July 3, 1897. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
699 
juice is acid, in the latter neutral. Blue flowers 
may change to red, but never become yellow, and 
they fade away until their colour disappears. 
Xanthine, the yellow material of flowers, is insol¬ 
uble in water. Yellow flowers as they wither never 
become blue or red. Neither of these substances 
have at present been obtained in their pure state, but 
a deduction of their chemical composition may be 
inferred from blue indigo (C 16 , H 5 , N 0 2 ) compared 
with white indigo, which has a formula of C 16 , H 6 , 
no 2 . 
Comparing the analysis of the blooms with the 
composition of old and new pseudo-bulbs, it is 
evident that a large amount of the mineral con¬ 
stituents of the pseudo-bulb are abstracted by the 
flower. The question cultivators have to consider is, 
in what manner can these plants recuperate by the 
re-absorbtion of these mineral constituents into 
their organisms ; for it is evident, if they are not 
furnished with a means of obtaining a fresh supply, 
they will continually withdraw these substances from 
their old pseudo-bulbs, resulting in impoverished 
growth, smaller and smaller size, poorer blooms and 
ultimate death. 
I therefore thought that it would be well to experi¬ 
ment upon an old and starved variety of Trianaei. 
I fed this plant once a week, during the growing 
season, with two or three ounces of water, which 
contained nitrate of potash, nitrate of ammonia, 
phosphate of ammonia, and carbonate of magnesia, 
of the strength of half an ounce of nitrate of 
potash and half an ounce of nitrate of ammonia, 
with a small quantity of the other salts, with the 
result that the plant made stronger growth and 
produced a greater number of flowers, which were 
brighter in colour. In 1895 1 tried a larger number 
of plants, and I was so satisfied with the result, that 
in 1896 I added nitrate of potash and nitrate of 
ammonia each week during the summer to the rain 
water tanks of the Cattleya house. The total 
quantity used during the summer was 1 lb. of the 
nitrate of ammonia and 1 lb. of the nitrate of 
potash. This worked out at the rate of 2 5 grains 
per gallon. Many of the flowers of the Cattleya 
which were shown at the Drill Hall on May 9th this 
year were larger, brighter, and had more substance 
than in previous years. 
This year I intend to increase the amount to five 
grains per gallon during the summer, that is to say, 
from May to September. I also propose to treat 
some of the plants with small quantities of phos¬ 
phate of ammonia and carbonate of magnesia, in 
addition to the nitrate of ammonia and potash. I 
expect that I shall be able to make a favourable 
report on a future occasion on the results of these 
experiments. 
I suspect further observations will prove that the 
assimilation of phosphates by plants sets free the 
phosphorus, which combining with the nitro- 
hydro-carbons of the tissues will tend to promote 
inflorescence, and will probably increase the germin¬ 
ating power of the seed of epiphytal Orchids.— A. 
H. Smee, The Grange, Carshalton, 10/6/97. 
- —r-■ ■' - 
SOCIETIES 
RICHMOND. —June 23 vd. 
The annual summer show of the above society was 
held amidst bright but oppressively hot weather in 
the Old Deer Park at Richmond on the above date. 
Four large tents accommodated the exhibits, which 
were scarcely so numerous as last year, probably 
on account of the Victorian Era Show at the Crystal 
Palace being opened on the same day. The park 
had a very holiday-like appearance, for music and 
other attractions were provided in addition to the 
show to lure sightseers. 
In the large marquee there were some large and 
splendidly set-up groups, and the show on the whole 
sustained its character well. Inside the entrance to 
the large tent Messrs. Fromow & Sons, Sutton 
Court Nursery, Chiswick, had a charming little 
group of stove foliage plants. A few of the pretty 
Japanese Asters were also present, and these with 
Crotons, Palms, Liliums, Cannas, Caladiums, and 
Dracaenas were very effective (Silver Medal). 
Messrs. John Peed & Sons, Roupell Park Nursery, 
Norwood Road, S.E., sent a nice little group of 
Carnations. Cole’s Improved Perpetual Cheer, and 
Souvenir de la Malmaison were both in excellent 
condition. Messrs. Wm. Cutbush & Sons, High- 
gate Nurseries, N., also contributed Carnations, 
chiefly of Malmaison varieties Princess of Wales 
and the Blush Malmaison bore large, handsome, 
and grandly-coloured flowers, and the plants 
throughout were in robust health (Silver Medal). 
The special feature of the show was a grand ex¬ 
hibit by Messrs. Jas. Carter & Co., High Holborn. 
From a scenic point of view as well as from the high 
quality of the material it contained this group was 
unique. From a tall central pillar dressed with the 
green dyed seaweed, Roses, and Delphiniums, and 
surmounted by a huge floral trophy in the shape of a 
crown, and composed of yellow and white Gnapha- 
liums, and Henry Jacoby Pelargonium, four arms 
radiated to the corners of the group and formed a 
junction with four pillars about 9 ft. in height. 
Both pillars and arms were dressed in the same way 
as the central upright. The plan executed at the 
late Temple Show was thus again followed with con¬ 
spicuous success. The Gloxinias, Violas, Petunias, 
single and double, ornamental grasses in variety, 
etc., were all very showy, and the group thoroughly 
deserved the Silver Gilt Medal it received. This, 
by the way, was the highest award for non-competi¬ 
tive groups given on this occasion. 
Mr. H. E. Fordham, Twickenham, won the first 
prize for a splendid miscellaneous group, in which 
Cattleyas, Liliums, and Gypsophila paniculata 
figured conspicuously. Mr. C. Want, gardener to 
Sir F. Wigan, Clare Lawn, East Sheen, received a 
similar award for a smaller group. 
Mr. Geo. Wythes, gardener to Earl Percy, Syon 
House, Brentford, obtained a Silver Medal for an 
imposing group of miscellaneous material. A well- 
flowered piece of Cymbidium lowianum was con¬ 
spicuous here, and Cattleyas, Carnations, and 
Ixoras were all very gay. A Bronze Medal fell to 
the lot of Mr. W. H. Holah, St. Mary’s Grove Nur¬ 
series, 143, Sheen Road, Richmond, fora very pretty 
group of plants. Mr. James Portbury, Ripon 
House Gardens, Putney Heath, carried off the 
Mayor’s prize for a collection of tuberous Begonias. 
Mr. Johnson, gardener to D. H. Scott, Esq., The 
Old Palace, Richmond, followed in the second 
place. The group of Carnations in pots sent by 
Mr. Pentney, gardener to A. J. Howard, Esq., Wor- 
ton Hall, Isleworth, was voted a Silver Medal. The 
Ichthemic Guano Co., Ipswich, also had an exhibit 
of their famous specific. 
Some huge and superbly-flowered plants of Mal¬ 
maison Carnations that came from Mr. J. F. McLeod, 
gardener to J. P. Morgan, Esq., Dover House, Roe- 
hampton, were awarded a large Silver Medal, and 
such magnificent samples of culture well deserved it. 
Messrs. John Laing & Son, Forest Hill, S.E., set up 
a very gay collection of miscellaneous plants which 
yielded a splendid effect (Silver Medal). 
Six specimen Caladiums were best shown by Mr. 
Allsop, gardener to W. Cunard, Esq., Orleans 
House, Twickenham. Mr. W. Vause, 4, Somers 
Place, Leamington, won a well merited first for six 
specimen hard-wooded plants. The same exhibitor 
was also first for specimen stove foliage plants. 
A Silver Medal went to Mr. Wm. Thompson, 
Sheen Nurseries, Richmond, for a pretty miscel¬ 
laneous group. Mr. G. Watts, gardener to Henry 
Little, Esq., Bawnshalt, Twickenham, sent the best 
specimen plants of Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums. Mr. 
Charles Turner was again well to the fore for trained 
show and regal Pelargoniums. The samples^submitted 
by him were truly magnificent, and were credited 
with the first award. Mr. J. Gibson, gardener to 
E. H. Watts, Esq , Devonhurst, Chiswick, was first 
for six Coleuses, with well coloured p'ants; also for 
eight exotic Ferns. The latter were first-class 
samples of Mr. Gibson's skill as a cultivator. Mr. 
A. Howard was first, and Sir F. Wigan second, 
for a small group of Orchids. Henry Little, Esq., 
received a Silver Medal fora larger group of Orchids. 
Mr. W. Farr, gardener to Andrew Pears, Esq., 
Spring Grove House, Isleworth, submitted the best 
collection of exotic Ferns. Henry Little, Esq., led 
the way for ten specimen zonal Pelargoniums. 
Cut Roses were splendidly shown by Mr. B. R. 
Cant, Colchester, who carried off premier honours 
in a class for forty-eight blooms. Messrs. D. Prior 
& Son, Myland Nurseries, Colchester, came in 
second. In another class for cut Roses Mr. B. R. 
Cant was again first, and Mr. George Prince, Oxford, 
contributed some splendid Tea Roses, and was 
credited with the chief award in their class. 
The centre stage of the Rose tent was occupied by 
table decorations, and very handsome and well 
executed they were. Miss C. B. Cole, the Vine¬ 
yard, Feltham, was very successful here. 
In the classes for vegetables, Mr. C. J. Waite, The 
Gardens, Glenhurst, Esher, was first for a collection 
grown from the Messrs. Sutton’s seeds, the prizes 
being given by that well-known firm. Mr. J. Gibson 
was second, and Mr. J. Smith, gardener to W. H. 
Odlinn, Esq., Warkworth House, Isleworth, third. 
In the competition for the prizes for a collection 
of vegetables offered by Messrs. Jas. Carter & Co., 
Mr. C. J. Waite was again first; Mr. A. Basill, 
gardener to the Rev. Powell, Woburn Park, Wey- 
bridge, was second ; and Mr. J. Gibson, third. In 
another collection Mr. J. Smith was first, and Mr. 
A. Pentney was second. 
For a large collection of vegetables grown from 
the Messrs. Sutton's seeds, Mr. C. J. Waite carried 
off chief honours ; Mr. A. Basill was second ; and 
Mr. J. Gibson, third. All the material shown in the 
above-mentioned classes was of very high quality. 
In the classes for fruit, Mr. A. Meaton, gardener 
to J. B. Hilditch, Esq., Asgill House, Richmond, 
led the way for white Grapes, Mr. J. Smith taking a 
similar place for Black Hamburghs. Mr. H. Blake, 
gardener to the Rt. Hon. the Earl of Onslow, Clan- 
don Park, Guildford, was credited with a first for 
three grand bunches of Madresfield Court, and Mr. 
W. Tidy for three bunches of Foster’s Seedling. 
Mr. J. Gray, Bodorgan, N. Wales, had the best dish 
of Peaches, showing Crimson Galand. 
Mr. W. Tidy, gardener to W. K. D'Arcy, Esq., 
Stanmore Hall, Middlesex, was first for a dish of 
Nectarines, showing Lord Napier. Mr. W. Ford, 
gardener to W. H. Ellis, Esq., sent the best dish of 
Figs, and the best dish of Tomatos. 
CRYSTAL PALACE —June 23 rd & 24 th. 
The excitement and bustle of Jubilee week must 
undoubtedly have exercised a prejudicial effect upon 
the Victorian Era Show at the Crystal Palace on the 
above dates, for with so much decorative work to 
perform the usual exhibitors must have had a great 
strain upon their resources. Accordingly, we were 
not surprised to find that the whole of the floral 
exhibits on this occasion were confined to the central 
transepts of the huge glass edifice. Oiher attractions 
had been provided in the two ends in the way of ex¬ 
hibits of shipbuilding and other crafts, with relics of 
various sports and pastimes, etc. 
Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham, 
N., staged a magnificent group of tuberous Begonias 
for which he deservedly received the first prize. The 
exhibit was circular in shape and occupied 300 sq. ft. 
of area. In the centre rose a mound of Begonias 
topped by Palms, and rising to a height of about 
10 ft. Round this were four other and smaller 
pyramids also crowned with Palms. The quality of 
the double varieties, particularly, was remarkably 
good. 
The first prize for a group of Caladiums not 
exceeding 300 sq. ft. in area in the nurserymen’s 
classes fell to the lot of Messrs. J. Peed & Sons, 
Roupell Park Nurseries, Norwood Road. The 
Messrs Peed are well known for their skill in the 
cultivation of this charming subject, and the speci¬ 
mens here shown were worthy of them. Madame 
Alfred Magne, Reine de Danemark, Mrs. Harry 
Veitch, Prince; a of Teck, Alice Van Geert, and 
Raymond Lemonier were a few of the finest forms. 
Mr. Chas. Turner, Slough, again gave an object 
lesson of how to grow show and fancy Pelargoniums. 
His first prize collection contained two dozen well- 
flowered and symmetrical plants, and the individual 
flowers and trusses were very fine. 
Messrs. Paul & Sons, The Old Nurseries, 
Cheshunt, carried off chief honours for an exhibit of 
Cannas in pots. The plants were dwarf, and many 
of them required another week or two. 
Messrs.W. L. Lewis & Co., Southgate, staged a nice 
group of Orchids, filling about 170 sq. ft. of area, the 
first award falling to them Included here were 
some finely coloured forms of Cattleya Mossiae, C, 
Mendelii, and Laelia purpurata. Odontoglossum 
cordatum Cypripedium Godefroyae leucochilum, 
and C. Donald Ross were also noteworthy. 
A smaller but very showy collection came from 
Mr. G. Cragg, gardener to W. C. Walker, Esq. 
Percy Lodge, Winchmore Hill, which obtained the 
first prize in the amateurs’ class. 
The hardy alpine plants from Mr. T. S. Ware 
