460 
JOURNAL  GF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Tlie  Temple  Show. 
Although  we  accorded  an  exceptional  amount  of  space  in  our  last 
issue  to  the  report  of  the  Temple  Show  it  was  not  found  possible 
to  include  every  exhibit.  Those  without  the  tents  had  to  be  omitted 
<ntirely,  and  one  or  two  within.  Of  the  latter  the  only  one  of 
ma'erial  importance  w'^as  the  collection  of  Nepenthes  contributed  by 
Mr.  Geo.  Wythes,  V.M.H.,  gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland, 
Syon  House,  Brentford.  These  plants  were  .splendidly  grown,  and 
should  do  much  to  point  out  to  gardeners  in  general  the  value  of 
Ne[)enthes  tor  ]>rivate  establishments;  as  a  rule  they  are  somewhat 
neulected.  The  principal  feature  of  the  outdoor  exhibits  was  found  in 
the  long  frame  of  Water  Lillis  sent  by  Mr.  Jas.  Hudsm,  V.M.H., 
girdener  to  Leopold  de  Rothschild,  Esq.,  Giinnersbury  Home,  Acton. 
These  comprised  many  species  and  varieties,  and  Mr.  Hudson’s 
reputation  as  a  grower  obviates  the  necessity  of  our  saying  any  tiling 
further.  Groups  of  various  forms  and  siines  were  exhibited  by  several 
nurserymen,  and  included  amongst  others  Begonias  from  Messrs. 
Sutton  &  Sons ;  examples  of  topiary  work  from  Messrs.  W.  Cuthush 
and  Sou  ;  flowering  shrubs  from  Messrs.  J.  Cheal  &  Sons  ;  Acers  from 
Mossr.s.  Cripps  &  Son  ;  miscellaneous  flowering  trees  and  shrubs  from 
Messrs.  Fisher,  Sons  &  Sibray,  Ltd. ;  and  shrubs  from  Messrs.  J. 
Waterer,  Ltd.,  Bagshot. 
Phyllocacti. 
-So  beautiful  were  the  Phyllocacti  shown  by  Messrs.  J.  Veitch  and 
Sons,  Ltd.,  at  ihe  Temple  Show,  that  we  are  referring  to  them  again 
to  bring  forwatd  an  illustration  (tig.  123)  that  rmy  be  regarded  as 
typical  of  light  and  dark  varieties.  Those  who  have  known  these 
plants  for  many  years  can  see  at  a  glance  how  marvellous  have  been 
the  improvements  made  with  them  since  Mr.  .John  Heal  t  ok  tl  em  in 
band  on  behalf  of  the  great  Chelsea  firm.  We  now  have,  in  addition 
to  greater  size  .and  suV stance,  superb  colours,  such  as  were  undreamed 
of  years  ago.  These  facts  were  amply  demonstrated  cn  the  occasion  of 
th's  show,  and  many  were  the  expressions  ot  admiration  that  were 
meted  out  to  these  gorgeous  flowers.  Unfortunately  Phrllocacti  are 
not  grown  so  much  as  their  striking  beauties  entitle  them  to  be, 
but  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  they  are  steadily  gaining  in  popular 
favour,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  before  long  they  will  be  uch  more 
frequently  seen.  Only  those  who  have  grown  them  can  appreciate  the 
trials  and  troubles  that  must  have  come  to  Mr.  Heal  ere  he  could  insure 
having  such  a  splendid  collection  of  flowers  expanded  on  the  same  day. 
- ««•»> - 
Tuberous-rooted  Begonias. 
Tuberous-rooted  Btgimias  must  now  be  recognised  as  amongst  the 
most  valuable  of  our  greenhouse  plants  for  the  greenhouse  in  the  late 
spring  and  early  summer  months  and  for  the  embellishment  of  the 
flower  garden  at  a  later  period  of  the  year.  Practically  the  whole  of 
our  leading  seed  Arms  have  contributed  to  the  plant’s  popularity  by 
using  all  their  skill  in  the  improvement  of  the  varieties  in  size, 
form,  and  colour.  Amongst  those  who  have  concentrated  their  forces 
on  the  single  and  double  tuberous-roofed  Begonia  must  be  named 
Messrs.  E.  Webb  &  Sons,  Wordsley,  Stourbridiie,  to  whom  we  are 
indebted  for  the  illustration  (fig.  125,  page  467)  of  a  typical  double 
variety.  Among  the  recipients  of  the  silver  Flora  medal  at  the 
Temple  Show  was  the  Worcestershire  house,  who  arranged  a  1  right 
colh'ction  of  Beg<  nias,  together  with  some  splendid  Calceolarias  and 
refined  Gloxinias.  Not  only  was  excellence  of  strain  discernible,  but 
also  skill  in  cultural  details  on  the  part  of  the  firm’s  grower. 
A  Visitor’s  Comments. 
It  was  hardly  possible  at  this  time  of  the  year  for  a  severer  test  of 
the  popularity,  or  otherwise,  of  this  great  horti' ultural  di.'-play  to  be 
furnished  than  the  weather  of  Wednesday  and  'Jhursday  last  supplied, 
for  the  rain  came  down  as  it  had  not  come  down  for  a  couple  of 
months  or  more  previously,  doing  enormous  good  ebe where,  but  sadly 
hat. dirapping  the  show.  Yet,  and  in  spite  of  the  rain,  what  a  crowd 
of  people  there  was  in  the  tents  all  the  alteinoons  of  those  two  days, 
so  great  indeed,  especially  on  the  first  day,  when  the  heavy  rains 
allov\ed  of  no  escape  to  the  lawn,  that  locomotion  was  almost  im¬ 
possible  ;  and  what  a  well-dressed  swell  crowd  also  !  Surely  nowhere  in 
London  could  oi  e  more  fsshionable  have  been  furnished,  just  the  sort 
of  peo|  le  to  gladden  the  hearts  of  exhibitors,  because  so  many  came 
to  order  as  well  as  to  see  ! 
On  Thursday  there  was  almost  a  repetition  of  the  crowd  that  was 
May  .31,  1900. 
in  evidence  on  Friday.  I  do  not  know,  but  it  was  abundantly  evident 
that  the  Temple  Show  is  at  once  one  of  the  most  popular,  as  it  is  one 
of  the  most  fashionable  lunctions  of  the  London  season.  That  fact 
speaks  volumes  for  the  position  of  the  Ro\al  Horticultural  Society, 
and  nobody  has  done  more  to  create  that  positinn  than  the  present 
council.  That  is  a  fact  which  those  Fellows  who  seem  anxious  to 
thwart  the  council  in  their  proposals,  and  prssibly  compel  them  bodily 
to  resign — a  serious  calamity — when  next  imporiant  subjects  come 
up  for  discussion  in  general  meetings,  should  take  to  heart.  The 
continuous  accession  of  Fellows  to  the  society’s  forces  is  also  a 
remarkable  tribute  to  the  societv’s  high  position,  and  there  can  be 
no  doubt  but  that  such  remarkable  increase  of  Fellows  has  forced 
on  the  council  the  necessity  of  catering  lor  the  interests  of  these 
members  by  providing  a  noble  national  horticultural  garden,  that 
the  ]3re8tige  of  horticulture  and  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  may 
be  maintained  in  the  kingdom. 
Amidst  all  our  glorification  of  Imperialism  we  must  not  forget 
that  British  horticulture  has  long  been  in  the  highest  sense  imi  erial, 
that  it  is  every  year  becoming  more  so,  and  absolutely  cosmopolitan. 
In  spite  of  that  fact  our  national  horticultural  garden  is  the  poorest  of 
its  kind  in  the  world.  Our  shows,  of  which  the  Temple  is  a  grand 
sam])le,  are  splendid.  So,  too,  are  our  nurseries,  our  market  establish¬ 
ments,  our  private  gardens,  and  our  botanic  gardens.  But  when  we 
tuin  to  our  public  or  Royal  Horticultural  Garden  we  have  to  hide  our 
heads  in  shame.  Because  of  the  great  popularity  tf  the  M.H.S.,  the 
council  realise  that  they  owe  a  debt  to  the  nation,  and  that  debt  they 
think  can  be  most  fitly  discharged  by  establishing  a  great  national 
hoiticultural  garden.  This  may  be  a  digression,  but  it  could  hardly 
be  helped  just  now. 
One  undoubted  fact  in  relation  to  the  Temple  Show  is  that  for  all 
ordinary  purposes  it  is  large  enough.  Could  more  room  be  furnished 
for  visitors  that  would  be  good  ;  but  that,  it  is  admitted,  is  impossible. 
It  is  therefore  of  no  use  to  waste  jiaper  in  askii  g  for  more  spare.  It 
is  not  so  much  the  ixtent  of  the  show  as  the  great  excellence  of  w'hat 
is  seen  there  that  is  imjiortant.  We  find  in  many  case-,  and  especially 
in  the  hardy  plant  and  flower  section,  too  much  repetition;  exhibits 
ot  that  kind  become  wearisome.  All  inferior  exhibits  one  year  should 
be  ligidly  barred  the  next,  thus  by  so  doing  gradually  weeding 
out  poor  things;  also  a  severe  limit  should  be  put  on  exhibits  that  are 
reproduced  year  after  year.  Begonias  expanding  to  200  plants  should 
be  limited  to  fifty.  Gloxinias  the  same,  and  hardy  plants  under  the 
tents  be  .‘ipccially  reduced  so  as  to  enable  novelties  to  be  more 
largely  introduced. 
Cannot  someone  take  the  cue  from  Me-srs.  H.  Low  &  Son’s  really 
beautiful  Scbizmthuses  and  give  us  a  tine  repiresentaiive  exhibit  of  the 
best  annuals  in  pots  ?  How  attractive  wuuld  they  be!  It  is  not  so 
much  the  grand  show  of  products  with  which  every  Temple  Show 
habitue  is  lamil  ar  that  takis  pride  of  )  lace,  but  something  that  is 
new  or  old  newly  provided,  like  the  Gunnersbury  Water  Lilies,  that 
command  special  admiration.  It  would  be  a  great  boon  could  things 
Ve  rather  more  grouped  in  tents  than  is  at  present  the  case. 
Vegetables  and  fruits  shiuld  be  all  in  one,  and  syiecially  so  tor  the 
fruits,  because  then  more  immediately  under  observation  ;  J'ulips  and 
allied  bulbous  plants,  with  haniy  cut  flowers  and  rockwork  or  alpine 
plants  in  another  ;  Begonias,  Gloxinias,  Calceoladas,  Pelargoniums,  and 
similar  florists’  flowers  in  another,  and  so  on,  as  then  visitors  seeking 
for  special  products  would  find  them  with  ease,  while  to  the 
unfortunate  reporter  this  arrangement  would  be  a  great  gain. 
An)  thing  like  classification  is  at  p'esent  more  di  i  cult,  indeed  almost 
impossible.  No  doubt  it  will  be  claimed  that  the  existing  m  xed  or 
bizirre  arrau' ement  is  to  many  pleasing,  but  it  is  at  the  same  time 
rather  bewildering. 
What  can  be  done  with  Orchids  can  be  done  with  other  things 
no  doubt.  The  placing  of  the  hardy  trees  and  shrubs  outside  was  a 
great  gain  and  enabled  exhibitors  to  show  these  beautiful  plants  to 
n  markable  advantage.  That  some  took  g  eat  p>ains  lo  not  only 
arrange  these  artistically,  but  also  to  dress  ofl'  their  bases  neatly, 
redounded  greatly  to  their  credit.  Those  w  ho  did  not  d  «  so  should  be 
invited  to  leave  their  products  at  home.  Another  year  the  council 
cannot  too  strongly  urge  exhibitors  to  send  rot  only  of  their  very 
best,  but  not  to  crowed  in  any  case,  and  to  arrange  all  groups  in 
the  most  graceful  way.  How  superbly  some  o'  the*  Ro.se  and 
Carnation  groups  were  so  presented  ;  how  terribly  formal  were  many 
others  ? 
N.)  doubt  these  exhibitors  will  plead,  “  What,  having  regard  to 
the  narrowness  of  our  space,  could  we  do  ?  ”  and  that  leads  me  to 
hold  that  if  the  council  would  concentrate,  all  their  show  space  in  the 
long  tents  on  the  centres,  and  do  away  with  the  side  tables,' giving 
greater  width  to  the  centres,  exhibitors  of  plant-*  and  some  other  products 
could  do  themselves  far  mo  e  justice,  and  the  unhappy  vi-itor  would 
not  be  compelled  to  look  on  both  sides  of  the  walk  at  once.  I  hope 
next  year  we  may  see  vegetables  lar  more  wniely  shown  It  is  not  right 
such  irnjiortant  gaiden  elements  sho  Id  he  so  conspxuously  absent, 
for  when  in  good  form  they  attract  immense  attention. — Scrutatob. 
