March  30,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
261 
KEW  NOTES. 
The  north  win(r,  added  to  the  temperate  house  last  year,  is  to  be 
opened  to  the  public  at  Easter,  The  erection  of  this  house  completes  the 
building  according  to  the  original  design,  modifications  only  being  made 
in  such  modern  improvements  as  would  insure  the  maximum  amount  of 
light  with  safety  to  the  structure.  Its  dimensions  are  similar  to  those  of 
the  south  wing — Mexican  house,  finished  in  1897 — i.e.,  length  inside 
112  feet,  width  62  feet,  height  37  feet.  As  in  the  Mexican  house,  every¬ 
thing  is  planted  out,  the  beds  being  arranged  similarly.  The  centre  path 
is  a  continuation  of  that  running  through  the  entire  structure,  making  in 
all  a  promenade  200  yards  long.  Although  fitted  with  hot-water  apparatus, 
fire  heat  will  only  be  given  in  cases  of  a  very  severe  frost. 
Using  this  building  as  a  cold  house  fills  a  long  felt  want  at  Kew,  there 
being  many  choice  flowering  and  ornamental  foliage  trees  and  shrubs  that 
are  not  altogether  hardy,  but  require  little  protection.  Particularly  is  this 
the  case  with  many  of  the  Chinese,  Japanese,  Himalayan  and  Californian 
plants,  and  it  is  from  these  countries— more  particularly  the  three 
former — that  plants  have  been  selected  to  furnish  the  structure. 
The  place  of  honour  is  given  to  Himalayan  plants,  and  the  house  will 
in  future  be  known  as  the  Himalayan  house.  Rhododendrons  naturally 
take  the  foremost  place,  a  large  number  of  species  being  represented. 
Of  the  species  may  be  mentioned  R.  arboreum,  Falconeri,  barbatum, 
niveum,  argenteum,  Nuttalli,  Dalhousise,  calophyllum,  fulgens,  formosum, 
Edgeworthi,  Griffithianum,  triSorum  (fig.  64),  and  ciliatum.  In  addition  to 
these  there  are  a  number  of  garden  hybrids,  such  as  Kewense,  Countess 
of  Haddington,  Forsterianum,  Lady  Alice  Fitzwilliam,  Gibsoni, 
Sesterianum,  and  others.  Several  plants  of  R.  praecox  have  been  a  mass 
of  bloom  during  the  last  few  weeks,  showing  what  a  little  protection 
does,  as  outside  every  flower  has  been  killed  by  frost.  Other  notable 
Himalayan  plants  are  Pentapterygium  serpens  and  rugosum,  Vaccinium 
leucobotrys — “  Bengal” — Luculia  gratissima,  Buddleia  Colvillei,  Agapetes 
buxifolia,  Elacagnus  latifolius,  and  Magnolia  Campbelli.  Several  other 
genera  are  represented  by  one  or  more  species,  as  Decaisnea,  Acer, 
Cornus,  Pieris  and  Liliums. 
Turning  to  Chinese  and  Japanese  plants  the  following  are  worthy  of 
mention  : — Camellias  Sasanqua,  rosasflora,  Thea,  reticulata,  hongkong- 
ensis,  and  varieties  of  japonica.  Rhododendron  decorum,  lacteum, 
Delavayi,  hybridum,  and  yunnanense  from  Yunnan,  and  R.  serpyllifolium, 
Schlippenbachi  and  linearifolium  from  Japan  ;  Styrax  japonica,  Stuartia 
pseudo-Camellia,  Loropetalum  chinense,  Diospyros  Kaki,  Photinia 
japonica,  Paeonia  Moutan,  and  Nandina  domestica.  In  addition  to  these 
the  following  are  represented  :  — Lilium,  Clerodendron,  Ardisia,  Rubus, 
Dendropanax,  Quercus,  Rhaphiolepis,  Akebia,  Rosa,  Citrus,  Acanthopanax, 
Magnolia,  Ligustrum,  Edgeworthia,  Illicium,  Meliosma,  Euonymus, 
Abelia,  Hydrangea,  and  others. 
Among  the  few  plants  from  other  countries  are  Magnolia  grandiflora, 
Freinontia  californica,  Carpenteria  californica,  and  Tricuspidaria  Hook- 
eriana  from  the  New  World,  the  extremely  rare  Quercus  alnifolia  from 
Cyprus,  and  some  of  the  winter  flowering  Kniphofias  from  S.  Africa. 
For  clothing  pillars  and  roof,  garden  Clematis,  Roses,  and  other  plants 
are  employed. 
Variation  is  given  by  two  rock  pools,  the  ends  of  two  centre  beds  being 
utilised  for  the  purpose.  Here  water  and  marsh  plants  are  to  be  grown, 
while  the  rocks  are  utilised  for  Saxifrages,  Ferns,  and  other  plants. 
From  the  plants  mentioned  it  will  be  seen  that  a  fine  display  of  flowers 
will  be  had  during  winter  and  spring,  while  a  dozen  or  more  species 
of  Lilium  will  make  an  effective  show  in  summer, — W.  I). 
HORTK  ^ ULTUUAL  SHOWS. 
TORQUAY. 
The  eighth  show  promoted  by  the  Torquay  District  Gardeners’ 
Association,  of  which  Mr.  F.  C.  Smale  is  the  efficient  Secretary,  was  held 
last  week,  and  considered  superior  to  all  its  predecessors.  Entries  were 
more  numerous  than  at  any  previous  time,  and  the  competition  was 
both  larger  and  keener  and  the  classes  more  generally  filled. 
A  welcome  alteration  was  made  in  connection  with  the  groups,  which, 
instead  of  being  arranged  in  a  circle,  were  elliptical,  the  first  prize 
being  noteworthy  for  a  triple  top,  in  which  the  centre  Palm  was  flanked 
by  two  charming  Azaleas.  In  the  classes  generally  the  quality  showed 
an  advance  on  former  years,  many  of  the  plants  being  immensely  improved 
on  previous  displays.  Probably  the  table  decorations  attracted  most 
attention  and  criticism.  The  eight  designs  stretched  down  the  greater 
part  of  the  room.  The  premier  award  was  to  an  arrangement  of  Daffodils 
that  won  on  its  simplicity,  though  many  preferred  a  light  combination  of 
Narcissi,  Jonquils,  and  Lilies  of  the  Valley,  which  was  placed  second. 
Red  Azaleas,  with  Spirmas  and  Guinea  Grass,  made  a  very  bright  third, 
and  the  fourth  award  consisted  mainly  of  Violets,  Daffodils  and  Orchids 
being  fifth. 
The  chief  competitors  were  Dr.  W.  Ford  Edgelow  (Mr.  C.  R.  Powse, 
gardener),  J.  W,  Kimber,  Esq.  (Mr.  F.  C.  Terris),  Mrs.  Rawson  (Mr. 
\Y.  R.  Satterly),  Miss  Lavers  (Mr.  G.  Lee),  P.  W.  Bushby,  Es().  (Mr. 
F.  Peacock),  Mrs.  R.  Whitehead  (Mr.  G.  Green),  and  Mrs.  Hassall 
(.Mr.  W.  11.  Minifie,  gardener).  Among  honorary  exhibitors  were 
.1.  Snelgrove,  Esq.  (Mr.  W.  Bale,  gardener),  Mrs.  Wilson  (Mr.  C.  B. 
IGliott),  Miss  Lavers  (Mr.  G.  Lee),  and  J.  W.  Kimber,  Esq.  (Mr.  F.  C. 
Ferris).  Miss  L  ivis’  Orchids  evidenced  considerable  care  and  attention. 
.Mr.  Snelgrove’s  collection  was  selected  and  arranged  with  great  taste. 
7' he  Judges  were  Messrs.  J.  D.  Nanscawen,  Chudleigh  ;  D.  C.  Powell, 
Powderharn  ;  and  C  Lock,  Crediton.  Specimens  of  Egyptian  Papyrus, 
or  Paper  Reed,  as  used  by  the  ancient  Egyptians,  were  shown  by  Mrs. 
Wilson.  Messrs.  Curtis,  Sanford  <k  Co.,  Ltd.,  had  some  fine  Roses  ;  the 
South  Devon  Fruit  Farm  large  luscious  Strawberries  at  5s.  a  basket,  and 
beautiful  Violets  La  France  ;  other  nurserymen  represented  being  Messrs. 
T.  S.  Ware,  Ltd.,  Tottenham  ;  Veitch  &  Son,  Exeter ;  W.  B. 
Smale,  W.  Allward,  J.  Heath,  Horn  &  Sons  and  W.  Burridge  &  Sons. 
Lady  MacGregor,  in  opening  the  E.xhibition,  said  she  could  scarcely 
realise  that  a  year  had  passed  since  she  last  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
their  show.  B-t  the  winter  passed  so  mildly  and  quickly  in  Torquay, 
that  spring  came  before  they  were  aware  of  it.  They  all  loved  the  spring 
flowers  because  they  showed  that  winter  was  passed,  and  because  they 
were  distinguished  for  the  delicious  odours  and  delightful  colours  with 
which  Nature  had  endowed  them.  She  thought  the  greatest  encourage¬ 
ment  should  be  given  to  the  Association  for  arranging  the  shows  and 
making  them  so  attractive. 
At  the  luncheon  the  President,  Dr.  R.  Hamilton-Ramsay,  in  proposing 
the  Royal  Family,  said  that  the  day»before  the  Princess  of  Wales  left 
England  for  a  trip  in  the  Mediterranean  she  honoured  their  President  by 
sending  him  a  most  magnificent  photograph  of  herself,  with  an  autograph 
letter  expressing  admiration  for  the  flowers  he  sent  her  every  year — her 
favourite  flower,  Lilies  of  the  Valley,  which  this  year  were  grown  by  the 
founder  of  the  Association,  Mr.  W.  B.  Smale,  J.P.,  their  Vice-President 
(applause).  Mr.  W.  A.  Masterman,  in  proposing  “  Success  to  the  Show,” 
said  it  was  one  of  the  very  best  they  had  ever  had.  Great  credit  for  its 
success  was  due  to  Mr.  Fred.  C.  Smale,  who  made  one  of  the  best 
Secretaries  they  could  possibly  have.  Mr.  Veitch,  in  proposing  the 
health  of  the  President,  eulogised  his  services  highly.  Dr.  Ramsay, 
replying,  said  no  one  could  be  asked  to  be  President  of  that  Azjociatiou 
without  being  highly  honoured.  The  admirable  way  in  which  the 
Committee  and  others  worked  together  with  the  skilful  whip  of  their 
Secretary  assured  success.  He  thought  the  Show  the  most  beautiful  he 
had  ever  seen. 
BRIGHTON  AND  SUSSEX: 
The  eighth  annual  show  of  the  above  Society,  held  in  the  Dome 
and  Corn  Exchange  last  week,  was  a  great  success.  Through  being  a 
fortnight  earlier  than  usual,  Cinerarias,  Roses,  Auriculas,  Azaleas,  and 
Pelargoniums  were  riot  shown  to  the  best  advantage,  but,  on  the  other 
hand.  Hyacinths,  Tulips,  and  Narcissus  were  much  better  than  usual. 
Groups  are  always  good  at  Brighton,  and  in  the  open  class,  13  feet  by 
8  feet  6  inches,  the  first  prize  was  awarded  to  Mr.  E.  Meachen,  gardener 
to  Mrs.  Armstrong,  Woodslee,  Withdeane,  for  a  very  light,  bright,  and 
attractive  arrangement  of  foliage  and  flowering  plants,  Mr.  J.  Hill, 
gardener  to  (’larkson  Wallis,  Esq.,  Springfield,  Withdeane,  was  second  ; 
and  Mr.  G.  Miles,  nurseryman,  third.  In  the  second  division,  for  gentle¬ 
men’s  gardeners  and  amateurs,  10  feet  by  6  feet,  Mr.  W.  E.  Anderson, 
gardener  to  B.  Parish,  Escp,  Preston  Park,  was  placed  first  with  a  taste 
fully  arranged  group  ;  and  Mr.  G,  Simms,  gardener  to  .T.  B.  Cattle,  Esq., 
Dyke  Road,  Brighton,  second.  Tables  of  plants  arranged  for  effect  made 
an  attractive  display.  In  the  open  class  Mr.  G.  Miks  was  first  with  a  neat 
arrangement  of  Lily  of  the  Valley,  Hyacinths,  Primulas,  Imantophyllums, 
with  small  Crotons,  Aralias,  Dracaenas,  Ferns,  &c.  Mr. B.  Lister,  gardener 
to  E.  A.  Willis,  Esq ,  Brighton,  second  ;  and  Mr.  W.  Goodliffe,  florist. 
