May  25,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
435 
before  had  such  an  interesting  and  valuable  collection  of  plants 
occupied  the  deck  of  any  vessel,  and  most  devoutly  did  we  hope 
that  our  beloved  plants  might  be  favoured  with  fair  winds  and  smooth 
seas,  and  with  as  little  salt  water  as  possible  ” — which  fortunately  tl.ey 
were. 
Some  of  the  things  he  met  with  in  Japan  were  really  wonderful, 
ror  instance,  he  saw  a  specimen  of  Wistaria  sinensis  which  measured, 
at  3  feet  from  the  ground,  7  feet  in  circumference,  and  covered  a  space 
of  trelliswoik  GO  feet  by  102  feet.  One  of  the  racemes  of  bloom  he 
rneasured  was  42  inches  in  length.  The  thousands  of  long,  drooping, 
lilac  racemes  had  a  most  extraordinary  appearance.  People  came  from 
far  and  near  to  see  the  tree  during  the  time  it  remained  in  bloom  ; 
and,  as  it  was  in  the  garden  of  a  public  tea-house,  it  brought  an 
extensive  custom  to  the  jiroprietor. 
In  his  description  of  the  Japanese  flora  he  becomes  enthusiastic. 
“All  countries,”  he  says,  “are  beautiful  in  spring,  but  Japan  is 
pre-eminently  so.  The  trees  were  clothed  with  leaves  of  the  freshest 
green,  and  many'  of  the  early  floAvering  kinds  were  in  full  blossonA.  The 
Pig.  96.— Mr.  Robert  Portuxe  at  the  age  op  54. 
double-blossomed  Cherry  trees  and  flowering  Peaches  were  most  beautiful 
objects,  loaded  as  they  noAv  were  with  flowers  as  large  as  little  Roses. 
Camellias,  forming  goodly  sized  trees,  were  common  in  the  woods,  and 
early  Azaleas  adorned  the  hillsides  with  florvers  of  many  hues.  Here  the 
Azalea  obtusa,  with  flowers  of  the  most  dazzling  red,  was  peculiarly  at 
home.  Cydonia  japonica  (otherwise  Pyrus  acanthus)  was  seen  in  a  wild 
state  creeping  amongst  the  grass,  and  covered  with  red  blossoms  ; 
Violets,  often  scentless,  covered  every  bank  ;  and  several  varieties  of 
Primrose  were  met  with  under  trees  in  the  shady  woods.” 
A  delightful  task  it  must  have  been  to  wander  amid  such  a  wealth 
of  loveliness,  and  pick  and  choose  that  which  he  thought  would  be 
appreciated  at  home;  hut  it  is  difficult  to  give  an  idea  of  his  work 
without  becoming  a  mere  cataloguer  of  systematic  names.  It  is 
almost  safe  to  say  that  there  is  not  a  cottage  garden  in  EnHand  of 
any  size  which  has  not  in  it  something  which  was  introduced ^by  him. 
We  have  mentioned  a  few  of  bis  captures,  and  there  were  scores  of 
others.  The  winter  Jasmine  (Jasminum  nudiflorum),  whose  bright 
yellow  blooms  adorn  its  leafless  stems  in  January,  was  his;  so  were 
the  variegated  Japanese  Honeysuckle,  the  variegated  Oleaster,  and  the 
variegated  Kerria.  To  him  we  owe  the  Golden  Bell  (Forsythia),  the 
Chusan  or  Pompone  Chrysanthemum,  the  double  Bindweed  (Calystegia 
pubescens),  many  now  common  species  of  Pseony,  Azalea,  Berberis, 
Clematis,  Euonymus,  and  a  hundred  others.  There  is  no  man  who 
left  a  broader  mark  on  English  gardening  than  Robert  Forlune. 
COTONEASTER  HORIZONTALIS.— This  is  a  very  handsome  plant 
for  a  wall  or  for  a  rocky  bank  ;  its  fan-like  spreading  branches  and  glossy 
green  foliage  giving  it  a  distinguished  appearance  in  comparison  with 
others  of  the  family',  Although  it  is  not,  I  understand,  a  rare  plant, 
it  is  one  apparently  not  in  common  cultivation. — E. 
TOMATO  WINTER  BEAUTY. 
With  all  due  respect  to  “A.  D.,’’  page  370,  and  without  any  wish  to 
say  anything  to  detract  from  the  merits  of  the  new  Tomato  so  well  grown 
and  shown  by  Mr.  Mortimer,  I  am  of  opinion  that  the  Fruit  Committee  of 
the  R.H.S.  was  not  justified  in  departing  from  the  rule  that  has  been 
followed  in  so  many  other  instances— viz.,  that  of  having  promising 
Tomato  novelties  tried  at  Chiswick. 
I  thought  the  Committee  a  little  too  hasty  when  I  read  the  report,  and 
the  illustration  of  the  house  of  plants  given  on  page  387  of  the  Journal  of 
Horticxdture  confirms  me  in  that  view.  Topping  plants  naturally  favours 
the  growth,  and  hastens  maturity  in  the  case  of  two  or  more  clusters  of 
fruit  set  on  them,  and  has  had  much  to  do  with  the  earliness  of  the  fruit 
on  Mr.  Mortimer’s  plants.  If  these  had  1  een  shown  a  fortnight  or  three 
weeks  earlier  I  should  have  been  better  pleased.  At  the  time  the  Com¬ 
mittee  held  the  meeting,  we  could  have  shown  baskets  of  Early  Ruby, 
equal  apparently  to  M  inter  Beauty,  and  50  lbs.  of  Cropper  were  sent  that 
day  to  a  commission  salesman,  all  perfect  in  form  and  beautifully  ripened. 
These  were  gathered  from  heavily  cropped  plants,  not  topped  till  the  ridge 
of  the  house  was  reached.  I  much  regret  now  not  having  had  this  house 
photographed,  but  justice  could  not  have  been  done  to  the  crop  without 
sacrificing  far  more  leaves  than  was  desirable. 
The  fruits  in  the  photograph  more  resemble  Conqueror  than  Perfection 
in  form.  Big  fruit  may  strike  “A.  D.”  as  being  desirable,  and  Londoners 
evidently  are  not  very  particular.  But  try  the  provinces. — Market 
Grower. 
[The  fruits  referred  to  were  grown  in  the  provinces,  and  their  merits- 
estimated  by  provincial  judges.] 
MANCHESTER  WHITSUNTIDE  SHOW. 
The  gardens  never  looked  better  than  in  the  early  morning  of  last 
Friday',  when  the  preparations  for  the  great  Whit- week  show  were  in 
full  progress.  But  later  in  the  day  the  sky  became  overcast,  and  rain 
fell  heavily.  It  is  only  at  such  times  that  the  services  of  the  grand 
exhibition  house  and  the  fine  promenade  can  be  fully  appreciated,  and 
here  at  all  events  something  approaching  a  hall  for  horticulture  can  b& 
found.  In  comparison  with  former  shows  the  present  one  was  not  so 
large,  and  one  missed  such  well  known  firms  as  Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons,. 
B.  S.  Williams  &  Son,  Sander  &  Co.  of  the  trade,  and  Messrs.  E. 
Ashworth,  T.  Statter,  W.  Thompson  of  Stone,  F.  Hardy,  and  others  who 
are  so  intensely  interested  in  everything  connected  with  horticulture. 
Their  absence  is,  we  hope,  only  teruporary,  in  fact  in  one  or  two  casea 
wo  know  that  the  peculiar  spring  had  not  developed  the  blooms  as 
quickly  as  usual.  Mr.  Weathers,  and  Mr.  Paul  his  assistant,  had  all  in. 
readiness  for  the  judges,  and  what  was  missing  in  quantity  was  more  than 
compensated  for  by  the  perfect  quality  of  all  concerned. 
Mr.  Cypher  of  Cheltenham  was  the  chief  exhibitor,  arranging  a  most 
beautiful  group.  Mr.  Robson  of  Bowdon,  who  was  placed  second,  had 
some  handsome  types  on  evidence.  Mr.  Heath  of  Cheltenham  was  third. 
For  the  best  collection  of  Caltleyas  and  Laelias  Mr.  Cypher  won  in  a 
decisive  manner,  and  also  for  ten  specimens  of  Orchids  in  bloom  ;  a  grand 
Cymbidium  Dayanum  being  noticeable.  Mr.  Heath  was  second.  For  ten 
stove  or  greenhouse  plants  Mr.  Cypher  wa.s  the  only  exhibitor. 
In  the  amateurs’  siction  for  six  plants,  Mr.  Wilkes,  gardener  to  Miss- 
Lord,  Ashton-on-Mersey,  was  first,  his  Ixoras  and  Clerodendrons,^ 
although  somewhat  early  in  the  season,  were  well  bloomed.  He  also 
won  with  six  and  one  fine  foliage  stove  plant  and  flowering  greenhouse 
plant,  other  single  specimen  classes  being  taken  by  Messrs.  J.  McIntyre 
of  Darlington  and  H.  Storey  of  Brooklands,  the  former  securing  the  class, 
for  ten  exotic  Ferns  with  fair  specimens,  Messrs.  W.  &  .J.  Birkenhead 
being  second  and  first  for  ten  hardy  Ferns. 
Gloxinias  were  in  numbers  and  of  good  appearance.  Calceolarias  and 
Cinerarias  small  but  fresh,  Begonias  very  moderate.  Pansies  and  Violas 
telling  in  colour.  Herbaceous  plants  were  admirably  arranged.  The 
winners  were  Messrs.  Marker,  R.  A.  Naylor,  Thelwall  ;  Mr.  Morgan,, 
gardener  to  Mrs.  Filden,  Dobroyd  Castle,  Todmorden  ;  and  Mr.  E.  Donner, 
Fallowfield.  The  well-known  and  highly  respected  Rose-grower,  James 
Brown,  Esq  ,  Ashton  on-Mersey,  won  with  some  choice  Roses  arranged 
for  effect.  Coleus  and  Caladiums  were  capital,  Mr.  Baxter  winning  with 
six  of  each,  Baron  Knoop  with  Adiantums,  and  Mr.  F.  W.  Travers  with 
table  plants. 
Groups  of  250  feet  space  for  nurserymen  were  of  excellent  quality,, 
the  prize  card  giving  the  award  to  Mr.  A.  J.  Bruce,  Chorlton-cum- 
Hardj',  who  had  interesting  plants  decidedly  lacking  in  brightness. 
Messrs.  R.  P.  Ker  &  Sons,  Aigburth,  were  second.  For  200  feet  Mr.  ,J. 
McIntyre,  jun.,  seemed  to  have  the  gift  so  w'ell  used  by  his  father  on 
previous  occasions.  It  was  a  study  of  the  highest  importance.  Mr. 
Wilkes  went  in  for  scarlet  and  white  with  much  effect,  but  the  background 
was  too  symmetrical.  Mr.  Morgan  also  display  ed  more  than  ordinary- 
talent  in  the  first  prize  group  of  100  feet,  and  he  was  closely  followed  by 
Mr.  Baxter. 
The  trade  exhibits  were  of  the  highest  excellence.  L’llcrticole 
Coloniale,  Ltd.,  excelled  all  previous  efforts  with  Odontoglossum  crispum- 
Countess  of  Derby,  rose  with  crimson  blotches  ;  O.  vrxillarium  vittatum 
(fine);  O.  vexillariura  candidulum,  splendid  light  type;  O.  Adrianas 
tigrinurn  (extra)  ;  and  0.  Ruckeri  Queen  Victoria,  very  handsome,  all 
gaining  certificates.  A  gold  medal  was  also  awarded.  A  similar  compliment 
was  paid  to  Messrs.  Charlcsworth  &  Co.,  Bradford,  for  a  splendid 
strain  of  Odontoglosium  crispum,  one  amongst  many  being  labelled 
