April  11,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
311 
Esq.,  Stone,  Staffs,  exhibited  some  splendidly  grown  Odontoglossums, 
including  crispnm  (?),  Bobby,  Wilokianum  oonoinnnm,  W.  Stevensi, 
Adrian®  Lady  White,  A.  rubiginosum,  and  Andersonianum  Woodthorpe 
variety.  Mr.  Stevens  sent  also  Ccchlioda  vulcanica  grandiflora  and 
Dendrobium  Kingianum 
E.  Ashworth,  Esq.,  Harefield  Hall,  Wilmslow,  contributed  Cypri- 
pedium  Chamber-iDsigne  Halli,  Odontoglossum  Adrianae  Starry  Night, 
Cattleya  Miss  Harris  var.,  E.  Ashworth,  Laolia  Jongheaua  Harefield 
variety,  and  L.  J.  alba  Ashwortbae. 
Narcissus  Committee. 
Present  :  Bennett-Poe,  Esq.  (in  the  chair),  with  Miss  E.  Willmott, 
and  Messrs.  Geo.  S.  Titheradge,  E.  Bourne,  Robt.  Sydenham,  Rudolph 
Barr,  J.  Pope,  W.  Poupart,  W.  T.  Ware,  G.  Reuthe,  W.  Goldring, 
W.  F.  M.  Copeland,  Rev.  W.  Wilks,  H.  Kingsmith,  and  C.  Scrase  Dickens. 
Messrs.  J.  Peed  &  Son,  West  Norwood,  S.E.,  sent  up  a  varied 
collection  of  Narcissi  in  pots,  for  which  they  received  a  silver  Banksian 
medal.  Some  very  choice  varieties  appeared  in  the  exhibits  of  Narcissi 
and  Daffodils  staged  by  Messrs.  Barr  &  Sons,  King  Street,  Covent  Garden  ; 
P.  Purnell,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  Robt.  Sydenham,  of  Birmingham.  Mr.  Syden¬ 
ham’s  little  group  represented  bulbs  grown  in  jars  filled  with  cocoa- 
nut  fibre  and  ground  shell,  with  a 
few  small  lumps  of  charcoal  at  the 
bottom.  The  plants  and  flowers 
were  very  pleasing. 
In  the  group  sent  by  the  Long 
Ditton  firm  were  such  Narcissi  as 
Duchess  of  Westminster,  Horse- 
fieldi,  Henry  Irving,  Johnstoni, 
Queen  of  Spain,  the  new  variety 
Apricot,  which  appeared  infinitely 
better  than  we  have  ever  previously 
seen  it.  General  Roberts  furnishes 
a  massive  bloom,  the  perianth  of 
which  is  a  paler  yellow  than  the 
large,  well  formed  trumpet.  Sir 
Watkin  and  Monarch  were  also 
specially  fine.  The  exhibit  was 
very  extensive,  embracing  fully 
200  vases,  each  containing  from 
twelve  to  twenty  blooms  (silver- 
gilt  Flora  medal). 
P.  Purnell,  Esq.,  of  Streatham 
Hill,  staged  a  select  display  of 
these  delightful  flowers,  and  had 
such  varieties  as  the  bicolor 
trumpet  Grandis,  the  pretty  Queen 
of  Spain,  Victoria,  Lf  edsi  amabilis, 
Minnie  Hume,  and  the  handsome 
yellow  trumpet  Daffodils  named 
P.  R.  Barr.  The  group  was  the 
finest  Mr.  Purnell  has  arranged 
during  the  present  season. 
Certificates  and  Awards  of  Merit, 
Narcissus  Allen’s  Beauty  (Miss 
Willmott).  —  A  very  attractive 
flower.  The  perianth  segments 
are  soft  cream  in  colour  and  very 
broad,  the  trumpet  is  clear  yellow 
(award  of  merit). 
Amaryllis  Marathon  (J.  Veitch 
and  Sons). — A  variety  of  perfect  form,  with  exceptionally  broad  seg¬ 
ments ;  the  colour  is  crimson  scarlet  (award  of  merit). 
Amaryllis  Avernicus  (J.  Veitch  &  Sons). — This  is  a  pleasing  variety. 
The  scarlet  segments  have  a  band  of  pure  white  down  the  centre  (award 
of  merit). 
Amaryllis  Rialto  (J.  Veitch  &  Sons). — A  grand  form.  The  flowers 
are  deep  crimson  and  very  large  (award  of  merit). 
Tulipa  pulchella  (Barr  &  Sons). — A  dwarf  growing  species.  The 
outer  segments  are  silver  rose,  and  the  inner  bright  carmine  (award  of 
merit). 
Odontoglossum  Adriana  Mrs.  Simonds  (H.  F.  Simonds). — -A  lovely 
form.  The  colour  is  soft  yellow  throughout,  with  sparse  crimson  spots 
on  the  lips  and  upper  sepal  (award  of  merit). 
Odontoglossum  Dennisonice  nebula  (de  Barri  Crawshay). — This  is 
chastely  beautiful.  The  petals  are  white  with  chocolate  spots,  and  the 
sepals  soft  rose  with  chocolate  markings  (award  of  merit). 
Odontoglossum  triumphans  Mrs.  de  Barri  Crawshay  (de  Barri 
Crawshay). — This  beautiful  variety  is  yellow,  with  the  sepals  and  petals 
spotted  and  blotched  brown  (award  of  merit). 
Lcslia  Jongheana  alba  Ashworthas  (E.  Ashworth). — This  is  a  pure 
white  form  of  the  Laelia  that  is  now  so  popular  (first-olass  certificate). 
Cattleya  Miss  Harris,  var.  Edith  Ashworth  (E.  Ashworth).  —  A 
superb  form.  The  colour  is  much  more  purple  in  the  sepals,  petals  and 
margin  of  the  lip  ;  the  centre  of  the  lip  is  velvet  crimson,  and  the 
throat  golden,  shaded  crimson  (first-class  certificate). 
Masderallia  Alceste  (J.  Veitch  &  Sons).  —  A  hybrid  from  M, 
Veit obiana  and  M.  Asmodia  ;  it  is  a  beautiful  shade  of  crimson  orange 
(award  of  merit). 
Epidendrum  Clarissa  superbum  (J.  Veitch  &  Sons). — This  is  a  hybrid 
from  a  cross  between  E.  elegantulum  and  E.  Wallisii.  The  sepals  and 
petals  are  of  good  size  and  rounded.  The  yellow  ground  colour  is 
almost  obscured  by  rose  suffusions  and  crimson  spots.  The  large  lip  is 
purple,  with  white  at  the  margins  (first-class  certificate). 
Odontoglossum  Ruckerianumvar.  (R.  Brooman  White). — A  charming 
form,  which  is  rather  small.  The  chocolate  crimson  markings  are  very 
profuse  ;  the  ground  colour  is  whitish  rose  (award  of  merit). 
Miltonia  vexillaria  gigantea,  Rosslyn  variety  (P.  W.  Thurgood). — 
A  splendid  form  ;  the  colour  is  deep  rose  purple  (award  of  merit). 
Scottish  Horticultural  Association. 
A  meeting  of  the  association  was  held  on  April  2nd ;  there  was  a  large 
attend mce.  Mr.  Camming,  Grantully  Castle,  read  a  paper  on  “  Spring 
Bedding.”  He  said  he  was  led  to  speak  on  this  subject  because  there 
was  so  little  spring  bedding  in 
Scotland.  For  six  months  in  the 
year  beds  and  borders  were  black, 
bare,  and  cheerless,  and  in  many 
public  parks  bare  earth  was  seen 
where  there  might  be  a  varied 
and  beautiful  display  of  spring 
flowers.  The  care  and  attention 
nece  *sary  formed  no  reason  why 
spring  flowers  should  be  neg 
lected.  Owners  of  villas  in  towns 
and  the  suburbs  lost  much  of  the 
pleasure  in  life  through  their 
flower  beds  being  left  empty  all 
the  winter.  Though  some  Scottish 
winters  were  too  severe,  and  the 
keen  frosts  might  cause  dis¬ 
appointment,  the  risk  was  worth 
taking,  and  even  in  the  worst  of 
winters  the  early  Daffodils,  Wall¬ 
flowers,  Crocuses,  and  many  other 
early,  but  hardy,  flowering  bulbs 
would  emerge  to  beautify  beds 
and  borders,  all  the  more  pleas¬ 
ing  after  a  long  spell  of  arctic 
weather ;  and  the  gardener’s 
object  should  be  to  render  his 
garden  attractive  all  the  season. 
Public  gardens  are  expected  to  be 
at  all  times  more  or  less  inter¬ 
esting;  but  often  the  opposite  is 
the  case,  and  the  beds  left  empty 
all  the  winter  and  spring  months. 
Spring  flowers  can  boast  of  more 
delicious  odours,  and  far  more 
delicacy  and  variety  of  tints. 
Many  of  the  spring  combina¬ 
tions  far  surpass  those  of  autumn. 
Do  not  go  in  for  much  variety, 
it  adds  to  the  labour  bill 
whole  beds  of  one  colour  is  better 
than  mixed.  Most  spring  flowers  are  dwarf  in  habit,  and  where  long 
borders  require  to  be  filled  nothing  looks  better  than  wide  bands  of  the 
different  coloured  Wallflowers ;  they  will  of  themselves  make  a  flower 
garden  gay  during  the  early  months  of  spring,  and  any  quantity  can  be 
raised  from  seed.  The  Aubrietias  are  valuable  and  excellent  spring 
bedders,  and  they  continue  in  flower  for  fully  two  months.  Alyssum 
saxatile,  as  a  yellow,  is  among  the  most  beautiful  and  lasting,  requiring 
nothing  particular  in  the  way  of  soil,  and  can  be  produced  from  seed. 
Few  things  for  adorning  the  spring  garden  will  excel  the  Anemone  ;. 
its  flowers  are  of  the  most  brilliant  and  varied  hues,  and  its  elegant 
foliage  renders  it  a  most  useful  plant  in  the  garden.  Cerastiums, 
Dactylis  glomerata  variegata,  alpine  Phloxes,  Saxifrages  of  sorts. 
Violas  are  quite  indispensable  for  spring  gardening;  there  are  now 
some  well-defined  colours  amongst  them,  that  for  effect  they  have  no 
equal.  There  are  many  annuals,  suoh  as  Collinsia  miorophylla,  Saponaria, 
Silene  pendula,  Eschscholtzia,  and  Candytuft,  that  may  be  used.  Mention 
might  also  be  made  of  hardy  spring-flowering  shrubs,  both  evergreen 
and  deciduous ;  then  there  are  berry-bearing  evergreens,  all  suitable 
for  furnishing  the  flower  garden.  Speaking  of  permanent  spring 
bedding,  what  is  prettier  than  hosts  of  golden  Daffodils,  sheets  of 
Snowdrops,  and  the  blue  masses  of  Anemone  apennina  ?  they  make  tl  e 
lawns  a  very  paradise  in  the  mild  and  genial  days  of  spring.  Then 
follow  the  Winter  Aoonite,  the  Crocuses,  Hyacinths;  massed  in  colours 
they  make  a  stately  bed,  and  last  a  considerable  time  in  flower.  Tulips 
rank  high  amongst  the  most  showy  and  valuable  of  bulbs.  Narcissus, 
of  which  there  are  many  species  and  good  forms ;  they  are  an 
Cypripedium  exul,  Major  Joicey’s  var. 
(See  Report  of  Orchid  Committee. ) 
