i 105 IVERSTLY HARVARD UN LIBRARY OF THE GRAY HERBARIUM Received ier by NAT OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY EDITED BY D. MOBRIS,-M.A., F.L.8. & REV. W. WILKS, M.A. (TREASURER) (SECRETARY) LONDON Printed for the Ropal Horticultural Society BY SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE, E.C. 1889 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014 https://archive.org/details/journalofroyalho11roya CONTENTS. aA a Note on Hunearian Grapes: By HERR HORVATH wccccsccscecees coscesss Note on Burmese Porators. By Mr. J. WALUACE -..1.0...ssecccscsssecees REpor? on Tomators, -Curswick, 1887, 1888 ......ccccccccssccs:scssssccsses EXPERIMENTS IN GRartinc APPLES, Cuiswick, 1875-1884 ....... siates Report oN Cutna Asters, CHIswick, 1888............ Dies oie ocleteivaia ela dealers VARIETIES OF RHUBARB AT CHISWICK ....... Boake ators ataceveetnios erorery. Report on Stocks, Curswick, 1888 .......... Spisiees Tele gia wee wh liloten oesterseatecietets EXPERIMENTS IN KeEpinc Fruit in Cotp CHAMBERS ...... rrr or NorEs on: osxirracms.. By Mr. J. G. Bakr, PUR.S FLAS... cis. oces Tue CULTIVATION or Saxirraces. By Mr. Georce Pauvt, F.R.HLS...... CuLturAL AND Descriptive Notes on Saxirraces. By Mr. G. RevTHE Historica Notes on Dutcu Hyacintus. By Heer A. HE. Baarnart... THe Cuntivation or Hyactntus In Hotianp. By Heer J. H. Kersten Tue HyactnrH FRom aX EnenisH Pornt or View. By Mr. James DOTTIE oe Elena tacts joasisls vei andlvs.'aenoctecce ses enon eases Heer Tue Narcissus. By Mr. F. W. Bursines, M.A., F.L.S., M.R.LA. ...... SeEepiine Darropits. By the Rev. G. H. Encieneart, M.A., F.R.H.S. OBsERVATIONS oN PortucursE Narctsst. By Mr. Arrrep W. Tarr, F.L.S. Tur AvricuLA. By the Rev. F. D. Horner, M.A. ............. aut eeaaite ‘Orcuips: Past anp Present. By Mr. H. J. Verrcn, F.L.S., F.R.H.S.... Ow Irises. By Professor Micuarn Fostir, Sec. B.S. .......ccccceseastens ‘THH STRAWBERRY. By Mr. A. F. Barron —...........0 a exisseace eeeeeeeese STRAWBERRIES FoR Marxet. By Mr. Georce Bunyarp, F.R.H.S. ..... Tue Natrona Rose ConFreRENCE :— ApprEss by the Very Rev. the Dran or Rocuester, D.D............. Prunine Roses. By the Rev. A. Foster-Mrurar, M.A.......... ina Tur GRovpiInc oF GARDEN VARIETIES. By Mr. W. Paut, F.L.S.... Stocks ror Roses. By Mr. E. Mawtry, Hon. Sec. N.R.S. ......... Roses since 1860. By Mr. Gro. Pautu, F.R.H.S. ............ poss oaann DecorRATIVE Roses. By Mr. T. W. Grrpuestonge, F.L.S. .......00.4. R. POLYANTHA AS A Stock. By Mons. VIvIAND-MOREL ...........008+ R. CANINA FROM THE Urat MOovunNTAINS............ shies a sinensis Sodio siorsteaids Tur Borany or Rosres. By Mr. J. G. Baker, F.R.S., F.L.S. ...... MopEerN Roses anp Hysripisarion. By the Right Hon. Lorp PENZANCE ..... Was aaheny ates maaiieaess Pama Be aletaye 6 satel Pear desesetseenn 22 54 103 107 115 131 CONTENTS. Tue Nationa Rose ConrerENcE—continued. A New Curassirication or Roses. By Professor Francots Crepin Rose Construction. By Dr. Masters, F.B.S., F.L.S. ...... Sea e ee Note on AustrauiaAn Roses. By Sir F. von MuELuer............. ; Note on New Inpian Rosxs. By Dr. Georce Kina, F.R.S., F.L. s. Digest oF STaTisticaL ReruRNS aT THE CONFERENCE. By the Rev. W...Winns) MA. See ReB Sa ee: Wiseeasten sake ee eee : SYNONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS USED IN DIGEST ..............0. eacee Notes on Dicrest or Statistics. By the Rev. W. Winks, M.A.... SumMARISED REsvuuts or Statistics. By the Rev. W. Wiuxs, M.A. Notre on Stocks. By Messrs. CockEr.......... Sieet cnlyiee se Lin oaieeeaee Nore oN SpEcIES OF ROSES SHOWN AT THE CONFERENCE...... poker Note oN Books anp Drawines or RosEs At THE CONFERENCE..... Tue OntctIn oF THE FLorist’s Carnation. By Mr, Surriey Hisserp, | N28 Oh: ae ea RNS Oren tes Wie fe wSeacres Bee eee dca s area ie PracHEes AND NectTarines. By Mr. T. Francis Rivers, B RE Ses On Conirers. By Mr. W. Couemay, F.R.H.S....... hee tide eee atte ON Pears, GBy Mr-WoW inpsmian, RELS? 2.2.08 tecedsenss eee eee PROCEEDINGS AT MEETING, JANUARY 15, 1889 ............ccseenccessscccees i AnnuaL MEETING, FEBRUARY 12, 1889 .......... Merete Report oF THE Councin, 1888 .......... Savile aati Mae soe ors rocseeee ee BaLANcE SHEET AND REVENUE Accounts, 1888 ..... ET re icy ce List or DoNnATIONS TO THE SOCIETY ........ Serene saindewddahu cecen cree seeneee < Donors oF Books, 1888............ Saaedceteeane vbaue eeighabeenaaecetae ee es PLANTS AND SEEDS, 1888 ...... ated icclac rolatemee semi ProcrkEepines at Meretine, Fresruary 12, 1889..... siate's’asieluaharaace pease Reine Books, PLANTS, AND SEEDS RECEIVED TO FEBRUARY 12 ..,..........0000- CERTIFICATES AWARDED FROM JUNE 14, 1887, tro DecEMBER 31, 1888... ProcEEpines, Marcu 12 To JuNE 25, 1889 .......... ae ee re: 5S JULY '2 To DECEMBER 10, 1889 22.2... c.c.0c000e gia aaleipaten sietmin List oF Donors or Books, 1889............... shades abe a eer seis casera - RR PLANTS AND SEEDS, 1889). .ncccesesraceseeceeekeee eee CrertiricAtis AWARDED. DURING 1889 ...00.3.050-0 seeeteseaaeeues Sod xuyasae INDEX. Abies bracteata, xxxix » Nordmanniana, xcil, ci Acineta maculata, Ilxix Aciphylla squarrosa, Ixxvii Amaryllis Acquisition, xxxv * John Ruskin, xxxv 9 Sea Nymph, Ix - Terentian, xli Amorphophallus Titanum, xci Anereecum Chailluanum, exili Annual Meeting, v Anoiganthus breviflorus, xlvii Anthurium leodense, cxxi Apple, Lady, exxx Apples, Grafting Experiments, 13 » Stocks for, 13 Asarum species, Ixxxvi Asters, China, 15 Athyrium f. f. regale, lxxvii Aubrietia Leichtlinii, lx Auricula, The, 107 Balance Sheet, 1888, xiv Banksia malformed, Ixx Barley Smut, xxxix Batrachospermum moniliforme, lxxxvi Begonia A. Blanc, evi a Duchess of Teck, lxvi se Frank Beadle, cxix », Lady H. Cavendish, lxxvii ; Mrs. Cayzer, cvi Chamberlain, lxxxiii Litchie, evi S » A. Moens, cxix a Rosebud, lxxvii e Sir W. C. Brookes, lxxvii 5 Stanstead Gem, lxvi Bignonia Cherere, xcviii Books received 1888, xviii, xxv Botrytis on Lilies, xxxix Bouvardia Hogarth, cxi +3 Mrs. Robert Green, xeviii Brassia caudatal lxix Bulbs, Dormant, lxxxv Burmese Potatoes, 4 Caladium Raymond Lemoinier, lxxvii Campanula Medium calycanthema, xcv Capsicum Coral Red, xciv Carex variegata, cxxvi LB] 39 7 3’) | i Carludovica palmifolia, ex Carnation Mrs. F. Watts, xev - Origin of, 304 - Winter Cheer, exxxvii Catasetum barbatum proboscidium, liii Cattleya Brymerianum, |xxix . Gaskelliana, lxxxix _ Mendelii, lxiii, Ixxix, xevi Miss Harris, exvi 53 Trians, xliv e Warscewiczil, Cxxili Ceratitis citriperda, exxx Ceropegia Sandersoni, cxxi Certificates, xxvi Chinese Asters, 15 > ~~ Potatoes, 4 Chrysanthemum, Monstrous, ¢xxxiv Chrysanthemums: Admiral Sir T. Symonds, exxxili Alice Stevens, ¢xxxili Annie Clibran, cxxxili Annie Stevens, cxxxiii Aurora, Cxxxili Bombardier, exxxili Dorie, cxxi Effie, cxxxili Ktoile de Lyon, cxxxii Eynsford White, cxxvi Golden Shah, evi James Weston, ¢xxxiii L’Automne, cxxxili Lune Fleuri, cxxxiii Maud Pitcher, exi Miss M. A. Haggas, exxxii Mme. E. A. Cavrriére, cxxxiii Mons. Bernard, exxxili 5, Charles Lebocqz, exxvi Mrs. Alpheus Hardy, cxxxii » Falconer Jameson, cxxxili ,, Judge Benedict, exxxii Nelson, cxxvi Rose Owen, exxxiii Souvenir de Londres, cxxxiii Stanstead Surprise, cxxvi Stanstead White, cxxxiii Thomas Stephenson, cxxxiii Violet Tomlin, exxxii W. Neville, exxvi elii Clematis vitalba, exxxvi Clivia John Laing, xli » Lady Wolverton, xxxv Coeoanut coccus, xlv Coelia bella, exxxvili Cold Storage of Fruit, 23 Coleus Cleopatra, cxv » BHureka, lx Conifers, 320 ze Diseases of, 334 - Names of, 331, 332 Cornus sibirica Spathi, xevili Crinum Kirkii, lxvi Crocus, ephemeral roots, xl Cultivated Saxifrages, 27 Cultivation of Saxifrages, 37-40 Culture of Strawberries, 156 Cunonia capensis, lxvi Cyclamen Prince of Wales, xxxv Cymbidium eburneo—Lowianum, xxxv Cypripedium Galatea majus, cxxxix . Lathamianum, xxi a Niobe, exxxix ee nitidissimum, 1|xiii fe picturatum, cxxili 2 Rothschildianum, xxxiv T.B. Haywood, cxxxix Cyrtanthus sanguineus, Cxix Cyrtomium falcatum Fensomi, xevili Dactylopius in Egypt, exlii Daffodils, 70 Rot of, lvi Dahlia Alice Emily, cxii », Centenary, cxv », Conquest, cxv ,, Crimson Globe, exii » EF. L. Temple, cxi » Gulielma, cxv » Hester Dorothea, exv » James Scobie, evi » #ohn Hickling, exii », Marchioness of Bute, exi ,, Marmion, exyv » Panthea, exi » Reliance, exii W. C. Harvey, evi Decorative Roses, 194 Delphinium Arditi, lxxxiii Banquo, lxxxvili - Britannia, Ixxxvili be Faust, lxxxili - Orbit, lxxxiii ‘ Regalia, lxxxiii i Sir T. Lawrence, Ixxxiii The Shah, Ilxxxiii Dendrobium euosmum leucopterum, lili ie melanodiscus, xliv INDEX. Dendrobium micans, xliii revolutum, xcix Dianthus, 304 a Snowflake, exvi Diplosis pyrivora, lxxxvi Disa lacera, iv Disperis Fanninis, cxvi Disuéa Grape, 4 Donations, List of, xviii Dormant Bulbs, lxxxv Doucin Stock, 13 Dracena Doucetti, lxvi Dutch Hyacinths, 49 Epidendrum sceptrum, exxvil Epiphyllum Makoyanum, lix Evergreen Hedges of Conifers, 333 Excecaria Fruits, exlili Experiments in Grafting, 13 Ferns, Hybrid, liv Fog, Effect on Plants, xlv, lvil, exxx, exlii Fragaria, 150 Fraxinus monophylla, iv ra fasciated, iv _ Fritillary Bulbs dormant, Ixxxy Frost injuring Trees, xlvii, xxxviii Fruit, Cold Storage of, 23 Fuchsia, Dorothy Fry, ]xxxiii Galanthus Elwesi, xxiv, xxxix, xlvi Galls on Eucalyptus, lxiv Garden Roses, 175, 194 Gentiana Amarella, exxxi Gladiolus Alsace, evi s André Chenier evii = Duchess of Fife, exi - nanceianus, cv - Vulso, exi Grafting Experiments, 13 Grapes, Blaue Urbanitraube, 3 » Blue Cologne, 3 5 Count of Meran, 1 _ Disuéa, 4 » Grey Cologne, 3 » Hungarian, 1 », Large Cologne, 3 »» Magnifique de Nikita, 3 » Malaga, 2 9 Mrs. Pearson, ii + Muscat Bretonneau, 3 aa Musket, 4 - Okérszem Fehér, 1 », Oreg Kadarka, 2 , Oreg Tardovany, 2 a Stockwood Golden Hambro’,2 5, Uva regina rubra, 1 » Volovna, 2 Hemanthus hirsutus, exlili Hedges, Evergreen, 333 {NDEX. Hippeastrum, Double, Ixxxvi Hoar Frost injuring Trees, xxxviil, xlvili Hollyhock Delicata, cxi Hungarian Grapes, 1 Hyacinths, Best Varieties of, 69 5 cultivated in England, 63 e 5 » Holland, 54 - History of, 49 . Yellow Hammer, xlii Hybrid Ferns, liv Hybridisation of Roses, 209 Icerya Purchasi, iii Indian Roses, 229 Trises, 131 Tris laevigata, xciv ,, Rosenbachiana, xxxv Kachin Potatoes, 4 Keeping Fruit in cold, 23 Lelia autumnalis alba, cxxix ,, Dellensis, xxix ,, Digbyana—Mossie, lxvii , elegans, e¢xill 5, preestans alba, cxxii 5, purpurata, dimerous, ]lxxxvi Cattleya Palles, cxxxix Lilium martagon album, Ixxxvili » pardalinum luteum yeiv XCh » Wallichianum superbum, Ixxxvili Lycaste plana, cxxili 3 Schilleriana, liii Magnifique de Nikita Grape, 3 Malaga Grape, 2 Market Strawberries, 156 Masdevallia Ellisiana, lxxxix Fe vespertilio, exvi Maxillaria fuscata, xcix MignonetteGaraway’s Double White, lx Miltonia vexillaria Leopoldi, Ixvi 5 purpurea, lili Mimulus grandis, Ixvii Muscat Bretonneau Grape, 2 Musket Strawberries, 156 Negelia pyramidale, evi Narcissus, Best Varieties, 91, 101 ae Culture of, 87 . Double, 88 = History of the, 70 i Hybrid, 80 $5 Portuguese, 103 + Seedlings, 85, 93 7 Species, 78 Nectarines, 310 Nepenthes Curtisii superba, cv Notes on Saxifrages, 27 Odontoglossum grande, exxvii - Pescatorei, xx cliii Odontoglossum Thomsonianum, Ixii Okérszem Fehér Grape, 1 Oncidium bifolium, lii a crispum var. grandiflora, xcv Be hematochilum, lxxix i superbiens, xhii Ophrys Bertolinii, lxii Orchid Bug, ili » Culture, 115 _ 4, Nomenclature, 130, Ixxxiv Oveg Kadarka Grape 2 » Tardovany Grape, 2 Oxalis sp., liv, lxiii Peonia Moutan Agenoria, lxxvii ,, Leonard Kelway, Ixxvii 5, lobata (?), lxxvil ,, Princess Christian, lxxxiii 4 Trene, Ixxxili Pansy Golden Crown, lxvil Papaver nudicaule sulphureum, cxi Paradise Stock, 13 Peaches, 310 - with Scale Insect, Ixx Pears, 339 Pelargonium Duke of Fife, evii 3 Indian Yellow, lxxvii 3 Souvenir de Mirande, Ixxvii disease, cil Physosiphon Loddigesii, xevi Pinetum, Formation of, 322 Pink Her Majesty, Ixvi Pinus austriaca, ¢ , Ayacahuité, exliii Plants presented, xix, xxv, exliv Poa pratensis, xcli Ponthieva maculata, lxix Potatoes, Burmese, 4 - Chinese, 4 i Kachin, 4 ae Shan, 4 Primrose Blue Gem, xxxv 3 G. F. Wilson, 1x 3 Quakeress, Ix 5 The Mikado, xlii Primroses, Blue, lv Primula petiolaris, xxxv Primula Sieboldi : General Gordon, 1x Miss Nellie Barnard, lx Mrs. Ryder, lx Queen of the Whites, lx Primula sinensis : Imperial White, xxxv Miss Inez, ii Princess Mary, ii Swanley Mauve, i Viscosa splendens, Ix cliv Pruning Pears, 334 5 Roses, 165 Pteris leptophylla princeps, exxvi »» serrulata densa, cx ~ :, plumosa, xevili ,. tremula Smithiana, cv Pyrethrum Albert Victor, lxxvii = Pericles, Ixxxiil Report of the Council 1888, viii Retinospora filifera aurea, xciv Rhodanthe maculata alba, xciv 2 fl. pl., xciv Rhododendron Aspasia, ¢xxl he Duchess of Fife, evi Her Majesty, lx + Ophelia, cxi ms Virgil, cxix 7 and Azalea hybrids, CXX1X, CXXXV Hybrid, exli Rhubarb varieties, 20 Rime on Trees, xlvii Rosa canina var., 205 », polyantha, 201 » simplicifolia, lxxxvi, xci Rose Claire Jacquier, Ix » Conference, 162 » Gloire de Margottin, 1 », Lanecastrian, cili » Silver Queen, lxvii », souvenir de §. A. Prince, ]xxxili Roses, Australian, 229 » Books on, 301 » Botany of, 205 » Classification of, 175, 217 » Construction of, 228 » Decorative, 194 » Groups of, 175, 217 » Hybridisation of, 209 » indian, 229 » Pruning, 165 » since 1860, 189, 209 » Species of, 300 » Statistics of, 231, 287 » stocks for, 185, 201, 299 » Synonyms, 283 Rubus occidentalis, cili Saccolabium cerinum, lxix Sarracenia decora, cx INDEX. Satyrium carneum, cxi Saxifraga Malyi, xli Saxifrages, Cultivated, 27 - Cultivation of, 37, 40 a Hybrid, 36 a List-of Cultivated, 32 Sclerotinia on Snowdrops, ly Seedling Sugar-canes, exhi Seeds presented to R.H.S., xix, xxv, exliv Shan Potatoes, 4 Shortia galacifolia, xlii, xlvii Shrubs, Coniferous, 320 Skimmia Fortunei, lxx ~ japonica, xxiv, xxxiv Sobralia xantholeuca, var. alba, xcix Spireza gigantea, xcvili Stocks, 22 Stocks for Apples, 13 » Roses, 185, 201, 299 Stookwood Golden Hambro’ Grape, 2 Storage of Fruit, 23 Strawberries for Market, 160 Strawberry, The, 150 Struthiopteris pennsylvanica recurva, lxxvii Sweet Peas, xcix . Williams, xev Taxus adpressa variegata, cx Temperature, lxiv 2 Underground, lvii Tomatoes, 6 Torreya myristica, lxxxvi Trees, Coniierous, 320 »5 injured by Frost, xxxvili Tritonia securigera, cvii Tulipa Leichtlini, lx Underground Temperature, lvii Ustilago segetum, xxxix Uva regina rubra Grape, 1 Vanda Amesiana, i » Kimballiana, i Verbascum olympicum, 1xxxiii Veronica Fairfieldii, lxxvi Vine leaves rot, lvi Volovna Grape, 2 Watsonia iridifolia O’Brieni, cxv rosea, Cxi Winter Moth, Capture of, iv, Ixx JOURNAL OF THE RovaL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. NOTES ON SAXIFRAGES. By Mr. J. G. Baxsr, F.R.S., F.L.S. [Read March 12, 1889.] My function to-day is, I believe, partly to give a short lecture, and partly to start a discussion. I have not made a special study of Saxifrages, but they are a set of plants which are so prominent in gardens and in the flora of the north temperate zone that anyone working at botany soon gets to know a good deal about them. I think that discussions between cultivators on the one hand, and botanists on the other, ought to be really useful. At any rate, speaking as a botanist, I can bear testimony that as soon as I begin to study any genus of garden plants, whether it be Lilium or Iris, or Crocus or Narcissus, or Aqui- legia or Helleborus, I very soon find that there are many things which throw light upon the relationship of the types and their geographical distribution and modes of propagation which seem at first sight elementary, but which I do not understand fully and clearly ; and then, if I can, I get hold of some cultivator who works with his eyes open and catechise him freely. As I pass on my way to-day I will illustrate what I mean by asking a few questions of this kind as they naturally arise. Alpine plants.—What are called in gardens “ Alpine plants ”’ are a group which possess a wonderful history, and which in geographical botany are recognised as forming a distinctly- marked class. It would appear that the last great geological revolution, reaching in its effects over the whole of the north temperate zone, has been a change from a much colder climate to the present state of things; that before this change a large proportion of the species, as they now stand, were in existence ; and that when the change came they retreated from the low G 28 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. levels of the north temperate zone to the north, and up the high mountains. At the present day a large number of the charac- teristic plants of our British mountains, the Pyrenees, the Alps, the Himalayas, and the Rocky Mountains of North America, grow also in the Arctic zone. It is estimated that in Europe alone there are not less than one thousand plants out of ten thousand that belong to this group, the three specially repre- sentative genera of which are Primula, Gentiana, and Saxifraga. Geographical Distribution.—The following table will give a general idea of the distribution of Saxifrages. It is taken, with trifling alteration, from the excellent monograph of the genus which was published in 1862 by Professor Engler. He defines 166 species, and adding to this the Bergenias, which he excludes from the genus, and the new species which have been discovered in Central Asia, the number will be raised to 180. These are distributed as follows :— Species Central European Alps : ; : : . 42 Himalayas . . : tg Pyrenees. : : é : : oe Carpathians : : : : . 2 Rocky Mountains ; ae China . : ; . : ! : z ao an Apennines . : : : : : op Eastern Siberia . : : : . < a pil Southern Spain . : : : : + ie Roumelia and Greece . : : ; 3 ee Scandinavia . : 2 p : i ; RK Caucasus . : E . : . ie France west of tis Thin : : : ’ runiGe Britain : : ’ ; : : sae i ie Altai . : ; . : : : Ree | Jura . ; . oe : : Stas! South American ales : Oa!” Australia, New Zealand, and the ba : ae The species which are spread through the whole of the north temperate zone are nine in number, and out of this seven are British. The British cosmopolites are cernua, Hirculus, stellaris, tridactylites, nivalis, oppositifolia, and cespitosa; and NOTES ON SAXIFRAGES. 99 the two that are not British are hieracifolia and Aizoon. Of course we might easily discuss the whole question of the history and dispersion of these arctic-alpine types, starting from Saxi- fraga as a text, but we have not time for that; I will only point out that the distribution of Saxifraga agrees in broad general outline with that of Primula; and that both genera, using the Andes as a bridge, reach South America. Gentiana also does this, and comes out far more strongly in the Andes, and in addition reaches the mountains of Australia and New Zealand. In this connection I will ask to what extent in cultivating Saxifrages you rely upon seed for extending your stocks. A small number increase rapidly by means of bulbille, and others by vegetative growth. How do you account for Saxifraga umbrosa, a plant with a very limited range in a wild state, standing so well the drought and smoke of our London gardens ; and 8. oppositifolia, which a botanist would class as an alpine of alpines, which grows naturally where there are only a few months from snow-time to snow-time, making itself so completely at home on a London rockery ? Garden Saxvfrages.—Out of the 180 species we have just about half in cultivation. Iam sorry that in consequence of its being so early in the year our exhibition of living plants to-day is of necessity such a small one. There are a great many names in the garden catalogues of which Botany knows nothing. As this paper will be printed in the Proceedings of our Society, I thought the best thing I could do would be to give a classified catalogue of the cultivated species, with their names and native countries. Ihave followed Engler’s classification and adopted his numbers, so that the blanks will show roughly where the non-cultivated species fall. The great bulk of the cultivated species come under six out of the sixteen groups. Three out of these six have the cotyledons tipped and the leaves more or less bordered with glands, and the three others are without them. Of the non-foveolate groups Dactyloides includes twenty-one species. These are marked by their mossy habit, copious trail- ing leafy shoots, palmately divided leaves, and few corymbose flowers, with petals usually large and white. The best known species of this group are hypnoides, ceratophylla, and czspi- tosa with its numerous varieties. Two fine large flowered-types of recent introduction are Camposii and Maweana. The second G2 30 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. non-foyeolate group is Robertsonia, which only includes three species, umbrosa, Geum, and cuneifolia. The third is Bergenia (called Megasea by Haworth), which is confined to the Western Himalayas and mountains of Siberia, and is very clearly separ- ated from all the other groups by its red unspotted petals, thick rootstocks, and large undivided leaves of firm texture. Of the foveolate groups the best known is Euaizoonia (or crustaceous Saxifrages), in which the densely rosulate leaves are margined with numerous chalk-secreting pores, and the numerous flowers form ample erect panicles. The most widely spread species of this group is 8. Aizoon. For purposes of cultivation, Cotyledon, florulenta, longifolia, and lingulata are the finest. Several of the species have a restricted range amongst the mountains of Southern Europe. I should like to know how far these need carbonate of lime for their successful cultivation. In Kabschia, under which eighteen cultivated species fall (of which we may take S. Burseriana as a type), the leaf-glands are much fewer and less conspicuous, the flowers fewer, and the leafy shoots last for many years, and are thickly beset down below the fresh leaves with the relics of the old ones. In Porphyrion, which includes oppositifolia and three other high alpine species, the leaves are opposite and decussate, and the red or purple flowers solitary on short leafy peduncles. In the small Chinese and Japanese group Diptera there are long creeping stolons, and the spotted petals are very unequal in size. The Californian 8. pel- tata has large peltate leaves like that of a Rhubarb or Gunnera. I do not think there are many species not yet introduced that are worth much from a garden point of view. Out of the thirty- five Himalayan species, which are mostly endemic, twenty-six have not yet been introduced. Structure of the Ovary.—A difference in the structure of the ovary upon which botanists greatly rely for purposes of classifi- cation is overlooked very easily by a casual observer. There are in the genus three distinct types as regards the cohesion of the ovary and calyx-tube. ‘T’o take our illustrations from the wild British species, in Geum, umbrosa, stellaris, and Hirculus, the carpels are entirely distinct from the calyx-tube. In the species of this group the calyx is sometimes reflexed when the flower is fully expanded. In hypnoides, granulata, aizoides, and oppo- sitifolia, the lower part of the carpels is fused with the calyx- NOTES ON SAXIFRAGES. 31 tube. In 5S. tridactylites the ovary is entirely inferior, there is no free tube, and the stamens are epigynous, as in Ribes and Philadelphus. Saxifraga is the only genus.J remember in which there is every transition between a superior and an inferior ovary. In other respects the structure of the flower is very uni- form, except that in a few species the petals are unequal, and in florulenta the carpels are three instead of two. The stamens are always ten, five opposite the petals and five opposite the calyx-segments, the filiform filaments exceeding in length the two-celled anthers, which dehisce longitudinally ; but this differ- ence in the cohesion of calyx-tube with ovary is a character which in systematic Botany is usually regarded as so important that plants that differ in this way are not classed in the same natural order. Petals.—We may roughly classify the Saxifrages under three groups, according to the colour of the petals: pure white, as in hypnoides and granulata ; white dotted with small spots of red, as in umbrosa and stellaris; and bright red or bright purple or bright yellow, as in aizoides, Hirculus, and oppositifolia. I should lke to ask whether this difference in the colour of the flower is at all correlated with its attractiveness to insects. According to the observations of Hermann Miller, some of the bright-coloured species, in their native homes amongst the mountains, are visited by an extraordinary number and variety of insects. He gives a catalogue of 126 species which he has observed to visit the bright yellow flowers of S. aizoides. Hight of these are Coleoptera (beetles), 85 Diptera (flies), 20 Hymeno- ptera (bees), and 13 Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths). To what extent are the flowers of the garden Saxifrages visited by insects ? What relation, if any, have the red dots on the white petals of several of the species to insect fertilisation. The glandulosity of the calyx must interpose a barrier to small wing- less insects creeping up into the flower from below, Fertilisation and Hybridity.—There are not nearly so many hybrids in Saxifraga as in Primula. I give in an appendix a list of the principal hybrids known in cultivation, with their par- entage. In some of these—as, for instance, between media and aretioides, there exists a series of forms leading gradually from one specific type to the other. In other cases—for instance, Andrewsii—the hybrid type is uniform and equidistant between 32 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. its parents, I believe most of these hybrids are wild, and that very few hybrid Saxifrages have been raised in cultivation. Saxifrages may be classified, some as protandrous and some as protogynous. I give a sketch of each of the two types, copied from woodcuts in Hermann Miiller’s ‘“ Alpenblumen.” But in diplostemenous flowers the two rows of stamens do not open and shed the pollen at the same time, and I incline to believe that what insects generally do with Saxifrages is to convey the pollen to the stigma of the same flower, and that cross-fertilisa- tion is much less frequent here than in the heterostylous isostemenous Primulas. This is a question to which further observation may be suitably directed. But if I am to keep within the limits of the time that has been allotted to me, I must conclude. I have asked or suggested a great many questions. Of course I do not expect them to be answered off-hand on the spot by members of the present company; but I think you will agree with me that the genus furnishes a field for a wide range of observation, deduction, and speculation A CLASSIFIED LIST OF CULTIVATED SAXIFRAGES, ARRANGED AFTER ENGLER’S MONOGRAPH. Section BerGENIA, Moench (Mrcasma, Haw.) (excluded from Saxifraga by Engler). crassifolia, Linn. Siberia. cordifolia, Haw. hgulata, Wall. Himalayas. ciliata, Wall. thysanodes, Lindl. Stracheyi, Hk. fil. & Thoms. Himalayas. Milesii, Baker. purpurascens, Hk. fil. & Thoms. Himalayas. Section 1.—CyMBALARIA, Griseb. 3. Cymbalaria, Linn. Asia Minor, Persia, W. Himalayas. Section 2.—TRIDACTYLITES, Haw. 7. tridactylites, Linn. N. temp. zone. 8. adscendens, Linn. Europe, N. America. jae 12. 15. 16. 1We 20. al: Alte 28. 32. o4, 42, 44, 48. 49. 50. 61. 62. 63. 65. 66. 68. 69. (OE 71. 72. NOTES ON SAXIFRAGES. 33 Section 3.—NEPHROPHYLLUM, Gaud. biternata, Boiss. Spain. arachnoidea, Sternb. ‘Tyrol. lactea, Turez. Siberia. irrigua, M.B. Caucasus. Cossoniana, B. & R. Spain. eranulata, Linn. Hurope, Himalayas. odontophylla, Wall. Himalayas. cernua, Linn. N. temp. zone. latepetiolata, Willk. Spain. Section 4.—PrttipHyiium, Hngler. peltata, Torrey. California. Section 5.—IsomeEriA, Torrey & Gray. aconitifolia, F. & G. Carolina. Section 6.—MiscorreTatum, Haw. rotundifolia, Linn. Europe, Asia Minor. Section 7.—Hircuuus, Tausci. Hirculus, Linn. N. temp. zone. diversifolia, Wall. Himalayas. Section 8.—Borapuina, Engl. stellaris, Linn. N. temp. zone. Clusii, Gouan. France; N. Spain. leucanthemifolia, Mich. N. America. virginiensis, Mich. N. America. ! nivalis, Linn. N. temp. zone. davurica, Pall. N. Asia. integrifolia, Hook. N. America. pennsylvanica, L. N. America. hieracifolia, W. & K. N. temp. zone. Section 9.—Diptera, Borkh. sarmentosa, Linn. fil. Japan. cuscuteformis, Lodd. China. Fortunei, Hook. China. cortusefolia, L. & Z. Japan. 34 104. . Seguieri, Spreng. Cent. Europe. 106. 107. ih br 118. 119. 120. 123. 129. JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Section 10.—DactytomwsEs, Zausch. . aquatica, Lap. Pyrenees. . ajugefolia, Linn. Pyrenees. . perdurans, Kit. Carpathians. . pedemontana, All. Cent. Europe. . pedatifida, Ehrh. §.E. France. . geranioides, Linn. Pyrenees and Auvergne. . cuneata, Willd. Spain. . Camposii, B. & R. Spain. (Wallacei, Hort.) . trifurcata, Schrad. Spain. . pentadactylis, Lap. Pyrenees. . moschata, Wulf. Cent. Europe. . exarata, Vill. Cent. Europe. Maweana, Baker. Morocco. . cespitosa, Linn. N. temp. zone. Sternbergii, Willd. hirta, Don. ~——— decipiens, Ehrh. . hypnoides, Linn. Europe. sponhemica, Gmel. quinquefida, Haw. . conifera, Coss. & Durieu. Spain. . spathulata, Desf. Atlas. 102. muscoides, All. Cent. Europe. Facchinii, Koch. androsacea, Linn. Eur. and Asia. sedoides, Linn. Cent. Europe. aphylla, Sternb. Cent. Europe. Section 11.—TrRacHYPHYLLUM, Gaud. tenella, Wulf. Cent. Europe. aspera, Linn. Cent. Europe. —-—-. bryoides, Linn. bronchialis, Linn. Asia; N. Amer. tricuspidata, Retz. N. Amer. aizoides, Linn. N. temp. zone. flagellaris, Willd. N. temp. zone. 130. 131. 132. 133. 154. 135. 136. 137. 138. 139. 140. 141. 142. 143. 144. 145. 146. 147. 148. 149. 151. 152. 153. 154. 155. NOTES ON SAXIFRAGES. 35 Section 12.—RosertsoniAa, Haw. umbrosa, Linn. Ireland and Pyrenees. cuneifolia, Linn. Europe. Geum, Linn. Ireland; Pyrenees. hirsuta, Linn. elegans, Mack. Section 13.—EvaizooniaA, Schott. longifoha, Lap. Pyrenees. lingulata, Bell. §. Europe. lantoscana, B. & R. catalaunica, B. & R. cochlearis, Reich. crustata, Vest. South Europe. Hostu, Tausch. South Europe. elatior, M. & K. altissima, Kerner. Austrian Alps. Aizoon, Linn. N. temp. zone. Malyi, 8. N. &K. Cotyledon, Linn. Through Europe. florulenta, Moretti. Marit. Alps. mutata, Linn. Central Europe. Kolenatiana, Regel. Siberia. Section 14.—Kaxscura, Hngler. media, Gouan. South Europe. luteo-viridis, 8. & K. Austrian Alps. levis, M.B. Caucasus. | Kotschyi, Boiss. West Asia. aretioides, Lap. Pyrenees, Savoy. scardica, Griseb. Greece and Turkey. Rocheliana, Sternb. Austrian Alps. coriophylla, Griseb. marginata, Sternb. Greece. diapensioides, Bell. Alps. imbricata, Royle. Himalayas. squarrosa, Lieber. Cent. Europe. cesia, Linn. Cent. Kurope. valdensis, D.C. Savoy. 36 157. 158. 159. 160. 161. 163. 164. 165. 166. JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Tombeanensis, Boiss. Tyrol. Vandellii, Sternb. §. Europe. Burseriana, Linn. Cent. Europe. sancta, Griseb. Mt. Athos. juniperifolia, Adams. Caucasus. Section 15.—Poreuyrion, Tausch. oppositifolia, L. N. temp. zone. Rudolphiana, Hornsch. biflora, All. Through Europe. macropetala, Kern. Alps. retusa, Gouan. Europe. List of the Principal Cultwated Hytrid Saxifrages, with their 13 2. oO OF Rm © Parentage. ambigua, D.C., between media and aretioides. Andrewsii, Haw., between umbrosa and Aizoon. Guthrieana, Hort. . capitata, Lap., between aquatica and ajugeefolia. . Churchillii, Huter, between Aizoon and Hostii. . Engleri, Huter and Porta, between crustata and Hostii. . Hausmanni, Kerner, between mutata and aizoides, quite intermediate. . Kochi, Hornung, between oppositifolia and biflora. . luteo-purpurea, Lap. (Friderici-Augusti, Hort. not. Biasol.), between aretioides and media. . patens, Gaud., between cesia and aizoides. orice, Eduter. : . Regelii, Kerner, between mutata and aizoides, nearer the latter. . Reyeri, Huter, between tenella and sedoides. . tyrolensis, Kerner, between cesia and squarrosa. . Zimmiteri, Kerner, between Aizoon and cuneifolia. THE CULTIVATION OF SAXIFRAGES. 37 THE CULTIVATION OF SAXIFRAGES. By Mr. Grorce Pauu, F.R.H.S., Cheshunt. [Read March 12, 1889.] At the request of the Secretary, I venture to add a few words to the interesting paper just read by Mr. Baker. In practical gardening Saxifrages are a very useful and decorative family. As the majority are mountain plants, they serve particularly well in the decoration of rock gardens, and in such positions they are amongst the earliest flowers to brighten the approach of spring. Such species as §. Burseriana and §. luteo-purpurea (the latter better known under its synonym of Friderici-Augusti) open with the slightest sun aid early in February. 5S. sancta follows these promptly. We have then the various forms of S. oppositifolia, comprising the most widely-spread of all English mountain Saxifrages. As a rule Saxifrages are easily grown, and it is only necessary to observe one or two leading principles in their culture. There are a few sorts that require moist conditions, and which, colloquially, may be called bog Saxifrages. These may be at once enumerated. We have 5. peltata revelling on the edges of ponds, where its roots may reach the water. We have also S. Hirculus, which is a yellow-flowered bog species of dwarf habit. And, lastly, we have S. granulata and its double form, found both in the Lea and Thames marshes, and S. diversifolia. All other species, in a general sense, may be described as requiring to be grown on thrown-up soil, that is, on ground higher than the ordinary level, to escape all chances of stagnant mois- ture. Under such conditions they grow freely, are hardy—tresist- ing any amount of cold—provided only they are not water-logged. During the season of growth they like plenty of water, but after that it is necessary the conditions should become drier, in order to prepare for the next flowering season. One of the most interesting sections of this family is that known as the Encrusted Saxifrages. In this the leaves are of a tufted habit, jewelled, so to speak, with silvery dots (of carbonate of lime), so that even when not in flower they are beautiful 38 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. objects. I have found these thrive best under culture, either in pots, placed in a sunny open place, or planted on rocky buttresses standing out from the face of the rockwork. These buttresses may be formed of rocky débris of limestone or granite (the plants appear to thrive equally well on either), but it is necessary that the roots should be able to penetrate to a good depth. Others may be planted in situations fully exposed to the sun on the sides or upper surfaces amongst broken stones ; whilst the beau- tiful 8. longifolia of the Pyrenees prefers to be planted vertically between stones, and for choice looking towards the west. Other sorts in this section, such as §. Aizoon and varieties, S. lanto- scana, §. pyramidalis, will thrive anywhere on rocky walls; whilst a special few, such as the beautiful 8S. Burseriana and S. cesia, always impatient of moisture, need the highest and best-drained situations that can be giventhem. Once established in such situations, plants of this section form dense tufts of silvery foliage often from 6 inches to 1 foot in diameter. They bloom abundantly during the months of April, May, and June, the flowers being mostly white, but sometimes, as in 8. Macnabi- ana, with carmine or red spots on the petals. Success in the culture of these plants depends on the use of gritty or sandy soil, on good drainage, an open sunny aspect, and plenty of water in summer whilst the plants are in a growing state. The most ornamental of the Encrusted Saxifrages, including also the smaller growing sorts, are: S. aretioides and varieties ; S. Burseriana, S. cesia, S. carinthiaca, S. lantoscana, S. crustata, S. diapensioides, 8. luteo-purpurea, 8. Malyi, 8. mar- ginata (one of the prettiest of all), 8. patens, S. Rocheliana, and S. squarrosa. The larger growing sorts with good spikes of flowers are §. Aizoon and its many varieties, S. carniolica, 8S. Cotyledon, 8. longifolia and varieties, S. lantoscana, S. Macnabi- ana, and §. pyramidalis. The last is not quite hardy, but it is an excellent pot plant, and is very much grown by market gardeners. The Saxifrages with round, fleshy leaves, of which the common London Pride (S. umbrosa) is a familiar example, are of easy culture. They do well as border plants, and spread freely where they have warmth and moisture. Hence they are very suitable to plant in beds at the foot of the rock garden. S. granulata, our Marsh Saxifrage, requires the dampest nooks. THE CULTIVATION OF SAXIFRAGES. 39 S. rotundifolia likes places almost as damp as S. granulata. Of this group the most ornamental, in addition to those already named, are §. Geum, 5S. virginica, 5. Andrewsu, S. capillipes, S. taygetea—the latter a very pretty variety of S. rotundifolia, and like Soldanella minima in habit. In the section of Mossy Saxifrages, with vivid green foliage and white fragrant flowers, the plants luxuriate in moist but well drained and cool situations ; for choice, say, on the northern or eastern wall or slope of rocks. They are very suitable as edging to beds under shade, and ferneries. When well grown they form beautiful green carpets, especially in autumn. The most ornamental kinds are §. ajugefolia, S. Camposii, S. hypnoides, S. Lindseana, 8. tenella, 5. Whitlavi, and the beauti- ful exception, as to colour, 8. muscoides purpurea, which has reddish-crimson flower buds and flowers. The group of which 8. oppositifolia is the type contains plants very difficult to grow well. They are inhabitants of our highest mountains, and are probably survivors of the flowers of the glacial period. They are found only near mountain tops; and in our warm, lowland climate they require very careful treatment to keep them alive through a hot summer. When well grown, they form dense matted tufts, and when in bloom they are very striking objects. The flowers are large in comparison with the foliage, and are produced generally in great abundance during the months of March and April. These plants should have a well-drained or, in other words, a deeply drained soil, a declivity with a northern aspect, and plenty of granite or slate chips distributed on the surface. The soil in which they are planted should be gritty loam, also freely mingled with eranite chips. Of this group §. pyrenaica seems the most difficult to grow. As pot-plants, all the oppositifolias are very beautiful. They should have at least one-third of the pot filled with granite chips for drainage, and the rest with gritty loam. They should have copious supplies of water in the summer, to keep them in perfect health. They can stand full exposure to light and air, but the less hot sun the better. The best varieties are 9. oppositifolha major—a discovery of Mr. James Backhouse on our English mountains—and §. oppositifolia pyrenaica, of which there are two fine-flowered forms, known in gardens as maxima, and superba. 40 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. IT do not know to which section S. sancta belongs—it does not flower well with me. I should therefore be glad of any hints which more successful growers can give, to ensure success with this very interesting species. The Megasvzeas, or large-leaved and large-flowered section, sometimes not included amongst the true Saxifrages, are well known to everyone. They grow easily every- where. The finest forms are S. cordifolia purpurea (Miss Hope’s variety), the lovely and early-flowering S. Stracheyi, which is hardy, but apt to be cut off with spring frosts, and the Himalayan S. purpurascens. The last two require to be grown on warm, sunny borders. There are, in this section, many pretty hybrids, raised by Max Leichtlin and others. Of these, I would mention S. speciosa with flesh-coloured flowers, and 8. Ingleresti, which is the earliest to flower after S. Stracheyi. I may mention that in the preparation of this short paper I am indebted to the practical help of Mr. Pritchard, under whose care the fine collection, formed by the late Mr. Atkins of Pains- wick, which passed to me, has suffered no deterioration. CULTURAL AND DESCRIPTIVE NOTES ON THE GENUS SAXIFRAGA. By Mr. G. Revutrue, Tottenham. [Read March 12, 1889.] As the scientific aspects of this genus have already been treated of, I shall content myself with drawing attention to a few of the best members of it suitable for decorative and garden purposes, and I shall endeavour to give a few hints in regard to their cultivation. Before attempting to grow Saxifrages, or, indeed, any plants, we ought to know something of their requirements—whether they are found in their native habitats in moist, dry, shady, or sunny positions. Jor instance, if we plant §. Fortunei and S. longifolia in the same position, it would undoubtedly end in failure with either the one or the other. We find the species of the Euaizoonia and Kabschia sections (representing the encrusted Saxifrages), which, in my opinion, are the most interesting and showy of this genus, are, with few exceptions, natives of the CULTURAL AND DESCRIPTIVE NOTES ON THE GENUS SAXIFRAGA. 4] higher Alpire regions, covering the most inaccessible peaks, erowing in fissures and on débris of rocks, at an altitude of from 6,000 feet to 9,000 feet. These mostly prefer limestone rocks, although a large number also grow on granite, gneiss, dolomite, marble, and even sandstone. Again, 8. oppositifolia is, found erowing on high mountains on the shady and damp side of rocks, often covering large areas with a beautiful carpet. On the other hand, 8. petrea and §. hederacea inhabit deep, dark, and damp caves of a very low temperature. §. Fortunei, 8. pennsyl- vanica, 8. peltata, and others are found growing in swamps and low and damp ground, whilst members of the section Megasxa» are found both on exposed hills and in valleys. The most favourable time for replanting and propagation, either by division or seed, is in the early spring. A few of the mossy Saxifrages and the more robust of the encrusted species might be propagated almost at any time. The propagation by division is best done in the open, in light sandy soil under a hand-light. Under such circumstances the plants soon make roots; but some should be left here for at least a year before being removed. Seeds should be sown early in February under a bell-glass in light soil, and kept fairly damp ; the young seedlings should be pricked out in pans or in a frame under glass, and left there until they are large enough for planting or potting. Plants raised in this way are more vigorous and less liable to die than collected plants. The following are the best and most distinct kinds of Saxifrages :— Sect. Evarzoonis, Schott. Plants belonging to this and the section Kabschia, as repre- senting the encrusted species, although, as I mentioned before, natives of high altitudes, and almost invariably found growing on limestone, are easily managed, even in our smoky London climate. Some of the more difficult subjects should be planted on the rockery ; the more vigorous, such as S. longifolia, S. Aizoon, 8. Cotyledon, &c., do fairly well as border plants in light soil mixed with pieces of limestone and sand, and some of these make beautiful pot plants. S. longifolia, Lap.—This is perhaps the most popular and certainly one of the finest of this section. The leaves are long, glaucous, and arranged in rosettes. The flowers are pure white, 49 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. slightly spotted with purple, arranged in a pyramidal panicle a foot or more in height. Hab. Pyrenees, limestone rocks. S. crustata, Vest.—A very pretty species; leaves spatulate and glaucous, in small rosettes; flowers white. Hab. Alps of Tyrol and Carinthia. S. Hostii, Tausch.—Leaves glaucous and crenulate, arranged in rosettes; the flowers paniculate; white, spotted with purple. Hab. Maritime Alps, on limestone rocks. S. lingulata, Bell—Allied to 8. longifolia. Leaves spatu- late, in rosettes. Flowers in a corymbose panicle, pure white. Hab. Maritime Alps and Apennines, on limestone rocks. S. lantoscana, Boiss. et Reut.—Leaves glaucous, in small rosettes; flowers arranged in pyramids, pure white. Hab. Alps of Lantosca. A very pretty plant is the variety swperba, with very dense and large flowers. The varieties catalawnica and cochlearis are also both very fine plants, and well worth erowing. These latter inhabit the Mediterranean district on limestone rocks. S. Aizoon, Jacq.—Few species vary more than §. Aizoon, and few intercross more readily. The leaves are mostly spatulate, elaucous, and arranged in dense rosettes. The flowers appear in panicles, white, spotted with purple. As a rule they inhabit high mountains, but are not uncommonly found in low valleys. The hybrids and forms of S. Aizoon are too numerous to be mentioned here. All succeed in a well-drained border, or better still on the rockery; and on account of their vigorous habit and rapid growth they are invaluable for that purpose. Hab. The Alps, on rocks of gneiss, trachyte, and granite. S. Cotyledon, L.—The leaves are long, spatulate, deep green. The flowers, in pyramids from 1 to 2 feet in height, pure white, rarely spotted with purple. This is one of the most beautiful of Saxifrages ; it is easily increased by division or by seed, and is of a rapid growth. Our Continental friends grow it exten- sively as a market plant. Hab. The Alps, Pyrenees, Jura, and Central and North European mountains. The variety pyramid- alis (often wrongly named nepalensis) falls under this species, and, like the varieties gracilis and elongata, differs only slightly from it. S. mutata, L.—Leaves lingulate, deep green, in rosettes; flowers yellow. Hab. The Alps. In the summer of 1877 I found CULTURAL AND DESCRIPTIVE NOTES ON THE GENUS SAXIFRAGA. 43 several fine specimens on the La Dole of the Jura. In the foggy London climate it is liable to rot during mild winters, and requires protection from excessive moisture. S. florulenta, Moretti.—Leaves narrow, lanceolate, pointed, deep green; in rosettes. The flowers are said to be rose-coloured, but I have never had the pleasure of seeing the species in bloom. This is a most difficult plant to grow. At first the young plants seem to do fairly well, but afterwards dwindle away. It is seldom met with in cultivation. Hab. Maritime Alps. Sect. Kasscu1a, Engl. The members of this section are easily distinguished from the above by their smaller rosettes, which, in such species as S. squarrosa and S.c@sia grow so close into one another as to form quite a pyramid. They are all very pretty, and succeed fairly well, near London, on a rockery or in pots. S. Kotschyi, Boiss.—A rather small plant, with green rosettes of leaves. An exceedingly pretty species. Flowers deep yellow. Hab. Mountains of Asia Minor. S. media, Gouan.—Leaves spatulate, forming beautiful rosettes; flowers purple or flesh-coloured. Hab. Dalmatian Alps and Balkan. S. Locheliana, Sternb.—Leaves glaucous, small, obovate- spatulate, in dense rosettes. Flowers white, corymbose, and very pretty. Hab. Transylvania. The variety coriphylla is a very fine free-flowering plant, and easily managed. S. Spruneri, Boiss. —A species very rarely met with in culti- vation, though it appears to be plentiful in its native habitats. The flowers are white and very pretty. Hab. Greece, Mount Parnassus. S. diapensioides, Bell.—An exceedingly pretty species, with small tufted leaves. The flowers are pure white and terminal. The scape and base of the leaves are of a beautiful purpled pink colour. Hab. Alp of the Dauphiné. S. scardica, Griesb.—-Leaves rosulate, small, oblong, acute ; flowers flesh-coloured ; calyx, base of the leaves and hairs purple. Hab. Greece, Mount Parnassus. S. aretioides, Lap.—tLeaves glaucous, small, in rosettes ; flowers corymbose, white. Hab. Pyrenees. H 44 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. S. squarrosa, Sieb——A minute but very pretty and highly interesting species; leaves very small, elliptical, squarrosely imbricated, glaucous; flowers white. Hab. Alps of Tyrol, on dolomite rocks. S. cesia, L.—lLeaves small, glaucous, in rosettes, and densely crowded into pyramids; flowers small, pure white. Hab. Pyrenees, Mont Blane. S. valdensis, D.C.—A very pretty species, with short, glaucous leaves, and pure white, corymbose flowers. Hab. Very common on Mont Blane. I found it in 1887 in several places on Mont Blane and Alps of Haute Savoi. S. Vandellit, Sternb.—Leaves deep green, or slightly glaucous, short ; flowers very pretty, white, veined red. Hab. The Alps. S. Burseriana, L.—Leaves glaucous, densely tufted ; flowers white, usually solitary. This is one of the prettiest plants of the genus. In its native habitats it forms large specimens several feet across. It is the first in bloom, often in mild winters flowering in January. Hab. Alps of Tyrol, on dolomite rocks. The variety major is a very fine large-flowering plant, freer in bloom and more vigorous than the type. S. sancta, Griesb.—With deep green, lanceolate leaves, but in general appearance resembling the mossy saxifrages; the flowers are small and yellow. This species prefers a damp, half- shaded position on the rock-work, and is of very rapid growth. Hab. Greece, Mount Athos, on marble rocks. S. juniperifolia, Adams. With subulate, deep green leaves ; fine spicate flowers of a deep yellow colour. Hab. Caucasus. Sect. Porpuyrion, Tausch. This section includes some of the prettiest of the early flowering Saxifrages. Unfortunately, they do not seem to be very happy in our London climate. They are very easily in- creased by division, and, being of rapid growth when at home, they form dense evergreen carpets, presenting a most beautiful sight during the early spring months. S. oppositifolia, L.—This has a creeping stem and small, opposite, oblong leaves of a deep green colour. The flowers are sessile and deep purple. Hab. On nearly all the mountains of Europe, North of Asia, and America. CULTURAL AND DESCRIPTIVE NOTES ON THE GENUS SAXIFRAGA. 45 Var. major (pyrenaica), with much larger flowers, and vigorous growth. Hab. Pyrenees. Var. alba, with milky-white flowers. Hab. The Alps. Var. splendens, with bright purple flowers; exceedingly free-growing. Hab. The Alps. S. retusa, Gouan.—Leaves imbricate, oblong; stem, creep- ing; flowers sessile, purple. Hab. The Alps at very high alti- tudes on gneiss. S. biflora, All—This much resembles S. oppositifolia, but the leaves are less dense, stem more erect, and flowers deep purple. Hab. The Alps at very high altitudes on moraines of eneiss, granite, &e. Sect. Hircunus, Tausch. Nearly all species of this section are natives of the Himalaya at altitudes of 12,000 feet to 15,000 feet, growing in very damp and cool places. Only few of these are at present in cultivation. S. Hirculus, L.—lLeaves lanceolate or spatulate, with a creeping stem; flowers sessile, bright or deep yellow. Hab. Alps of Tyrol, Arctic regions, also a native of Great Britain in damp situations. S. dwersifolia, Wall.—Leaves ovate ; flowers racemose, deep yellow. Hab. Himalayas. Other species of this section, natives of the Himalayas, are S. palpebrata, S. cordigera, S. lychnitis, and S. latiflora. Sect. DactyLoipEs, Tausch. This includes a great many kinds known under the popular name of Mossy Saxifrages. They are principally grown on account of their evergreen foliage and neat habit, forming dense green carpets. They grow easily in almost any kind of soil or situation, and are very useful for edging, &c. Increased by division and seed. The best of them are the following :— S. muscoides, var. atropurpurea.— With pretty, small, purple flowers ; very neat and distinct. Hab. Swiss Alps. S. Camposii, Boiss. (S. Wallacei, Hort.).—Leaves flabellate, 5-cleft; flowers large white. Hab. Spain. S. Maweana.—Leaves orbicular, 8-cleft; flowers white. A very pretty and rare plant. Requires a damp, shady position. Hab. Tetuan. H 2 46 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. S. Reuteriana, S. trifurcata, S. sedoides, S. aquatica, S. pedatifida, S. pedemontana, and a great number of other species and forms are all very pretty. Sect. RoBeRTSONIA, Haw. Although not so pretty as the preceding, yet, on account of their distinct and pretty foliage, their hardiness and great tenacity, they are very useful for edging and for covering exposed places in borders and on the rockery, They are, moreover, well adapted to our London gardens. Increased chiefly by division. S. umbrosa, L.—Leaves orbicular, leathery, and deep green ; fiowers paniculate white, spotted purple. Hab. South Europe. S. cuneifolia, L.—Leaves thick, cuneate, deep green; flowers white. Hab. The Apennines. There are a great many more species and varieties included in this section, such as S. Gewm, but they are far too numerous to be enumerated here. Sect. Diptera, Borkh. The plants included here are, with the exception of two species, S. Fortunet and S. cortusefolia, stolon-bearing species, extremely useful for decorative purposes in baskets or pots. They are easily increased by division of the stolons and seeds. They generally require a slight protection during winter. S. Fortuneit, Hook.—Leaves thick and fleshy, reniform, smooth on the surface, hairy beneath ; flowers paniculate white, very pretty; one of the latest autumn flowering plants. It should be treated as a bog plant. Hab. Japan. S. cortusefolia, Sieb.et Zucc.—'This much resembles Fortunei, but the leaves are orbicular and reniform. Flower white. Hab. Japan. S. cuscuteformis, Lodd.—Leaves orbicular, glaucous and hairy ; stem creeping, stoloniferous; flowers paniculate white. Hab. Japan. S. sarmentosa, L.—Stoloniferous. Leaves orbicular glaucous ; flowers white. Hab. Japan. Sect. Boraprnina, Engl. These species are less attractive than the preceding, many of them, in fact, are merely botanical curiosities. Propagated by division or seeds. CULTURAL AND DESCRIPTIVE NOTES ON THE GENUS SAXIFRAGA, 47 S. Mertensiana, Bong.—Leaves cordate, deciduous ; flowers white, very pretty. Hab. California. S. pennsylvamca, L.—Leaves lanceolate; flowers small, yellow, on long flower stalks, two to three feet long. Hab. North America. S. virginica, Nutt.—Leaves spatulate, rather thick and cre- nate; flower white, in a clustered cyme ; the variety with double flowers is a pretty garden form. Hab. Virginia. Sect. MiscoperaLum, Tausch. Hardly any of the species and numerous varieties included here can be called pretty, and they are seldom grown outside botanic gardens. They will succeed in the ordinary border, and are increased by seed, which is often produced in enormous quantities. 7 S. rotundifolia, L.—Leaves reniform, hirsute ; flowers white, in panicles. Hab. the Alps. Sect. Isomurta, Torr. et Gray. Nearly all these are very pretty, and easily grown in a damp border. A great many are splendid foliage plants. Increased by division of the rhizomes and by seed. S. acomtifolia, Field, (Boykinia aconitifolia, Nwtt).—Leaves orbicular, hairy; flowers white, in a clustered cyme. Hab. North America. The true plant is rare. S. ranunculifolia, Hook.—Leaves orbicular ; flowers white. Hab. North America, on low, damp ground. Sect. PeLTiIpHyitium, Engl. Only represented by a single species. LHasily increased by division of the rhizome or by seed. S. peltata, Torr.—-Leaves large, peltate, glandular ; petiole one to two feet long; flowers pale pink in a dense cyme. A deciduous species, flowering in the early spring when without foliage. It prefers a damp, shady position, and is, undoubtedly, one of our best foliage plants. Hab. California, near rivers. Sect. CyMBALARIA, Griseb. Hither annuals or biennials, rarely perennials; easily in- creased by seeds. 48 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. S. Cymbalaria, l.—Leaves reniform ; flowers bright yellow. Hab. Himalaya and Caucasus, in damp and shady places. S. Sibthorpii, Boiss. et Spruner.—This differs only slightly from the above. Sect. Tripactyuires, Haw. Nearly all of this class are merely botanical curiosities, and on this account hardly worth growing, though they are very interesting. S. petrea, L.— Leaves fleshy, palmatifid ; flowers pedicellaie, white. Hab. The Alps, in very high altitudes, in dark and damp caves, and the north side of rocks. Propagation by seeds. S. adscendens, S. tridaciylites, and several others, are all very interesting. Sect. NEPHROPHYLLUM, Gaud. These are very distinct, and some of them very showy ; they differ from the preceding by their deciduous bulbiferous habit. They prefer shady and damp positions, slightly protected. In- creased by bulbs. S. granulata, L.—lLeaves palmate, hairy; flowers large white. Hab. The Alps, and many parts of this country. The variety jlore-pleno is a pretty garden form with double flowers; very useful for cutting. S. cernua, L.—Leaves palmate; flower white. Hab. Spain. S. irrigua, M.B.—Leaves palmate, 5-parted ; flowers white. Hab. Caucasus. Sect. TrRacnyPpHyiium, Gaud. A great many of these are not only very interesting, but also very beautiful. Unfortunately, very few are at present under cultivation. They are easily increased by seeds and division, and succeed best in a damp and shady position, in light sandy loam. S. flagellaris, Wild.—Leaves spatulate, in rosettes, often ciliate; flowers yellow. Easily increased by division of the stolons. Hab. the Caucasus. The following are equally pretty:—S. bryoides, S. bronchi- alis, S. tricuspidata, S. aspera, and S. aizoides.. HISTORICAL NOTES ON DUTCH HYACINTHS. 49 Sect. Mecasma, Haw. The Saxifrages known under the name of Megasea contain some of the best and most showy of the genus. ‘They are, with few exceptions, quite hardy, and are invaluable as border or pot plants, especially in the neighbourhood of London. They con- stitute, in fact, the very best and most suitable of town plants, in spite of neglect and rough treatment. Propagation by division and seed. The following I can recommend as the best :— S. cordifolia, Haw.—Leaves cordate, very thick and leathery ; flowers rosy purple, large, and asin the following in dense cymes. Hab. Siberia. S. ciliata, Wall.—Leaves cordate, ciliate; flowers large pink. This species requires a slight protection during the early spring. Hab. Himalaya. There is a variety alba, with white flowers. S. purpurea (S. cordifolia purpurea).—A garden variety, with leaves very large, thick, and leathery ; flowers large, deep purple. The most vigorous, showy, and hardy of the Megaszas. S. speciosa.—Leaves large, subcordate ; flowers large, bright pink. SmIpPUVIag Ny Xx surpoyount NI "(oa ‘snoweod ‘eyjozey,"N =) ° : : : ‘ : : : * — snoryood *N x “ah NEAR "N ‘(snoutmeposo "NN =2¢) °* ; : * - OTOOWOD snaputa} x snutuTUt “ ‘(pugqky seg ayy =) ° : * snurij1o tuntpoooqing ‘N xX snorimyse ag us “( “Ink, “SUIOPORN =r, ° : : : : * gsnijoyrount x snorjnut vA 46 a "(op ‘rauojsuyor*N =) ° : : * snq[® SnIpuvit} ‘NT x = - ie *‘(pruqdyy oy10dQ =) ° : : : , ‘umntIpoooqung *N x =f is ‘(Iprvutog *"N =) ° : : : : ’ snorjeod ‘NY x snoTynut Ke ‘(stiqeredutoout*N =) °* , : ; ; : : : snorood "N x SnsstoIVN-opnesg *N "SCIUMAH "SINGUVd "SaTudap TVAOLVN HO ATI 80 ISSIOUVN CIYdAH THE NARCISSUS. 81 HYBRIDS. The hybrid kinds of Narcissi, as a rule, are very easily recog- nised by their structure. The medial insertion or adherence of their stamens is very marked and characteristic. Practically all the medial Narcissi are of hybrid origin. Any one who once obtains a clear notion of the differences between a true Daffodil and a true Narcissus in this way will have no great difficulty in determining the hybrids of the genus. Here, for example, are descriptions of the flowers of the six great type-species of Narcissi. Stamens basal; in one set or series. Stamens inserted near the mouth of the tube; in two series. Ditto, ditto. 1. N. Pseudo-Narcissus | ae basal; very slightly 2. N. poeticus . 3. N. Tazetta 4. N. Bulbocodium pier ; biseriate ; declinate. Stamens near mouth of tube; biseriate. Gane riamdnue ; ; ae biseriate ; heteromor- phous. 5. N. Jonquilla : And here for comparison are descriptions of some of the prin- cipal hybrids between the above wild species, viz. :— Stamens in one series; filaments springing free at about two- N. incomparabilis thirds the length of the narrow tube. Nesmvoutariue {Stamens medial; very slightly * ( biseriate. eae ae medial (more basal in Sabini). Slightly biseriate; medial in- N. Macleayi, N. Sabini N. odorus A ; : | sertion. N. Johnstonei, N. tridymus One-seriate; medial. N. Tazetta orientalis . Biseriate; filaments all elongated. The filaments in true Daffodils spring free from near the base of the flower-tube. 82 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. In all true wild species of Narcissi other than N. Bulbo- codium and N. Pseudo-Narcissus, the anthers are all more or less distinctly bi-seriate, and spring from quite near the mouth of the tube. All the hybrids are practically intermediate, having their flower-tubes longer and narrower than in the Daffodil, and broader and shorter than those of true Narcissi; and the anthers are usually in one series even although now and then there may be some inequality in the insertion, or springing free of the filaments from the flower-tube. Taken with other quite evident but less easily described blending of specific characters, this medial arrangement of the anthers is amply sufficient to distinguish any hybrid between any two species in the genus. To the careful student of living and growing Narcissi there is a ‘‘ look”’ about hybrids by which he can quite easily guess at, or prophesy, their parentage; but it is an advantage from a botanical point of view to find absolute differences of structure and formation in the true hybrids which make themselves evident and recognisable even when the flowers are dried and pressed for the herbarium. NAMES. When we come to the naming of the Narcissi we touch a very complicated and puzzling question. We have at present the anomaly in our garden nomenclature of plants of possibly the same parentage passing under different sectional names. Take the numerous hybrids between the Poet’s Narcissus and the Daffodil, for example, including all the variations of N. incomparabilis, Barri, and some of the Burbidgei’s, raised by Herbert, Leeds, Backhouse, and others,in gardens. Most of the Barrii’s are simply N. incomparabilis, and most of the true Burbidgei’s are merely seminal phases of N. poeticus, the Daffodil parentage being almost, if not quite, obliterated or absent. There are again the wild hybrid N. Bernardi’s of the Pyrenees, and finally the single reversion of the double ‘‘ Orange Phenix,” or “ Mary Anderson,” which with N. Barrii ‘ Sensa- tion,’’ and some other English seedlings, is practically the same as N. Bernardi. Here we have three or four sectional names for plants that may be produced by the selfsame pod of seed ; and I think our Narcissus Committee should, to prevent further confusion, re-arrange all these hybrids under the older and most THE NARCISSUS. 83 common botanical names as found in the books. When we take the common hybrids between the Daffodil and N. Tazetta, we are again met by several different sectional names, such ag N. Sabini, N. Macleayi, N. Nelsoni (in part), N. Backhousei, and N. tridymus, and for all, or most, of these, I think the oldest name ot N. Sabini should be retained, and the other forms named popularly as mere varieties. The Daffodil and Jonquil hybrids are so far all safely sheltered under the so-called specific name of N. odorus, which may be retained to prevent confusion in the books. N. gracilis and its pale form N. tenuior were supposed by Herbert to be seedlings of N. poeticus x N. Jonquilla; and N. intermedius is by some supposed to be N. Jonquilla x N. juncifolius; and N. bifrons, N. Jonquilla x N. Tazetta. N. biflorus, if not of hybrid origin, I should say, is the northern and extreme form of N. Tazetta as it approaches N. poeticus. Its depauperated and generally sterile condition seems to be the only indication of its hybrid origin, and it is quite an unreliable indication. Vegetatively it increases with great rapidity, and is very abundant in Ireland as an escape possibly from old gardens. N. Broussonetii seems to me merely an aberrant form of N. Tazetta and N. canariense, a link between the flat-leaved N. Tazetta and the rush-leaved and more primitive species N. elegans and N. serotinus, these reaching N. Jonquila by hybridisation, as already shown by Mr. Maw. I really think we ought to try and get rid, once and for all, of the imaginary distinction sometimes supposed to exist between a species wild, and the same wild species under cultivation in the garden. In both cases the elements are the same, the environ- ment different, and the species which change most in nature will, of course, change still more, and more quickly, in the garden. ‘The garden is a laboratory, in which experiments are continually being carried out, often unconsciously, so far as the cultivator is concerned; but, after all, the constant changes in environment produced by the cultivator cannot do more than develop the changes possible also to plants in a state of nature. A species in its native country may not vary much during the course of centuries, but that is only the case when its surround- ings are also unchanged. ‘“ Like produces like”’ in this sense, but the moment its environment is altered in any material way, the plant must either alter its habits to suit the altered circumstances, 84 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. or, if the change is too extreme, it must die out. ‘“ Change or die ’’ is nature’s plan of bringing her species and genera into line; and the plants we now see around us represent those which have so changed; but it is only in the fossil or rock-printed condition that we can become acquainted with the orders and genera which have died out in the life-and-death struggle. The Daffodils that are found wild in Spain or Southern France are often extremely variable. N. Pseudo-Narcissus in Spain is white, cream, sulphur, or bicolor and rich yellow. N. triandrus is extremely variable. In France again, N. pallidus- precox and N. muticus are protean in their variety, and the intermediates or cross-bred variations, known as N. variformis, contain some very fine phases, the leaves broad and bicolor-like, and the flowers of great substance and fine form. As contrasted with these wild phases, some of the old forms of Narcissi, long cultivated in our gardens, are remarkably true, 7.e. not variable in character, and such have presumably been the vegetative off- spring (z.e. by division) of one bulb, introduced long ago from their native habitats, or they may in some cases have been garden seedlings. Of such are N. Jonquilla, N. obvallaris, N. bicolor, N. princeps, N. maximus, N. minor, and others I need not name. The wild “‘English”’ Daffodil (N. Pseudo-Narcissus) as a rule varies but little, but now and then it does vary considerably, white varieties occurring sparingly in Oxfordshire and Dorset- shire, and in Cornwall there are forms of a deeper yellow. Where variation thus occurs it has been surmised that the native plant has been crossed with pollen from garden forms or garden escapes. I do not accept this view, because we find them white on the Pyrenees, without any suggestion of crossing. In Scot- land the plant varies slightly, having a more reflexed rim to the trumpet, and so being nearly identical with the Guernsey and Normandy wild kinds. The sectional variations of N. Pseudo-Nar- cissus are become very puzzling. Formerly we only had N. Pseudo- Narcissus N. P.-N. major, N. P.-N. minor, and the bicolor and white-flowered sections. Now we have N. Telamonius and N. spurius, the French N. pallidus-preecox, the Spanish N. as- turicus, N. variiformis, N. muticus, and other groups edged in, and he would be a bold and hopeful man who would venture to separate N. major, N. propinquus, N. Telamonius, N. spurius, N. princeps, &c., variations and phases, from each other. Some THE NARCISSUS, 85 of the forms of N. variformis and N. muticus are really good enough to go into the N. bicolor group, and it is more than possible that our garden ‘bicolor ’’ was originally selected from one or other of these wild stocks. We always thought we could tell at a glance N. princeps from N. spurius or N. major, but the beau- tiful Castlewellan Daffodil, now to be known as “ Countess of Annesley,” is a connecting link between them. Even N. obval- laris—the so-called Tenby Daffodil—is resolving itself into a section, the “‘ Saragossa ’’ Daffodil, ‘‘ Vicar of Lulworth,” “ Ione,”’ and one or two others, and seedlings, at present less well known, agreeing with it in most particulars. SEEDLINGS. I should like to say a few words on seedling Narcissi. Theo- phrastus of Eresus (8.c. 874-286) says of the Narkissos that ‘“‘its leaves spread on the ground like the Asphodel, but are broader like those of Lilies ; its stalk is leafless, and bears at the top an herbaceous flower, and dark-coloured fruit enclosed in a vessel of an oblong figure; this fruit falling down sprouts spon- taneously, though some gather it for sowing.” Nearly all the authors on gardening recommend the sowing of Daffodil seeds. John Evelyn, in his ‘‘ Kalendarium Hortense ”’ (p. 68), published about 1666, tells his readers to gather the ripe seeds of Narcissus, and he especially mentions that the two lesser pale spurius Daffodils of a whitish-green colour ‘ often produce varieties.” Nowadays if any one rears seedling Nar- cissi we are sure to hear about them, but in the days before these flowers became popular many seedlings, no doubt, appeared in old gardens in both England and Ireland. The Irish climate is pre-eminently suitable to the growth of these flowers, and the white Daffodils introduced long ago, no doubt from the Pyrenees, ' and the forms of N. spurius and N. princeps, have long been naturalised there, and have seeded and still seed themselves spontaneously. Asa rule we find some varieties produce seeds far more readily than others. Of the kinds long cultivated, N. minimus, N. minor, N. nanus, N. obvallaris, and N. Telamonius, single and semi-double, often produce seeds. Nearly all the wild varieties seed freely after being imported to our gardens, but the only sure way of securing a crop of good seeds is by cross-fertili- sation, growing the seed-bearing plants in pots in a cold frame or greenhouse. | 86. JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. BuxtsB GROWTH. The bulbs of both Daffodils and Narcissi are very variable in size, those of N. minimus, N. juncifolius, N. cyclamineus, and N. triandrus having strength enough to flower when the size of marrowfat peas, and the three last-named kinds may possibly flower the third year from seed. ‘“ Emperor,” ‘“‘ Empress,” “ John Horsfield,”’ and ‘“‘ Sir Watkin,” have enormous bulbs as grown on suitable soils, varying from three to four and a half inches in dia- meter. “Sir Watkin’’ and “John Horsfield,’’ are two of the strongest growing varieties I know, and succeed on nearly all soils. In colour the outer coats of the bulb vary from silver grey, through sandy-brown shades to a deep and glossy umber brown, and the outer bulb coats of the N. Tazetta generally known as “ Paper White’ are amber shaded with black—the darkest known bulb thus producing the whitest flower. The foliage of the flat-leaved kinds of Narcissi are distichous or two-ranked, a fact which influences the disposition of the axillary buds from which the flowering centres, or the succeed- ing offset bulbs, are formed. Thus, what is called a ‘“ breeder bulb’’ as a rule presents a distichous appearance, and the plan of bulb production is not haphazard, but proceeds in a dichotomous sort of way. It is a fact worth noting, that the leaves of all the flat-leaved Narcissi are twisted from left to right, while the perianth divi- sions are as a rule twisted the reverse way. The life-cycle of a Narcissus is completed in from two to five years. Thus flowers cross-fertilised during March or April, perfect their seeds in June or July. They should be sown as soon as they are ripe, in boxes or raised prepared beds of light sandy earth, on a well-drained bottom. Germination takes place the following November or December, and it is remarkable that all the kinds commence life with narrow or rush-lke, grass-green leaves. About a year after sowing your seeds, the first leaves die away, and you have bulbs about the size of wheat grains. The second year they are about the size of marrow peas, and an odd bulb of such sorts as N. triandrus or N. cyclamineus may possibly flower. The third year the two last-named species and N. juncifolius are the size of very small hazel nuts, and generally bloom. The fourth year nearly all the kinds may flower, but, as a rule, the large-growing Narcissi, such as N. poeticus, N. Tazetta, THE NARCISSUS. 87 and the Daffodils, do not bloom until the fifth year, and are not at their best until a year or two afterwards. Mr. Wolley Dod raised a batch of three or four hundred seedlings from “John Horsfield,’”’? which he himself characterised (in the “ Garden,” vol. xxxv., p. 277) as “mostly a disappointing and shabby lot of mongrels.” This fact, together with my own experience, points to the employment of wild collected bulbs for seed-bearing purposes as much as possible, and poor, sandy, or gravelly earth suits them better than richly manured soils. Pollen may be obtained from cultivated bulbs, and that of N. montanus, N. poeta- rum, N. Tazetta, ‘‘ States General,’ and some others, is generally potent as used on the seed-bearing wild bulbs. It has been observed by Mr. Barr and other collectors of Narcissi abroad, that they seldom produce ‘‘ breeder bulbs” in a wild state, all their energy being developed towards reproduction by means of seeds. In our gardens generally, as we know, “ breeder bulbs” are the rule, and seeding is rather an exception. CULTURE. The culture of the above six species of Narcissi and of their hybrids is very simple, and all are hardy on light, well-drained, and not over-rich soils. N. triandrus and N. Bulbocodium are of all those named the most delicate, but they do well year after year on sunny borders near to warm walls. All the most delicate of Narcissi, 2.¢e., those accustomed to a hotter summer climate than our own, do best on lean gravelly soils, and my own experience goes to prove that crude manures either natural or artificial, are eventually hurtful to all bulbous flowers whatever, and I have lately heard of many failures in places where manured ground had been employed for Narcissi, Snowdrops, and Crocus. If any stimulant be used, let it be burnt earth and wood ashes mixed with twice its bulk of road scrapings and fresh meadow or hill- side earth, and applied as a top dressing, or at planting time. It is a remarkable fact that the garden seedling and hybrid kinds withstand the effects of manurial stimulants better than do the collected wild species and varieties, which succeed best in lean stony soils or grassy banks. We often lull off rare and delicate bulbs, and also alpine plants, by too much kindness, when they would live longer and succeed in all ways much better in lean and hungry soils. The species of Crocus and Snowdrops are extremely liable to disappear if planted in what we call well 88 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. enriched soils, and the same is true of the wild species of Narcissi, which often produce fat, carroty roots, and ultimately die out under culture on rich soils, although they live and thrive on poor soils. There isa deceptive subtlety about the use of manure, for the first season it is used, the bulbs are larger and the flowers often finer, but its after effects are often most dis- astrous. In cold or wet localities, raised beds or borders and grassy banks in full sunshine are suitable for these flowers, and there are many instances of the Daffodils and N. poeticus, etc., existing for many years, as naturalised in meadows, parks, and old gardens, on suitable soils, without any cultural attention whatever. When these flowers do well in private gardens there is often no necessity to transplant them for four or five years at least; but if the bulbs do not thrive and flower well, the sooner they are removed to fresh soil the better. The best time for transplanting is June or July, as soon as the leaves wither, and better too early (7.e., before any new roots appear) than too late. On some cold, wet soils Narcissi have a tendency to retain their leaves, that is to say, the bulbs do not finish or ripen up their growth properly, and in this case the bulbs may be dug up in July, and allowed to dry on the surface of the ground, or on the floor of a cool shed, for a few weeks, before they are cleaned and replanted, but bulbs so grown are never so successful as when grown on fresh gritty soils that are naturally suitable to them, and in which they ripen naturally. DouBLE VARIETIES. The last time I read a paper on Narcissi before this Society, one or two present were disappointed because I never alluded to the so-called ‘‘ double-flowered’’’ kinds. This makes me anxious not to offend again. The ‘“‘ double’’ Narcissi are more or less sterile, or abortive reversions from the following nine kinds, viz. :— N. Pseudo-Narcissus. x ,, cyclamineus ) Found in Portugal by ,, BDulbocodium A. W. Tait, Esq. 5» poeticus. », Lazetta. x ,, Incomparabilis. ,», Jonquilla. x ,, odorus. THE NARCISSUS. 89 Taking them in the above order, we have in the first instance several forms or phases of the common Daffodil, in which the staminal whorls (7.e., the anthers) are more or less transformed into petaloid divisions. This occurs now and then with the com- mon wild English Daffodil, ‘‘ double ’’ flowers having been found sparingly amongst single ones in the Isle of Wight (St. Urian’s copse), and in Devonshire, Pembrokeshire, and elsewhere. This is mentioned by Parkinson in 1629 as “‘ Mr. Gerard his double Daffodil,’ and as having been found in a woman’s garden in the West of England, where a cunning man had previously resided. Some years ago Messrs. Barnaart and Sons introduced a double Daffodil called ‘‘ Silver and Gold,’ which resembles the double English but is larger, its perianth lobes being nearly white, and ifs coronal ones chrome yellow. It is earlier in flower than most other doubles. Then we have Tradescant’s great Rose Daffodil, also mentioned by Parkinson, and another ‘‘ double’’ one which he distinctly tells us he raised himself from seeds of the great Spanish Daffodil in the year 1618. Then there is ‘“‘ Mr. Wil- mer’s great Double Daffodil,’ which Parkinson says ‘‘ doth so near resemble our ordinary English double kinde,”’ that he can see no difference except ‘‘ the largenesse of both leaves and flowers, and statelinesse of growth.” The last named is our large double garden Daffodil, or ‘‘ Telamonius plenus”’ of bulb lists to-day. It was flowered in 1620 by ‘ Vincent [van] Sion, born in Flanders, dwelling on the Bankside [? Strand], in his lfestime, but now [1629] dead,—a worthy lover of faire flowers, who cherished it in his garden for many years.’’ (Parkinson’s ‘“« Paradisus,”’ p. 104.) Van Sion supposed that he had received it from Mr. John de Tranqueville (for from beyond sea he never received any). It is the same as ‘‘ Mr. Wilmer’s Double Daffodil,’ for Parkinson is careful to tell us that ‘‘Mr. George Wilmer, of Stratford Bowe, Esq.,’’ having, like Parkinson himself, received it from Van Sion, ‘‘ would needs appropriate it to himself, as if he were the first founder thereof, and call it by his own name . . . which since hath so continued.’’ The double white Daffodil, N. cernuus plenus, is very lovely in all its phases, but it is apt to die out in rich manured soils, like other delicate rooted kinds. A small double yellow (often greenish on rich soils) Daffodil was intro- duced from an Ivish garden a few years ago, and is now known 90 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. as ‘‘ Rip Van Winkle.”’ It is a double form of N. minor of gar- dens, haying narrow perianth lobes with crochet-hook-like points. Planted on grassy banks on light stony soil, its flowers are of a clear golden hue, and very distinct from all other varieties. Myr. Barr found a pale double form of N. P.-N. var. asturicus in 1888, in a perfectly wild state. The one double Daffodil which is most distinct and puzzling of all others, is that first figured in the great elephant folio of Basil Besler called ‘* Hortus Eystettensis,’’ a sumptuous work published in 1618 at EKichstadt in Bavaria. This is the variety we know as N. Kystettensis in our gardens to-day. It differs from all other double Daffodils known to me as being wholly composed of perianth segments, superposed in six rows, there being no coronal segments apparent as in all other ‘‘ double”’ kinds. In some gardens in Ireland this plant is plentiful, and most of us owe our stock of roots to Miss White, of Charlville, Roscrea, county Tipperary, where it has flourished formany years. It has also been found naturalised in one or two places in Dorsetshire, England, but the most singular point in its history is that its normal or single state is quite unknown. Haworth thought it was a ‘‘double”’ form of N. capax, that is to say, of the large- flowered and most northern form of N. triandrus (called cala- thinus), and found in some little islands (Ile de Glenans) off the coast of Brittany. This we now know is not the case. Herbert thought it a double phase of N. minor, but in leafage and time of flowering it differs fromm any Daffodil known to me. Parkinson tells us it ‘‘ is not certainly known where his original should be: some think it to be of France, others of Germany.’ Curtis, when figuring N. tenuior in the ‘‘ Botanical Magazine,” t. 3879, thought this plant was a form of that variety, which he says he saw ‘‘in a single, but mostly in a double state’’ in Maddock’s then celebrated nursery at Walworth, in May, 1794. This doubled-flowered variety is alluded to by nearly all the old writers, beginning with Lobel in 1581, and Gerard appears to have received it from Jean Robin, of Paris, who obtained it from near Orleans, but whether from a garden or wild is not so clear. Its name of ‘* Queen Anne’s Daffodil’? was no doubt originally given in honour of Queen Anne of Austria, and not in compli- ment to our own queen of the same name. The three or four double forms of N. incomparabilis are weil THE NARCISSUS. 9] known under the popular names of ‘‘ Butter and Eggs,”’ ‘‘ Orange Phenix,” “ Sulphur Phenix,” and ‘‘ Kggs and Bacon.”’ The double Poet’s Narcissus is a late flowering plant, and is thought to be the double phase of N. patellaris, and it is com- monly known as the ‘‘ Gardenia-flowered Narcissus.’’ N. Jon- quilla is a slender-stalked, golden-yellow double, often forced in gardens for decorative purposes, and, like its single type, is very fragrant. N. odorus fl. pl. is believed to be a double phase of N. odorus rugulosus, and is often known as ‘‘ Queen Anne’s Jon- quil”’ or ‘‘ Double Tags.”’ As I have said, all these ‘‘ double ”’ flowers are reversions, and they are often perfect abortions so far as the reproductive organs of the flowers are concerned. ‘This is not always the case, how- ever, for now and then the style, and an anther or two, are per- fectly normal, and then seeds may be produced from which a double variety has been propagated. So far as I know, N. Telamonius plenus and the pale double English are the only varieties that have so far been reproduced in this way. The origin of these double flowers is by no means clear, but on examination we find that there is a reduplication of parts, in part due to the metamorphoses of some or all of the fertile stamens into petals, and by the partial splitting up, or unbuilding as 1t were, of the flower itself. THE BEST OF ALL THE NARCISSI. Seeing that there are now in cultivation from six to seven hundred varieties of Narcissi, it has occurred to me that a list of about a hundred of the best variations would prove serviceable to those inexperienced amateurs who would like a selection of these flowers. Yellow Daffodils. Ard Righ (Yellow King), Henry Irving, Maximus, Golden Spur, General Gordon (spurius coronatus), Obvallaris (Tenby), Countess of Annesley, Emperor, Glory of Leyden, Saragossa, Rugilobus, John Nelson, Captain Nelson, Princeps, Cornish Yellow, Telamonius plenus, Eystettensis plenus, Minor, Nanus, Minimus, Cyclamineus, Bulbocodium, Conspicuus, Citrinus, Monophyllus. L 92 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Bicolor Daffodils. Bicolor (of Haworth), Variiformis, Bicolor grandis, Horsfieldii, Empress, Dean Herbert, Michael Foster, James Walker. White and Sulphur Daffodils. N. pallidus-precox, J. G. Baker, Cernuus, Bishop Mann, Leda, Colleen Bawn, Albicans, Mrs. F. W. Burbidge, Wm. Goldring, J. B. M. Camm, Moschatus (of the Pyrenees), Minnie Warren, ‘‘ Little Nell,’”’ C. W. Cowan, Mrs. J. B. M. Camm, Rebecca Syme, ‘‘ St. Brigid,’ N. cernuus plenus, Madame de Graaff.* Nonsuch or Peerless Hybrid Narcisst. N. Sir Watkin, N. Princess Mary, N. Gloria Mundi, N. Queen Sophia, Duchess of Westminster, Leedsii elegans, N. ‘‘ Dorothy EK. Wemyss,’”’ N. “C. J. Backhouse,” “‘ Beauty,’”’ ‘‘ Cynosure,”’ Mary Anderson, “ Beatrice,’’ Katherine Spurrell, ‘“‘ Minnie Hume,” King of the Netherlands, Maria Magdaline de Graaff, N. Barrii ‘«Sensation,’’ Conspicuus, Burbidgei, ‘‘ Constance,”’ “ Little Dirk,”’ “Princess Louise,’’ Lulworth, ‘‘ Hume’s Giant,’’ Backhousei, “ William Wilks,” Bernardi, ‘“H. EK. Buxton,”’ Tridymus, “ Duke of Albany,” “‘S. A. de Graaff,’’ Nelsoni, Nelsoni aurantius, Nelsoni pulchellus, Sabini, Macleayi; doubles ‘“ Butter-and-Eggs,” “Orange Phoenix,” “ Sulphur Phenix,” N. odorus, rugilosus plenus, heminalis. Poet’s and True Narcissi. N. poeticus, N. ornatus, N. poetarum, N. grandiflorus, N. recurvus, N. patellaris, N. majalis, N. ‘‘ Marvel,” N. stellaris (the latest flowering with N. patellaris plenus), N. triandrus albus, pulchellus, calathinus, etc.; N. Jonquilla, ditto, plenus, N. juncifolius, N. rupicola, N. gracilis, and N. tenuior. ~ Polyanthus or Bunch Narcissi. N. Tazetta, Bazelman major, Musart’s orientalis, floribundus, cloriosus, Soleil d’or, States General, Scilly White, Jaune Supreme, ‘‘ La Citronnieére.”’ *The only seedling that competes with the ‘“Imperial’’ Daffodils, ‘Emperor’? and “ Empress,’? of Backhouse; it was raised along with “‘ Glory of Leyden,” ‘‘ Emperor William,’’ and many others, by M. de Graaff, Bros., of Leyden. SEEDLING DAFFODILS. 93 SEEDLING DAFFODILS. By the Rev. G. H. Enaurneart, M.A., Appleshaw, Andover. [Read April 9, 1889.] THE Secretary having asked me rather recently to follow Mr. Burbidge with a short paper of some kind on the Narcissus, it occurred to me that I would put together a few notes on the subject of seedlings and seedling raising. But after having done a little towards this, I found among my accumulation of Daffodil literature, two back numbers of the Gardener’s Magazine, which, as must sometimes happen to a busy man, had not been read by me as they deserved, but which really almost exhaust the subject, historically considered. To those, therefore, who are interested to know the history, so far as it is ascertainable, of our hybrid and seedling Narcissi, let me recommend the very excellent papers by Mr. Burbidge which may be found in the Gardener’s Magazine of December 12th and 26th, 1885. There is, however, perhaps room for me to contribute a few practical remarks about the present aspect of seedling raising in the Narcissi, especially as it has been a great source of pleasure to me to study this fascinating family in my leisure for some years. And at the outset I would say that I am not of those who regard the extreme interest taken in Daffodils, and the immense demand for their flowers, as a fashion and a craze which will suddenly ebb away. Covent Garden in April, and the fact that shrewd men of business have sunk, and are still sinking, large capital in these bulbs, are a guarantee that the Daffodil fashion will remain an abiding habit of springtime, rather than a passing fashion. The truth is that this early, hardy, and suffi- ciently diversified flower has supplied an acknowledged want, and that it is extremely difficult to imagine any other that can fill our markets to the same extent at the same season. When roses are not valued in June, July, and August, Daffodils will not be valued in February, March, and April—but not until then. This is no digression from my subject of seedlings, for the unshaken, and, I think, unshakable, popularity of the Daffodil L 2 94 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULYURAL SOCIETY. assures us, first, that the work of raising seedlings will continue ; and, secondly, that it will now principally take the course of efforts to improve the Daffodil from the florist’s and the market- gardener’s point of view. From the point of view of the scientific botanist there does not, perhaps, remain a great deal to accom- plish in seedling raising, in comparison with what has been done. For we may, roughly speaking, say that we know the parentage of most of the hybrid Narcissi. That will be acknow- ledged by those who consult Mr. Burbidge’s papers which I have mentioned. Herbert, Leeds, Backhouse, Leichtlin, and others have left notes—not so ample or accurate as we could wish, but ample enough to justify us in saying we know that N. incompar- abilis is between N. Pseudo-N. and N. poeticus ; N. odorus between N. Pseudo-N. and N. Jonquilla ; N.tridymus between N. Pseudo-N. and N. Tazetta, and so forth. It will, no doubt, be satisfactory when all this is verified step by step, by workers who will bring us every one of these old hybrids as actually raised by themselves, and will show us parents and offspring. There are also new hybrids to be produced between N. triandrus and N. cyclamineus, and the various Narcissi with which they seem willing to cross. The former has already been used, but to no great extent as yet. Many more minds and hands, however, will be engaged in improving our Narcissi as florists’ and market-gardeners’ flowers, for a florist’s and a market-gardener’s flower the Narcissus now is, and a very important one, esthetically and commercially. It is on this point in particular that I have a few suggestions to make—as to the lines along which such improvement should be pushed. When visiting the grounds of my good friend Mr. Walker and others, it has often been my thought—how few first-class market varieties there are, and how many gaps there are crying to be filled up. Thus, at the beginning of the Narcissus season I see Tenby all alone, so far as trumpet Daffodils are concerned, for some while; and I am sure that Mr. Walker would like half an acre of aflower as early, as bright, and as stiff as Tenby, but twice as big and productive of more bloom to the bulb, for Tenby is not very free in this respect. Well, I think that this is an attainable thing, either by sowing considerable breadths of seed of Tenby (it bears seed abundantly) and selecting from the seedlings, or by crossing it with such Daffodils as Golden Spur SEEDLING DAFFODILS. 95 or Maximus. How lovely the soft pale colouring of pallidus precox is; but we must have a much better-behaved pallidus- precox—I mean a Daffodil which is both pale and precocious, but which does not die suddenly, as this pale precocious child does. Selection might give us this, for it seems there are several varieties, from different districts and different levels, of these pale early trumpets, and one may prove hardier than another, or seedlings might acquire greater hardiness. Sir Herbert Maxwell assured me that he could never get Corbularia conspicua to establish itself comfortably in his Scotch garden until he raised it from seed. Ora cross between a strong and good early yellow Daffodil, and as robust a white one as can be found, might provide us with a most substantial straw-coloured early variety. Then, who will supply us with a large, bold, white trumpet Daffodil, substantial in flower, and robust in eonstitution—an out-of-doors HEucharis? We have no white kind that the market gardener finds it worth his while to grow, unless, indeed, it is Messrs. de Graaf’s noble Madame de Graaf, of which, however, we know little as yet as to its behaviour under field cultivation in England, and if it is satisfactory in all points, yet it stands alone, and there is room for other seedlings like it. It is worth while to raise white seedlings—some of the whites yield large and good seed—and I have flowered the young plants in their fifth and even in their fourth year. Also it will be well to raise plants in quantity between the larger yellows and the stronger whites. The white hybrid forms, such as Leedsi and Leedsi amabilis, though of good constitution, are far too soft in the flower for market purposes; the crown melts in sun and wind, and the market gardener will gladly accept something more durable if we will invent it for him by selecting as robust seed parents as is possible. Here I may point out that the modern hybridist has enor- mously better materials to work with than Mr. Leeds, for instance, had. Not to speak of the fine new Ajax forms which have appeared of late years, he seems to have possessed none but inferior, narrow-petalled varieties of the Poeticus—one of the hybridist’s most necessary elements. Our beautiful, broad- petalled, vigorous N. p. ornatus ought to give us incomparabilis flowers of enhanced shape and substance. Again, there is a vacant place for a big and sturdy mid-season or late flower, such 96 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. as Emperor, but with the rich golden colour of Maximus, which is not always happyin England. Perhaps Messrs. de Graaf and the late Mr. Kendal have already crossed Emperor with Maximus to add the rich deep colour of the latter to the splendid habit of the former, but other gardeners may well attempt this or similar devices. Maximus seeds with me occasionally ; Emperor always with great freedom, although with Mr. Backhouse it seems to have seeded badly. One of the loveliest possibilities in Narcissus hybrids is the flower with pure white perianth and orange-scarlet crown. Nelsoni Aurantius is, perhaps, the only good flower already obtained, or at least in commerce, in this department, for ‘‘ Mary Anderson’’ declines to stay on the stage, and the collected Bernardi (some of which are very brilliant) want size. I can scarcely myself believe that Mr. Leichtlin’s Scarlet Daffodil is a possibility, so far as a red perianth is concerned, but there is no reason at all why a flower should not be born as big as Sir Watkin, but with a white perianth, and an almost scarlet cup. I have myself many seedlings in a juvenile state supposed to be between various fine trumpets, and the red-cupped p- poetarum, and hope they may not disappoint my expectations. In this cross the Ajax must be stout, to compensate for the flimsy perianth of p. peetarum. Speaking of the Poeticus group reminds me that there is too great a gap of time between the last flower of ornatus and the first of recurvus. P. poetarum, to some extent, comes between the two; but it is not serviceable as a market flower on account of its thin perianth, which droops like limp muslin on a scorch- ing day. Seedlings between ornatus and recurvus, a perfectly possible cross, ought to be valuable to bridge over this gulf. And how invaluable a double ornatus would be, or a double poeticus, which would bloom distinctly before the ordinary late double poeticus. Large growers of ornatus should be on the watch for a semi-double ornatus, and carefully save its seed. Or perhaps a cross could be effected between ornatus and the late double, which occasionally seeds, if the one could be retarded and the other forced. Enough attention has not been paid to the raising of double seedlings. Double Daffodils seed more often than is supposed. A very double Daffodil often has the stigma perfect and visible among the tightly packed petals if the flower is well examined. SEEDLING DAFFODILS. 97 It is because there is seldom a large pod that the seed is unnoticed. A few seeds may not uncommonly be found in what looks merely like the rather swollen end of the pedicel. I have seedlings of the common ‘“ double Telamonius’’ now in flower, and several other gardeners can say the same. Hybrid or crossed doubles are not impossibilities. In 1885 I noticed the stigma protruding from the tightly-double trunk of a few flowers of double cernuus. I marked them, and obtained nineteen seeds, eleven of which grew. Out of curiosity I dusted the stigma of one or two with pollen from a yellow Ajax—lI believe it was -spurius—which was growing near at hand. This spring one of the eleven seedlings is flowering, and the cross was evidently effectual, for the flower—so far as I could judge of it in its half- opened state before I left home—is drooping, like cernuus, but so yellow as to be almost precisely like the common double yellow. The ten unflowered seedlings seem to vary in leaf and habit, and I may have ‘more oddities to report next year. It may be of service to hybridisers to know that the pollen of double Narcissi commonly gives doubleness to single flowers fertilised with it. In my garden I have some clumps of the common double yellow on a walled south border, which therefore bloom early. In a batch of seedlings from ‘‘ Tenby,’’ sown in 1884, I have one quite double flower, differing in no visible feature from the common double yellow or Telamonius plenus. I understand that my friend Mr. Wolley Dod has had precisely the same experience, and I do not doubt that in both gardens insects conveyed pollen from the double flower to the single. These seedlings have been grown in ranks and watched every year, and no mistake has been made. Our common wild Pseudo-N., when fertilised by pollen of the common double yellow, yields single yellow seedlings, and also doubles of a small intermediate character. Much then, I think, might be done to give us greater variety in double Narcissi. I notice that Mr. G. Cornhill writes to the Garden of April 6, affirming that he has two varieties of ‘hybrid seedling Daffodils.”’ It is well, however, to remind the enthusiastic gardener that he is not likely to make a fortune out of the business of raising seedling Narcissi. Not only must it take a large fraction of a lifetime to work up a small marketable stock of a fine variety, but he may labour some years without finding such a plant 98 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. among his seedlings. He will have many blanks and few prizes. Probably not one seedling out of a hundred, or out of many hundreds, will bear comparison with the finer flowers now in our gardens. It is probable that seed of Horsfieldi—a magni- ficent flower, which seeds freely—has been sown by many with sanguine hopes of flowers as big as dinner plates. Out of many seedlings from Horsfieldi now flowering with me, not one has the smallest pretensions to equal its parent, or even to resemble it, and Mr. Wolley Dod tells me the same thing is true ofa great bed of the same seedlings in his garden. The extraordinary variety, however, of form and colour among such seedlings leads me to suppose that the Horsfieldi flowers were for the most part impregnated with pollen from other Ajax varieties. It is alleged that the Narcissus is usually ‘‘ proterandrous,” 2.e., ripens and sheds its pollen before the stigma is receptive, and therefore we should perhaps do as Darwin did in his experiments —coyer with a gauze net those flowers which we desire to pro- duce ‘‘ true”’ offspring—excluding insects, and applying pollen from flowers of their own race, if obtainable. But Mr. Back- house observed long ago that seedlings of Empress and Emperor have a tendency to revert to an inferior type. (With regard to Emperor, I find the seedlings fairly constant, as may be seen irom two flowers here at hand.) With me, the progeny of Vicar of Lulworth, a remarkably shapely and handsome little flower, had reverted to pure common wild Pseudo-N., and the same reversion has taken place in seedlings of the so-called ‘‘ Bicester Whites,’’ which are almost certainly crosses between some white Daffodil and the indigenous ‘“‘ Lent-lily.’’ On the other hand, I have myself, to some extent, imitated both the Lulworth and the Bicester flowers by crossing the Lent-lily with garden Daffodils. The Lent-lily, dusted with pollen of a trumpet-Daffodil ‘‘ Achilles,’ has given me the flowers, here shown, with prettily expanded crowns. Some ten years ago there came from Holland certain large yellow trumpet Daffodils, now known as “ Henry Irving,’ “ Golden Spur,” ‘‘ General Gordon,’ and others. They were supposed to be Dutch seed- lings, from what is known as Narcissus spurins. Here are seedlings, from my garden, raised from N. spurius, and it will be seen that they are on the way to represent these or similar forms, and that their variation is considerable and noteworthy. SEEDLING DAFFODILS. 99 Seedlings of ‘‘Tenby” are more constant, though they, too, vary. Some of my young seedlings of Horsfieldi give flowers in form like N. princeps, and among seedlings of cernuus pulcher I have reversions to pure cernuus. One of the lessons of these reversions and variations is, that we must certainly sow large breadths of seed for the chance of obtaining a few really superior flowers. And I will conclude with advice that we shall do well not to neglect the latest ‘ scientific methods’’ in our seedling-raismg. In Darwin’s beautiful book upon the effects of cross- and self-fertilisation in plants, he gives, as one of his important summaries, the inference that the most robust offspring results from the marriage of plants which are different varieties of the same species, and which have been grown under varying conditions of soil, climate, &c. If, then, to take an instance already given, we desire to cross Emperor and Maximus, we shall do well to obtain our pollen from another garden or another part of the country, if possible, or to let one of the parents be a plant imported from another locality the pre- vious summer. If we were to cross the robuster Narcissi of our gardens with the finer varieties freshly collected from the Pyrenees and other distant stations, we should pertectly fulfil Darwin’s demand of varying conditions of life in the two parents. Darwin has collected evidence to indicate that true hybrids, 1.€., crosses between different species of a genus, are commonly weak in constitution or in fertility, or in both. Extremely bad results are fortunately uncommon in hybrid Narcissi, although we can see that in them Darwin’s rule holds good to some extent. Thus, to mention some of our modern hybrids, N. Leedsi Beatrice—with me, at least—is both entirely sterile and of little vigour. The varieties Stella, Cynosure, and most of the Incomparabilis class, are vigorous and of rapid root-increase, but sterile or very unprolific in seed-bearing. But the Pyrenean Bernardi (so far as my experience goes), and such garden hybrids as Princess Mary, are both robust and free seed- bearers. Herbert pointed out, nearly half a century ago, how much pleasure the amateur might find in the occupation of raising new Narcissi from seed, and this still holds true. For the more scientifically minded there is still the parentage of some of the ancient hybrids to be more certainly verified, and still new 100 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. hybrids to be raised —e.g., let him bring us hybrids of poeticus with triandrus or cyclamineus. For the unscientific lover of flowers there remain some ideally beautiful things to be produced : he may bring us the giant white and scarlet incomparabilis. And if some faint-hearted gardener objects that this is the work of years, and that he will labour, but the market-gardener will enter inte his labours,—well, is not’ this true of human work at large ? Men must be like the bees, which still make honey and are prob- ably happy over it, though it was remarked two thousand years ago that they do not make it for themselves. DISCUSSION. The CHarrMAN (the Rey. W. Wilks) said: Before proceeding to put to the vote this proposal of a vote of thanks to Mr. Bur- bidge and Mr. Engleheart, for the most valuable papers which they have read to us to-day—papers which are the result of years of patient observation and study—I may perhaps be excused if I venture to make a few practical remarks on a branch of the sub- ject which did not fall within the province of either of these papers. People come to these Spring meetings of ours and see such glorious displays of Daffodils, that knowing them to be thoroughly hardy, they are often inspired with a longing to grow them in their own gardens. That is excellent; it is one of the purposes for which our meetings are held; but let us imagine some one who knows little or nothing of Daffodils to be thus inspired. He goes round the groups and begins jotting down the names of the flowers that most take his fancy, and I venture to say that in less than five minutes he is either floundering hopelessly amid a multitude of names of flowers that toa beginner seem so much alike, and that even experts are not seldom at a difficulty to dis- tinguish ; or else he has covered two or three pages of a note- book with names of flowers which to his eye seem all, and almost equally, desirable. Thus, confused and confounded by the multitude of the names and the similarity of the flowers, many people give the thing up for hopeless, and take refuge in a catalogue, where, although they find a still more bewildering profusion of names, they fancy that in the descriptions so vividly drawn, and in the prices, they will have some reliable guide. DISCUSSION. 101 Now I venture to think that no more fallacious guides were ever invented for a beginner than descriptions and prices. Descrip- tions are notoriously bewildering, save to those who are well accustomed to the style of the describer and the general idea of the described. And prices are most misleading. Some people would pick out all the most expensive bulbs under the impression ‘‘ they must be the best.’’ Others again would pick out the least costly, saying, ‘‘ they will do to begin on.’”’ Both ideas are most fallacious. JI am certain that some of the more costly bulbs are the cheapest for a beginner, and some of the least costly are among the best. I will venture to name a baker’s dozen for any beginner to start on, which I think will none of them cause dis- appointment. I will not name them in any order of merit, as people’s ideas on that point are so different. I name them as they come to my mind, and I will give my reason for naming each. Double Telamonius.—The common double yellow Daffodil. It will grow anywhere, and increase very rapidly. It is glorious in colour, stout in habit, and lasts a long time in bloom. It is the most generally useful Daffodil we have. Emperor.—A grand flower ; tall, strong, robust, very prolific, large broad foliage, large clear pale yellow flower. Horsfieldi.—Another grand flower; deep yellow trumpet, almost white perianth ; very prolific. Himpress.—Except to experts, an exact copy of Horsfieldi; but it blooms a fortnight later, and is therefore fully as desirable as Horsfieldi, and its perianth possesses a little more substance, and its flower stalk is stiffer. Leedsi C. J. Backhouse.—A very fine flower, with a small brillant orange-red trumpet or cup, and a broad golden yellow perianth. It is most distinct, and in my garden is very strong and prolific. Sir Watkin.—A splendid and quite distinct yellow flower of good constitution, and strong robust habit; very prolific. Barri conspicuws.—One of the most charming flowers that I know. Very pale sulphur perianth, with cup fringed with orange. It is not of so stout a habit as those I have previously named, but it is of thoroughly good constitution, and increases rapidly. 102 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Poeticus ornatus.—The early blooming Pheasant’s Eye. The perianth is snow-white, and the cup edged with orange scarlet. Increases fairly well, and has a fair constitution, but is not so strong as the next, but most desirable for its earliness. Poeticus recurvus.—Almost an exact copy of ornatus, but quite a fortnight later, and of more robust habit, and more prolific. Double poeticus.x—Sometimes called the Gardenia Narcissus ; but a good average blossom is far more lovely than any Gardenia. Pure double white, very sweet-scented. It increases quickly, and is indispensable in every collection; and of good constitution. In wet weather the flower-stalks are hardly strong enough to support the full double flowers. Ard Righ.—A very fine flower, and very early. Large golden yellow trumpet and perianth. It has proved with me very robust and prolific. Cernuus.—This is said in some soils to be delicate, but I have not found it so. It is not so robust and strong growing as the others, but it is necessary to make up the dozen on account of its graceful habit and colour. Both trumpet and perianth are white—not paper-white, but more the colour of white flannel ; and I would advise everybody to try it amongst their thirteen. Troilus.—Very early ; a few days before Ard Righ. Strong, upright, robust, most prolific. Trumpet golden yellow, perianth sulphur. I name this instead of obvallaris, which it somewhat resembles, because obvallaris with me is the very reverse of prolific. In naming these thirteen, the particular points I have in view are variety of colour, season, and form, good constitution, and prolificness ; for nothing encourages a beginner so much as when he digs up his clumps, two years after planting, to find he has double or treble the number of bulbs that he purchased. If it had not been so late in the afternoon, I am well aware that Daffodil experts would criticise my list of thirteen, and say ‘‘ Why don’t you include so and so?” My only reply would be, that if all my twenty thousand bulbs were destroyed to-morrow, these are the thirteen varieties I should buy first to begin to re- stock my garden. Mr. Baker remarked that he had listened with a great deal of OBSERVATIONS ON PORTUGUESE NARCISSI. 103 interest to the papers which had been read that day. Looking back over a dozen years, he thought it astonishing to see the change which had taken place in the interest taken by the public in the genus Daffodil—surely the most popular, except the prim- rose, of all the spring flowers. He could not help feeling, how- ever, how very few species were really useful for market-growing purposes. He thought the Society would do well to keep some record from time to time of the different varieties submitted to their Daffodil Committees. The trouble of keeping such record would be amply repaid by the results which would follow. New varieties were constantly being brought forward and the old ones crowded out. In the course of a few years, again, these were superseded by still newer varieties, until, for the want of some official record, many varieties were lost sight of for all practical purposes. In twenty years time this Record Book would be of ereat value in naming different varieties of the genus. Mr. Fraser in a few remarks detailed his own experience in cultivating Daffodils. OBSERVATIONS ON PORTUGUESE NARCISSI. By Mr. AurreD WixBy Tait, F.L.8., Oporto. [Read April 9, 1889.] THis spring I have made a few excursions in Northern Portugal with a view to studying more fully the soil, aspect, and general surroundings of the localities where the various species of Nar- cissus are found. I was accompanied by my friend Mr. Charles S. Gordon, who takes a great interest in this class of plants, and has grown most of the species in England with marked SUCCESS. Corbularias.—These begin to flower early ; in the marshes near the sea they begin in January and continue in bloom till the end of April; in the higher ground they appear in March, and N. nivalis lasts till July in the high mountain ranges. I can confirm Mr. Barr’s statement that the Corbularias growing in marshes and other damp localities are of a larger 104 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. size as regards flower, and of a more vigorous habit of growth, than those found in drier and sandier situations ; but an excep- tion was met with to this rule, as a few days ago we found a quantity of Corbularias growing on a very damp slope amongst and together with Sphagnum moss, Pinguicula lusitanica, and other marsh plants; this Corbularia had very slender, rush-like recumbent and twisted leaves, and a flower much paler and smaller than the usual form; the same plant, exactly identical in size, habit and flower, was growing on a very dry hill-side in very shallow sandy loam. On another day, about twenty miles to the north-west of the above locality, we met with the ordinary form growing in immense quantities in a field which had evidently been recently flooded ; the soil consisted of almost pure river sand, and we were surprised to find that many of the plants had two flowers on the same scape. I had seldom seen the two-flowered form till then. Cyclamineus.—These began flowering about the first week in February, and are still in flower (April 12). We have met with three new localities for this beautifui species, all near Oporto. The original habitat, described and figured by Mr. Barr two years ago, was a striking sight this year; thousands of the golden blooms carpeted the river bank, mixed with primroses and bushes of the tall white heath (Erica arborea). Up till the present I have met with the following varieties of cyclamineus :— 1. A perfectly double-flowered form. The flower resembled that of the common Dutch double Jonquilla, but was larger, and of a greenish yellow, like Telamonius plenus. I found only a single specimen of this, and it has since flowered in the Coimbra Botanic Gardens, still with the double flower. 2. One or two specimens with the cup double. 8. Several specimens with two-flowered scapes; these in cultivation generally revert to the one-flowered form. The cups of the flowers in this species vary considerably in form; some being straight, very slightly crenulated, and not expanded; whereas in other flowers the cup is decidedly ex- panded, crenulated, and distinctly lobed. I have compared these with plants collected by Mr. Barr in Spain, and find that OBSERVATIONS ON PORTUGUESE NARCISSI. 105 the latter are not so expanded as the ordinary Portuguese form, nor are the flowers so large; still, we often find plants here identical with the Spanish form. N. Johnstoni.—-The only locality for this handsome variety is now completely under cultivation, so that very few plants remain ; but I have cultivated it in my garden for two years, and the plants are increasing by offsets. No other locality for this species has been met with in Portugal or, as far as I know, in Kurope. Natural Hybrids.—This season we have met with several of these. Three specimens appeared mixed up with a quantity of the yellow Ajax collected near Oporto by a labourer ; the flowers were considerably damaged, but enough remained to show that they were of a rich yellow colour, the cup short and like that of triandrus, but the perianth segments were long, as in Pseudo- Narcissus. Mr. Gordon found two, and my gardener another two, specimens of the supposed hybrid of Pseudo-Narcissus x trian- drus, which I had met with in 1886, 1887 and 1888. In the four specimens found this spring the flowers were identical and of the usual pale sulphur colour. This hybrid has been described and figured by Professor Henriques, under the name of Narcissus Taiti, in the ‘‘ Boletim da Sociedade Broteriana ’’ 1887, vol. v., p- 173; he also figures a two-flowered specimen which I found growing near one of the usual form. N. triandrus, varieties concolor and pulchellus.—Last year a friend brought me a flower of a triandrus, which appeared to be identical with some triandrus pulchellus sent to me by Mr. Wolley Dod, so this year we visited and carefully studied the plant in its native home. I understand that it is not found in the wild state out of Portugal, and at present we know of only two localities in this country. In the district we visited last week, we found both the pul- chellus and concolor varieties, with intermediate forms, growing together, but only one white triandrus appeared, and the flower had a suspiciously yellow tinge. The plants grew on the strongly inclined rocky slopes of small streams in a shallow peaty loam, damp in winter and very dry and well drained in summer; in every case the plants grew under the shade of pines (Pinus mari- tima), cork, and arbutus trees. The roots were rather deeply 106 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. buried; the rock formation was an argillaceous schist with mica and quartz, the strata being vertical, or almost so, and showing signs of a decided displacement or upheaval. The small streams referred to above run from the west, and also from the east, into a larger stream flowing from north to south. A few miles above the junctions, triandrus albus, the white triandrus, is common, and cyclamineus and Bulbocodium are also found, though more rarely ; but, from the position of the concolor and pulchellus plants, it is not likely that they can have been washed down the larger stream. I am completely puzzled as to the pro- bable origin of these varieties. A cross of cyclamineus x triandrus albus might have been the origin; but, if so, why do we not find them growing where the parents are in proximity to each other, as the natural hybrids of Pseudo-Narcissus x triandrus, and triandrus x nivalis have invariably been found where the parent species meet and intermingle. The soil may have some influence on the colour ; but, if so, it is curious to find some flowers of a concolorous yellow, and others with a pale cup and darker perianth, as pulchellus. I have received a triandrus concolor from Professor Henriques of a much richer colour; these were collected near the Estrella mountains in Central Portugal. I have sent specimens of the above three varieties to Mr. Barr, who, I hope, will enlighten us on the subject. Pseudo-Narcissus, var. bicolor.—In 1885 I collected a quan- tity of plants of a Pseudo-Narcissus, having a white perianth suffused at the base with sulphur. This has been introduced into English gardens under the name of Ajax bicolor lusitanicus. Since then another and very distinct variety of bicolor has been sent to me; in this form the perianth segments, instead of being broad and imbricated, are narrow, pointed, and quite separate at the base, standing at right angles to the cup, and presenting a curious star-like appearance. Of this variety I obtained only six plants, but hope to be able to collect more, so as to introduce them. into cultivation in England. N. scaberulus.—This quaint little species, discovered and described last year* by Professor Henriques, has flowered well under cultivation ; it resembles N. juncifolius very closely, differ- ing chiefly in the habit and leaf. * Bol. Soc. Brot. VI., p. 45, with figure. THE AURICULA. 107 THE AURICULA. By the Rev. F. D. Horner, M.A., Burton-in-Lonsdale. Read April 23, 1889. p SoME one, when asked whether he believed in ghosts or not, replied that, without committing himself to an opinion, he should certainly consider Appearances to be in their favour! Even so it has been a question, somewhat vexed, whether the Auricula had a ghost of a chance of appearing again, in the south, from the cold shades of obscurity and neglect. I think, however, from what we continue to see of the Auricula at the southern shows of the National Auricula Society, we may con- clude that these appearances are in its favour. I do not propose to occupy time now with points of Auricula culture, which are well known to cultivators, and probably are of small import to anybody else. I only remark that the culti- vation seems to become ever less difficult as to composts ; and as to protection, more natural, if we take into account the tender- ness of the acquired beauties, and the constitutional modifications of the florist’s Auricula. Weafford the plants a shelter more con- genial than it used to be, safer ventilation, and more abundant light, in cool and airy houses. The plants are much happier there than if shut down in closed frames, while even we ourselves are more comfortable, and of more service to them than we could be, by only catching cold outside, looking in, so to say, at the shop windows. But I can remember Auriculas set out under garden hedges, much to the advantage of snails and caterpillars ; or kept in cold pits, inducive of vegetable cramps and lung diseases; or boxed in long-legged glass cases, as if they were scientific objects for a museum. I have seen them in unpicturesque backyards, and I once saw them down an area, on a level with the coalhole. There was slaughter in those days; and Mr. George Lightbody, of venerable memory in annals of the Auricula, used to tell me that there were some collections which he had under repair regularly every year, replacing with strong plants the dead and gone. M 108 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Yet the Auricula is not an unhealthy plant, though there will in time be deaths from old age, which the plants of some varieties seem to reach sooner than do those of other kinds. After a few years’ duration in vigour, a plant naturally dwindles away, splits up, or blooms itself out. A whole variety, also, has its declining years, marked by its losing the constancy and power of its earlier qualities, and by becoming more and more difficult to grow. Probably some old varieties have disappeared, not through being discarded, but by quietly passing away in a gradual decay of faculties and constitutional powers. So, in our flowers even, do families and titles become extinct, and great names pass to floral history. I almost think, if lovers of the Auricula could all rest content with the labours of their florist forefathers, none ever striving to enrich and lead the flower on by seedling culture, but content to be, as it were, consumers only, and not producers, it would bring the Auricula down at last to decrepitude and exhaustion—a flower so peculiarly our own, so domesticated, and so changed, that she has left her kindred and her father’s house, and has no home but ours. The vigour of a young variety, once established, is very marked; and even supposing that nothing better than what has been could be hoped for from future seedlings, still, newness of health and strength, together with many a fresh feature in the foliage, would be obtained. There is not one of our florist flowers to which the foliage means so much as it does to the Auricula. In all others it is subservient to the flower itself—is perhaps rather in the way, as with the Chrysanthemum ; but in the Auricula the foliage, in character and perfume, is a sister charm and beauty, and the two are inseparable. Rather than anything else in the culture of this flower, I would touch upon its improvement by seed. All that we have accomplished since the great year of the Primula Conference (1886) I cannot compress within limits reasonable to-day. I will only allude to the “self’’ class—flowers that have the look of good nature and simplicity, but which are as much given to wrong devices as any other class. But I think we have progress in the “selfs”? towards black and rich brown. They require leading away from amiable but weak shades of plum, THE AURICULA. 109 mostly of reddish tints, which are not capable of much distinctive- ness, are very common, as the puce in Phloxes, and not steady to one shade. Violet plums are richer, but apt to shade towards the edge with age, or cold weather, and to be weaker generally on the inner pips. With the crimson selfs I have had a long struggle to obtain the ‘‘rose-leaved,”’ notchless petal. The tubes in this class seem, as to colour, inherently golden ; at least, I have never had a pale tubed crimson self from seed. The best I have raised, as yet, I have brought with me; but though form and colour and tube are fine, the paste is not sharply enough defined, nor sufficiently circular. It is very fascinating to follow the first break of a new colour, especially the traces of such a lovely one for the selfs as pink. This has shown some improvement, but it is still too fleeting. It will be a wonderful acquisition when won. In what are termed the “ blue ”’ selfs, the really golden tube is yet a dream of the future, though a very pretty and fairly steadfast light lemon is gained in the new blue, Mrs. Arthur Potts. This is far the best flower in its class; and the fresh lemon tube demonstrates at once, by its effect, that our desire for this property is true to the beauty of that type. Deep violet shades of blue are more ready to acquire this property than the light ones, both in ‘“ selfs’’ and ‘‘edges.’’ In the latter classes I have seen no blue body colour that opens and remains in one unmixed, unchanging shade. But all classes of the Auricula as yet dwell, like our own selves, in that largest room in all this world—the ‘‘ room for improvement.’ Even if we attain to perfection with them, which we need not fear to be doing too often, we shall not reach the ultimatum of the flower. There is no “Ne Plus Ultra,’ though two Auriculas, of Smith’s and Fletcher’s, bear that unpretentious name ! But I do say there is good hope of still better things for those who will take thought and pains how best to overcome some weakness, characteristic of a colour or a class. Despite the many sorry tricks that seedlings will play off upon us, our object will be traceable among them; and rewards are just rare enough to make their value felt. Whether the term of years between the raising and circula- tion of a worthy seedling will be ever shortened, I cannot say. M 2 110 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Something depends on what may be the reproductive habit of the plant, and something depends upon ourselves. If more. among us would raise seedlings, the weariness of waiting for the successes of a few would be lightened, because some one out of many might have an acquisition ready in a livelier suc- cession. Then, too, one good seedling may command another ; while, to the raiser, money would be no equivalent, at least not until ‘‘ the sweet by-and-bye.”’ Success, of course, is conditional—perhaps highly so. It will depend upon energy and judgment—upon continuity and abundance of efforts—upon impartiality, I may say severity, towards our own productions—upon thoughtful selection of parentage—upon patient, steady aim in following the aspiration of the Auricula in some fresh phase of beauty, indistinct as yet, in the morning mists of its uprising. For myself, the hope I speak of rests on this: that since I have been enabled to raise seedlings from seedlings, and so by degrees have become independent of some weaker types, and have ceased to hark back to old crosses because in their day they resulted in some measure of success, I find the properties we would develop do become more and more impressed upon the Auricula. Exceptions of course are manifold. I have raised whole flights for nothing good. But still the tendency is marked, the drift is there; and each achievement adds its own impress and volume, its own impetus, to the next succession. That is no new discovery of mine in floriculture, but it is cheering to find it borne out in the Auricula, a flower that was accounted most slow and difficult to improve. Perhaps it is noteworthy that seed should not be saved from even the best varieties if they are out of character, as even the best can be at times. In that form, the flower is practically a bad sort; and though the variety bears a good name, yet a faulty specimen shows no respect for family honour and traditions. In early days of my experience I practised a sort of economy, sparing a flower in good character—perhaps for show—and thinking that a rough one, so long as the variety was good, would do for seed. But while yet I could use only old crosses, I found it the truer economy to employ only the best varieties in their best character for parents. THE AURICULA. RO ‘*Pin-eyed’’ parents I do not consider a desirable venture, though such flowers are often provokingly brilliant in other pro- perties, notably in beautifully finished golden tubes. Young plants are the safest seed-bearers. It may be that, from the very human desire to get as much as possible as soon as possible, some large old specimen has been seeded and lost. There was an old idea—and not dead yet—that to seed a valuable plant was the death warrant forit. There is nothing in the idea except that, if a large plant were used, the stout flower stem would probably have too long a hold and pull upon the plant through the summer, and it might die from syncope. At times I have been asked about failures in saving Auricula seed; and it 1s in part a mystery, in that some seasons will prove bad seed years. Success, however, largely depends upon early setting for seed—early, I mean, in the flower’s life. The stigma is most viscid and susceptible, and the pollen most fresh and abundant, when the flower is but a half-open bud. I only wait till then. Sometimes, after fertilisation, the young flower progresses no further, as if conscious that its share in the great work of yield- ing seed is done, and it is folded up. In other cases it will expand, and last until the swelling seed vessel disconnects the flower from its hold within the calyx, comically wearing the displaced corolla on its head, ike a hat very much to one side. With exception of the selfs, the florist Auricula cannot be said to seed freely. Generally only a few capsules will fill well, and there is only one thin layer of angular seed in each, all else inside the pod being but a placental core; and though this is as much a structural necessity as the obtrusive cone inside a wine bottle, it conveys the same EEF OgsION that the vessel holds more than it really does. I would advocate a high degree of patience with seed lying ungerminated in the seed pans. I have kept them three years, and found seedlings still coming up. At whatever time seed is sown, it will never all come up at once; some will not be born till many of their fellows have been bloomed and thrown away. Moss threatens to be troublesome, and must be kept under— better from the first—by clear lime-water. Sprinkling powdered lime is not safe if there be much sand in thesoil. I usedit once, 112 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. and produced a sort of concrete flooring, and lost many infant plants. I am irresistibly drawn to the subject of seedling Auriculas, because in both the Southern and Northern shows their appear- ance is of intense interest. There is no better public test than exhibitions, where they must meet the old varieties and each other, and pass a severe examination. Still to a very large extent an exhibition does not give a full view of the work accomplished. What may be caught for one particular day is only as an instantaneous photo- eraph, showing a momentary position with respect to new flowers, of which there may not yet be a second plant in existence ; whereas of long established and distributed varieties there is great succession and choice. In the days of the older raisers there were weak flowers produced and accepted, perhaps for variety’s sake, if they were anything like an Auricula, perhaps because to equal the best was an impious expectation. Buta sterner rule is laid down for us, and Iam not sorry forit. A new Auricula is at once taken for judgment before the best of the older flowers; and if it is not worthy, it stands lower than the old second-rates. Some redoubt- able champion variety is flung at its diminished head, and that floral missile is at present the grand grey-edge George Lightbody. Even this flower often shows more faults than one, all the more vexatious because it can do better. But at its best it is far too true an Auricula for us to wish to see it driven out of the field. Our aim is rather to surround it with compeers which it will be a great honour to defeat. Towards that—and not in one class only but in all—I feel a quiet assurance that we are progressing. Another point upon which I would lay all stress is purity. In crosses I would keep class to class to intensify class distinctions, to avoid beaded edges in the green-edged, undecided edges in the greys, and lack of density in the whites. So may the selfs also have their rule of colour to colour. Enterprising exceptions here should be made carefully, for some mixtures only result in duli and common shades of puce, and unattractive tints of plum, to say nothing of fancy sports that scarcely have a name in colour. To the raiser of seedlings there is a further source of purity— the pureness of the whole collection from weak inferior varieties. THE AURICULA. 113 Of course those who are growers only may grow everything ; but where plants are used for seed, it is safer that they should keep only the best of company. If that which is otherwise is among them, it is not easy to completely outwit its influence, particularly with respect to yellow selfs and ‘‘alpines.” The former encourage not only their own potent colour, but also extraordinary mixtures past description, and alpines import traces of their shaded tints. It may be the view of an extremist, but I think that he who works for seedlings of the highest quality risks sore interference with his best efforts by playing with those confessed muddles known as ‘‘ fancies.”’? Fancy what our grave fathers would have said to see them here, admitted to our strictly classical florist shows! The Auricula is brought to light once more, and lo! we have the moonlight flights and nightmare fancies of the Auricula exposed to view. The Carnation is in favour again, and florists are allured into consent to raise, keep, multiply, and exhibit along with their'most sterling flowers, those which are admittedly delinquents and outside the pale ! You will understand that I am speaking strictly from a florist’s point of view, and I think that purity is the florist’s best policy. it is not that I have no love for other plants. I have grown many a wayside, and out-of-the-wayside flower, and I would not deny life and beauty to our florist misfits and defaulters. There is not a flower in the world but what is far too good to despise. I mentioned ‘ fancies,’ not to carp at them, and scarcely even at their appearance here, if it is understood. But I think they are no little beside the mark in a florist’s aim, so far as his floral work concerns his florist flowers. They must in some measure feed upon his time and space; just as, in our trout stream at home, the little salmon smolts, which are illegitimate in the basket, are continually robbing our trout of flies, by virtue of a vigorous growth, and appetite insatiable. It may be that these ‘“‘fancy”’ flowers add to the attraction of the show, if that is any compliment to our correct beauties ! It may be that they serve as foil and contrast to our classical flowers. Perchance they give to the outer circle of floricul- turists some insight of what the ore is like from which we have extracted our precious metal. 114 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. But intrinsically they are here the ‘ how-not-to-do-its ”’ of the Auricula; and whether they tend to strengthen our demon- stration of the Auricula in her florist lines of beauty, or to deflect or else confuse the public taste, I am not sure. At one of our Northern shows a winning exhibitor obtained no offers for any of his high-class flowers, but he was bidden £2 10s. for a basketful of ‘‘ fancies ’’—sad things! Pale ghosts of aniline dyes; shades of weak mustard; phantom tints of pickled cucumber! It did equal honour to his business head and to his florist heart that he promptly accepted that offer. Perhaps, too, it is from cognizance of our toleration, expansion, or dilution in this respect that now and again we are favoured, through the papers, with the complaint that our “ Little Nationals’’ do less than they ought, to make supply of beautiful and vigorous border flowers, and thus florists are the first people that ever were blamed for strictly minding their own business. For a last word let me express the hope that more in our ranks will grow their own seedlings, for to be without them is to miss one feature of incessant interest and freshness. It is to stop at home when they might travel abroad and be the first to see something new. It is to miss the whole charm of exploration and discovery—yea, the very ‘‘ Traveller’s Joy’ of floriculture. DISCUSSION. Mr. JAMEs Dovuauas, as chairman, apologised for the absence of Mr. J. T. D. Llewelyn, who should have read a paper on Primulas, but who was unavoidably absent owing to public engagements. Mr. Douglas then proceeded to make some remarks upon Alpine Auriculas, referring especially to the green- edged and grey-edged species, and to one of the finest yellow- colour named Buttercup. These were hardy, and could be srown successfully either in a border or in pots. Mr. Surrtey Hrpperp traced the history of the Auricula from the primitive plant which once grew on the margin of a stream to the most elaborate hybrid now cultivated in our green- houses. The Auricula could be traced back for 300 years, and the beautifully-edged flowers dated from 1734. After a great number of experiments we had got back to the original form of the flower, but not to the original colour, at least not to the satisfaction of botanists. The speaker deprecated the indefinite ORCHID CULTURE PAST AND PRESENT. 115 extension of fancy species, what we wanted was to raise stocks of really first-class varieties. He should be very sorry if ever this beautiful flower were excluded from our gardens, where it is now so generally cultivated. Mr. Doveuas added, as a proof of the hardiness of the Auricula, the case of a working man who had most successfully cultivated the plant and raised a most strikingly new variety in an open garden in the smoky atmosphere of Sheffield. ORCHID CULTURE PAST AND PRESENT. By Mr. H. J. Verren, F.L.8., F.R.H.S. [Read June 11, 1889.] In accordance with the request of the Council that I should to-day treat about Orchids, I propose to review, as concisely as the subject admits, the progress of the cultivation of the Epiphytal Orchids from their first introduction into British gardens up to the present time. In the course of this retrospect I shall point out some of the difficulties which our predecessors had to contend with in this branch of horticulture, and how they succeeded, at least in part, in overcoming them, and thence from their successes and failures to derive, if possible, some practical hints for our own guidance. The first tropical orchid that became established in the hot- houses of Great Britain seems to have been the Vanilla, which was known to Miller, the second edition of whose Dictionary of Gardening was published in 1768. Miller also enumerates several species of Epidendrum some of which must have been known to him in a living state, for he says: ‘ The plants cannot by any art yet known be cultivated in the ground, though, could they be brought to thrive, many of them produce very fine flowers of uncommon form.’ Three species sent from America, which he planted with care in pots and placed in a stove, produced flowers, but the plants soon after perished. A few years later Dr. John Fothergill brought home from China, among other plants introduced for the first time into 116 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. British gardens, some Orchids, including Phaius grandifolius (Bletia Tankervillee) and Cymbidium ensifolium; these were cultivated by him prior to 1780. In 1787 Epidendrum coch- leatum flowered for the first time in this country in the Royal Gardens at Kew, and HK. fragrans in October of the following year. Seven years later, fifteen species, chiefly West Indian Epidendra, are recorded as being cultivated in the Royal Gardens, ‘‘in very great heat, and with fragments of half-rotten bark at their roots.”’ As a consequence of the political circumstances of the times, the first epiphytal Orchids received in England were brought from the West Indies, chiefly from Jamaica, by naval officers and by captains in the merchant service, who gave no certain infor- mation respecting the habits of the plants and their environment in their native country beyond the bare fact that they grew on trees. They were thence believed to be parasites like the Mistletoe of our woods and orchards, a belief that became so firmly rooted that it held its sway for many years even after their true character had been determined by Dr. Robert Brown and Dr. Lindley. The prevalence ofthis belief was prejudicial to the progress of Orchid culture, for it induced attempts at cultivation that were necessarily futile. ‘The Editor of the Botamcal Register, under tab. 17, KEpidendrum nutans, which was first brought to England from the West Indies by Admiral Bligh in 1798, quaintly remarks that ‘‘the cultivation of tropical parasites was long regarded as hopeless; it appeared a vain attempt to find substitutes for the various trees each species might affect, within the limits of a hot-house.”’ Nevertheless Orchids continued to be imported, and even in those days, when a voyage to or from the West Indies occupied two months, their extraordinary tenacity of life after removal from the trees on which they were found growing was observed. Of the treatment the plants received we can only here and there catch a glimpse from the occasional notes that appeared from time to time in the Botanical Magazine, which had been founded by William Curtis in 1798. Thus, under tab. 387, Cymbidium aloifolium, which had been received from India by Mr. Vere, of Kensington, a few years previously, it is stated that this plant was placed in a pot of earth and plunged into the tan bed of the stove, where it grew but did not flower. This species ORCHID CULTURE PAST AND PRESENT. ERG was also cultivated at the same time by Messrs. Greenwood and Wyke, nurserymen, at Kensington, who, instead of plunging the pot into the tan, placed it on the floor of the stove: it then flowered. From other notes we gather that the usual treatment of Orchids at this period was to pot them in a mixture of loam and peat, and keep them constantly plunged in the tan bed of the stove. That they should soon succumb to such treatment seems to us but a very natural consequence ; nevertheless, it seems to have been generally persisted in for many years. The first fifteen years of the present century were over- shadowed by the Napoleonic wars, which retarded every art that can only flourish in times of peace. Nevertheless, in the very throes of that tremendous struggle, the Horticultural Society of London was founded, and obtained its charter of incorporation in 1809. From that time horticulture may be said to have entered into public life, and to have received an impetus it never could have had from the isolated efforts of private individuals. Orchids, till then regarded more as curiosities than as subjects to be seriously taken in hand culturally, began to come more to the front, for the Messrs. Loddiges began to cultivate them for sale in their Hackney nursery about the year 1812; and about that time too, or a little later, Dr. Roxburgh sent from India the first Vanda, the first Aérides, and the first Dendrobium that were seen alive in England. In the same year too, Messrs. Loddiges received a plant of Oncidium bifolium from a gentleman who brought it from Monte Video, and who informed them that *‘it was hung up in the cabin without earth, and continued to flower during a great part of the voyage home;” a statement that was then regarded asa traveller’s tale and beyond the limits of credulity. The ‘ air plants,’ as the Vandas, Aérides, and Saccolabiums were then called, were a puzzle to the horticulturists of that time, and how profound was the prevailing ignorance of their true character may be judged from the following extract from the Botanical Register for 1817, under tab. 220, Aérides (Sarcanthus) paniculatum :—‘“ Air plants possess the faculty of growing when suspended so as to be cut off from all sustenance but that derived immediately from the atmosphere. Plants of other genera of this tribe, and even of a different tribe, are endowed with a like faculty; in none, however, can such insula- 118 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. tion be considered as the state of existence which suits them best, but merely as one they are enabled to endure, as a carp is known to do, that of being suspended out of water in a damp cellar.”’ To keep alive an air plant for any length of time, and to flower it, was regarded as a feat of extraordinary interest. The first who seems to have accomplished it was Mr. Fairbairn, the gardener at Claremont, who flowered Aérides odoratum in 1813. How he succeeded may be related in his own words: “‘I put the plant when first received into a basket with old tan and moss, and hung it up in the pine house, where it was exposed to the summer sun and to the fire heat in winter. A tub of water was placed near it, so that I could plunge the basket six or seven times a day, or as often as I passed it.” Some years later the same excellent gardener flowered Renanthera coccinea for the first time in this country. Towards the end of the second decade of this century, Sir Joseph Banks had devised one of the most successful modes of treating epiphytal Orchids then known, and which he practised in his hot-house at Isleworth: “‘ He placed the plants sepa- rately in light cylindrical wicker baskets or cages of suitable width, of which the framework was of long slender twigs wattled together at the bottom, the upper portion being left open that the plant might extend its growth in any direction and yet be kept steady in its station, the ends of the twigs having been tied together by the twine that suspends the whole to the wood-work of the stove. A thin layer of vegetable mould was strewed on the floor of the basket on which the rootstock was placed, and then covered slightly over with a sufficiency of moss to shade it and preserve a due degree of moisture.” This was the first rude forerunner of our modern Orchid basket, and the first instance I find recorded of moss being used for surfacing. : Loddiges at this time made their compost of rotten wood and moss, with a small quantity of sand. Their Orchid stove was heated by brick flues to as high a temperature as could be obtained by that means, and by a tan bed in the middle kept constantly moist by watering, and from which a steamy evapora- tion was rising at all times without any ventilation from without. Their method was, of course, imitated by probably all cultivators. ORCHID CULTURE PAST AND PRESENT. 119 To these hot steamy places Orchids were consigned as soon as received, and into which, it was occasionally remarked, it was as dangerous to health and comfort to enter as it was into the damp close jungle in which all tropical Orchids were then sup- posed to have their home. The want of success that attended the preservation of the plants in such places for any length of time was supposed to be due to some peculiar difficulty in their cultivation, and it was resolved that an attempt should be made in the garden of the Horticultural Society to overcome it. A stove was accordingly set apart for their exclusive culture, and when subsequently Mr. (afterwards Dr.) John Lindley was appointed assistant secretary to the Society, the chief direction of it fell into his hands. ‘‘ The first experiments were unsuccessful; the plants were lost as quickly as they were received.’”’ This led Lindley to inquire more closely into the conditions under which Orchids grow in their native countries, and which, if accurately ascer- tained, would, he believed, supply data for a more successful cultivation of them. The results of his inquiry, and the infer- ences he drew from them, are contained in a paper which he read before the Society in May 1830. It is evident from this paper that the information he obtained was far too restricted, and held good only for a limited area; hence from such imperfect premises the conclusions could scarcely be otherwise than fallacious. For example, Mr. William Harrison, a merchant residing at Rio de Janeiro, and who for some years previously had sent many fine Orchids to his brothers at Liverpool, informed him that in Brazil ‘‘ they exclusively occupy damp woods and rich valleys among vegetation of a most luxuriant description by which they are embowered.”’ The word exclusively was unfortunate, for we now know that most of the finest of the Brazilian Cattleyas and Lelas occur at considerable elevations, and often in exposed situations. And Dr. Wallich, to whom we owe the first intro- duction of many fine Dendrobes, told him that ‘‘ In Nepaul, the thicker the forest, the more shady the trees, the richer and blacker the natural soil, the more profuse are the Orchids.” From such data Lindley concluded that high temperature, deep shade, and excessive humidity are the conditions essential to the well-being of the plants, and he framed his cultural reeommen- 120 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. dations accordingly, including among them good drainage for the plants, which appears hitherto to have been generally neglected, but making no mention of ventilation. So predominant had Lindley’s influence at that time become in all matters pertaining to Orchids, whether as the chief botani- cal authority on them, or from the position he held in the Society, that the unhealthy régime of cultural treatment approved by him became, as it were, the only orthodox one, and was generally persisted in in all its essential points for upwards of thirty years after the publication of the paper just now mentioned, so that when thirteen years later Mr. Bateman formulated a course of cultural treatment for tropical Orchids in the introduction to hig Orchidacee of Mexico and Guatemala, it differed but little from Dr. Lindley’s recommendations, except the important direction to give the plants a season of rest. It is, however, only just to the memory of Dr. Lindley to add that, when later, as more correct information came to hand respecting the habitats of Orchids and their environment in s2tw, he was one of the first to note the fact, and to give cultivators a friendly warning—thus, in the Botanical Register for 1835, under tab. 1697 (Oncidium ampliatum), we find the following remarks: ‘ It is well known that the most considerable part of the epiphytal Orchids is found in the greatest vigour in damp, sultry woods in tropical countries, and accordingly we endeayour, in our artificial cultivation, to form an atmosphere for them as nearly as possible that which they would naturally breathe in such stations. That this is attended with very great success is obvious from the numerous splendid specimens which are from time to time appearing in various collections. But it is sufficiently evident that, although this kind of treatment is admirably suited to a considerable number, there are others that grow most unwillingly, or scarcely survive, under such circumstances. If a great majority of epiphytal Orchids swarm in damp tropical forests, there is a considerable minority which live in an entirely different climate.” And during his long editorship of the Gardener’s Chronicle he constantly published such items of information as came to hand that he believed would afford useful hints to cultivators. But what were the splendid specimens he speaks of? Chiefly Brazilian Maxillarias, West Indian Epidendra, Cataseta, ORCHID CULTURE PAST AND PRESENT. T3t Mormodes, and the like; not the grand Cattleyas, elegant Odon- toglots, and brilliant Masdevallias of our time; for such of these as were then imported were doomed to certain destruction in the hot, steamy, unventilated stoves to which they were consigned on their arrival in England, and to the temperature of which they were as great strangers as to our severest winter frosts. And thus perished, within a few months, most of the earliest introduced Cattleyas, Leelias, Odontoglots, and Oncids, but not without a protest from men who had seen them and other sub- tropical Orchids in their native wilds. So early as 1835 Allan Cunningham reported to Dr. Lindley how different were the conditions under which Australian orchids grew in their native country from those to which they were subjected in the hot- houses of England, and that they should soon perish in them seemed to him but a very natural consequence. Then followed Gibson, who had collected Orchids on the Khasia Hills for the Duke of Devonshire, Gardner on the Organ mountains, William Lobb on the Peruvian Andes, Mr. Ure Skinner on the Cordilleras of Guatemala, Mr. Motley on the mountains of Java. These, one and all, gave utterance to monitory warnings against the folly of subjecting Orchids which naturally grew in a temperate climate to the stifling heat of an Indian jungle. In fact, it was high time that such warnings should be given, for, as private collections were being formed and multiplied, and as high prices were being paid for the choicer kinds, epiphytal Orchids were poured into the country in a continually increasing stream, only too often to tantalise the purchasers with a sight of their lovely flowers and curious forms, and then to languish and die. For more than halfa century England was, as Sir Joseph Hooker once observed, “ the grave of tropical Orchids.”’ Buta change of system was at length approaching, not brought about so much by the remonstrance of the travellers just men- tioned, as by the intelligence and sagacity of a few practical gardeners on whom had been laid the responsibility of cultivating the costly collections of their employers. One of the first of these was Joseph Cooper, gardener to Earl Fitzwilliam at Went- worth. Dr. (afterwards Sir William) Hooker, who visited the Orchid house at Wentworth in 1835, was surprised at the degree of success with which the plants were cultivated there, and adds: ‘‘T must confess that the sight of this collection, whether the 123 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. vigorous growth and beauty of the foliage, or the number of splendid specimens blooming at one time, be considered, far exceeded my warmest anticipations.’’ (Bot. Mag. sub tab. 8,395.) Cooper’s chief deviations from the established practice con- sisted in a lower mean temperature and the admission of fresh air into the house. A still bolder innovation was adopted shortly afterwards by Paxton at Chatsworth, which caused as much surprise to Dr. Lindley as Cooper’s treatment had to Dr. Hooker. Under tab. 5 (Stanhopea quadricornis), in the Botanical Register for 1838, Dr. Lindley writes : ‘‘ The success with which epiphytes are cultivated by Mr. Paxton is wonderful, and the climate in — which this is effected, instead of being so hot and damp that the plants can only be seen with as much peril as if one had to visit them in an Indian jungle, is as mild and delightful as that of Madeira.’ The salient points of Paxton’s treatment may be thus summarised—a lower temperature with a purer atmosphere; an improved method of potting with especial regard to efficient drainage ; the maintaining of a moist atmosphere by occasionally watering the paths and stages of the house, and greater attention to root development. We here see an approach to the cultural routine of the present day; but twenty years had yet to elapse before the prevailing notions respecting Orchid culture finally gave way. Close upon Paxton followed Donald Beaton, who for a few years had charge of Mr. Harris’s collection of Orchidsat Kingsbury. Beaton insisted upon more attention being paid than hitherto to the climatic conditions under which Orchids grow at high altitudes within the tropics, and the consequent necessity of adapting their cultural treatment accordingly. In proof of his assertions he sent to Sir William Hooker, who characterised Beaton “as one of the ablest and most scientific gardeners in this country,”’ the details of his successful management of a consignment of - Orchids his employer had received from Mexico, and which had been collected by Galeotti at 7,500-9,000 feet elevation. These details are published in the Botanical Magazine for 1841, under tab. 3804 (Lelia anceps). Long, however, before the period at which I have now arrived, a revolution had been slowly but surely effected which had an enormous influence on the cultivation of plants under glass, and contributed in no small degree to the improvement in Orchid ORCHID CULTURE PAST AND PRESENT. 123 culture that subsequently followed. This was the heating of elass-houses by means of hot-water pipes, which were first used for this purpose on a small scale by Mr. Anthony Bacon, at Aberaman, in Glamorganshire, and afterwards by the same gentleman at Elcot, near Newbury. The inventor of the process is said to have been a Mr. Atkinson. The change from the brick flue with the tan bed to heating by hot water was nothing less than the substitution of the power of regulating the equality of the temperature for too great inequality; the obtaining of almost perfect control over the heating power, with a great diminution of the labour of attending to the fires, in the place of a very imperfect control with unremitting attention day and night; the admission of fresh warmed air in lieu of no ventilation at all, to say nothing of the smoke and noxious vapours that were constantly escaping through the cracks and fissures of the flue. Such a combination of circumstances could scarcely fail sooner or later to bring about a change in the cultural methods that had been in vogue so long—a change that was to result not only in a more rational treatment of Orchids coming from high altitudes, but also in a modification of that applied to purely tropical kinds. And soit happened ; but the change was so slow and so gradual in taking place, that, looking back upon the state of Orchid culture forty years ago, and upon what we are now accustomed to see daily, one can scarcely suppress a feeling of astonishment that its history should present to us the phase it does. During the twenty years that elapsed between 1840 and 1860, that is to say, from about the time that Mr. Barker, of Birming- ham, sent Ross to Mexico, and when Linden began to make known to science and to horticulture the surprising wealth of Cattleyas and Odontoglots inhabiting the Cordilleras of New Granada—these plants perished under the barbarous treatment they received in the hot-houses of this country almost as fast as they were imported. To such an extent were the losses felt, that Lindley, in a remarkable article published in the Gardeners’ Chronicle towards the end of 1859, pronounced their treatment ‘*a deplorable failure,” and which Mr. Bateman also some years later characterised as “incredible folly.’ But the spell which had held Orchid culture in thraldom for half a century was at length N 124 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. broken, and with the despatch of Weir by the Horticultural Society of London ; of Blunt, by Messrs. Low & Co., of Clapton ; and of Schlim, by M. Linden, of Brussels, to collect Cattleyas and Odontoglots in New Granada, was inaugurated a new era in Orchid culture. I have now arrived at an epoch within the memory of most living cultivators, and which may not be inaptly regarded as the commencement of the period of modern Orchid culture. Into the details of the practice of the present time it is not my purpose to enter ; it is sufficient to note that among the most obvious improvements of recent times must be included—larger and more airy structures with separate compartments for different climates (for large collections even separate houses); a lower average temperature ; the admission of more light and air, and a better system of heating, shading and ventilation. Of the advantages that have accrued from these improvements we have innumerable proofs; but shall we regard our present Orchid culture, so far as ourselves are concerned, as practically perfect, and, resting satisfied with our achievements, leave to our successors the task of making a further advance if they can ? Such a course is surely unworthy of our calling and of ourselves. Let us rather bring to the front some of the defects that remain and try to discover a remedy for them. To cite instances: How many can yet boast of growing successfully for half a dozen consecutive years such Orchids as Cattleya citrina, Leelia albida, L. majalis, L. autumnalis, Epidendrum vitellinum, E. nemorale, and others from the Mexican highlands ? Who has yet cultivated the Barkerias and the group of Brazilian Oncids represented by Oncidium crispum, O. Forbesii, O. Marshallianum, O. sarcodes, O. varicosum and their allies, for any length of time, and has not had to deplore the gradual decline of the plants till they died outright ? How is it that such fine Dendrobes as Dendrobium formosum, D. Bensonie, D. MacCarthia, D. Parishii , D. bigibbum, and others, are still refractory subjects? That the noble group of Zygopetale known as Bolleas, Huntleyas, Pesca - toreas, &c., refuse to thrive forany length oftimeinour houses? And why, moreover, are we still obliged to regard as difficult plants to cultivate, such fine Orchids as Cattleya Aclandiw, C. superba, Chysis bractescens, Colax jugosus, Grammatophyllum Ellisii, ORCHID CULTURE PAST AND PRESENT. 125 Diacrium bicornutum, and others that can be named? Doubt- less the impossibility of exactly, or even approximately imitating in our houses the climatic conditions under which these Orchids grow in their native countries, together with our still imperfect acquaintance with their surroundings 7m sitw, has much to do with the failure to cultivate them satisfactorily. But ought we to be content with such crude empiricisms as hanging them up first in one place, then in another, then in a third, and finally leaving them to their fate ? I invite discussion on these points. There is another subject to be mooted, one that has an important bearing on Orchid culture in the immediate future. The large and constantly increasing number of Orchid collections in this country, as well as in America and on the continent of Kurope, has called into existence a class of gardeners whose sole occupation is the cultivation of Orchids, than which no branch of horticulture exacts a greater amount of intelligence, of care- ful and accurate observation, with ability to collate and to com- pare the facts observed, and to deduce practical conclusions from them. The Orchid gardeners of the present day unquestionably possess intelligence ; they have also within their reach educa- tional advantages to which their predecessors were strangers, as to them Educational Codes and School Boards were un- known. The simplest truths are often slow in making their way, and the history of Orchid culture bears painful testimony to this fact as regards the horticultural mind. Will it be so in the immediate future, as it was in the past ? Will the generality of Orchid growers go on in the same groove year after year, performing mechanically rather than intelligently the routine they have learned, and thence perpetuate indefinitely the culture now practised with all its excellences and with all its defects, as their predecessors did that which they had learned till the force of circumstances compelled them to alter it? Seemg how greatly Orchid culture was retarded from geographical and other important details being disregarded by the Orchid gardeners of the past, will those of to-day still show the same indifference to an elementary knowledge of so important a subject when high- class text books are within their reach ? Will they show too the N 2 126 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. same indifference to correct nomenclature, that they cannot in many instances be relied upon for the right names of the plants they cultivate? The consideration of such questions as these certainly comes within the scope of the Royal Horticultural Society, and let us hope that occasional discussions upon them may lead to useful results. DISCUSSION. Sir TREvor LAWRENCE said his recollection of Orchids went back many years, and some of the old modes of cultivation men- tioned by Mr. Veitch had come within his own experience. He could remember Odontoglossum, which was now looked upon as a cool Orchid, being placed in hot stoves. He recollected some beautiful Bolleas which grew and thrived well for a short time and then withered and died. The fact was that these plants veryfoften brought with them a large amount of natural vigour which enabled them to survive for a few years, but finally the change of climate and mode of cultivation killed them. With regard to the cultivation of Catasetums, he thought the difficulties were almost entirely unsurmounted, especially in the matter of providing them in the winter with a warm, dry, and bright atmosphere, and until these difficulties had been overcome he was afraid the cultivation of Mexican Oncidiums would also be a difficulty and a crux. One species— Epidendrum vitellinum—which Mr. Veitch had referred to as being hard to cultivate, was exhibited here to-day, and in this case the difficulty of cultivation would appear to have been sur- mounted by the grower. He thought with Mr. Veitch that there was too much empiricism among growers of Orchids as to the mode of cultivation. He was pleased to say that the interest taken in Orchids in this country was on the increase, and he had no doubt that before very long those successful methods of culti- vation which we already possessed would be still further developed. With regard to the longevity of Orchids, he had one which he knew had been in this country for more than fifty years, and probably for twenty years longer than that—viz., Renanthera coccinea. He was glad to say that the cultivation of Orchids in Kew Gardens, a public institution to which they owed a good deal, had very greatly improved. Kew was indeed a model horti- ORCHID CULTURE PAST AND PRESENT. LOT cultural institution, as well as a botanical institution. It would be quite impossible to refer to this subject without mentioning what had been done by the author of this paper himself in this branch of horticulture. We owed not a few of the most beau- tiful Orchids to the skill which has been brought to bear upon the subject by the firm of which Mr. Veitch was the head. A gentleman present had told him that some plants of Saccolabium, which he had found upon mountains in India, had had hoar frost upon them, and he, the Chairman, had found them growing in ravines where there must be several degrees of frost and not an inconsiderable amount of snow. Sir CHAs. STRICKLAND agreed with the remarks which had been made as to empiricism in the treatment of Orchids, but thought it should be remembered that these plants cannot be grown in their natural state because they cannot be grown out of doors in this country. He had grown a number of Orchids, and amongst them Cattleya citrina, which Mr. Veitch had referred to as being hard to rear, and he had found that this and other Mexican Orchids grew best in ordinary greenhouses. He had grown C. citrina for fifteen or sixteen years, and the last bulbs were larger than any of the others had been. They did very well in an ordinary greenhouse until the latter part of the summer, when they should be removed to a warm vinery. Re- ferring to Lelia majalis, he said that the damp coldness of our winters was very destructive to it; what it really wanted was a tropical winter, which was comparatively dry. He had once left some plants out of doors longer than they should have been, and they were exposed to 16 degrees of frost, which injured them somewhat, but they recovered. The speaker had also had Vanda cerulea in a house which was not free from frost. One reason of the failure in the cultivation of Orchids was the difficulty in providing in one or more houses the requisite climatic conditions for so many different species. The tropics of South America were different from those of Asia. In many parts of the former the temperature varied very little throughout the year, so that Orchids brought from tropical Asia, with a very variable climate, could not be successfully grown in the same house with those brought from South America. Mr. TuiseLTON Dyer said that the President had been good enough to refer to what they had been trying to do at Kew. 128 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Nothing could be more gratifying to the staff at Kew than the fact that their work had attracted the attention of men dis- tinguished in the craft. There was one difficulty to contend with at Kew—they had somewhat antiquated houses, over the con- struction of which they had no control. They could not, therefore, like Mr. Veitch and others, separate Indian from American Orchids. This was a difficulty which would also exist in private gardens. He thought Mr. Veitch had given an his- torical retrospect which must have cost him a good deal of trouble, and though some of what they had heard wasalready known to Orchid growers present, the paper contained many rare and interesting items of information. Nothing could be more in- structive than the contrasts between the past and present which Mr. Veitch had put before them. There was no reason to despair. A more careful study of the physical conditions under which Orchid plants grew in their native country would materially advance the cultivation. Collectors, as a rule, made raids upon a country and bore away new plants without stopping to inquire into their habits or climatic environments. A year’s residence would do more good than any number of these raids. Epiden- drum bicornutum, a beautiful species, had been very successfully grown at Kew, and for this they were indebted to the fact that they had carefully studied its requirements. He ought to refer to a subject which was occupying the minds of Orchid cultivators in this country, and that was the future naming of Orchids now Prof. Reichenbach was dead, who had accentuated the loss to Horticulture by practically burying his herbarium for the next quarter of a century. The late Professor was in the habit of recelving specimens for identification from all parts of the world, but more especially from this country, and his decisions were regularly published in the Gardeners’ Chronicle, but as the types of these species were in his private herbarium, they were practically lost to the majority of living cultivators. However, with the co- operation of Orchid growers it would be possible to substantially repair the loss, for there must be many of the species still in the possession of cultivators in this country, and if specimens of these were regularly forwarded to Kew as they flowered, a collection of named Orchids would soon be established here that would practically replace all we had lost in the Reichenbach herbarium. ORCHID CULTURE PAST AND PRESENT. 129 Mr. D. Morris (Treasurer R.H.S.) characterised Mr. Veitch’s paper as eminently practical and instructive. Reference had been made to Phaius grandifolius, an Hast Indian Orchid, which is now thoroughly naturalised in Jamaica and other West Indian Islands. This is possibly the most striking instance we po ssessed of the naturalisation ofan Orchid. It is now found in mountainous parts of Jamaica, away from cultivation, and at first sight it would be taken for an indigenous plant. Its history, however, is well known. It was introduced from China or Japan to the West Indies about 1797, under its old name of Bletia Tankervillee. Mr. Thiselton Dyer has referred to the successful cultivation at Kew of Diacrium (Epidendrum) bicornu- tum. This plant in a wild state is found growing on rocks or small islets (Bocas), near Trinidad, so close to the sea that they must often be bathed by salt spray. The pseudo-bulbs are hollow and inhabited by a small ant. The best conditions for the successful culture of this Orchid are found in a hot moist treatment during growth, followed by plenty of sunlight to ripen the pseudo-bulbs. There was a well-founded fear that Orchids in the future would not be obtainable in the natural forests so plentifully as in the past. Mr. Veitch was practically meeting this by his wonderful hybridisation of Orchids, and by producing plants that were marvellous both in form and colour. Dr. MastErs wished to emphasise what Mr. Thiselton Dyer had said regarding the nomenclature of Orchids. He knew that many duplicate dried specimens of the Orchids submitted to the late Prof. Reichenbach were preserved in this country, some by Messrs. Veitch, some by Messrs. Sander, and some by private individuals, and in those very few cases, where only one specimen had been obtained, he thought they might afford to wait twenty- five years. He would like to point out that much might be gained, from a cultural point of view, by studying the anatomy of Orchids. The structure of the leaf was very variable in different species, and afforded indications as to the proper treatment in regard to light, shading, and moisture. Baron SCHRGDER said he had listened with a great deal of pleasure both to Mr. Veitch’s interesting and instructive paper and to the discussion which had followed it. He was rather a large erower of Orchids himself, and took a great interest in their 130 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. cultivation. He thought that the tendency was still to keep Orchids in too high a temperature. He had very much pleasure in proposing a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Veitch. [Notr.—As a result of the discussion which took place after Mr. Veitch’s paper, an invitation was issued by the Royal Horticultural Society to Orchid growers and others interested in the nomenclature of Orchids, to a meeting at the rooms of the Society on Wednesday, July 24, 1889. Consequent upon the death of Professor Reichenbach, who for many years had been looked upon as the great authority on Orchids, it was felt desirable in the interest of scientific botany as well as of horticulture generally to take some steps to maintain a system of nomenclature for Orchids in harmony with that applicable to other plants. The Laws of Botanical Nomenclature have been fully treated by several writers. Reference may here be made to the Laws of Botanical Nomenclature, by Alphonse de Candolle, Paris, 1867. English Translation, published by Reeve & Co., Henrietta Street, W.C., 1868; the Nomenclature of Garden Plants, by Dr. Masters, Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society, 1878, p- 126; and to Dr. Wittmack’s Essay in Mémoires du Congrés d’ Horticulture, Paris, 1887. As regards Orchids in particular, Mr. H. N. Ridley, M.A., F.L.S., offered excellent suggestions on Nomenclature to the Conference held at Liverpool, June 30, 1886 (Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society, vol. vii., pp. 297-312.) At the meeting held on July 24 (the President, Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., in the chair) the following resolution was proposed by Dr. Masters, seconded by Mr. Courtauld, and carried unanimously :— “ That the Council of the R.H.S. be requested to nominate a Committee in which botanists, importers of new plants, raisers and growers, shall be represented, to draw up a code of regulations applicable to plants introduced into and cultivated in gardens ; such code, when duly approved, to be considered binding on the officials and committees of the Society, and recommended for universal adoption.’’ | JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. ON IRISES. By Professor MicHaru Foster, Sec. B.S. [Read May 14, 1889.] A FRIEND of mine is fond of calling Horticulture a “ pious occupation,” giving as his reason the old saying of the ancients : “The gods rejoice when they see a good man struggling with adversity ’’; and, indeed, I imagine that you are all ready to admit both that gardeners are good men, and that their occupa- tion leads them to struggle with adversity. I, too, in my gardening, have had to struggle with adversity, and to-day I feel that the struggle is especially severe. When I promised to say a few words to-day on Irises, I hoped that I should have before me abundance of specimens to illustrate what I had to say. But, alas! the season, like most seasons of our experience, has proved an adverse one, and I have to struggle against the difficulty of having nearly a bare table before me. My friends at Kew and at Cambridge, and My. Barr, have kindly helped me as best they could. But the fact is very few Irises are as yet in bloom, and most of the few in bloom have been spoilt by the rain. However, I must make the best of a bad bargain, and, taking refuge in an old nursery expedient, make believe, and ask you to make believe, that the Irises of which I am about to speak are really here. Let me first of all, as a sort of rejoinder to the saying of my friend which I quoted just now, remind you that gardening, especially that kind of gardening which the Royal Horticultural Society, in the midst of all its ups and downs, has done so much to foster, may more properly be called an impious occupation. For what does the gardener, especially the gardener who cherishes hardy perennial and bulbous plants, do? He makes B 132 JOURNAL OF THE BOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. every effort to gather from all paris of the world planis living in the most diverse climaies, on the most diverse soils, and amid the most diverse circumstances, and tries to grow them all together in the same small plot of ground which he calls his garden, under the same climate (if we dare to call the meteorological conditions which obiain in England by such an honourable name as climate), under conditions which we can vary very little, and im soil which at best we can only super- ficially alter by adding or taking away a_ barrowfal of this or that. This is at least what I try to do with the Iris. There are some two hundred or so kinds of Iris growing under the most diverse circumstances, scattered over the temperate zone of the old world and the new; and I am making every effort io get every one of these two hundred to live huddled together in a little spot in Cambridgeshire. Now, whatever theoretical view we may take as to how the several different kinds or species of plants first came into existence, there can be no doubt that each kind thrives and maintams its existence because it is more or less suited to the particular conditions amid which we find it living in a wild state. The glorious diversity of plani life isa token of Nature’s care to adapt the individual planis io the diversity of conditions which obtains on the globe. But the planis which Nature has thus put asunder, in order that each might avail itself of special conditions, the impious gardener, fiying in the face of Providence, tries to sweep together inio a common prison, where the conditions for each are all alike, and for the majority of these distinctly bad. Is it to be wondered, then, that floral treasures, collected from afar with great trouble and expense, pine in their exile for the air and the soil of their native home, and after throwmg oui a feeble bloom, or not even that, famt, fade away, and are no more? We gardeners may, however, lessen our impiety and gain a corresponding reward in -the shape of success if, as far as lies in our power, we sirive to surround our favourites with the features of the home from which they have been taken. It is, I take it, the duty of a gardener, who desires to grow in his garden a plant brought from afar, to learn as much as he can of its habits and surroundings in its native home, and to imitate these as far as he can. This leading, let me warn you, is not always a true one. Plants have their misfortunes as men have. ON IRISES. 133 Many a plant may be found growing wild in a spot and under conditions which are not those for which it is really adapted. Many a plant has been driven by stress of fortune from its proper place, and may be found, with its back against the wall, so to speak, fighting against adverse circumstances, and often maintaining with difficulty the very barest existence. Still such plants are, on the whole, exceptions, not the rule; and we may safely take as the gardener’s guide the maxim: If we want a plant to seem at home, try and make for it a home like that in which it was found. In many cases the plant itself, by its very features, will give you directions as to how you ought to treat it. This is at least often the case with Inses. Let me in illustration of this call your attention to the Iris which I now hold in my hand, and which belongs to a group of Irises of which the well-known I. germanica may perhaps be taken as the type [specimen shown]. Look at the broad swordlike, ensiform leaves, protected on the one side and on the other by a fairly thick cuticle. This tells us that the plant does not fear the sunlght, but can probably enjoy with profit the sun’s directest rays. Look at these long, simple, scanty roots. Their simple, cord-like form and their fewness tell us that the plant used them to gather in ordinary nourishment, and not to suck up large and frequent draughts of water. And this thick underground stem or rhizome, in which a large store of elaborated food can be garnered, and in which a supply of water can be held, tell us the same tale. Obviously this plant is one which does not seek damp shady places, but loves the full heht of the sun, which is accustomed to a not too generous soil, and which, thanks to its fleshy rhizome and sturdy leaves, is prepared to meet periods of not inconsiderable drought. Its characters suggest that it is at home on some sunlit rocky bank or hill-side, where its roots can run about in somewhat dry and not too fertile loam. And it 1s in some such spots in the south of Europe and elsewhere that we find it growing wild. It may possibly strike some of my hearers as strange that I should talk of Irises at all as growing by preference in dry, sunny places, for it is a very common opinion that all Irises need a damp, even if not a shady situation. This opinion is the result of the wrong application of a most admirable principle, B2 134 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. that of drawing general conclusions from the facts which come under our observation. The principle is admirable only so long as the facts are sufficiently numerous, it becomes fauliy if the facts are too few. Now in England the facts as to the habits of wild Irises are very few indeed. We possess in this country only two wild Irises, I. Pseudacorus and I. foetidissima, and it so happens that the former does love damp, in fact really wet situations, growing best as it does by river sides, while the latter thrives in the shade. But these two Irises are quite exceptional in their habits. Of all the many species belonging to the genus Iris something like sixty per cent. love dry, sunny situations; indeed, for some of them, as I shall presently point out, no spot can be too sunny or too dry. And as to shade, my experience leads me to believe that J. foetidissima is the only one species in the whole genus which really does well in shady places ; all the rest, including those that need water at their feet, enjoy and benefit by the fullest sunshine on their heads—indeed, for the most part pine away in the absence of it. But to return. Compare with the I. germanica which I have just shown you another Iris of a different group [specimen shown]. You see that so far from possessing a conspicuous fleshy rhizome it has a wholly insignificant one, so small that you have to tear the plant to pieces before you can be sure that any at all is present. Look at this thick bush of matted branching roots running out in narrow filaments im. every direction, and bringing the plant in touch with almost every point of the area of soil in which it grows. And note in company with these numerous fine roots the abundant but thin, narrow, flaccid leaves, so different from the broad stout swords of I. germanica. These facts tell us that this Iris is a water-loving plant, accustomed to a steady, ample supply of moisture diffused through the soil, whence the numerous tiny rootlets can pump it up to satisfy the thin grassy foliage. Without such a constant supply these thin leaves would soon fiag, and the abundance of rootlets indicates that the water is not brought to it in flushing streams, but has to be extracted with labour out of the soil itself. The features of the plant suggest to us that its native home is in some rich meadow where the water, without becoming visible on the surface as a marsh, may be found in adequate abundance in the soil below. And the suggestion is a true one, for this is ON IRISES. 135 I. sibirica, which, from its most favourite habitats, might fitly be called the ‘‘ Meadow Iris.’”’ Indeed, J. pratensis is one of the names which has been given to it. Here, again, is a third Iris belonging to still another group [specimen shown]. The abundant rootlets show that it too loves water ; but the plant has a rhizome which, though not so fleshy as that of J. germanica, is still thick and considerable, and the leaves, though longer and narrower than those of J. germanica, are still stout and swordlike. May we not infer from these facts that this Iris, though it loves water, cannot secure a constant supply, that it lives on the banks of some stream or pool whence it can generally satisfy its thirst, but in seasons of drought, when the water sinks or even fails, when the river runs low or the swamp dries up, is helped by its stout leaves and bulky rhizome to hold on until water comes again. In doing so we shall not be far wrong, for this is our wild J. psewdacorus, which might fitly be called the swamp or river Iris. These three Irises whose characters thus tell us, to a certain extent at all events, how to try and grow them, may be taken as representatives of three large and distinct groups of Irises. For the whole genus may be divided into several distinct groups, the members of which are more closely allied to each other than to members of the other groups. It will be impossible for me to- day to treat of all these groups, I must confine myself to a few only. Let me take first of all the group to which the J. germanica which I have already shown, the well-known blue flag, belongs, and begin with a few words about J. germanica itself. The distribution of J. germanica is exceedingly wide. We find it reaching from the west of Spain and Portugal right through southern and middle Europe to Asia Minor, and thence through Persia right away to Nepaul. I have not es yet obtained any evidence of its occurring wild any further east. Along all this wide range it varies very little. The form which grows in Nepaul bears a very large and handsome flower, and has been called I. nepalensis, but in all essential respects is identical with the European form. A similar large form is abundant, and appears to grow wild in Persia. Another large form of somewhat different colour is found in Asia Minor, and has recently been distributed for cultivation as J. asiatica, or more 136 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. correctly I. germanica var. asiatica. I have received from Asia Minor also two other very distinct and handsome varieties, which T have called var. Siwas and var. Amuas, since they were collected in the districts respectively called Siwas and Amasia. And in some of the forms growing wild in Italy both standards and falls, that is, both inner and outer perianth segments, instead of being of different tints of blue purple, are of more or less the same hue of red purple. One of these has been distributed as J. Kochii (Kerner), and is often sent out under the erroneous name of I. swb-biflora, and another has been called by Todaro I. australis. There are thus in existence many wild varieties ; but these do not, in my judgment at least, differ from each other by specific characters ; they are all varieties of the one species J. germanica. The plant is one which appears to be—-and to have long been— a favourite of man. You will find it in the gardens of nearly all civilised nations along the temperate zone; it adorns the cottage of the English labourer and the walls of the Persian town. It has been brought to the English garden from abroad, but the French or Italian peasant has often transferred it from the mountain rock to his house-side. Conversely it has often escaped from the cultivated garden to the wild hill-side, and undoubtedly in its wide distribution along the temperate zone the hand of man has played no inconsiderable part. Along the range I have mentioned, from West Spain to Nepaul, it is, with local exceptions, the most widespread species of Iris. If in a ramble in South Europe you come upon a broad-leaved Ivis growing wild on the hills, the chances are nearly ten to one that it will prove to be J. germanica. You will observe that I re- peatedly say ‘“hillside’’; for it is on sunny slopes, where, between rocks, it finds an adequate patch of good, but not too rich loamy soil, where it has not to fight against trees and shrubs which smother its leaves and scape, or against rank grass, which robs its rhizomes of the kindly maturing, rot- preventing influences of the sun’s rays, that it finds a fitting home. But, as I said, I. germanica, with all its varieties (and I mean the true varieties, not the falsely so-called varieties, of which I shall speak presently) is only one member of a large sroup. Very closely allied is the handsome and fragrant I. Biliotivi’ of Central Asia Minor, and the very closely allied, ON IRISES. raw perhaps still more handsome and fragrant, J. troyana of Western Asia Minor. The typical white, broad-leaved Iris, J. florentina of Italy, which is really not white but faintly blue, and the more purely white J. albicans, which is found in Spain, but also erows in the Mediterranean islands and the West Coast of Asia Minor (and which has been distributed as a white I. germanica, as well as under fancy names such as ‘‘ The Bride”’ and ‘‘ Prince of Wales’’), differ from I. germanica, besides the point of colour, in features, which, though of specific value, are not very striking. Rather farther removed, but still not very distant, is the white Tris of the East, which is a favourite ornament of Turkish ceme- teries and Persian gardens, and which, in many cases at all events, is a variety of I. kashmiriana, the wild white Iris of Kashmir, though I am inclined to think from recent observa- tions may be in some cases a new distinct species. Some of these Eastern white Irises are very apt to develop, under cer- tain conditions, more or less purple colour, and this is especially the case with a very distinct, creamy-white variety of J. kash- miriana from Kandahar, which I described some few years ago as I. Barton. Still farther removed from the typical J. germanica is the dark wild Iris of South Europe, known under the several names of I. squalens, I. sambucina, and I. lurida, all of which in my opinion ought to be considered as not more than varieties of one species, for which the older name of sambucina should be re- served. The name sambucina was given because the flowers of this species often possess the odour of the elder; but it is a mis- take to regard this as a specific test, for in Irises, as in so many other plants, the possession of fragrance is most fitful; of two individuals, not only belonging to the same species, but also alike in all other outward respects, one may be exceedingly fragrant and the other possess no odour whatever. Passing another step away from our type we come to I. pallida, the beautiful light blue Iris of Southern and South- eastern Kurope. This Iris, which, by its denser inflorescence, the form of its perianth segments, and the characters of its capsule and seed, differs more distinctly from those which I have already mentioned than these do from each other, is very variable, not in the exact tints and markings of the flower, but in size and stature. An exceedingly large and handsome 138 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. variety, growing wild in Dalmatia and Montenegro, is known as the variety dalmatica. On the other hand a very small dwarf form growing on Monte Cengialto, near Roveredo, in the South Tyrol, and hence known as J. Cengialti, is in all essential respects an Iris pallida, and cannot be distinguished from the type by any adequate specific characters. It possibly may be a natural hybrid, but in that case the features of the pallida parent wholly overshadow those of the other parent. And between the giant Dalmatian pallida and the dwarf I. Cengialti pallida may be placed a whole series running down almost without a break from the one to the other, and exhibiting much variety in the depth of the blue of the flowers as well as in their form and markings. All these must be considered as really coming within the species pallida. Some of these forms of J. pallida are deliciously fragrant, and hence Jacquin called a form of it J. odoratissima ; but some have no odour at all, and the same batch of seed, gathered wild, has, in my hands, produced seediings both exquisitely sweet, wholly inodorous, and having a distinctly unpleasant smell. Specifically different from, but closely allied to, I. pallida is the large and handsome I. cypriana, from Cyprus, and I have reason to think that Asia Minor contains still other species also closely allied to, but also sufficiently distinct from, the typical pallida. Still another step brings us up to the bright yellow variegated Tris of Hungary and South-eastern Europe, J. variegata, which, in spite of its colour, is much more nearly allied to J, pallida than to J. sambucina. All these various species, all belonging to the same general eroup, all need the same general treatment, all demand a bright sunny situation, with a fair, but not more than fair, supply of not too fertile loam. All hate to be shaded in summer or water-logged in winter, and show their dislike by first refusing to flower and ultimately taking themselves away. Some, of course, are more sensitive than others. J. germanica or I. sambucina will live or even thrive in a situation which will all I. pallida outright; but they all do best where they are bathed in sunlight rather than by water. Some of you perhaps are wondering why I say nothing of what are called sometimes German Irises,” sometimes varie- ties of I. germanica, among which many very beautiful flowers ON IRISES. 139 are to be seen. It is rather unfortunate that these should be spoken of under the name of J. germanica, since, as far as I can judge, none of them are in any way varieties of I. germanica, or, indeed, have anything to do with I. germanica proper. The results of my own hybridisation and considerations based on the characters and habits of these ‘‘ German Ivises,’’ have led me to the conclusion that they are all hybrids or sports of the three species—I. pallida, I. sambucina, I. variegata. The beautifully marked and sweetly fragrant I. plicata or I. Swertw, of which there are several varieties in the trade under fancy names such as ‘‘ MadameChereau,’’ is, I am confident, a seedling of I. sambucina crossed with J. pallida; and I. neglecta and I. amoena are similarly of hybrid origin. The beautiful Iris known as ‘“ Queen of the May ”’ is I. pailida, with the smallest possible infusion of the blood of J. sambucina. Out of one cross between a not quite pure I. variegata, that is to say,an J. variegata which contained some sambucina blood, I raised a large number of plants, among which I could recognise not only typical neglecta, but a very large number of the various types of the German Iris of our nurseries. But I shall have presently to return to the results of hybridisation. All these hybrid forms demand the same treatment as their parents. I spoke just now of J. Cengialti as being a dwarf form of I. pallida. I possess an analogous dwarf form of J. variegata gathered on the Balkan Mountains. What is often called J. sub- biflora is a somewhat dwarfed form of J. germanica ; and I be- lieve dwarf forms of J. sambucina also exist. But these dwarf forms, in spite of their small stature, retain all the essential features of the taller, more typical forms; they are stunted members of the J. germanica group. Let me now direct your attention to a group of Irises coming next to the germanca eroup, the members of which are never other than dwarf. Their foliage is small, and their scape, bearing a few flowers only—often three, or even two only—rarely exceeds a_ foot and a half in height. There are several Irises of this kind found in South Europe. One of them was called by Linnezeus bdiflora, meaning in reality bis florens, twice flowering, because it is very apt to throw up a second late bloom in autumn; and it is con- venient to speak of the whole group as the “ biflora”’ group. As far as I can make out there are some three or four fairly dis- 140 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. tinct, that is, specifically distinct, Irises belonging to this group; one, which when it bears deep-coloured flowers always seems to me very handsome, was called by Lamarck J. nudicaulis, because the scape is not, as in so many other Irises, clothed and indeed hidden with clasping leaves, but seems to rise as a “naked” stem straight up from the rhizome. This plant, which varies in its tint of purple, has also been called J. bohemica. It grows in South-eastern Europe, and I cannot as yet distinguish from it any separate J. hungarica. One special feature of the plant is that it loses its leaves early and entirely, so that for the greater part of the winter the rhizome is hidden under ground, or shows only quite dormant buds. In Italy there is found an allied form, differing from the above in having the scape more or less clothed with leaves at the base, as well as in other features; and it is this which I usually find labelled ‘“ nudicaulis’’ in collections. In Portugal occurs still another form, with larger and fewer flowers than the above, sometimes bearing only one or two, the I. swb-biflora of Britero. The character of flowering a second time in autumn is one on which no great stress ought to be laid ; whether it occurs or not depends a good deal on the season, and is much more special to particular plants than a constant feature of any one form. Some of the dwarf forms of I. pallida, more or less allied to Cengialti, frequently flower again in the autumn, as, indeed, do other kinds of Ivis also. This group of I. biflora passes almost insensibly through the yellow I. lutescens, the whitish J. virescens, to I. ttalica and I. olbiensis, and so to I. pseudo-pumila, I. chamaeiris, and I. punila. Of these, the rarest in our gardens, and apparently not very common in a wild state in Europe, is what I may call the true I. pumila, characterised by a single flower, with a very long tube, three, four, or five times as long as the ovary, borne on a scape which is so short that it is never visible above the leaves. In J. Chamaeiris, which is an inhabitant of the South of France, the tube is much shorter, the scape is often visible, and the plant goes to seed much more freely than does the true pumila. Most of the plants which I find in collections labelled ‘‘ pumila ”’ are either forms of Chamaeiris or hybrids, or belong to some divi- sion other than pumila of this dwarf group. I must not stop now to discuss the characters of the several members of this group, but I may say this much—As you pass from the South of ON IRISES. 141 France through Italy towards the East, you may gather wild a number of Irises, which, when you look at them individually, appear quite different from each other, and yet are so allied to each other, and pass so gradually from one set of features to another, that it becomes most difficult, if not impossible, to arrange them satisfactorily under any list of acknowledged names—under, for instance, the list given by Mr. Baker, who, as you all know, has done so much to extend and correct our knowledge of Irises. Many of these wild forms have been introduced into our collections. They have been cultivated in our gardens for two or three centuries; there they have seeded, and, indeed, have been propagated by seed. In seeding they have sported, and, moreover, bear obvious signs of having undergone hybridisation. The result is, that when you come to a large collection like that of Mr. Barr, or Mr. Ware, or Mr. Backhouse, or others of our nurserymen who cultivate this genus, you find an immense number of obviously distinct forms belonging to this group alone, of which I am now speaking, that is to say, forms so distinct, that the nurseryman must have a name by which he may sell them in such a way that the purchaser knows what he is buying, and yet you cannot—that is to say, I cannot—name them all according to received and acknowledged names. I am doing my best to form some idea of how they ought to be called, and how they ought to be arranged, and do not despair of eventually ‘getting them in shape.” But much has yet to be done. The first step is to be quite sure as to which are the actual wild forms; and I may here take this opportunity of reminding such of my readers as are fond of travelling abroad, that they can much assist my labours, and afford me much gratification, if, when in their walks or drives abroad, they come upon any Iris undoubtedly growing wild, that is in situations in which it is unlikely that it can have escaped from a garden, they would kindly not dig up the whole plant (for I quite share the views of those who think that many beautiful wild plants have quite difficulties enough to struggle against, without feeling the blow of man’s hand), but just to break off a piece of the rhizome with a few roots upon it, to wrap the piece up dry in a piece of brown paper, with a label stating the exact habitat, and to drop it in the nearest post office, addressed to me at Shelford, Cambs. 142 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Allow me here, just for a moment, to turn aside to say a few words about hybridisation among Irises. There can be no doubt that Irises hybridise with tolerable readiness. I have already referred to the so-called German Irises being, to a large extent, of hybrid origin, and I have raised several hybrids myself. Here is one [specimen shown] between two Izises, quite a long way apart, 7. Chamaeiris and the species I. cberica, about which I shall shortly say a word. Not only have I the whole history of the crossing, but the plant itself betrays its origin by its features. T have also raised a number of hybrids, some not without beauty, by crossing I. balkana with I. Cengialti; these I described some few years back in the Gardeners’ Chronicle. And Ihave many other hybrids in various stages, some of which I hope may prove not unwelcome additions to our gardens. Besides the ‘‘ German Trises’”’ of which I just now spoke, several other plants in our collections are clearly of hybrid origin. There is, for instance, one very sturdy free-flowering fragrant dwarf Iris, which would be really beautiful if it were not so blotchy in colour, called sometimes ‘J. biflora gracilis,’ and sometimes “J. pumila gracilis.’’ This is, Iam sure, a hybrid between J. virescens and I. nudicaulis ; it bears on itself the marks of I. virescens, and I have raised from the seed of it nearly typical J. nudicaulis. Trises, then, do hybridise, and that pretty freely, especially, perhaps, in the group of which I am speaking now, and it is more than probable that some of the wild forms, as certainly many of the cultivated forms, are of hybrid origin, and if so, ought to bear corresponding names. Returning now to the group of dwarf Irises on which I have dwelt so long, let me end my story about them by saying that whatever their names, and whether we can name them satis- factorily or no, the principles which I laid down at the beginning of my talk may be applied directly to them. Everything about them tells us that like the germanica group, and much more so than that group, these dwarf Irises, whether of the biflora group or the still dwarfer forms, need a somewhat scanty, not too rich soil, and a full exposure to all the sunshine which they can ever get in this country. They show individual proclivities of course. The large-flowered rich purple, or yellow, or whitish dwarf Iris, growing near Hyeyres, and known as J. olbiensis, profits more by a damp soil, or rather perhaps subsoil, than the others. But ON IRISES. 143 taking the group as a whole, if you wish them to flourish, be happy, and flower, let your first care be to choose for them a site in which they shall feel as little as possible the winter rains of our so often weeping England. Plant them unon a bank on which in winter the sun’s rays will if possible fall during all those few hours in which we then see his face, and do not be afraid if, in the glare of some unusually summerlke summer, they appear to wither and to faint. Withering in winter often means rot and decay, but withering in full summer for these Irises with thick fleshy rhizomes means reculer pour mieux sauter : the good- ness of the leaves shrinks back into the rhizome to appear in the coming spring in the purple and gold of the flower. I have spoken so far chiefly of the Irises of Europe. Some of them, as I have said, are also found in Asia, and the Asian specimens, in many instances, differ but shghtly or not at all from the European ones. There grows in the Caucasus an I. pumila identical with the European pumila, the Asian I. germanica is distinguished by slight tokens only from the Huropean J. germanica, and I can see no difference whatever between J. albicans from Smyrna and that from Spain. More- over, there are Irises special to Central Asia not found in Europe, which nevertheless present all the characteristics of the Kuropean group of J. germanica. I have already mentioned I. Biliottit and I. kashmiriana; to these I may add I. Albertz, which betrays its Asian nature in its strange colour, but not to any great extent otherwise. In the hot arid regions of Asia is, however, found a very special and very remarkable group of Irises called the Oncocyclus group, because. the perianth segments, both the standards and the falls, are very often round and curved, possessing a spherical curvature lke that of a shield. Of this group, which stretches from Palestine and the Egyptian desert through Asia Minor and Persia to Afghanistan, where it fades away, the large and striking form called J. swsiana is probably well known to you all. This, which has been cultivated in our gardens for centuries, Parkinson describing it as the great Turkey, or Chalcedonian, or Guinea Hen Floure de Luce (the reason of the first name being that the plant was introduced into Europe from Constantinople, and of the second the peculiar colouring of the flower), derives its name from the old province of Susis on the western borders of Persia, where it is said to grow 144 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. wild. I have never as yet received any wild plant, and I am not aware of any collected specimens having been introduced into Europe for many years past. All the plants of this species in our gardens appear to be descendants of individuals long culti- vated in Europe. Even more beautiful and striking than I, susiana is the somewhat smaller J. zberica, so called from its dwelling in Iberia, not of Spain but of the Caucasus. We are now acquainted with several other members of this group, I. para- doxa, I. acutiloba, I. sari, I. Heylandiana, I. Helenae, 1. lupina, I. atropurpurea, I. Barnumae, and others; but the finest and grandest is the new J. Gatesii, introduced by my friend Mr. Max Leichlin, from the mountains of Armenia, and named after my friend the Rey. F. 8. Gates, of the American Mission at Mardin, who has been most indefatigable in assisting endeavours to secure the floral treasures of that remarkable district. If you imagine a flower, often very much larger than that even of I. susiana, of a delicate light gray hue, resulting from minute dots and delicate veins of rich purple on a creamy white ground, or at times of a pure light sky blue, marked with deeper veins, and at the same time of peculiar grace in form, you will readily conceive that a striking addition has been made to the beauty of our gardens. Very closely allied to the Oncocyclus group is a group of bearded Irises, which, since they form a very distinct family by themselves, and since we owe our knowledge of them very largely to the exertions of the venerable Director of the Botanic Gardens at St. Petersburg, I have proposed to call the Regelia group. These are bearded Irises, the scape generally bearing two or sometimes three flowers: but they are in all respects very different from the European bijfiora group. Some of them, such as I. korolkowi, possess singular beauty, and all of them are striking, though some of them, such as J. swwarowi, cannot be expected to become florists’ favourites. These Irises of the Regelia group have their home in Central Asia, in Turkestan, and in Bokhara, and, hke the members of the Oncocyclus group, are found for the most part on hot hill- sides, pushing their long cord-like scanty roots a long way into the arid, gritty, or sometimes sandy soil on which they grow. In winter the cold of the air above them is far below that of an ordinary English winter; but they feel it not, for they are then ON IRISES. 145 peacefully at rest and dormant, covered and protected by a warm white shawl of snow, which shields them against both the cold of night and the alluring heat of a bright winter’s sun. When the snow melts in spring they suddenly awake to a hurried life, made almost furious as the quickly-increasing heat of the mounting sun, working in the laboratories of their fresh young leaves, turns into wine the water which they readily draw from the stores supplied by the melting snows. Unfolding their always striking and often gorgeous flowers, they hold them up aloft to be seen by the equally strange insects which are flitting about beneath the same strong sun. Such a bright life must needs be brief. The water is soon gone, the leaves grow flabby, wither, and die, and long before the summer sun has run his course, the plant, exhausted with its dance of spring, has sunk into a summer slumber, from which it peacefully passes into its winter’s sleep. If, as I said at the beginning of my remarks, it ought to be the gardener’s care to imitate, as far as lies in his power, the conditions under which the plant which he wishes to grow lives in its native home, is it to be wondered that the Irises of this group are the despair of the English gardener? How can we imitate conditions such as I have just sketched in a country like our own, where the rain comes down in torrents in mid-winter and at harvest time, but needs praying for in spring, where the days in winter are often summer-lke, and the days in summer are made dreary by winter-like skies and chilled by wintry blasts, and where the best that can be said of the weather is that it can never disappoint us because we never know what to expect? Indeed, we cannot look for more than a moderate success in attempting to cultivate Irises belonging to these two groups. There are, it is true, more things in the plant and in the soil than are dreamt of in the latest philosophy of our newest botany, and in some happy gardens these Ivises will, I know, not only grow, but flourish and smile with content under con- ditions which must be wholly different from those obtaining in their native home, but which, for some reasons as yet hidden from us, are suited to the plants. Such conditions are not to be found in my own poor garden, and I can only secure success, and that a very limited one, by a clumsy imitation of a Central Asia climate. The principle of this I learnt from the Gardening 146 JOUENAL OF THE EBOYAL SORTICTCLYURAL SOCIETY. Magician of Baden Baden. As soon as these Imses have done- flowering, in early Jume or laie May, I place over them lichis raised some iwo feei or so from the ground, and open on all sides to secure free cireulaiion of air. The glass above the planis keeps the ram from them and imiensifies the feeble heai of an Enghsh som, and thus I izy to coax my planis mio believing they are ai home. As soon as the planis show sion of siarimg agam, in early Augusi for msiance, I take off the lizhis, otherwise they, tired of thar summer sleep and bezinning io bestir themselves, would soon be simmulaied io untimely growth. Duornmg winier I leave them alone, dome nothing io them, save perhaps occasionally, by meams of the lights, warding off the raims of October and November, which, comme ofien on warm muggy days, exeiie an undesirable activity ; for any winier effort which I may make is direcied io == retard rather than to forward growth. I need hardly say thai I choose a Siimaiion from which m winier the waier may mm away as fast as possible, and upon which m spring and summer every scamiy ray of a sickly sum may shme. When I do iius, I succeed, noi, however, without many failures, m gamme noi only blooms, bui a fair supply of well-rmpened seed. If I do noi do this, the planis, without excepiion, wave a feeble hand and bid me good-bye. Lei me add thai when I do succeed I cannoi help thinking thai my labour has noi been m vain. These Irises of the Oncocyclus and Regelia are, as I have said, special io Asa Mimor and io Ceniral Asia; boi they sizagvle away both eastward and westward. Towands the wesi we have some mieresiimg forms, which chow a transiizon between the Asiam and European types. On ithe shores of the Bosphorus grows a tiny dwarf Ins, only a few inches high, with small dull coloured, almosi sessile, flowers, known as [. rubro-marginaia, because some of the leaves have a red margm ; bui this feature is by mo meams consiani, and when present m the young leaves often disappears as these grow older. The leaves which form the little tufts are like those of the Omcocyclus group, very dis- tineily faleate, or scamitar shaped, and im this, as im several other though undoubiedly its nearest ally is [. pumila. Then agam, on the hills near Philippopohs grows a dwarf Ins, I. melitia, which is very closely allied to [. rubro-marginaia, and, hike it, 1s_ ON IRISES. 147 intermediate between Asian and truly European forms. From I. melitta we pass readily to the dwarf Iris of the Balkans, I. balkana, with its relatively large fine red purple flowers, which differs very shghtly from the ordinary European I. Chamaeiris or I. italica. North-west of the Balkans, in Hungary, we find the bright yellow little Z. arenaria, which is in all essential features at least identical with J. flavissima of Central Asia, and thus with the also bright yellow coloured I. Bloudovu, which latter is an outlying member of the Regelia eroup. I said a little while back that an J. pumila identical with the European forms grows in the Caucasus, but the more common form of J. pumila in that region is I. pumila aequiloba, with its small elegant and deeply-veined flowers of purple, yellow, or white; and this variety of pumila, as do also other varieties of the same species scattered over Asia Minor, tends in its characters towards the Central Asian type. All these particular forms may, in fact, be regarded either as Central Asian forms trying to accommodate themselves to European conditions, or as Kuropean forms doing their best to thrive in the to them strange climate of Asia. Some of these forms, for instance J. arenaria, need exactly the same treatment as the Asian forms; and while others will live and even thrive without special treatment, they all by their more abundant flowering and more luxuriant growth show that they appreciate a dry winter and a hot summer whenever they chance to meet with such rare events in this country. Turning our steps eastwards from Central Asia, we find that the Central Asian Irises stragele in this direction, also towards China and Japan, and in their wanderings show their affinity with a very remarkable group of Irises, whose central home is in those far countries of the East. Of this group, which has received the name of Hvansia, the best known member is, perhaps, I. fimbriata, which, though not thoroughly hardy in most parts of this country, rewards the trouble of culture in a cool greenhouse by its abundantly produced deheately marked lavender flowers. More characteristic of the group, perhaps, is the large-flowered handsome J. tectorwm, so called from the habit of the Chinese to cultivate it on their house-tops. The centre of this group legs, as I have said, in China and Japan, but it stretches both east and west. Like many other Japanese Cc 148 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. plants it ages ago found its way into the New World, but was nearly driven out again by the glacial descent from the North, and now is only represented by such starved and altered forms as the J. cristata and I. verna of the Eastern coast, and the strange little I. lacustris of the shores of Lake Huron. In its westward progress it has been more happy. J. Milesi, from the Kulu valley, is singularly intermediate between J. teciorum and I. jimbriaia, though its home is far away from that of both of them. I. Kingiana and I. Dutheu, for our acquaintance with which we are indebted to Mr. Duthie, are also members of this group, as is also an Iris from Lahnul, which I have ventured to name after Sir J. Hooker, since the Canadian Iris which has been called after him does not, in my opinion, want a specific name. And in all probability many Irises exist m West China, and io the north of the Himalayas, belonging to this sroup. Now, without going into particulars, I may say that this group Evansia, especially in the case of J. Kingiana and the other members of the group stretching eastward, exhibits many affinities with the Oncocyclus and Regelia group. Thus, the great siriking Central Asia group joins hands with the European forms on the west, and with the Japanese-Himalayan group on the east. I may add that the Evansia group shows its affinity with the Oncocyclus group in its cultural requirements. Though I. jimbriaia is practically an evergreen Iris, and the American representatives have long ago accommodated themselves to an American climate, the other members of the group, and especially the western members, but no less J. tectorum, in order that they may bloom freely, seem to need a period of rest. But that period my experience leads me to place later in the year than suits the Oncocyclus Irises. I let I. tectorum and Kingiana grow freely in the early summer, and do not dry off until autumn. And now, Mr. Chairman, it is, I think, time that I came to an end. I have touched only on a few Irises. The groups of which I have spoken contain, perhaps, the most beautiful forms in the genus, but there are several other groups, some of the members of which are exceedingly handsome, notably the cultivated Japanese Iris known as I. Kaempferi. These groups differ in their features in many ways from those on which I have dwelt, and many lessons may be learnt from them of quite another kind from those upon which I have imsisted to-day ; ON IRISES. 149 indeed, the forms which I have brought before you have many a tale to tell, besides the one on which I have built my lecture. But I trust that, as a gardener speaking to gardeners, I have not done wrong in putting so prominently forward what I take to be a golden precept of gardening, namely, to study the nature and habits of a plant in order that we may foretell its wants and so do our best to meet them. DISCUSSION. Mr. Baker alluded to the great increase in the number of known species, and to the extension of our knowlege of the older ones, which had resulted from the exertions of Professor Foster, whose labours as a cultivator, a systematist, and a physiologist were highly appreciated by his fellow-horticulturists. Dr. Masters adverted to the lessons to be learnt by the cultiva- tor from the investigation, not only of the outward conformation, but also of the microscopical structure of the leaf and other parts. The circumstance that the common German Ivis thrives so well in London gardens was readily explained by the direction and peculiar structure of its leaves. The discussion was continued by Sir CHARLES STRICKLAND, Mr. C. B. CLARKE, and the Chairman, Mr. W. T. TuIsELtTon Dyur, C.M.G., Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew. Professor FostER, in replying, said that he could not, either from the gardening or from the botanical point of view, feel content with the decision that the various forms of Iris cannot be separated from each other and appropriately named. The task, he knew, was a very difficult one, and he himself was that moment at that stage of a progress known as the Slough of Despond ; but he meant to struggle towards the other side of the slough, and he hoped that some day he should emerge. In conclusion, while thanking his audience for their kind attentive- ness, he desired to express publicly how much he had been | indebted for rare and new Irises to various missionaries, more especially to the members of the American mission in Asia Minor, and he should only be too glad to be at any time the channel for conveying to them help in the good work which they were carrying on. C2 ho 150 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. THE STRAWBERRY. By Mr. A. F. Barron, Superintendent of the Society’s Gardens at Chiswick. [Read June 25, 1889.} Amonast our hardy English fruits there is none held in higher repute than the strawberry. Itis an almost universal favourite, and being the first fruit of the year that ripens in our gardens, receives on that account the first and a very large share of attention and regard. What is more beautiful or more tempting than a dish of fresh-gathered strawberries, both the eye and the palate being appealed to ? The strawberry ranks as one of our native fruits, the wild form being found growing plentifully in our woods and hedge- rows, in many parts of the country, and pretty generally in all the temperate regions of Europe and America. As a cultivated plant, it is one of the oldest on record—so far back as the reign of Richard III. (1488) excellent strawberries are reported as growing in the Bishop of Ely’s garden in Hol- born, and Hyll (1593) tells us that ‘‘ strawberries be much eaten at all men’s tables, and that they will grow in gardens to the bigness of a mullberry.’”’ In Gerard’s Herbal, of about the same date, the first mention is made of white strawberries. Although strawberries were known to the Romans in the time of Pliny, they do not appear to have been cultivated by them at all, or to have been of any repute—the climate of Italy, excepting on the higher lands, being probably too hot to grow them to perfection. Botanically, the strawberry belongs to the genus Fragaria, of which there are a good many species—the common wild wood- strawberry being Fragaria vesca and probably the only one culti- vated in Europe until near the end of the last century, when Fragaria virginiana was introduced from America. As regards the origin of the varieties now under cultivation, some botanists ascribe all to Fragaria vesca, and look upon it as the original form. Iam not able toadopt that altogether. Iam hardly prepared to admit that the magnificent fruits we now possess have been derived from the wild form of the woods. They seem to me so utterly and entirely distinct. THE STRAWBERRY. 151 The first attempt at a general classification and descrption of strawberries that I know of was made by the Horticultural Society in the gardens at Chiswick, the report being furnished by Mr. Barnet, the superintendent, and published in the Society’s Transactions in 1822. Four hundred samples were received and erown in the gardens, bearing over two hundred names, which Mr. Barnet, in his report, reduced to fifty-four presumably dis- tinct varieties, and arranged them in seven classes. Scarcely any of these varieties are now in cultivation, and the classification is not approved. The simplest classification that I know of is one of natural grouping, adopted by M. H. de Vilmorin in ‘“‘ Les Plantes Potageéres,”’ viz. :— 1. F.vesca . . . The wood strawberry. 2. F.alpina . . . Thealpine strawberry. 3. F.elatior . . . The Hautbois. 4, F'. virginiana. . The scarlet strawberry. 5. F. chiloensis. . The Chili strawberry. 6. F. grandiflora . The Pine or Carolina. From these six original species, as I take them to be, the whole of our present race of strawberries have been derived in one way or other. Their mingled parentage, however, renders classification of any sort extremely difficult. The first, the common Wood strawberry, 1s too well known to require any description. The fruits are small and compara- tively insignificant, and I do not know of any improved form. The second, the Alpine strawberry, to a great extent resembles the common wood variety, only the fruits are larger and more elongated in form, and the plant has the distinguishing merit of bearing successionally during the season, so that the crop secured from a few well-cultivated plants is very great. Hence, in France, where it is cultivated to a far greater extent than in this country, it is termed ‘ Fraisier de tous les mois, ‘* F’, des quatre saisons,”’ &c. Visitors to the Exhibition in Paris this season may note the enormous supply at the various restaurants ; with a little sugar and a dash of ‘‘ vin ordinaire”’ they are not to be despised. The alpine strawberry is stated to have been found on Mont Cenis, and introduced to France in 1764, but it is also said to have been introduced into England by the Dutch, and grown about London several years previously, and from thence sent to the French King’s gardens at Trianon. 152 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. The third is the Hautbois, a variety at one time well known and very generally cultivated. This strawberry is surely going out of cultivation, which seems a pity, for no other possesses any- thing approaching the same peculiar rich flavour, a sort of mixture between the black currant and raspberry. The berries are larger than either of the preceding sorts, but it is a notori- ously bad bearer, many of the plants producing no flower or the flowers proving abortive, hence many believed it to be dioecious. A great deal has been written on this subject, which I need not allude to here. The Hautbois is the same as the Fraise Capron of France. It is stated to be a native of Germany. Parkinson, writing in 1627, calls it the Bohemia strawberry, and says: ‘‘ It hath been with us but of late days.” The name Hautbois, or Hautboy, is said to be a corruption of the German ‘ Haarbeere.”’ No great improvement that I am aware of has been made on the original. The variety named Belle Bordelaise may be rather more prolific, and we have a variety at Chiswick which was sent to the Society some years ago by Dr. Bennett, of Aber- deen, which is a cross between the Hautbois and F’. lucida, from which something may be obtained. The flavour of this cross is remarkably rich. Hybridisers should really turn their attention to the Hautbois. The fourth is the Scarlet strawberry, known also as the Old Scarlet and the Bath Scarlet. It is a native of Canada and the Eastern States of North America, and was introduced into this country in 1629. This being the first strawberry of decided merit, was very soon largely cultivated, and from it the varieties Grove End Scarlet, the Roseberry, Black Prince (and probably Vicomtesse Héricart de Thury), were no doubt raised. Around Edinburgh, until very lately, a great extent of this strawberry was grown chiefly for preserving purposes. The fifth is the Chili strawberry, which was introduced by Frezier into France in 1712, and described by him as “ having fruit the size of a walnut.’’ Fifteen years later, in 1727, we read of Miller growing it in his garden at Eltham. There seem to have been two varieties, however; the one we have grown at Chiswick is of gross growth,a poor cropper,with large pale fruit of poor quality. Mr. Robert Thompson was of opinion that the pale colour of the British Queen class was derived from the Chili. THE STRAWBERRY. 153 The sixth is the Pine or Old Carolina strawberry, the origin of which is rather obscure ; and here again there appear to have been two varieties—one introduced into France about the middle of the last century and described by Poiteau; the other intro- duced into England from Holland, which seems to have become the parent of the greater part of our largest and best English strawberries. Thus we dispose of the original species, and now come to consider the strawberries as they are at the present time, and as they appear before us to-day. These M. Vilmorin places in one great group of Hybrid strawberries, numbering many hundreds, if not thousands. I shall not attempt to classify them, and I am free to confess I hardly know how—they seem to be so hopelessly intermingled the one with the other, and changes still go on. Although no direct record is to be had of the progress made in the raising of new varieties and the gradual improvement of this fruit, we are face to face with the fact that during the present century every variety now cultivated has been introduced to our notice ; and if we care to look back 250 years, we shall find our- selves reduced to this—the common Wood strawberry. No better evidence than this is required. Slowly but surely has the im- provement been going on. All honour to those patient workers and keen observers who have done so much, and to whom we are indebted for all these beautiful fruits we now enjoy. It is extremely interesting to note, amidst the gradual develop- ment taking place, the occasional advent of some standard variety, which stands out clear and bold like a finger-post pointing the way onwards. There are, to my mind, eight of these leading sorts which are deserving of special record :— 1. Keens’ Seedling.—-Raised by Mr. Keens, market gardener, Isleworth, 1821. This variety, when exhibited before the Horti- cultural Society in 1821, created quite a sensation, so greatly was it then in advance of all others. 2. British Queen.—Raised by Mr. Myatt, market gardener, Deptford, about 1840. The grandest strawberry ever introduced. 3. Vicomtesse Héricart de Thury.—Raised by M. 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Oh forenct al ‘ wo— a uy “§ “H'O *d ‘Xnvoplog op 9ITOT+) - "UT “oT + “ZANT I0.P'a “HW “H “PeN “dp y—H ON SOON ''8"1 SAAS MAS “a JOC $8 ep ‘9 “TO S010 “MV TD SEW SAVED S INT ‘d ‘‘A°V | 10poorg ‘Gy + euBrjesoayy ayRorpap Ajyeuorndeoxe Aue pur ‘Svay, JSOLPLVY, VL OU, [rey To ‘MOTINATYStLOD yom AT[BtouIs jO olv 4vY Sosoryt aSTM IOYIO 10 sopoads ‘sosoxy a, Surs OAT}VIOONP SOUL ZT OWL, 68 88 L8 98 ‘ON NATIONAL ROSE CONFERENCE. 988 SYNONYMS. The following Roses bracketed together have been regarded as synonymous, according to the rule adopted by the National Rose Society ; and the name standing first in each case, being believed to be the original name, is considered for the purpose of the preceding Digest as the ruling name of the Rose. Devoniensis. Climbing Devoniensis. Adam. President. ( Charles Lefebvre. qb nenesse de Caylus. = Bravy. Marguerite Brassac, Penelope Mayo. Paul Jamain. Prince C. de Rohan. (La Rosiére. Marie Rady. | Comtesse de Choiseul eee Boncenne. Baron de Bonstettin. Madame de Sertot. Alba Rosea. Josephine Malton. { Maréchal Vaillant. Avocat Duvivier. : ' Maurice Bernardin. Ferdinand de Lesseps Sir Garnet Wolseley. Exposition de Brie. Fortune’s Yellow. peau ore Verdier. Beauty of Glazenwood. Marie Finger. { Amadis. Thoresbyana. Crimson Boursault, Bennett’s Seedling. Inst of Abbreviations used for the Names of Roses in the foregoing Statistical Returns. A B.de B... Beauty of Baltimore. B. de N... Boule de Nanteuil. Adam. B. de P. .. Bijou des Prairies. Assess { President. B. @Or. .. Bouquet d’Or. AAC .. Anna Alexieff, BE ae erae tee Beaute de l'Europe. Ab.C . Abel Carrieére. Bf. ...... Bauksizeflora. 1c aes Alfred Colomb. Bidisesae sc Barthélemy Joubert. hae Alfred Dumesnil. BK. we ee. Banksian White. A.de M... Anne-Marie de Montravel, B.L.. sss Belle Lyonnaise. J NaiO bane Adelaide d'Orléans. Bl. V’Or, ., Boule d’Or. eDe a.) Antoine Ducher. B. le R. .. Gloire de Bourg la Reine. AG. . Abel Grand. IB TEP ser ore Blanche Moreau. AN Cya Alice Gray. B.M. .... Baronne Maynard. TAY Sravcterevetes Angele Jacquier. BIN.. sees Boule de Neige. A.K.W. .. A. K. Williams. B.N.R..... Baroness N. de Rothschild. eaten Annie Laxton. B. of W... Beauty of Waltham. it ee Alba. IBOlsae ee oe Boildieu. Se st. Aline Sisley. Bou § Monsieur Boncenne. Amadis. — Baron de Bonstettin. ATS. <6 Grimson Boarenalt, B. of C. .. Brightness of Cheshunt. FACTS AD Se etero Anna de Diesbach, Bos... 4... Mrs. Bosanquet. BAG OBerevacce . Anna Olivier. Bou....... Bougere. A.P....... Albert Page. iBERE .. Baronne Prevost. Ta nee Alpina. BQ: . Bourbon Queen. PAC steley eiehers Auguste Rigotard. BuRieictee ss Baroness Rothschild. ALS releve(s:s's Alphonse Soupert. Br. ....-. Brennus. Au. C . Austrian Copper. AGN . Aimée Vibert. A.W. .... Annie Wood. C IAS . Lutea, or Austrian Yellow. Az. ...... Amazone. G4..20n eo Camoens. CsBe nets Camille Bernardin. CiBdetax. Crimson Bedder. B O.C....... Captain Christy. C.C.C..... Climbing Capt. Christy. Bisseosnes orilliant: ClChys Crimson China. a2 oererersie ¢ Blairii, No. 2. C. Co. .... Countess Camondo. B.B....... Beauty of Beeston. C.C.P. .... Common Cabbage Provence 284 ORCHID A cn 5s eee eee Oo RRR by JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Climbing Chas. Lefebvre. Charles Darwin. . Comtesse de Chabrillant. . Comte de Raimbaud. . Comtesse de Serenye. . Coupe d’ Hebe. Charles Dickens. . Coquette des Blanches. Celine Forestier. .- Cheshunt Hybrid. Common China. . Chénédolle. ... Climbing Hip. Jamain. .. Clemence Joigneaux. . Climbing Jules Margottin. Caroline Kuster. Charles Lefebvre. Marguerite Brassac. Paul Jamain. Charles Lawson. . Cannes la Coquette. Clara Cochet. .. Claire Carnot. . Charles Lamb. Catherine Mermet. ... Charles Margottin. Comtesse de Nadaillac. Centifolia Rosea. ... Crown Prince. Countess of Oxford. .. Countess of Pembroke. Countess of Leven. . Cristata-Provence. ... Climbing Pride of Waltham. Countess of Rosebery. .. Catherine Soupert. .. Cramoisi Supérieur. .. Constantin Petriakoff. .. Crested Moss. ... Climbing Victor Verdier. D Devoniensis. Climbing Devoniensis. Damascena,. Duc Constantine. . Duchesse de Vallombrosa. . Duchesse de Morny. Duchesse de Caylus. Penelope Mayo. Dupuy Jamain. Due de Montpensier. . Duke of Edinboro’. Duchess of Bedford. . Duke of Wellington. .. Duke of Connaught. .. Duke of Teck. Duke of Albany. ..- Rev. H. H. D’Ombrain. David Pradel. Dundee Rambler. . Doctor Andry. Dr. Hogg. Doctor Sewell. . Duc de Rohan. Distinction. . Duchess of Connaught. E Eclair. . Edouard Andre, Eugene Appert. Gi Mirereneteret eee eeee KF ne SF ws —s~ Elise Boelle. Ethel Brownlow. Earl of Dufferin. Emilie Dupuy. .. Edouard Morren. . Etoile de Lyon. Edouard Gautier. Etendard de Jeanne d’Are. Eugene Furst. Egeria. Ella Gordon. . Emilie Hausberg. Eugenie Verdier. | Marie Finger. Etienne Levet. . Emily Laxton. Elegans. . Elie Morel. Emilie Plantier. . Earlof Pembroke. . AY. Leas: F Fellenberg. Colonel Felix Breton. Fisher Holmes. Francisca Kruger. Francois Levet. Francois Michelon. . Felicité-Perpétue. . Fulgens. Fortune's Yellow. Beauty of Glazenwood. G Gracilis. . Glory of Cheshunt. Grace Darling. . Gloire de Margottin. Gloire de Dijon. . Garden Favourite. General Jacqueminot. . Mme. Gabriel Luizet. Gloire Lyonnaise. Grand Mogul. .. Glory of Waltham. . Grandeur of Cheshunt, Gloire des Rosomanes. . Multiflora Grandiflora. H ET ererete . Homer. EIQ Aciersterete Harrisonii. H.E.G..... Hon. Edith Gifford. Isis IR Go or Hebe’s Lip. H.J....... Hippolyte Jamain. ne El besecer . Henri Ledechaux. H.M...... Her Majesty. ERSoe . Heinrich Schultheiss. ELV eiareteiaye Horace Vernet. H.W. .... Harrison Weir. H.W.E.... Henry W. Eaton. ,« mendicas . Inermis. ... Innocente Pirola. . Isabella Sprunt. -_ w= e60te a! ee a ere ee. ee eee ee NATIONAL ROSE CONFERENCE. 985 J M. de S.A., Marguerite de St. Amand, M. de TT... Mme. de Tartas. etereas eien UUs M.de R... Marguerite de Roman. IB. ...... John Bright. M.D...... Marie Ducher. J.O....... Jean Cherpin. M.VA., . Mme. d’Arblay. J.D....... Jean Ducher. Me. I.P. .. Mme. Isaac Pereire, J.F....... Jules Finger. Me. C.W... Mme. Charles Wood. J.H....... John Hopper. Me. V.V... Mme. Victor Verdier, 5 ee Jwie Gaulain. Me. L..... Mme. Lacharme. J.L....... Jean Liabaud. Me. F..... Mme. Falcot. a Migs treats Jules Margottin, M.E.V. .. Mme. Eugeéne Verdier. J.P. ...... Jean Pernet. Me. Cn. .. Mme. Cusin. J.S......- Jean Soupert. Me. Lm... Mme. Lambard. JSG s.. John Stuart Mill. Me. B..... Mme. Bérard. Ju. C. .... Jules Chretien (Schwartz, 1878). Me. Bo.... Mrs. Bosanquet. M.E.L..... Mme. Etienne Levet. M.F.P..... Mme. F., Pittet. L M.Fo. .... Mons. Furtado. M.F.J..... Mme. Ferd. Jamain. L Eamaraiia M.G.B. .. Mme. Georges Bruant. TR ae ne a M.Ho. .... Mme. Hoste. Lau. ne Laurette. M.Hy..... Mme. Hardy. ‘ ich ek. Ee eanca: M.H.J..... Mme. Hippolyte Jamain LB Tord Bacou M.H Fone Miss Hassard. Wee. atordi@ivde ; MINK Grercrerste Mme. Knorr. TiGot.,.. Lathe Gules M.Lt. .... Mme. Levet. rok paaae M.L. .... Merveille de Lyon. — heel Lecocg Dumesnil Ml. B..... Mademoiselle Bonnaire, pee ha 3 Laat awh Maréchal Vaillant. L.Do. .... Louis Doré. IMIS Vier { a. Sasivion Le H. .... Le Havre. : MM Merce Monee 2 vee. 4 - ee ee M.Mr..... Mme. Margottin. LM. .... Lord Macaulay. ae ane seal Uma L.M.F..... Lady Mary Fitzwilliam. MN! Maréchal Niel L.0O....... Leopoldine d’Orléans. Mo. N..... Wiocaharaiives (Alba) Lp. B..... Leopold Bauffremont. iio. Ge. i a IR... ... Le Rhone. M.P Bs Mae Mme Plantier L.Rr. .... Longworth Rambler. Mp iter Mann ae : LS....... Lady Sheffield. ae Marte Bade IML eeadcon Luciole. IME sralers ee oe { Comtesse de Choiseul. Mrs. J.L... Mrs. John Laing. Mrs. H.T.. Mrs. Harry Turner. Mrs. G.D.. Mrs. George Dickson, M Mrs. B.... Mrs. Baker. Mrs. L.... Mrs. Laxton. L.V.H..... Louis van Houtte. INE ageee » Multiflora. Mrs. J..... Mrs. Jowitt. M.A.D. .. Alice Dureau. M.S....... Marie Sisley. M.A.C. .. Mme. Alfred Carriere. M.S.J..... Mme. de St. Joseph. Mac. .... Macartney Simplex Bracteata. M.T. .... Mme. Trifle. Mac. M.L.. Macartney Marie Leonida. Mta. .... Macrantha. Ma. C..... Ma Capucine. M.T.L. .. Therese Levet. M.A.R. .. Mme. Alfred de Rougemont. M.Y. .... Marie Verdier. Mag. .... Magna Charta. M.V.H. .. Marie van Houtte. ( Mme. Bravy. . MEWiece.) ime: Welch: M.By Alba Rosea. | M.Wz..... Mme. Willermoz. : eo t: | Josephine Malton. Mx.S..... Max Singer. \ Mme. de Sertot. My. P. .. Mary Pochin. Mb. M.... Mabel Morrison. My. Boiss Mary Bennett. M.B. .... Marie Baumann. Maurice Bernardin. | M.Bn Ferdinand de Lesseps. N | ~~ -* | Sir Garnet Wolseley. : | Exposition de Brie. INE soioveveiels Niphetos. M.B.K.... Mrs. Bellender Ker. Na. ...00- Narcisse. M.B.L. .. Mme. Barthélemy Levet. M.C....... Marie Cointet. O M.C.C..... Mme. Charles Crapelet. M.Cm.. Mme. Camille + see : F Ores sacces, Ophiric: M.C.V. .. Mme. Charles Verdier. = WGK ao. Mime Charies. O.M. .,.. Old or Common Moss, M.C.G. .. Mme. C. Guinoisseau, M.deW... Mme. de Watteville. P M. de M... Marquise de Mortemart. M.Dr. .... Mme. Ducher. cevotor steers Polyantha (synonym of Multiflora), M. de C. .. Marquise de Castellane. IRSA, heme Prince Arthur, M. de 8S. ., Marquise de Sanina, Pan. .... Comtesse de Panisse, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. P.B....... Princess Beatrice. Pc Prince Camille de Rohan: Saga at La Rosiére. P.Ct. .... Pierre Carot. P. de L. .. Perle de Lyon. P.d’Or. .. Perle d’Or. P.J....... Perle des Jardins. P.L.V..... Princess Louise Victoria. PLN. .... Paul Neyron. TEM Paap ane Mme. Prosper Laugier. PM. . Princess Mary of Cambridge. Ps. =. Princesse Marie. P.N. .... Pierre Notting. P. of W... Pride of Waltham ee one el eras i eee Paul Ricaut. Ps. of W.. Princess of Wales. Ps. V..... Princess Vera. PS.W. .. Pauls Single White. PS.R..... Paul's Single Red. Paul. ...... Pulveralenta Alba. P.V....... Paul Verdier. PY. . Persian Yellow. RAS ESS Queen of the Belgians. ti ae Queen of Queens. R ee Rugosa. R.AD. . Rugosa Alba. gS cae Ruga. B.B. . Rosa Brunonis (syn. of Moschata). Ut ee Repens Capreolata. R. d'Or. .. Réve d'Or. R.H. . Reynolds Hole. RJ. ...... Rosieriste Jacobs. [2 ae Rosa Mundi. R.M.H. .. Reine Marie Henriette. ea sesee Rampant. RMP. .. Reine Maria Pia. R.0....... Reine Olga de Wurtemberg. R.P..... - Comiesse Riza du Pare. ae eee p Rubens. by P iz ig MANDANNNNDNADNANDN . Souvenir d'un Ami. . Souvenir d’Elise Vardon. . Souvenir de Spa. . Sophie Fropot. . Souvenir de G. Drevet. >." "" Sir Joseph Paxton. . Souvenir de Leon Gambetia. S Safrano. Sweet Briar. Seotch, white. Scotch, yellow. Sinica. Souvenir de la Malmaison. . Souvenir de Mme. Pernet. Sombreuil. a S. of W. .. Star of Waltham. = SHEN =F Souvenir de Paul Neyron. Sp. ...... Splendens. SHES soc ce Stanwell Perpetual. Sei caeaes Suzanne-Marie Rodocanachi. S.S. ...... Sempervirens Scandens. Serene Sunset. S.T.L. .... Souvenir de T. Levet. S.V....... Senateur Vaisse. S.V.H..... Souvenir de Victor Hugo. S.W.W. .. Souvenir de W. Wood. Se ee Sultan of Zanzibar. a T ( Thoresbyana. Tic ala | Benneit’s Seedling. gee HE The Bride. Jie Ce The Garland. T.M. .... Thomas Mills. Le . The Puritan. d kal | Se Triomphe de Rennes. U Bs ceees Ulrich Brunner. V Wiseweeee = Vivid. VAS sso Violette Bouyer. V.Bx. . Ville de Bruxelles. V.F....... Viscountess Folkestone. V.H. .... Victor Hugo. V.V. .... Victor Verdier. Vives ce Vicomie Vigier. W W.ALR. .. William Allen Richardson. W.B. .... Whiie Bath. W.Bs. .... White Baroness. W.C.1.... Waltham Climber, No. 1. C2. Me = No. 2. W.0C.3. 2. = = No. 3. W.FB.... W. F. Bennett. WP >: -y White Provence. W.W. .... William Warden. X #0 Gp Xavier Olibo. b Weit oe ec Yellow Banksian. Vis Peas ae York and Lancaster. NATIONAL ROSE CONFERENCE. 287 NOTES ON DIGEST OF STATISTICS. By the Rev. W. Wis, Sec. R.H.S. The preceding tables of Statistical Returns made at the Conference will be of the greatest possible interest and value to theroughgoing Rosarians, both amateurs and_ professionals. _ They will positively revel in comparing one particular grower’s selection with that of another grower as eminent; they will delight in making special combinations and permutations, and will inwardly digest the result; they will give all due weight to aspect, climate, and soil. ‘’o such experts I must apologise for any little mistakes which may have crept into what, if it has been a labour of love, has been by no means an easy labour— the digesting, tabulating, and abbreviating the mass of statistics so kindly sent in. Nomenclature.—Beyond the mere clerical work, the chief difficulty has arisen from varying nomenclature, and that not only with regard to synonyms, but also in regard to the very varied spelling of names. Great confusion is evidently caused by that most reprehensible practice of raisers of new sorts, in eiving to their offspring names almost identical with others already existing. For example, Mme. Kugéne Verdier (H.P.) and Mlle. Eugénie Verdier, and then repeating Mme. Eugéne Verdier again asa Tea! The result of this kind of naming is that ‘“‘ Madame ’’ and ‘‘ Mademoiselle ’’ become completely mixed. Sometimes one is entered when the other is evidently meant, and more often we get a Hybrid form of name, in either ‘‘ Madame Kugene V.’’ or ‘‘ Mademoiselle Eugénie V.,” both Hybrid names appearing also as Teas! Other examples will at once suggest themselves, e.g., Hippolyte Jamain and Mme. Hippolyte Jamain (H.P.), and Mme. Hippolyte Jamain (Tea) ; Jules Margottin and Mme. Jules Margottin and Mme. Margottin ; Mme. Ducher and Marie Ducher and Jean Ducher ; Mme. Scipion Cochet (H.P.) and Mme. Scipion Cochet (Tea) ; Princess of Wales (H.P.) and Princess of Wales (Tea) ; Prosper Laugier and Mme. Prosper Laugier; Julius Finger and Jules Finger; Jules Chretien, an old worthless pink H.P., and Jules Chrétien H.P. (Schwartz, 1878), a handsome dark one; N 288 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Souvenir de Victor Hugo (H.P.) and Souvenir de Victor Hugo (Tea); Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild and Baronne Nathaniel de Rothschild, both H.P.s; and so on ad infimitum. Or is our language so poor in names that we need have two so similar as Lady Sheffield and Lady Suffield? Raisers might surely exercise a little ingenuity in choosing really distinctive names for their new introductions. Nor can I think the constant harping on one string, however distinguished, tends to clearness ; c.g., Paul Verdier, Eugénie Verdier, Victor Verdier, Mme. Eugéne Verdier (H.P.), Mme. Victor Verdier, Emilie Verdier, Marie Verdier, Souvenir de Victor Verdier, Mme. Kugéne Verdier (Tea), and probably several others. Similar lists might be made of Jamains, Margottins, Levets, Lyons, Lyonnaise, &e. Nor are our neighbours across the Channel alone in this, for amongst English names we have Beauty of Waltham, Glory of Waltham, Pride of Waltham, Queen of Waltham, Star of Waltham, Wal- tham Climbers, Nos. 1, 2, and 3; Glory of Cheshunt, Grandeur of Cheshunt, Brightness of Cheshunt, Cheshunt Scarlet, Cheshunt Hybrid. What wonder if the average gardener gets altogether ‘mixed ’’ with such a repetition of the dominant name! Surely one can have too much of such great rose names as Verdier, Cheshunt, Waltham, Lyons, &c.? And might we not use- fully drop at least half of the multitude of Madames and Mademoiselles, and most of the Souvenirs ; indeed, all of them, except when needed for the sake of clearness? Might we not, for instance, without any disrespect or undue familiarity, talk of Alfred de Rougemont, Alphonse Lavallée, Bellender Ker, Charles Crapelet, Clemence Joigneaux, Gabriel Luizet, Norman Néruda, Eugénie Verdier, Marie Cointet, Marie Rady, Thérése Levet, Angéle Jacquier, Caroline Kuster, Gabrielle Drevet, Admiral Courbet, Riza du Pare, &c., ke. ? Some of the very long names might well drop half—which half, by the way, would do for the next new rose—e.g., Archduchess Maria Immaculata might very well be content to be simply styled ‘“‘Archduchess.”” “ Imma- culata ’’ would then make an admirable name for the next new white rose, and we should have ‘‘ Maria’’ over and to spare. Prince Camille hardly needs “‘ de Rohan ” added, any more than Souvenir d’Elise requires ‘‘ Vardon’’; Princess Mary could well do without ‘‘of Cambridge’’; Madame KE. de Bonniéres de Wierre could surely spare ‘‘ EH. de Bonniéres’’ far some other NATIONAL ROSE CONFERENCE. 989 flower and really not feel the loss; and the promised new Rose of 1890 might be content to submit to the inevitable, and be from the outset what she is bound to be in the end, ‘‘ Dowager Duchess,” leaving ‘‘ Duchess of Marlborough ”’ for some future novelty. I seriously think this question of simplicity and distinctness of nomenclature is a matter Rosarians would do well to lose no time in grappling with. Order of Hntry.—In the preceding Statistical Returns no weight must be laid on the order in which the individual Roses stand in the different selections, as it was often impossible to tell whether the lists were intended to be read up and down the paper or across it, and in not a few cases the writers purposely disowned all intention of any order of merit. Abbreviations.—I must apologise for a great deal of incon- sistency which cannot fail to be remarked in the method adopted in abbreviating the different names of the roses. It is easy to be wise after the event, and had I the work to do over again I would certainly avoid such inconsistency. The task grew gradually as I worked at the Returns, and was not definitely planned beforehand, and at times it has had to be laid aside for weeks together to allow other work to be continued. It must further be remembered that the great object aimed at was brevity, and that the abbreviations are simply used for the purposes of the Statistics, and have no other authority or raison d’étre whatso- ever. W. WILKs. SUMMARISED RESULTS OF SOME OF THE STATES FICS. By Rev. W. Wiuks, Sec. R.H.S. Best Twelve H.P.s for Show.—Although thoroughgoing ol Rosarians will, as I remarked in a previous note, revel in the Returns, to a great many humbler Rose-lovers and Rose-growers they will prove somewhat hard reading, and, for such as are content to extract the honey at second hand, I have drawn up the following lists, resulting generally from the Statistical Returns :— A to 290 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. List I. Tue Best Twetve H.P.s ror SHow Brooms. (79 Voters.) Votes | Votes 1. A. K. Williams . s . 71 | 33. Abel Carriére ae 2. La France . : : . 69 | 33. Dr. Andry : 3. Marie Baumann . ; . 65: |-33. Gai of Rosebery =a 4. Alfred Colomb. : . 61 | 33. General Jacqueminot . it 5. Charles Lefebvre . - 1 60 | 33. Mons. Noman , : 5. Ulrich Brunner . : 33. Mme. Victor Verdier 7. Gabriel Luizet . ; . 59 | 33. Senateur Vaisse 8. Merveille de Lyon : . 48 40. Duchesse de Morny 9. Baroness Rothschild . . 39 40. Marguerite de St. ‘Amand 10. Etienne Levet . : . 37 | 40. Pride of Waltham. 3 11. Louis van Houtte - . 36°; 40. Prince Arthur 12. Duke of Edinburgh . . 27 | 40. Victor Hugo. 13. Marquise de Castellane. . 22 | 40. Victor Verdier 14, Captain Christy . : . 21 | 46. Annie Wood. 15. Lady Mary Fitzwilliam 1 99 | 46. Clara Cochet 15. Mrs. John Laing . en = 46. Comte de Raimbaud . 17. Horace Vernet. 3 . 19 46. Duchesse de Vallombrosa 18. Francois Michelon : . 18 46. John Hopper 19. Dupuy Jamain . : . 15 46. Magna Charta [ 20. Eugénie Verdier . oc 46. Reynolds Hole ! 20. Her Majesty. ‘ : + 12 46. Violette Bouyer 20. Marie Rady . : = oy 46. Xavier Olibo 23. Heinrich Schultheiss . . 10 | 55. Elie Morel 24. Countess of Oxford . l g 55. Mme. Hippolyte Jamain 24. Duchess of Bedford . /} 55. Eugéne Furst : 26. Prince Camillede Rohan . 7. 55. Mme. Eugéne Verdier . 27. Beauty of Waltham , g | 99- Edouard Morren . 27. Le Havre . ) 55. Mons. Boncenne . 29. Camille Bernardin ) 55. Glory of Cheshunt 1 29. Earl of Dufferin {aes 55. Duke of Teck 29. E. Y. Teas ( 55. Dr. Sewell : 29. Maurice Bernardin ) 55. Star of Waltham . 55. Countess Camondo | 55. Princess Mary of Cambridge | 55. Baronne Maynard. 55. John Stuart Mill . From this list it will at once be noticed that in selecting the best 12 Roses, 79 growers have named no less than 68 varieties; whilst at the same time the 11 best are very clearly notified, and Duke of Edinburgh makes a very fair fight for the remaining place in the best dozen. Newer sorts are manifestly ata disadvantage in such statistics as these, some srowers possibly not having yet made trial of them ; and from this point of view it is probable that, if the selection were repeated in a year or two’s time, Mrs. J. Laing, Earl of Dufferin, and perhaps Victor Hugo and Clara Cochet, would stand relatively higher than they do at present. The Next Best Twelve H.P.s.—Of these I have only given the — NATIONAL ROSE CONFERENCE. 991 names of those obtaining four or more votes, there being no less than 67 other varieties mentioned. Here it is obvious that the higher ones in List I. will figure amongst the lower in List II., as they have already received almost as many votes as possible. Tae Next Best Twetve H.P.s List II. FoR SHOW. (76 Voters.) Votes Votes 1. Dr. Andry l 34 31. Senateur Vaisse ) 1, Eugénie Verdier ser 31. Countess of Rosebery 12 3. Marquise de Castellane . 27 | 31. Lady Mary Fitzwilliam } 4, Francois Michelon . 25 | 34. Le Havre , 5. Duke of Edinburgh . 24 | 34. General Jacqueminot 10 6. Camille Bernardin 1. 93 34. Ulrich Brunner ) 6. Dupuy Jamain yo 37. Marie Baumann 8. Horace Vernet 1 99 | 37. Mons. Noman y 22 8. Countess of Oxford 10. Louis van Houtte 10. Duke of Wellington 10. Marie Verdier 10. Marie Rady . 10. Baroness Rothschild 15. Captain Christy 15. Duchess of Bedford 17. Maurice Bernardin 17. Merveille de Lyon 17. Etienne Levet 20. Prince Arthur 21. Mme. Victor Verdier 21. Xavier Olibo 21. Reynolds Hole 24. Duchesse de ‘allornbre: osa 24. Charles Lefebvre . 96.4: Ve Leas. 26. Beauty of Waltham 26. Gabriel Luizet 29. Pride of Waltham 20 14 37. Heinrich Schultheiss 37. Marguerite de St. Amand 37. Abel Carriére 42. Fisher Holmes 42. Victor Verdier 42. Alfred Colomb 45. Charles Darwin 45. Prince Camille 45. Mrs. J. Laing 45. Duke of Teck 49. Violette Bouyer 49, Alphonse Soupert 49. Her Majesty . La France . Magna Charta 56. Earl of Pembroke 56. Victor Hugo 56. Rosieriste Jacobs . 56. Mrs. Baker 2 F 52. Mme. Eugéne Venice P 52. Comte de Rama Sy ere Oren Oreo > en 0 rr Se > r* “I Or —— ——— —_—— —_—_— re Nee ee” ——_— egg po” at @® 13 29. Star of Waltham . 56. Duchesse de Morny 56. Sultan of Zanzibar Ere ELE: Hi.P.s scorntnc TWENTY OR MORE VOTES WHEN Lists I. ann II. ARE COMBINED. This list practically gives the opinion of the voters as to the best 24 H.P.s for Show purposes :— ‘N —_, ——_ -—_ e Charles Lefebvre 60+15=75 | Baroness Rothschild . 39+20=59 La France . 69+ 5=74 | Louis van Houtte 36 + 20=56 Marie Baumann. 65+ 9=74 | Etienne Levet 37+18 =55 A. K. Willams 71+°2=73 | Duke of Edinburgh 27+24=51 Ulrich Brunner . 60+10=70 | MarquisedeCastellane 22+ 27=49 Alfred Colomb 61+ 8=69 | Francois Michelon 18+ 25=43 Gabriel Luizet 55+14=69 | Eugénie Verdier 12+31=43 Merveille de Lyon 48+18=66 | Horace Vernet 19+22=41 999, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. List Il1.—continued. Captain Christy . 21+19=40 Mrs. J. Laing 20+ 7=27 Dupuy Jamain 15+23=38 Maurice Bernardin 5+18=23 Dr. Andry . : . 4+31=35 Duke of Wellington 0+20=20 Lady Mary Fitzwilliam 20+12=32 Marie Verdier 0+ 20=20 Marie Rady : 12+ 20=32 | Prince Arthur . 3$+17=20 Countess of Oxford 9+22=31 | Mme. Victor Verdier. 4+16=20 Camille Bernardin 5+23=28 Beauty of Waltham 6+14=20 Duchess of Bedford 9+19=28 | Twelve Most Useful H.P.s as Cut Flowers for Decoration.— In this list I have omitted all receiving less than six votes, as their name was verily legion. lise Ty. TweELVE Most UsEerun H.P.s. (64 Voters.) Votes | Votes 1. La France. ; ; .~Ol |) 622. Alfred. Colom. o_. ; a be 2. General Jacqueminot . . 36 | 23. Jules Margottin . : ald 3. Duke of Edinburgh . - 30 | 24. Duke of Wellington . . 10 4. Baroness Rothschild . . 26 | 24. Duchess of Bedford j 5. Fisher Holmes : ) 26. Dr. Andry 5. Gabriel Luizet 23 | 26. Prince Arthur 5. Ulrich Brunner ) 26. Senateur Vaisse 9 8. Prince Camille ) 91, | 26. Duke of Connaught 8. Boule de Neige ne 30. Gloire Lyonnaise . ; ees: 10. Captain Christy 1 99 31. Earl of Pembroke ; 10. Dupuy Jamain + 31. Countess of Oxford 12. Eugénie Verdier . ; . 18 | 31. Maurice Bernardin | 13. A. K. Williams ) 31. Magna Charta ar 13. Heinrich Schultheiss - 16 | 31. Duke of Teck 13. Charles Lefebvre . 31. Beauty of Waltham | 16. Merveille de Lyon . y5 | 31. Mme. Victor Verdier 16. Marie Baumann . JS ~°? | 88. Abel Carriére 18. Marquise de Castellane . 14 388. Camille Bernardin 6 19. John Hopper : : ) 38. Mrs. Geo. Dickson 19. Violette Bouyer : 13 | 19. Louis van Houtte : } | Here it will be noticed how facile princeps among useful Roses stands La France, the only wonder being that it did not receive the full number of 64 possible votes. In my own opinion, for cut Roses for house decoration La France is a perfect Saul, not only amongst H.P.s, but amongst all Roses—a head and shoulders above all its brethren—and only approached by such as the Common Pink China Monthly Rose, Mrs. Bosanquet, Gloire de Dijon, and, if it had but a little scent, Souvenir de la Malmaison. And I cannot but think, if a little more stress had been put upon the word “ useful,’ that Captain Christy, Charles Lefebvre, Marie Baumann, Marquise de Castellane, Alfred Colomb, Duke of Wellington, and certainly Karl of Pembroke, would have taken higher place than they do. — NATIONAL ROSE CONFERENCE. 293 IT have made no list of “ Next Best H.P.s for Cut Blooms,’’ as there are comparatively few votcs, and it would have had but slight influence (and that, perhaps, not quite a fair influence) in determining the position of the leading flowers, when combined with List IV. With the “Garden Roses’”’ I have not dealt at all, as the ideas of the voters as to what is meant by a ‘Garden Rose ’”’ seems to have been so very various that hardly any individual varieties have received any great preponderance of votes. I fancy Mr. Girdlestone’s paper, on p. 194, will be of more use to the general reader than any lst I could have compiled from the statistics. The Best Twelve Teas for Show.—Here, as with the H.P.s, some varieties that are comparatively new or httle known, e.q., Madame Hoste, Ethel Brownlow, &c., are probably deserving of a somewhat higher rank than they here obtain; but this, time and trial can alone decide. List V. Tue Best TwEetve TEAS FoR SHow Brooms. (78 Voters.) Votes Votes 1. Catherine Mermet : . 71 | 382. SouvenirdePaulNeyron , 2. Comtesse de Nadaillac . . 66 | 32. Sunset. A : gon : 3. Maréchal Niel . : . 62 | 34. Mme. Hoste 4, Marie van Houtte ; . 61 | 34. Cheshunt Hybrid . 5. Souvenir d’Elise . ‘ . 57 | 34. Boule d’Or 6. Innocente Pirola . ; . 49 | 84. Souvenir de Gab. Drevet 7. Niphetos. ; . 48 | 34. Riza du Pare : 8. Souvenir d’un Ami : . 44 | 34. Lady Mary Fitzwilliam. = 9. Jean Ducher. : : . 43 | 34. Viscountess Folkestone. ae 10. Hon. Edith Gifford , . 89 | 384. Amazone . ii. The Bride -. : : . 37 | 34. Mme. Margottin 12. Anna Olivier . 9p | 3d. Mme. Falcot 13. Mme. Lambard . J °° | 84. Princess Beatrice . 14. Mme. de Watteville . . 33 | 34. Homer. ; 15. Mme. Bravy . : ; . 26 | 46. Ethel Brownlow 16. Rubens. ‘ ; : . 23 | 46. Mme. Welch 17. Caroline Kuster . : . 22 | 46. Comtesse Panisse 18. Devoniensis . : d . 21 | 46. Gloire Lyonnaise . 19. Francisca Kruger. : 119" | 46.) Perle: de Lyon 20. Mme. Cusin . ‘ F . 18 | 46. Mme. Berard i 21. Perle des Jardins . : 1 13 46. Souvenirde laMalmaison 1 21. Princess of Wales. : j 46. Jean Pernet . 23. Belle Lyonnaise . : - 9 | 46. Souvenir deThéréseLevet 24. Mme. Willermoz . . 8 | 46. Triomphe de Rennes 25. Mme. Hippolyte Jamain 46. Princess Royal 25. Etoile de Lyon . 6 | 46. Mme. Charles 25. Gloire de Dijon j 46. Luciole. 28. Adam . 28. Bouquet d’ Or | 5 28. Grace Darling 28. Jules Finger. : : 994 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. The Next Best Twelve Teas.—Of these I have only given those obtaining five or more votes, there being 53 others named. Again it is obvious that the higher ones in List V. will figure among the lower in the present list, as they have already received almost as many votes as possible. firs ayalr Next Best Twenve Treas ror SHow. (64 Voters.) Votes | Votes 1. Rubens ; : . 34 | 22. Mme. Margottin . ; police 2. Princess of Wales. : ) 23. Marie Van Houtte 12 2. Mme. Bravy. 98 | 23. Mme Welch . } 2. Mme. Lambard ‘ “~ | 26. Niphetos lw 2. Souvenir de Paul Neyron ) | 25. Boule d@’Or . j 6. Caroline Kuster . ; . 27 | 27. Jules Finger 7. Francisca Kruger . : | 27. Adam : : 10 7. Souvenir d’un Ami ) | 27. Souvenir de Thérése Levet 7. Devoniensis . : . | 25 | 30. Amazone 7. Mme. Willermoz . ; | | 30. Belle Lyonnaise 9 7. Etoile de Lyon | 30. Sunset . : . : 12. Jean Ducher 1 93 33. Souvenir de Gab. Drevet . & 12. Mme. Cusin . : > JO" | Ba. Bouquet a Or . 14. Mme. de Watteville . . 22 | 34. Catherine Mermet | 15. Anna Olivier : 2 . 21 | 34. Mme. Berard . ae ie 16. Perle des Jardins : . 20 | 34. Gloire de Dijon «. ; 17. Mme. Hippolyte Jamain . 18 | 84. Souvenir d’Elise . 18. Hon. Edith Gifford . . 16 | 39. Angele Jacquier 19. Innocente Pirola . : . 15 | 39. Mme. Falcot ; 2 ~. 20. Princess Beatrice. ap ae 39. Comtesse de Nadaillac . ig 20. The Bride . ; : ) | 39. Riza du Pare List VII. TEAS SECURING TWENTY OR MORE VOTES WHEN Lists V. AND VI. ARE COMBINED. This list practically gives the best 24 Teas, in the opinion of the voters, for Show purposes. 1. Catherine Mermet . 71+ 7=78 ) 15. Mme. Bravy . . 264 28=54 2. Marie van Houtte . 614+12=73 16. The Bride : . 874+ 14=51 3. Comtesse de Na- 17. Caroline Kuster . 224+27=49 daillae : . 664+ 5=71 | 18. Devoniensis . . 21425 =46 4. Souvenir d’un Ami 44+25=69 | 19. Francisca Kruger . 19+25=44 5. Jean Ducher . . 43-£23=66' | 20. Mme: Cusim - . 18+23=41 6. Maréchal Niel . 62+ 3=65 | 20. Princess of Wales . 13+28=41 7. Souvenir d’Elise . 57+ 7=64 | 22. Perle des Jardins . 13+20=33 7. Innocente Pirola . 49+15=64 | 22. Mme. Willermoz . 8+25=33 9. Mme. Lambard . 354+28=63 | 24. Etoile de Lyon . 6425=31 10. Niphetos : . 48+11=59 | 24. Souvenir de Paul 11. Rubens . : . 234+ 34=57 Neyron . . 34+28=31 12. Anna Olivier . . 854+ 21=56 | 26. Mme. Lambard . 0+28=28 13. Hon. Edith Gifford 39+16=55 | 27. Mme. Hippolyte 13. Mme. de Watteville 43 +22=55 Jamain. . 64+18=24 The next few columns in the Statistical Returns have NATIONAL ROSE CONFERENCE. 295 received so few answers that those who may happen to be interested in the subjects which they concern will not find it any ereat labour to summarise them for themselves. The Twelve Hardiest Teas.—Those receiving less than five votes have been omitted, as they included the name of almost every known Tea. THe TwrELVE Harpiest Tras. -(53 Voters.) Mme. Lambard Marie van Houtte Anna Olivier Souvenir d’un Ami Gloire de Dijon . Rubens ; Francisca Kruger Hon. Edith Gifford Jean Ducher Caroline Kuster . Homer : Catherine Mermet Mme. Willermoz. Mme. Bravy Mme. Berard List VIII. Votes ~ 45 - 39 mon 2a 26 . 24 Seas Se 23 . 14 Belle Lyonnaise . Bouquet d’Or Mme. Cusin. Mme. de Watteville Etoile de Lyon Innocente Pirola. Jules Finger Devoniensis Safrano Mme. Falcot Grace Darling Niphetos . ‘ : Comtesse de Nadaillac Perle des Jardins Mme. Margottin . Souvenir de P. Neyron Votes } 5 Any Exceptionally Delicate Teas.—In this list it must be remembered, in contradistinction to all others, that the greatest honour is to be at the bottom, and vice versd. List IX. DELICATE TRAS. Comtesse de Nadaillac *Niphetos * Devoniensis Souvenir d’Elise Princess of Wales Angeéle Jacquier Boule d’Or Mme. Cusin 2 Innocente Pirola Catherine Mermet Maréchal Niel . ; Mme. de Watteville . *The Bride : Hon. Edith Gifford *Mme. Eugéne Verdier Jean Ducher *Lamarque Rubens Amazone . Mme. Guinoisseau Perle des Jardins Souvenir de P. Neyron Votes | SHS eer = , - 12 ial | 9 | 6 (27 Voters.) *Adrien Christophle Isabella Sprunt *Belle Lyonnaise Mme. Bravy Luciole » | *Ma Capucine Narcisse Jean Pernet - *Mons. Furtado . Mme. Willermoz Mme. Falcot Socrate : Princess Beatrice Moiret 7 : ‘ Belle Fleur d’Anjou . Souvenir de G. Drevet Mme. Welch W. F. Bennett . Souvenir d’un Ami *Primrose Dame Votes Nl 296 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. The preceding list would have been of more general use to the inexperienced if the question asked had referred to ‘‘ hardiness to withstand frost.” As it is, it appears to be evident that some, in making this Return, have regarded ‘‘ weakly growmg”’ as synonymous with “ exceptionally delicate””—e.g., Mme. Cusin is undeniably a somewhat poor grower, but it is very hardy against cold, whereas those marked with an asterisk [*] are among the easiest victims to King Frost. I trust, therefore, that those who have been kind enough to vote on this question of delicacy will not be offended by my expressing a hope that the general public, for whom alone I am venturing to make these notes, will not give undue weight to the verdict of this or the following list, but will try for them- selves ; and in particular that they will let nothing deter them from planting that perhaps most lovely of all lovely Teas, Comtesse de Nadaillac, which in my own garden, for instance, proves as hardy as any, though not quite so vigorous a grower as some. It may further be taken for granted that any not named in either List VIII. or IX. are neither especially hardy nor par- ticularly delicate. However, to reap the true value of Lists VIII. and IX. it remains to combine them, or rather to subtract TX. from VIII., and noite the result. Last X. THe Harprest Tras, BeErinG List VIII. minus List IX. 1. Mme. Lambard . 45-0=45 | 16. Belle Lyonnaise . 13-1=12 2. Marie van Houtte . 39—0=39 | 16. Etoile de Lyon . 12—0=12 3. Anna Olivier . . 30—0=32 19. Mme. de Watteville. 13—3=10 4. Souvenir d’un Ami . 31—1=36 | 20. Mme. Cusin . .13-5= 8 5. Gloire de Dijon 26—0=26 20. Jules Finger . - 8=0=8 6. Francisca Kruger . 23—0=23 20. Safrano . : . 8-0= 8 7. Rubens . : . 24—2=22 23. Innocente Pirola . 10—4= 6 8. Hon. Edith Gifford . 23—2=21 | 23. Mme. Falcot 7—1= 6 8. Jean Ducher 23—2=21 | 23. Grace Darling . 6-—0= 6 10. Caroline Kuster 20-—0=20 | 26. Mme. Margoitin 5-O= 5 10. Homer . : . 20-—0=20 27. PerledesJardins . 6—2= 4 12. Mme. Willermoz .16—1=15 | 28. SouvenirdeP.Neyron 5—2= 3 12. Mme. Bravy . . 16—1=15 | 29. Devoniensis . 8— 9=-1 14. Mme. Berard . . 14—0=14 | 30. Niphetos : 6-—11=—5 15. Bouquet d’Or . . 13—0=13 | 31. Comtesse deNadaillac6 —12=—6 16. Catherine Mermet . 16—4=12 NATIONAL ROSE CONFERENCE. 297 Briar Seedlings or Briar Cuttings for Stocks.—Judging from the opinions expressed in the Returns, it appears that, other con- ditions being equal or unknown, there is absolutely nothing to choose between Seedlings and Cuttings, for Rose Stocks; yet each has its particular merits under certain conditions. Given a good deep rich well-drained soil, or a dry sandy or chalky soil, the Seedling seems to be preferred. It roots deeper down into the soil, and can therefore better withstand the summer drought. The Cutting, on the other hand, appears to be the best for shallow or heavy soils, or for damp ill-drained positions. It roots somewhat nearer to the surface, and makes a fibrous web ready to absorb the surface feeding given; it is also more readily affected by the warmth and hght of the sun. The Cut- ting has another merit in the eyes of many in that it is easier to bud on it, than on the Seeding. It is said by some that the Cuttting also gives earlier and somewhat larger blooms, to which others reply, ‘‘ But the Seedling lasts the longer.’’ In deep warm well-drained soils therefore, or in over-dry ones, our “ Returns”’ counsel us to choose the Seedling, and in heavy or damp soils to choose the Cutting, but in other cases Seedling or Cutting are eood alike. Manetti or Briar as a Stock.—Manetti does not find much favour; some, however, consider it better for hght soils and for strong growers, and some think that for such it is immaterial which stock is used. The Briar, however, is insisted on as an almost absolute necessity for Teas and weakly growing H.P.s. Manetti is said to give earlier blooms, and therefore if used partially, together with Briar for the main crop, it affords a longer succession of bloom. The consensus of opinion is de- cidedly against Manetti for heavy lands. Value of “ Own Root” Roses.—The general agreement on the inferiority of Roses raised from Cuttings, and therefore growing solely on their own roots, as compared with plants budded on the Briar Seedling or Briar Cutting, 1s very remarkable. It appears to be pretty generally agreed that ‘‘ Own Root” plants take much longer to obtain, and when obtained give inferior blooms. Some few, however, prefer ““Own Roots” for very strong growers like La France, Ulrich Brunner, and the Duke of Edinburgh family. Some of the Returns remark that budded plants become ‘“ Own 298 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Roots’’ after two or three years from planting, and this is, in a sense, no doubt true, especially when the stock used is the Manetti; but when the union between bud and stock has once been good, although the Rose will make roots of its own above the union, and be so far an ‘‘ Own Root,”’ yet it will at the same time continue to draw nourishment for very many years through the stock roots also. The present Returns therefore advise us to continue to bud Roses, as not only being a quicker and easier method of propagation, but as also giving us better flowers. In thus summarising and interpreting, to the best of my ability, the results of the Returns sent in, I have endeavoured as far as possible to refrain from the expression of any single per- sonal opinion, either of my own or of others; but I think it will be of interest to many to have before them the following note on Stocks, which was enclosed in the return of Messrs. Cocker, of Aberdeen. I have ventured only to add up Messrs. Cocker’s list of experiments with forty-six varieties, with the following results :— Best. Middle. Worst. Briar Cutting . ; : . 28 13 5 Seedling Briar . ; ‘ ot? 19 15 Manetti . 5 : F ee, 12 25 Similar experiments, carried out on a sufficiently large scale, in other places would give us very valuable results. W. WILKES. ein i t ; NATIONAL ROSE CONFERENCE. 999 NODE YONUSE OCIS. By Messrs. CockEr. We believe that all three stocks—viz., Manetti, Briar Cutting, and Seedling Briar—are necessary, and that each variety of Rose should have the stock which it prefers. We append below a list of Hybrid Perpetuals budded in 1884 and allowed to stand on the same ground until the spring of 1888, when they were removed to a fresh piece of ground. The stocks were planted in beds of three rows each—one row being Manetti, one Cutting Briar, and the other Seedling Briar. Each sort was budded over the whole three rows in quantities varying from 80 to 50 of a sort, according to the excellence of the variety. On taking notes on June 22 of the present year (1889), we find the following to be the result. The healthiest and most promising plants are marked 1; the next best, 2; and the worst, 3. BM] aa apm) & Name of Variety. s =e 35 | Name of Variety. ie | Fa 5 = . a jonah S58] 38 Alfred Colomb 1 | 2 | 8 || Francois Michelon So ah sho A. K. Williams 1 | 3 | 2 || Her Majesty BS labo ed Alphonse Soupert 3 | 1 | 2 || Horace Vernet .| 3 | equial Annie Wood 2 {1 | 8 || Heinrich Schultheiss.| 3 | 1 | 2 Baroness Rothschild 8 | 2! 1 | J..S. Mill 2, | v8 Chas. Lefebvre a | 3 || La France . i | De eg Comte Raimbaud 3 | 2 | 1 || Louis Peyronny . me ae ee Comtesse d’Oxford 3 | 2 | 1 || LaDuchessede Morny| 3 | 1 | 2 FE de Serenye . | eq. | all jover| Mme. Gabriel Luizet.| 3 | 1 | 2 Countess of Rosebery .| 2 | 1 | 3 | », Chas. Wood 5 ead eee ab a2. Dr. Andry . ; Oe Pee |i » . Jamain 2 |e ees Duc de Wellington See 2 | » V. Verdier So Ea D. de Vallombrosa a) 2,4 » iL. Perriere Dest 3 tee Duc de Rohan . 3 | 1 | 2 || Marie Baumann a} (Roo Duke of Albany . 3 {1 | 2 », Verdier 2 | tos » 5 Mdinburgh 2) Lis » Rady 2 Wes Duchess of Bedford 1 | 2 | 3 |; Merveille de Lyon ai 2 ww Duke of Teck 3 | 2 | 1 || Mons. E. Y. Teas 2 ey dies Elie Morel . 3 | 1 | 2 || Mrs. Jowitt : L. | Bas Emilie Hausbere 3 | 2 | 1 || Pride of Waltham 2/|31]1 Etienne Levet 1 | 3 | 2 || Senateur Vaisse So 1. Deve it Ficlair . ; .| 3 | 1 | 2 |) U. Brunner Lie 3422 Ferdinand de Lesseps.| 3 | 2 | 1 || V. Bouyer . 2 Wake omics It will be seen from above that, as a general stock, the Cut- ting Briar is far ahead of any of the others, at any rate for the North of England. 300 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. NOTE ON SPECIES OF ROSES SHOWN AT THE CONFERENCE. A good collection of species in flower came from Mr. T. W. Girdlestone, including R. rugosa, rubrifolia, Beggeriana, Damask, indica and varieties, Hardyi, macrantha, pisocarpa, Woodsi, multiflora, and varieties of lucida. From the Royal Gardens, Kew, a great number were sent, as follows :—R. nivea, involuta Wilsoni, micrantha, hemispherica, spinosissima, simplicifolia (berberidifola), Fortuneana, nutkana, Beggeriana, sempervirens, capreolata polyantha, moschata, sty- losa, levigata, cinnamomea, carolina, sericea, lucida, nitida, laxa, pisocarpa, rugosa, microphylla, hibernica, acicularis, Webbiana, alpina, myriacantha, macrophylla, provincialis, centifolia, dama- scena, gallica, tomentosa, villosa, Noisettiana, canina, indica (a ereen monstrosity), anemoneeflora, rubiginosa, and sepium. Messrs. Paul & Sons also showed the following in pots :— R. carolina, lucida, blanda, foliosa, gymnocarpa, Ece, setigera, arkansana, simplicifolia, pimpinellifolia, platyacantha, Pissardu, nitida, nutkana, pisocarpa, macrophylla, microphylla, levigata, indica, villosa, and Nuttalliana. The Rev. J. H. Pemberton had specimens of R. arvensis, rubiginosa, and canina. From the Botanic Gardens, Cambridge, Mr. I. R. Lynch sent nineteen specimens, mostly in flower, viz.: R. alpina, Beg- geriana, blanda, canina var. (dumalis), gallica, indica, pumila, involuta Wilsoni, lucida, macrantha, macrophylla, Manetti, polyantha, repens, rubiginosa, rubrifolia, rugosa, and rugosa variety. The Rey. Moyle Rogers showed a specimen of R. pseudo- rusticana, a Rose hitherto not known to exist in this country and Mr. T. A. Briggs sent specimens of R. stylosa var. systyla R. micrantha Briggsii, and R. stylosa leucochroa. Sir George Macleay contributed R. damascena, rugosa, rugosa alba, arvensis, canina, lutea (single and double), poly- antha, lucida, and repens. The Rey. H. Ewbank sent specimens of R. simplicifolia leevigata, rubrifolia, and lucida. ee ee ee ae NATIONAL ROSE CONFERENCE. 301 NOTE ON BOOKS AND DRAWINGS SHOWN AT THE ROSE CONFERENCE. The following books were sent by Dr. Masters, F.R.S. Under the title of each book we mention the plates or figures of Roses to be found in each. WiriiiaM Turner, Libellus, 15388. Facsimile reprint. (Kd. B. D. Jackson.) In this the only two Roses mentioned are : Cynorhodos.—Cynorhodos quantum mihi cernere datum ut frutex cuius folia primo vere suaviter olent quem vulgus opinoe vocat swetebrere aut eglentyne. Cynosbatos.—Cynosbatos latinis, a wild hep tre or a brere tree. JOHN GERARDE, of London, Master in Chirurgerie, The Herball, 1597. Rosa alba, R. rubra, R. provincialis sive damascena, R. p. minor, R. sine spinis, R. Hollandica sive Batava (the great Holland Rose, commonly called the Great Province Rose), R. moschata simplici flore, R. m. multiplex, R. holosericea, R. lutea, R. cinnamomea pleno-flore, R. silvestris odora, R. canina inodora, R. pimpinella. M. Johnson’s edition, 1686. There are in addition to the above: Rosa moschata speciis (sic) major, R. lutea multiplex, R. cinnamomea flore simplici, R. silvestris odora flore duplici. Crisrinus Passmus, Hortus foridus, 1614. Rosa alba pleno-flore, R. rubra, R. preenestina, R. moschata pleno-flore. Parkinson, Paradisi in Sole, &c., 1692. (1) Rosa anglica alba ; (2) R. incarnata ; (8) R. anglica rubra; (4) R. damascena, fig. 1, p. 415 ; (5) R. provincialis sive Hollandica damascena, fig. 2, p. 415; (6) R. p. rubra; (7) R. p. alba; (8) R. versicolor, the party-coloured Rose of York and Lancaster ; (9) Rosea (sc) chrystallina ; (10) Rosa rubra humilis sive pumilio fig. 4 ; (11) R. franco-furtensis, fig. 8, p. 415; (12) R. hungarica ; (13) R. holosericea simplex et multiplex; (14) R. sine spinis simplex et multiplex ; (15) R. cinnamomea simplex et multiplex ; (16) R. lutea simplex; (17) R. 1. multiplex sive flore pleno; (18 302 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. R. moschata simplex et multiplex; (19) R. m. multiplex altera alias damascena alba vel verisimilior cinnamomea flore pleno albo; (20) R. hispanica moschata simplex; (21) R. pomifera major ; (22) R. silvestris odora sive eglenteria simplex ; (23) R. s. odora sive eglanieria flore duplici ; (24) R. sempervirens. From THE COLLECTION OF Rost. Fursper, Gardener at Ken- sington, 1730. (Coloured Plates by Casteel.) May.—(1) Cmnamon Rose, (22) Yellow Austrian Rose, (27) Red Austrian Rose. June.—({9) Maiden’s Blush Rose, (12) Blush Belgick Rose, (13) The Francfort Rose, (18) Moss Province Rose, (20) White Rose, (21) Dutch Hundred-leaved Rose, (23) Rosa mundi. August.—(19) Striped Monthly Rose. Sepiember.—(20) White Monthly Rose. October—(26) Double White Musk Rose. A Catalogue of Trees, Shrubs, &c., by a Soctety of GARDENERS (Ed. Pain Miner ?), 1730. . Moss Province Rose, Double Velvet Rose, Austrian Rose, Double Yellow Rose, Red Provence Rose (Artist, Van Huysum). Hate’s Compleat Body of Husbandry, plate 45-46, 1756. The Double Red Rose ; the Double Musk Rose ; the Hundred- leaved Rose; the Prznestine Rose. Minter, Pamip, Gardeners’ Dictionary, Sth edition, 1768. Rosa canina, R. spimosissima, R. villosa, R. eglaniteria, R. scotica, R. inermis, R. hispanica, R. scandens, R. sempervirens, R. virginiana, R. lutea, R. punicea, R. moschata, R. cenitifolia, R. damascena, R. alba, R. belgica, R. provincialis, R. incarnaia, R. gallica, R. cnmnamomea, R. muscosa. In addition to the above, which Miller considered as species, he enumerates the following garden varieties :— “The Monthly Rose, the Striped Monthly Rose, the York and Lancaster Rose, Mrs. Hari’s Rose. These are all supposed to be varieties of the Damask Rose. “The Red Belgick Rose is supposed to be a variety of the Blush Belgick. “The single Velvet Rose, the double Velvet Rose, the Royal Velvet Rose. These three are all varieties; the last I raised from seed of the pale Provence Rose. . NATIONAL ROSE CONFERENCE. 303 “The Childing Rose, the Marbled Rose, the double Virgin Rose. These three have great affinity with each other. “The Cabbage Provence is only a variety of the Common Provence. “The Blush or Pale Provence is a variety of the Red Provence. “The White Monthly and the White Damask are varieties of the Damask. ‘“The Frankfort Rose may be a distinct species, but is of little value ; the flowers rarely open fair, and have no odour. “The double Sweet Brier, the evergreen Sweet Brier, the double blush Sweet Brier, are varieties of the common sort. “The Austrian Rose, with red and yellow flowers, is only an accidental variety. ‘*The double Yellow Rose is a variety of the single yellow. ‘The Rosa Mundi is a variety of the Red Rose. “The small white and semi-double white are varieties of the common white.’’ From Mr. Laxton came a beautiful copy of Miss Lawrance’s celebrated Illustrations of Ivoses, 1799, which excited much » attention. Messrs. W. Paul & Son showed the ninth edition of their Rose Garden, in two sizes; Roses in Pots, sixth edition; Roses and Rose Culture, sixth edition; The Rose Annual, first and second series. Mr. Cranston also showed his work on the Rose. DRAWINGS, &c¢. From the Royal Gardens, Kew, came copies of Sweert’s drawings, 1620, representing the Roses of that period. Professor Oliver, F'.R.S., contributed a drawing, by Ehret, of Rosa pimpinellifolia. Mr. W. T. Thiselton Dyer, F.R.S., a similar beautiful water- colour, by Ehret, of the spineless Rose, Rosa alpina. From Messrs. Byrne, photographers, Richmond, Surrey, came a series of magnificent photographs of Roses, correctly named, representing the fiowers at nine-tenths of life-size. M. Barbey sent a photograph of Rosa levigata to show its beauty as a hardy Climbing Rose. 304 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. THE ORIGIN OF THE FLORIST’S CARNATION. By Mr. Suirtey Hisserp, F.R.H.S. (Read July 23.] Ir is necessary to make a beginning, but it is not necessary to make an end. Let us begin then with a plant known as Dianthus caryophyllus, and proceed to reason upon it without seeing it. We shall have to encounter the fascinating subject of evolution, which in part certainly rests on assumptions, and to be in the fashion we will assume that this wild plant, Dianthus caryo- phyllus is the parent of our garden and florist’s carnations. A little evidence may be useful, and may tend at last to lead from assumption to proof; and if we do not establish our case by abso- lute proof, we may succeed in establishing a strong probability that our carnation, so various in style of growth, and the size, form and colour of the flower, is of pure descent, as truly aristo- cratic in lineage ag it is In appearance and reputation. Our ereat poet has said— “‘ Be thou chaste as ice, as pure as snow, Thou shalt not escape calumny ” and our carnation of unblemished blood is defamed by the deli-— eate-minded Perdita, who, from a suspicion of their derivation, refused to grow the flower in her garden. Nor was the error of Perdita—an error so injurious to herself that it excluded from her garden a whole family of the sweetest and loveliest of flowers— a singular instance of unjust aspersion, for the botanists have been wanting in discrimination, the carnation, sweet-william, and pink, having been regarded by some of them as forming a family of mixed descent from several species of dianthus. The question proposed, therefore, to determine the origin of the florist’s carnation is one of great interest, and the investigation may prove both interesting and useful. In a direct appeal to nature, we observe that the wild forms of dianthus include only three or four that might with any justice be regarded as parents of florist’s flowers. The sweet-william may be the garden form of Dianthus barbatus; the pink may be an improved edition of Dianthus plumarius; and the carnation differs from Dianthus caryophyllus in no essential particulars, THE ORIGIN OF THE FLORIST’S CARNATION. 8305 but is larger, fuller, richer, immensely various in outward charac- ters, but within, as we may say, that is, in structural characters, it is doubtless altogether free from taint of other blood. It has been often assumed that the carnation and the pink are related by consanguinity, and that Perdita’s objection holds good ; that is, if any such objection is worthy of anything more than senti- mental consideration. Dianthus caryophyllus in its wild state is registered as occur- ring at Rochester, Deal, Norwich, and other places in England, but it is a rarity. Watson suggests that it was originally planted where we now find it, and thereby he seems to authorise a further suggestion, that the so-called wilding may be but a degenerated offspring of an escape from gardens. Bentham ignores its existence ; and Watson adds under D. plumarius, that it has by mistake been reported as D. caryophyllus, and therefore perhaps has never been found at all. But the species is good for all that, being plentiful as such in the south of Europe, a fact that explains the derivation from Spain and Italy of garden carnations in ancient times. This wild carnation is constant in its characters; the flower has five petals, which are wedge-shaped, a calyx of one piece forming a kind of vase or tube for the display of the petals ; this tube forms a five-divided calyx or ‘‘ pod,”’ at the base of which are four large, conspicuous rhomboidal scales. The change from five to four in the numbers of the floral organs appears anomalous, but if we regard the four scales as the equivalent of two pairs of leaves—for the leaves are in pairs always—there is an end of the arithmetical difficulty. There are other distinguishing characters. Dianthus ccesius and D. plumarius, which are probably forms of one species, come very near to D. caryophyllus in the arrange- ment of petals, sepals, and scales, but the complexion of the entire plant is greatly different, the scales are roundish ovate, the leaves are toothed, and the flowers appear and pass away usually before a single carnation has shown colour. It should here be observed that we havein gardens a number of useful flowers known as mule pinks, a term that confesses to their mixed parentage. These are variously compounded of D. plumarius, D. cesius, and D. deltoides, and combine in various degrees their characters. But no variation of essential character ig ever noticeable in a carnation, and this being the case imports 0 2 806 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. an element of wonder into the history, for carnations, in outward expression, differ so much that we might, if judging them by these outward characters, be easily persuaded of a complicated hybridism and ambiguous origin. Early in the history of the flower it was famous for multiph- city of petals and variety of colouring. Turner, in his ‘ Herbal,” published 1550, says these flowers ‘‘ are made pleasaunt and swete with the labours and witt of man and not by nature.’ We are bound to regard his words as representing his knowledge. We may therefore conclude that long ere Turner’s time the florists had operated on the flower for its improvement, which perhaps may assist us in the appreciation of its antiquity. Let it not be supposed, however, that the British florists took the wild carnation from the walls of Rochester Castle and made it what it is; for we have no evidence tending that way. But we have evidence of the introduction of the carnation, as a garden flower ready made, and it is highly probable that it was an ancient flower in the time of Elizabeth, to whom Turner dedicated his book; for Shakespeare could not use it as he does had it been a rarity or a new importation in hisday. Beckmann, in his ‘‘ History of Inventions,” suggests that “ the modern taste for flowers came from Persia to Constantinople, and was imported thence to Europe, for the first time, in the sixteenth century.’ This, on the testimony of Turner and Shakespeare alike, is a grave error, and seriously invalidates what little Beckmann has té say on the history of garden flowers. In 1550, when Turner published, the ‘garden gelouers’’ were evidently well known and in high favour; while in 1601, when Shakespeare wrote the Winter’s Tale, the carnation must have been one of the most popular flowers, because the “ streaked gillyvors ’’ are spoken of familiarly, and were to be recognized by mixed audiences no less than by the choice personages engaged in the stage dialogue.* A dramatist of this day might in a dialogue introduce the moss rose or the lily of the valley, but he would not mention the Amorphophallus titanum unless he had an ambition to be flayed, grilled, and peppered in the daily papers. Turner fixed the date at about 350 years since. For the sake of a figure we will assume that in his time it had been cultivated 350 years at least, * T adopt the spelling as it appears in Turner’s “ Herbal *’; and in the first folio Shakespeare, published 1632. THE ORIGIN OF THE FLORIST’S CARNATION. 807 and this will make it 700 years old as a garden flower at the present time. We may imagine its introduction coeval with the erowning of Richard of the Lion Heart, and thereby obtain a hint of the possible introduction of the flower by the Crusaders. If conjectures are to be allowed on this solemn occasion, I will beg you to note that the carnation was greatly valued by the ancients, say, to be precise, by those of Italy and Spain, for the flavouring of stimulating beverages. The Greeks and Romans probably did not grow flowers, as we do, for the sake of tneir beauty solely, but when a flower found favour by its usefulness it became a subject of careful attention. Thus we seem to find a clue to the reference by Pliny in his twenty-fifth book to the Cantabrica, or carnation, which was discovered in Spain in the days of Augustus, B.c. 50, and of which he says it was one of a hundred herbs that were employed to flavour a kind of sweet mead which Holland translates as ‘‘ a certain wassell or Bragat.”’ Pliny, therefore, carries back the history at least 2,000 years, for Augustus became consul in the year B.c. 33. Shall we say then that in all probability the Romans brought the carnation into this country to flavour their liquor, and the Saxons who suc- ceeded them appreciated the boon and made ‘‘soppes in wine ” of the fragrant flower, securing for it thereby the cultivation it required, not only to continue its services in conviviality, but for the position it has since acquired in the world of sentiment as the sweetest of garden flowers and a special favourite of the florists. When Gerard published in 1597, carnations were plentiful and various in gardens, and he records obtaining a yellow variety from Poland through the agency ofafriend. Parkinson, publishing in 1629, speaks of them in number so great that “to give several descriptions to them all were endless.’”’ Those he figures are far remoyed from our modest Dianthus caryophyllus in size and general appearance, but the essential characters are in them; for they were the same, however different, as the flowers we now cultivate, and they afford valuable aid in measuring the influence of man upon them. It is not of great importance that John Rea in his “* Complete Florilege,’’ published 1676, gives the names of a collection of 360 sorts of ‘‘ Dutch July Flowers,’ adding that they were then ‘‘ raised in great numbers in Holland and brought over to London.” But it is of importance to note that JOUR NAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. the sorts named by Parkinson in 1629 had passed out of eultiva- tion in 1676, for Rea says “now not any of them are to be found in any of our gardens.” I have lately taken a list of 320 varieties of carnations that were conspicuous in prize-lists in exhibitions in 1822, and placed the list before my friends Mr. Samuel Barlow of Castleton, Mr. Dodwell of Oxford, and Mr. Douglas of Ilford, and they agree in saying they do not know of a single one of the 320 varieties as bemg now im cultivation. Thus. fashion or whim may have something to account for; or it may be that actual improvement has put the newer kinds im place of those in the list; or it may be that the varieties die out after a certain number of years and the flower can only be kept to exhibition standard by the raising of seedlmgs and making new selections to repair the ravages of time consequent upon the fact that the plant is not periectly hardy in this country. The life of fioriculture is to be found in the capabilities of fiowers to vary from their origmal types. The carnation has. produced flowers with stripes, spots, and coloured edges, and with different colours on the upperand under surfaces. Although. mere variation is common, and the number of varieties obiamed may almost be determined in advance by counting the seeds, yet actual improvement is accomplished slowly, and the system of judging followed appears io ensure that every year the very best in technical properties shall be placed conspicuously in the front. I will ask you to compare Franklin's Tartar, a beautiful bizarre carnation that forms the subject of plate 39 of the Botanical Magazine, with any of the finest bizarres of the present day. The comparison will show that the fiower of 1788 was not quite so good as the best of to-day, but the difference appears not great for the work of a hundred years. The picotees are some- times referred to as evidence of rapid production, buiit has really taken centuries to form them. Parkinson had spotted flowers, and these were the parents of the piquetted group in which the spots formed a kind of fringe on the outer margin of each petal, the spots being in reality contracted rays or lines radiating from the centre. A clear description of a piquetied flower of 1757 is given in Hills’s “‘ Eden” as consisting in “a simple colour laid on in spots.” In the time of Hanbury, 1770, the classification of carnations comprised Flakes, Bizarres, Piquettes, Cloves, and Painted Ladies ; these last having a different colour on the upper and under side of the petals. THE ORIGIN OF THE FLORIST’S CARNATION. 809 The piquetted carnation, with its fringe of short lines, was in high perfection in the time of Thomas Hogg, say 1839, and the wire-edged flower was then unknown, or at least was a rarity, but was in process of formation. We have in this a perfect analogy with the edged auricula, which I have shown was obtained by pushing outwards the stripes that radiated from the centre until, as we may say, the colour accumulated at the margin in a close, dense, sharply-defined ring. The wire-edge picotee is a parallel instance, for precisely the same process has taken place, and may be said to represent fully 800 years of the florist’s work. It will be seen that in the wild carnation and in many other species of dianthus the colours radiate in bands, lines, and dots from the centre; and there is a tendency always for some kind of emphasis at the edges, whether in serra- tures, or less colour, or more colour; Nature showing a distinct intention of defining the form not only with the scissors but with the paint-brush. Seeing how slow has been the progress of the flower, there can be no extravagance in assuming that it was brought here by the Romans to qualify the beverages of the country, and became the pet of the florists in later ages through the habit of varying it had acquired, and its consequent suitability for their mode of operations. In all the centuries of its slow transformation it has contributed to human happiness, and that is something ; if we compare the favourite flowers of to-day with the wilding that we regard as their parent, we shall see reason to congratulate the florists on having done something by their centuries of delightful work, for at the end of the comparison we may say that they have made something out of nothing. As a flower for criticism while the prize flowers are before us we may dismiss Dianthus caryophyllus as little better than nothing at all. We began by asking for the parentage of the carnation. I beg of you to note that in the history of the flower as now hastily and imperfectly sketched, no such changes have appeared as would warrant the assumption or suspicion of a mixed parentage. We do not anywhere see an ancestor's long nose suddenly obtruding in the portrait gallery, or hear of gout brought into the family through some particular marriage. In the progress of the flower the lines are always forward, they never cross, and we do not recognise what the raisers of seedlings 310 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. eall a reversion, or a distinct and striking break-away from patterns and types sanctioned by the usage of centuries. I know of only one extravagance in the variation of the carnation, and that is the wheat-ear form, in which the scales of the calyx are multiplied so as to give to the aborted flower-stem the appear- ance of a culm of wheat or of the grass known as Cynosurus eristatus. This is really not a variation from the type so much as a multiplication of essential parts, because the scales are to be regarded as undeveloped leaves. But we dare not quarrel with it, for in what, after all, does the “doubling” of the flower consist, but in a multiplication of essential parts? The figure of the wheat-ear carnation in Botanical Magazine, plate 1622, will keep this unique form in remembrance, not to prove hybridation or any flaw in the family pedigree, but to strengthen the conclusion we arrive at from a hasty historical review of the flower, that it is of pure descent from one definite specific form, and we will for present purposes call it Dianthus caryophyllus. John Rea concludes his essay with a bit of rhyme which I copy as a tail-piece to this small gathering of fragments. He says: For various colours Tulips most excel, And some Anemones do please as weil, Ranunculus in richest searlets shine, And Beares ears may with these in beauty join, But yet if ask and have were in my power, Next to the Rose give me the July-flower. PEACHES AND NECTARINES. By Mr. T. Francis Rivers. (Read August 13, 1889.] THe order Rosacezx, of which family the peach is a very impor- tant member, comprises a vast number of-plants belonging principally to the temperate zones, of immense value to the human race, comprising, as it does, the fruits, apples, pears, plums, cherries, peaches, strawberries, &c. The peach, although not a fruit of economic industry in this country, derives great value from its singular beauty, size, and delieacy of flavour. The PEACHES AND NECTARINES. 811 history of the peach is obscure; of its origin, I may undertake to say, that nothing is known and nothing can be known ; but it seems to have been taken for granted, by the general consent of many years, that Persia is its native home, and this opinion is also confirmed by the botanical name given to it, Amygdalus Persica. From this country it appears to have spread eastwards, through Central Asia, to China, the north of India; and westwards to the countries bordering the Mediterranean, naturally obtaining an early and permanent home in Syria, and thence passing into Southern Gaul, under the care of the Phoenician mariners. It appears to have been introduced into Gaul long before the Empire of Rome rose into power and importance. The extraordinary extent which its cultivation has obtained in China points to an early introduction by the caravan routes of far distant ages, as it is not indigenous; the Long White Mountain, as examined by James White and recent explorers, contains no members of the peach family, although the flora of this mountain seems to be identical with that of the same European and Asiatic latitudes. The peach being apparently indigenous in Persia, it is evident that its arrival in China was due to artificial means: the dried fruits of the peach being used as food by the caravans, there is no difficulty in accounting for its imported presence in this country, the caravan trade between the Chinese and the great oriental empires having existed for ages. Indeed, were it not for the savage destruction of human life during later and probably less civilised times, it is probable that the ancient routes would be marked by trees growing from the seeds scattered by caravans at their resting places; the fruit being dried in the sun, it would require soaking without cooking for consumption, and the germ- inating power of the seed would not be destroyed. The absence of trees on these routes, however, points out the exceeding difficulty of the establishment and reproduction of any fruits useful to man, unless assisted by intelligent care and cultivation. Central Asia has been known to have suffered excessive and cruel changes, by which men, animals, and plants have been stamped out. There is a remark made by Mr. Howarth in the “ Mammoth and the Flood,’’ which indicates the very high latitudes of Siberia as the possible home of the peach at a remote period of the world’s history. He quotes Erman, who says: “ In spite of the climate, the flora of Irkutsk is richer than that of Berlin, 312 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. exhibiting plants of warmer countries, intermixed with those of Arctic Regions. The wild peach of Nerchiusk is a true apricot, Prunus Armeniaca, and contains a very agreeable kernel in a fleshless envelope.’’ Never having seen this fruit, I cannot undertake to say whether it is an apricot or not; the identity would be, of course, ascertained by the stone, that of the apricot differing widely from that of the peach. The fact, however, of the presence of an apricot in such high latitudes is very curious, for it seems impossible to account for the existence in one country or district of one particular fruit only, and that the peach, the almond, and the apricot, so nearly related, are so wide apart in their reputed native habitats. I notice, however, so singular an unanimity amongst all the authors of the history of the peach, in avoiding giving any definite information, that we may conclude that not much is known. The existence of this Northern wild peach or apricot of Nerchiusk is, however, very interesting, as it points to the possible origin and dispersion south- wards from the North Polar regions of the plants, economic and otherwise, now existing, a fact which I believe has been indicated and established by Professor Thiselton Dyer. I should think it not unlikely that the peach was not a popular fruit when grown in orchards without especial cultivation; it has a tendency to excessive production, and when allowed to bear without being thinned the fruit is woolly and insipid. The Rosanne peach, which is grown amongst vines as standards in the south of France, is not a very tempting fruit; I have seen speci- mens of this sort on the barrows in the London streets, which are surprising examples of the hardihood of importers. Orchard cultivation in the south of France appears to have led the cultivators of the North to adopt methods for the im- provement of the fruit by wall culture ; for Duhamel Monceau, writing in 1740, observes that the difficult and expensive culti- vation of the peach around Paris is amply compensated by the delicious fruits obtained; and he adds that Italians must be content with pavies, or clingstones ; and even in Provence it is difficult to obtain good and delicate fruit, the climate being too hot. It is certain that the peach does not flourish in excessive ~ heat ; like all deciduous trees, it requires a season of rest after fruiting; the keen winters of Persia are admirably adapted to its special wants; in the damp climate of England the plant is PEACHES AND NECTARINES. 818 never entirely at rest; and a wet and close fortnight in December will set the sap moving, much to the ultimate injury of the tree. I have recently been informed by a friend who has resided for some time near Auckland in the northern island of New Zealand, that large peach trees, after producing heavy crops, will die suddenly, the death no doubt being due to the influence of the climate. Duhamel gives a list of forty-three sorts of peaches, of which many exist to the present day, and may be bought in the Paris nurseries under the names which he employs, a good proof of the strong element of conservatism in French domestic life. The Madeleine de Courson, Malta, Pourpree hative, Grosse Mig- nonne, Chevreuse hative, Belle Chevreuse, Galande, Admirable, Fétou de Venus, are familiar names in Paris fruit-gardens, and are still popular and good. During the last thirty years, how- ever, several new varieties have appeared in England. It is within the recollection of many that July peaches on walls were confined to the Harly Nutmeg red and white, the Double de. Troyes, and the Early Anne, grown as curiosities only, in a warm season these peaches might ripen in July; but earliness is their only recommendation, and they are not worth the trouble of cul- tivation. These worthless peaches are now replaced by early and good sorts, the earliest at present known being the Alexander, a peach which I received from Messrs. Capps & Son, of Fort Pulaski, Illinois, U.S.A., some time in the year 1874. I could not at first credit the fact that a peach would ripen in an unheated orchard-house during the first week in July. How- ever, in 1876, this actually took place, and I had the satisfaction of gathering ripe fruit both from the Alexander and the Amsden June, which I received at the same time, the Amsden June proving bitter in flavour and a clingstone, I did not think it necessary to cultivate both varieties. On the Continent, however, where the advent of these early peaches has been hailed with delight, the Amsden June is said to be the more popular of the two; I am inclined to think that the two sorts have been changed; they are identical in the size of the flowers, and it is just possible the Amsden June of the Continental growers is the Alexander. After these two early peaches, the cool orchard-house will produce a succession of July peaches, the Karly Beatrice, Karly Louise, Karly Rivers, and Hale’s Early ; these are a considerable addition to the season of peaches, and 314 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. have been the cause of great saving in the expense of heating, | which is a very serious item in the cost of peach-forcing. As a matter of fact, the Alexander, without fire-heat, ripens at a time when it is absolutely necessary to force peaches in order to obtain them, that is, in the beginning of July. In the catalogue of the Royal Horticultural Society for 1842 there are of recognised varieties ripening in August, the Acton Scot, the Karly Anne, the White Magdalen, the Mignonne Petite, the Red and White Nutmeg, and the Pourpree hative. With the exception of the last, none of these sorts are grown; but in their places we have the Early Grosse Mignonne, Dr. Hogg, Early Victoria, Rivers’ Early York, Early Albert, Early Silver, all large and good peaches. Of the September and October peaches, the difference is not so marked, as the recognised sorts are not surpassed, and, when well grown, they are all that an amateur of peaches can wish for in size, beauty, and flavour. The smooth-skinned brother of the peach—the Nectarine—has also undergone great changes, the Elruge and Violette hative of a few years since being reinforced by many varieties from seed, resulting in extending the period of ripening. The Stanwick nectarine, a variety sent some years since from Syria by Mr. Barker, has been the principal factor in a change which has caused a complete revolution in nectarines, a richer and very distinct flavour being communicated by this stranger from Syria. The Lord Napier is at present the earliest good nectarine known, and has inherited largely the characteristic flavour of one of its parents, the Stanwick, although its mme diate progenitor was a peach. My father was one of the earliest possessors of the ‘‘ Stanwick ”’ nectarine, and began ex- periments by fertilising the “‘ Elruge.”’ From this he obtained the ‘‘ Victoria,” and, following his example, I have carried on his ex- periments with many other peaches and nectarines. In all cases where fertilisation was complete, the result was apparent in the dark green and sickle-shaped leaves; the Lord Napier bears distinct evidence of its parentage in the size and peculiar richness _ of the fruit, and its vigorous folage. There are two distinct types of nectarines, the orange fleshed and the green fleshed, the former being, I think, the more popular from the peculiar richness of flavour incidental to all orange-fleshed nectarines, which, I may say here, is much in- PEACHES AND NECTARINES. 815 creased if the fruit is allowed to shrivel slightly at the “ caudal extremity.”’ Jn this particular they differ widely in flavour from the orange-fleshed peaches, which, in my opinion, are generally inferior in flavour. The season of nectarines now lasts from the beginning of August to the end of September, the Victoria being the latest good nectarine ; the Peterborough, although later, being very deficient in flavour. Duhamel describes and figures a peach almond, but he omits to give a figure of the shell of the kernel, which, he states, is not corrugated like the shell of the kernel of the peach. He also remarks that the same tree bears two kinds of fruit, one a true almond, and one with flesh like a peach, which is bitter and uneatable, the kernels of both being almonds. The fruit is said to be a hybrid between the almond and peach. I mention this because I have never been able to obtain a cross between the peach and the almond, although I have made repeated attempts under favourable conditions. It has been said, on apparently good evidence, that peaches and nectarines are produced on the zame branch. ‘There is no reason for doubting this statement, nor do I think the fact, if it does occur, would be very extra- ordinary, considering how nearly related the peach and nectarine are; yet it has never come under my own observation, although my experience of peaches during the last thirty years has been very considerable, and through this long series of years my trees have borne continuous crops of fruit, and I have had hundreds of varieties to observe and test. The flowers of peaches and nectarines are divided into two distinct classes, some having large and brilliant petals, and others small and insignificant in size. The Grosse Mignonne peach and the Pitmaston Orange nectarine are remarkable for their large and showy flowers, and these are characteristic generally of the descendants from these types, but it is by no means invariable, many of the seedlings raised from the Grosse Mignonne possessing small flowers, the fruit being identical with the parent. The choice of sorts of peaches and nectarines for an orchard house differs very considerably from the choice of sorts for wall culture. An orchard house should afford a continuous supply from July to October. The following varieties of peaches will give a very satisfactory supply :— 316 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. PEACHES. July. September. iets Grosse Mignonne Waterloo — Early Beatrice eae y . Alexandra Noblesse Early Louise Nobl ‘ Noblesse Hale’s Early Siayall cena ’ English Galande ee Stirling Castle Large Early Mignonne Barrington Rivers’ Early York Princess of Wales Condor Walburton Admirable Early Grosse Mignonne Gladstone Dr. Hogg Sea Eagle NECTARINES. July. Stanwick Elruge Advance Newton Auqust. Milton Goldoni Lord Napier Rivers’ Orange Tmproved Downton Humboldt White (Rivers) Pine Apple Spenser Victoria T have given a long list of fruits, and many will think that it is not necessary to employ so many varieties. The orchard house amateur will discover, after a few years’ experience, that fruit trees have their individualities and dispositions. The fruit will not always ripen in the order assigned to it; variation of season and variation of culture will affect the trees, and although I have placed the sorts as nearly as possible in the order n which they ripen, yet when a tree becomes acclimatised to the orchard house it will sometimes change its nature very completely. Itis one of the pleasures of the skilful manager of a house to watch these variations, and to adapt his culture to the express wants of his trees, which he will not be long m discovering. There is also considerable difference in the habit of growth of the different sorts of peaches and nectarines. Some kinds, as the Alexander and Hale’s Early will produce long shoots with fruit buds at long distances from each other. It is as well to PEACHES AND NECTARINES. 317 avoid sorts with this peculiarity if possible, as the orchard house must necessarily be restricted as to room. The Stanwick Elruge and the Early Beatrice peach are types of trees with fruit buds thickly studded on the shoots, and generally with triple buds, that is, a centre leaf bud and two side fruit buds, a highly important property, and absolutely necessary for fruitful prun- ing. I have also noticed that sorts such as the Noblesse and Royal George, which have serrated leaves and no glands, are more liable to be afflicted with mildew than the varieties which have glands on the leaves. The Alexandra Noblesse is an instance of this peculiarity ; almost identical with its parent with regard to the fruit, it differs very considerably in the structure of the leaves, which are crenate and have round glands, and is never, as far as I know, affected by mildew; this a very obvious advan- tage. Ido not think it is necessary to give a list of peaches and nectarines for walls, as the number of sorts to be grown must be more limited. A trained peach tree soon covering 20 feet of the space to be occupied, the varieties for this purpose are well known. The natural tendency of the peach tree is to make a low standard, and the dwarf standard is perhaps the easiest form for an orchard house. The skilful and intelligent cultivator will derive an excessive pleasure if he can train his trees into perfect pyramids not higher than 8 to 10 feet, and symmetrical from base to the top. Attention, care, and the choice of sorts are requisite for this perfection of training, but the result well repays the labour. I regret very much that I cannot transport some of my pyramid trees with ripe fruit attached to them to one of the shows of the Royal Horticultural Society, but the distance is too great and the fruit too heavy to arrive in good order and condi- tion; they need to be seen to be appreciated. The peach requires a calcareous soil, and without lime it is hopeless to expect success in cultivation, but even with a favourable soil the climate of England generally does not give much encouragement to the production of regular and certain crops, such as are enjoyed by the peach-growers of Montreuil, near Paris, who appear to have been settled there for centuries. There are certain districts in England, in Oxfordshire and Yorkshire, where the apricot has well-defined limits of growth; but the 818 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. peach does not yet appear to be localised in this country, the cultivation must, therefore, be highly artificial. I daresay most amateurs will agree with me that it is difficult to comprehend the mysteries of peach-training on walls as described by numer- ous authors; the success obtained seems to be always dubious and uncertain, arising, of course, from vicissitudes of the climate. My own knowledge of the peach is derived exclusively from culture under glass, and there ought to be no uncertainty with this protection. I cannot help, however, thinking that the ordi- nary system of wall training is altogether wrong; it is quite contrary to the physical well-being of a tree to place half of the stem in the shade and expose the other half to the sun. A very slight examination of the subject will be sufficient to convince any observer of the error which has been perpetrated by closely nailing a tree to a wall. A familiar instance is the condition of the cucumber lying on the ground; the part of the fruit which is in the shade is yellow and unhealthy, and the part exposed to the sun green and healthy. This is precisely the condition of the peach tree fastened toa wall. Another source of mischief and disease to the tree is the practice of using shreds for nailing. Every part of the bark covered by shreds and shrouded from the sun is rendered unhealthy and weak; and, consequently, the entire system is affected, producing quite as much as the climate the diseases peculiar to the peach—blister, curled leaves, aphis green, brown, and black, red spider, &c.; the tree not only being injured by the ligatures, by which its growth is restricted, but suffering from the refraction of heat from the wall, to which one side only of its surface is exposed in summer, and also from the continuous cold of the winter. Some years since, when at Montreuil, I noticed that the trees were not ' fastened to the wall but trained at some inches distant, and that the walls were whitewashed and surmounted in every case by a coping. I think this system should always be foliowed im Eng- -Jand where glass culture is not used. For my own part I believe, to ensure success, that trees should be grown under glass, and that if the tree can be planted so that both sides are exposed to the sun, the results would be better than those gained by the ordinary trellis training, in which one side only is exposed ; although, of course, this is not such a vicious system as that carried on by wall training without trellises. As there are many er PEACHES AND NECTARINES. 319 indications that peach culture will be carried on to a considerable extent in this country for profit, it is well to say to those who are not experienced that all walls should be protected by glass if profit is to be expected, and that the trees should be planted so that both sides should have the benefit of ight and air. For those who desire a constant supply of fruit during the summer months no system is equal to pot culture, and I should advise the use of perforated pots, the perforation being near the top of the pot and not at the bottom. Rootlets will arise to the surface “ to feed.”” The employment of perforated pots enables the cultivator to check the excessive growth of the tree, as the roots emitted through the perforations can be removed annually, the pot of course being sunk in the soil or in a prepared border; under this system the trees do not require so much water as when grown in pots standing on the surface soil and not plunged. Pot cultivation is not universally popular, as there are difficulties which do not appear to have been surmounted by all those who have attempted the system; but for my own part, having known it for the last thirty years, and having never known a failure, I must speak well of it, the advantages being that a constant supply of fruit can be kept up without having an inconvenient supply at any one time, which will happen with either wall or trellis culture. As some have succeeded, it is, however, probable that failure does not le in the system, but in the application. Whether trees should be planted out, grown in pots standing on the surface, or in perforated pots plunged in the soil, and annually root pruned, there will, without doubt, be considerable difference of opinion, but there can be no question that to ensure a certain and profitable crop the trees should be grown in aspan-roofed house running north and south, so that the sun shines on both sides, that if must be thoroughly ventilated, and devoted exclusively to the cultivation of the peach and nectarine. 320 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. e ON CONIFERS. By Mr. W. Coneman, F.R.H.S. [Read October 8.] In response to a compliment paid to me by the Council, I am here to-day to offer a few remarks upon Conifers. But before I proceed, I must thank Messrs. Veitch, Messrs. Paul, and Mr. W. Paul, not only for the compliment they have paid to me, but also for the generous way in which they have rallied round the Royal Horticultural Society in sending such beautiful repre- sentative collections for the decoration of the hall to-day. These specimens, so kindly brought to us at expense and risk, have afforded to me and others, I have no doubt, a great deal of pleasure ; and whilst regretting that I have not been able to dwell upon their examination, I must repeat our thanks for the use of somany choice specimens. In the presence of so many botanists, these remarks, it is hardly necessary for me to say, will be of a practical nature, especially as our subject is suitability to our soils and climate, utility in our trade and commerce, and orna- ment to our lawns, hillsides, and valleys. The popular study of Conifers being so modern, unlike the florist or the fruitist, I cannot go back a century or so for a wild flower, or a wild plum, make drawings, and build up, bit by bit, until the perfect flower and the perfect fruit, as seen to-day, are placed before you. One mighty step, however, I can take. I can step back to Solomon’s house of cedar, and to the time of those ancients who used the stone and the Aleppo pines in ship-building, and shut in Constantinople with gates made of cypress wood, which stood sound for eleven hundred years. I can point to these and say, there exists no doubt that these beautiful exogens, which entered so largely into the formation of the coal we are now burning, were as perfect then as they are to-day. I can poimt to the great Sequoias, 2,000 years old, which are still growing ; and again, nearer home, to the noble Scotch Firs, whose hoary heads covered hundreds of square miles north of the Tweed, long before the Picts and Scots cast their longing glances south- ward. In another respect florists, fruitists, and arboriculturists stand on even ground, for all have toiled unselfishly for the health and happiness of their fellow-men. All, too, have passed through | | ON CONIFERS. 821 the fever, which has raged in the palace and the gardener’s cottage, which has tempted rich and poor into outdoor employ- ment, and last but not least, which has forced men like Douglas, Jeffrey, Lobb, and others, to face danger and death for our benefit and pleasure. In this respect, all lovers of the beautiful and the elevating are atone. The Pinks and Carnations nestling in our gardens, the Orchids hanging in houses in which delicate ladies can live and breathe, and the Conifers now so plentifully scattered over Britain, form a maze of health-giving wealth, for which all must be thankful. Although a few species of Conifers, indigenous to temperate Kurope, and the well-known Cedar of Lebanon, introduced in 1683, were moderately planted by our forefathers, and some noble Pineta were commenced early in the present century, the rage, the rush, the scathing fever did not set in until about fifty years ago. The first of these collections, formed by Messrs. Loddiges at Hackney, has given way to bricks and mortar, but those established by the Duke of Bedford, the Duke of Devon- shire, Lady Rolle, and many others still remain. Many of the New World Conifers, as well as the Cedars, and our hoary friend, the Scotch Fir, are very fine indeed, and it is to these we are indebted for the general love of planting, which is softening our climate, and giving so much pleasure to the masses. In my own time, I will not mention dates, I was engaged in a Pinetum upon the coal measures, the best of all soils for Japanese Conifers, when a very dear friend said, ‘‘ Give your attention to this branch, for soon all the landowners in the kingdom will be planting.’’ His words were soon verified, for a few years later, I was selected by the late Mr. James Veitch to assist the late Karl Somers in carrying out work which he had commenced in 1840. The soil at Eastnor, including calcareous loam, broken rock, and igneous detritus from the Malvern Hills, is admirably adapted for the growth of Conifers generally ; whilst the broken ground offers varying sites and aspects, ranging from 200 to 600 feet above sea-level. Under these circumstances, ereat facilities for gaining practical experience were placed before me. I had hoped to have been able to illustrate my remarks by numerous specimens of the fruit or cones so expressive of the tribe; but unfortunately, as in our fruit gardens and orchards, P 2 322 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. the past bad season has been against me. Last year we had magnificent cones in abundance, this year we have very few. I shall proceed to say a few words on the failures of the past which should be avoided in future. Formation of a Pinetum.—Although, as I have stated, the formation of collections of Conifers, specially for ornamental purposes, was not commenced until the beginning of the present century, the comparatively limited materials at command, and some fatal errors in the preparation of the trees, heavily handi- capped the early planters. First and foremost stood the baneful practice of placing all the most expensive species and varieties in pots. Being in those days rather costly, not a few remained in this unnatural bondage, until the roots were so completely eoiled or corkscrewed that they could not be spread out im a radiating position. Indeed, so chary were old gardeners of the slightest disturbance, that they transferred the balls intact to the Knightiana 5 parviflora . Lawsoniana > =e pInes. * L., varieties of »» ponderosa <5 macrocarpa » pyrenaica s sempervirens » Sabiniana ‘A torulosa 9 sylvestris “4 Corneyana » tuberculata Juniperus communis Prumnopitys elegans % oblonga pendula Retinosporas, all the a chinensis (mas) Salisburia adiantifolia Bs drupacea Sciadopitys verticillata is excelsa Sequoia gigantea, or Wellingtonia s phoenicea ‘5 sempervirens ‘ recurva Taxodium distnichum “ Sabina Yews, all the % squamata Thuja aurea <3 stricta » elegantissima . suecica » gigantea x thurifera » | duebbi es virginiana », Orientalis Libocedrus decurrens Thujopsis dolabrata Pinus austriaca 5, Cembra AA borealis Examples of some of these will be found upon the tables. Others which I have not named, of more recent introduction, no doubt will prove equally hardy; but, careful in this matter, I do not pledge myself to varieties which have not passed through a scathing winter. Conifers, their Uses and Value.—Independently of their uses as ornamental trees, for producing shelter, softening and puri- fying the atmosphere, the economic value of Conifers is immense ; so great, indeed, that the present rate of consumption will soon clear the immense forests in many parts of the world. Norway and American Spruce, Scotch, Pitch, and Weymouth Pine, supply the bulk of the resinous timber used in this country. The Corsican Pine, Red Pine, Larch, Taxodium, and Crypto- meria produce enormous quantities of timber, consumed in their respective countries. Whilst upwards of 70,000,000 feet of American Black Spruce cut down represents a clearance of 14,000 acres of forest annually, Norway sends to England over 50,000,000 cubic feet of timber every year, her gross produce more than ten years ago being over 84,000,000 feet. The ON CONIFERS, 333 Redwood of California, recently introduced to this country from forests covering some 500,000 acres, is going at a rate that will result in scarcity in a very few years; and the same may be said of the Agathis of Hooker, Dammara australis or Kauri Pine of New Zealand. The timber of the Douglas Fir is especially valuable in British Columbia, Abies excelsa, the common Spruce, supplies the white deal of commerce. The best American Pitch Pine is supplied by Pinus australis ; the Yellow Pine by P. ponderosa, a timber heavy enough to sink in water; the White by Abies nigra, and the White Fir of Oregon by Abies grandis. The best Canadian Red Pine is produced by Pinus resinosa, and, coming nearer home, the Russian Pine, Memel Fir, and Baltic Yellow Deal, so ex- tensively used in Hurope, are obtained from our old friend the Scotch Fir or Pinus sylvestris. Cupressus sempervirens pro- duces one of the most durable timbers known. The Bermuda and Virginian Junipers supply material for our black-lead pencils, and the Deodar Cedar is the most valuable timber in North-West India. Every country indeed, be it temperate or tropical, produces timber most suitable to the requirements of the natives, and so important are these resinous woods that commerce would be simply paralysed were any of them to fail. Evergreen Hedges.— Invaluable as the Conifers are for growing as single specimens in the park, the pleasure ground, and the cemetery, many of them are equally notable for forming ever- green hedges. The Yew has been used in a clipped form since the time of Evelyn, and no trees perhaps make better hedges; but as compared with some others it is a slow grower, con- sequently where quick growth is an object, any of the following may besubstituted. Many yearsago I caused some little surprise by recommending Thuja Lobbi for this purpose, and one large nurseryman, fearful of committing himself, quoted my remarks in his advertisement. Thuja Lobbi soon came to the front, and many beautiful hedges may now be seen in this country. Cu- pressus Lawsoniana, in my opinion, stands next, and, being a Conifer which stools freely, it may be clipped, pruned, and cut down to within a foot or two of the ground with impunity. Cupressus nutkaensis, or Thujopsis borealis, stands next on my list, being equally rapid in its growth, equally amenable to 834 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. clipping and cutting down, and capable of forming a wall-like hedge, a dozen feet in height, in a very short time. Juniperus chinensis (mas) is equally good, but, being a more compact grower, it does not spread so rapidly. When in flower, this beautiful Juniper is unsurpassed by the very best of the numerous family, J. virgimiana. Cedrus deodara and Thuja occidentalis also submit to the knife and shears, and so does Cupressus macrocarpa, where it can be planted in safety. For forming smaller hedges, Thujopsis dolabrata, Biota compacta aurea, Cupressus erecta viridis, Retinospora obtusa, and R. pisifera are well adapted. The best time to prune Conifers is imme- diately after the growth has ceased or very early in the spring. If pruned in summer, not only are they deprived of their greatest charm, but, being liable to bleeding, hard cutting at this time may Jill them. A few choice Conifers of- moderate growth for small gardens :— Abies Englemanni glauca | Retinosporas, all the ». Hookeriana or Pattoniana Thujopsis dolabrata » tsuga | Juniperus rigida Pinus contorta s excelsa 5» Bungeana | ns chinensis (mas) » Cembra og drupacea .» parviflora a suecica Sciadopitys verticillata | _ hibernica Cryptomeria elegans = thurifera Cupressus erecta viridis 7 virginiana glauca J nutkaensis argentea Taxus adpressa Biota filipendula » baccata fastigiata orientalis aurea = elegantissima 3) 33 ” compacta aurea Cephalotaxus pedunculata = an 3 elegan- Prumnopitys elegans | tissima The best Conifers for belts or screens are :— Abies excelsa Pinus sylvestris ao), PRISE » austriaca » Nordmanniana Thuja Lobbi » canadensis Juniperus virginiana » Dougiasil is chinensis Pirus Laricio Taxus baccata 5 LFinaster Cupressus Lawsoniarna » strobus js nutkaensis Diseases.—Conifers, like other trees, are liable to be affected, and not unfrequently killed, by disease, as has been so seriously exemplified in the common Larch. The fungoid growth which eommences at the roots, and spreads upwards through the layers ON CONIFERS. 835 of wood, is known as the larch rot, and yet another, also fungoid, kills the bark, but leaves the roots intact. Many millions of trees have been destroyed by these two forms of fungus, and more, no doubt, will follow, that is so long ag planters persist in replanting with a second crop of young trees the same ground from which the old decaying stools have not been removed. Prun- ings again left lyingaboutto rot upon the surface of the ground fre- quently produce a fungus which fastens on the living roots of other species, and so insidious is it that Pines, Firs, Cedars, Cypresses, and Junipers fall a prey to its ravages, often dying off suddenly before danger is suspected. The names of these fungi are Poly- phorus destructor, P. abietinus, and P.versicolor. When Conifers are planted in plantations or shrubberies, or in soil containing leaf mould, pieces of dead wood, or the like, they should be closely watched ; and if, after going on well for a time, they suddenly begin to falter, the roots should be closely examined. My Picea Webbiana was saved by washing the roots and dressing with lime, but this was an extreme measure, which could not be carried out where numbers are concerned. Neither, perhaps, is it necessary, as recently I have seen a fine avenue of Picea nobilis saved by repeated top-dressings of quicklime. Sulphur, too, may be used with excellent effect, and choice specimens I would syringe freely with sulphur water, or the roots and tops might receive liberal supplies of a mixture of sulphide of potas- sium, half an oz. to the gallon of water. Another form of disease is the result of planting Conifers in soil containing deleterious matter in a soluble form. Trees planted on the oolite, and sometimes on gravel, notably Abies Douglasii, turn yellow, lose their leaves, and die. This matter, taken up by the roots, I believe, is deposited in the vessels, which it clogs, and completely closes when the sap ceases to flow, or forms the peculiar form of clubbing, as seen in the specimen on the table. If taken in time, Conifers may be saved by the removal of bad soil and draining, but they rarely make good specimens; at least, this is my experience. Conifers are injured by animals, including hares, rabbits, and squirrels, the first eating the bark, the latter the cones and points of the shoots; also, they are injured by wounds or cuts when in full growth. An Abies canadensis wounded by a felled tree rolling against it, and tearing off a piece of bark, soon bled to death, and an Araucaria, injured by a piece of wire, first of all made a semblance of forming cones, and eventually died. Q 336 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Insects —Diseases may be prevented by draining, using suit- able soils, and care ; but insects put in an appearance in the best regulated Pineta. When insects attack our lawn specimens, the injury is serious enough ; but when they destroy or injure valuable timber trees, the loss is very great. The most troublesome ma- rauder is the Pine Beetle, Hylurgus piniperda, which deposits its eggs in the bark and buds of young trees; the larve eat out the in- terior of the buds and growing shoots, and in this way check, if they do not destroy, the trees. Pinus insignis, and some others, are much disfigured by the larve of this beetle eating their way out of the young shoots, which droop and die. The trees at Eastnor some years ago were badly attacked, and being large, hand-pick- ing, the only remedy, was a troublesome undertaking. Whether it be due to perseverance in hand-picking or other causes, this beetle has not been troublesome now for several seasons. The Typographic Beetle, so called from the lines made in the young wood by its larve resembling letters, attacks the Silver Firs, but it is not so troublesome as the preceding. Who has not noticed his Junipers literally woven together by the larve of the juniper moth, which left alone destroys the leaves, and permanently mars the beauty of the trees? The Irish and Swedish Junipers, also J. communis, seem special favourites, chiefly in hot dry summers. When detected the branches should be separated by hand, when syringing with lime water, or dusting well into the centres with quicklime, will destroy without injuring the trees. CoMMENTARY. Speaking of Conifers generally, I may say the Spruces, which may be distinguished by their pendant cones, are supposed to have the widest range of all the Conifers in the northern hemi- sphere, consequently they are considered hardier than the Silver Firs, which occupy a zone of variable width south of the Spruces. The Spruces produce the most valuable timber, and make very handsome specimens, many of them standing with impunity where the Silver Firs, known by their upright cones, get cut by late frosts in the spring. The latter, however, are so beautiful that no one would think of omitting them from their collections. In addition to the old friends from the New World, we now have some magnificent species from Japan. ON CONIFERS. 337 Although I cannot attempt separate lists of names, I must draw attention to the five or six species cultivated as Hemlock Firs. They are Abies Albertiana, A. canadensis, A. Hookeriana, A. Pattoniana, and the giant of the family, A. Douglasii. Our friends the Larches, the Cedars, and the Pines cannot be mis- taken: the first makes a handsome lawn specimen; the second is the king of Conifers ; and the Pines, divided into three sections, Bine with two leaves in a sheath, Terne with three, and Quine with five, include more species than any other genus in the order, and are distributed over a greater geographical area. The two-leaved Pines, with one exception, are not found within the Tropics, but are most frequently met with in the northern temperate regions of both hemispheres. All the European species, P. Cembra excepted, belong to this section, from which we obtain so much valuable timber. P. austriaca, P. Laricio, P. mitis, P. Pinea, P. resinosa, and P. sylvestris belong to this section. The three-leaved Pines include some two dozen species, mostly long in the leaf, and very handsome; but, with the exception of P. insignis, P. Jeffreyi, P. macrocarpa, P. ponderosa, P. Sabiniana, and P. tuberculata, they are par- tially or entirely tender in this country. P. rigida produces the Pitch Pine of commerce; P. Benthamiana, P. Sinclairiana, P. Parryana, and P. Beardsleyi, so handsome and useful in our Pineta, are considered to be synonyms of P. ponderosa, hence my omission of these names from my lists of the true Pines. The five-leaved Pines contain some remarkable species, but many of them unfortunately are tender. They are widely distri- buted, examples being found in Mexico, California, the Himalayas, Japan, and Central Europe. P. Montezume and P. leiophylla, of which I produce specimens, are not generally hardy. P.Cembra., the Swiss, and P. parviflora, the Japan Stone Pines, are slow- erowing gems. P. Lambertiana (the Sugar Pine), P. excelsa, and P. Strobus are handsome giants, yielding fairly valuable soft white timber, and are indispensable in the Pinetum. P. Lambertiana has the largest and P. parviflora the smallest cones of any Pines with which I am acquainted. Passing the well-known Araucaria, now proved moncecious, we come to the Taxodie, or deciduous Cypress group, a tribe of half-a-dozen small families, some of them very important in this country. The Wellingtonia, the Sequoia sempervirens—at one Q 2 838 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. time supposed to be the male form of the preceding—the deciduous Cypress, and the Cryptomeria are the leading members. Sciadopitys and Athrotaxis form the bric-d-brac of little use to the British planter. _ The Cypress tribe includes our well-known evergreen species, the Retinosporas, Biotas, Thujas, Libocedrus, and the Junipers, the latter so numerous that these have been divided into three sections, viz., the Common, the Savin, and the Cypress-like Junipers. C. Goveniana, C. macrocarpa, C. sempervirens, C: Lawsoniana, and C. nutkaensis, better known as Thujopsis borealis, rank amongst the best; they are natives of climates warmer than our own; therefore, with the exception of the three or four American species, they are liable to suffer im severe winters. C. Lawsoniana and C. nutkaensis from North America, like the Retinosporas from Japan, sport into endless varieties. All of them, I need not inform those who have looked round this hall to-day, are most lovely, and invaluable in the Pinetum, the flower garden, the rockwork, the town garden, the window-box, and the conservatory. The beautiful C. funebris and C. toru- losa stand with me, and in other places in the west. The Retinosporas are nearly all of them referable to the normal kinds, R. obtusa and R. pisifera, sent home by J. G. Veitch and For- tune; and, much as I admire them, I shall be one of the first to hail with delight a conference to simplify and regulate the nomenclature. Clever botanists may ask, ‘‘ What’s in a name?” A great deal, I reply, when poor gardeners are called upon to pronounce the synonyms contained in Veitch’s Manual. Beyond recommending them strongly, 1 cannot attempt the mvidious task of naming any of the species or varieties; those who want a good book and a winter’s instructive amusement must purchase Veitch’s Manual. Our indispensable trees, Thuja Lobbi (now T. gigantea) and T. gigantea (now Libocerdus decurrens) may be left to take care of themselves, and so may the perfectly hardy Thujopsis dolabrata and its dwarf garden varieties, which should be planted extensively. The Junipers (so nobly represented here to-day, thanks to Messrs. Paul) are indispensable to the British planter, and coming from all parts of the northern hemisphere, from the Arctie regions to the Tropics, the three sections offer numerous useful species. ON PEARS. . 839 The slow-growing Yew, indigenous to England, and of which we are so proud (as Mr. W. Paul has proved), is worthy of another lecture, which that gentleman can, and will, I hope, give on a future day. ‘The timber is slightly resimous and very durable. All the varieties are worth planting; T. baccata, T..b. fructu luteo, T. b. elegantissima, T’. fastigiata, and IT’. Dovastoni being specially valuable. The Cephalotaxus also are invaluable for ornament, but the Torreyas, although T. myristica stands well with me, do not make much headway in this country. Prumnopitys elegans is a hardy gem. The Podocarps, like the Torreyas, are highly interesting to botanists, but too tender to become prominent in England. ON PEARS. By Mr. W. Witpsmita, F.R.H.S. [Read October 22nd. | I am quite unable to say ““No”’ to any request tendered me that seems likely to aid in any degree the furtherance of what I am sure all here have at heart—namely, that of extended fruit cultivation—and, therefore, on the receipt of a note from our Secretary, Mr. Wilks, that I would on this date give a paper on “ Pears,’”’ I complied without hesitancy, and this is the explanation of the position] aminthis afternoon. I half thought at one time that I would christen my paper, “ Pears for the Millon,’ but on second thought, and with visions before my eyes of the cold, wet, and sunless season of last year, and the caterpillar plague of this, and consequent partial failure of the Pear crop, I thought it wise to stick to the one word Pears, and thus have licence to ramble at will, so long as I occasionally brought in the word Pears. Please do not be frightened ; lam by nature too methodical to be able to accomplish my task in any such random fashion, and I therefore shall treat my subject under the following heads or divisions. Of course, presuming that everybody here knows that Tam simply a practical gardener; “ a scientific gardener,” that occasionally a would-be fiatierer applies to me almosié frichiens me, because I know, to my cost, thai I am, and can only be, practical, and from this standpomt alone my paper is written. The divisions are: Soils, and their preparation ; Stocks; Planting, and season to plani; Pruning, root and branch; Manures, how and when to apply them; Aspecis, and forms of tramme; the best varieties ; when to gather the frmt, and how best to store it. Souls and their Preparation.—I have sometimes thouchit that, given the most suitable soils for any and every deseripiion of fruit trees, treacherous and unceriam asourseasons are, we might almost disregard climatic conditions. What I mean is, that our worst weather is never so bad but that we should be sure to get good returns, had the roois of fruit trees all the elements required for the mamienanee of the vigorous growth of the trees and the swelling of their fruit. Of course, colour of fruit and the highest quality might be—mnay, would be—lackime m a sumless season, but this would, comparatively speaking, bea small matter. Such bemg my opmion, you will readily understand that I attach the uimost importance to ihe preparation of soil for Pears, and if the soil with which I have to do does noi come up to the idea! of what l consider the best for the irees, ihe decided noiions I have mmbibed as to whai the roois should have serve as an meentive to have the right elements ai any cost of labour. And now, before I can proceed further with soils, comes the diffieuliy of siocks—Quinee or Pear. There is no question but thai one kind of soll would do for both, but there is a question as to the better domg of each, provided the soil be of the description m which each does besi- Heavy soil, that by some would be ealled clay land, if well dramed, is that m which trees erafied on the Qumee siock do best, and trees grafied on the natural stock are mvanably most salasfactory im soils of a lighter description. Such bemg the faci, the soil should be prepared accordingly. I daresay that some of my audience, knowmg my predilection for the Quince stock, and also knowmg that the soil with which I have to deal is of a light sandy nature, may feel inclined to charge me with meon- sistency, bui I hope io show that I am noi. I said just now “that there was no question bui that one kind of soil would do for both,” and I am able to verify thai statement by resulis. Some years ago my late revered employer, Lord Eversley, be- ON PEARS. 841 came enamoured of the cordon system of growing fruit trees, so much so that I verily believe, had I seconded his wishes in that direction, there would now be in the Heckfield Gardens but few Pear trees except in the form of cordons. This mania I was able to satisfy to some extent, by destroy- ing a quantity of old horizontally trained trees, and after remaking and entirely renewing the soil of the borders, half of the space was planted with cordon Pears grafted on the Quince, and the other with trees on the natural stock. The first year all did alike well, the only difference being that the trees on the natural stock had shghtly the advantage in growth. The second year the change was surprising. The growth of trees on the Pear stock grew like wildings; the Quince made a spurt at erowing, then stopped, and by midsummer the leaves became of a sickly hue. I was puzzled. | thought the soil could not be dry, or exhausted, because all had been heavily mulched with manure, and the rainfall ample. I, however, made a close examination, when to my astonishment—nay, bewilderment—the roots had as it were taken the manurial mulching by force, for it was nothing but roots, and all were as dry as if there had been no rain for months. Jat once set to work and put fresh soil over the old mulching, watered freely, and then had the border well trodden down. Of course there was no new wood growth that year, but such fruit buds as are seldom seen. During the winter the border throughout was artificially watered—soaked—and farmyard manure about six inches in thickness was applied as a mulching. By the time that the trees had opened flower, my mind was quite made up as to the merits of the two stocks. The Quince, of course, won in a canter ; the trees were full of flower. Their neighbours blossomed a little and finished off their fruit well, but the favourites, theiis much better and more of it. By way of illustration I have selected half-a- dozen average examples of fruit that we have growing under exactly similar conditions, the one on the Quince, the other on the Pear stock, which will show better than any words of mine can describe the merits of each. And now comes the rub: if the Quince stock is best for nearly all varieties of Pears, what are those cultivators to do that have not an adhesive soil in which trees on this stock delight? This was my predicament, for 1 had the lightest of light loams to deal with. But it did not frighten 342, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. me. There was no clay to be had, and in lieu thereof in all future plantings the soil, after deep trenching, was extra firmly com- pressed, the only added ingredient being a few half-inch bones. For trees on the Pear stock the soil cannot well be too light, nor too deep, and I was going to say, nor too poor, but I won’t put it as strong as that, because they must have some nourish- ment to feed on. Their natural tendency is to strike deep down, and if too much inducement is afforded them by manur- ing the soil at great depth, vigour of tree will be had at the expense of shy fruiting. I prefer the rather to feed them from the surface; but of this more anon. I end the question of soils and their preparation by saying, If possible procure good heavy foam for the one ; if not, compress the light soil firmly, and feed liberally from the surface ; well drain, trench deeply, and add a small percentage of well-decayed manure and crushed bones to light hungry soils for trees on the Pear stock. Planting, and Season to Plant.—To planta tree means much more than a large minority of gardeners seem to imagine. I have, and no doubt you have, seen many good trees irretrievably injured by thoughtless, careless planting. I sometimes think the advice that the Scotch nobleman who was fond of trees gave to his son in the words, “ Be aye sticking in a tree, Jock !’’ applies right well to the manner of planting that one is some- times obliged to witness, for truly it is ‘‘ sticking in ’’—there is no planting about it. The old tree is done for, trench out the stump, put a new tree in its place, and—eh, presto! the work is done. This is not an overdrawn picture. I have witnessed it, and at some cost of self-control held my tongue. Happily better days have dawned on us, and we are fast nearing the point of impossibility for planting to be done in any such slip- shod fashion. My contention is that it is just as creditable to produce a good bunch of Currants, or a dish of Raspberries, Apples, or Pears, as it is to growa fine bunch of Grapes; yet, on planting a vine we don’t mind spending an hour in laying out just so every particle of root, and are mighty particular to see that the soil is well shaken and pounded about every root; but a Pear tree—ugh! “ stick it in.’”’ This, of course, does not apply to the present company. Seriously though, to plant properly re- quires thought. The soil may not have been long in position, and may subside, or may not haye been sufficiently compressed, ee — Oe ————EE—————S eee eer rere a a ON PEARS. 343 or it may be too wet and clammy and cannot well be worked about the roots; too dry is hardly possible at any season when planting may be done; but the point of all others is to avoid planting too deeply. I prefer to err, if at all, on the side of shallow planting, because any check resulting from this is easily remedied by the application of a little soil round the base of the stem, and a thicker mulching of manure; but, if the stem be buried, say deeper than it has been in the nursery bed, decrepity begins before the end of the first growing season, and the only remedy is to lift and replant ; thus a season is quite lost. The best time to plant is, of course, in autumn. I think, however, that in our zeal to get such extraneous work over, we are some- times in too much of a hurry. The trees, after a prolonged drought such as we have had southwards this year, would assuredly be the better if left undisturbed till the autumnal rains had had their energising effect on the roots, and these— the roots—on the plumping up of the wood and buds. This additional vitality—that imparted by the rains—is an important actor to the kindly and quicker root action in the new soil. The first half of November, if the weather be dry, is, I think, sufficiently early to plant. Pruning, root and branch.—I am unable to dissociate the one from the other, for if the trees require root-pruning, it is to regulate the growth, or improve the fruitfulness, of the branches ; and if little or no pruning of the branches be necessary, then the roots should be let alone, at any rate so far as curtailment of them is concerned. And here again comes in the question of Stocks. My experience is that as regards the Quince root-pruning is never required. The trees in a well-prepared border, that from the first day of planting is always kept heavily mulched with manure, root deeply ; and by way of ensuring regular fruitfulness, and more especially of keeping the roots near the surface, that air, sunshine, and manure may have the fullest effect, all trees on the Quince we lift bodily at the end of two years from time of planting, and, after shortening back all thong-lke and fibreless roots, they are carefully replanted, and root-pruning as regards these trees is ended for ever. One could wish that such was the case with trees on the natural stock, but it is not. Old orchard trees that get little or no manure, and -that are allowed to carry every fruit that the most genial season admits of setting, 344 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. as a matter of course need no root-pruning ; but it does notfollow that the practice, if applied to other trees, is wrong. I think rather that it isa count against those who say that root-pruning is unnatural, for what is the sample of fruit from such trees ? Possibly there may be a solitary tidy-looking fruit out of every score, but the remainder only fit for the hucksters’ barrows. Garden trees proper that are grafted on the natural stock can only be kept in a fruitful condition by occasional curtailment of root-growth. Repression of wood-growth by summer pinching does something towards rendering the operation of root-pruning less frequent. There are a few large bush trees, grafted on the Pear stock, in the gardens under my charge, growing on borders that are regularly cropped with salads and shallow-rooting vege- tables, and these trees invariably fruit well, without any curtail- ment of roots other than such as is unavoidable in preparing the eround for the vegetable crop. I do not, however, commend the practice of planting trees in such positions. I think that each tree is worthy of having its due space of the ground, and only when it has that share have we a right to expect full returns in the shape of fruit. I said that the trees invariably fruit well; that does not mean that the fruit is always fine; it is generally passable, and as fineas we have a right to expect from trees that are annually denuded of their best surface rootlets, the loss of which furnishes the clue to regular fruitfulness. With the wholesale removal of branches in winter, a process that is mis- called pruning, I have not an iota of sympathy, unless it be pity for the ignorance of the performers, that they have not thought as to what the after results are—canker and gumming, to wit; and the nearest approach I would care to advise in that direction is the removal of a few long spurs, witu the intent of inducing the pushing of new buds ‘‘ closer home” as we call it, that trees on walls may, when in flower, have the full benefit that wall- copings afford in the direction of protection from spring frosts ; and in a lesser degree the same idea holds good in respect of keeping the spurs on bush and pyramidal-shaped trees close home, and under the protection of the main branches. I thought that I could best explain my meaning as to the removal of these spurs by a portion of the branch of a tree pruned for the purpose, as also I can of what [mean by summer pruning, or, as I prefer to call it, repression of growth, in order to induce fruit- ON PEARS. 345 fulness. If such repression of growth by pinching back the shoots to the second or third leaf of the new growth be done twice, or at most thrice, during the summer, very little winter pruning is ever needed, and fruit buds by this operation are, as it were, manufactured by force. That winter pruning, to a larger extent than is here stated, may sometimes be necessary I do not deny ; to do so I should belie my own practice, inasmuch as it is n0 uncommon occurrence for me to allow any tree that seems waning in vigour to grow at random the whole of the season, and give extra supplies of manurial waterings the while. Winter pruning is, of course, then a necessity, but it is done with all the mercy possible, the young shoots being in some instances laid in over the old, disregardful of appearances. In this manner not a few trees have been coaxed into renewed vigour and fruit- fulness. Manures ; how and when to apply them.—Pears are like most other fruit trees—they are by no means fastidious as to the kind ; still, there is a best they relish most, and that is farmyard manure. J have never been fortunate enough to fill the com- bined post of bailiff and gardener, and consequently not had the opportunity of testing to the full the merits of this kind of manure, but the little that sometimes I have been able to borrow has afforded proof positive that it is deserving of the honour of first place. An excellent substitute is that of ordinary stable manure. ‘This comes to use in the straw state, and all that we need for fruit-tree mulching purposes is stacked for some weeks before it is used; ashes from brushwood, hedge clippings, and refuse leaf-heap burnings being mixed with it, and when it is about what may be described as half-decayed, it is then ready for application. Artificial manures are excellent in their way, but if their properties are to last for any length of time they must be mixed with soil, and that is not always convenient. The next best way is to scatter them over the soil and immediately cover with a thick layer of long litter, then water to saturation. The two descriptions of animal manures may be safely applied to a depth of from six to nine inches, and as far round the base of the trees as it is thought the roots extend. The time to apply the manures is all the year round, not that the trees do not relish an extra supply at certain seasons. Pears do, and more espe- cially at the time of the first swelling of the fruit, 7.c. immediately 346 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. the fruit has set. At any cost of labour an effort should be made, at that stage of growth, either to give a thorough watering with liquid manure, or, lacking that, sufficient clear water over the newly applied mulching as will reach every root of the trees. The effeet on the swelling fruit is magical. The same process should be repeated twice afterwards, namely, when it is half- grown, and again when the final swelling commences. The manurial mulching of trees on walls should be renewed twice a year ; my own practice is to do the work any time between now and December, and the mode of operation is to lightly rake off the old mulching, give a slight dressing of fresh loam, crushed bones, and wood ashes, and over this the mulching; this is the winter dressing not only of Pears, but of all our fruit trees on walls. I ought, perhaps, to add that the mulching extends to a distance of four feet from the walls. The second application is not so generally necessary, except for Pears, and these we never fail to re-mulch some time during the months of March or April. I have been thus particular to describe what I consider the best mode of manuring. It does not follow, however, that all trees need it-—one’s own judgment must decide that poimt—nor does it follow that there are not other excellent modes of applying stimu- lants. We have a number of trees that are neither mulched nor have manure directly applied to them, but being planted at the back of a Rose border that biennially is trenched deeply and manured freely a large proportion of roots dispute the right of the Roses to a monopoly of the manure, and, so long as they cen- tinue to produce fine fruit in quantity, it is hardly worth while to take notice of the trespass. Aspects, and Forms of Training.—There are varieties of Pears that do well in any aspect, east, west, north, or south ; but south, south-west, and west are undoubtedly the aspects best suited to Pears in general. I do not now refer to aspects of walls, but to the garden as a whole. In a garden with a slope to any of the quarters of the compass here mentioned Pears may be planted in any part of it with the best results. But, with my present notions in regard to the importance of every tree having its own plot of ground to itself, I should, of course, advise the setting apart of the warmest and most sheltered quarters in the garden, having a south or west aspect, for Pear cultivation ; and the distance from tree to tree must necessarily be decided by the ON PEARS. 347 form the trees are to be trained. Personally, I give preference to the pyramidal form of training, and the distance apart for trees on the Quince stock should be six feet, and be planted in angular lines, which will allow of easily getting about among the trees, and of the admission of full sunlight to every tree. Should the soil be considered better suited for the growth of trees on the natural stock, plant in the same way, but the distance apart should be increased to ten feet. Low horizontally trained cordons, that one sometimes sees outlining the boundary of kitechen-garden walks, are pretty, but I fear this is their greatest merit. Cordons for profit are such as are shown in this picture, which is a faithful representation of trees trained over a walk in the gardens under my superintendence. The cordon mode of training for Pears is worthy of general adoption for a variety of reasons, the one of all others being that it is the best way of prolonging the Pear season. I shall best explain my meaning by quoting a circumstance in which I was personally concerned. From a large horizontally trained tree, Williams’s Bon Chrétien, growing on a west wall, a couple of bushels or more of good fruit was annually gathered, a quantity far in excess of what was required for home consumption, and con- sequently, in the endeavours made to make them last for the longest period, a large percentage was lost. The proposition was made to me to destroy this tree and plant cordons, and, like an obedient servant, I complied. The space that that tree occu- pied is to-day furnished, not with one tree, but with thirty, in nearly as many varieties, from which we obtain more fruit and a season of ripe fruit extending for two months or more, instead of three weeks as formerly. The most profitable form of training on walls is as single cordons two feet apart, and the only other form worthy of adoption is the horizontal, twelve feet apart. Wall space for Pears in parts of the low-lying eastern counties, the midland and northern counties of England, and Scotland, is im- perative if good fruit be desired ; but residents to the south, south- west, and west of England attach far too much importance to that necessity. Take, for example, any of the early varieties that ripen in July, August, and the early part of September, and grow them on walls with a south or west aspect. Grow the same varie- ties on bushes, pyramids, or cordons in the open garden, and compare notes as to quality. The wall fruit will be found to” be 848 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. mealy or gritty, perhaps both, and lack the piquancy of the same varieties of fruit grown in the open garden, not to mention the longer preservation of the open garden fruits. I do not over- look the necessity of having abundant wall space for the best later ripening varieties, but it is to gain this that I strongly advise the relegation of early and second-rate mid-season kinds to the open garden. The varieties most worthy of the best aspects on walls are Beurré Superfin, Beurré Hardy, Louise, Bonne of Jersey, Seckle, Doyenné du Comice, Marie Louise, Pitmaston Duchesse, Thompson’s, Winter Nelis, Glou Morceau, Huyshe’s Victoria, General Todtleben, and Easter Beurré. The Best Varieties.—I think that the difficulty next to a bad climate for Pear cultivation is the bogey of varieties. I was recently informed by a friend, who ought to know, thata certain Continental nurseryman grows four hundred varieties. I don’t envy the man in charge of them, nor the customers that buy the trees ‘‘true to name’’; I only hope the latter may not be disap- pointed. To make a selection from sixty varieties is bewildering to many, yet I question whether this number is not exceeded by all fruit-tree nurserymen of note in England. And it is to these we should appeal to make a combined effort to reduce numbers by refusing to catalogue any but varieties that are known to be good. Granted that in varying soils, positions, and districts the quality of Pears vary greatly, and sufficient margin as to numbers of varieties is necessary to cope with these freaks. As to what the lowest number should be I won’t venture to suggest, lest I find myself in a minority of one. But now as to the best varieties. In a short paper that I read at the Apple and Pear Conference at Chiswick, a year ago, I named twenty-five varieties that I considered best for dessert. I do not see my way to erase any kinds mentioned in that list, and I therefore reproduce it here. Their names are Souvenir du Congrés, Williams’s Bon Chrétien, Beurré d’Amanlis, Fondante d’Automne, Louise Bonne of Jersey, Madame Treyve, Beurré Hardy, Beurré Superfin, Seckle, Marie Louise, Doyenné du Comice, Thompson’s, Duchesse d’Angouléme, Glou Morceau, Winter Nelis, Comte de Lamy, Beurré Bachelier, Josephine de Malines, Winter Crasanne, Huyshe’s Victoria, Olivier de Serres, Easter Beurré, Ne Plus Meuris, Knight’s Monarch, and Berga- motte d’Esperen. To this. list I now add the names of three ON PEARS. 349 varieties that I consider the best for cooking ; they are Catillac, Black Worcester, and Verulam. When to Gather the Fruit, and how best to store it.—I am inclined to think that there is no gardening operation which requires longer practice to attain proficiency than that of being able to know when a Pear is ready to gather, as on the time of gathering hinges in a large degree the quality of the fruit, because, if harvested too soon, the fruit shrivels and never ripens well, and if left on the trees long—particularly early varieties— it becomes insipid. Hence the importance of every young eardener learning by close observation the right time to harvest Pears. It is said that there is no rule without exception, and I suppose it is true as regards the gathering of Pears, though the exceptions I know are few, and novices at Pear-gathering need not therefore be afraid that they will get far wrong if, when called upon to gather Pears, they adopt the following methods to decide whether or no certain kinds are really fit to harvest : Slightly raise the fruit—do not pull or use any force—and if by this gentle heaving the fruit parts readily from the branch, then they may with safety be gathered. Another test is to cut open a fruit, examine the pips, and, if these are dark brown or black, and firm to pressure, it is safe to gather. As a matter of course, a dry day must be chosen for the work, and the fruits be handled with the same care as if they were soft Peaches. As to how best to store the fruit, I can only relate my own practice, which has proved to be—I will not put it stronger than moderately successful. Our fruit-room is built behind a high wall, the aspect of it being due east. The walls are hollow throughout--I perhaps ought to have said have an air cavity between the outside and inside walls—consequently in damp weather the room remains comparatively dry, in cold weather warm, and in hot weather cool. It is ventilated, in chimney fashion, through the roof, and air can be given or not at pleasure. It is fitted throughout with shelves, or tables formed with strips of wood, three inches wide, and between each strip is a half-inch space, so that there is ample space for the escape of any moisture that may be given off by the fruit; and air has free access--I have sometimes thought too free for long keeping— hence the thin layer of clean wheaten straw, on which the fruit i3 Jaid, in single layers should space admit of it, and on no - 850 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. account should I think of having more than a double layer, and this to be single as space became vacant. I have seen larger and erander fruit-rooms, but none, all points considered, better adapted to fruit preservation than the room just described. My task is done. Iam conscious of its many literary blunders, but I know you will be charitable to these, when I assure you that I have done my best, and that the whole is a faithful record of work done, much of it with an immensity of pleasure, and some in the face of great difficulties, lightened, however, by the approval of the most appreciative employer that ever breathed. EXTRACTS FROM THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, GENERAL MEETING. Marcu 12, 1889. W. T. TuHiseLton DyEr, Esq., C.M.G., F.B.S., in the Chair. [{LECTIONS. Fellows, 83.—W. Ainshe, H. P. Atkins, Mrs. 8. Cecil Bignold, Albert Brassey, Hon. Mrs. Albert Brassey, Henry Butt, William Charles, Sidney R. Chesterton, Rev. A. EK. Clementi-Smith, Rev. P. Clementi-Smith, Mrs. C. R. Cock, John Cockburn, Mrs. Collis, Henry Crocker, M.D., Norman Davis, Heer §. A. de Graaff, John Fraser, John Braithwaite Gill, Mrs. Robert Grant, Mrs. Homfray, Mrs. W. Hudson, George Paice, John Philpot, Henry D. Pochin, John W. Price, George C. Raphael, Jonathan Rashleigh, Thomas Sheldon, Alnod EK. Studd, Alfred Vince, Miss Harriet Wilson, Mis. Henry Woodrow, Major-General Young, Rieke The following papers were read :—(1) “ Notes on Saxifrages,”’ by Mr. J. G. Baker, F.R.S., F.L.5. (2) “The Cultivation of Saxifrages,’’ by Mr. George Paul, F.R.H.S. (38) “Cultural and Descriptive Notes on Saxifrages,”’ by Mr. G. Reuthe. FLORAL COMMITTEE. W. Marsuwatt, Esq., in the Chair, and twenty-five members present. Awards Recommended :-— Silver Banksian Medal. To Messrs. W. Paul & Son, The Nurseries, Waltham Cross, for a dozen boxes of Camellia blooms, containing some of the best varieties in cultivation, especially noteworthy being the R XXXIV PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. American varieties C. H. Hovey and C. M. Hovey ; also Elezans, fine carmine, Conspicua, scarlet, Augustime superba, rose-pink, Ceniifolia alba, pure white, Candidissima, one of the finest of the whiies, Il Comandaiore Betii, fine salmon. one of the best of the Iialan Camellias, &c. To Mr. T. S$. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham, for a large and beauiiful sroup of Daffodils im pots; also cut flowers, with Anemones, Cyclamen coum, &c. The Daffodils consisted chiefiy of the well-known soris, such as Horsfieldi, Maximus, Spurs, Ard Rish (or the Imsh Kime), Leedsi, and Golden Spur—all im very good condition. To Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, fora group of remarsably well-grown Nepenthes (Pitcher planis), chiefiy hybrids, interesting and beautiful, the mosi noiiceable being N. Chelsoni, Masiersiana, Dicksoniana, and Veiichi. To Messrs. Paul & Son, ihe “« Old” Nurseries, Cheshuni, for a larse and mosi mteresiing group of hardy spring flowers, com- prising about twelve varieties of the early-fiowering Sanxifrages in fiower, and other typical varieties; also the beautiful Chiono- doxa sardensis, Ranunculus anemonoides, the preity hitile An- drosace Laggeri, Galanthus plicaius, well-flowered planis of the Fairy and Polyantha Roses, some as standards, which were exiremely preity and much admired; and with them were the followimg new Roses: The Bride, The Puritan, Colonel Félix Bretton, and Lady Alice. To T. B. Bryant, Esq., Juniper Hill, Dorking (gardener, Mr. C. Beckett), for an extremely fime specimen of Dendrobium nobile var. Wallichi. The plant was about four feet across, literally clothed with flowers, and m ithe most robust health. Bronze Banksian Medal. To Messrs. Barr & Son, King Sireei, Covent Garden, for a group of Daffodils (m pots), principally of the trumpet section, and pans of Crocuses, of such good soris as biflorus, Weldeni alba, Imperaii, aureus, Sieberi (lilac), Olivieri (orange),&c. The Committee expressed a desire io see C. Sieber versicolor again. To the St. George’s Nursery Company, Hanwell, for a well- fiowered group of Cyclamens. First-class Certificate. To Cypripedium Rothschildianum (unanimous), from Lord EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. XKRV Rothschild, Tring Park, Tring (gardener, Mr. E. Hill); a magnifi- cent species, of the type represented by C. Stonei. The indi- vidual blooms are large, the labellum boat-shaped, and of a rich maroon colour, the dorsal and lower sepals broad and regularly marked with bands of maroon on a greenish-white ground. To Cymbidium eburneo-Lowianum X (unanimous), from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons; a handsome hybrid between the species the titles of which are incorporated in the name given. The flowers are a pale buff colour, the lip creamy-white, with a zone of purplish-crimson, and a white margin. To Amaryllis John Ruskin (unanimous), from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons ; a grand variety, with large flowers of fine form ; colour rich crimson. To Iris Rosenbachiana (nine for, five against), from Mrs. Whitbourn, Great Gearies, Ilford (gardener, Mr. J. Douglas), and Messrs. Barr & Son; a dwarf-growing species, bearing compara- tively large flowers of a pale biue colour, marked with violet and golden yellow. To Primrose Blue Gem (twelve for, eleven against), from Mr. R. Dean, Ranelagh Road, Ealing; a variety of the acaulis type, with large flowers of a deep bluish shade, having an orange centre. To Primula sinensis Imperial White (fifteen for, three against), from Mr. R. Owen, The Nursery, Maidenhead ; a distinct variety, bearing large semi-double white flowers. To Clivia Lady Wolverton (unanimous), from Lord Wolver- ton, Iwerne Minster, Blandford (gardener, Mr. P. Davidson) ; a very fine variety, with enormous trusses of large flowers, bright orange-red, with a yellowish centre. Award of Merit. To Primula petiolaris (thirteen for, six against), from Professor M. Foster, Shelford, Cambridge; a distinct alpine species of small growth, and bearing comparatively large flowers of a bright rosy-lilac hue. To Amaryllis Acquisition (ten for, four against), from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons. Flowers of good shape, bright scarlet, with a band of white along the centre of each segment. To Cyclamen Prince of Wales strain (fifteen for, two against), from the St. George’s Nursery Company. The flowers of large size, and the colour rich rosy-crimson. XXXVl PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Cultural Commendation. To Odontoglossum luteopurpurenm crispatum, from Messrs. Heath & Son, The Nurseries, Cheltenham ; a finely bloomed plant, having three racemes with an aggregate of fifty flowers. Other Exhibits. Mr. B. S. Wiliams, The Nurseries, Upper Holloway, sent an interesting group of plants, comprising the white form of Lycaste Skinneri, Lelia albida bella, Cypripedium Measuresianum X and C. hirsutissimum, Odontoglossum baphicanthum (yellow spotted with chocolate), and Celogyne cristata alba; Azalea Princess of Wales, a double-flowered variety, with large full flowers of good substance, white shaded rose; also a pan of the free-flowerimg Primula fioribunda. Cut flowers were sent of a double-flowered variety of Spar- mannia africana, of which the Committee desired to see plants. Messrs. Heath & Son sent Masdevallia Heathi X, a hybrid between M. Veitchi and M. ignea rubescens. The Duke of Marlborough, Blenheim Park, Woodstock (gardener, Mr. T. Whellans), sent Cypripedium Elhottianum, which is probably only a form of C. Rothschildianum. Sir G. Macleay, Pendell Court, Bletchingley (gardener, Mr. F. Ross), sent flowers of the pretty Hardenbergia Compioniana, Mautisia Clematis, Canarma Campanula, the Brazilian Calliandra Tweediana—a beautiful stove plant—and a healthy stem of Aralia Veitchi, which had been grown planted out in a green- house temperature. Mr. Gordon, The Nursery, Twickenham, sent cut flowers of Japanese, Camellias—curious and showy—and three planis in flower of Japanese Azaleas. Mr. J. Douglas sent the beautiful Hyacinthus azureus—quite a gem. The Duke of Northumberland, Albury Park, Guildford (gar- dener, Mr. W. C. Leach), sent some boxes of excellently grown Violets, the varieties consisting of De Parme, Neapolitan, Marie Louise, and Swanley White. Mr. H. B. May, Dyson’s Lane Nursery, Upper Edmonton, sent plants of Hose-in-Hose Polyanthus—rose, red, and crimson— useful for decoration. Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons sent Dendrobium Schneiderianum, % EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. XXXVI the result of a cross between D. aureum and D. Findlayanum ; the sepals and petals are tipped and shaded with rose-magenta. From the Society’s Gardens, Chiswick, were sent some plants in flower of the pretty Saxifraga Burseriana. Mr. R. Owen sent Genista Oweniana, producing freely spikes of bright yellow flowers. Mr. Owen was requested to send three blooms, and also a plant of an Ivy-leaved Pelargonium, exhibited with a single bloom only. A single flower of a mauve-coloured Japanese Chrysanthe- mum, named Mrs. J. N. Gerrard, was shown. I’. Gledstanes, Hsq., Manor House, Gunnersbury (gardener, Mr. R. Manning), sent some examples of Primula sinensis Mannine’s Seedling—of the Chiswick Red type. Mr. F. Foreman, Eskbank Nursery, Midlothian, sent Skimmia macrophylla, which was referred to Dr. Masters for examination. Mr. A. J. Mando, 139 Barry Road, Kast Dulwich, sent a coloured drawing of the new American Chrysanthemum, Mrs. Alpheus Hardy. FRUIT COMMITTEE. R. D. Buackmore, Esq., in the Chair, and twenty members present. Awards Recommended :— Cultural Conymendation. To Mr. P. Blair, gardener to the Duke of Sutherland, Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, for fine well-grown Calville Blanche apples, from trees grown in 11-inch pots, under glass—almost equal to those from the South of France, where it is cultivated largely, the fruit being sold in Paris at a high price. This apple, which is too tender for open-air cultivation in this country, is well worth the extra trouble of pot culture. As a dessert fruit, its rich tender flesh is unequalled. Other Exhibits. Mr. W. Divers, Wierton House Gardens, Maidstone, sent 14 varieties of apples, fairly well kept—Ribston Pippin, Winter Hawthornden, Stone Pippin, and Pile’s Russet being the most meritorious. XXXV1l1 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE. Sir J. D. Hooker in the Chair, and thirteen members present. Injuries to Trees by Hoar Frost.—Additional and corrobora- tive information was received from Mr. Plowright, of Lynn, of the remarkable occurrence, described at the last meeting, of boughs of various trees being broken off by the extraordinary deposit of crystals of rime upon them. As no snow had fallen during the period, it was impossible to attribute the results to such acause. There had been excessive fog previous to January 7, 1889 ; the rime forming upon the telephone wires was so great that they were broken down. ‘The ice was deposited unilaterally like flat sheets of glass, 15 to 2 inches in width on the south side. On the 8th wasa thaw. The result of the frost was that a birch had a branch amounting to one-third of the tree broken off; the smaller branches particularly suffered. The elms were most injured, branches of all sizes being broken off, even large arms, one measuring 5 feet 6 inches in circumference, and 1 foot 10 inches in diameter. To such an extent was the roadway covered with débris that the market carts were greatly impeded. Oaks, willows, and poplars also suffered; but ashes and Scotch firs escaped. Several photographs and broken branches were sent as illustrations of the way in which the damage was effected, for Mr. Plowright noticed that fracture without falling was a distinct feature of rime-injuries to trees, excepting to willows and poplars, the vast majority of whose branches fell to the eround. It was a remarkable sight, for example, to observe the broken but still pendent branches of the oaks upon the Hillington Road, hanging on them for some weeks afterwards, and all on the south side. Mr. W. G. Smith recorded and figured in the Gardening World for March 20, 1886 (p. 457), a very similar occurrence at Dunstable, due on that occasion to frost, fog, and wind com- bined. The ice formed sheets as thin as paper, about 2 inches wide, and attached to the leeward sides of the boughs, but at intervals only to the wood, thus forming a series of arches. He attributed this fact to the warmer temperature of the living shoots, which melted the ice throughout the greater part. These blades of ice were about 2 feet long. Any little extra wind caused a stir among the branches like the sound of breaking glass. Tor EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. XXxX1X several days previously the frost had been very severe, the hills at the same time being continuously hidden by wet fog, which was driven gently along by a biting wind from the north-east. Barley Smut.—A communication was received from Mr. Plowright with specimens of Ustilago segetum, showing, in accordance with M. Jensen’s opinion, two forms or species—one, the commoner, U. nuda, so called because the spores are almost naked ; the other, U. tecta, because the spores are enclosed in a membranous capsule. They form, moreover, much more com- pact masses, and resist the disintegrating influences of the weather for a much longer period than do the spores of U. nuda. M. Jensen has also arrived at the conclusion, on biological grounds, that the smuts of wheat, of barley, and of oats are distinct species, and incapable of infecting other than their proper host plant. Brefeld concluded that the spores of U. segetum formed yeast colonies in sterilised farmyard manure, and concluded that cereals became infected by farmyard manure. Mr. Plowright was unable to confirm this view. Galanthus Elwesi diseased.—Professor Marshall Ward re- ported upon the specimens forwarded by Mr. Barr to the last meeting. It appears that the fungus infesting the plants was a different species from the “Lily disease,’’ and proved to be a form of Sclerotinia (Peziza), of which the parasitic state was the so-called ‘ Botrytis’ stage. Professor Ward has succeeded in infecting the common snowdrop. Inly ‘“ Botrytis,’ Cultwre of—Professor Ward exhibited specimens of his culture of this fungus. They were obtained from single spores, one in each of thirty flasks. The spore had produced a large quantity of mycelium until the nutrient fluid was nearly exhausted, when an immense quantity of black sclerotia was formed. Abies bracteata Cone.—Dr. Masters exhibited a cone of this tree from a tree grown under the care of Mr. Coleman, of Eastnor Castle Gardens. It is remarkable for the long linear bracts accompanying the scales. Questions were raised as to the use of them, and how they could assist in the dispersion of the seeds. The cone when ripe is said to fall to pieces. Skimmia japonica.—Dr. Masters has reinvestigated this plant, and finds that it is not known in Japan, but is really of Chinese origin. Mr. Fortune first brought it from the latter xl PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. country. The true §. japonica is the plant known in gardens under various names, oblata, fragrantissima, &c. Crocus with ‘ Ephemeral Roots.’’—Dr. F. W. Oliver exhibited some crocus corms with tuberous roots. In this case the small corms, developed at the top of the old one, are provided with thick, fleshy, spindle or conical shaped roots, in direct prolonga- tion of the axis of the young corm. ‘They act as reservoirs of nutriment, in addition to the young corm itself. As they serve a temporary purpose only, Mr. G. Maw gave them the above name. Dr. Masters observed that they are quite different from the so-called ‘‘ droppers’? common in tulips, &e., which consist of a bent leaf-scale with an attached bulbil. GENERAL MEETING. Marcu 26, 1889. D. Morris, Esq., M.A., F.L.S. (Treasurer R.H.S.), in the Chair. ELECTIONS. Fellows, 24.—Frank A. Bevan, Mrs. Frank A. Bevan, Mrs. Bindlass, Chas. §. Broad, Albert Butcher, Thos. Butler, Alfred Richard Creyke, Mrs. Alfred Richard Creyke, Miss Gertrude Creyke, James Henry Crofts, B. R. Davis, Samuel James, Miss Johnson, Augustus Miles, Alfred Field Powell, Hon. Caroline Mary Powys, C. R. Scrase-Dickins, Mrs. Silver, Ernest Hartland South, Henry John Tallentire, Thomas Thompson, George Tidd, Charles Toope, Henry Edward Vickers. The following papers were read :—(1) ‘‘ Historical Notes on Dutch Hyacinths,” by Heer A. E. Baarnart. (2) ‘‘ The Culti- vation of Hyacinths in Holland,” by Heer T. H. Kersten. (8) ‘The Hyacinth from an English Point of View,’ by Mr. James Douglas, F.R.H.S. FLORAL COMMITTEE. W. MarsHatt, Esq., in the Chair, and ten members present. Awards Recommended :— Silver Gilt Banksian Medal. To Mr. G. Phippen, The Nursery, Reading, for an extensive EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. xli eroup of Hyacinths, Tulips, Lilies-of-the-Valley, and other spring-flowering plants, interspersed with Palms and Ferns. Silver Banksian Medal. To Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Royal Exotic Nursery, Chel- sea, for collections of Hyacinths and Amaryllis. Amongst the former the following were the most noticeable varieties: James Watt, flowers of a distinct purple hue; Snowball, fine white ; La Grandesse, large bells, one of the finest of the whites ; King of the Blues; Salmon King, a distinct variety ; Yellow Hammer, a& new variety, spikes massive, colour pale yellow, and Gari- baldi, bright red. The Amaryllis included Faust, a handsome variety, bearing large finely-formed flowers of a brilliant crimson colour, with a white bar down the centre of each segment ; Ceres, flowers crimson, marked with broad bands of white ; and Teren- tian, to which a First Class Certificate was awarded. To Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, The Nurseries, Forest Hill, for a showy group of plants, composed of Dendrobium Wardianum ; several varieties of Cattleya Triane—Delicata aurea being very fine—and several named varieties of Clivia, viz.: Louise Cremer, Mrs. Laing, Sulphurea, Madame Van Houtte, and B. §. Williams—the latter excellent; also three seedlings of considerable merit. To Messrs. Barr & Son, King Street, Covent Garden, for an attractive display of Daffodils and other hardy flowers. Amongst the former were pans of such gems as Narcissus minimus and minor, and flowers of the distinct Johnstoni; and amongst the latter the pretty Scilla bifolia alba, Puschkinia lbanotica com- pacta, the pale-coloured Chionodoxa cretensis albiflora, and Hepatica triloba alba, well grown. First Class Certificate. To Chvia John Laing (votes, seven for), from Messrs. J. Laing & Sons; a magnificent variety, bearing a strong spike of brilliant orange-scarlet flowers of large and fine form. To Amaryllis Terentian (votes, unanimous), from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, a superb variety; the flowers of average size, perfect in form, and of a rich crimson colour. To Saxifraga Malyi (votes, seven for, three against), from Messrs. Paul & Son, ‘‘ Old’ Nurseries, Cheshunt; a distinct and handsome species of vigorous growth—flowers pale yellow. wn PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. To Prmrose Mikado (voies, five for, four against), from Mr. R. Dean, Ranelagh Road, Ealmg, bearing fiowers of a nich eximson colour, with white margin. To Shoriia galacifolia (votes, unanimous), from H. J. Elwes, Esq., Preston House, Cirencester ; miroduced from the Allechany Mounitais, and, so far asis known, the first imme the species has fiowered in Europe—a beautiful alpime allied to the Pyrola, of dense srowih, small white campanulaie flowers. Award of Merit. To Hyacmih Yellow Hammer (votes, unanimous), from Messrs. J. Vaetich & Sons; massive spikes, the flowers of fime form, colour bnzhi yellow. Other Exhibits. Messrs. Paul & Son sent a charming group of Hardy Planis, consisting of the followmg mieresimg species of Roses: The irue York and Lancaster, Rivers’ Musk, Miznoneiie, and Vimdi- flora; several varieties of Mouian Pzonies, and a good plani of the white Lilac Mane Lemome, a very fine variety ; and Azalea Princess Clementime, a pure white variety of much value; also the followmg Saxifrages: 5S. Malyi, 8S. coriophylla, a demse- eTrowing species, bearing pure white flowers; S. opposiiifolia, bearing a profusion of nch purple flowers, and the early-flowernme form of Anemone pulsaiilla. W. Clay, Esg., Elm Villa, Kimgsion-on-Thames (gardener, Mr. W. Hibburt), seni a collection of Cyclamen persicum m flower. Earl Brownlow, Ashndge, Great Berkhampsiead (gardener, Mr. R. B. Lowe), seni a fimely flowered spray of Fortune’s Yellow Rose—a singularly beautiful waneiy, the flowers of a warm apricot colour. This may be remembered as flowermg profusely many years ago on the roof of the old Rose House at Chiswick. Sir George Macleay, Pendell Couri, Bleichingley, sent ent speci- mens of Brunstfelsia (Franciscea) calycina and B. grandifiora, from specimens planted out im an intermediate house, and three kinds of Brownea—viz., B. coccimea, an atiracitve species, brillant scarlet, free-flowermg; B. hybnda, somewhat larger; and B. srandiceps, the fimest of all these imieresiing shrubs. These were cuit from small specimens planted out m an ee house. % % EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. xh Mr. R. Sydenham, Birmingham, sent some well-developed Hyacinths, growing in cocoanut fibre refuse and shell shingle. Messrs. J. Carter & Co., 287-8 High Holborn, sent Cineraria Emperor Frederick, a very distinct variety; also cut flowers of Cinerarias. ORCHID COMMITTEE. Sir Trevor LAWRENCE in the Chair, and thirteen members present. A large number of Orchids were staged by various exhibitors on the occasion of the first sitting of the Orchid Section of the Floral Committee. The President of the Society exhibited a eroup of very fine Orchids, prominent being a large and well- flowered specimen of Cattleya Triane Eboracensis, some purple- spotted varieties of Odontoglossum Pescatorei, O. Ruckerianum, O. Andersonianum, Spathoglottis aurea (Kimballiana), Cym- bidium Devonianum, and Oncidium superbiens. Mrs. Whitbourn of Great Gearies, sent a magnificent specimen of Cymbidium eburneum, with about twenty-five fine flowers expanded; the Rev. EK. Handley, of Bath, a superb form of Oncidium ma- eranthum, with a like number of flowers; A. H. Smee, Ksq.,of The Grange, Hackbridge, a small group of good Orchids; and the large collection of plants in flower staged by Mr. John Laing, of Forest Hull, was plentifully sprinkled with Dendrobes, including D. crassinode album, Odontoglossums, &c. Messrs. Jas. Veitch & Son sent their home-raised hybrid Dendrobium micans X, obtained from D. Wardianum and D. lituiflorum. Among cut specimens a noble spike of the handsome Odontoglossun Stevensui (certificated previously), bearing eighteen flowers, measuring four inches by four and a half, came from Baron Schroder’s garden; and J.C. Pickersgill, Esq., of Blendon Hall, Bexley, forwarded a noble spike of white Odontoglossum crispum, and some very large flowers of Lycaste Skinneri. Awards :— First Class Certificate. To Oncidium superbiens, from Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P. (gardener, Mr. Bickerstaffe). To Dendrobium micans X, from Messrs. Jas. Veitch & Son, Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea. xliv PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Award of Merit. To Dendrobium melanodiscus X (Ainsworthii and Findlay- anum), from Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P. To Cattleya Triane var.,from Mr. Bruce Findlay, Botanic Gardens, Manchester. To Cattleya Schroder alba, from A. H. Smee, Esq. (gardener, Mr. Cummins). Botanical Certificate. To Masdevallia Chestertonii, from A. H. Smee, Esq. To Masdevalha triangularis, from Si Trevor Lawrence, Bart, M.P. Cultural Commendation. To Odontoglossum Stevensi, from Baron Schroder (gardener, Mr. H. Ballantine). ~To Cymbidium eburneum, from Mrs. Whitbourn (gardener, Mr. J. Douglas). To Odontoglossum crispum, fine white, and Lycaste Skinnerii, with large flowers, from J. C. Pickersgill, Esq., Bexley. To Oncidium macranthum, a fine variety, and remarkably well grown, from the Rev. E. Handley, Bath. Vote of Thanks. To Sir Chas. W. Strickland, Bart., for well-grown Cattleya citrina. To A. H. Smee, Esq., for Cyrtopodium Saintlegerianum. To Mr. G. T. White, for two very large varieties of Odonto- glossum triumphans. Plants sent to Name. Zygopetalum sp. imported, from T. G. H. Eley, Esq., Hatcham. Mr. O’Brien said. this was identical with a form of Zygopetalum Clayii X raised in this country, and was doubt- less a natural hybrid of the same parentage. Cymbidium sp. from Mr. Swan, gardener to G. C. Raphael, Esq., Englefield Green. Referred to Scientific Committee. Cyrtopodium sp. from Mr. Jas. Hudd, Gordon House, Blackheath Park. Referred to Scientific Committee. EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. xlv FRUIT COMMITTEE. Sir C. W. SrricKLAND, Bart., in the Chair, and eighteen members present. Award Recommended :— Cultural Commendation. To W. F. Hume Dick, Esq., Thames Ditton House, Thames Ditton (Mr. W. Palmer, gardener), for a dish of well-grown Black Hambro’ Grapes. Other Exhibit. Messrs. W. & J. Brown, Stamford, sent Apple Shillaker’s Seedling, which was not considered equal to other kinds in cultivation. SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE. Dr. M. T. Masters in the Chair, and ten members present. Cocoa-nut attacked by Coccus.—Mr. Mclachlan exhibited leaves and a young cocoa-nut received from Jamaica severely at- tacked by two species of coccus, Fiorinia pellucida, Signoret, in abundance, and Mytilaspis buxi, Sign. (M. Pandani, Colwstock), more sparingly. This diseased condition was prevalent in the West Indies. Mr. Morris remarked that cocoa-nuts in Jamaica first appeared to be attacked in 1881, after the cyclone in 1880. He had seen a plantation of 25,000 trees badly infested. The planters attributed their unhealthy condition in 1881 to the snapping of the roots in the cyclone of the previous year, whereby, the vitality of the trees being affected by the injury to the roots, they became an easy prey to the cocci. The insect attacks the outside fronds in the first instance, giving the trees the ap- pearance of having been scorched. The older trees were de- scribed as bearing ‘ blasted fruit.”” The usual remedies of sulphur spray or kerosene emulsion being impracticable, it was suggested that smoke might be partially effective. Whatever be the remedy adopted, Mr. McLachlan observed that it should always be applied just at the time when the larve are being hatched. Effects on Plants of London Fog.—Mr. Dyer suggested that statistics should be collected on the nature and effects of London fog upon plants in and around the metropolis during the winter. xlvi PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. He said that they had not much ground for complaint at Kew until the winter of 1887-88. The fog proved injurious in two ways. First, in forming an oily deposit of dirt, which was left on all the glass houses. This was so thick and of so intractable a character that every pane had to be washed by hand. The houses looked as if they had slate roofs instead of being glazed. The same result occurred in the winter of 1888-89. Secondly, with regard to the injury to plants, it seemed out of all pro- portion to the nature of the fog, especially so on orchids. Thus, €.g., When a fog comes on, the inflorescence of species of Phalen- opsis breaks up, and the flowers, disarticulating, fall off. Many plants suffer more or less, and especially such as have a more tender foiage. Mr. Dyer remarked that the young foliage of a Carpenteria growing on a south wall did not suffer, while another plant under glass, with possibly tenderer foliage, was severely injured. The fogs extended even as far as Dorking, for Sir Trevor Lawrence lost a large number of flowers in a few hours. Mr. Veitch remarked that he found injurious effects to follow the two kinds of fogs, those caused by London smoke, and the ordinary country white fogs. In the dull weather accompanying the latter, flowers would not expand properly, as, e.g., was par- ticularly the case with early varieties of Lelia anceps. The yellow fogs of London had been getting steadily worse for the last twenty years. Camellias frequently lost their buds, especially certain kinds, as double whites. A peculiar feature observed by Mr. Veitch was that the fog seemed to gum up the buds at a certain stage of development. LEither before or after that particular period of growth the buds were unafiecied by the fog. He mentions that 1,000 flowers of Catileyas were lost im three weeks. Galanthus Elwesi diseased.—A letter was received from Mr. Barr, who had forwarded the diseased bulbs on which Professor M. Ward reported at the last meeting. He attrbuted the presence of the parasitic fungus as indirectly due to cultivation and to too rich a soil, from the following facts. In the garden whence the diseased plants had come Mr. Barr found that they had all disappeared except from places overgrown with grass and in a wild natural condition. There they were healthy and strong. His impression is that snowdrops cannot stand too much cultivation. Whether it be the manure or the soft spongy EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. xlvil nature of prepared soil he could not say, but with him they die out in such a medium, whereas an escape on the hard margin of a bed grows and flowers well. It is the same with many other bulbs. In the centre of the bed they will perish, while the plants on the edge, which has been trodden down, will thrive. Tn an orchard where G. Elwesi was growing they were best in a position near to the roots of trees and in the most shaded parts. Mr. Barr suspects that fungus diseases are therefore correlated with uncongenial conditions, and that the cure rests in more attention to Nature’s laws. Mr. Wilson observed that in his experience snowdrops grew well in a rich soil. This was also Mr. McLachlan’s, except that they became double. While it was suggested that manure might be the source of the spores of the fungi, Mr. Dyer remarked that no variation in the soil could have had anything to do with the production of the fungus. It was observed that, like the cocoa- nuts described above, some lowering of vitality appeared to render herbaceous plants more receptive of fungi, and the causes might be various, including high cultivation, which stimulated the vegetative system. Rime, Phenomena of.—A communication was received from Rev. L. Blomefield, to whom the Secretary had forwarded Mr. Plowright’s account of injuries to trees by rime, and the photo- sraphs of broken trees, with inquiries if he had ever experienced a similar occurrence. In reply, he said that he had only once seen such excessive rime at Swaffham Vicarage, ‘‘ when all the twigs of the trees, even the slenderest, were so enveloped in long spicule, standing out perpendicularly to the length of an inch or two at least, as to resemble bottle-brushes. The effects were injurious in some cases, but not to the extent of large boughs of trees being broken. ..... . Fog, combined with a very low temperature and a perfectly still air, I suppose to be essential conditions.’ Mr. Plowright forwarded a large bough with several branches broken through and hanging upon it, illustrating the remarkable effects of rime near Lynn. Plants exhibited.—Shortia galacifolia, by Mr. H. J. Elwes, a native of the Alleghanies, flowering for the first time in Europe; it appears to be allied to Pyrola. Anoiganthus breviflorus, Baker, a new Amaryllid from Natal with yellow flowers. Crocus vernus var. leucorhyneus. Narcissus minimus, brought xlvili PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. from the Asturias by Mr. Maw, flowering a fortnight or more earlier than those in ordinary cultivation. Kyllingia mono- cephala, Symplocarpus feetidus, &c. The preceding were brought by Mr. Lynch from the Botanic Gardens, Cambridge, to whom a vote of thanks was given. GENERAL MEETING. Aprit 9, 1889. Rev. W. Wriuxs, M.A. (Secretary R.H.S.), in the Chair. ELECTIONS. Fellows, 30.— Mrs. Aitkin, William Laurence Baker, S. Lee Bapty, Arthur Baxter, Mrs. L. W. F. Behrens, T. B. Bolitho, ~MP., Herbert Edward Curtis, John Robert Featherby, Miss C. S. Flint, Mrs. Garth, Mrs. Grout, Thomas Hall, George Hammond, John Hingston, Miss Hutton, Sumner Jones, Dr. C. Mordaunt Matthew, Albert Molineux, Harold G. Morris, T. B. Morton, Henry R. Rainger, Mrs. Francis Ricardo, Samuel Ryder, junr., Christer P. Sandberg, C.E., Henry Sibray, James Benjamin Slade, Hon. Mrs. Alex. Stewart, John G. Treseder, William Charles Wigley, Bernard G. Wilson. The following papers were read :—(1) ‘‘ The Narcissus,” by Mr. F. W. Burbidge, M.A., F.L.S., M.R.LA. (2) “Seedling Daffodils,’ by the Rev. G. H. Engleheart, M.A., F.R.H.S. (3) ‘Observations on Portuguese Narcissi,’’ by Mr. Alfred W. Tait, F.L.S. FLORAL COMMITTEE. W. MarsHaty, Esq., in the Chair, and sixteen members present. Awards Recommended :— Gold Medal. . To Baron Schroder, The Dell, Egham (gardener, Mr. H. Ballantine), for a magnificent group of Orchids—the most note- worthy examples being Dendrobium Jamesianum ; D. nobile nobilius, the most richly coloured of the several forms of this fine old species; D. nobile elegans, very beautiful; D. nobile album, a pale form of great beauty; D. euosmum leucopterum, EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. xlix a charming hybrid, to which a First Class Certificate was awarded; D. splendidissimum grandiflorum, a superb form ; Cattleya speciosissima Schroderiana, a beautiful variety ; Lelia harpophylla, bearing several spikes of its brilliantly coloured flowers; and the following Odontoglossums: O. Wilckeanum pallens, bearing a magnificent raceme of flowers; O. elegans, O. Coradinei, O. triumphans, O. Wilckeanum, and O. aspersum superbum. Silver Gilt Banksian. To Messrs. F. Sander & Co., The Nurseries, St. Albans, for a magnificent group of Orchids, especially noticeable being Dendrobium Dalhousianum, very fine, D. Devonianum, D. trans- parens, Odontoglossum Halli leucoglossum, Cymbidium Lowi- anum, and Oncidium bifolium. Silver Banksian. To Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., Burford Lodge, Dorking (gardener, Mr. W. Bickerstaffe), for an interesting group of Orchids, amongst which Cypripedium Curtisu, a handsome species with beautifully marked foliage; Aeranthus Leonis; Lycaste Schilleriana, rare and distinct ; Cymbidium Dayanum, bearing several well-developed spikes; Odontoglossum Harryanum ; and Catasetum barbatum proboscideum, a singular form. To F. G. Tautz, Esq., Studley House, Goldhawk Road, W. (gardener, Mr. J. C. Cowley), for a group of Orchids : Cymbidium eburneum, very fine; the Studley House form of Cypripedium villosum, flowers of a golden hue; Miltonia vexillaria purpurea, a high-coloured form which was awarded a certificate; and Cattleya speciosissima Bella Donna, a distinct variety, highly coloured. To Mr. T. 8S. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham, for an extensive group of cut Daffodils, comprising Sir Watkin ; Colleen Bawn, a beautiful form of Moschatus ; The Emperor and Empress, especially good; Princess Mary of Cambridge, Queen Bess, and Horsfieldii. Anemones were likewise admirably shown. To Messrs. Barr & Son, Covent Garden, for a group of Daffodils: Henry Irving, of large size and richly coloured; Duchess of Brabant, distinct and handsome; and Rugilobus variiformis, a beautiful variety belonging to the bicolor section. Anemones were also well shown and in great variety. The Royal Gardens, Kew, sent a beautiful and interesting s l PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. group of plants, comprising several Primulas well grown and flowered, such as P. Clusiana; P. margimata coerulea, a handsome variety, bearing flowers of a bright blue shade ; and the rare P. petiolaris. Some good Orchids were likewise shown, including the white-flowered Diacrium (Epidendrum) bicornutum, of great beauty ; Resirepia elegans and Pleurothallis insignis. Amongst miscellaneous subjects were Rudgea macrophylla; Columnia Kalbreyeri, with large yellow flowers ; Hyoscyamus orientalis, a handsome species with purplish flowers ; and Godwinia gigas, having a well-developed spathe. Award of Merit. To Rose (H.P.) Gloire de Margoitiin, from Messrs. H. Lane & Son, The Nurseries, Great Berkhampsiead, as a forcing Rose (votes, unanimous), bearing medium-sized, well-formed rich erim- son flowers. Culiural Commendation. To Carnation Souvenir de la Malmaison, a well-flowered plant, from H. M. Houldsworth, Esq., Wilton, Salisbury. Other Exhibits. Sir George Macleay, Pendell Court, Bletchingley, sent cut specimens of Mutisia Clematis, very attractive with its large pendulous searlet flowers. It is a cool greenhouse climber, and blooms freely for a considerable period ofthe year. Kennedya rubicunda was likewise noticeable with its rich crimson flowers. Mr. R. Dean, Ealing, sent several very pretty Hardy Prim- roses; also cut flowers of Polyanthus Evagil, of which the Committee requested to see plants. Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, sent Amaryllis Sirocco, a noble crimson flower. Mrs. Shilson, Tremough, Penrhyn, Cornwall (gardener, Mr. R. Gill), sent cut blooms of Himalayan Rhododendrons, very fine, from plants growing in the open air. Messrs. Vilmorin, Andrieux & Co., Paris, sent some planis in fiower of the French strain of Cimerarias. Mr. H. B. May, The Nursery, Upper Edmonton, sent Pieris Rex, a promising variety, which the Committee requested to see again. Mr. W. Gordon, The Nursery, Twickenham, sent several Tree Pzonies in flower. EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. ji ORCHID COMMITTEE. Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P. (President R.H.S.), in the Chair, and eight members present. The meeting was marked by a very fine gathering of Orchids, not only as regards rarity and beauty, but also in quantity, the greater portion of the staging running up the middle of the Hall being taken up by them. Foremost must be placed the large group staged by Mr. H. Ballantine, from Baron Schroder’s collection at The Dell, Egham, to which was awarded a Gold Medal, and which was remarkable for a fine representative collection of varieties of Dendrobium nobile, ranging from the almost pure white with maroon eye D. nobile (Schroder’s var.) to the rich crimson D. nobile nobilius; the D. nobile Cooksonii, with petals blotched with purple like the lip, to the fine old D. nobile elegans. Dendrobium Ainsworthii, too, was represented by fine specimens; also the new D. euosmum leucopterum, D. Jamesianum, the flowers snow-white with orange lip, D. barbatulum, and other Dendrobes. Odontoglossums in this fine group were O. Hinnus, O. elegans, and several very fine forms of Wilckeanum. Among Cattleyas was a noble specimen of the rosy-crimson C. Lawrenceana, with twenty-two flowers ; and Lelias were represented by a many-spiked specimen of the scarlet L. cinnabarina, and the extremely rare L. Jonghe- ana, with rose-coloured flowers five inches across, the ridges on the centre of the lip being bright orange. A Silver Gilt Banksian Medal was awarded to Messrs. F. Sander & Co., of St. Albans, for a fine group of well-grown specimens, comprising Odontoglossum Halli, O. H. leucoglos- sum, an elegant specimen of Dendrobium transparens, literally covered with pale lilac flowers; another of the closely allied D. marmoratum, and an equally fine specimen of D. Deyonianum, not often seen of such great size. A large specimen of Cattleya Skinneri, one of the rich crimson-lipped C. Triane superba, a good C. Lawrenceana, a fine specimen of the rare golden Onci- dium bifolium majus, and the pure white Trichopilia suavis alba, were also in Messrs. F. Sander & Co.’s collection. To Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P.,and also to F. G. Tautz, EKsq., Studley House, Goldhawk Road, were awarded Silver Medals for groups of rare Orchids, that from the President of the §2 li PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Society being rich in rare plants of special botanical interest, as well as showy species exceptionally well flowered. The white and fragrant Aeranthus Leonis had two sprays of ten flowers ; the rare Cymbidium eburneum Dayanum, with purple spots on the lips of its waxlke white flowers, had eleven large blossoms; Cypri- pedium Curtisu was perhaps never so well shown; and Lycaste Schilleriana, Catasetum barbatum proboscideum, and Restrepia elegans, most singular and beautiful species. A new white Epidendrum was also exhibited by Mr. Bickerstaffe from the Bur- ford Lodge collection with the others enumerated. In Mr. Tautz’s group the most rare and beautiful plant was Miltonia vexillaria purpurea, with large flat purplish rose flowers—the best of the coloured M. vexillarias. A magnificent specimen of Cymbidium eburneum also bore twenty-four large white tlowers; Miltonia vexillaria leucoglossa had a fine spray of nearly white flowers ; and the true Cypripedium villosum aureum, which has the dorsal sepal almost wholly yellow, was exhibited. From the Royal Gardens, Kew, and staged with the wonderful collection of Aroids and other plants from those gardens, was a large mass of the white Diacrium (Epidendrum) bicornutum with ten fine sprays—a marvel and a triumph of good culture of this difficult plant. The elegant Pleurothallis insignis was also in the Kew group, and an interesting lot of terrestrial Orchids—comprising Orchis Morio picta, O. pallens, O. longi- bracteata, and O. arachnites. Messrs. James Veitch & Son sent a hybrid Dendrobe between D. Wardianum and D. aureum, and evidently intermediate in character, but not strong enough to judge. Mr. Blair sent from Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent, a fine hybrid Odontoglossum named QO. Sutherlandii, with yellowish flowers spotted with reddish brown; George Firth, Esq., of Manningham Thorps, near Bradford, a cut spray of the pure white variety of Phalen- opsis Schilleriana, which, in addition to its having white flowers, has also the strong rose scent of the coloured variety, of which also a fine spray was sent, and another of P. amabilis. Messrs. Hugh Low & Co. sent a plant of the rich crimson spotted Cypri- pedium bellatulum. Awards Recommended :— Awards for Groups of Orchids. Gold Medal to Baron Schroder (gardener, Mr. H. Ballantine) ; EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. ii Silver Gilt Banksian Medal to Messrs. F. Sander & Co.; Silver Medal to Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P. (gardener, Mr. Bickerstaffe) ; Silver Medal to F. G. Tautz, Esq. (gardener, Mr. Cowley). First Class Certificate. To Dendrobium euosmum leucopterum X (Baron Schroder). To Miltonia vexillaria purpurea (I. G. Tautz, Ksq.). Botanical Certificate. To Lycaste Schilleriana (Sir Trevor Lawrence) ; Catasetum barbatum proboscideum (Sir Trevor Lawrence); Restrepia elegans (Sir Trevor Lawrence). Award of Merit. To Oncidium bifolium majus (1°. Sander & Co.). FRUIT COMMITTEE. Rh. D. Buacxmore, Esq., in the Chair, and seventeen members present. Awards Recommended :— Award of Merit. To Cucumber Covent Garden Favourite, from Mr. W. Unwin, The Piazzas, Covent Garden Market (votes, unanimous); a uniform, handsome-shaped fruit, stated to be a variety much appreciated for market purposes. Cultural Commendation. To Mr. J. T. Harris, Great Lodge, Tonbridge, for Strawberry Harris’s Al Early Forcing. Fourteen plants bearing fruit were shown. The fruit is large, cockscombed, somewhat flat, and of a pale-red colour. The Committee expressed a desire to have the variety sent to Chiswick for trial. Other Exhibits. Mr. R. Dean, Ranelagh Road, Ealing, sent examples of Potato Dean’s Early Sunrise, a very early variety. Mr. W. Divers, Wierton House Gardens, Maidstone, sent heads of an ‘‘ Improved Purple Sprouting Broccoli,” which was referred to Chiswick for trial. liv PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE. Dr. M. T. Masters in the Chair, and nine members present. Hybrid Ferns.—My. Morris exhibited three sets of seedling varieties of Scolopendrium vulgare, presented to Kew by Mr. E. J. Lowe, F.R.S., of Shirenewton Hall, Chepstow. Mr. Lowe has been investigating the effect of cross-fertilisation of different varieties of British ferns in the prothallium stage. The results have been most interesting and suggestive. If spores from different varieties are sown together the archegonia on the same prothallium are often fertilised by antherozoids derived from other sources, and thus are produced numerous hybrid forms. For instance, the prothallium with the archegonia may be derived from a spore of the rugose variety, while the antherozoids may be obtained from a prothallium of the digitate variety, or from one derived from a marginate variety. In the former case there would be produced a rugose-digitate variety, and in the other a rugose-marginate variety. If after fertilisation the pro- thallium is divided—as was done in nearly 500 instances by Mr. Lowe—the plants derived from it and carefully cultivated have been found to vary considerably, and to partake more or less of the various characteristics of the spore-bearing plants. In the specimens placed before the Committee the conclusions sought to be attained by Mr. Lowe’s experiments were apparently fully borne out. Mr. Dyer alluded to Mr. Lowe's specimens exhibited before the British Association as being very extraordinary in character. He observed that the prothallia of ferns usually bear antheridia first and then archegonia, being thus analogous to protandrous flowers. If left to itself it rarely produces more than one seed- ling, the whole of the energy at the disposal of the prothallium being concentrated in one individual ; but by cutting a prothallium in two, as Mr. Lowe has done, at least one, if not more, arche- gonia could be borne by each half, which then retained its own individuality, each haying possibly been crossed, and thus pro- ducing a different form from the other. He also referred to the fact that it was only during the lifetime of Sir Joseph Banks that the existence of the prothallium of ferns was made known. Oxralis sp.—Mr. Morris also exhibited some bulbs covered EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. lv with remarkable scales of a rich brown colour, apparently of a new species of Oxalis collected in South Africa by Mr. Farini in 1885. The outer scales are an inch in length, entire, and of a linear pointed character. The inner scales are thread-like and wavy. IJnsitwthey are packed closely together, forming a matted cushion round the bulbs. Unfortunately, none of the latter reached this country in a living state. Irom the material avail- able there can be little doubt the plant is a species of Oxalis, but different from anything represented under cultivation. It was suggested that the spiral character of the inner scales may by their hygroscopic character assist the bulbs to rise near the sur- face after rains, and to descend during dry weather. Sclerotinia on Snowdrops.—Professor Marshall Ward ex- hibited one of his very successful cultures of this disease raised from the fungus which attacks snowdrops. He has worked out a very complete life history, which will be hereafter published. With reference to Mr. Barr’s experience of the dying out of snow- drops in a rich soil, Mr. Wilson remarked that he inquired of Mr. Melville, of Dunrobin Gardens, Golspie, N.B., who raises large numbers. His reply is that they do very well with him, his land being a deep, free, black loam resting on an old sea-bottom of gravel and sand. He adds that he thinks snowdrops and other bulbs are very impatient of an adhesive, clayey, or wet and cold, as well as ill-drained soil, good drainage being imperative. The question was raised as to the meaning of the common expression ‘‘ predisposition to disease’’ in plants. Myr. Dyer remarked upon the ambiguous and misleading character of this term, and emphasised the necessity of ascertaining in each case the real cause of an attack by a fungus. ‘Thus, if a hypha entered by the stoma, a varying degree in the size of this organ might make all the difference as to the immunity of a plant from a parasitic attack, which, therefore, would have had nothing to do with the constitution of the plant, and so might not be in the least degree enfeebled. Sir C. Strickland remarked that certain varieties of potatoes had at first been-hable to the disease, but resisted it afterwards. Hence in their case also it might have been due to some such mechanical cause as a thickened cuticle, and not necessarily to an altered constitutional character, Blue Primroses.—Mr. Wilson exhibited a box containing three flowers of ‘‘ Scott Wilson’’ primrose and one flower each of its lyi PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. descendants. Most of them have a more or less blue colour; some having less of the blue-plum colour, and are apparently nearer to a true blue than has been hitherto obtained. Daffodils and Rot.—Rev. C. Wolley Dod forwarded some daffodils suffermg from rot, with the following remarks :— ** Owing, I believe, to the cold spring and summer of last year, rot has been unusually destructive, and I have lost nearly one- third of my crop. I have divided the daffodils sent into two lots. Those in No. 1 are affected with a rot too well known to daffodil-growers. I attribute it to the presence of too much wet in the soil at the ripening stage of growth, assisted by coldness of soil. You will see that few or no new rots are made. The way in which whole clumps die off has led me sometimes to think the disease may be contagious. The bulbs in No. 2 are differently affected, and I think from a different cause. Last year I lost far more daffodils from this affection than I have done this year. I attribute it simply to the mechanical effect of severe late frosts coming when the soil is wet, as the seat of the damage is on the surface line. The violent constriction in the heavy soil caused by the frost cuts the leaves nearly in two, and no further growth is made. These ‘No. 2’ daffodils seem all to have made a healthy start.” The general opinion of the Committee seemed to coincide with Mr. Dod’s, that both results were probably due to some defective conditions of the soil. Im the first case, in which no roots were produced, most probably this was an insufficient drainage; and in the second the decay was due to the land being heavy and wet, and then probably roughly forked over, so that clods were partially resting upon the growing bulbs, which could not satisfactorily raise the foliage. It will be observed that Mr. Melville strongly advocates good drainage, whether it be naturally or artificially made, for all bulbous plants. Warts on Vine Leaves._-Mr. J. Wright sent leaves thus affected from a Black Hamburg vine, a Royal Muscadine in the same house being unaffected. Last year the atmosphere of the house was kept rather moist, and this year mnch drier; but neither condition appeared to have any effect upon the state of the leaves. The cause was suggested by Professor Marshall Ward and others to be deficient ventilation, the effect of this being to increase the humidity of the air to too great an extent ; EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. lvii this in turn produces turgidity of the cells, with a consequent hypertrophied condition, resulting in the so-called ‘“ warts.” Underground Temperature.—Mr. Henslow exhibited tables of curves, showing the variations in the maximum, minimum, air, and underground temperatures at a depth of 12 inches for the preceding three months, taken by him at Ealing. The features brought out by comparison were: (1) The much slighter oscilla- tions in the subterranean temperatures than in the other three ; (2) That while the subterranean varies with a maxima and minima when their fluctuations are great, they often remain unaffected when the latter are shght; or (8) the curves may cor- respond with one or other only of them respectively. Taking the means for the three months, they are as follows :— | Mean Mean Mean Mean | Maximum Minimum Air | Subterranean | ° fe} ie} fe} January . : ‘ | 42, 30 34 37 February. . . | 42 30 385 | 387 March . Se | 45 82 40 39 | Hence the mean subterranean temperature was in each case 1° higher than the mean between the maximum and minimum of each month. Comparing the subterranean with the minima on January 6 the lowest minimum was 19°, but the subterranean temperature never fell below 32°. On February 13 the lowest minimum was 18°, the subterranean temperature being 38°, the lowest for the month. On March 18 the lowest minimum was also 18°, the subterranean being again 83°. Comparing sub- terranean with maxima, on January 19 and 27 the highest maximum occurred, viz., 51°, the subterranean reaching 40° on both dates, while on the 81st it was 41°. In February there were two high maxima, viz., on the 1st 54°, the subterranean being 45°; and on the 18th 56°, the subterranean being 44° on the 20th. In March a series of six maxima ranged from 50° on the 14th to 59° on the 28th and 30th; the subterranean had five corresponding maxima, reaching 46° on the 30th. Injurious Effect of London Fog.—My. Dyer laid before the Committee a short scheme to indicate the line suggested for inquiries into this matter :—-1. The natural history of fog con- lvili PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. sidered (a) in its meteorological conditions, and (d) as to its chemical and physical components ; 2. The empirical effects of fog (a) as diminishing the amount of light, and (6) in its injurious effects arising from the action of its poisonous and obstructive components; 8. The microscopical study of lesions to tissues produced by fog; and 4. Experimental data likely to throw light on the subject. Various experts will be invited to take part in the investigation, and a circular will be issued to cultivators, asking for their experience. Professor Church furnished the remarkable fact that he had noticed how Convyolvulus major growing in the Portland Road was bleached by rain-drops. This was due to the presence of sulphurous acid in addition to the usual sulphuric (in the form of sulphates) in London rain. He found also that when London fog was filtered the air was acid, but the soot was alkaline, in consequence of the presence of ammonia. Dr. Russell has even detected arsenious acid in rain- water collected in the City. GENERAL MEETING. APRIL 23, 1889. Mr. James Dovuatuas, F.R.H.S., in the Chair. ELECTIONS. Fellows, 6.—Miss E. Bloom, Richard Henry Fremln, C. §. Gordon, Miss E. Phillipps Russell, George Hyde Wollaston, M.A., F.G.S., Professor Edward Perceval Wright, M.D., F.L.S. The following paper was read: ‘‘ The Auricula,”’ by the Rev. F. D. Horner, M.A., Burton-in-Lonsdale. FLORAL COMMITTEE. W. MarsHatu, Esq., in the Chair, and fourteen members. Awards Recommended :-- Silver Gilt Banksian Medal. To Mr. J. Walker, Whitton, Middlesex, for a fine group of Daffodils, of good quality, and containing a number of handsome varieties, the most noticeable being Narcissus Dr. Hogg, french- EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. lix white trumpet; N. Leedsi Gem, white and palest yellow; N. L. Flora Macdonald, N. Colleen Bawn, N. Barri, N. Beatrice Murray, and Corbularia conspicua. To Messrs. Barr & Son, King Street, Covent Garden, for an equally good group of Daffodils, conspicuous being N. John Nelson, N. Flora Wilson, N. Lady Grosvenor, N. Duchess of West- minster, N. Walter Kendal, the latter of the incomparabilis type —-a magnificent flower; and N. Gloria Mundi. To Mr. W. Rumsey, The Nursery, Waltham Cross, for a well- erown group of Roses in pots, the most noticeable varieties being Madame Lacharme, Madame Eugene Verdier, Marquise de Cas- tellane, Perle d’Or, Miss Hassard, and Alphonse Soupert. Silver Banksian Medal. To Messrs. Ryder & Son, The Nurseries, Sale, Manchester, for acharming and effectively arranged group of Primula Sieboldi (in variety), the plants—shown in pans-—presenting a mass of flowers. Several forms were selected for awards of merit. To Mr. A. Waterer, Knap Hill Nurseries, Woking, for ten very fine boxes of Hardy Primroses—the colours of the flowers being rich, varied, and beautiful. To Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, for a good group of Ornamental Shrubs, witli several planis of the sweetly-scented Staphylea colchica. The Japanese Maples con- stituted a pretty and effective feature. Bronze Banksian Medal. To Mr. T. 8. Ware, Hale Farm Nursery, Tottenham, for a group of Hardy Plants in flower, consisting mainly of Primroses (in variety), with Cypripedium calceolus, Habranthus pratensis fulgens, &c. To Messrs. Paul & Son, ‘‘Old’’ Nurseries, Cheshunt, for a mis- cellaneous group of Flowering Plants, containing Amaryllis in variety, very beautiful, Tulipa Leichtlini and Aubrietia Leichtlini (both the latter plants being certificated), Hardy Primroses, &c. To Mr. J. Walker, The Nursery, Thame, for excellent ex- amples of Maréchal Niel and Niphetos Roses (cut blooms). First Class Certificate. To Epiphyllum Makoyanum (votes, unanimous), from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons; closely resembling E. Gaertneri; flowers rich scarlet, flushed with orange. lx =‘ PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. To Rhododendron Her Majesty (votes, unanimous), a hybrid - between R. Fosterianum and R. arboreum, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons ; a noble fiower, about 44 inches across, of a soft crimson shade. To Tulipa Leichitlini (votes, 6 for, 4 against), from Messrs. Paul & Son; of the character of T. stellata, bearmg small pale yellow fiowers. Award of Merii. To Aubrietia Leichtlini (votes, 5 for, 1 against), from Messrs. Paul & Son; plant dwarf, and covered with bright rose-coloured fiowers. To Amaryllis Sea Nymph (votes, 5 for, 3 against), from Messrs. Paul & Son; colour white and scarlet; a finely formed flower. To Coleus Eureka (votes, 6 for, 4 against), from Mr. §. Hill, The Nursery, Forest Gate ; leaves richly coloured. To Primula Sieboldi var. Queen of Whites (votes, unanimous), from Messrs. Ryder & Son ; a beautiful flower, pure whiie. To Primula Sieboldi var. Miss Nellie Barnard (votes, unani- mous), from Messrs. Ryder & Son; brilliant rose. To Primula Sieboldi var. Mrs. Ryder (votes, unanimous), from Messrs. Ryder & Son; white, shaded with delicate pmk. To Primula Sieboldi var. General Gordon (votes, unanimous), from Messrs. Ryder & Son; rose-shaded white. To Primula viscosa splendens (votes, 7 for, 1 against), from Messrs. Ryder & Son; a beautiful shade of rose-pink. To Primrose G. F. Wilson (votes, unanimous), from G. F. Wilson, Esq., F.R.S., Heather Bank, Weybridge Heath ; flowers very deep violet-blue, yellow eye. To Primrose Quakeress (votes, 5 for, 4 against), from G. F. Wilson, Esq., F.R.S. ; flowers of an almost blue tint, small yellow eye, margined with rich erimson. To Climbing Polyantha Rose Claire Jacquier (votes, unani- mous), from Messrs. W. Paul & Son, Paul's Nurseries, Waltham Cross ; white or yellow-coloured fowers—very elegant. To Mignonetie Garaway’s Double White (votes, 6 for), from Messrs. Garaway & Co., The Nurseries, Clifton, Bristol; a Vigorous-growing variety, of fine habit, the flower spike of good length. . EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. lxi Other Exhibits. From the Royal Gardens, Kew, were sent many species of Primulas, including such pretty gems as P. viscosa confinis, P. Kitaibeliana, P. pseudo-Fosteril, and P. Peyritschii. Other plants of interest were Lathrea clandestina, which had been cultivated in the Gardens on the roots of a willow, bearing purple flowers about 145 inches in length, L. squamaria (the British species) being sent for comparison; the old Cineraria cruenta was noteworthy as the plant from which our garden Cinerarias have been developed ; Rhododendron Kewensis, bearing several trusses of pale flesh-pink flowers ; Mertensia virginica, Saxifraga flagel- laris, and Mackaya bella. Mr. R. Dean, Ranelagh Road, Ealing, sent a hybrid Primula, a cross between P. ciliata purpurea and Alpine Auricula Beatrice. The Committee expressed a desire to see the plant again. ORCHID COMMITTEE. Dr. Maxwett T. Masters, F.R.S., in the Chair, and nine members present, The exhibits of Orchids at this meeting, if few, were of excel- lent merit. From the collection of Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., came two neat plants—covered with white flowers, with rosy-crimson labellums—of Tetramicra (Leptotes) bicolor and its variety T. bicolor serrulata ; also the pretty hybrid Dendrobe D. melanodiscus raised at Burford Lodge by intercrossing D. Ains- worthii and D. Findlayanum; from thesame gardens came the curious European Orchid Ophrys Bertoloni, which hada solitary flower, in general appearance resembling our Bee Orchis, but much larger—sepals and petals rosy-lilac, the lip the richest velvety maroon. R. B. White, Esq., of Arddarroch, N.B., sent a handsome pearly-white form of Cattleya Mendelii, which was named C. Mendelii Arddarroch variety. It is near to the plant known in gardens as C. Bluntii. H. M. Polleti, Esq., Fernside, Bickley, staged a very distinct form of purple-spotted Odontoglossum Pescatorei, with flowers of perfect shape, and named O. Pescatorei Thomsonianum. From the gardens of Norman C. Cookson, Esq., Wylam-on- Tyne, was sent a good specimen of a new Cypripedium obtained lxii PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. by him by crossing C. caudatum with the pollen of C. conchi- ferum, and it was named C. nitidissimum, and bore a three- flowered spike of showy flowers, the upper and lower sepals being pale yellowish-green, veined with darker green, the pouch cream- white inside, beautifully spotted with rose, the outside being veined with green and tinged with red; it had the characteristic tail-like form of the petals seen in C. caudatum, but shorter, although a better idea of the flower may be got by imagining a considerably enlarged C. conchiferum X. In other respects it approaches C. grande X. Cut spikes of a very fine form of Odontoglossum cirrhosum came from Arthur Wilson, Esq., Framley Croft, Hull (gardener, Mr. J. P. Leadbetter); and Mr. Cowley again brought from the collection of F. G. Tautz, Esq., Cattleya Lawrenceana concolor, a variety wholly of a pale lilac. Mr. A. Methven, gardener to T. Lange, Ksq., Heathfield Lodge, Gateshead-on-Tyne, brought a fine specimen of their fixed sport from D. nobile, known in their gardens as ‘‘ Heathfield variety,” and from which came the plants which Professor Reichenbach named for Norman G. Cookson, EKsq., D. nobile Cooksonianum, and which was afterwards certificated as such at the Royal Horticultural,Society. The Heathfield name not having been published, the Committee decided that it must bear the published and certificated name, D. n. Cooksonianum. Botanical Certificate. To Ophrys Bertoloni, from Mr. Bickerstaffe, gardener to Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P. Vote of Thanks. To F. G. Tautz, Esq., for Cattleya Lawrenceana concolor. To T. Lange, Esq., for Dendrobium nobile Cooksonianum and Cattleya Mendelii. To Arthur Wilson, Esq., for Odontoglossum cirrhosum. All awards by unanimous vote. The interesting group from the Royal Gardens, Kew, also had in it good examples of Orchis undulatifolia, O. longicornu, O. papilonacea, &c. Awards Recommended :— First Class Certificate. To Odontoglossum Pescatorei Thomsonianum, from H. M. Pollett, Esq. EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. lxill To Cypripedium nitidissimum X, Norman G. Cookson, Esq. To Cattleya Mendelii Arddarroch variety, R. B. White, Esq. FRUIT COMMITTEE. T. Francis Rivers, Esq., in the Chair, and twelve members present. Award Recommended : — Silver Banksian Medal. To Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, for a collection of Apples in excellent condition—the most note- worthy varieties being Seaton House, Lord Derby, Betty Geeson, King of Tomkins County, Alfriston, Stone’s, Bismarck, Wash- ington, and Cox’s Pomona. Other Exhibits. Mr. R. Gilbert, Burghley Gardens, Stamford, sent two varieties of Rhubarb, viz., Salt’s Crimson and Hawke’s Cham- pagne, which the Committee desired to see growing at Chiswick. Sir C. W. Strickland, Bart., Hildenley, Malton, sent a sample of Jam made from Winesour Seedling Plum. SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE. W. T. Tuisetton Dyzr, Esq., C.M.G., in the Chair, and eight members present. Scales of Oxalis.—Adverting to the specimens shown at the last meeting, Mr. D. Morris mentioned that he had since for- warded some of the scales of the species of Oxalis to Professor Hildebrand, of Freiburg, in Baden, the monographer of the genus Oxalis. Professor Hildebrand’s opinion was as follows :— ‘‘The larger scales you have sent me have the appearance and anatomical structure of those of Oxalis Bowiei. The curled filaments have the same structure, but I cannot imagine to what part of the bulb they were attached. Perhaps they are a means of dispersion for the bulbs. Besides the scales I found two bits of stems that are very like those of Oxalis variabilis. So it seems likely to me that the bulbs belong to some species of Oxalis, but I never saw in any cultivated or dried specimens any scales like the curled ones.’”’ Mr. Morris exhibited a com- plete bulb, showing the exact position occupied by the curled lxiv PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. filaments, which was immediately beneath the larger outer scales and closely investing the bulb. Camellia Soil.—A Fellow of the Society sent a sample of soil from a bed in which the Camellias were not doing well. The soil was a mass of fungous spawn, derived, probably, from imperfectly rotted manure or rotten leaves or twigs. Galls on Eucalyptus.—From Baron Sir Ferdinand yon Mueller came further specimens of the extraordinary horned galls, such as were formerly figured in the Gardeners’ Chronicle. Mr. McLachlan referred to a paper of Mr. Schrader in the Transactions of the Entomological Society of New South Wales, and stated that the galls in question were probably the work of an insect allied to Coccus, and belonging to the Brachyscelide. The four horns appeared to be outgrowths from the margin of the receptacular tube, the overgrowth being the result of the irritation caused by the insect in depositing her eggs. Baron von Mueller also sent an extraordinary specimen of Banksia, 6n which Dr. Masters undertook to report at the next meeting. Mr. Dyer alluded to the peculiar polymorphic condition of the leaves in Acacia armata in cultivation at Kew. Dr. Masters stated that such outgrowths were not umcommon in Acacias. He had described and figured some specimens received at various times from Baron yon Mueller. The Season.—Mr. Dyer presented a note from Mr. Scott, the Director of the Meteorological Office, relating to the “ useful ”’ temperature as reckoned in “day degrees,” and to the amount of sunshine since January 1 of the present year, as compared with recent years :— Results from the Weekly Weather Report. Totals since January 1. Accumulated Temperatnre in Day Degrees | Sunshine: Total Hours | Above 42° Below 42° Up to April 7, 1884 394° 119° 218 = » 6, 1885 238° 368° 254 5, 1886 141° 557° 207 - ied oes ey 208° 468° 300 ai 9, 1888 88° 556° 195 8, 1889 180° 435° 210 EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. lxv This shows that the present season has been much better than the last, except as regards the amount of sunshine, in which there is not much improvement. The figures are not rigidly comparable, because the weeks of different years do not end on the same day. The Effects of Fog on Plants.—A further discussion took place on this subject, and it was agreed to postpone the issue of the proposed circular till the autumn. GENERAL MEETING. May 14, 1889. W. T. Taiseiton Dyer, Esq., C.M.G., F.R.S., in the Chair. ELECTIONS. Fellows, 25.—J. W. Addington, Dr. E. Bonavia, J. W. Clark, T. Grange, J. Halse, Miss A. Hardcastle, W. G. Hazell, A. J. Hemmerde,.HK. J. Howell, W..H. Hutchinson, Mrs. Hutchinson, W. Kaye, Mrs. Keller, W. G. Lindup, Mrs. Shirley R. Miles, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Morrison, Rev. C. A. Rosser, Leveson Scarth, R. B. Sharpe, Mrs. Vincent, R. E. West, Wm. Whitley, Mrs. Whitley, and James Wilcox. The following paper was read:—‘‘ The Classification and Culture of Irises,” by Professor Michael Foster, M.D., Sec. B.S. FLORAL COMMITTEE. W. MarsHatu, Esq., in the Chair, and seventeen members present. Awards Recommended :— Silver Gilt Banksian Medal. To Messrs. W. Paul & Son, Paul’s Nurseries, Waltham Cross, for a magnificent group of Roses in pots, and cut blooms, note- worthy being Her Majesty, Madame Gabriel Luizet, John Laing, Queen of Queens, St. George, Violette Bouyer, and Crimson Queen, a new H.P. of rich colour, and very fragrant. To C. J. Partington, Esq., Heaton House, Cheshunt (Mr. B. Searing, gardener), for a splendid group of Masdevallias, T Ixyi PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. excellently grown and well flowered. In the centre of the group was a magnificent specimen of Phalenopsis grandifiora, bearing fifty flowers. Silver Banksian Medal. To Messrs. H. Lane & Son, Great Berkhampstead, for an excellent group of Roses, the best varieties being Souvenir d’un Ami, Magna Charta, Etie Morel, Perfection de Mont Plaisir, Ulrich Brunner, and Madame Barney. To Mr. C. Turner, Royal Nursery, Slough, for a group of well-flowered Indian Azaleas, medium-sized plants. To Mr. J. Walker, Whitton, for a fine collection of the various kinds of Tulips, including a remarkably good selection of the curious Parrot varieties. To Messrs. Barr & Son, Covent Garden, for a rich collection of Narcissi, principally of the poeticus varieties—ornatus and recuryus verus being especially fine; also a good collection of early Inises and Tulipa fulgens, retroflexa, and cornuta. Bronze Banksian Medal. To Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, for an elegant group of Japanese ornamental-foliaged Maples. First Class Certificate. To Tuberous Begonia Duchess of Teck (votes, unanimous), from Messrs. J. Laing & Son, The Nurseries, Forest Hill. Very fine double flower, of a striking primrose colour. To Tuberous Begonia Stanstead Gem (votes, unanimous), from Messrs. J. Laing & Son. A good double flower, of rich crimson colour. To Crinum Kirki (votes, unanimous), from Sir G. Macleay, Pendell Court, Bletchingley (gardener, Mr. F. Ross). A hand- some species bearing white flowers, with a central line of bright rose down each of the segments. To cut spikes of Cunonia capensis (votes, 7 for, 6 against), from the Duke of Northumberland, Sion House, Brentford (gardener, Mr. G. Wythes). Specimens from a tree in the con- servatory at Sion about 80 feet high. The flowers are white and sweetly scented. To Pink Her Majesty (votes, 10 for), from Mr. F. Hooper, The Nursery, Bath. A pure white, sweet-scented flower. To Dracena Doucetti (votes, 8 for, 2 against), from Messrs. EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. lxvil J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. Plant of graceful habit, narrow green leaves, margined and variegated with creamy-white. To Rose (H.P.) Silver Queen (votes, unanimous), from Messrs. W. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross; bearing good-sized full blooms of a delicate salmon-pink. Award of Merit. To Pansy Golden Crown (votes, unanimous), from Mr. R. Dean, Ealing. ; A.M., Award of Merit; L.C., Botanical Certificate. Acineta maculata (Lawrence), May 14. B.C. Aciphylla squarrosa (Veitch), May 30. B.C. Amaryllis Acquisition (Veitch), Mar.12. A.M. John Ruskin (Veitch), Mar. 12. F.C. 3 Sea Nymph (Paul & Son), April 23. A.M. * Terentian (Veitch), Mar. mg ih Angrecum Chailluanum (Tautz), Aug. F.C. Anthurium leodense (Lawrence), Oct. 8. “RC. Athyrium f.f. regale, Barnes’ variety (Birkenhead), May 30. A.M. Aubrietia Leichtlinii (Paul & Son), April 23. A.M. Begonia A. Blane (Cannell), Aug. 13. A.M. Duchess of Teck (Laing), May 14. F.C. Frank Beadle (Cannell), Sept. 24. A.M. Lady H. Cavendish (Cannell), May 30. A.M. Mrs. Chamberlain (Laing), June 11. A.M. 8 ,, Litchie (Cannell), Aug. 13. A.M. _ 5 A. Moens (Cannell), Sept. 24. A.M. : »» Cayzer (Cannell), Aug. 13. A.M. - Rosebud (Cannell), May 30. F.C. ae Sir W. C. Brookes (Cannell), May 30. A.M. = Stanstead Gem (Laing), May 14. F.C. Bignonia Cherere (Macleay), July 23. F.C. Bouvardia Hogarth fl. pl. (May), Aug. 27. A.M. Mrs. Robert Green (May), July 23. F.C. EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. . exlvil Brassia caudata (White), May 14. B.C. Caladium Raymond Lemoinier (Laing), May 30. A.M. Campanula Medium calycanthema (double and single—for strain) (Veitch), July 9. A.M. Capsicum Coral Red (Mortimer), July 9. A.M. Carex variegata (Veitch), Oct. 22. F.C. Carludovica palmifolia (Williams), Aug. 27. I°.C. Carnation Mrs. IF’. Watts (Ware), July 9. A.M. = Winter Cheer (Veitch), Dec. 10. A.M. Catasetum barbatum proboscidium (Lawrence), April9. B.C. Cattleya Brymeriana (Sander), May 30. F.C. Gaskelliana, Cooke’s variety (Cooke), June 25. A.M. Hardiana, Wrigley’s variety (Wrigley), Oct. 8. A.M. ; Mendelii, Arddarroch variety (White), April 23. F.C. vs ms Duchess of Marlborough (Whellans), July 9. F.C. cP 3 Rothschildianum (Schroder), May 50. F.C. = Miss Harris x (Harris), Sept.17. F.C. 3 Triane variety (Findlay), Mar. 26. A.M. Warscewiczii Hardyana (Wrigley), Oct. 8. A.M. Ceropegia Sandersoni (Macleay), Oct. 8. B.C. Chrysanthemum Admiral Sir T. Symonds (Molyneux), Nov. 5. A.M, 29 * Alice Stevens (Stevens), Nov. 5. A.M. si Annie Clibran (Clibran), Nov. 5. A.M. <5 Annie Stevens (Stevens), Sept. 17. A.M. - Aurora (Cannell), Nov. 5. A.M. " Bombardier (Cannell), Nov. 5. A.M. i Dorie (Cannell), Oct. 8. A.M. > Effie (Molyneux), Nov. 5. A.M. Etoile de Lyon (Cannell, and Molyneux), Noy. 5. F.C. Kynsford White (Cannell), Oct. 22. A.M. = Golden Shah (Ware), Aug. 13. A.M. an James Weston (Molyneux), Noy. 5. A.M. x L’Automne (Chibran), Nov. 5. A.M. Bi Lily Owen (Owen), Nov. 5. A.M. ee Lune Fleuri (Cannell, and Owen), Nov. 5. A.M. Maud Pitcher (Stevens), Aug. 27. A.M. Miss M. A. Haggas (Cannell, and Molyneux), Nov. 5. F.C. ne Mme. E. A. Carriére (Cannell), Nov. 5. A.M. - Mons. Bernard (Cannell, and Molyneux), Nov.5. A.M. - », Charles Lebocqz (Cannell), Oct. 22. A.M. e », Pankoucke (Cannell), Oct. 22. A.M. - Mrs. Alpheus Hardy (Ware, and Pitcher & Manda), Nov. 5. F.C. > », Falconer Jameson (Jameson, and Molyneux), Novy. 5. A.M. 4 », Judge Benedict (Owen), Nov. 5. F.C. sj Nelson (Stevens), Oct. 22. A.M. ‘3 Rose Owen (Owen), Nov. 5. A.M. i Souvenir de Londres(Cannell, and Molyneux), Nov. 5), A.M. 53 Stanstead Surprise (Laing), Oct. 22. A.M. oF Stanstead White (Jameson), Nov. 5. A.M. - Thomas Stephenson (Clibran, and Cannell), Noy. 5. A.M. o Violet Tomlin (Cannell, Molyneux, Stevens), Nov. 5. FC. 7 W. Neville (Cannell), Oct, 22. A.M, exlvyilll PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Clivia John Laing (Laing), Mar. 26. F.C. » Lady Wolverton (Davidson), Mar. 12. I.C. Celia bella (Cooke), Dec. 10. A.M. Coleus Cleopatra (Hewett), Sept. 17. A.M. » Hureka (Rothschild), April 23. A.M. Cornus sibirica Spathi (Veitch), July 23," EC. Crinum Kirkii (Macleay), May 14. F.C. Cunonia capensis (Northumberland), May 14. F.C. Cyclamen Prince of Wales (for strain) (St. George’s Nursery Co.), Mar. 12. A.M. Cymbidium eburneo-Lowianum (Veitch), Mar. 12. F.C. Cypripedium Galatea majus (Schroder), Dec. 10. A.M. Ps Niobe x (Veitch), Dec. 10. F.C. is nitidissimum (Cookson), April 23. F.C. . orphanum (Schroder), Aug. 13. F.C. 5 picturatum (Lawrence), Oct. 8. F.C. a Rothschildianum (Rothschild), Mar. 12. F.C. T. B. Haywood x (Veitch), Dec. 10. A.M. Cy rtanthus sanguineus (Veitch), Sept. 24. F.C. Cyrtomium falcatum Fensomi (Fensom), July 23. F.C. Dahlia Alice Emily (Keynes, Williams & Co.), Aug. 27. A.M. » Centenary (West), Sept. 17. A.M. » W.C. Harvey (Ware), Aug. 13. A.M. ». Conquest (Harris), Sept. 17. A.M. », Crimson Globe (Keynes, Williams & Co.), Aug. 27. A.M. » F.L. Temple (Ware), Aug. 27. A.M. », Gulielma (Cheal), Sept.17.. A.M. » Hester Dorothea (Girdlestone), Sept. 17. A.M. », James Scobie (Cheal), Aug. 13. A.M. » John Hickling (Keynes, Williams & Co.), Aug. 27. A.M. », Marchioness of Bute (West), Aug. 27. A.M. »» Marmion (Turner), Sept. 17. A.M. » Panthea (Keynes, Wiliams & Co.), Aug. 27. A.M. Reliance (Keynes, Williams & Co.), Aug. 27. A.M. Delphinium Arditi (Kelway). June 11. A.M. Be Banquo (Kelway), June 25. A.M. Md Britannia (Kelway), June 25, A.M. a Faust (Kelway), June 11. A.M. fe Orbit (Kelway), June 11. A.M. a Regalia (Kelway), June 11. A.M. Pr Sir T. Lawrence (Kelway), June 25. A.M. The Shah (Kelway), June 25. A.M. Dendrobien euosmum leucopterum x (Schroder), A relG,. tC; sh melanodiscus x (Lawrence), Mar. 26. A.M. . micans x (Veitch), Mar. 26. F.C. revolutum (Lawrence), July 23. B.C. | Dianthus Snowflake (for strain) (R. Dean), Sept. 17. A.M. Disperis Fanninie (Smee), Sept. 17. B.C. Dracena Doucetti (Veitch), May 14. F.C. Kpidendrum sceptru-n (Lawrence), Oct. 22. B.C. Kpiphyllum Makoyanum (Veitch), April 28. F.C. I'uchsia Dorothy Fry (Fry), June 11. A.M. Gladiolus Alsace (Veitch), Aug. 13. A.M. Re André Chenier (Veitch), Aug. 13. A.M. | - Duchess of Fife (Kelway), Aug. 27. A.M. 3 Hippolyta (Whall), Aug. 13. A.M. - nanceianus x President Carnot (Lemoine), Aug. 13. F.C. - Vulso (Kelway), Aug. 27. A.M. EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. exlix Hollyhock Delicata (Webb & Brand), Aug. 27. A.M. Hyacinth Yellow Hammer (Veitch), March 26. A.M. Iris Kempferi White Banner (Macleay), July 9. F.C. ., Rosenbachiana (Barr, Whitbourn), March 12. F.C, Leclia autumnalis alba (Veitch), Oct. 8. F.C. Dellensis x (Schroder), May 30. F.C. Digbyana x Mossi (Veitch), May 14. F.C. elegans, Cooke’s var. (Cooke), Aug. 27. F.C. 7 F Duchess (Whellans), Aug. 27. F.C. prestans alba (Bull), Oct. 8. F.C. ” ” ” Lelia—Cattleya Palles x (Veitch), Dec. 10. F.C. Lilium Martagon album (Barr), June 25. F.C. pardalinum var. luteum (Veitch), July 9. F.C. , Wallichianum superbum (Low), June 25. F.C, Lycaste plana var. Cumminsi (Smee), Oct. 8. A.M. , Schilleriana (Lawrence), April 9. F.C. Masdevallia Ellisiana (Veitch), June 25. F.C. es vespertilio (Smee), Sept. 17. B.C. Maxillaria fuseata (Lawrence), July 23.. B.C. Mignonette Garaway’s Double White (Garaway), April 23. A.M. Miltonia vexillaria Leopoldi (Schroder), Sept. 17. F.C. purpurea (Tautz), April 9. F.C. Mimulus grandis (Dean), May 14. A.M. Negelia (Gesnera) pyramidale (Cannell), Aug. 13. A.M. Nepenthes Curtisii superba (Veitch), Aug. 13. F.C. Odontoglossum grande, Tautz’s var. (Tautz), Oct. 22. A.M. Pescatorei var. (Jackson), Feb. 12. A.M. r? Thomsonianum (Pollett), April 23. F.C. Oncidium crispum var. grandiflora (Charlesworth), July 9. F.C. bifolium (Sander), April 9. A.M. hematochilum (Sander), May 30. B.C. a superbiens (Lawrence), Mar.26. F.C. Ophrys Bertolinii (Lawrence), April 23. B.C, P:xeonia Moutan Agenoria (Kelway), May 30. A.M. Leonard Kelway (Kelway), May 30. A.M. lobata (?) (Ware), May 30. F.C. Princess Christian (Kelway), June 11. A.M. ‘5 [rene (Kelway), June 11. A.M. Pansy (bedding) Golden Crown (Dean), May 14. A.M. Papaver nudicaule sulphureum (Ware), Aug. 27. A.M. Pelargonium Duke of Fife (Hawkins & Bennett), Aug. 13. A.M. Indian Yellow (Foster), May 30. A.M. Souvenir de Mirande (Cannell), May 30. A.M. P hysosiphon Loddigesii (Tautz), July 9. B.C. Pink Her Majesty (Hooper), May 14. F.C. Ponthieva maculata (Lawrence), May 14. B.C. Primrose Blue Gem (Dean), Mar.12. F.C. G. I’. Wilson (Wilson), April 23. A.M. Quakeress (Wilson), April 23. A.M. i The Mikado (Dean), Mar. 26. F.C. Primula sinensis Imperial White (Owen), Mar. 12. F.C. Miss Inez (Knight), Jan.15. A.M. ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” i . Princess Mary (Cannell), Jan. 15. A.M. x » Swanley Mauve (Cannell), Jan.15. F.C. petiolaris (Foster), Mar.12. A.M. Sieboldi var. General Gordon (Ryder), April 23. A.M. Miss Nellie Barnard (Ryder), April 23. A.M. Mrs. Ryder (Ryder), April 23. A.M. ” ” ” ” ” 7 cl PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Primula Sieboldi var. Queen of the Whites (Ryder), April 23. A.M. * viscosa splendens (Ryder), April 23. A.M. Pteris leptophylla princeps (May), Oct. 22. F.C. » serrulata densa (May), Aug. 27. F.C. _ $3 plumosa (Coleman), July 23. F.C. , tremula Smithiana (Smith), Aug. 13. F.C. Pyrethrum Albert Victor (Kelway), May 30. A.M. = Pericles (Kelway), June 11. A.M. Retinospora filifera aurea (Veitch), July 9. F.C. Rhodanthe maculata alba (Veitch), July 9. F.C. maculata fl. pl. (Veitch), July 9. F.C. Rhododendron Aspasia (Veitch), Oct.8. A.M. > Duchess of Fife (Veitch), Aug. 13. A.M. zs Her Majesty (Veitch), April 23. F.C. - Ophelia (Veitch), Aug. 27. A.M. Virgil (Veitch), Sept. 27. A.M. tose Claire Jacquier (W. Paul & Son), April 23. A.M. ,, Gloire de Margottin (Lane), April 9. A.M. », Silver Queen (W. Paul & Son), May 14. F.C. » Souvenir de 8. A. Prince (Prince), June 11. F.C. Saccolabium cerinum (Moore), May 14. B.C. Sarracenia decora (Williams), Aug. 27. F.C. Satyrium carneum var. roseum (Ware), Aug. 27. F.C. Saxifraga Malyi (Paul & Son), Mar. 26. F.C. Shortia galacifolia (Elwes), Mar. 26. F.C. Sobralia xantholeuca var. alba (Veitch), July 23. F.C. Spirea gigantea (Paul & Son), July 23. F.C. Struthiopteris pennsylvanica recurva (Birkenhead), May 30. F.C. Sweet Peas (for strain) (Eckford), July 23. A.M. .. Wilhams (for strain) (Walker), July9. A.M. Taxus adpressa variegata (Fisher, Son, & Sibray), Aug. 27. I.C. Tritonia securigera (O’Brien), Aug. 13. B.C. Tulipa Leichtlini (Paul & Son), April 23. F.C. Vanda Amesiana (Hill), Jan. 15. F.C. ». Kimballiana (Lawrence, Low), Aug. 13. IC. Verbascum olympicum (Loder), June 11. F.C. Veronica Fairfieldi (Thomson), May 30. F.C. Watsonia rosea (Ware), Aug. 27. F.C. e iridifolia O’Brieni (O’Brien), Sept. 17. F.C. Dalai Br ~ »