June  4,  1896. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
521 
respects  it  has  been  praised,  in  others  criticised  ;  but  all  admit  that  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society  scored  a  success.  I  will,  therefore,  be  con¬ 
tent  with  a  few  points  that  impressed  themselves  on  the  mind  of  a 
country  gardener.  First  of  these  was  the  Roses,  some  say  the  finest 
banks  ever  seen  at  a  Temple  show,  but  not  being  annual  visitors  an 
opinion  cannot  be  given.  They  were  without  doubt  the  finest  we  had 
ever  seen.  We  expected  to  see  something  extraordinary — countrymen 
always  do  when  on  a  visit  to  London — and  in  truth  our  expectations 
were  realised.  There  were  Crimson  Ramblers— rambling,  indeed,  over 
arches  and  up  the  tent  poles — here,  there,  everywhere  the  large  clusters 
of  bright  flowers  were  in  evidence.  No  further  illustration  was  necessary 
of  the  popularity  of  this  variety  than  the  visitors’  expressions  of  appro¬ 
bation  and  admiration.  Conspicuous  though  the  Ramblers  were,  fine 
examples  of  pot  Rose  culture  were  also  noticed  in  Mrs.  John  Laing, 
Magna  Charta,  Caroline  Testout,  Spenser,  Fisher  Holmes,  Baroness 
Rothschild,  and  others.  The  arrangements,  too,  were  good,  and  after 
close  examination  (there  was  little  room  for  criticism)  we  concluded 
that  so  far  as  Roses  were  concerned  the  Temple  show  was  a  decided 
success. 
Caladiums  surprised  us  equally,  and  in  the  variety  of  the  delicately 
tinted  leaves  could  be  seen  unmistakeable  evidence  of  the  advance  of 
horticulture.  An  artist  alone  could  describe  the  colours,  and  to  do  this 
even  his  powers  would  be  taxed,  therefore  I  will  not  attempt  it. 
Caladiums  to  give  satisfaction  should  be  grown  on  a  large  scale,  and  this 
also  applies  to  exhibiting.  Half  a  dozen  plants  dotted  about  in  a 
miscellaneous  group  are  scarcely  noticed,  but  how  different  is  a  large 
bank  like  any  of  those  shown  at  the  Temple  ;  how  varying  in  size  of 
leaves,  how  bewildering  the  complication  of  tints,  and  yet  how  fragile. 
Caladium  growing  in  its  highest  aspect  must  be  an  interesting  occupa¬ 
tion,  as,  judging  from  what  has  already  been  attained,  there  is  no  telling 
what  heights  yet  remain  to  be  reached — hence  the  scope  for  the 
hybridiser’s  art.  However,  the  future  of  the  Caladium  is  safe  with  such 
growers  as  Messrs.  Yeitch,  Laing,  and  Peed,  and  with  them  we  will 
leave  it. 
Last  week’s  Journal  contains  interesting  notes  about  the  Orchids  at 
the  big  show,  and  as  all  was  said  that  need  be  said  I  will  not  touch  on 
them,  but  pass  on  to  the  well-known  Worcester  Clematises.  “  Hullo  ! 
here  they  are  again,”  was  overheard,  as  two  persons,  apparently 
gardeners,  drew  up  before  them.  “  I  come  to  see  them  every  year,”  he 
continued,  “and  this  time  they  are  better  than  ever.”  Fine  they  were, 
without  doubt  ;  living  examples  of  what  can  be  done  with  a  Clematis  in 
a  pot.  Large,  globular  masses  of  bloom  almost  obliterating  the  foliage, 
and  comprising  varying  tints  of  blue  and  purple,  with  others  pure  white. 
There  was  a  card  on  them  bearing  the  name  of  Richard  Smith  &  Co., 
but  it  hardly  seemed  necessary,  as  apparently  everyone  knew  whose 
they  were  and  whence  they  came,  and  as  gardeners  passed  to  and 
fro  they  mostly  stopped  in  a  familiar  kind  of  manner  in  front  of 
the  exhibit. 
As  everyone  knows,  hardy  flowers  were  largely  shown,  but  with 
respect  to  them  we  were  somewhat  disappointed,  and  the  conclusion  came 
to  was  that  in  the  first  place  every  exhibitor  of  hardy  flowers  endeavours 
to  obtain  as  much  table  space  as  he  can  ;  secondly  to  display  as  much 
variety  as  possible,  with  no  space  between  ;  and  thirdly,  to  squeeze  the 
largest  possible  number  of  flowers  in  each  vessel,  irrespective  of  any 
taste  in  arrangement  whatever.  To  make  a  large  display  is  all  very 
well  from  an  advertiser’s  point  of  view,  and  it  is  only  natural  that  the 
nurserymen  who  exhibit  like  to  place  as  much  as  possible  before  the 
public  with  a  view  to  trade,  but  at  the  same  time  could  not  a  little 
more  refinement  and  taste  be  brought  to  bear  without  in  the  least 
interfering  with  the  chief  object?  As  an  instance  of  what  I  mean,  we. 
noticed  florists’  Tulips,  Poet’s  Narcissus,  Pasonie3,  Irises,  Ixias,  Lilacs, 
and  such  like,  tied  up  in  bunches  as  tightly  as  besoms,  and  crammed 
into  the  narrow  necks  of  the  water-holding  receptacles.  Supposing 
one-quarter  the  number  of  blooms  had  been  used,  and  with  them  a  few 
sprays  of  graceful  foliage  ;  how  much  more  pleasing  would  have  been 
the  effect.  Surely  at  a  show  like  that  of  the  Temple  a  little  more 
attention  might  be  paid  to  the  arrangement  of  cut  flowers  that  form 
such  an  important  feature.  Admired  they  were  without  doubt,  but  how 
tiring  to  the  eye  is  a  huge  mass  of  flowers  packed  closely  together,  with 
many  of  the  colours  erroneously  blended  and  destitute  of  any  attempt 
at  arrangement.  It  cannot  be  said  that  hardy  flowers  do  not  lend 
themselves  for  decorative  purposes,  then  why  not  place  them  before  the 
public  to  the  best  advantage  ? 
Then,  again,  take  the  long  monotonous  lines  of  Pasonies,  Pyrethrums, 
Lupins,  and  Irises,  as  shown  in  other  instances,  fixed  in  straight  rows 
along  green  hoards,  with  not  a  vestige  of  greenery  to  break  the  wearying 
sameness.  Up  one  side  the  long  tents  and  down  the  other  hardy  flowers 
met  us  everywhere,  all  staged  in  the  same  crowded,  jumbled-up  manner  ; 
and  our  rustic  minds  were  led  to  the  decision  that,  though  the  flowers 
themselves  were  beautiful,  and  the  variety  bewildering,  yet  the  arrange¬ 
ment  was  odious,  and  through  this  the  Temple  show  lost  much  that 
would  have  helped  to  make  it  perfect.  The  method  of  showing  alpines 
on  small  artistic  rockeries  was  evidently  appreciated,  and  so  long  as 
the  system  is  not  overdone  it  has  much  in  its  favour,  as  the  diminutive 
beauty  of  many  of  the  rock  plants  cannot  be  seen  to  advantage  except 
in  their  natural  surroundings. 
Astonishment  awaited  us  in  the  fruit  and  vegetable  portion,  and  I 
may  not  be  wrong  in  saying  that  never  before  was  a  garden  so  fully 
represented  at  a  flower  show.  Peas,  Beans,  Tomatoes,  Melons,  and 
Cucumbers  all  growing,  and  carrying  heavy  crops  ;  not  to  mention  other 
large  collections.  I  have  often  marvelled  at  the  enterprise  of  the 
modern  nurseryman  when  scanning  large  and  highly  illustrated  cata¬ 
logues,  but  never  more  so  than  when  I  beheld  that  unique  exhibit. 
Turning  to  the  fruit  there  was  a  collection  of  eighty  varieties  of  Apples, 
as  firm  and  bright  as  one  generally  sees  them  in  October — a  capital 
illustration  of  the  keeping  qualities  of  the  best  of  English  fruit.  From 
the  latest  of  last  year  to  the  earliest  of  this  seems  like  travelling  back¬ 
wards,  but  I  must  accord  a  word  to  the  superb  collection  of  forced 
Nectarines,  which  was  prominent  even  amidst  a  gorgeous  display  of 
Orchids  and  Roses.  To  speak  of  Early  Rivers  means  something  early 
indeed,  but  when  we  learnt  that  Cardinal  came  in  even  ten  days  before 
that,  well  it  makes  one  wonder  whether  we  shall  not  eventually  have 
Nectarines  all  the  year  round.  Somebody  remarked  on  the  cost  of 
forcing  Nectarines,  and  wondered  if  it  paid.  We  couldn’t  say  of  course, 
but  learnt  that  three  of  the  pyramids  bore  100  fruits,  which  fetched  30s. 
per  dozen  in  Covent  Garden,  and  drew  our  own  conclusions. 
These  are  but  a  few  of  the  items  of  interest,  and  the  greatest 
difficulty  when  writing  about  a  Temple  show  is  to  know  when  to  stop. 
At  such  a  place  “  where  gardeners  most  do  congregate  ”  there  were 
unexpected  meetings  with  old  acquaintances,  followed  by  talks  of  old 
times,  arguments  about  the  exhibits,  and  so  forth.  In  this  manner  the 
pleasant  day  soon  sped  by,  evening  came  on  apace,  and  with  it  the 
time  of  closing — as  I  also  must  close  for  the  present,  and  resume  my 
story  in  a  future  issue. — A  Country  Gardener. 
(To  be  continued.) 
STENOGASTRA  CONCINNA. 
The  specimen  sent  by  “  R.  P.  G.”  is  of  this  attractive  little  stove 
plant,  though  it  is  by  no  means  so  showy  as  some  of  its  relatives  in  the 
FIG.  85.— STENOGASTRA  CONCINNA. 
Gesnera  family.  But  the  interest  of  plant  houses  does  not  solely  depend 
on  occupants  with  large  or  brilliant  flowers,  and  sometimes  a  neat  little 
plant  like  this  Stenogastra  (fig.  85)  is  quite  as  much  admired  as  those 
of  more  striking  character.  The  leaves  are  small  and  oval,  the  growths 
short,  and  the  flowers  rise  in  slender  stalks  only  an  inch  or  two  above 
the  soil.  They  have  a  narrow  funnel-like  tube,  with  an  expanded  limb 
of  five  lobes— the  two  upper  very  dark  purple,  the  lower  a  lighter  shade 
of  purplish  lilac  and  white,  a  dark  stripe  running  down  the  upper  part 
of  the  tube  outside,  and  inside  are  numerous  dark  spots.  Flowers 
are  produced  freely,  and  clustered  over  the  plant  have  a  pleasing 
appearance. 
PEAS  AND  NITROGEN. 
Although  science  helps  the  gardener  in  myriads  of  useful  ways,  yet 
it  is  most  evident  that  practical  experience  proves  to  be  the  best  guide 
in  work.  When  intelligence  with  sound  knowledge  enables  both  to  be 
blended,  then  so  much  the  better.  Now  there  is  much  well  worth 
knowing  in  a  scientific  way  in  relation  to  the  capacity  of  the  Pea  plant 
to  furnish  its  own  nitrogen  through  leaf  and  root  nodule  agency,  and  it 
is  now  generally  held  that  the  application  of  nitrogenous  manures  to 
pulse-bearing  plants  is  waste,  at  least  it  is  so  held  scientifically. 
But  the  gardener,  as  a  rule,  does  not  admit  that,  for  he  invariably 
employs  strong  nitrogenous  manures  for  these  crops,  at  least  of  such 
strength  as  is  found  in  animal  manures,  and  the  fact  that  the  plants 
so  utilise  these  nitrogenous  compounds  is  evident  enough  when  compared 
with  the  growth  seen  under  similar  conditions  but  with  nitrogen  absent. 
I  have  noticed  this  undoubted  fact  frequently,  and  my  faith  in  the 
