LONDON SHOWS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 180, 1 July 1937, Page 15

LONDON SHOWS

RHODODENDRONS FROM OVER-

SEAS.

PRIZE EXHIBITS

The horticultural correspondent of the London Morning Post wrote on May 5: — No family of flowering plants presents greater variety in size and form than the great tribe of rhododendrons, a fact that is fully demonstrated at the magnificent exhibition ol the Rhododendron Association which opened in the Horticultural Hall, AVestminster, yesterday. This is the tenth annual show of the association and the best ever held.

The Rothschild Cup, for the best group of rhododendrons, went to Air Lionel de Rothschild. Exbury, whose collection includes many choice garden varieties and rare wild kinds from China and the Himalayas. Among the rarest kinds is one called Concatenans, with rich yellow waxy bellflowers. There are several of the starry flowered rhododendrons, brilliant lavenderblue forms of R. Augustinii, and an exquisite apricot-cream hybrid called Gremorne.

Alessrs AY. C. Sloeock, Ltd., won the Rothschild Clip for the best trade exhibit with a wonderful collection of freely flowered bushes, chiefly of garden varieties. Messrs R. Gill, Penrvn, received a gold medal for a huge display which included a magnificent inish of the flesh-tinted Elspeth, and Alessrs R. Wallace also secured a gold medal for a large collection representative of all types. Colonel Stephenson R. Clarke, Haywards Heath, had the best small group of cut rhododendrons. Lord Swnythling was awarded a gold medal for a croup of alpine rhododendrons that included many large specimens.

Air L. de Rothschild showed the best set of twelve hybrids, loveliest of them all being the apple-blossom-pink variety Loderi vnr. A’enus. Lord Abercomvny, Bodnant, had the best four hybrids raised by the exhibitor, and 1 Lieutenant-Colonel E. H. AA r . Bolitho the best three species, thus winning the Crosfield Cup.

CORONATION CUP. The Coronation Cup, for the finest rhododendron truss in the show, went to Lad.v Loder for a superb cluster of the pure-white rhododendron Loderi King George.

The McLaren Cup was gained by Lieutenant-Colonel E. H. W. Bolitho with the crimson-scarlet bell-flowered R. Elliottii, and the Loder Cup lot the best hybrid, went to Admiral A. AV. Heneage-Vivian. Swansea, for a lovely ivory-coloured variety named AA'. Leith.

Other ' prominent prize-winners among the amateur exhibitors \ were the Karl of Stair, Stranraer; Lieuten-ant-Colonel J. N. Horlick, Sunnyhill ; Sir John Ramsden, Ravenglass; and Dame Alice Godman, Horsham. The Stevenson prize, for the best rhododendron plant in the show, was awarded to Messrs L. R. Russell for a large, freely flowered specimen of the pure white It. Nuttallii slcliatiem. SPRING BLOOAIS. The AUncent-Square Hall of the Royal Horticultural Society was filled to overflowing with seasonable exhibits of spring flowers. Daffodils and tulips make splendid displays, a gold medal group of the former being staged by Air Guy L. AVilson. The leading exhibitors of tulips are Alessrs Barr and Messrs Dobbies.

Carnations are shown exceptionally well by Alessrs Allwood Bros., and there are many lovely groups of flowering shrubs, rock garden plants, roses, tree paeonies, clematis, greenhouse gloxinias, and auriculas. Tiie .Sewell medals, for the best sets of three rock garden plants, were won by Air Alark Fenwick, Stow-on-the-YVokl (amateur), and the Brookside Nurseries. NEAV PLANTS. Alany new pTunts were on view, and first-class certificates were granted to the exquisite white rhododendron Lindleyi, from Admiral A. AV. HeneageYivian ; the Japanese Cherry Kanzan, finest of all the double pink cherries, shown by Mr R. C. Noteutt, and Narcissus Principal, a golden trumpet daffodil of perfect form from Air Gll3’ L. AVilson.