June  23,  1«98. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
525 
and  Mr.  J.  Mclndoe,  fourth.  Mr,  J.  Mclndoe  was  first  for  a  scarlet 
fleshed  Melon,  Mr.  Goodacre  was  second,  and  Mr.  F,  Steadman,  gardener 
to  Colonel  Thorpe,  Coddington  Hall,  Newark,  third. 
Mr.  Ashton,  gardener  to  the  Earl  of  Lathom,  was  first  and  second  in 
the  class  for  green-fleshed  Melons  ;  ISIr.  J.  Mclndoe  third.  Mr.  Slade 
was  first  with  a  white-fleshed  Melon,  Mr.  F.  Steadman  second,  Mr. 
J.  Mclndoe  third.  For  a  dish  of  Figs  Mr.  A.  F.  Pike  was  first,  Mr. 
J.  P.  Leadbetter  second,  Mr.  J.  Wallis  third. 
There  were  only  two  exhibitors  of  Strawberries,  Mr.  A.  Alderman 
being  an  easy  first  with  Royal  Sovereign  ;  Mr.  G.  A.  Keywood,  gardener 
to  W.  H.  Battie-Wrightson,  Esq.,  Cusworth  Hall,  Doncaster,  second. 
Mr.  Slade  was  first  for  a  dish  of  Tomatoes,  showing  grand  fruit  of 
Perfection  ;  Mr.  A.  H.  Hall,  gardener  to  J.  C.  Waterhouse,  Esq.,  Prest- 
bury,  second  ;  Mr.  Nichols  and  Mr.  Keywood  being  third  and  fourth. 
■.  Vegetables. 
Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons,  Reading,  and  Messrs.  Webb  k.  Sons,  Stour¬ 
bridge,  offered  valuable  prizes  for  collections  of  vegetables,  Mr.  J.  Mclndoe 
taking  first  in  each  class.  Vegetable  Marrows,  French  Beans,  and  Peerless 
IMarrowfat  Peas  being  very  good.  Mr.  S.  Mortimer,  Farnham.  Surrey, 
received  an  award  of  merit  for  his  new  Cucumbers  Sensation  (Telegraph 
type)  and  The  Keeper,  a  black  spine  variety. 
Miscellaxeous  Exhibits. 
The  groups  of  plants  staged  by  various  growers  in  the  “  not  for  com¬ 
petition  ”  section  were  numerous  and  diversified,  showing  excellent  culture, 
and,  in  many  instances,  great  taste  in  arrangement.  Messrs.  J.  Veitchand 
Sons,  Ltd.,  Chelsea,  sent  an  exhibit  of  considerable  size,  which  com¬ 
prised  many  kinds  of  plants.  The  firm’s  superb  Caladiums  were  a  show 
in  themselves,  the  delicately  tinted  leaves  being  very  handsome.  Prominent 
amongst  the  varieties  were  candid um,  Assungay,  Leonard  Bause,  Silver 
Queen,  Miss  Ellen  Terry,  and  Exquisite.  In  the  mixed  plants,  Dracaena 
Exquisite,  hybrid  Rhododendrons,  Streptocarpus,  Crotons,  Carnations, 
Begonias,  and  Palms  were  fine.  The  Chelsea  firm  was,  as  usual,  in  strong 
force  with  Orchids,  which  were  grandly  shown.  The  flowers  and  plants 
were  of  excellent  quality,  the  colours  being  very  rich.  Such  as  Cattleya 
Mossim  Reineckiana  superba,  C.  Mehdeli  virginalis,  Disa  Veitchi,  Laelia 
purpurata,  Laelio-Cattleya  Canhamiana,  L.-C.  Hippolyta,  with  Cypri- 
pediums,  were  particularly  conspicuous. 
One  of  the  most  effective  exhibits  in  this  section  was  that  shown  by 
Messrs.  W.  Cutbush  &  Son,  Highgate.  The  surface  was  undulating,  and 
the  excellent  plants  comprised  dwarf  specimens  of  Malraaison  Carnations 
carrying  good  flowers,  Lilium  Harrisi,  Crimson  Rambler  Roses,  Cannas, 
Azaleas,  Hydrangeas,  Ericas,  Palms  and  Ferns.  Caladiums  from  Messrs. 
J.  Peed  &  Son,  West  Norwood,  were  very  beautiful,  and  were  capitally 
arranged  for  effect.  Light  varieties,  such  as  Leonard  Bause,  Lord  Derby, 
Duchess  of  Teck,  Mrs.  W.  E.  Gladstone  and  Silver  Cioud  were  interspersed 
amidst  such  darks  as  John  Peed,  Maria  Mitzana,  Duke  of  Teck,  and  others. 
Single  and  double  Begonias  also  came  from  Norwood,  the  former  being 
especially  fine.  Gloxinias  and  Streptocarpus  in  trays  completed  the  group. 
Differing  entirely  from  every  other  group  in  the  show,  and  gaining 
in  effectiveness  thereby,  Messrs.  Fisher,  Son,  &  Sibray,  Ijtd.,  Hands- 
worth,  Sheffield,  are  to  be  congratulated  on  their  exhibit.  About 
900  square  feet  were  occupied  with  well  diversified  plants.  A  bank  of 
Rhododendrons  was  handsome,  and  the  specimens  were  capitally  arranged 
to  appear  as  natural  as  possible.  The  trusses  were  grand.  Of  the  foliage 
plants  Japanese  Maples,  Pyrus  aria  himalaica,  Purple  Oaks,  with  bunches 
of  the  best  forms  of  Lilacs  included,  were  charming.  The  firm  sent  also 
miscellaneous  stove  and  greenhouse  plants,  such  as  Anthuriums,  Nepenthes, 
Crotons,  Caladiums,  Begonias,  Bertolonias,  Palms,  Ferns,  and  others.  The 
new  Croton  Her  ^Majesty  showed  up  well,  as  did  Dracaena  Veitchi  variegata. 
The  whole  central  table  in  one  of  the  tents  was  occupied  by  Messrs. 
Sutton  &  Sons,  Reading,  with  one  of  their  customary  displays  of  flowers 
and  vegetables  in  pots  and  boxes.  Tomatoes  were  grand  trained  in  single 
stem  and  other  forms.  Prince  of  Wales,  Peachblow,  Abundance,  Sunbeam, 
and  Princess  of  Wales  were  particularly  effective.  No  less  superior  were 
the  Peas,  which  included  Early  Giant,  Perfection,  Sutton’s  Forcing, 
Excelsior,  and  others.  The  excellence  of  the  Reading  Gloxinias  has  long 
been  recognised.  The  strain  is  extremely  floriferous,  and  the  colours  range 
from  pure  white  to  rich  crimson  and  blue.  Spotted  varieties  were  numerous, 
as  were  the  scarlet  seifs.  Some  fine  iMignonette  completed  the  stand. 
Miscellaneous  cut  flowers  and  plants  comprised  the  large  group  sent 
by  iMessrs.  R.  Smith  &  Co.,  Worcester.  Specimen  Clematis  were,  needless 
to  say,  fine,  as  were  Roses  in  pots.  Hydrangeas,  Pyrethrums,  Irises, 
Begonias,  Paeonies,  and  many  others,  backed  by  graceful  Bamboos.  The 
hardy  herbaceous  flowers  from  Messrs.  Dickson,  Ltd.,  Chester,  were 
shown  effectively  in  medium  sized  bunches.  Very  good  were  Spanish 
and  German  Irises,  Liliums,  and  single  and  double  Pyrethrums,  Armerias, 
Sparaxis,  Primulas,  Paeonies,  Poppies,  and  Muscaris.  Carnation 
Duchess  Consuelo  also  came  from  the  Chester  firm.  Mr.  G.  Yeld, 
Cliftijn  Cottage,  York,  sent  some  plants  of  his  own  raising,  the  Irises 
being  particularly  good.  Dawn,  Hera,  and  Sincerity  were  splendid,  as 
were  Hemeiocallis  Stella  and  Apricot. 
Pyrethrums  formed  the  backbone  of  the  group  from  Messrs.  W.  Clibran 
and  Son,  Altrincham,  and  they  were  of  good  quality,  both  in  single  and 
double  varieties.  Irises  were  also  noted,  as  were  Pasonies  and  Violas, 
arranged  in  flat  trays.  Messrs.  Jarman  &  Co.  sent  from  Chard  Rhodo¬ 
dendrons,  Roses,  Poppies,  Pyrethrums,  Paeonies,  and  others.  Ferns  from 
Messrs.  W.  &  J.  Birkenhead,  Sale,  were  cool  and  refreshing  in  the 
warm  tents,  amidst  the  many  brightly  flowered  hardy  plants  and  Orchids. 
The  kinds  and  varieties  were  exceedingly  numerous,  and  all  bore  the 
impress  of  good  culture.  The  major  portion  were  growing  in  about 
J-inch  pots,  though  a  few  were  in  larger  sizes  and  baskets.  Mr.  Amos 
Perry,  Winchmore  Hill,  sent  herbaceous  flowers  in  variety.  %  Mr.  W. 
Sydenham,  Birmingham,  showed  a  table  of  flowers  in  silvered  receptacles, 
with  which  a  charming  display  was  effected.  Such  simple  flowers 
as  Carnations  and  Sweet  Peas  were  employed,  with  Ferns  and  Smilax 
for  greenery.  Messrs.  H.  Low  &  Co ,  Bush  Hill  Park,  showed  a  fine 
bank  of  Orchids,  in  which  forms  of  Cattleya  ^Mossiae  were  numerous 
and  wonderfully  rich  in  colour.  Varieties  of  Odontoglossum  crispum  were 
well  shown,  and  the  same  may  be  said  of  the  Cypripediums,  Dendrobiums, 
and  Oncidiums  ;  but  these  were  in  much  smaller  numbers.  Very 
charming  were  Cattleya  Mossise  E.  Ashworth,  C.  M.  Wagnari,  and 
C.  M.  Arnoldiana,  with  Cypripedium  Lawrenceanum  Hyeanum. 
Messrs.  B.  S.  Williams  &  Son,  Upper  Holloway,  exhibited  Orchids 
arranged  with  Ferns  and  other  foliage  plants.  The  arrangement  was 
very  good,  a  charming  effect  being  produced.  Conspicuous  amongst  the 
Orchids  were  Cattleyas,  Cypripediums,  Odontoglossums,  Dendrobiums, 
Fig.  99. — AscLEFiAS  tuberosa. 
Vandas,  Thunias,  Sobralias.  and  Cymbidiums.  Carnations  were  alse 
utilised  in  one  coiner  of  the  group,  Messrs.  Sander  &  Co.,  St.  Albans,  were 
in  first-class  form,  and  their  exhibit  attracted  an  immense  amount  of  atten¬ 
tion.  The  splendid  Acalypha  Sanderi,  Dracaena  Sanderiana,  D,  Godseffiana, 
Laelia  tenebrosa,  Laelio-Cattleya  Duke  of  York,  L.-C.  Lily  Measures, 
Odontoglossums,  Petunia  i\Irs.  F,  Sander,  white,  and  others  were  noticed. 
ASCLEPIAS  TUBEROSA. 
We  can  best  give  “  G.  J.  R.”  the  information  he  desires  by  repro¬ 
ducing  the  woodcut  of  this  plant,  which  we  do  in  fig.  99.  Comparatively 
few  species  of  the  Asclepias  are  cultivated  in  borders  as  hardy  plants, 
and  perhaps  there  are  few  that  are  really  worthy  of  a  place  amongst  the 
many  attractive  plants  now  grown  in  British  gardens.  No  doubt  can, 
however,  be  entertained  respecting  the  merits  of  the  plant  represented  in 
the  accompanying  woodcut.  In  warm  soils  and  situations  it  thrives 
vigorously,  especially  if  the  natural  drainage  be  good,  and  being  readily 
increased  fine  clumps  can  soon  be  had.  The  flowers  are  bright  orange- 
red,  and  are  produced  in  dense  corymbose  heads  at  the  tops  of  the  stems, 
which  are  clothed  with  narrow  sessile  leaves.  It  forms  compact  bushy 
plants,  2  feet  or  so  in  height,  and  it  can  be  increased  by  seeds  or  division 
of  the  tubers,  the  latter  being  preferable  and  quicker  than  the  other  ;  im 
fact,  seeds  are  not  produced  with  certainty. 
