regret to find a great falling off in the exhibits, 
both trade and private (this is very noticeable) un¬ 
doubtedly due to the long time the plants have to 
remain. Good collections however are staged and 
Mr. P. Wtathers is to be congratulated upon using 
the plants at his command to the best advantage. 
We regret much also to state the weather was 
against the show, rain falling at intervals on the 
opening day and the day after. When one reflects upon 
the olden times, what a change has come about. 
At no place in the United Kingdom could such 
specimen plants be seen as we used to see, but alas ! 
they are all away and sadly are they missed. The 
feature of the show is undoubtedly the trade exhibits 
—take them away there would not be much left. 
Waterer's Rhododendrons are a grand feature and 
most attractive. Cypher’s,Orchids,&c.,are very attrac¬ 
tive and beau tifully arranged. Groups from Charles- 
worth of Bradford, Cowan, Heath, the L’ Horticole 
Coloniale, Limited, briDg a dozen or two of grand 
novelties. Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Ltd., Chelsea, 
had a collection of hybrids, many most interesting. 
Messrs. W. Robson show a good group ; MrJ Tracey, 
of Twickenham, got an Award of Merit fora lovely 
