October 31, 1896. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
141 
bium Johnsoniae, and Oncidium trigrinum were also 
well flowered. 
A splendid collection of cut flowers of Orchids 
was exhibited by Thos. Statter, Esq. (gardener, Mr. 
R. Johnson) Stand Hall, Whitefield Manchester. 
Numerous and handsome were the forms of Dendro- 
bium Phalaenopsis schroderianum. The sepals and 
petals of Cattleya aurea johnsoniana were the 
richest in colour we have seen, notwithstanding the 
fact that many other fine varieties were also shown 
here. One form tending towards C. hardyana had 
rosy petals (Silver Flora Medal). 
F. Hardy, Esq. (gardener, Mr. Thos. Stafford) 
Tyntesfield, Ashton-on-Mersey, Cheshire, staged 
five plants of Laelia praestans. S. G. Lutwyche, 
Esq. (gardener, Mr. J. Paterson) Eden Park, 
Beckenham, exhibited Miltonia lamarcheana, a 
hybrid Cypripedium between C. callosum, and C. 
villosum, also the hybrid C. beechense, of rich 
colour, C. Charlesworthii, and C. insignemontanum, 
the two latter being choice. 
M. Georges Mantin, Chateau de Bel Air, Olivet, 
France, exhibited seven plants of the hybrid 
Cattleya Mantinii, in a great variety of colours, the 
size of the flowers also varying (Silver Banksian 
Medal). He also received a cultural commendation 
for one fine piece of C. M. nobilior. 
H.J.Elwes,Esq.(gardener, Mr.J.Lane), Colesborne, 
Gloucester, exhibited a group of small but interesting 
types of Orchid including Arundina chinensis, 
Pleione Wallichi, Dendrobium Aphrodite, Liparis 
spathulata and a long-tailed Cirrhopetalum (Bronze 
Banksian Medal). A cultural commendation was 
accorded to Mr. W. Lane, King's Ride, Ascot, for a 
grand piece of Cattleya bowringiana with five huge 
trusses of bloom. 
Messrs. Linden, Brussels, exhibited a remarkably 
distinct supposed natural hybrid Cattleya named C. 
le Czar. Restrepia antennifera and R. Lansbergii 
were exhibited by R. I. Measures, Esq. Cypripedium 
Regina and Cattleya Elvina, two grand hybrids were 
exhibited by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons. Cattleya la 
Belle and Cypripedium Marriottianum, both hybrids, 
were exhibited by Sir William Marriott, Bart, 
(gardener, Mr. Thomas Denny), The Down House, 
Blandford. R. J. White, Esq., (gardener, Mr. J. G. 
Check), The Firs, Peckham Road, staged Cattleya 
labiata. 
C. L. N. Ingram. Esq. (gardener, Mr. T. Bond) 
Elstead House, Godaiming, staged Laeliocattleya 
callistoglossa Ingrami, having a huge flower, also L. 
Gazelle splendens. A hybrid Cypripedium of great 
vigour was also shown by Walter C. Clark, Esq., 
Sefton Park, Liverpool. 
Messrs. John Peed & Sons, Roupell Park Nurseries, 
Norwood Road, S.E., set up a very neat group of 
stove foliage plants including some well coloured 
Crotons and Dracaenas, a few Cypripediums, and 
some plants of Saintpaulia ionantha (Bronze 
Banksian Medal). 
Mr. W. Wells, Earlswood Nurseries, Redhill, 
Surrey, put up a number of well-flowered plants of 
Chrysanthemums. Some dwarf plants of the new 
yellow Jap. Australian Gold in 32-size pots, each 
plant carrying a superbly finished bloom were a chief 
feature here. Notable also was a grand plant of 
Mons. Chenon de Leche with three grand blooms. 
Dwarf plants of John Shrimpton were also shown 
well here (Silver Banksian Medal). 
A collection of winter-flowering Zonal Pelar¬ 
goniums was contributed by Mr. Owen Thomas, 
gardener to Her Majesty the Queen, Royal Gardens, 
Windsor. The plants were well flowered, and bore 
some good trusses, but they were much too leggy in 
habit to be really good (Silver Banksian Medal). 
Messrs. John Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, S.E., 
were responsible for an exceedingly pretty group 
of miscellaneous plants. Well-grown Crotons, 
Dracaenas, and small Palms represented the foliage 
elements. Single flowered tuberous Begonias, in¬ 
cluding the beautiful late variety, Autumn Queen, 
Begonia Gloire de Lorraine, and a fine piece of 
Cypripedium harrisianum also contributed their 
quota of beauty (Silver Flora Medal). 
A large group of Crotons was set up by Mr. G. 
Wythes, gardener to Earl Percy, Syon House, Brent¬ 
ford. All the plants were clean and well grown, 
whilst the specimens submitted of such varieties as 
Warrenii, Mortii, Aigburthensis, and Reedii were 
deserving of special mention. The colour through¬ 
out was very well developed (Silver Gilt Banksian 
Medal). 
A Silver Banksian Medal was awarded to Mr. 
Lane, gardener to H. J. Elewes, Esq., Colesborne, 
Gloucester, for a charming collection of Nerines. 
The umbels of flower were large, and numerous 
shades varying from rose-white to scarlet and 
crimson were represented. Excellent specimens of 
Nerine flexuosa major, N. cinnabarina, and N. 
Meadowbankii, came from Mr. Bain, gardener to 
Sir Trevor Lawrence, Esq., Burford Lodge, Dorking. 
Mr. W. Wells showed three dozen large cut blooms 
of Chrysanthemums — La Garonne, Pride of Ex¬ 
mouth, Australian Gold, Belle Mauve, and Harry 
Johnson were the best varieties. A dozen blooms of 
Chrysanthemum Tulwell Park were shown by Mr. 
A. N. Rickwood, gardener to the Dowager Lady 
Freake, Fulwell Park, Twickenham. Messrs. 
Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent, also exhibited cut 
blooms of Chrysanthemums, several Awards of 
Merit being granted. The grand yellow incurved 
variety Ernest Cannell was in fine condition here. 
A Silver Flora Medal was voted to Mr. W. Tarr, 
gardener to A. Pears, Esq., Greenbank, Islewortb, 
for a large group of Chrysanthemum Sunflower, Eda 
Prass, Viviand Morel, Chas. Davis. Mons. Freeman, 
President Borel, and John Sbrimpton were all 
represented by some very fine blooms. 
Mr. Anthony Waterer, Knap Hill Nurseries, 
Woking, obtained a Silver Flora Medal for some 
exceedingly well berried Pernettyas, and some shapely 
specimens of Picea pungens argentea, the Colorado 
Blue Spruce of varying heights. A few finely 
coloured samples of the Knap Hill Scarlet Oak were 
also submitted by the same exhibitor. Messrs. Jas. 
Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, showed a case full of large 
and richly coloured fruits of Physalis Franchetii. 
A collection of tweny-four medium sized and well 
finished Melons was exhibited by Mr. T. Crisp, 
Osberton, Worksop, a Silver Banksian Medal being 
awarded. A Cultural Commendation went to the 
same exhibitor for bunches of Golden Queen Grape. 
In the classes for the best flavoured Apple and 
Pear, in which special prizes are offered by Messrs. 
J. Veitch & Sons. Mr. G. Woodward, gardener to R. 
Leigh, Esq., Barham Court, Maidstone, was placed 
first for a Pear with Doyenne du Comice, and 
second with Beurre superfin. This exhibitor also 
had the best flavoured Apple in Cox’s Orange 
Pippin. Mr. C. Herrin, Dropmore, was second here 
with Ribston Pippin. Celery Barr's Self Blanching, 
and Celeriac were shown from the Society’s gardens 
at Chiswick. 
Hardening Jsscellany. 
CLERODENDRON FOETIDUM. 
This Clerodendron is very distinct in appearance 
from its congeners which are such favourite 
occupants of our stoves and warm greenhouses. A 
native of Northern China, it is, as may be supposed, 
possessed of a much hardier constitution than most 
of the members of the genus. A clump of it planted 
on the western side of the temperate house at Kew 
has been in flower for some time past. The plants 
average about 5 ft. in height. The stems are thin 
and wiry, purple green in colour, and mottled 
heavily with gray blotches. The leaves are rather 
large, cordate in shape, somewhat acuminate, and 
with margins irregularly serrate. The rosy-lilac 
flowers which are produced in dense terminal 
corymbs 4 in. to 5 in. in diameter are very small, 
and emit a powerful odour which, however, is not 
unpleasant, as the specific name foetidum would 
lead one to expect. C. Bungei and C. foetidum are 
synonymous. 
ASTER TURBINELLUS IN POTS. 
Not only are the perennial Asters queens of the out¬ 
door garden in the fast declining autumnal days, and 
the long autumnal nights when more than a suspicion 
of frost may be in the air, but some of them render 
an exceedingly good account of themselves if potted 
up and bloomed under glass. Aster turbinellus thus 
treated, has been in splendid form of late in the green¬ 
house at Kew, and may well suggest to gardeners 
to go and copy the example thus set. Twelve-inch 
pots are employed, and these are quite large enough 
to accommodate fine specimens 5 ft. in height, 
and 3 ft. or 4 ft. through. A. turbinellus is especially 
adapted to this work, for the stems are long and 
wiry, and the habit light and graceful. The flowers 
run about ii in. in diameter, and exhibit a delicate 
shade of mauve. Indeed, with the quite length of 
the ray florets, the individual flowers look like stars, 
and well justify the popular name of Starworts 
which has been bestowed upon this handsome genus. 
ASPARAGUS. 
Will some one give me their experience in planting 
Asparagus in autumn ? I have some beds requiring 
to be filled up, and having a quantity of two and 
three-year-old plants, that must be moved this 
autumn to clear the ground, and having been told 
that Asparagus planted in autumn would do well, 
should like to have the experience of some practical 
man who has tried the autumn planting. I have 
always done well with spring planting till this season 
and then the weather has been so hot and dry for 
such a long time, causing many plants to perish; 
therefore the vacant places require filling up and I 
should like to use these plants to make them good. 
Also some older beds I have require making good i 
and these plants would come in well for them. If I 
could plant them now instead of in the spring it 
would be a great saving of time, and advantage to 
the crop next season if they would grow and do well. 
—Inquirer. 
PEAR BEURRE BOSC. 
A medium sized specimen of this variety grown in 
Devonshire, was supplied us by our correspondent 
Mr. J. Mayne, in order to determine its excellent 
qualities. The Pear-shaped fruit was just in perfec¬ 
tion and of a light yellow, covered with a thin russet 
marked with darker spots, and a good deal broken 
up here and there into splashes and markings which 
showed the yellow ground colour between. The 
flesh is white, soft, and buttery, without grit, juicy 
and sweet with a pleasant aroma, and very melting. 
The core was exceedingly small, and the central 
fibrous tissues reduced to a minimum. The report 
of the committee of the National Pear Conference, 
held in the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens, 
Chiswick, in 1885, describes it as first-rate, with a 
tender, juicy and very pleasant flesh. It is in season 
as a rule during the months of October and Novem¬ 
ber, but the sample sent bore some evidence of being 
on the point of passing beyond its best, and therefore 
unusually early in accordance with the past summer. 
SMYTH’S HYBRID FRENCH BEAN. 
I am pleased to be able to give this a word of praise. 
In my opinion this is a vast improvement on many 
of the older varieties. In the first place it is very 
early, also an abundant cropper and a very compact 
grower. The pods are of medium size, the beans 
very small in the pod. I found that by careful 
gathering, this variety stood longer in bearing than 
many older sorts with larger pods and beans larger. 
Symth's Hybrid with its medium or rather smaller 
pods is less trouble to dress for table ; and lastly it is 
very tender and delicious when cooked, and only 
requires to be grown, when, in my opinion, it will 
become a favourite with many.— J. L., Palgrave. 
UNLOVELY CRITICISM. 
Sarcasm I had almost said, but then such a mode of 
expression is always unlovely, whereas with regard 
to fair and unbiased criticism there is certainly no 
reason why such an under current of jealous feeling 
should be resorted to. Such sentiments rise to one’s 
mind when observing the epithets hurled at each 
other by gentlemen representing the political arena 
for instance. Such thoughts pervade the under¬ 
standing when one exponent of a branch of the 
gardening industry strives through the subterfuge of 
anonymity by the aid of the horticultural press to 
take a mean advantage of a contributor, and this 
oft-times, merely because that contributor has had 
the courage to reveal his name (the subject on 
which A. has written having been one which A. S. 
would never have touched, had not his chance come 
to “have a knock” at probably a former rival, 
recognised by the revelation of the said name). But 
when, Mr. Editor, through that cloak of anonymity 
and idiomatic Latin phrases is fully recognised the 
“unlovely criticiser,” v.hat then? Tableau I— 
Ecce Homo !! 
