September  27,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
297 
Dalilias  at  the  Royal  Aquarium. 
In  onr  last  issue  we  gave  a  complete  report  of  the  exhibition  of 
Dahlias  arranged  by  the  Koyal  Aquarium  Company,  and  we  now 
present  to  our  readers  a  series  of  three  photographic  illustrations  taken 
on  the  occasion  noted.  It  was  impossible  for  our  photographer  to 
secure  one  comprehensive  picture  that  would  have  done  justice  to  the 
beauty  of  the  display,  as  it  was  divided  into  two  distinct  sections.  We 
therefore  chose  three  exhibits  that  may  be  taken  as  typical  of  the 
remarkable  excellence  of  the  quality  of  the  flowers  which  ranged 
throughout  the  several  sections  as  well  as  the  amateurs’  and  professional 
divisions. 
Taken  as  a  whole,  however,  the  Cactus  varieties  were  the  finest,  and 
the  twelve  shown  by  Messrs.  Burrell  &  Co.,  Cambridge,  were  practically 
perfect  (fig.  83).  The  Pompons  (fig.  82)  contiibuted  by  Mr.  M.  V. 
Seale  were  of  the  most  refined  type  in  each  case,  and  were  entirely 
of  the  plant’s  merits.  Remarking  upon  the  peculiar  structural 
economy  of  the  foliage  of  tlie  Alsttomeria,  “T.  M.,”  in  the  “Treasury 
of  Botany,”  says,  “  The  numerous  species  of  the  genus  are  very  similar 
in  character;  the  leaves  are,  by  the  twisting  of  the  petiole,  resuspinate ; 
the  upper  surface,  which  is  usuall/  smooth,  even,  an<l  destitute  both 
of  ribs  and  stomata,  having  the  peculiar  structure  and  performing  the 
functions  of  the  und^r  surface.  This  curious  economy  was  first 
Dointed  out  by  the  late  Robert  Brown,  and  it  is  well  defined  in  the 
foliage  of  A.  aurea,  known  also  as  aurantiaca.” 
The  writer’s  fir.>it  acquaintance  with  the  A1  tromeria  was  somewhere 
in  the  late  forties,  in  the  shape  of  a  m  iss  of  aurea,  established  on  a  dry 
border  between  two  massive  stone  buttresses  of  a  large  conservatory, 
and  where  for  many  years  an  abundant  supply  of  flowers  was  afforded 
for  cutting  purposes  with  little  or  no  special  culture  beyond  an 
occasional  winter  mulching  of  decomposed  manure.  Formerly  pr  zes 
were  offered  for  Alstrdmerias  in  pots  at  exhibitions;  but  eventually 
they  fell  into  disrepute,  excepting  that  they  may  be  seen  in  collections 
of  cut  hardy  border  flower-.  Seedlings  have  been  raised  occasionally, 
but  V  ith  comparatively  !i  tie  advance.  The  fact  that  some  of 
Fig  83.— MR.  BURRELL’S  CACTUS  DAHLIAS  AT  THE  AQUAKIUM. 
innocent  of  that  coarseness  which  the  florists  have  lately  deplored. 
The  poor  soil  in  which  the  plants  were  grown  is  said  by  Mr.  Seale  to 
retain,  and  indeed  accentuate,  refinement.  Mr.  J.  Walker  of  Thame 
has  been  well  nigh  invincible  with  Show  and  Fancy  Dahlias  this  season, 
and  the  illustration  (fig,  81)  will  convey  to  readers  who  had  not  the 
pleasure  of  attending  the  show  a  clear  conception  of  the  excellence  of 
his  twenty-four  at  the  Aquarium.  The  names  of  the  varieties  in  each 
of  the  stands  represented  will  be  found  on  page  278. 
- - 
Alstromerias. 
These  handsome  natives  of  South  America  (named  in  honour  of 
Baron  Alstromer,  a  Swedish  botanist  and  friend  of  Linnaeus),  with 
leafy  stems  and  terminal  umbels  of  richly  coloured  flowers,  were 
more  highly  prized  half  a  century  ago  than  at  the  present  day.  Since 
the  renaissance,  however,  of  the  hardy  herbaceous  and  perennial 
border  flowers,  there  naturally  has  taken  place  a  renewed  recognition 
the  species  dislike  disturbance  at  the  root  is  probably  the  reason 
why  they  have  not  been  recognised  so  much  as  their .  merits 
deserve,  otherwise  when  once  established  a  patch  will  increase  and 
flourish  for  years  without  interference.  Several  of  the  speci's  are 
increased  by  division  of  the  roots,  and  others  from  cuttings,  which 
root  freely. 
Almost  any  good  soil  suits  Alstrdmerias,  but  for  the  tenderer  ones 
a  mixture  of  turfy  peat,  loam,  and  sand  is  requLite.  As  has  b^en 
hinted,  some  of  the  species  were  cultivated  years  ago  in  pots  for 
greenhouse  or  hothouse  work,  according  to  their  respective  nature, 
and  when  the  flower  shoots  began  to  rise  liquid  manure  was  found  oi 
material  benefit  to  them,  especially  when  the  plants  became  root- 
bound.  To  secure  a  rich  display  of  the  flowers  when  grown  under 
glass  10  or  12-inch  pots  are  needed,  in  which,  after  the  plants  have 
died  down,  they  can  be  wintered,  with  protection  from  sharp  frosts 
during  the  dormant  stage.  Grown  in  large  pots  fine  specimens, 
suitable  for  exhibition  purposes,  may  be  obtained. 
If  the  hardy  species,  g'own  in  a  border  outside,  are  required  for 
pot  culture,  either  September  or  October,  or  February  and  March, 
are  suitable  tiiues  for  potting  the  plants,  but  the  operation  must 
be  done  carefully,  as  the  roots  are  extremely  brit  le.  Water 
should  be  sparingly  applied  at  first,  but  when  root  action  is  in  full 
