The morning call., 1893-05-18


is unusual. Not a retiring, modest little
blossom is the Gamma, but bold. striking
flower. 1t holds its head high and COM
mands admiration.
From bright yellow to deep crimson.
with all the varying shades and tints in
termtdate, are the cannas. Some of them
look like crushed strawberries and ere eam,
others like fiy-specked raw beef, others
like scrambled eggs Some are all one
color, some are mottled and variegated.
Some are large, some not so large. All are
stately and very pretty. None are fTag-
rant
The Gamma appeals exclusively to the
visual organs. but in no uncertain manner.
They are bouud to he seen and admired
and the chances are if you ran across them
on very dark night they would speak out
aud let you know where they were rather
than BE- passed by.
Those at the flower show are cut hlos-
SONS. They came up from Menlo Park
yesterday morning in wet tissue paper and
cotton batting, looking as fresh when set
up AS though still growing on their tall
reed-iike plants.
james Sproule is the proud exhibitor of
this snowy collection. Mr.. Sproule is a
Gamma crank, by his own admission. and
he would like nothing better tnan TO sit
down and talk cannas to you by the hour
The foliage OF the Gamma Is very orna-
mental and the plant and blossom are
quite fin de seicle for indoor or garden
decorating purposes.
In the tropics the Gamma first grew. Now
mnny varieties of it are cultivated out-oi-
doors in California and in hothouses in the
East. Down in South America Gamma
roots are eaten by the natives, and one
variety yields kind of useful starch or
arrow-rnot. The chief yield of Mr..
Srreule's cannaS at the pavilion will be
best evidenced by the box-office receipts.
There are a score or more of varieties
on exhibition. The Alphonse Bouver is a
beauty, with flowers of an intensely bril-
liant crimson, approaching the scarlet
The Paul Marquantis is OF peculiar salmon
scarlet color at first, but as the blossom
ina ures it develops into rosy carmine.
The President CarnOt has deep purple
foliage. with blossoms of a reddish GRIM
son. The Francois Crozy is like a bright
apricot or shaded orange. edged with a
golden yellow. just step to the right
as you enter the pavilion and see for your
self.
There are other things than cannas at
the flower show. though no exhibit is more
snowy and striking. Last year there were
nine tables of cut flowers on exhibition,
and the society thought that was wonder
full. This year the number of cut flower
tables is twenty-fonr. and the patrons are
simply bewildered by the rich profusion Of
choice blossoms.
Under the south gallery are the cut
flower exhibits Of amateur horticulturists
1t runs largely to roses. Manager Smythe
says its the biggest thing of the kind in
the world.
A table of cut wild flowers in this section
is very attractive, and next to it are
specimens of pressed wild flowers from the
hills of Berkeley.
The exhibit of orchids. just little below
the cactus tables, contains some very
beautiful specimens of this rare and costly
plant One large blossom almost pure
white save for the little yellow and purple
coloriDg in the cup was hugely admired.
1t is said 10 be the nnest specimen of the
Holy Ghost orchid ever exhibited, in this
city at least
The cut sweetpeas in the amateur sec
tion fairly rival in beauty and freshness
and fragrance, IL not In the number Of
varieties. those from Menlo Park, on the
professional side of ths house.
Manager Smythe is not little proud OF
the fact that all was in readiness at the
appointe hour, 2 o'clock yesterday after
noon. At that time the judges were ad-
mitted aud permitted to Wander about
undisturbed for full hour before the
public were allowed to enter.
One of the admirable features Of this
flower show Is that no one knows who the
judges are. The judges themselves do not
know their colleagues. In this way the
possibility of fayortiSm is reduced TO the
minimum and tho prizes are likely to be
awarded strictly on merit
Eleven prizes are offered to amateurs for
different kinds OF cut roses, one for camel
las. two for carnations, one for sweetpeas,
two icr pansies, two for cut flowers in
general, and so on down a very long list.
The prizes for amateurs and professionals
range in value from S100 to S5 The COM
petition is keen this year.
Almost in front Of the main entrance is
the Japanese exhibit. A tall mass of
variegated maple leaves is the most con-
spicuous part of the display and by far tie
prpttiest. OF many shades and colors are
these maple leaves, from the bright green
Of springtIme to the snuff brown of autumn.
In Japan the grated maple trees grow
about like that and exhibit as many differ
ent colors.
This tree is a composite maple. 1t was