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ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

EDITED BY

D. MORRIS, M.A., F.L.8. anp REV. W. WILKS, M.A.

(SECRETARY)

Be eee Ge i

LONDON
Printed for the Ropal Horticultural Society
BY

SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE, E.C.
1890

ERRATA.

Page 479, lines 7, 8, instead of “are scarcely yet developed, as they have
not sufficient,” read ‘are scarcely developed organisms, with not
always sufficient.”

Page exxviil., preceding “ First Class Certificate,” insert “ Kelway Gladiolus
Medal to the Right Hon. Lord Wimborne (gardener, Mr. T. Crasp),
for 12 fine spikes of British-raised Gladioli, gandavensis varieties.”

Vage cxxviii., wider “ Award of Merit,” add “ To Gladiolus Leonard Kelway
(votes, unanimous), from Messrs, Kelway & Son, Langport. Flowers
large ; fine form; rich ruby-crimson.”

CONTENTS.

$a

THE VEGETABLE CONFERENCE :—
OPENING ADDRESS. By Mr. Harry J. VEITCH, F.L.8.............
ASPARAGUS. By Mr. SHIRLEY HIBBERD, F.R.H.S................05.
WINTER SALADS: Dy Mr. NORMAN I RED: caccccacssecsesecsancnes
THE Foop OF VEGETABLES. By Mr. J. WRIGHT, F.R.H.S..
IMPROVEMENT AMONGST PEAS. By Mr. T. LAxtTon, F.B.H. S..
35 PoTATOES. By Mr. A. DEAN, F.R.H. S.
A YEAR’s SUPPLY OF VEGETABLES. By Mr. J. SMITH, F.R.H.S.
INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL DIGEST. ...... sites sabaseinpieaaisine. t's sas
LIST OF COMMITTEES, EXHIBITORS, &C_ ............ Ree ea eens heey
STATISTICAL NOTES, iC, By Me A. I. BARRON... 00-00: 0nc0e08.:
NOTES, CHIEBLY CULTURAL, By IXHIBITORS ....-..200++2--00ee0
THE CHRYSANTHEMUM CENTENARY CONFERENCE :—
OPENING ADDRESS. By Mr. T. B. HAywoop, F.R.H.S.............
WILD PROGENITORS. By Mr. W. B. HEMSLEY, F.R.S., A.LS. ...
HISTORY OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. By Mr. C. HaRMAN
Ev eRIE MEUM ENOy taae ea aidaic Sins ove Gra satan oad Seesimee sm ckeeacraeaes Saeee
NEw VARIETIES. By Mr. EDWIN MOLYNEUX, F.R.H.S..........
JUDGING CHRYSANTHEMUMS. By Mr. J. WRIGHT, F.R.H.S. ...
PROGRESS IN CHRYSANTHEMUMS. By Mr. SHIRLEY HIBBERD,
PIMECA EEO b sencee eee eee sae gait clon Hae unin aa ale Seees si fangaeneddeuimepelse 4
SEEDS AND SEEDING. By Mr. F. W. BuRBIDGE, M.A., F.L.S.
DATES AND AUTHORITIES. By Mr. F. W. BuRBIDGE, M.A.,
AUS ES ein ce emees een uiowe lw onsiAades reknaranicasesvs'epce as cavamos pue es
DWARFING AND GROUPING. By Mr. C. ORCHARD ...........-......
CHRYSANTHEMUMS FOR PROFIT. By Mr. C. PEARSON, F.R.H.S.
SUMMER AND EARLY CHRYSANTHEMUMS. By Mr. W. PIERCY
LISTS OF VARIETIES FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES .......0-..cseceeeeeeess
DicEsT OF STATISTICS. By Mr. E. MOLYNEUX, F.R.HLS..........
NOTES ON COMPOST, CUTTING-DOWN, AND DAMPING...............
A METHOD OF WINTER GARDENING. By the Rev. W. WILKs, M.A.
THE HIPPEASTRUM (AMARYLLIS). By Mr. HARRY VEITCH, F.L.S.
THE HIPPEASTRUM. By Mr. JAMES DOUGLAS, F.R.H.S. ...............
SPARADINGS, by M.HENRY DE VILMORIN, F.R-HAIS> ......5.....6n0ec8>s
SPRING FLOWER GARDENING. By Mr. W. INGRAM, F.R.H.S..........
DAFFODIL CONFERENCE :—
OPENING ADDRESS. By Professor MICHAEL FOSTER, Sec. R.S.
REPORT OF THE NARCISSUS COMMITTEE. By Mr. C. R. SCRASE
ORIN or Hc Eye a eae ees ot diaries acts alana a.e:p'e as sieniacie sean ne Giine Dacinoeien ta oie

4

REPORT ON WHITE DAFFODILS. By Mr. C. R. SCRASE
EG ROMNEY EU SEA ae tistiiats te a counta canna sed chor eae necGeainewases cannes
HISTORY OF CULTIVATED Nagcisst. By Mr. F.W. BuRBIDGE,
Nie ee re taco ay nis ie Sevapiciciee Sia ab aaiss Hanns des avewe..ces ce bees
NARcISsI. IN ScruLy. By Mr. T. A. DORRIEN-SMITH, ER. HS.
SEEDLING DAFFODILS. ‘By the Rev. G. H. ENGLEHEART, M.A.
NOTES ON NARCISSI. By the Rev. A. RAWSON, M.A.............06.
ADDEPSS yo lone Weld Gr AK Rg: HPO. cinco sscncseencescescteceevsecses
TRUMPET DAFFODILS. By the Rev. C. WoLLEY-Dop, M. A.
POLYANTHUS NARCIssI. By HEER J. H. KRELAGE, F.R.HS. ...
DAFFODILS FOR MARKET. By Mr. JAMES WALKER, F.R.AS....
NOTE ON THE CONFERENCE. By the Rev. W. WILKS, M.A. ......

iV CONTENTS.

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE—continued, PAGE
LIST OF VARIETIES HXSHIEBIPEDS) Joss cnet ge.ks ose tases samen cane OD.
DIGEST OF STATISTICS. By the Rev. W. WILKS, M.A. ............ 370

PRIMROSES. By the Rev. C. WOLLEY-DOD, M.A. .........ssescesseeeees «: OVO

THE AUBICULA IN TOWNS. By Mr. J, EH; HENWOOD«... 0.000 .scc-snseenct 381

REPORT ON THE IVIES AT CHISWICK. By Mr. SHIRLEY HIBBERD,

Wy eS) ear eaenctes wes Aigicinge Sega's oyoiniee gisio ts ge 9 aise aivus cp «tetas ee moe ee eee 387

REPORT ON POPPIES AT CHISWICK. By Mr. BARRON ..........ccceeeee 396
. » NEW TOMATOES, 1889. By Mr. BARRON..... sitleuaeepines sep 398

i » MARIGOLDS, 1889.) By Mr. BARRON:....1.ccseceet ASH arabe 399
= » TEN-WEEK STOCKS, 1889. By Mr. BARRON ..........00005 400
ie » CHINA ASTERS, 1889. By MroBARRON -<.....cceeeeee eae . 401

AWARDS AETHER TRIAL AT CHISWICK. ..00sa.0cesscpiao ¢cnges ceseenp epee eee 406

HARDY ANNUALS. ..i5cessissininnncsiee Saisaslemeiines sckeiis deicepiesss i.) =ee eee 407

SPRING-FLOWERING TREES AND SHRUBS. By Mr. W. eal
POR HGS hiciewes vane nesanecneapscceeneeetielinens:aWesman nieces aa reee see dereaee 409

HERBACEOUS PONIES. By Mr. GEORGE PAUL, F.R.HLS. ............ 422

A NEW CLASSIFICATION OF THE GENUS PZONIA. By Mr. R. IRWIN
DYNO, ASS 2 tic sgecoce os atitsot once caetiaee eer aaee oeee ee eee eee ee 498

THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FLOWERS. By the Hee: C. WOLLEY-
DOD, MAssds sajccec carve cuenta neces uno nmea eee ence ene ete tee emt ee eee 445

List OF HARDY PLANTS FOR MIXED BORDERS. By the Rev. C.
WOLDEY- DOD, MIA ae ics Gasce nian tee oe cence cece Seen ance ee enn coeeee ose Se

CARNATION CONFERENCE :—

OPENING ADDRESS. By Mr. MARTIN R. SMITH, F.R.H.S.......... 461
THE CARNATION FROM A BOTANICAL POINT OF VIEW. By Mr.
BIN. WEELTAMS, LS) oo caeai's seen sieuie se tncie destin seemen eee een 464

CARNATIONS FOR EXHIBITION. By Mr. HARRY TURNER,F.R.H.S. 471
THE CARNATION AS A TOWN FLOWER. By Mr. MARTIN ROWAN 477
THE CARNATION AS A BORDER FLOWER. By Mr. R. DEAN,
BRATS, »..osiees sisss nbip-occ'yev cei cieinaeicseactees eats eaters oto meecerae veabetee 488
FERN CONFERENCE :—
WHICH ARE THE OLDEST FERNS? By Professor BOWER, D.Sc.,

BP Maas cations gis an agactn eas anionbeee eee ceemiaes ceakee tt erciec Pen na eee 496
HYBRID PEBNS. "By Mr Ei. J. Own, eR Sse eee eee Sesvons 505
PLUMOSE BRITISH FERNS. By Mr. C. T. DRuERY, F.L.S.......... 514
HARDY FERNS. By Mr. J. BIRKENHEAD, F.R.HLS. ............0000- 520
FRUIT EVAPORATING. By Mr. E. W. BADGER, F.R.HLS. .........0:00¢. 532
THE HOLLYHOCK. By Mr. JAMES DOUGLAS, F.R.HLS. ...........c.0008s 544
HARDY ‘GLADIOLUS... By M.NMILE LEMOUNE 2. s..-scss-<cedbaee se cee 549
GLADIOLUS GANDAVENSIS. By Mr. J. KELWAY, F.R.H.S............... 564
NOTE ON THE ORIGIN AND PARENTAGE OF G. GANDAVENSIS ........- 574
PROCEEDINGS AT MEETING, JANUARY 14, 1890 ......cceccccecoccscccnnces 1
os ANNUAL MEETING, FEBRUARY 11, 1890.......... Seca SVL
REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE, Y WAR US89" ccocnseasscuecesemescesenee x
ANNUAL REVENUE ACCOUNT SSO at cca eee cure ceer ts epee cence nae eeeee XVlil
JALANCE SHERT, 889 .... 0c /vcuacsecessteceeeeesen aeeee esheets xx
PROCEEDINGS, MARCH T1--TO APRILZ2Z,; 890 ~ oc cseeacncacetneeceree aes XXVii
RULES FOR THE. NAMING. OF OBRCHEDS: Ges. cass ccecsaceceteer eee ener neeaee re lv
PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, MAY 13 TO DECEMBER 31, 1890...... lvii
BOOKS, PLANTS, SEEDS, &c., PRESENTED TO THE SOCIETY, 1890 ...... clxxiv
CERTIFICATES AWARDED BY THE FLORAL AND ORCHID COM-
MITTEES, LS9O® oes sseciarsssicieseins ejeclge cmeietiers'< hae cee ei ee Ree ee ee eee clxxvil
CERTIFICATES AWARDED BY THE FRUIT AND VEGETABLE COM-
MITTEE, USO os: sisi0ics.0.ssiestie diye -siee » sedate actedere >the sade eet eae eee elxxxil
AWARDS MADE TO FRUIT AND VEGETABLES TRIED AT CHISWICK,
LBS} aise vistnlo:0 nys.2:0's,vwinlne « <lerainiv'e.«.n.oy0!ec0 tipipie'eaiaye 206 Sala o:4 oo ee ee clxxxll
AWARDS MADE TO PLANTS TRIED AT CHISWICK, 1890 .........seces clxxxili
RID EIK iis s-s's:nininc cn yates onaseatde vaneus oaawiewsmmacieiiseitte (a age aerate ene .. CLYXXVI

JOURNAL

OF THE

ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

VEGETABLE CONFERENCE, CHISWICK.

SEPTEMBER 24, 25, AND 26, 1889.

Tue first day of the Conference was entirely occupied by a
thorough examination ofall the exhibits by a series of Committees
of Selection, whose names will be found on page 63.

On the second day, September 25, at 2 p.m., the President
of the Society,

Sir Trevor LAwRencE, Bart., M.P., briefly opened the
proceedings by complimenting the exhibitors on providing such
a fine and representative display of horticultural produce, and
on behalf of the Society he extended a hearty welcome to the
large body of horticulturists present. He considered it most
desirable, in the interests of the community, that more vegetables
should be eaten. He was not a vegetarian himself, or likely to
become such, but he believed that the too liberal consumption
of beef and mutton was not conducive to health. He also
suggested that more attention should be paid to the preservation
of vegetables, a branch of trade which was at present greatly
neglected in this country. If he wanted preserved vegetables,
he had to obtain supplies almost entirely from abroad, or at
least from tradesmen who supplied goods manufactured abroad.
He hoped that, by this Exhibition and Conference, much would
be done to bring into greater prominence the best varieties of
the several sections, and that some few good vegetables, but
little grown now, might have more attention directed towards
them in future, such as the turnip- or globe-rooted Celery,
Cardoons, &c. With regard to the improvement in cooking
vegetables, he thought that in England there was an almost

- unlimited scope for improvement, and he appealed to the ladies
B

2 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

present to do all in their power to effect a much-needed reform.
In conclusion he desired, on behalf of the Council and Fellows
of the Society, to thank all who had contributed to the success
of the Exhibition, and he thought that their thanks were
especially due to Messrs. Vilmorin et Cie., of Paris, and Messrs,
J. Veitch & Sons, of Chelsea, for their magnificent contributions.
He would now call upon Mr. Harry Veitch to take the chair at
the Conference.

OPENING ADDRESS BY THE CHAIRMAN,
Mr. Harry J. Vertcu, F.L.S.

THE Council of the Royal Horticultural Society could not have
selected a more important or a more practical range of subjects
for exhibition and discussion than that which has brought us
together to-day, because it embraces that branch of horticulture
which is concerned in the production and improvement of vege-
tables used as articles of food, not for the exclusive use of any
particular class, but for the common need of the whole com-
munity. Its scope, therefore, is the widest possible in horti-
culture, and its importance commensurable with its scope; it is
that upon which the most serious care of every gardener is
bestowed, and with which his thoughts are most frequently occu-
pied. To bring together, therefore, as on the present occasion,
specimens of the vegetables produced in different gardens in
different parts of the country for comparison, with the view of
noting the march of improvement generally, and the direction in
which particular progress 1s being made, affords also the most
suitable opportunity and inducement to bring together the
gardeners themselves, and I am truly glad to see so many now
present. Before, therefore, proceeding with the few remarks I
have to make on the business before us, let me first tender a
cordial welcome to all the gardeners who have come to this
Conference and to this place so rich in its associations with the
history and progress of British gardening during the present
century, coupled with the sincere wish that they will continue
to co-operate with and strengthen the hands of the Society, as
the representative and the exponent of the horticultural interest
of the country. .

OPENING ADDRESS BY THE CHAIRMAN. 3

While decorative plants and flowers, in all their varied forms
and brilliant and delicate colours, must necessarily form the
most striking part of a horticultural exhibition, and also the chief
attraction for the general public, it cannot be otherwise that the
homely aspect of the vegetables in daily use should cause them
to fall into a subordinate place as objects for exhibition to the
majority of the visitors. To the gardener, however, they have a
different significance, and often a deeper interest attached to
them than the more showy products of the flower garden. In
fact it is not too much to say that an exhibition of vegetables
like the present one is essentially a gardener’s exhibition.

There are some simple facts connected with the present state
of development of our most commonly cultivated vegetables that
are worth bearing in mind. One of the most prominent of these
facts is the length of time that it has taken since these plants were
first reclaimed from the wild state to attain the perfection in
which we now have them. Scarcely a vegetable in daily use
can be named that has not been in gardens for centuries. The
Runner Bean, the Tomato, and the Vegetable Marrow’ were pro-
bably among the latest to come into general cultivation, and these
were as familiar to our great-grandfathers as they are to us,
although in a lower degree of perfection and productiveness.
The Cabbage is one of the most ancient of vegetables, for we
know that it was cultivated by the Greeks and Romans, and it
has therefore been in cultivation as an article of food for more
than 2,000 years in the south of Kurope generally, and following
the spread of civilisation into more northern latitudes. In a
wild state the Cabbage has been observed to deviate a little from
a common type, but under the care of man, in such a variety of
climate and soil in which it has been cultivated during so many
centuries, it has broken into the various forms we now have it,
these forms including the Broccoh, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts,
Savoy, Kales and Borecole, besides all the varieties known in
gardens as Cabbage; and yet it is an accepted theory, I may say
a positive belief, held by botanists, that all these various forms
have originated from a single herb still to be found wild in
places on our own coast, and somewhat more plentifully on the
neighbouring coast of France. This plant is the Brassica
oleracea of science, and is, I dare say, known to many of you.
When we contemplate this seaside herb in comparison with its

B 2

4 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

descendants in our gardens, the results brought about by culti-
vation are truly astonishing ; but the surprise must be modified
by the reflection on the length of time it has taken to accomplish
them.

Let me quote another instance. The Potato was introduced
from America three centuries ago, and has been generally culti-
vated for at least two hundred years. Quite recently one of our
most accomplished botanists—Mr. J. G. Baker, of Kew—has
investigated the tuber-bearing species of Solanum, and has
expressed his belief that all the various forms of the cultivated
Potato have originated from one species, viz., Solanum tubero-
sum. From these two instances we see plainly how remarkable
are the changes brought about by the continuous cultivation of
a single species, and at the same time how long a period,
extending over many generations of human life, it takes to effect
them. We can understand, too, from these same facts how it
is that a plant or herb with properties rendering it suitable for
food when improved by cultivation is rarely, if ever, taken in
hand by horticulturists of the present day.

There are six known species of tuber-bearing Solanums, from
one of which, S. twberoswm, as I said before, all our garden
Potatoes have originated. Of the other five there is at least
one that promises to be very valuable as the starting-point of a
new race of Potatoes, which, under the more scientific gardening
of the present age, may be made to bring about satisfactory
results in a much shorter space of time than it has taken to
bring our present race of Potatoes, under the more primitive
practice of our forefathers, to the perfection in which we have
them. This is Solanwm Maglha. I will quote Mr. Baker’s
words from the Journal of the Linnean Society, vol. xx. page 507:
‘Ag far as climate is concerned, it cannot be doubted that
Solanum Maglia (or the Darwin Potato, as we might suitably
christen it in England) would be better fitted to succeed in
England and Ireland than S. tuberoswm, a plant of a compara-
tively dry climate. We have indisputable testimony that S.
Magla and S. Commersoni yield readily an abundant supply of
eatable Potatoes. What I would suggest is, that these should
be brought into the economic arena and thoroughly tested as
regards their economic value, both as distinct types and when
hybridised with the numerous S. twberoswm forms.” It is very

OPENING ADDRESS BY THE CHAIRMAN, 5

gratifying to know that the Messrs. Sutton, of Reading, are
already busy in this direction.

The vegetables of the immediate future may possibly include
the tubers of a Chinese species of Stachys (S. twberifera) which
was put into commerce two or three years ago by MM.
Vilmorin et Cie., of Paris. The tubers have an agreeable flavour
peculiar to themselves, but seem to require a few years of
assiduous cultivation to develop them into a sufficient size to
afford a remunerative crop.

This being the first time such a meeting as the present, with
such an object, has been held, I hope you will agree with me that
a brief review of our present position will not be out of place.
Let us now, therefore, carry back our recollections of vegetable
culture twenty-five to thirty years, a period still fresh in the memory
of many of you, and try to ascertain approximately what progress
has been made during that period, and in what direction it has
chiefly tended. The garden vegetables cultivated a quarter of a
century ago were much the same as now as regards kinds, and
the comparison can thence be made without the introduction of
any new element.

To begin with Peas. As the improvement obtained among
these during the period in question will be the subject of a
special paper, I need only take a general review of the progress
achieved, The varieties of Peas in commerce from twenty-five to
thirty years ago were probably as numerous as at the present time.
During the interval an uninterrupted stream of novelties have been
offered to the public year after year, and during the same time
upwards of a hundred names have disappeared from catalogues.
Of the new varieties brought into cultivation in the period under
review forty-two have been awarded First Class Certificates by the
Royal Horticultural Society, after having been grown in the
comparative trials in the Society’s garden, and most of these
were subsequently put into commerce ; but eight or ten of them
have already disappeared. Besides these, a large number of new,
or so-called new, varieties have been sent out without having
been submitted to the test of the Chiswick trials ; and, although
some are acquisitions, many of them soon passed into oblivion,
or were found to be synonymous with other sorts. Many of the
older sorts, however, still hold their place; among such are
notably Champion of England, Veitch’s Perfection, Ne Plus

6 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Ultra, and British Queen—for quality and general usefulness
these are difficult to beat ; whilst we find such varieties as Karly
Emperor, Early Charlton, White and Blue Prussians, Waterloo
tall Marrows, and others that could be named, which were once
standard varieties and most largely grown, are now happily
almost entirely superseded by the later acquisitions.

Under the general name of Brassica is included Cabbage,
Broccoli, Cauliflower, Kale or Borecole, Brussels Sprouts, Savoy,
a series of vegetables of the highest importance as furnishing a
supply throughout the year. A review of what has been done
in the way of improvement during the past quarter of a century
must, however, be brief, taking them in the order named. Up-
wards of fifty names of Cabbage in seed lists thirty years ago are
not now found there, and perhaps deservedly ; but yet very few
real acquisitions have been made since. LEllam’s dwarf Karly
Spring, certificated in 1884 ; Karly Ktampes and other varieties
of French origin, valuable for spring sowing and main crops; and
Karly Offenham, a fine example of the old Enfield type, are all
of comparatively recent introduction. ‘The Broccoli family has
always been a numerous one, as many as forty-five names have
been noted in a seed catalogue published at the beginning of the
period under review; but all are now lost to fame; their place
has, however, been taken by perhaps more than that number of
new names, their greatest merit being the lengthening of the
season. J must mention here the Cabbage-Broccoli called Chou
de Burghley, raised and distributed by Mr. Gilbert, of Burghley
Gardens ; and also the new form of sprouting cabbage raised by
Mr. McIndoe, of Hutton Hall, both of which indicate a new
departure. Among the newer Cauliflowers, the Autumn Giant,
certificated in 1870, has stood the test of time, and is now an
established favourite both in gardens and for market purposes ;
its introduction prolonged the season very considerably, while
the Extra Early, certificated in 1880, has lengthened the season
in the opposite direction, by being grown in frames or under
hand-glasses. Kales are not much appreciated south of the
Tweed, although, after a severe winter, they may be relied on
when everything else is crippled. Many selections have been
offered during the past quarter of a century, but none much in
advance of the old Green Curled. In Brussels Sprouts, on the
contrary, a marked improvement has been made ; but the Savoy

OPENING ADDRESS BY THE CHAIRMAN, 7

has remained much as it was, with the addition of early dwarf
Vienna, and Gilbert’s Universal, certificated in 1884,

Among Beans not much has been done in the way of im-
provement ; we still cultivate the same varieties of Dwarf French
Beans as we did twenty-five years ago. Ne Plus Ultra among
the early sorts, and Canadian Wonder among the long-podded
late sorts, are the best introductions of late years; and among
Runner Beans, Girtford Giant and The Czar, which were raised
by Laxton, are the most prominent improvements. The French
varieties of Butter Beans are, I think, deserving of more atten-
tion than they have hitherto received ; as served in France they
are certainly a great delicacy. Some of the old sorts of Broad
Beans, as White Blossom, Red Blossom, and others, have nearly
disappeared. Beck’s Green Gem may be considered an improve-
ment on the old dwarf Fan; Seville Long-pod and Aguadulce,
introductions from Spain, have certainly the advantage of pro-
ducing very long pods, but it is doubtful whether they have so
many beans in a pod as a well-selected stock of Hang-downs, of
which Bunyard’s new selection is perhaps the best.

For upwards of two centuries the Potato has been, and is un-
doubtedly long destined to be, the staple vegetable of temperate
climates. Thirty years ago there were as many sorts cultivated
as there are now, or perhaps, more correctly speaking, as many
names were in use for real or supposed varieties as there are now ;
but with this important distinction, that whereas over a great
part of the country every district of greater or less area had its
own particular sorts under its own local names, and rarely
admitted other kinds into cultivation within its limits, the ten-
dency—I may say the practice—especially among professional
gardeners, is now almost universal to select the best proved kinds
under their generally recognised names, and this has been one of
the principal causes that has brought about the improvement in
the Potato we everywhere meet with, for it is an undoubted fact
that not we only, butalso the general public, get better Potatoes now
than were supplied thirty years ago. Even that terrible scourge,
the Potato disease, has not been an unmixed evil, for thirty years
ago the fungoid disease that first came prominently into notice in
1845 was as virulent in unfavourable seasons as it had ever been.
The sorts of Potatoes cultivated in the more remote rural districts,
especially by non-professional gardeners, had been grown year

8 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

after year from the same stocks upon the same land, and had
become so degenerated as to offer an easy prey to the ravages of
the disease, and in wet seasons so precarious were the crops in
some places that the tubers scarcely paid for the lifting. | Of late
years a better prospect has been opened up; the life history of
the worst scourge, the fungus known to science as Phytophthora
infestans, has been studied out, the cause of the disease is now
understood, and a remedy for this, although unfortunately not
the sole, but by far the most destructive enemy of the Potato,
is, let us hope, within practical reach. In one district in the
West of England known to me the effects of the disease have
been already reduced to a minimum by constantly changing the
tubers—that is to say, instead of selecting the tubers for planting
for the following season from the crop grown upon the spot, fresh
tubers are obtained from crops grown in another locality, the
results being better crops and less disease. These simple facts.
are well worthy of the attention of all who take an interest in
the formation of labourers’ allotments, for the main crop of such
allotments will surely be Potatoes year after year, and no men
have fewer opportunities of effecting the desired exchange of
tubers, or are more prone to continue selecting them from their
own stock, than those who are under the necessity of getting
through the greatest amount of cultural labour in the least avail-
able time.

Turning to tap-root vegetables, we find that thirty years ago
only three varieties of Beet were generally cultivated. Dell's
Crimson, introduced in 1869, has, under many synonyms, taken
the place of most of the older forms, while the Egyptian Turnip-
rooted has been a welcome addition to the sorts for early use.
Among Carrots the old sorts are still more or less cultivated, but
selections from some of the French varieties, such as the Early
Nantes, Guérande, and St. Valery, are now extensively grown.
One peculiarity in some of the newer sorts should be noted—they
are of a uniform bright red colour throughout, and destitute of
the yellow core so familiar in the older kinds. Generally speak-
ing, the improvement in Carrots has tended towards the produc-
tion of earlier varieties, better shape, better quality, and greater
weight of crop. The Parsnip being of so much more restricted
use, naturally falls into a subordinate place, and the old sorts still
hold their sway.

OPENING ADDRESS BY THE CHAIRMAN, 9

The season for garden Turnips has commenced earlier by the
introduction in 1888 of the extra Karly Milan, which comes into
use from ten to fourteen days before any other sort. Many of
the old kinds of Onions are still the best, but among more recent
and desirable varieties I may mention the Rousham Park, the
Queen, the Roccas and other Italian Onions, all useful introduc-
tions and much in demand of late years.

The Vegetable Marrow, one of the most popular and cheapest
of vegetables when in season, has received at least two useful
additions of late to the number of its varieties in Pen-y-Byd (the
best in the world), raised by Mr. Muir, of Margam Park, Glamor-
ganshire, a small round-fruited sort, and Hibbert’s Prolific, a
small egg-shaped variety. One of the first to improve this vege-
table was the late Mr. Thomas Moore, of the Chelsea Botanic
Garden, who raised Vegetable Cream.

A few other kinds of vegetables have yet to be noticed which,
on account of some special requirements in their culture, are still
restricted to gardens in which these necessary requirements can
be provided, or can be grown on a large scale for market. Among
these the fine form of Sea-kale called Lily White is an improve-
ment both in colour and flavour on the old form with purple
colouring. The Tomato is yearly increasing in popularity, and
receives a corresponding increase of attention from cultivators ;
its season has been extended to almost throughout the year.
Thirty years ago not more than four or five varieties appeared in
seed lists, but now the enumeration of them fills well-nigh a
whole page of some catalogues; without referring to any of them
by name, the best of them are undoubtedly in advance of such
old sorts as De Laye, Powell's Prolific, &. The cultivation of
the Mushroom has increased enormously of late years ; it is per-
haps no exaggeration to say that, for every pound produced by
cultivation thirty years ago, upwards of a ton is so grown
now.

I will take but a glance at the progress made in Saladings.
In Lettuce, during the period under review, a multitude of varietal
names have appeared and almost as rapidly disappeared. In the
Cabbage-lettuce section, the kind known as All the Year Round
has proved a useful introduction, and retains its place as one of
the best; Early Paris Market is one of the best early kinds, and
is much cultivated. In the Cos section, Paris White, Hicks:

1C JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Hardy White, and Bath Cos are among the most useful. In
Celery, too, the list of names constantly increases, so that selection
sometimes becomes difficult. Of the red varieties, Major Clarke’s
is one of the best of recent introduction, and, among the white
kinds, Turner’s Incomparable White (syn. Sandringham) holds
itsown. The finest addition to the varieties of Endive is the im-
proved brown-leaved Batavian, certificated in 1878; this is by
far the best of the broad-leaved forms.

Among Radishes the best improvements come from France ;
the extra-early Turnip varieties are useful for growing in frames,
whilst the white-tipped olive-shaped, or French Breakfast, is one
of the most largely grown. Although the Cucumber is properly
a fruit, it is practically looked upon as a salad. Here again, as
in the case of many other popular vegetables, the multitude of
names is bewildering. MRollisson’s Telegraph and Douglas’ Ten-
der and True are both standard sorts.

The brief 7éswmé I have now given shows abundantly that
there has been no lack of activity amongst horticulturists in
bringing out new varieties of vegetables, especially of the more
popular kinds. I am not sure whether a still greater activity
has not been displayed in the production of new names, for if we
compare an ordinary seed catalogue of many years ago with one
of the present time, the surprising difference in the number of
names, if not of sorts, is apparent enough. So great has been
the embarrassment caused by the great excess and rapid multi-
plication of vegetable names and so-called new sorts for some
years past, that the Royal Horticultural Society was thoroughly
justified in taking the matter up by commencing a series of com-
parative trials in these gardens, which has resulted in the elimina-
tion of a large number of these names, not only from all well-
regulated gardens, but even from seed lists. It is greatly to be
desired that these trials should be continued as one of the most
effectual means of putting a check, not only to the excessive
increase of useless names, but also for proving the novelties
offered in such profusion year by year, that those of real merit
may receive the public recognition they deserve, while the inferior
ones will be left to drop into oblivion. The Society in doing this
is exercising one of its highest functions, a function that would
have little or no weight if undertaken by private individuals, and
therefore I need scarcely appeal to the gardeners here present,

OPENING ADDRESS BY THE CHAIRMAN. 11

and through them to their absent brethren, to supportits authority,
which, when exercised in this way, is exercised for the common
benefit of all; and I venture to think that everyone present to-
day will quite agree with me that the objects for which we are now
particularly met together—that is to say, ‘‘ the promotion of the
profitable cultivation, uses, and improvement of all kinds of roots,
tubers, bulbs, leaves, flowers and seeds, by the reading of papers,
discussion of propositions, and demonstrations of practice, and
to bring together, for the purpose of reciprocal information and
fellowship, all those interested in the growth of vegetables ’’—are
objects worthy of such a Society.

ASPARAGUS ON HEAVY LAND AND ASPARAGUS FOR
THE TABLE IN AUTUMN.

By Mr. Suirtey Hipperp, F.R.H.S.

On the history and cultivation of Asparagus in a general way
I shall at this time have nothing to say. And what I propose to
say is germane to myself in the first instance ; but it may have
some practical bearing, for itis simply a record of practice, which
I shall preface by giving a reason why.

At a time when I occupied a clay land, mostly in grass, and
requiring for gardening purposes to be tamed from a condition of
stolid savagery, there arose a demand for Asparagus, not as a
luxury or occasional feast in spring, but asa necessity, and to be
in use for the table through as long a season as possible—that is,
if possible, all the year round. The land was almost as unfit for
Asparagus as an equal area of granite, for the clay was like flint,
and required years of cultivation to fit it for such a purpose.
The rule adopted for the majority of crops was to break up the
grass, and turn the top spit down, witha heavy layer of fat stable
manure upon it, and then turn over the next spit upon that.
The land was then made up into ridges with stable dung between
two surfaces of turf. But Asparagus and Potatoes were grown
above the clay in earth partly or wholly made for the purpose,
the procedure being as follows :

It was found an easy matter to secure any quantity of lime
rubbish from buildings in process of demolition. The business

12 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

had to be managed with tact, but it ended in the shooting
into a yard convenient for the purpose of rubbish of this kind,
costing never more than one shilling the cubic yard, with a trifle
added to the carters. This stuff was roughly sorted to remove
from it bricks, laths, and other material of an objectionable
nature, and being thus purified it was wheeled to the site of an
intended Asparagus bed. There had been provided in time a
store of turf, mud from a pond, and a heap of refuse from the
kitchen garden, moulded over to prevent annoyance. The bed
was made of this mixture 6 feet wide and 38 feet high. The
length is of no consequence, but it happened for convenience
that all the beds made in this way had a length of 60 feet.
There was always left a 6-foot space between the beds, which
was increased by subsequent management, as will be seen.

If the bed was made in summer it was at once sown with
winter Spinach ; if made in winter or spring it was planted in
March with early Potatoes. This preliminary cropping was to
allow time for the stuff to settle and amalgamate, and that
digging and other operations might temper its crudities. When
the preliminary crop was removed, the bed was dug over, stones
and bricks thrown out, a good body of fat dung laid in, and then
the bed was sown with two rows of Asparagus at a distance from
each other of 86 inches.

Asparagus seed may be sown at any time from the Ist of
February to the 1st of August ; the earlier it is sown the better,
but late sowing will make a plant before winter, and it will live
to make a vigorous start in the following spring. The sowing
completed, the beds were neatly cut down to 4} feet, which placed
the outside rows at a distance of 18 inches from the boundary
line of the bed.

The cultivation in the early stages consisted in weeding and
thinning, the plants being successively thinned until, in the
second growing season, they were 3 feet apart. In the latter part
of July and through the month of August the bed is well soaked
with liquid manure put on quietly from a hose, and care is taken
not to remove the dead straw of the summer growth, for thatis
useful to the plant, until November, when it must be cleared off.

3ut the straw containing seed is all cut out as soon as the berries
are fully coloured. Every year, in July or August, as may be
convenient, and.as the state of the weather may influence the

ASPARAGUS. 13

business, the irrigation is repeated. Early in the third growing
season the beds are lightly covered with a strewing of rough grass,
hay, or other litter to protect the rising shoots. This isa matter
of greatimportance. The litter should not be strewed until there
are signs of growth, and then it will be of great service, and will
augment the supply of shoots by protecting them from frost.
The litter need not be removed, for if it is light clean stuff the
growth will push through it and the stuff will settle itself.

In this third growing season further care must be taken to
protect the plant. If the produce is gathered as I shall propose,
the green tops will attain to dimensions far beyond what is com-
monly seen, and the summer storms will wrench them and do
much damage. Our rule has been to thrust a lot of pea-stakes
between the rows to give support; the stakes must be stout, and
firmly planted, but ties are not wanted; it is sufficient if the
green tops have something to lean upon when strong winds pre-
vail. In November the beds are hghtly forked over, made clean
from weeds, and a dressing of stable dung is put on to give pro-
tection through the winter and nourishment in spring. In very
dry seasons the irrigation is preceded by lightly pricking the soil
between the rows with a small fork; great care must be taken to
avoid any damage to the grass or top-growth throughout the
season, for every spray contributes to the vigour of the roots and
tells upon the crop at last.

On breaking up some of these beds on a certain occasion, I
had the curiosity to trace some of the roots, and I found they
had entered freely into the clay below, and had therefore
pumped up from it alot of support. The reason for breaking up
the bed was to supply a nurseryman with roots of what he insisted
on regarding as a distinct variety. I told him as I tell you,
there is no peculiar variety of Asparagus ; there is but one, and
when differences are observable they are due solely to cultivation.
The variations in growth of the plant are strikingly illustrated
by the samples I place before you. For the average of gardens,
wherein it is the practice to cut all that appears until about
the end of June, straws 2 feet high and of the thickness of a
common lead-pencil may be considered a fair growth. The
spring produce of such beds wili consist of heads of the thick-
ness of the middie finger of a man’s hand for the very best
sample, down to mere sprue, which in many cases predominates.

14 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

You know how common is the practice of purchasing something
better than the home garden produces when the occurrence of a
dinner party renders it necessary to adorn the table with hand-
some grass in some degree of plenty. A better growth is
here in straws 6 feet high and 15 inch in circumference at
the base, indicating a supply of heads in spring such as we
should describe as handsome and altogether desirable for the
table, ‘both for size and quality, without running to an extreme.
But an extreme case is as likely to prove instructive as a poor
one. Here, then, I invite you to admire a growth running to
7 feet 6 inches, the circumference of these straws at the base
being 24 inches. This we will call ‘“ giant ’’ Asparagus, for the
heads will often surpass in thickness that of a big man’s thumb,
which I suppose does not often exceed 3 inches in circumference.
This giant growth is the produce of a fertile soil containing a
notable proportion of calcareous salts ; and it equals the gigantic
growth of Argenteuil, which, I beg you to observe, has the
advantage of a calcareous soil on which the Grape-yine thrives,
for the Asparagus is grown there on the same ground as the
vineyard Grapes. I am fully satisfied that the extravagant
manuring practised inthe cultivation of Asparagus is in very many
instances extravagant waste, for the plant is thereby supplied
with but a little of what it requires, and very much of what it
does not require. Lime and silica are primary requirements,
and the alkalies and nitrates supplied in ordinary manures are
certainly required in liberal proportions, but are very often
provided in excess, for, the lime being deficient, it is impossible
for the plant to appropriate all the possible food within its
reach.

The taking of the produce is a most important matter. The
practice that prevails is to cut all that rises, including fat shoots
for the table and lean sprue for the soup-tureen. It is a destruc-
tive practice—a killing of the goose for the golden eggs. The
plant endures it, and repairs itself from July until the chill of
autumn stops the growth; but under such treatment it never
attains to its full vigour and luxuriance; it is a puny thing,
making shoots like skewers for the table, and green tops as weak
as fennel and less majestic for its own use, when the destructive
process comes to an end.

It wa; the rule in the culture I am describing to cut only

ASPARAGUS. 15

the finest shoots and leave all else to grow naturally, and one
result was an abundant green growth in the early days of May,
when the visitor unaccustomed to the business might remark that
the Asparagus was going to ruin through being allowed to have
its own way so out of timeand season. But when that happened,
I would take a basket and in a few minutes cut half a hundred
handsome heads as thick as a man’s thumb—and thicker than
a man’s thumb Asparagus should not be—and with a great
depth of green, and this when cooked was eatable half the way
down, and of the finest flavour possible for Asparagus.

When I began this business I did not anticipate or aim at
what really happened. But I found that in a fairly good season,
with rain enough, and the plant having its own way from the
first, except that it was tenderly robbed of a few of its best
shoots occasionally, those best shoots were presented in suc-
cession, and often in great plenty during August and September,
and I have gathered a supply in October, although that, it should
be observed, was an exceptional case.

If you say you do not want Asparagus in August and Sep-
tember, I have no reply. So far as that goes you need not heed
a word I say. But probably there are some confiding ones in
the world who will believe me when I say that Asparagus with
partridges is a most happy combination; it is like a mixture
of silver and gold, for these two delicacies belong to the precious
metals of gastronomy. But I wanted Asparagus of fine quality
in great plenty and through as long a season as possible, for
what reason I need not declare, for 1am here to talk of possibilities
in horticulture, and not of my private affairs. It is enough to
say that I made a fine plant on clay land of a forbidding nature,
and, by treating the plant generously, it repaid me beyond all
hope or expectation.

It is customary to see in English gardens Asparagus beds that
never have and never can pay a reasonable rent for the ground
they cover. Usually the seed is sown too thickly in the first
instance, and is never after sufficiently thinned. Beginning in
this bad way the case is soon made worse by the appearance of
additional plants from self-sown seeds, and thus we have a crowd
fighting for food with the usual result of a puny, unprofitable
growth. The practice of cutting all that rises until the end of
June completes the system of how not to do it, and many who

16 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

should have a fine example from their own ground are compelled
to purchase when creditable Asparagus must be seen on the
table. As the plant contains a considerable proportion of the
salts of lime, calcareous matters should always be secured for
its service, except when the soil is naturally furnished with such
substances.

Having made mention of the production of table Asparagus
in autumn, it will be expected that I should devote at least a
few words to that part of the subject. By the ordinary course
of cultivation an autumn supply is not to be hoped for, but it
will occur in a warm moist autumn, and may be regarded in a
general way as an accident of not much consequence. I have
said that during many long years it was of the utmost
importance to me to have a continuous supply of Asparagus, and
any hiatus was in the nature of a disaster. The very conserva-
tive system I followed of never cutting more than was wanted,
while having a considerable breadth of plant to cut from as
compared with actual quantity required—this very conservative
system made me often rich in autumnal supplies, and it was just
a question when frost would bring it to a stop, for, so long as
growing weather continued, I generally could ensure respectable
Asparagus until about the 8th of October, even onthe cold clay ofthe
valley of the Lea. But where severe cutting in spring is practised
an autumnal supply should not be looked for, and perhaps in a
majority of gardens it is not wanted. But forthe information of
any to whom a late supply might be of advantage, I will say
that the surest way to obtain it is to set apart a bed in a
sheltered position, and to abstain from cutting a single stick
therefrom until the days begin to shorten. It will make an
early and vigorous growth, and the straws will ripen early and
the plant will take a rest in July. Then it may be persuaded
into a new growth by irrigation, and some handsome table grass
may be secured, and will be found to harmonise with grouse and
partridges perfectly.

The samples of table grass before you are such as in spring
would be considered of fair average quality. They may be
described as 6 to 9 inches long, and 14 inch in circum-
ference, with a fine length of tender green meat for the
lover of what is called ‘‘ Knglish”’ Asparagus. On the grave
question of the superiority of white or green grass, I have

ASPARAGUS. Vi

nothing to say; it is a question of taste solely, but, the taste
being defined, it is an easy matter for the cultivator to gratify it ;
in other words, we can produce Asparagus in the Continental style
without difficulty, and the reason English Asparagus is green, is
simply that the English people prefer it so.

DISCUSSION.

Monsieur Henri DE Vi~MoRIN said it gave him much
pleasure to throw what light he could on the cultivation of
Asparagus. He had carefully studied the growth of the vegetable, |
and was in a position to state that the production of large
samples was the result of both selection and cultivation. He
did not agree with the statement that the selection of seed from
the centre of the plant was of importance. He, moreover,
believed that it was made to divert attention from the point of
real importance, which was to select seed from the plants pro-.
ducing stems of the greatest thickness. As the strength of each.
plant was necessarily limited, those plants producing but few
stems produced the strongest shoots, and were consequently
selected for the supply of seed. The great French growers, he:
said, gave more space than that advised by Mr. Hibberd, the
usual distance being 4 feet in the rows and 8 feet between
the rows ; but of course the produce would not pay, unless it
were of such good quality as to command the highest possible
price. An abundance of manure was used; and, in order to
expose the crowns to the influence of the atmosphere, some of
the soil was in autumn removed from about them, and the
crowns again covered in the spring to assist in blanching the
heads.

With regard to what Mr. Veitch had said in his opening
address about the multiplicity of names of vegetables, Mons.
Vilmorin remarked that seedsmen were bound to supply what,
their customers required, and that the varieties of vegetables
differed considerably in their adaptability to the various countries,
and the different parts of each country. The cultivator was the
best judge as to what would suit the conditions under which he
had to produce his supplies, and the seedsman was bound to
meet his requirements. At the same time it was highly impor-
tant that cultivators should be educated to appreciate the finest
kinds in the several sections, as a little difference in the time of

G

18 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

being ready for use, or in the quality, might make all the difference
between the crop proving remunerative or otherwise.

Mr. VEITCH said it would perhaps be as well to state that
what he said applied solely to English gardens, and to such kinds
as were not specially influenced by local conditions.

ON THE PRODUCTION OF WINTER SALADS.
By Mr. Norman, F.R.H.S.

To supply Salad in winter is one of the most important. duties of
a gardener ; to have it through our long winters requires a great
deal of care. Lettuce, the most important of Salads, is always in
request. As seasons vary so much, it is impossible to fix upon
dates for sowing in any part of England. I commence sowing
for winter about the Ist of July; I sow again about the 15th of
July and the 1st of August. The varieties I like best for winter
are Brown Cos, Lee’s Immense Hardy Cabbage Lettuce, with
some Victoria Cabbage Lettuce for the early part of the winter.
These are planted out as soon as large enough, about 10 inches
from plant to plant. If the season is warm the earlier sowings
are ready for use in September, which does not matter, as
Lettuce are in great demand at all seasons. My object is to
have as many as possible ready for use and half-grown by
October. Frost is very destructive to full-grown Lettuce, there-
fore, when October comes, it is necessary to have mats, or some
kind of protecting material, ready to cover them with on all
frosty nights, on the quarters where they have grown, or they
may be lifted and laid in close on a south border or some
sheltered situation where they may be more conveniently pro-
tected. By this means good Lettuce may be had out of doors to
November, and, in favourable seasons, to quite the end of that
month.

The plants that are Whitt half-grown I lift with as many
roots as possible, and plant in cold pits and frames between the
Ist and 15th of October ; these, with plants sown about the 15th
of August, and planted as soon as large enough in pits, give a
supply from November to March. I sow again, and it is gene-
rally the last sowing of the season, about the 1st of September,
the plants of which sowing are planted on a south border, and in
a frame by the side of a greenhouse, about 5 inches apart, so

ON THE PRODUCTION OF WINTER SALADS. 19

that about the 1st of February each alternate plant may be lifted
with a trowel, and planted in a frame on a few warm leaves, or
between rows of Potatoes in pits. These soon give a supply of
tender Salad, and, with those in the frame, generally keep up a
supply till the early autumn-planted ones are ready for use on the
south border, which will be from the Ist to the latter part of April.

To produce Lettuce from April to October is generally easy ;
they require to be sown frequently, and planted on good ground,
with plenty of water in dry weather. Lettuce in frames require
to be grown as hardy as possible. This may be done by having
the lights off on all favourable occasions; but cutting winds
must be guarded against, and frost excluded, and they should
never be allowed to get dry at the roots.

Endive, next to Lettuce, is the most important kind of Salad.
It is more hardy than Lettuce, which makes it very valuable as
a Winter Salad. I grow two kinds, the Green Curled and Round-
leaved Batavian. I make three sowings from the middle of
June to the middle of August, and plant them out as they are
ready a foot apart, in beds about 5 feet wide. As Lettuce are
preferred, I do not supply Endive as long as good Lettuce are
out of doors; therefore some are tied to blanch about the
1st of October, and others in batches at intervals to keep up the
supply. While they are green they will stand sharp frost, but
the blanched parts will not bear it. From about the middle of
October the full-grown plants are covered with mats on frosty
nights. As the season advances and severe frost sets in a
32-size flower-pot is placed over each tied-up plant, and leaves or
litter over all. By this practice a supply is generally kept up
till March.

Chicory, or Witloef, sown about the 1st of June in drills a
foot apart, taken up in winter, and forced in the dark, makes a
useful Salad.

Corn Salad, or Lamb’s Lettuce, is a very hardy plant. About
the 1st of June is a good time to sow it. It is indispensable, as
it stands the winter well, however severe. I always keep it for
February and March—the most difficult season to supply a Salad.

Celery, as well as being supplied plain, is useful for mixed
Salads. :

Tomatoes make a delicious Salad.

Stachys tuberifera will, I believe, be useful for Winter Salads.

c2

20 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

VEGETABLE CONFERENCE.—Tuairp Day, SEPT. 26, 1889.

Mr. Surruey Hreserp, F.R.H.S., in the Chair.

THE FOOD OF VEGETABLES.
By Mr. J. Wricut, F.R.H.S.

WHATEVER difference of opinion may exist in respect to methods
of procedure, all will agree that before vegetables can be used as
food they themselves must be fed. Food is the motive power of
growth, and just in proportion as the food is suitable in quantity
and kind, in the same proportion will the crops be satisfactory
for the purpose for which they are grown; or, in other words,
they will contain the desired properties and flavour that are pecu-
liar to the different kinds when produced and prepared in the
best condition.

It is necessary to allude briefly to the qualifying ‘“‘ condition,”
for few persons can have had many years’ experience in growing
vegetables without becoming aware that all the care and _ skill,
and even success, of the cultivator may count for little through
the ignorance of the girl in the scullery, and the want of care, if
not something more, of her superior the cook. It is due both to
gardeners and the owners of gardens to mention this, not with
the object of suggesting an excuse for any shortcomings on the
part of the former, but in the interest of fairness, justice, and
truth,

Iam not aware of any achievement of which a gardener has
more reason to be proud than that of supplying the different
vegetables in season of the highest order of excellence, and I have
a strong conviction that the man who does this will not be far
behind in anything he may undertake in other departments, if
a fair chance is afforded him. But all men cannot succeed
equally in high-class vegetable production. All do not, and
cannot, work under equal conditions. Physical obstacles, such
as work prepondérating over workers, and natural sterility of soil,
are much more formidable obstacles in some cases than in others.
But even with no great differences in those respects there may
be far from uniformity in results. Some persons fail, more or

THE FOOD OF VEGETABLES. 21

less, by lack of knowledge, others through lack of means. The
former it is the duty of the gardener to acquire, the latter the
owner of the garden should supply.

It is an enormous advantage to a gardener when the owner
of the land under cultivation knows the requirements of crops,
and desires, as all landowners should desire, to see them well
produced. The means will then be supplied the more freely
because they will be applied wisely and profitably. A lack of
knowledge on this very important subject may lead to starved
crops on the one hand and to a waste of wealth on the other, for
the source of wealth is the food of crops.

We have now more immediately under consideration garden
vegetables. What is their food? <A deep thinker and sedulous
searcher for truth goes so far as to suggest that each variety of
plant requires its own appropriate food. No doubt that is so,
but I cannot think that different vegetables require different kinds
of food, but only different quantities of the same kinds for their
sustenance, and it is the relative proportions of the ingredients
required by different crops that the gardener should study if he
desire to develop the best qualities in those crops as represented
by the best flavour and most nutritious properties of which they
are capable.

The mere size of vegetables does not, in my opinion, represent
superior culture, because in the first place I suspect abnormal
bulk is obtained at the expense of something of inherently greater
value—for instance, gold. Wemay see Cabbages, Cauliflowers,
Celery, Turnips, and other vegetables of titanic proportions or
three or four times the size of the best produce for table, but if
the cost of production exceeds the value of the articles produced
where is the credit attaching to cultivation? Observe, I do not
object to a person spending money in the preparation of a horse
for winning the Derby, or a bullock for securing the blue ribbon
at the Smithfield show, because there is a special object in view,
the attainment of which may justify the outlay, and it is the
same with gigantic vegetables. They are grown for a special
purpose, and invested with an extra food value; but if every-
body were to invest the same amount as represented by time and
materials in attempts to produce similar examples, not only would
the great majority fail in their object, but the practice, if gene-
rally indulged in, would lead to bankruptcy.

22, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

It is not in the least humiliating to take a lesson occasionally
from what we call the brute creation. I dislike the term, but use
it because it is expressive. In the spring of the present year I
had the pleasure of examining a pasture in Sussex. It was
on the estate of Dr. Hogg. One portion of the field had been
dressed with farmyard manure, another with a mixture of
superphosphate of lime, chloride of potash, and a little sulphate
of ammonia.* The majority of human beings would have pro-
nounced the yard-manured portion the better, because of the
taller herbage, but the cows did not, and they ate the
herbage on the latter, rejecting the better-looking. They
knew exactly how far to go, and the dividing line was as clear
as if it had been cut up to with a scythe. Will anyone tell
me the animals made a mistake ? They made no mistake. The
herbage they chose was without doubt both better-flavoured and
more nutritious than that which they rejected, because the yard
manure was deficient in food constituents, which the artificial
mixture contained. This is not mentioned with the object of
condemning farmyard manure, for some of it is of great value,
but for showing by comparison in a plain way that bulk in vege-
tables is not a criterion of merit for the purpose for which they
are grown. They must be fed with ingredients which impart to
them their distinctive qualities before they can in turn serve as
food of the most enjoyable and wholesome kind for consumers.
Some so-called manure is lamentably deficient in those ingre-
dients, and the crops that are grown by it must of necessity be
deficient too. They must have all they need to render them
perfect.

What has Liebig said on this important subject? Here are
wo of his “‘ laws’ which should be learned by heart by every
gardener :—

1. “A soil can be termed fertile only when it contains all the
materials requisite for the nutrition of plants in the required
quantity and the proper form.’ We must note that some of the
ingredients do not suffice, but ‘all’? must be there, and in the
required quantity (be it large or small), also in the proper form—

* Proportions—2 cwt. superphosphate of lime ;
2 cwt. chloride ot potash ;
1 cwt. sulphate of ammonia.
Application—4 cwt. per acre.

THE FOOD OF VEGETABLES. 93

a condition of vital importance. They must be soluble, ready for
use when needed, or they may as well not be there so far as
regards the immediate crop.

2. ‘‘ With every crop a portion of these ingredients are re-
moved. A part of this portion is again added from the inex-
haustible store of the atmosphere; another part, however, is
lost for ever if not replaced by man.’’ Those are fundamental
truths, and with them is incorporated the responsibility of
cultivators. The atmospheric food referred to is of enormous
importance. This will be apparent when the fact is grasped by
all, as it is by many, that more than ninety out of every hundred
parts of vegetables is derived from the air, or, in other words,
ninety per cent. of the food of crops is derived from the air under
favourable conditions in the form of rain and gases that act as
solvents of the matter locked up in the soil. The earth must be
filled, so to say, with air; but it must be moist, or it will be use-
less. And here we see the importance of tillage and drainage ;
because, if water cannot percolate through the soil, air cannot
enter to warm it and render the food therein available. Warmth
represents life and growth ; cold, death and stagnation ; and it is
utterly useless—indeed worse, because wasteful—placing manure
in water-logged land. Some soils are too light and porous,
needing additions of heavier to increase their retentiveness,
otherwise the air in them would be dry and of no service ; others
may be too close, and need opening material for the admission of
air; but no matter the texture of soil, whether sandy or clayey,
if it is water-logged it is cold, inert, even poisonous ; and the
sun cannot increase its temperature till the excess of water is
evaporated, any more than water with a lump of ice in it can be
warmed over a fire till the ice is melted. The cultivator, there-
fore, for making the most of the virtues of the atmosphere and
manure, must have the soil in the best condition for their absorp-
tion and retention, stirring, hoeing, or mulching, as may be in
turn required. Then, and not till then, can the mineral ingre-
dients already in the soil, or which may be added to it in the form
of manure, be appropriated by the crops under cultivation.

Depriving the land of the labour that is requisite for the
maintenance of its fertility is a gigantic mistake ; andI can give
_a striking instance of the hoe, timely and properly used, being a
creator of wealth, but must go out of the garden for it. Three

24 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

years ago the steam threshing-machine was at work on a farm
-at which I was resting. I asked the man in charge if he could
run as much grain through in a day as he could twenty years
‘ago. ‘* Nothing like, sir,” was his reply. ‘‘ How do you account
for it ?’’ was the next question. ‘‘ By the farmers not. hoeing
their ccrn,’’ was the prompt reply ; and he went on to say that,
to save expense, they ceased hoeing, but they were finding their
mistake oui. One of them had a fourteen-acre field of. wheat,
quite level and uniform in appearance in the spring. Half of
this was hoed twice at a cost of 7s. 6d. an acre, the other half
-left untouched. The crop from the two portions was kept separate,
and when half was threshed the machine was cleaned for the
other. The results astounded everybody, for the yield from the
-twice-hoed half was just under five quarters an acre; that from
the let-alone half just over three quarters. The food from the
‘air admitted in the hoeing contributed to the greater yield, and
the weeds where the hoe was not used accounted for the lesser
by abstracting nearly half the food-producing material from the
land. The 7s. 6d. spent in labour more than earned the whole
rent of the land, and the corn has been systematically hoed in
the district ever since.

Now we come back to gardens. Those which yield the most
-and the best of vegetables, and for which occupiers pay the
highest rents, are the best supplied with labour. ‘‘ And with
-manure,’’ someone may ejaculate. Yes, with manure; but with-
out the labour much of the manure would either be wasted on
weeds or remain unused—washed away, because of the non-
insertion of seeds and plants at the right time for appropriating
and turning it into money, in the form of profitable crops.

But what 13 manure, or the ingredients which crops abstract,
-and which, as Liebig says, are ‘‘ lost for ever ”’ if not replaced by
man? What are known as natural or animal manures em-
ployed in cultivation are obtained from vegetables, which, as
Johnston says, contain ‘‘ ready-formed—that is, formed during
-their growth from the food on which they live—phosphate to
form the bone, gluten to form the muscle, oil to produce fat.”
Now if the food referred to is defective in the requisite con-
stituents, so must the animals be, and so must be the resulting
‘manure. Such is the fact, and it is impossible to get nourishing
food out of vegetables that do not contain it, as they cannot if

THE FOOD OF VEGETARLES. 95

it is not in the soil, but as they certainly will if it is there and
within their reach.

Some persons condemn natural manure and extol the so-
called artificial; others condemn the artificial and extol the
natural. I think it is better to do neither, but to discriminate.
Ville, the great French chemist, says land to which farmyard
manure only is applied, is being gradually exhausted, and that
its fertility can be better maintained and crops better fed with
the three ingredients—lime, pctash, and phosphoric acid in
combination with nitrogenous manure. Professor Wrightson
says farmyard manure has no equal. Stephens, in his *‘ Book
of the Farm,” says a ton of first-class well-made manure should
contain between 12 and 14 lbs. of nitrogen, 11 to 15 lbs. of potash,
8 to 9 lbs. of soluble salts of phosphoric acid (as in superphos-
phate), and 10 to 18 lbs. of insoluble phosphate (as in bones).
As these are all the ingredients Ville asks for, and as the
manure also acts mechanically in opening the soil, supplying
silica, and eventually humus—which is the nursery of Bacteria
‘or micro-organisms, that render the nitrogen active by converting
it into nitrates—such a mixture of good things must be long in
exhausting the land. It will feed the land and the crops ; but—
and here is the point—not one ton of manure in ten thousand
equals, or even approaches, the standard named. The bulk of
‘the material that gardeners have to work with does not half
equal it, and a vast quantity is but a poor apology for the genuine
article—the husk without the kernel, a dead body from which
the spirit has gone.

Then come the value and the need of the concentrated
essences known as artificials. Every gardener should have a
supply of these, and he may then not only increase the produce of
the soil, but improve it—storing the vegetables with food, with-
out which, though they may be passable, they cannot be perfect.
Phosphoric acid with potash, the former preponderating, for the
Brassica family; potash with phosphates for the Legumes or
pod-bearers, also Potatoes; and nitrogen for every crop that
needs a whip on to enable it the more freely and fully to abstract
the substantial ingredients. With superphosphate of lime,
chloride (or nitrate) of potash, the latter the more potent and
costly, also nitrate of soda, or sulphate of ammonia at hand, the
gardener can improve his probably poor farmyard manure con-

26 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

siderably, and indeed need not wait for it, as so many men have
to do, till they lose their tempers and prejudice their crops.

When special manures are found to be good, they contain
the above-named ingredients, and possibly others, which may act
beneficially in certain soils ; thus magnesia for Potatoes and Peas ;
soda for Asparagus and Carrots, and chlorine for Beet and Onions
(both imparted by common salt), and a little iron for most crops.
According to the experiments of Dr. Griffiths, principal of the
Lincoln School of Science, many soils do not contain sufficient
of this ingredient. His “Treatise on Manures,” which is an
admirable work, contains striking examples of half a hundred-
weight of iron sulphate (green vitriol) per acre increasing the
crop of Potatoes, Turnips, Mangolds, Cereals, and Beans, while
it cured the stubborn root disease of Cucumbers (according to
the evidence of Mr. Crocker, of Ham Green Tomato fame), and
gave him extraordinary crops. Passing for a moment from
vegetables, Mr. Divers has recently stated in the Gardeners’
Chronicle its efficacy in curing a fine Peach tree of “ yellows.”’
I have seen the tree, and can pronounce the cure complete. For
vegetable crops about a quarter of an ounce to the square yard
will suffice for experimental purposes, either in solution or
powder, this to be applied only when the soil is wet to vellowish-
looking plants and crops, for producing colouring matter or
chlorophyll. It should be remembered that lime is essential for
all garden crops, and that salt is good for all, and should be
applied in inland districts, especially to naturally clay soil, at
the rate of 2 cwt. per acre, or nearly an ounce to the square
yard, in spring.

But while the soil must be fed for feeding the crops, it is
possible to impair its productiveness by over-manuring, espe-
cially with matter from stables of milking cows, and decayed
leaves. I once took possession of a garden that was like a mass
of humus, through additions of that nature for generations
perhaps. A walking-stick could be pushed down it to the handle
easily. One plot, I was told, would grow Potato-plants, but no
tubers. I found that to be a fact, and recorded it in the Journal of
Horticulture at the time. Peas were yellow and profitless. The
soil was poisoned with acids, and lime was needed to neutralise
them, also to set free the dormant nitrogen. It was given
freely (a bushel to the square rod=801 yards). Potash and bone

THE FOOD OF VEGETABLES. PA

meal were also applied. The effect was magical, and the crops
of Potatoes and Peas, where they would not grow before, were
remarkable. Why were potash and phosphates so much needed ?
Because there were none in the cowyard manure. The phos-
phates were drawn away with the milk. Manure from milch
cows, especially if largely fed on grass and roots, is greatly over-
estimated. There is little good in it to feed crops. It may
make them grow, but the growth is comparatively worthless.
Proof of this can be found in any cow pasture where the
manure is not spread. The grass grows freely enough, but the
animals refuse to eat it, and eventually tussocks form and pas-
tures are spoiled. Manure from full-grown well-fed bullocks is
very different, for it is rich in phosphates and other nutritive or
manurial properties. It is well, then, as I said before, to dis-
criminate.

If weak manure is supplied to the garden, and I have often
had it so weak that it would not ferment when moist, mix
half a peck or more of good guano in a load. The mass will
soon heat then, and eventually its value for the land will be a
cood deal more than doubled. Instead of conflict between
natural and artificial manures we then have combination, and
the union is a happy one for whatever crops are fed with the
preparation.

But how should we feed? By placing what is good for
plants within immediate reach of the roots at the moment of
their formation. I do not say have the soil poor below; on the
contrary, have it as rich as the crops need; but do not, as
many do, forget the surface; also remember that young
plants like quick-acting nitrogenous rather than slower mineral
food. The advantage of a good, free start in growth cannot
be over-valued, and the start is often slow and weak in strong
land, and always so in poor soils. Collect decayed leaves
or other vegetable matter, wood ashes, light soil of any kind,
with a dash of soot, and mix well. When moist, and only then,
pour on liquid manure, such as drainings from heaps, or, what
is very good, half an ounce of sulphate of ammonia to a gallon of
water. A few weeks later, when the time of sowing comes, draw
deep drills, fill with this mixture, which should then be nearly
dry, and in it sow the seed. That is food for infant plants,
and they ‘thrive on it. This little attention at the outset. may

28 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

make all the difference between success and failure with certain
crops in naturally poor or ungenial soils.

And now we come to the least in bulk of all the essentials
for healthy crops, but of the greatest importance—fresh, strong,
well-fed seed. This can only be produced from plants grown
specially for seed, in the best of soil, well stored with the
ingredients for perfecting it. Weak pods of Peas from starved
plants—and it is the same with everything else—represent
degeneration. I have seen crops from seed of the same varieties
of vegetables, sown at the same time, side by side, one weak
and the cther strong, one unprofitable and the other profitable,
one to which the grower pointed with pride, the other with
annoyance. The difference was due to the seed, and the seed
alone. Let this be of the best, the soil be in the best mechanical
condition, and stored with manure containing the elements of
nutrition, and the best of vegetables will be produced. It is not
necessary to have fanciful mixtures for every crop, nor does it
follow that lavish applications produce corresponding results.
While sufficient should be provided, more than enough is waste,
for, as Dr. Masters says in ‘Plant Life,’ ‘particular species
take what they want and take it when they want it, not being
induced to take more by the addition of larger supplies.”

Just another sentence or two. Quick-acting nitrogenous
manures, such as nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia (the
former for light and dry, the latter for heavy and cold soils),
should be applied at the rate of 15 to 2 cwts. per acre, or 3 oz.
to the square yard, early in the season to growing crops, never
late in the autumn; phosphatic and potassic manures in thrice
the quantity earlier still, before growth commences and before
dry weather sets in, or they cannot be appropriated by, because
not dissolved in time for, the crops they are intended to support.
Chemical manures have often been condemned as worthless,
when the fault rested with the users in simply applying what
was really cood at the wrong time for attaining the object in
view.

It is scarcely necessary to dwell on the value of liquid manure
in summer, but it may be stated that, instead of the drainings
from manure heaps, and the contents of cesspools, being wasted
in winter, as is not uncommon, they should on suitable occasions
be poured on vacant (drained) land; the virtues of the liquid will

THE FOOD OF VEGETABLES. 99

be absorbed and retained by the then moist soil for the certain
benefit of after-crops. These remarks are founded on practice.
I think they cannot do harm to anyone, and may possibly be
suggestive to some who may engage in the cultivation of food-
producing crops.

Discussion.

The CHarrman (Mr. Shirley Hibberd) remarked on the too
frequent neglect of lime as a corrective of acidity, and a promoter
of useful chemical changes in the soil, as well as a necessary
plant food ; and he directed attention to the important subject of
the derivation of nitrogen by the roots and leaves of plants as
bearing direct relationship to the commercial value of manures.

Mr. G. Wytues said that wood-ashes should be used for
manure, especially in old gardens. Wood-ash, soot, and lime
were better thah farmyard manure.

ON THE IMPROVEMENT AMONGST PEAS DURING
THE LAST QUARTER OF A CENTURY.

By Mie axon, EEE. S.

THE Pea is so well known as constituting an important part of
the vegetable food of the inhabitants of this kingdom, and is so
highly appreciated by all classes of the community, that I think
the committee of this Conference has acted wisely in giving
the subject prominence ; for although the time of year fer prac-
tical illustration is somewhat inconvenient, the opportunity for
discussion is appropriate, and it cannot be surprising that the
matter should have a peculiar fascination for the writer, who has,
during thirty years, found Pea breeding and selecting a laborious
and interesting, if an unprofitable, occupation.

Time and the syllabus set before me will hardly permit of
more than a cursory glance at the work which has been done to-
wards the improvement of Peas during the period covered by my
paper, for it is probable that in this time more has been effected
than was ever previously attempted. The work has chiefly been
confined to this country; but recently cross-breeding and selection
of Peas has to some extent received successful attention in the
United States and Canada, where Peas would seem also to be
popular. On the continent of Europe, with the exception of the

30 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

well-directed efforts of Messrs. Vilmorin, of Paris, and a few
others, Iam not aware that much has been attempted, the re-
quirements for Green Peas and their use being there different
from and much more limited than in Great Britain —Peas, as
we know and grow them, are essentially a favourite vegetable
of John Bull and his relations.

It will be neither possible nor necessary for me here to enter
upon a discursive history of the Pea, but authorities affirm that
its origin has been lost in obscurity. Certain it is that it was
known to the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, and probably to
our Saxon forefathers and the prehistoric occupants of the Lake
Dwellings.

Botanically, the Pea (Piswm sativum, the Garden Pea, in-
cluding Piswm arvense, the Field Pea, as a variety only) belongs
to the natural order of the Leguminose, and has a papilionaceous
flower, the corolla being formed of a large and, when expanded,
erect back petal called the standard, two wings, or side petals,
and the keel, consisting of two smaller petals united in front ;
these enclose a style with a carpel or legume (the incipient pod),
and ten coherent stamens, five long and five short. Fructification
or fertilisation of the Pea, as with some other papilionaceous
flowers, takes place naturally, when the blossom is yet unopened
and about half-sized, and a day or two before it expands. The
original plant was most likely, in its normal state, of a tail scan-
dent or climbing habit, the stalks of the compound leaves of
all the varieties, whether dwarf or tall, terminating in tendrils
which enable the plant to grasp neighbouring objects for its sup-
port. I take it, then, that all dwarfing is unnatural, and has
been secured by cultivation and selection; this feature, never-
theless, proving an advantage in many cases to the gardener, and
a consequent improvement. On the other hand, a fair length of
straw is often of material value to agriculturists and large
growers of Peas for boiling, &e.

Taking the Pea as a cultivated food-plant, we may divide Z
into two sections—Garden and Agricultural. These, are again
usually separated into early, main-crop, and late varieties,
according to their respective periods of maturing; into tall
and dwarf sorts, according to the length of straw; and into
wrinkled and round or plump and indented seeded kinds, as
indicated by the shape and appearance of the seed.

IMPROVEMENT AMONGST. PEAS. 31

-GARDEN PRas.

Garden Peas may be again divided into

Shelling Peas, containing such as are used for shelling green ;

Boilers, which are those varieties usually grown in large
breadths for their seeds to be used for soups and culinary purposes
in the dry state ; and

Mangetout or Sugar Peas, which have thick and fleshy pods,
which in some parts are cooked and eaten green with the Peas, in
the same manner as we use Runner and French Beans.

In prospecting for improvements in Shelling Peas we have
to look to the purpose for which the particular variety will be
useful. I propose, therefore, dividing them again into three gas-
tronomic classes, with names which I shall call as follows :—

Cuass I.—Lamb Peas: those usually eaten in the early
season and in this country frequently with lamb, and con-
sisting of the smaller round and wrinkled seeded early
varieties—the petits pois .of the French—and which re-
quire to be gathered and eaten young.

Cuass Il.—Ham or Bacon Peas, which are generally
required and liked of a more farinaceous nature, as eaten with
ham or bacon, and which may be used when somewhat more
mature than those of Class I., and for this purpose the main
or second crop round or plump seeded sorts are best adapted.

Crass III.—Marrowfats or Quality Peas, which include
those of a rich and sugary flavour and buttery texture, and
are usually of the larger wrinkled seeded and mostly main-
crop or late varieties.

- From this classification it will be seen that a Pea, although
good for Class I., would be unsuitable for the purposes of
Class II. ; and that the varieties in Class II., although useful
and desirable Peas, would be unfitted for the purposes of
Classes I. and III. This classification will also tend to show
that for all these purposes, as well as for the many variations of
climate, position, and seasons for which the British gardener has to
provide, a great many sorts of Peas are necessary ; and if all these
requirements are to be met, a good many varieties must yet con-
tinue to be grown, and it will be impossible to limit ourselves to
the half-dozen varieties, more or less, so often urged as sufficient.

Bowling Peas, usually known as “ Boilers,” and used for

oe JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

cooking in the dry state, split or whole, are usually obtained from
the large and plump seeded hardy and heavy-cropping sorts,
such as the Blue Imperials.

Sugar or Mangetout Peas, with thick and fleshy pods,
although largely used on the Continent, may be dismissed as
almost unknown in English cookery.

AGRICULTURAL PEAS.

Our second principal division of the cultivated Pea, although
strictly within the limits of my paper, can only claim a passing
mention here, as but little improvement has been attempted
amongst them—an advance in earliness only, as hereafter shown,
having been secured.

I will now endeavour to see in what directions improvements
in the Garden Pea should be looked for. These appear to me
chiefly to be—

In Shelling Peas :

Increased precocity and earlier and later fitness for gathering
green, coupled with a hardier and more vigorous plant.

Increased productiveness, especially for market and large
culture.

Larger size, with ample filling of the pod and proportionate
size of the Peas; and especial attention to the beauty and
colour of the pod for market purposes.

A more continuous period for gathering green in the second
early, main-crop, and late classes; and in some cases

A more protracted and simultaneous maturing amongst the
earlies, in order that the ground may be quickly cleared for
re-cropping.

A reduction of the extreme leafy propensity in the later

varieties, so as to counteract mildew.

And where large pods have been obtained through the inter-
vention of the Sugar Pea, to endeavour to reduce or eliminate the
excess of thickness and fleshy substance of the shell.

In Boiling Peas:

Increased productiveness and hardiness of plant, combined
with a fair length of straw and easy solubility in cooking of the
ripe seed, which should be also of good size.

And all new introductions should be capable of setting their
flowers freely in moist weather.

r 4

IMPROVEMENT AMONGST PEAS. 33

We now come to the means by which these advantages have
been and are hereafter to a further extent likely to be secured.

Firstly, by selection, following a rare natural or insect cross-
fertilisation, but more generally by watching the natural ten-
dency of the Pea to vary and run back or revert; and, secondly,
by artificial cross-fertilisation and carefully continued selection.

Regarding natural or insect cross-fertilisation in the Pea, I
had, up to a recent period, concluded that it was practically
impossible, but later observations have tended to modify that
opinion, and I now hold that this does occur more often than had
been anticipated, through the agency of thrips and other minute
insects, which appear to feed on the pollen prior to the expansion
of the flower; and that the presence of ‘‘rogues,” as the
irregular plants are termed, in a crop of Peas is sometimes due
to this agency. Up to the beginning of the present century
selection was probably the only means by which the then varieties
of Peas had been obtained ; but about that period the great master
of horticulture, the late Mr. Thomas Andrew Knight, President
of the Horticultural Society of London, turned his attention to
the artificial cross-fertilisation of Peas, and with what good suc-
eess is attested by his famous tall and dwarf marrows, still grown
and in vogue in some localities. The work was subsequently
taken up by the late Dr. McLean, of Colchester—who must
be considered the father of modern Pea improvements—and has
since been largely continued by numerous workers, whose pro-
ductions have become mostly available during the past twenty-
five years.

During that period the writer alone has, wisely or unwisely,
contributed to the ever-increasing catalogues about fifty existing
or departed varieties. It will therefore probably be expected by
practical listeners that I should briefly state the means adopted ;
and as I have during that period effected some hundreds of crosses
between most of the best and approved sorts of Peas, the crosses
in many cases being repeated and reversed, and all recorded, I
will describe the mode of procedure in artificial cross-fertilisation
of the Pea, an operation which has frequently been considered
a difficult one, but which in fact, where a good eye, steady hand,
and a pair of small sharp-pointed scissors are available, will
with but slight practice be found a very simple one.

As I have previously shown, natural fertilisation usually takes

D

34 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

place in the flower of the Pea before expansion, and therefore, in
order to secure a successful cross, the operator must let his work
precede this, and it will be necessary to operate two or three days
prior to the opening of the flower, and when the incipient blos-
som is about one-third its mature size. This is done by carefully
slitting up with a scissors’ point the front of the keel petal and
removing the anthers before the pollen be shed, for should this
have taken place in the slightest degree, it will be well to abandon
the operation and recommence on another flower. The foreign
pollen of the desired variety can then be applied through the
opening made in the keel of the flower to be fertilised, either from
a camel’s-hair pencil or by direct application of the ripened pollen-
bearing anthers to the upper edge of the carpel. This is best
accomplished by an easily acquired movement of the thumb and
finger of the right hand holding the pollen-bearing flower, the
keel of which, with its point inserted in the opening made in that
of the flower to be operated upon, may be drawn back over the
anthers, and the pollen will be delivered by a jerk or spring into
the desired position. I rarely use a camel’s-hair pencil in cross-
fertilisation, as it brings considerable risk of introducing other
pollen or undesirable foreign matter in combination with the
pollen to be used. After the operation has been performed, it
will be desirable to pinch out the crown and all the flowers and
pods on the plant except those cross-fertilised. If in conducting
the operation care has been taken not to injure the organs
of fructification, and these are in ripe condition, and sufficient
pollen has been applied, the pod, if the weather be not too
wet or moist, will probably set, and in due course ripen its
complement of seeds. By means, however, of cross-fertilisation
alone, and unless it be followed by careful and continued selec-
tion, the labours of the cross-breeder, instead of benefiting the
gardener, may lead to utter confusion, because, as I have pre-
viously stated, the Pea under ordinary conditions is much given
to sporting and reversion, for when two dissimilar old or fixed
varieties have been cross-fertilised, three or four generations at
least must, under the most favourable circumstances, elapse
before the progeny will become fixed or settled: and from one
such cross I have no doubt that, by sowing every individual Pea
produced during the three or four generations, hundreds of dif-

IMPROVEMENT AMONGST PEAS. . 85

ferent varieties may be obtained ; but, as might be expected, I
have found that where the two varieties desired to be intercrossed
are unfixed, confusion will become confounded, and the variations
continue through many generations, the number at length being
utterly incalculable.

We must therefore still largely look to selection as the final
means of obtaining permanent improvements in the Pea, and I
fear the results of the recent work of Pea-crossers can hardly be
fully appreciated for some years to come, during which their
labours must be carefully followed by those of the seed-grower.

To the late Dr. McLean I am deeply indebted for the intro-
duction of his then fine new varieties, Little Gem and Advancer,
the blood of which being mingled with that of my own Prolific
Longpod, raised in 1858 by crossing Sangster’s No. 1 with Beck’s
Prizetaker Green Marrow, formed the base of a good many of
my earlier productions. Alpha originated from a cross between
Little Gem and Ringleader. William the First comes from Little
Gem and Prizetaker, and Supreme from Advancer and Prize-
taker. Subsequently, with a view of increasing the size of the
pod, I introduced the blood of the large tall Sugar Pea, which
led to the production of Superlative ; and although this Pea was
much abused for its fat sides and puffy interior, it served its pur-
pose, and has left its mark unmistakably in the increased size of
the pod of many of our best newer varieties, and has since been
well displaced by its more comely progeny.

My own endeavours have been directed chiefly towards gain-
ing in earliness with both garden and agricultural Peas, towards
the increase of size, well-filling of the pod, improvement of the
quality, and to the production of later garden varieties, and these
of moderate height, so as to continue the supply of Green Peas
over a longer period. Recalling advances made in earlier matur-
ing, | may refer to Laxton’s Earliest of All and Harbinger (now
more generally known as Eclipse) as earlier round blue-seeded
half-dwarf garden varieties, equalling if not exceeding in precocity
Dillestone’s Early Ringleader, or Prince Albert; to one new agri-
cultural variety, Laxton’s Karly Maple, obtained by crossing the
old Maple, or Partridge Pea, with Ringleader, and in precocity
quite equalling the earliest garden Pea. Amongst dwarf Peas to

American Wonder (apparently 2 reproduction of the original type
D2

36 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

of Little Gem), Multum in Parvo, William Hurst, and Chelsea
Gem, all excellent early dwarf wrinkled sorts, and Blue Peter, a
good round blue dwarf variety. Laxton’s No. 1 (the wrinkled
form of Harbinger), Alpha, and Dr. Hogg, as good quality half-
dwarf wrinkled earlies, preceding most of the old round early
white Peas; but, although possessing higher quality, combining
more tender constitutions, a defect which seems almost insepar-
able when high quality is sought to be coupled with precocity ;
these early wrinkled Peas having also, during our cold-protracted
springs, to contend with slugs, snails, birds, and insects, who all
appear able to distinguish between these and the round varieties,
and to single out the more tender and sweeter plants of the
wrinkled forms. We have, however, in William the First, and
especially in its recently re-selected earlier and originally dwarfer
form, a decided advance in quality, fertility, and beauty of pod,
combined with a good constitution and in earliness approaching
Harliest of All, and the earliest round white varieties, the ripe
seeds of William the First being of an indented or semi-wrinkled
character. I might mention that this Pea, originally 23 feet in
height, had in some trade stocks become fully 2 feet higher, and
probably it will ever require constant and continuous selection.
Other promising and larger-podded and larger-seeded early sorts,
including Gradus, will doubtless soon be forthcoming, but as
such are not actually in commerce, time alone can justify
their adoption into the Horticultural Studbook. It is, how-
ever, in the second early and main-crop varieties that so much
has undoubtedly been achieved in increased size and beauty
of pod.

To Mr. Culverwell we are largely indebted for these. In
Telegraph he gave us a decided improvement in size and beauty
of pod and a good and useful Pea. From this would appear to
have been selected the fine large-podded dwarfer varieties,
Stratagem and Pride of the Market, which in some seasons are
unapproachable as half-dwarf, large-podded main-crop varieties.
Telephone and Duke of Albany seem also to be results selected
from the same cross, each of which are material gains on Tele-
graph, Telephone being a wrinkled form of that variety with a
paler pod, and Duke of Albany wrinkled with a dark-green pod.
This Pea in most respects approaches nearly the highest standard

IMPROVEMENT AMONGST PEAS. 37

possible in main-crop Peas, as the pods are very large, hand-
some, of good colour and well filled, the quality excellent and
fertility fair, the straw being also of moderate length, the only
shortcoming appearing to be a constitution which renders it
unfitted for some seasons and situations. Many other second
early and main-crop sorts, with fine pods and showing advances
in one or more directions, have been obtained, notably Paragon
and Alfred the Great as earlier editions of the Telephone type;
and amongst the useful, hardy, and free-bearing 3-feet Peas of
medium season, introduced during the period covered by this
paper, I may note Prince of Wales, Fillbasket, Invincible, and
Laxton’s Standard (now more generally known as Wordsley
Wonder), Dr. McLean, and G. F. Wilson, and two good all-round
4-feet Peas in Mr. Standish’s Criterion and Laxton’s Charmer,
both high quality, handsome, and productive wrinkled sorts, and
whose merits have hardly been fully recognised. Amongst the
later main sorts we have John Bull, a fine half-dwarf wrinkled
Pea, but of an over-leafy habit, and consequently succeeding
only in certain seasons and localities. In the later varieties we
have gained Superiority (lickford) and Walton Hero (W. H.
Laxton), both, I believe, from crosses between Telephone and
British Queen, and advances in size and earliness on that much-
approved tall Pea. Amongst the latest Peas we have added Omega,
Latest of All, and Perpetual-bearer, all dwarfed types of the well-
known Ne Plus Ultra, and to theseno further commendation can be
accorded, for undoubtedly Ne Plus Ultra, syn. Jeyes’ Conqueror,
or rather its broad-podded selection, known formerly as Buckley’s
General Wyndham, is still the Pea of Peas ; but though Ne Plus
Ultra is of high quality and good-looking, it is tall and very late,
and we still want its earlier and dwarfer prototype, which will
probably be soon provided for us in some of the newer varieties
not yet thoroughly fixed. Lastly, we have the remarkably fine
but unfixable Pea, Evolution.

In the endeavour to enumerate the principal introductions of
the past twenty-five years, I fear I may have unintentionally
omitted some sterling varieties, but, as my experience is only
limited, I must ask your indulgence and correction. For the
purpose of comparison I have drawn up from my own recollec-
tion, and the slight sources of research open to me, the following

38 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

list of some of the best and most popular varieties of Garden Peas

previously in cultivation :—

POPULAR GARDEN PEAS IN CULTIVATION ABOUT 1864.

Early varieties.
*Dillestone’s Early, Ringleader
Double-blossomed Frame
*Sangster’s No. 1, Daniel O’ Rourke
Early Emperor
Danecroft Rival, or Early Dane-
croft
*Advancer
Tom Thumb
*Little Gem (?)
Second early varieties.
*Prizetaker, Defiance, Rising Sun,
or Bellamy’s Green Marrow
Dickson’s Favorite
*Champion of England
Auvergne
Fairbeard’sSurprise and Fortyfold

Main-crop varieties.

*Blue Scimitar

*Bedman’s Imperial, Imperial Blue
Woodford Marrow
James’ Prolific

*Veitch’s Perfection

*Yorkshire Hero, Hair’s

Mammoth

Dwarf

Late varieties.

*British Queen, Ward’s Incompar-

able
Tali Green Mammoth

*Ne Plus Ultra, Jeyes’ Conqueror,
General Wyndham

*Knight’s Tall White Marrow

*Knight’s Dwarf White and Green
Marrows

*Harrison’s Glory and Perfection
Burbidge’s Eclipse
*Blue Prussian
and out of these I believe the varieties marked with an asterisk (*)
are still grown on a considerable scale, and that few only in the
list have become altogether displaced.

Comparing the above with the recent introductions referred
to, it will be seen that we have added to our useful Peas good
first early round and wrinkled blue-seeded varieties, a good
early indented green marrow, and several fine early dwarf
wrinkled and round varieties for garden and market culture.

Amongst second earlies we have gained both in size and fill-
ing of the pods, and in fertility and hardiness. In the main-
crop sorts perfection in size and beauty of pod has been nearly
approached, and in the direction of new late Peas we have reduced
the height without loss of quality, by the introduction of the
dwarfer types of Ne Pius Ultra, and in the British Queen race
we have advanced somewhat in earliness and size of pod. Great
further gains have doubtless been obtained in the fine varieties
recently certificated by this Society, but whose good qualities
have not yet been fully realised; and although it has often been
urged that we are getting too many new Peas, it is necessary
that a good many should be brought forth, in order that, after
a crucial trial of years, which can only be carried out by the
public as consumers and by growers in quantity, the fittest

IMPROVEMENT AMONGST PEAS. 39

alone may eventually survive, for it can hardly be expected that
more than a good percentage will reach that enviable position,
as in every new introduction, however sanguine its foster-parent
may be, the public test will frequently bring to light some un-
looked-for weakness, rendering it only partially fitted, or totally
unfitted, for its intended position.

When, therefore, we consider the advances made, the nume-
rous requirements for improved varieties adapted for particular
purposes, soils and seasons, and the loss by natural elimination,
one improved variety soon becoming displaced by a better, I
think Pea-raisers have done only what was necessary to keep
pace with the times ; they have achieved many advances, and have
in the numerous cross-fertilisations laid the foundations for still
ereater improvements, but there is scope for new work in the
direction of greater hardiness or improved constitution and fertility.
The gain in large well-filled pods has sometimes been the subject
of ridicule, but where Peas are grown by the acre, and the produce
reaches several hundreds of bushels, 1d. or 2d. per bushel saved
in gathering may often represent an average rent of the land,and
the time saved in shelling the larger-podded Peas is also of some
value. The advance, therefore, in the size of pod has been con-
sequently a material improvement; gain in earliness is also well
appreciated both by the consumer and the grower ; to the former
a few days gained often represents by no means a trifling profit,
it may double or treble the value of the crop. I maintain, there-
fore, that we have secured during the past quarter of a century
many important and material improvements in our favourite
vegetable—the Pea. But we have yet room for new varieties,
especially in the production of good hardy Market Peas, with
large handsome deep-green pods, medium short-jointed straw,
and producing freely at each joint from the ground upwards ; and
for market purposes it is essential that the pods should be of
a deep-green colour, for however good the quality may be, the
higher-coloured sorts will always command a higher price. The
producer of such a Pea would not only benefit himself and the
consumer, but if he can add a hundred, or even fifty, bushels
of green pods per acre to the present yield, he may put into the
pockets of the grower an additional £5 or more per acre, and at
the same time do something towards counteracting the present
depreciation of the land.

40 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

For other reasons besides those I have mentioned, the labours
of the grower and selector ought never to cease, for the character
of precocity in the Pea gradually becomes reduced. If all the
advances in earliness claimed during the past twenty-five years
were added together, each new early variety generally aspiring to
be from seven to fourteen days ahead of all its compeers and
predecessors, early Peas would now come in with the new year ;
but, in fact, these allegations are not altogether wide of the truth,
for those who grow early Peas largely will probably have noticed
that certain portions of the stock ripen off before the bulk, and
shell out and are lost before the crop can be harvested, and this
process being frequently repeated the stock ultimately loses con-
siderably in earliness. Similar loss also arises from the attacks of
birds, mice, &c., on the earliest pods; and again, when early Peas
are gathered green, the first gatherings include most of the
earliest to ripen, and the remanent, consisting of the later, is often
saved for seed. In reality, therefore, there is ground for the
claim of extra earliness, the new foundling being in advance toa
some extent of the old stock or sort, which has not been carefully
preserved or selected. This loss is a constant one, and has to be
met either by the selector or cross-breeder. A similar pyro-
cess also goes on with regard to the height of Peas ; the dwarfer
plants get lost or left in harvesting, and ultimately the stock con-
sists of its longer-strawed portions only. We must therefore
ever be watchful and on the move in order to counteract these
persistent tendencies to deterioration of our existing stocks of
Peas.

Discussion.

Mr. A. W. Lemairre said he was an amateur grower of
Peas, and had never succeeded in buying Peas which kept to
the advertised height. He thought seedsmen should state in
their catalogues the nature of the soil in which the different
kinds of Peas should be sown.

Mr. Dunn said that we had had many good Peas introduced.
during the last quarter of a century, but he did not think there
were any new Peas which yielded earlier or later than formerly.
The Ne Plus Ultra was still unequalled. For practical purposes
there were four classes into which Peas could be divided :—
(a) first early Pea; (b) second early Pea; (c) main crop;
(d) late Pea.

IMPROVEMENT AMONGST PEAS. 4}

Mr. R. Dean deprecated the inordinate size of modern
catalogues as calculated merely to bewilder the unpractised
buyer, and referred to a catalogue of the year 1817, in his
possession, in which 30 varieties of Peas were mentioned ; and
one of Jas. Carter, 1832, measuring 7 by 5 inches, in which 42
varieties were named. He said that in 1852 these had increased
to 111, and that at the present day the number was considerably
more.

POTATO IMPROVEMENTS DURING THE PAST
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS.

BycMr, A. Duan, .F.R.H.S.

In dealing with this subject it is worth starting with the proposi-
tion that the Potato, so far from becoming in any way deposed from
its pride of place amongst vegetables, remains still the premier,
for its popularity has rather increased in the community, and
high appreciation for it as an esculent is greater than ever. Km-
phatically the Potato is the most important of all our vegetables,
using the term as employed generally at this Conference. We
never tire of it-—we eat it all the year round, not because we have
no other option, but because we love it. It is a very remarkable
feature of the Potato as an edible product that it never satiates.
We may tire of Beans, Peas, Cauliflowers, and all other of the
rank and file of the vegetable army for a time at least; but our
fancy for good Potatoes, like Tennyson’s brooklet, ‘‘ goes on for
ever,’ and if I may venture to prognosticate, I would aver that
Potatoes will still be food for man when the crack of doom shall
come.

Perhaps, in one respect, we are a little inconsistently fas-
tidious, as, whilst we prefer greatly to have Potatoes starchy, we
object to have them soapy—in other words, they may be floury, but
must not be watery. We are not tied to one method of cooking
Potatoes either, to have them presentable, and therein again lies one
element of the eternal popularity of the Potato. We can vary its
method of dressing or serving up infinitesimally. It will bake,
it will boil, it will fry, it will mash, it will fricassée, it will make
cakes or pies, it will bear cooking in a score of fashions, and we
never tire of the methods. Least of all, however, none tire of

42 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Potatoes boiled or steamed, and served up whole on the dinner
table; in fact, we make Potatoes in this form as much a standing
dish as we do the loaf of bread on our breakfast tables. We
have many diverse uses for the Potato, such as converting it
into that useful element in our underclothing, starch, wherewith
to give us a little stiffness when we are naturally disposed to
be limp. We convert it into alcohol, and help in that way to
furnish the devil with a good share of the sons and daughters of
Adam. We have worthier purposes, however, and desiccate
Potatoes, so as to make them into a valuable healthy food for
exportation or use for our soldiers and sailors under conditions of
existence where green fresh foods are not obtainable. Whatever
may be the response to the question to which I have to make
reply, at least I have shown that the uses of the Potato are most
varied, and probably considerably exceed those referred to.

Now, twenty-five years ago we had no great wealth of variety
in the Potato, and it is a significant fact that with the exception
of the Ashleaf Kidney, a sort which has kept its place chiefly
because hitherto there has been a lack of first early varieties,
there is hardly to be found in seed Potato lists one then in
ordinary cultivation. It is still very much the fashion on the
part of those who sigh after the days and years that are gone,
to declare that none of the modern Potatoes equal in quality the
Regents, Lapstones, Fortyfolds, and other sorts of the past.
Whenever I hear of the passing away of men of whom it may
apparently be said their places cannot be filled, I am consoled
with the reflection that the famous old proverb has never been
belied, ‘‘ There’s as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it.”
Just so is it in the Potato family. We have had since the date
I refer to myriads of good Potatoes introduced, and plenty of
bad ones. We have myriads of good Potatoes now also, and a
far less number of bad ones, and we have at least an abundance
of varieties which, whilst equal in quality to the best of bygone
days, do by far excel them in robustness and productiveness.
Old age in man is apt to make many a good thing taste bitter in
the mouth which seems sweet and pleasant to youth, and were
I toaver that now to me there are no such Apples as I found in
boyish days, I should fitly be laughed at, for we have now such
Apples as could hardly have been dreamed of fifty years ago;
and yet my complaint would in part be true, because I have

POTATO IMPROVEMENTS. 43

changed and become old and incapable of extracting from Apples
that delight found in the greenest fruit half a century since.
That is, I believe, very much the case with those who condemn
the Potato of to-day when compared with those of earlier years.
The Potato really has improved—the eaters of them have become
less capable of appreciating them.

Then there has been no inconsiderable improvement in form
and beauty. Those who saw, and, having seen, remember the
singularly beautiful tubers shown at the various exhibitions held
under the auspices of the International Potato Show Committee,
must in all honesty admit that in development of form wonders
have been worked during the past twenty-five years. ‘To aver
that under the influence of those shows Potatoes reached
absolutely the perfection of form in their respective sections is
to speak a truism, and, as a consequence, the Committee, having
accomplished all that was possible, retired from its labours
satisfied with its results. ‘‘ But,’’ exclaims the Potato pessimist,
‘‘beauty of form and smoothness of skin is no evidence of
quality!’ Perhaps not; but, on the other hand, neither is
ugliness. If we have had some beautiful Potatoes of bad quality,
we have also had myriads of good ones, and the efforts of the
International Committee were specially directed to the elimination
of the bad:and the expansion of the good, not only at the Crystal
Palace, but through the kindness of the Royal Horticultural
Society in these gardens also. Form and beauty, beyond satis-
fying the requirements of the cultivators of refined tastes, have
become marketable commodities also, for the handsomest samples
always secure the best prices.

One of the chief factors in Potato development during the
time previously named, however, was found in the intro-
duction of American varieties. These came to us in myriads,
generally characterised by similarity of appearance, but varying,
perhaps, in colour. All were remarkable croppers, and if few
possessed high quality or flavour, yet all did materially help to
swell our Potato supplies. How many of these varieties, intro-
duced at the time with much flourish of trumpets, have now gone
to the eternal Potato bourne our lists of to-day will serve to show.
Just one or two remain to us in their natural form and goodness,
chief amongst which is the favourite Beauty of Hebron; the
best, perhaps, as it has been the most permanent, of all the

44 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

family. But our home raisers awakened to the need of doing
something to counteract the flooding of our trade with American
sorts; and further, alive to the value of these strangers as parents
of better strains, they utilised the best for seed-bearing purposes,
fairly skimming the cream off them and casting the residue aside
as worthless.

Our esteemed friend, Mr. Robert Fenn, who had at Wood-
stock been raising varieties which were perfect in quality, but
lacking in robustness and productiveness, was one of the first to
utilise American varieties as parents. Many others presently
followed suit, with the result, briefly put, that dispensing with
all old sorts, and nearly all American varieties, we have a race
of Potatoes which is productive, robust, gives good quality, and
supplies the tables of the poorest in the land cheaply and
abundantly. But apart from the Americans, which in spite of
their comparative robustness still succumbed wholesale to the
deadly effects of the Peronospora, there was this very fungus
with all its dire destructiveness constantly forcing upon Potato
erowers the need for battling with it for the preservation of our
Potato stocks. It is idle to regard it as other than a terrible
and a disastrous visitation, and in years past, when we had none
other to depend upon but Regents, Fortyfolds, Victorias, and
similar tender though delicious varieties, there was at times
reason to fear that the Potato crops of the kingdom would be
absolutely decimated.

Here was opportunity for a display of that native force which
makes the modern Briton the compeer of the ancient Roman.
To comparatively conquer, if not absolutely to subdue the
insidious foe, was a feat worthy of accomplishment, and I be-
lieve, comparatively, that great feat has, thanks to the per-
sistent efforts of the Potato raisers more than to any other body,
been accomplished. Let it not be forgotten that no other vege-
table has had such a deadly enemy to contend with as the
Potato. Remembering still further how deeply the tuber is
associated with the feeding and the health of the community,
there was found special stimulus for labour in the direction of
subduing the disease. Scientists told us what it was they could
do, but the more practical men have striven to battle with it, and
the honours of victory, so far as they have been won, rest with
the raisers of the varieties more than with any other class.

POTATO IMPROVEMENTS. 45

One of the first products of the Anglo-American Potato
crosses was that famous variety, Magnum Bonum. Its history
is pretty well known; but in referring to the improvements in
Potatoes during the past twenty-five years, it would be impossible
to omit reference to a variety which has proved to be so
important a factor in the work of disease resisting, and
practically of conquering. Raised from the seed produce of the
Karly Rose, assumedly crossed with the Victoria—a once famous
Potato, but now rarely met with--by Mr. Clarke, of Christ-
church, it became so widely known and grown in a few years,
that probably it made more noise than any other Potato ever
introduced to commerce. Fortunately for Mr. Clarke and the
community, tubers of it and other varieties were sent to that
once famous trial ground at Stoke Newington, over which Mr.
Shirley Hibberd was the presiding genius; and so much was
that gentleman taken with the variety, that he introduced it to
the Messrs. Sutton & Sons, of Reading, who purchased the
stock. It is said of the University of Utrecht that over its
portals ran the inscription, ‘‘ Utrecht planted me, Louvain
watered me, and Cesar gave the increase,” to which some wag
is reported to have added, ‘‘ God did nothing there.’ Now of
the Magnum Bonum it may be written, ‘‘ Clarke raised me,
Hibberd selected me, Suttons distributed me, and God gave a
wonderful increase,” for is not the variety at the present
moment more widely grown than any other to be found in
commerce ?

But even in raising a variety which presented so formidable a
barrier to the progress of the Potato disease, there were not
wanting critics who railed at its quality. If half a loaf be better
than no bread, surely a whole one is better still; and that much
did Magnum Bonum give to myriads of Potato consumers, to
whom in previous years the tender old kinds of Potatoes, under
the deadly effects of the disease, gave no loaf whatever. It is,
however, worthy of remark that, in spite of the critics, the Mag-
num Bonum is more largely eaten now than any other Potato.-
But having found so admirable a barrier against the tide of fun-
goid decay, raisers have not been slow to take advantage of it
for the purpose of producing many other disease-resisting kinds,
and possibly of much superior quality. We have now not one,
but a wealth of disease resisters, and because of them have such

46 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

an abundance of Potatoes that they can hardly be disposed of at
any price. Really, the salvation of the Potato, and of the con-
sumer, has been the ruin almost of the trade, for with stocks so
plentiful few want to purchase, and trade is almost unprofitable
to growers.

Why, in the old disease days, before Magnum Bonum and
other fine sorts came to our aid, we imported thousands of tons
of Potatoes during the winter months from Germany, Belgium,
and elsewhere. That trade has been entirely suspended, for the
excellent reason that we grow plenty of Potatoes at home, not
only for our consumption, but have an abundance to spare. It
is true we import large quantities of early Potatoes from France,
the Channel Islands, &c., but their consumption in preference to
good home-grown old tubers displays a sadly vitiated taste, as in
most cases they are more fit for pigs than for intelligent men.
Mr. C. Fidler, of Reading, one of our great dealers in Potatoes,
as well as an extensive grower, has informed me that the average
price of Potatoes now in the market is fully 30 to 40 per cent.
lower than it was ten years ago—a fact which speaks volumes
for the wonderful development of Potato production, the result
of the possession of numerous disease-resisting varieties.

The following lists of sorts affords some evidence of the
change which has been effected in Potatoes within the past com-
paratively few years: Beauty of Hebron and its white variety,
Webber’s White Beauty, a distinct early sort; Sutton’s Early
White Kidney Seedling, Satisfaction, and Abundance, all robust
and great croppers; Snowdrop, Schoolmaster, Magnum Bonum,
Vicar of Laleham, The Dean, Reading Russet, Prime Minister,
Chancellor, Reading Giant, White Elephant, Imperator, The
Daniels, Lye’s Conqueror and King of Russets, The Governor,
The Bruce, Stourbridge Glory, and many others, nearly all great
croppers, and creators of that wealth of Potatoes which contrasts
so wonderfully with the comparative dearth of twenty-five years
since.

47

HOW TO MAINTAIN A SUPPLY OF VEGETABLES
FOR FAMILY CONSUMPTION THROUGHOUT THE
YEAR.

By Mr. J. Smirx, F.R.H.S., Mentmore.

A Book might be written on this subject; in fact, many books
have already been written giving the history and cultivation of
each known vegetable. In the short time allowed for this paper
it is impossible to give full details of each kind of vegetable that
should be grown to sustain a regular supply all the year round.
I can only indicate the lines to adopt to secure the end in view.
The garden may be large or small, according to the demands and
the means allowed for cultivating it. One acre of ground well
cultivated will produce more vegetables than two acres half
cultivated, besides being afar greater pleasure to the owner.
So that whatever may be decided upon as to the extent of ground
set apart for producing a supply, let it always be of the very
best quality at command, and receive as much attention as the
choicest flowers or fruits in the garden.

The aspect is a very important point. South or south-west
is perhaps the best ; if the latter can be secured so much the
better, as the two walls facing south and south-west can be used
for growing choice fruits, such as Peaches, Plums, Cherries, &c.,
&e., and the borders will be invaluable for early vegetables. I
need hardly mention the subject of heavy manuring, as this is
so well known to every practical gardener. Suffice it to say
that really first-class vegetables cannot be grown without an
ample supply of good manure. ‘‘A large dunghill, a large
crop,”’ is an old saying and a true one. Give plenty of manure,
dig often and well—not surface-digging, but 12 or 18 inches
deep, according to circumstances. Trenching is a very im-
portant operation with all good cultivators. However, both
digging and trenching are now so well understood that they re-
quire no comment from me. Next in importance comes mulch-
ing, which keeps the moisture in the ground ; this operation is
of far more importance than is generally recognised, as it not
only keeps the roots moist in summer, but it protects them from
frost in winter. Litter fromthe stable is the best for keeping
out frost, but for summer mulching there is nothing better than

48 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

cow-dung. Some object to this on the point of appearance, but
this can be obviated by covering the dung over with a little soil.
Surface-stirring is another important element within the reach
of all cultivators. If the surface of the ground is allowed to
become battered and cracked, the moisture escapes and the plants
suffer. A three or four-pronged fork is the best for surface-
stirring ; light hoeing in dry weather destroys weeds, but to
assist the plants the crust should always be well broken up. It
is a well-known fact that soil is the primary agent in the culti-
vator’s hands in producing fresh vegetables, and, where it is of
the right quality, it is an easy matter to produce good results.
When of a poor and barren nature, skill and energy is wanted
to improve it, so that the soil may be rendered suitable to sustain
plant-life.

I shall not enter on the thorny path of recommending any
particular varieties of vegetables, as that is far beyond the scope
of this paper; but, in passing, I may remark that it should be
the aim of every grower to secure those particular varieties of
vegetables that are most appreciated by those he has to supply,
and that grow best in the locality in which he is placed.

I shall now proceed to give a summary of the different kinds
of vegetables that should be grown in order to sustain a constant
supply for the year, and, as far as possible, name the month they
should be sown and the probable date when they become fit
for use.

Peas.—This is the most important of our summer vegetables.
Seed may be sown on warm and dry borders the end of Novem-
ber. These should, as a rule, be ready for use the last week of
May or the first week in June. Another sowing should be made
in January, and in ordinary seasons these will follow close on the
autumn crop. From January onwards a regular supply should
be sown at short intervals till the end of July; by this means a
supply can be kept up till the end of October. This crop requires
ample room between the rows, with good rich soil, and heavy
mulching and watering in dry weather. Season out of doors,
June till October.

Asparagus.—A first-class vegetable, for which there is always
a demand, especially as it can be produced to cover most of the
period when Green Peas are out of season. Rich ground must
be provided to grow this crop to perfection. Salt, sea-weed, and

HOW TO MAINTAIN A SUPPLY OF VEGETABLES. ‘49

cow-dung are the best manures to use. The roots of this can
be easily forced by placing them in a heated pit or dung frame.
When a supply is required early in November, the roots should
be placed in a temperature of about 65° for about four weeks
before it is wanted; but it is a good plan to place a certain
number of roots in heat once a fortnight, until it becomes fit to
cut from the open borders. Season of forced roots, from No-
vember till April; from the open air, from April till June, or
later. |

French Beans.—This crop requires rich light soil for an early
crop, and should be sown on warm borders early in April, and at
regular intervals till the end of Julyin the open air. It is easily
forced, and grows well in the winter and spring months in the
sharp heat of the Pine stove. It takes from six to seven weeks
after sowing in winter and spring to become fit for use, and from
five to six when the days become longer, and at these intervals
successional sowings should be made. Season for forced plants,
October till July. I may just mention that the French Bean
transplants well, and I have treated them in this manner, and
found them come much earlier than from seed ; although the
crop may not be so heavy, still earliness is very important.

Broccolt.—This crop should be sown in May, and again in
June for the latest planting, as it often survives the winter when
the first batch of plants gets destroyed by frosts. In dry soils and
moderately good seasons a continuous supply of good heads can
be produced from the time Cauliflower ends in November till it
comes into season again in June. Deep rich soil, tramped firm
before planting, will give good results, while on light, hungry, or
eravelly soils they are often worthless on account of clubbing.

Brussels Sprowts.—The seed of this requires to be sown early
in spring, either in March or beginning of April; these should be
planted out in May, and will be ready for use in September.
They should always be planted 3 feet apart each way, for nothing
is ever gained by crowding this class of plants. Another sowing
should be made in May; from these plants a supply should be
obtained till April.

Cabbage.—A typical vegetable in the litchen garden, and one
that cannot be dispensed with. Land for this crop should be
heavily manured. For spring use sow the seed the beginning
of August, and plant out in September. For summer use sow

E

50 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

in March and plant out as soon as they are fit. There is no
difficulty in securing a supply all the year.

Cauliflower——A favourite summer and autumn vegetable
The seed for spring use should be sown in September, and in
October they should be transplanted under walls and on warm
borders, not less than 4 inches apart. Some should be planted
under handlights, others in cold frames. The greatest enemy they
have in winter is damp, so that it is seldom necessary to water
them in winter. For a very early supply a few hundreds should
always be grown in small pots. In the summer months a small
quantity should be sown at regular intervals on north and east
borders, and the seedlings thinned out, but not transplanted—
merely allowed to come to perfection in seed-beds. Seed may
be sown as late as July for coming into use in October and
November. Season, June to November.

Celery.—One of the finest vegetables in cultivation, requiring
abundance of well-rotted manure, and an abundant supply of
water in dry weather, to have it in its best condition. Seed
should be sown in February for a supply in August, and again in
April for a later supply. The season extends from August to
May, or even later by covering the plants up behind a north wall.

Seakale-—This excellent spring vegetable well repays for.
liberal treatment. It is partial to a dressing of saline matter,
and grows best in an open, free, warm soil. Root cuttings make
the best plants. If planted out in April, 18 inches apart, they
form fine crowns by autumn for forcing. Roots placed in heat
take about three weeks to be fit for use. It should always be
grown in a perfectly dark house or cellar. Season, November to
May.

Spunach.—This is often in much demand, and to secure a
constant supply it should be sown frequently during the summer
and autumn. For the winter supply the plants should be well
thinned out to prevent them damping. It grows well in any
ordinary light, rich garden soil. Season, all the year.

Carrots.—A light sandy soil is best for this crop. For an
early supply seed should be sown in January, in heated pits or
frames. For a winter supply sow the beginning of May, and
store in sand for winter use early in October. To have fresh
roots for use during the summer months a small sowing should
be made every month from March till July, in the open air.

HOW TO MAINTAIN A SUPPLY OF VEGETABLES. 51

Turnips.—A common vegetable, for which we have no good
substitute in culinary art, and of which a continuous supply is
always looked for. A little care and management easily secures
this. A succession of sowings from March to August, or even
later some seasons, will furnish a supply for eight or nine
months of the year, the remainder being furnished by carefully
stored roots. The “turnip fly’”’ is often very destructive to this
crop in the young state. The best remedy I know is to give the
young plants a good dusting over with fresh lime immediately
they appear above ground.

Lhubarb.—No vegetable we grow pays better for high culti-
vation than this, although in many gardens it receives a scant
allowance of either labour or manure. To have this really good
it should be grown in deeply trenched soil, and it can scarcely be
too heavily manured. The large massive crowns thus produced
are forced with the greatest ease in a Mushroom-house, or other
construction of a suitable nature and similar temperature ; or it
may be forced by placing Seakale-pots over the crowns, and then
covering them up with a mass of heated horse-litter and leaves.
In most cases it is the best plan to lift the crowns and force
them, making a new plantation every year to keep up the
supply.

Potatoes.—For the earliest supply of these, pot cultivation ig
best, as they can be moved into different houses as required.
To have new Potatoes in January the sets should be started in
an early Peach-house or vinery in September. Tor a supply in
March, start in December. Sand and leaf-soil is best for very
early crops. Early crops can also be secured under south walls,
and in any warm sheltered part of the garden. For main crops
in the garden they should always be allowed ample space between
the rows, and this must be decided by the height the variety
selected grows.

Mushrooms.—To grow these good, horse-droppings are
required, which should be thrown up in a large heap and turned
over three or four times to allow the rank heat and steam to pass
off before making up the beds. These may be made in the form
of ridges in the open air, or in sheds, or in a regular Mushroom-
house ; but for a constant supply in summer nothing is equal to
underground cellars. The main points to secure success are
good spawn, the soil used to be free from lime, the material of the

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52 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

beds neither too wet nor too dry, and an even temperature of from
55° to 60° after the beds commence bearing ; never spawn the
beds till the thermometer is falling below 85°. When the beds
begin to decline bearing, give a watering of warm rain-water in
which a little salt is mixed; then cover up with dry hay for a
week or ten days.

Parsley.—Sow seed in March, and again in May. Early in
August cut over a portion of the beds, and as soon ag it has
started into growth lift the roots and plant them out im cold
frames for a winter supply.

Onions. —For a winter supply sow in March in drills on rich
eround, and made firm before sowing. Salt and soot are both
excellent manures for this crop. The latter should be sown
broadeast over the beds soon after the plants are thinned out.
For spring and summer use sow in August; these can also be
transplanted in spring for successional supplies. Some wood-
ashes sprinkled on the surface of the beds will often prevent the
winter frosts from lifting the plants out of the ground.

Tomatoes.—These are now in universal use, hence they should
be grown in every garden. They strike freely from cuttings, and
if these are inserted in small pots in August, and placed in a hot-
bed, they will soon root, and, if planted out in a house kept warm
during the winter, they will produce fruit all the winter. These,
as a rule, come into bearing much earlier than plants raised from
seed. In warm parts of the garden they will ripen in the open
air most seasons, but for a constant supply they should be grown
under glass for nine months of the year.

Cucumbers.—For a supply of these properly constructed
houses are required. A high temperature is needed to produce
these in winter—from 65° to 75°. Abundance of rain-water at
the roots and on the leaves in summer are needed; in winter
good light houses, with plenty of hot-water pipes for heat. Keep
the plants healthy and free from insects, and they are sure to
bear well. Like most plants, there is nothing like keeping up a
fresh supply of young plants, so that they may be ready at any
time to take the place of any that may show signs of decay.

Lettuce.—This popular vegetable is more used in salads than
as an ordinary dish, and the great demand for nice crisp Lettuce
requires constant attention and the very best methods of culti-
vation to fully meet it. Sown in January on mild hotbeds it

HOW TO MAINTAIN A SUPPLY OF VEGETABLES, 53

forces well. For summer use regular sowings should be made
once a fortnight; during June, July, and August they are always
best when grown on north borders. Lettuce, to have them in
the best possible condition, require very rich soil and abundance
of water at the roots while growing.

This includes what I may term the indispensable vegetables
that should. be grown for the supply of a family. We will now
give a few particulars of what I may term the second division of
this subject.

Globe Artichoke.—A favourite dish with some families, while
others seldom or never use it. Requires slight protection in
winter, and afresh plantation should be formed every two or
three years by planting outside shoots in light rich soil, 3 feet
apart each way. Season, June to September.

Jerusalem Artichoke.—Quite a different vegetable, and much
more useful than the preceding, as it is in use throughout the
winter months. Requires ample space and fresh ground every
year to grow it well.

Beans (Runner).—A very prolific and excellent vegetable.
Sow in April and June for use in June and July. The roots of
this may be stored in sand all the winter and planted out in
May.

Broad. Beans.—These may be sown in autumn, and again in
March for a summer supply. As a rule, these should be grown
in the hardest soil in the garden, and after they have formed a
number of flowers, the tops may be pinched out to induce them
to come into use early.

Cardoon.—This requires to be grown in trenches somewhat
like Celery, but, as a rule, itis not in much demand. Season,
November to March.

Vegetable Marrows.—When well grown and used in a young
state these furnish a very wholesome vegetable, and are in demand
with most families. Seed should be sown early in March and
the plants grown on in pots. Plant out in May under handlights
in a warm sheltered spot. They require rich ground to grow
them to perfection. Season, July till October.

Beetroot.—Used in salads. Sow in April, and again in May.
Requires fine soil and watching, to prevent birds and slugs from
eating the young plants. Season, all the year round.

Endwe.—Sometimes used as a vegetable. Sow in June, and

54 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

continue to make small sowings till the end of August. It may
also be grown like Celery, and blanched in the same manner.
Season, August to April or May.

Leeks.—Sow in March, thin out in the seed-bed to 10 inches
apart, and leave a crop on the ground, but transplant on to fresh
ground for a successional crop. These require rich deep soil to
grow them to a large size. Season, October to May.

Parsnips.—Sow in March, 14 inches apart between the
rows, and thin out to 12 inches in rows. Requires a deep sandy
soil to grow it well. Should always be lifted as wanted. Season,
September to May.

Horseradish.—Requires a deep soil. Fresh beds should be
formed by planting crowns every two or three years. Season, all
the year round.

Radishes.—These are more used as a salad than as a culinary
vegetable. They force easily, and for a winter supply they must
be grown in fraines. For a summer supply sow little and often,
and in hot weather on a north border in light soil.

Salsify and Scorzonera.—This may be sown in May in light
sandy soil. Season, October to April.

Savoys.—A somewhat coarse but hardy and useful vegetable.
Sow in April, and again in May. Plant out to the proper distance
apart, which must depend upon the variety grown. Season,
October to Marck.

Egg Plant.—Although much used in cooking in some coun-
tries abroad, it has never become popular here, and a small
number of plants furnish sufficient for the demands of most
establishments. Sow the seed in heat in March, and grow on in
pots or plant out in a frame. Season, July to October.

Kohl Rabi.—Sow like Turnips, on well-prepared ground.
Season, August to May.

Maize or Indian Vorn.—Sow in heat and plant outin trenches
like Celery. If sown in April it can be had fit for use in July.

Kale or Borecole.x—A very hardy and useful vegetable for
furnishing greens through the winter season. Sow in May, and
plant out 2 feet apart by 18 inches. Season, October to May.

Mustard and Cress.—Requires to be grown in heat for a
winter supply. If it can be placed in a high temperature it
can be grown in few days. It should always be sown twice a
week,

HOW TO MAINTAIN A SUPPLY OF VEGETABLES. 55

Sorrel.—A hardy and useful vegetable ; it is easily forced in
a gentle heat in winter and spring. Season, all the year round.

Rampion.—The root of this is used in winter and spring for
salads. Season, October to March.

Stachys tubertferaa—A new and excellent vegetable where
variety is required. Plant out the small roots in spring, 18
inches apart. Lift in autumn when ready. Season, October to
March.

Shallots—A very productive garden crop. Plant out early
in March, about 12 inches apart, in good rich sandy soil; plant
firm, and store away as soon as they become ripe. This will often
do well, and give a good return when Onions fail or give only a
poor return.

Culinary Herbs.—As these form a rather important item in
the supplies to be provided from the vegetable garden, we men-
tion them in this division. They should always receive the
necessary attention for their proper cultivation, so as to have
them in their best condition, and not be, as is so often the case,
consigned to obscurity and neglect in some out-of-the-way corner
of the garden. Due attention should also be given to collecting,
drying, and storing those that are of use in the winter in a dried
state. They are best gathered when just coming into flower.
They should be carefully dried, but not roasted, in the sun. The
culinary or pot herbs that are generally in demand include
Basil, Borage, Fennel, Marigold, Marjoram, Mint, Sage, Tarragon,
and Thyme, and, in more limited quantities, Angelica, Anise,
Balm, Caraway, Dill, Hyssop, Lavender, Pennyroyal, Parslane,
Rosemary, Rue, Savory, and many others of lesser note. Mint
and Tarragon are easily forced for a supply in the green state
from November to May.

We must now pass on to the third and last division of the sub-
ject, and shall be obliged to treat the vegetables included in it in
the most summary manner.

Capsicum.—These must be grown in heat in pots. The
green and ripe pods are used as a condiment, and as an
ingredient in pickles, and they are also used in a variety of
ways.

Chicory.—A very useful substitute for Lettuce, and may be
forced in winter by placing a given number of roots in a Mush-
room-house or other dark place. Seed may be sown in rows

56 - JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

in April, and the roots lifted in autumn and stored away till
wanted. Season, November to May.

Chervil.—Requires to be sown often during the summer, and
in winter protected by a cold frame; or sow in heat like Mus-
tard.

Chives.—These are sometimes in demand, and a supply can
be had in winter and early spring by lifting and forcing the roots
in a mild hotbed or frame.

Corn-salad.—Sow seed in spring and as often as the demand
lasts, but it is usually grown on a very limited scale. Season,
January to July.

Dandelion.—Not often in demand, and used the same as
Chicory. Gocd Lettuce or Endive are, however, much better
than either. Season, November to May.

Garlic.—More used for flavouring dishes than for any qualities
it possesses as a vegetable. Plant out in March the same as
Shallots. Season, all the year round.

GENERAL REMARKS.

_ With afew general remarks we must close this hurried survey
of the method of supplying a household with the vegetables in
demand all the year round. Taking it for granted that the
kitchen garden is of the proper extent and fully equipped with
all modern conveniences and necessary apphances, it is the
duty of the gardener to regulate the cropping so that there
shall be an ample, but not a wasteful, supply of the vegetables
in demand at all seasons of the year. The selection of the
vegetables to be grown, and the quantities of kind, are matters
that must be decided in accordance with the wants of each
place; ard they require the utmost care and judgment on the
part of tke gardener. Only the very best of thoroughly proved
varieties hould be grown to furnish the regular supplies to a
family. New and untried varieties should never occupy more
than a limited space in any garden, until they are found to be
superior to those already cultivated, ‘“‘or fill a gap,” and thus
prove to be really worth their room. Every vegetable grown
should be of the finest quality, and be supplied to the family in
the best possible condition—neither too old to be rank and
coarse, nor too young to be insipid and wasteful to use. They
should always be selected for use by an experienced person, and,

HOW TO MAINTAIN A SUPPLY OF VEGETABLES. 57

when properly dressed and cleaned, sent immediately to the
kitchen, as the delicate flavour of many quickly deteriorates, and
they are never so good as when fresh from the garden.

Mr. Serruey Hipperp moved a yote of thanks to the con-
tributors to the Exhibition, and to the Committees, as well as to
the readers of papers, which was carried unanimously; and, on
the motion of Mr. Mancoum Dunn, seconded by Mr. Laxton, a
hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the Council of the Society
for holding the Exhibition and Conference.

58 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

VEGETABLE CONFERENCE.
SEPTEMBER 24, 25, AND 26, 1889.

INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL DIGEST.

THe Vegetable Conference held in the Society’s gardens at
Chiswick on the dates above named proved one of the most
complete and gratifying successes of the past season. The novelty
of the subjects in this case submitted to scientific treatment ; the
liberality of the contributors, who may be said to have made the
Conference European rather than British; and the fine quality
and typical character of the main bulk of the contributions,
combined to ensure an amount of interest surpassing all ordinary
expectation. The Vinery and two large tents were filled with
the collections of vegetables, bulbs, tubers, and miscellaneous
subjects; and the attendance on the several days of the business
included not only an unusual number of the foremost practical
cultivators of this country, but many also of the most eminent
scientific horticulturists in the world. It is a happy circumstance
that the valuable literary work resulting from this meeting is
associated with a body of information on the species and varieties
of esculent vegetables of the greatest importance. This has been
secured to the Society by committees of experts, who gave their
time and talent to the technical investigation of the entire Exhi-
bition in its several departments, as represented in the classi-
fication.

It should be observed, as a preliminary to the particulars
presently to be given, that the date of the show necessarily
excluded many important subjects, including all, or nearly all, of
the products of cultivation usually classed as “ early.’’ If a general
characterisation of the several exhibits were needed, probably
they might be most conveniently speken of as “main-crop and
late varieties,” although in so extensive and various a display
the subjects were far-reaching both as to season and use, many
of them being as appropriate to the season of spring as to the
autumn and winter, which, of course, might claim a considerable
proportion. A practical conclusion to be drawn from this fact

INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL DIGEST. 59

will at once occur to the reader, but it may be well to mention it,
that this report may be precise and practical.

It will obviously be desirable in a year or two’s time to
repeat the performance on the same plan, or nearly so, at an
earlier time of the year, with a view to bring into notice the best
of the first and second supplies from the open ground and from
the various sheltering agencies that are employed in the cultiva-
tion of early vegetables, salads, and roots. And indeed there
may, even then, remain a necessity for the systematic study of
the products of the forcing-house conjointly with the latest winter
supplies of the produce of the previous year. It will thus be seen
that the Vegetable Conference of September last has no finality,
but should rather be regarded as the first of a series ; and in any
case another should follow, to include the produce of the late
spring and early summer.

The classification adopted was considered necessary to com-
bine scientific distinctions with the obvious relationships of the
several subjects. There must always be looked for in such a
business a conflict between technical propriety and the con-
venience of the parties who are more directly interested. The
botanist, the gardener, and the cook, perhaps also the merchant,
have their several views; and the problem is how best to har-
monise these views with the general usefulness of the entire
work. If that cannot be done, then it becomes desirable to avoid
the confusion of a diversity of requirements and ensure arrange-
ments the least encumbered with contradictions and paradoxes.
It is believed that a safe course has been taken, both as a prece-
dent for further proceedings, and to guide in some measure in the
preparation of schedules for provincial exhibitions.

Two important tasks were set before the Committees that
were charged with the categorical criticism of the exhibition.
They were in all cases to review the names as well as make
selections of the best of the several species and varieties. It
need not follow that the names adopted are either scientific or
absolutely original. In such matters usage is of primary im-
portance. The Committees had to consider public convenience
as well as garden and table qualities, and the names finally
adopted were, generally speaking, such as may be described es
‘“‘ familiar in men’s mouths as household words.’’ To take but
one example, the Musselburgh leek has distinct character and

60 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

high quality, and will be found amongst the varieties recom-
mended. The name is well known, and equally well known to
the experts is the variety that should bear that name. As for
the rest there is nothing more to be said, for were the thing
utterly unknown in Musselburgh, and its history whoily uncon-
nected therewith, the name would be confirmed because it is
established and has acquired distinct significance. The utmost
the Committees attempted in respect of names was to rectify
labels that were wrong, and to select varieties by name that were
in proper character, as the result of careful selection and good
cultivation.

In the particulars that follow the greatest care has been taken
to embody the work of the Committees in the briefest possible
statement of facts. Itis not to be understood that the Committees
have named all the good things in the several classes. They
have not, indeed, attempted any such impossibility. But they
have, in many instances, made record of the best ; and in all they
have specified the most distinct, the most useful, the most cor-
rectly named, the most generally attainable, and the most various
in style, purpose, and season, of the things that were actually
before them.

In conclusion, it may be proper to remark that although
within the past twenty-five years great changes have passed over
the vegetable garden, to the advantage of all concerned, and more
especially the general public, there are certain typical forms of
leading esculents that do not change, or that change but slowly,
and, consequently, much of the information embodied in the
present report has more than temporary interest and value.
Changes will indeed take place, and improvements may always
be hoped. for, but the conclusions established by this Conference
will be of value for many years, both as directly indicating the
higher ranges of relative merit, and serving as standards of com-
parison for improvements in the future.

Before recording the results of their work it may perhaps be
as well to mention the names of those gentlemen who so kindly
acted on the General and Executive Committees and on the
Committees of Selection, as their names will of themselves be
a testimony to the reliable nature of the work done and the
flecisions arrived at.

INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL DIGEST. 61

THE GENERAL AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES.

Chairman—*My. H. J. Veitch, F.L.S., Chelsea.
Vice-Chairman—*Mr. Shirley Hibberd, Priory Road, Kew.
Secretary—* Mr. A. F. Barron, R.H.S. Gardens, Chiswick.

General Committee.

Alderman, Mr. H., Morden Hall, Morden, Surrey.
Allan, Mr. W., Gunton Park, Norwich.

Austen, Mr. J., Witley Court, Stourport.

Bardney, Mr. W., Norris Green, West Derby, Liverpool.

*Barr, Mr. P., 12 King Street, Covent Garden.

*Bates, Mr. W., Poulett Lodge, Twickenham.

*Beale, Mr. EH. J. (Messrs. Carter & Co.), 2837 High Holborn.

Beckett, Mr. T. A., Cole Hatch Farm, Penn, Amersham.
Benary, Mr. E., seed grower, Erfurt, Germany.
Bloxham, Mr. G., Great Brickhill Manor, Bletchley.
Breese, Mr. G., Petworth Park, Petworth.
Burnett, Mr. J., The Deepdene, Dorking.
Chettleburgh, Mr. W., Worstead House, Norwich.
Clayton, Mr. H. J., Grimston Park, Tadcaster.
Coleman, Mr. W., Eastnor Castle, Ledbury.
Culverwell, Mr. W., Thorpe Perrow, Bedale.
Davidson, Mr. P., Iwerne House, Shaftesbury.

*Dean, Mr. A., Bedfont, Hounslow.

Deverill, Mr. H., Banbury.
Divers, Mr. W. H., Ketton Hall, Stamford.
Dunn, Mr. M., Dalkeith, N.B.
Klphinstone, Mr W., Shipley Hall, Derby.
Fidler, Mr. C., Reading.
Fish, Mr. D. T., Hardwicke House, Bury St. Kdmunds.
Gilbert, Mr. R., Burghley, Stamford.
Haines, Mr. §., Coleshill, Highworth.
Hall, Mr. E., Bolton Hall, Bedale.
*Herbst, Mr. H., Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey.
*Hudson, Mr. J., Gunnersbury House, Acton.
Hughes, Mr. J., Hydon Hall, Byfield, Northampton.
Hunter, Mr. (Messrs. Austin & McAslan, seedsinen), Glasgow.
Iggulden, Mr. W., Marston, Frome.
Ker, Mr. W., Dumfries.

62 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

*Ker, Mr. R. Wilson, Liverpool.
Laing, Mr. J., Forest Hill.
Lambert, Mr. J., Onslow Hall, Shrewsbury.
Lye, Mr. J., Market Lavington, Devizes.
McIndoe, Mr. J., Hutton Hall, Guisborough.
May, Mr. J., Northaw House, Barnet.
Mead, Mr. W., Beckett Park, Shrivenham.
Methven, Mr. J. (T. Methven & Son), Princes Street, Edin-
burgh.
*Miles, Mr. G. T., Wycombe Abbey, High Wycombe.
*Moss, Mr. A. (Messrs. J. Wrench & Sons), King William Street,
E.C.
Muir, Mr. J., Margam Park, Taibach, South Wales.
*Nutting, Mr. W. J., 106 Southwark Street, 8.E.
Poupart, Mr. W., Twickenham.
Pragnell, Mr. W. G., Sherborne Castle, Dorset.
Richards, Mr. G. H., Somerley, Ringwood.
*Roberts, Mr. J., Gunnersbury Park, Acton.
Ross, Mr. C., Welford Park, Newbury.
*Sherwood, Mr. N. N. (Messrs. Hurst & Son), 152 Houndsditch, H.
*Silverlock, Mr. C. (Messrs. Rulley & Silverlock), Savoy Street,
Strand.
*Smith, Mr. J., Mentmore, Leighton Buzzard.
Smith, Mr. W. G., Dunstable.
*Sutton, Mr. A. W., F.L.S., Reading.
Thomson, Mr. D., Drumlanrig, Thornhill, N.B.
Vilmorin, Mr. H., Paris.
Waite, Mr. C. G., Glenhurst, Esher.
Walker, Mr. J., Whitton.
Waterman, Mr. A., Preston Hall, Aylesford.
Watkins, Mr. A. (Messrs. Watkins & Simpson), Exeter Street,
Strand.
Webb, Mr. Edward, Stourbridge.
Westcott, Mr. R., Raby Castle, Darlington.
Wiles, Mr. E. 8., Edgecote Park, Banbury.
*Wilks, Rev. W., Shirley Vicarage, Croydon.
*Willard, Mr. J., Holly Lodge, Highgate.
*Wright, Mr. J., 171 Fleet Street, H.C.
*Wythes, Mr. G., Syon House, Brentford.

* These form the Executive Committee.

INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL DIGEST. 63

‘COMMITTEES OF SELECTION.

Section A.—GREEN VEGETABLES.
Coleman, Mr. W., The Gardens, Eastnor Castle, Ledbury.
Hughes, Mr. J., The Gardens, Eydon Hall, Byfield, Northampton.
Nutting, Mr. W. J., 106 Southwark Street, S.E.
Vilmorin, Mr. H., 4 Quai de la Megisserie, Paris.

Section B.—FRUITS AND PULSE.
Barr, Mr. P., 12 King Street, Covent Garden.
Burnett, Mr. J., The Gardens, Deepdene, Dorking.
Igeulden, Mr. W., The Gardens, Marston, Frome.
Ker, Mr. R., The Nurseries, Liverpool.

Section C.—TUBERS AND Buss. Swub-section.—PotTaAToEs.
Denning, Mr. W., Heathfield Nursery, Hampton.
McIndoe, Mr. J., Hutton Hall.
Miles, Mr. C. T., Wycombe.
Smith, Mr. J., The Gardens, Mentmore, Leighton Buzzard.
Veitch, Mr. P., The Nursery, Exeter.

Sub-section.—_OTHER TUBERS AND BULBs.
Dunn, Mr. M., The Gardens, Dalkeith Palace.
Harrison, Mr. J., The Nurseries, Leicester.
Waite, Mr. C. J., The Gardens, Glenhurst, Esher.
Willard, Mr. J., The Gardens, Holly Lodge, Highgate.

Section D.—Tapr Roots.
Benary, Mr. John, Erfurt, Germany.
Hill, Mr. E., The Gardens, Tring Park, Herts.
Moss, Mr. A. (Wrench & Sons), King William Street, E.C.
Ross, Mr. C., The Gardens, Welford Park, Newbury.
Silverlock, Mr. C., Savoy Street, Strand.

Sections E and F.—SALADINGS AND MISCELLANEOUS.
Lye, Mr. J., Market Lavington.
Molyneux, Mr. E., The Gardens, Swanmore Park, Bishop’s
Waltham.
Poupart, Mr. W., Twickenham.
Wildsmith, Mr. W., The Gardens, Heckfield Place, Winchfield.
Wythes, Mr. G., The Gardens, Syon House, Brentford.

64 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

REFEREES.
Chairman—Dr. Hogg, F.L.8.

Douglas, Mr. J., The Gardens, Great Gearies, Iford.
Ingram, Mr. W., The Gardens, Belvoir Castle, Grantham.
Laxton, Mr. T., Bedford.

Sharman, Mr. C. H. (Carter’s), 237-8 High Holborn.
Sutton, Mr. A. W., F.L.S. (Sutton & Sons), Reading.

LIST OF EXHIBITORS.

Buccleuch, His Grace the Duke of, Dalkeith Palace,—gardener,
Mr. Malcolm Dunn.

Bunyard & Co., Messrs. G., The Nurseries, Maidstone.

Burdett-Coutts, Baroness, Holly Lodge, Highgate,—gardener,
Mr. J. Willard.

Burnett, Mr. J., The Deepdene Gardens, Dorking.

Carnarvon, The Earl of, Highclere Castle, Newbury,—gardener,
Mr. W. Pope.

Carter & Co., Messrs. James, 237-8 High Holborn.

Cartwright, Colonel, Kydon Hall, Byfield, Northampton,—gar-
dener, Mr. J. Hughes.

Cartwright, R. A., Esq., Edgcote, Banbury,—gardener, Mr. E.
S. Wiles.

Chandos-Pole Gell, H., Esq., Hopton Hall, sa aon
Mr. G. Bolas.

Chettleburgh, Mr. W., Worstead House, Norwich.

Clarke, S., Esq., Cairn Castle, Larne, Co. Antrim,—gardener,
Mr. H. Henderson.

Clive, Mr. R., Brynderwen, Chepstow.

Davis, Mr. J., Bodenham, Leominster.

Dean, Mr. R., Ranelagh Road, Ealing.

Deverill, Mr. H., Corn Hill, Banbury.

Dick, W.F'. Hume, Esq., Thames Ditton House, Thames Ditton,—
gardener, Mr. W. Palmer.

Dobbie & Co., Messrs., The Nurseries, Rothesay, N.B.

Ellesmere, Earl of, Manor House, Brackley,—gardener, Mr.
Starke.

Ensor, Mr, J. L., Semer, Ipswich.

INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL DIGEST. 65

Exeter, The Marquis of, Burghley House, Stamford,—gardener,
Mr. R. Gilbert.

HKyre, Lieutenant-Colonel, Welford Park, Newbury,—gardener,
Mr. C. Ross.

Fletcher, Lady F., Kenward, Yalding, Maidstone,—gardener, Mr.
R. Smith.

Fuller, Mr. N. F., Idsworth Park, Horndean, Hants.

Gilbert, Mr. W. G., Sinnowe Hall, Guist, Norfolk.

Hanan, Mr. H., Seedsman, 16 Bank Street, Edinburgh.

Harrington, The Earl of, Elvaston Castle, Derby,—gardener, Mr.
J. H. Goodacre.

Harrison & Sons, Messrs., Seedsmen, Leicester.

Hart, Mr. C., The Nursery, Beaumont Road, Leyton.

Hoare, E., Esq., Hackwood Park, Basingstoke,—gardener, Mr.
Bowerman.

Hopwood, J. T., Esq., Ketton Hall, Stamford,—gardener, Mr. W.
H. Divers.

Hughes, Mr. J., Heathfield, Bracknell.

Lockie, Mr. T., Oakley Court, Windsor.

Lye, Mr. J., Clyffe Hall, Market Lavington, Wilts.

Lye, Mr. R., Sydmonton Court, Newbury.

McIndoe, Mr. J., Hutton Hall, Guisboro’, Yorks.

Nelson, E. M., Esq., Hanger Hill House, Ealing,—gardener, Mr.
EK. Chadwick.

Nelson, G. H., Esq., Rousham Park, Oxon,—gardener, Mr. H.
Winegrove.

Nicholas, Mr. R., Castle Hill, North Devon.

North, Lord, Wroxton Abbey, Banbury,—gardener, Mr. T.
Doherty.

Northumberland, The Duke of, Syon House, Brentford,—gar-
dener, Mr. G. Wythes.

Novelty Seed Company, Newton-le- Willows, Lancashire.

Oakshott & Millard, Messrs., Seed Merchants, Reading.

Osman, Mr. C., South Metropolitan District Schools, Sutton,
Surrey.

Perkins, Mr. J., Thornham Hall, Eye, Suffolk.

Portal, W. 5., Esq., Malshanger Hall, Basingstoke,—gardener,
Mr. N. Kneller.

Poupart, Mr. W., Twickenham.

Royal Horticultural Society, Chiswick.

66 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Rutley & Silverlock, Messrs., Savoy Street, Strand.

Scott, Mr. John, The Nurseries, Merriott, Somerset.

Sharpe & Co., Messrs., Seed Merchants, Sleaford, Lincoln.

Shaw-Lefevre, Hon. BE. L., Heckfield Place, Winchfield,—gar-
dener, Mr. W. Wildsmith.

Smith, Mr. J., Mentmore, Leighton Buzzard.

Sneyd, R., Esq., Keele Hall, Newcastle, Staffs.,—gardener, Mr.
J. Wallis.

Southby, P., Esq., Bampton, Oxford,—gardener, Mr. G. Neal.

Stuart & Mein, Messrs., Seed Merchants, Kelso.

Talbot, C. R. M., Esq., M.P., Margam Abbey, Taibach, 8. Wales,—
gardener, Mr. J. Muir.

Talbot, Hon. Colonel W. P. Glenhurst, Glenhurst, Esher,—gar-
dener, Mr. C. J. Waite.

Taylor, Mr. F., Swindon Hall, Cheltenham.

Veitch & Sons, Messrs. James, Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea.

Veitch & Son, Messrs, R., The Nurseries, Exeter.

Vilmorin, Andrieux & Co., 4 Quai de la Megisserie, Paris.

Waterhouse, A., Ksq., Yattendon Court, Newbury,—gardener,
Mr. R. Maher.

Webb & Sons, Messrs., Seed Merchants, Stourbridge.

Willis, Mr. J., Bishopsteignton, Teignmouth.

Winefield, Colonel, Onslow Hall, Shrewsbury,—gardener, Mr. R.
Maher.

67

STATISTICAL NOTES ON THE VEGETABLES
EXHIBITED.

Compiled from the Reports of the several Convmittees by
Mr. A. F. BARRON.

A.—GREEN VEGETABLES.

I.—CABBAGKES, 1nctupInc COLEWORTS.
16 Exhibitors.

CLASSIFICATION OF VARIETIES EXHIBITED.

(a) Nonpareru Section. Type :—EZllam’s Early, Old Nonpareil.
Heads medium size, conical. Early.
Early Heartwell Marrow, HEllam’s Early, Denbies’ All
Heart, Denning’s Early, Improved Nonpareil, Nonpareil, Oxheart
Early, Paris Market, Veitch’s Matchless, Wheeler’s Imperial.

(6) Enrretp Marxet Section. Type :—Hative d’Htampes (first
early); Offenham (second early). Heads large, broad.
Good for main crop.

Early Rainham, Etampes (very early), Express Extra-
early, Enfield Market, Harrison’s Victoria, Offenham, Read-
ing Defiance, Sutton’s Imperial, Stuart & Mein’s No. 1, Vanack.

(c) DrumueapD (or other large sort).
Christmas Drumhead, Drumhead, Early Flat White, Win-

nigstadt.

(d) Smauu Type or CoLEWORT.

Harly Rennes, Hardy Green Colewort, Early York, Little
Pixie, Miniature Drumhead (St. John’s Day), St. John’s Day,
Rosette Colewort.

(e) VARIETIES NoT CLASSED.
Chou de Burghley, Couve Tronchuda, Green Glazed.

Certificates of Merit awarded to—
Ellam’s Early (first early), from Mr. J. Willard.
Old Nonpareil (second early), from Messrs. Carter & Co.
F2

68 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Hative d’Etampes, from Messieurs Vilmorin & Cie.

Offenham, from Messrs. Harrison & Sons.

Rosette Colewort, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons.

Hardy Green Colewort, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons and
Mr. W. Poupart.

Chou de Burghley, from Mr. R. Gilbert.

REMARKS.

For a really high-quality Cabbage for autumn use, there is
hardly one equal to St. John’s Day, which, although generally
classed amongst the Drumhead section, from its shape, is of a very
different and distinct character. It is broad, flat, with scarcely
any stem, the head resting on the ground. The leaves are very
brittle, consequently unsuitable for rough market use; should be
sown in the spring. Winnigstadt is another autumn Cabbage,
not so well known as its merits deserve. It is tall, conical,
forming large, very firm hearts; very useful in dry, hot
seasons. Couve Tronchuda should be noted as an entirely
distinct variety, valued by many for its fleshy midribs, which
are eaten like Seakale. This variety requires high culti-
vation. Gilbert’s Chou de Burghley is of unique description,
forming large heads, enveloping a small Broccoli, thus partaking
of both characters. The old Early York deserves mention as
a fine useful autumn sort. Hllam’s Karly, a very excellent
variety for spring use, is not so well adapted for autumn. The
two Coleworts—Rosette and Hardy Green—deserve special
notice as two of the most useful vegetables for winter, being
extremely hardy, forming small hearts of very fine quality.
These Coleworts are not fully appreciated in private gardens,
although grown for the London market to a very great extent.
The Drumhead section, which are not adapted for garden culture,
were not well represented.

II.—RED CABBAGE.
12, Hahibitors.

VARIETIES EXHIBITED.

Blood Red, Large Blood Red, Large Red Drumhead, Sutton’s
Dwarf Red, Sutton’s Blood Red, Red Dutch.

STATISTICAL NOTES. 69

SELECTIONS.
(a) Red Dutch. (b) Large Red Drumhead.

Certificates of Merit awarded to—
Red Dutch, from Messrs. Dobbie & Co., Rothesay.
Large Red Drumhead as a market variety.
Red Dutch, from Mr. Gilbert, Burghley.

REMARKS.
But little variety was observable amongst those exhibited.
The Blood Red varieties were noted as rather smaller, and the
Red Dutch exhibited by Messrs. Dobbie as being especially fine.

III.—SAVOYS.
14 Hahibitors.

CLASSIFICATION OF VARIETIES EXHIBITED.
(a) Earty Utm. Heads small, compact, pale green.
Early Ulm, Early Dwarf Ulm, Early Vienna, Gilbert’s
Universal, Very Early Paris.

(b) GREEN CuRLED. Heads medium size, deep green.
Dwarf Green-curied, Edinburgh Market, Victoria Green-
curled.

(c) DRumHEAD. Ueads large, flat; late.
Drumhead, Vertus.

(d) GoupEN. Heads medium size, yellow.
Golden Globe, Yellow.

Certificates of Merit awarded to—
Early Ulm, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons.
Dwarf Green-curled, from J. Veitch & Sons and W. G.
Gilbert.
Vertus, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons.

REMARKS.

The examples of Karly Ulm, which is the best early type,
were not particularly good, being too large, and approaching in
character the Green-curled. Gilbert’s Universal may be noted
as a medium-sized variety of the Ulm type; and Victoria, a
finely curled selection of the Dwarf Green-curled. The Yellow

70 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

and Golden varieties are very hardy, and of fine quality, but
do not find favour on account of the colour. Vertus is a fine
variety of Drumhead.

IV.—CAULIFLOWER or BROCCOLI.
12 Hxhibitors.

VARIETIES EXHIBITED.
Autumn Giant (Veitch’s), Michaelmas White (Sutton’s), Pearl,
Walcheren, Veitch’s Self-protecting.
Certificates of Merit awarded to—
Veitch’s Autumn Giant, from Mr. J. Lambert.
Pearl, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons.

REMARKS.

Veitch’s Autumn Giant is by far,the best and most gene-
rally useful autumn Cauliflower in cultivation.% The heads are
large, and of fine quality. It is an immense improvement on the
Walcheren, which up to afew years ago was the leading sort.
A variety now rarely to be met with, but unsurpassed for
quality, is the Purple Cape.

V.—BORECOLES or KALE.
7 Hahlibitors.

CLASSIFICATION OF VARIETIES EXHIBITED.

(a) CuRLED Borrecotr. Leaves much curled.

Chelsea Exquisite Culzean Castle, Curled Borecole, Dobbie’s
Selected, Dwarf German, Dwarf Green-curled, Extra Dwarf
Curled, Late Curled, Tall Green-curled, Read’s Hearting
Borecole, Veitch’s Dwarf Late Curled, Scotch Curled.

(>) Bupa KatE. Leaves plain, dark green.

Asparagus Kale, Buda Kale, Chou de Milan.
(c) CorracEer’s Kane.

Cottager’s Kale, Ragged Jack, Welsh.

Certificates of Merit awarded to—
Extra Dwarf Green-curled, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons.
German Kale, Dwarf Scotch, from Mr. J. Hanan.
Dobbie’s Selected Scotch Kale, from Messrs. Dobbie & Co.
Cottager s Kale, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons.

STATISTICAL NOTES. 71

REMARKS.

Of the Scotch Kales, those exhibited by Mr. Hanan and
Messrs. Dobbie & Co. were very finely curled; but, on that
account, were not considered so hardy. Cottager’s Kale, where a
good stock is secured, is one of the hardiest and most uséful
of winter greens. Buda and Asparagus Kales are very useful
in severe winters, withstanding any amount of frost, and are
of fine quality.

VI.—BRUSSELS SPROUTS.
8 Hahibitors.
CLASSIFICATION OF VARIETIES EXHIBITED.
(a) Smaty Form. Type:—Paris Market. Sprouts small,
compact.

Dwarf Imported, Half-dwarf Paris Market, Veitch’s Selected,
Dobbie’s Improved, President Carnot.

(6) Larce Form. Type :—Wrozxton. Sprouts large, and
somewhat loose.

Exhibition, Dalkeith, Aigburth, Large Imported, Paragon,
Reading Exhibition, Sutton’s Exhibition, Veitch’s Exhibition,
The Wroxton.

Certificates of Merit awarded to—
Paris Market, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons.
Large Wroxton, from Mr. H. Deverill.

REMARKS.

The Brussels Sprouts were mostly exhibited as plants,
and were scarcely in condition, the date being rather too
early for them. There is not much variety to be found beyond
size, and the present fashion, it may be noted, is in favour of
the large forms, which are often coarse and inferior in flavour
to the smaller.

VIL—GLOBE ARTICHOKES.
8 Hahibitors.

VARIETIES EXHIBITED.
Green Globe, Purple Globe.

Certificate of Merit awarded to—
Green Globe, from Mr. J. Lambert.

72 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

VIII.—SPINACH.
5 Hahibttors. *

VARIETIES EXHIBITED.
Viroflay or New Prolific, New Zealand, Prickly-seeded or
Winter, Round-seeded.

SELECTIONS.
For summer use, Viroflay; for winter use, Prickly-seeded.

Certificates of Merit awarded to—
Viroflay, from Mr. R. Smith.
Prickly, from Mr. W. Poupart.

REMARKS.

The Viroflay is remarkable for its very large fleshy leaves.
The Prickly is generally grown for winter use, under the idea that
itis more hardy than the Round-seeded ;, but this is not the case.
One of the best winter Spinaches is the Round-seeded Flanders.
The New Zealand Spinach (Tetragona expansa) is quite a
distinct plant—a low, trailing, very free-growing annual, pro-
ducing an abundance of leaves, which in dry seasons form an
excellent substitute for Spinach.

B.—FRUITS AND PULSE.

I—VEGETABLE MARROWS AND GOURDS.
15 Hzhibitors.

CLASSIFICATION OF VARIETIES EXHIBITED.

A. Marrows. For use in summer in a green or growing

state.
I. LARGE Form.

1. Trasling.
(a) WHITE oR YELLOW. Type:—Common Vegetable Marrow.
Long Cream, Long White Trailing Marrow, Long Pale Yellow,
Long Smooth White, Cucozille of Tripoli, Long White, Long
White Ribbed Marrow, Large White Marrow, Long White Vege-
table Marrow, Sutton’s Long Cream Vegetable Marrow, Sutton’s
Vegetable Marrow, Long White Squash, Vegetable Marrow Squash.

STATISTICAL NOTES. o

(b) GREEN OR COLOURED.

Gooseberry Green, Italian Green-striped, Long Green, Long
Green Ribbed, Long Smooth Mottled, Large Green Marrow,
Prince Albert Marrow, Sutton’s Improved Green-striped.

2. Bush.
(a) WHITE orn YELLOW.

Bush or Cluster Marrow, Long White Bush Marrow Gourd,

Sutton’s Improved White Bush, Long White Bush Squash.

(6) GREEN OR COLOURED.
Green Bush or Cluster Marrow.

II. Smaut Form.
Yellow, Small, Ovate.
Anglo-Indian, Brazilian Sugar Marrow, Cork Oak-skinned,
Cucurbita pixidalis, Squash Warted Marrow, Hibberd’s No. 1,
Moore’s Vegetable Cream, Pen-y-Byd.

III. Custarp SqQuasH.
Yellow.

Custard Marrow (yellow), Custard Marrow (white), Custard
sp. American, Karly Gold Bush, Golden Yellow Bush, Custard
Marrow, Improved Custard Marrow, Sutton’s Custard Vegetable
Marrow.

B. Gourds or Pumpkins. For use in a ripe state during the
winter season.
I. Smati Forms.

Bonnet du Ture (scarlet), Canada Crookneck, Elector’s Cap,
Geneva Bush, Marron or Chestnut, Mission, Ohio or Autumnal
Marrow, Olive, Prolific (very early), Rouge de Crimée, Slate-
coloured, Turban, Small China Turban, Yokohama.

Il. Larae Forms.

Etampes Mammoth (scarlet), Large Green Pumpkin, Large
Tours Pumpkin (streaked green), Large Yellow Mammoth
Potiron, Patagonian Long Green, Valparaiso.

Certificates of Merit awarded to—

A. Anglo-Indian, from Mr. EK. Chadwick.
Long White, from Mr. W. Palmer.

74 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Moore’s Cream, from Messrs. R. Veitch & Son.
Hibberd’s No. 1, from Royal Horticultural Society.
Long White Bush, from Messrs. Vilmorin & Co.
Pen-y-Byd, from Mr. J. Muir.
B. Gourd—Large Yellow Mammoth, from Royal Horticultural
Society.
Pumpkin—Rouge de Crimée, from Royal Horticultural
Society.
Squash—Yokohama, from Messrs. Vilmorin & Co.

REMARKS.

In the first section, Marrows which are used ina young and
tender condition, the typical representative is the old white
Vegetable Marrow. Many variations of this exist, more or less
distinct in form, size, colour, or productiveness. The larger
forms find favour in market gardens, and the smaller—such as_
Hibberd’s Marrow and Pen-y-Byd—in private establishments.
These smaller forms are, moreover, of finer quality. The Custard
Squashes are quite distinct in form, and very ornamental.
Marrows should be used in a much younger state than they
generally are ; indeed, in their young state almost every one of
the Gourds and Pumpkins may be used, and are so used in many
parts. Of Gourds and Pumpkins intended for winter use in
making soup, &c., varieties with thick flesh are most suitable.
The large yellow Mammoth is a typical form, being large and
fleshy. Some of the smaller forms are, however, more useful,
one of the best being Yokohama, which is very solid and good.

ii—CUCUMBERS.
A. Grown under Glass.
7 Halibitors.

VARIETIES EXHIBITED.
Carter’s Model, Excel All, I Beat All, Lockie’s Perfection,
Purley Park Hero, Rollisson’s Telegraph.

Certificate of Merit awarded to—
Lockie’s Perfection, from Mr. T. Lockie.

B. RipGe CucuMBERs, grown in the open ground.
4 Halhibitors.

STATISTICAL NOTES. Vi)

REMARKS.
The exhibits in this class presented no features worthy of
note.

III.—TOMATOES.
24 Hahibitors.
CLASSIFICATION OF VARIETIES EXHIBITED.

(a) Frurrs, Larce, Rounp, Rep, Smootn. Type:—Perfection.

Apple-shaped Rose, Chemin, Conference, Cardinal, Early
Rose, Gilbert’s Surpasse, Hathaway’s Excelsior, Hackwood
Park, Ham-Green Favourite, The Hovey, Lorillard, Livingstone’s
Perfection, The Scarlet Mikado, Mayflower, Northern Beauty,
New Early, Perfection, President Cleveland, Paragon, Sutton’s
Maincrop, Sandwich Islands, Sutton’s Perfection, Yorkshire
Beauty, Waite’s Seedling, Webb’s Sensation.

(5) Fruits, Lares, Rep, Corrucatep. Type:—LHarly Red.

Abundance, Conqueror, Early Red, Karly Large Red Smooth,
Karliest of All, First Little Beauty, Hepper’s Goliath, Large Red,
Laxton’s Open Air, Old Red, Orangefield, Trophy.

(¢c) SMALLER FRuiTED. Types:—Chiswick Red and Horsford’s
Prelude.
Advancer, Chiswick Red, Eclipse, Fizzicaria, Horsford’s
Prelude, King Humbert, Little Gem, Ne Plus Ultra, Peach,
Tennis Ball, Wiles’s Prolific.

(d) Frurrs, Large, CRIMSON OR FLESH-COLOURED. Type:—
Acme.

Acme, Dedham Model Red, Dedham Favourite, Dwarf

Champion, Livingstone’s Favourite, Mikado (rose), Moore’s
Gem, Pomegranate, Vick’s Criterion.

(¢) Fruits, YeLuow. Type:—Green Gage.

Blenheim Orange, Golden Queen, Golden Nugget, Green
Gage, Prince of Orange, Yellow King, Yellow Plum, Yellow
Perfection.

(f) Frurrs, SMauy, ORNAMENTAL. Types:—Pear-shaped and
Red Currant.
Cherry-shaped, Currant-fruited, Nisbet’s Victoria, Pear-
shaped, Red Cherry.

76 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Certificates of Merit awarded to—

Chemin Rouge, from Messrs. Vilmorin & Co.

Mikado Red, from Messrs. Vilmorin & Co.

Advancer, from Royal Horticultural Society.

Golden Queen, from Royal Horticultural Society and Messrs.
J. Veitch & Sons.

Conference, from Royal Horticultural Society.

Tennis Ball, from Royal Horticultural Society.

Ham-Green Favourite, from Royal Horticultural Society,
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, and Mr. R. Dean.

Perfection, from Mr. W. Poupart and Mr. R. Dean.

REMARKS.

Tomatoes were well represented, and made a very satis-
factory display. Most of the larger and finer examples were
referrible to the Perfection type—which for size, form, and
colour seems to be very near perfection. Chemin, from
Messrs. Vilmorin, may be noted as apparently the same as
that variety. The one originated, however, in France, the
other in America, about the same time. The Scarlet Mikado,
of Vilmorin, a sport from the original Mikado, is a large and
promising variety. The Conference Tomato (Chiswick Hybrid)
is a variety which originated in the Society’s Gardens, from
Horsford’s Prelude x Perfection ; is remarkably free-fruiting, of
medium size, and well adapted for culture in the open ground.
The crimson or flesh-coloured varieties, of which Acme is the
type, do not find so much favour as the scarlet.

ly —bpEANS:
A. RUNNERS.
16 Hahlibitors.

CLASSIFICATION OF VARIETIES EXHIBITED.

(a) SCARLET SEcTION. Seeds variously coloured.

Carter’s Champion, Carter’s Jubilee, Champion, Chelsea
Giant, Chelsea White, The Czar, Girtford Giant, Ne Plus
Ultra, Old Scarlet, Painted Lady, Reading Giant, Scarlet,
Sutton’s Scarlet Runner, Scarlet Champion, Veitch’s Mammoth
Scarlet, Veitch’s Giant White, White Jubilee, White Runner.

STATISTICAL NOTES, Wil

(b) Burrer Beans.
Hungarian Butter, Early Golden Cluster, Fillbasket, Mont
d’Or Butter, Sutton’s Butter.
(c) Princess.
B. Dwarr Kipxey BEANs.
6 Hahibitors.
VARIETIES EXHIBITED.

Canadian Wonder, Fulmer’s Forcing, Mohawk, Ne Plus
Ultra, Negro Longpod, Osborn’s Forcing, Sion House, Sir J.
Paxton.

Certificates of Merit awarded to—
A. Neal’s Ne Plus Ultra, from Mr. G. Nealand Mr. H. Deverill.

Jubilee, from Mr. H. Deverill and Mr. C. J. Waite,
Karly Golden Cluster, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons.
Fillbasket, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons.
Sutton’s Butter, from Mr. R. Gilbert.

B. Canadian Wonder, from Mr. G. Wythes.
Mohawk, from Mr. G. Wythes.

REMARKS.

The number of names to so-called varieties of Scarlet
Runners (eighteen) is very surprising where so little variety
really exists; the chief real difference having relation to the
colour of the seed—the White-seeded being equal in quality to
the Scarlet. Size of pod being an important qualification,
many ‘“‘Giants’’ have been introduced of recent years; some
of these are, however, extremely coarse, and not prolific. One
of the best selections is Ne Plus Ultra. The Butter Beans
have not found much favour in this country, chiefly on account
of their colour. ‘They are of very superior quality, however,
and should be largely grown. Amongst the Dwarf Kidney Beans
the Canadian Wonder—an old variety—is still one of the best.

Dried Haricots were well represented from Mr. J. Perkins,
Thornham Hall, Eye, Suffolk.

V.—PEAS.
13 Exhibitors.
VARIETIES EXHIBITED.
Autocrat, British Queen, Champion of England, Charles the

78 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

First, Criterion, Duchess of Edinburgh, Duke of Albany,
Earliest Blue, Fortyfold, Harrison’s Glory, Huntsman, Ne Plus
Ultra, Prodigy, Reading Giant, Stratagem, Sutton’s Latest of
All, Sutton’s Matchless Marrowfat, Sutton’s Satisfaction, Tele-
phone, Veitch’s Goldfinder, Veitch’s Perfection.

Certificates of Merit awarded to—
Duke of Albany, from Mr. J. Lambert.
Telephone, from Mr. J. Lambert.
Prodigy, from Mr. J. Lambert.
Sutton’s Matchless, from Mr. J. Lambert.
Ne Plus Ultra, from Mr. J. H. Goodacre.
Carter’s Stratagem, from Mr. J. H. Goodacre.

REMARKS.

For so late a period in the season the display of Peas was
remarkably good. Ne Plus Ultra, it may be noted, still stands
forward as one of the very best. Sutton’s Matchless Marrowfat,
a comparatively new variety, seemed very promising. The collec-
tions exhibited by Messrs. Goodacre and Lambert were especially
fresh and fine.

VI.—CAPSICUMS or CHILLIES.
3 Hahibitors.

VARIETIES EXHIBITED.
Cayenne, Celestial Pepper, Long Red, Golden King, Large
Bell, Improved Bull’s Nose, Sweet Spanish Mammoth.
Certificates of Merit awarded to—

Golden Queen, from M. Vilmorin.
Large Bell, from M. Vilmorin.

REMARKS.

The varieties exhibited by M. Vilmorin were very large, and
remarkably beautiful.

STATISTICAL NOTES. 79

C.—_TUBERS AND BULBS.

I.—POTATOKES.
18 Hxhibitors.
VARIETIES EXHIBITED.

Ashleaf (Veitch’s), Ashleaf (Myatt’s), Adirondack, Abundance
(Sutton’s), Alpha, Arizona, Beauty of Hebron, Best of All, The
Blacksmith, The Bruce, Breese’s Prolific, Blue Fluke, Bouncer,
Beauty of Edgcote, Basford Beauty, Bedfont Purple, Blue
Beard, Blue Eyes, Buffalo Bill, Bliss’s Triumph, Benefactor,
Chancellor, The Colonel,The Cobbler, Cetewayo, Clipper,Chiswick
Favourite, Crown Jewel, The Cambridgeshire, The Canon,
Councillor, Chieftain, Conference, Cardinal, Coles’ Favourite,
Day’s Sunrise, Dean’s London Hero, Delight, The Dean, The
Daniels, Diamond, Debutante, Davenport’s Thoroughbred,
Duke of Albany, Discovery, Karly American Kidney, Early Rose,
Karliest of All, Early White Kidney (Sutton’s), Early Market
(Sutton’s), Early White (Sutton’s), Edgcote Purple, Edgcote
Karly, Early Coldstream, Harly Vermont, Epicure’s Delight,
Karly Puritan, Karly White Hebron, Karly Victor, Karly Regent,
Ellington’s Prolific, Karly Champion, Epicure, Fidler’s Prolific,
Fidler’s Success, Favourite, Flounder, Fortyfold, Fidler’s
Reading Giant, Farish’s Seedling, Friesland Beauty, General
Gordon, Governor, Hughes’ Purple Perfection, Hughes’ Pink
Perfection, Harrison’s Short Top, Hebron Surprise, Holyhoke,
Imperator, Improved Ashleaf, Isis, Ideal, Isla, King of the
Russets, King of Crimsons, King Philip, Kinver Hill, Kinver
Monarch, Lilputian, Lady Truscott, Lord Tennyson, Late Rose,
Laxton’s Utility, Lavington Conqueror, Magnum Bonum, Mottled
Beauty, Mr. Breese, Maggie, Manhattan, Myatt’s Prolific,
Masterpiece (Sutton’s), Matchless (Sutton’s), Magistrate, Mur-
ray’s Seedling, Marketman, Market Favourite, Milltown’ Blue,
Miss Fowler, Negro, Nonesuch (Sutton’s), Osborne’s Pride,
Prizetaker, Prolific, Pink Perfection, Purple Perfection, Perfection
(Fidler’s), Prince of Wales, Perfect Peach Biow, Prime Minister,
President Garfield, Perkins’ Snowdrop, Progress, Probationer,
Plymouth Rock, Queen of the Valley, Reading Hero, Reading
Giant, Reading Russet, Reading Ruby, The Rector, Red
Vassan, Ross’s M.P., Redskin Flourball, Radcliffe Kidney, Red
Perfection, Renown, Ramona, Rural New Yorker, Red King,

80 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Schoolmaster, Snowdrop, Sutton’s Seedling, Satisfaction, Snow-
flake, Snow Queen, Suffolk Favourite, Stourbridge Glory,
Sharpe’s Victor, Stirling Beauty, Sharpe’s Standard, Sterling,
Seaconnet, Surprise, True Ashleaf, Trophy, Thauborn, Tacoma,
Universal, Vicar of Laleham, Vitellotte, Vermont Beauty, Ver-
mont Champion, Victory, Village Blacksmith, Vegetarian, Webb’s
White Beauty, White Elephant, Wiltshire Giant, Wachuset,
Winnebago, Wordsley Queen, Wordsley Pride.

EIGHTEEN VARIETIES
FoR GARDEN CULTURE FOR AUTUMN OR WINTER SUPPLY
SELECTED BY THE COMMITTER.

Abundance. Round white, great cropper.
Adirondack. Round pale pink, bright eye.
Beauty of Hebron. Long white, tinged pink.
Chancellor. Long white.

Karly Puritan. Long white.

Kpicure’s Delight. Long white.

King of the Russets. Round red, rough skin.
London Hero.

Magnum Bonum. Long white, great cropper.
Reading Giant.

Reading Russet. Round red, russetty.
Schoolmaster. Round white, rough skin.
Snowdrop. Half-long white—very even.
Sutton’s Satisfaction.

Sutton’s Seedling. Round white, fine quality.
Veitch’s Ashleaf. Long white kidney, early.
Vicar of Laleham. Round blue or purple, large.
Webb’s Renown. Round white.

Six SELECTED VARIETIES
FOR SMALL GARDEN CULTURE.

Beauty of Hebron. Long even white, tinged pink; great
cropper ; early.

Early Puritan. Long white, even.

Reading Russet. Round red.

Sutton’s Seedling. Round white.

Veitch’s Ashleaf. Long white kidney.

Vicar of Laleham. Round purple.

STATISTICAL NOTES. 81

Six SELECTED VARIETIES
FOR MARKET AND FIELD CULTURE FOR AUTUMN
AND WINTER SUPPLY.

Beauty of Hebron. Reading Giant.
Chancellor. Long white. Sutton’s Satisfaction.
Magnum Bonum. Vicar of Laleham.

Certificates of Merit awarded to—

Adirondack, from Messrs. R. Veitch & Son.

Beauty of Hebron, from Mr. J. Lye.

Chancellor, from Mr. J. Lambert.

Coles’ Favourite, from Mr. J. Lambert.

arly Puritan, from Messrs. R. Veitch & Son.

Edgcote Beauty, from Mr. E. S. Wiles.

Edgcote Purple, from Mr. E. S. Wiles.

Favourite, from Mr. E. S. Wiles.

Hughes’ Perfection, from Mr. J. Hughes.

Hughes’ Pink Perfection, from Mr. J. Hughes.

King of the Russets, from Mr. J. Lye and Messrs. J. Carter
& Co.

London Hero, from Messrs. R. Veitch & Son and Mr. E. S.
Wiles.

Prime Minister, from Mr. J. Lambert.

Prolific, from Mr. E. 8. Wiles.

Reading Giant, from Mr. J. Lye, Mr. J. Hughes, and Mr. E.
S. Wiles.

Reading Russet, from Mr. W. Wildsmith and Mr. J. Hughes.

Renown, from Mr. EK. Webb and Mr. J. Lambert.

Reading Ruby, from Mr. J. Hughes and Mr. E. 8. Wiles.

Sutton’s Seedling, from Messrs. G. Bunyard & Co. and Mr.
J. Lambert.

Snowdrop, from Mr. E. 8. Wiles.

Sutton’s Abundance, from Mr. W. Wildsmith, Mr. J. Lambert,
and Mr. J. Hughes.

Sutton’s Magnum Bonum, from Mr. E. §. Wiles.

The Dean, from Mr. J. Lye.

The Rector, from Mr. E. §. Wiles.

Veitch’s Improved Ashleaf, from Mr. J. Hughes.

Vicar of Laleham, from Messrs. R. Veitch & Son.

Wordsley Prize, from Messrs. C. Webb & Sons.

82 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY,

Ia.—_NEW VARIETIES or POTATOES.
9 Hxrmbitors.

Mr. R. Clive :—Two Seedlings, unnamed.

Mr. R. Dean :—Blue Eyes, Conference, Cornish Standard,
Fair Devonia, Governor.

Mr. J. Hughes :—Duke of Fife, Duchess of Fife, Ruby King.

Mr. T. Laxton :—Victorious.

Mr. J. Lye :—Victory.

Mr. R. Maher:—The Amateur, The Cottager, The Gentle-
man, The Vegetarian.

Mr. C. Ross :—Confidence, Probation, Talisman.

Messrs. Sharpe & Co.:—Frieston Seedling, Poor Man’s
Friend.

Mr. Wiles :—Edgcote Early.

Certificates of Merit awarded to—
Conference (flat-round, white), from Mr. R. Dean.
Cottager, The, from Mr. R. Maher.
Duchess of Fife (second early white kidney), from Mr. J.
Hughes.
Edgcote Early (white kidney), from Mr. E. §. Wiles.
The Gentleman, from Mr. R. Maher.
Talisman (red-flaked kidney), from Mr. C. Ross.
Victorious (long white kidney), from Mr. T. Laxton.
Victory (long white, smooth), from Mr. J. Lye.

REMARKS.

Potatoes were well represented; the examples in most of
the classes being remarkable for their clearness and evenness of
form, evidences of high and careful cultivation. Specially pro-
minent throughout most of the collections may be noted the
varieties Abundance, Satisfaction, Sutton’s Seedling, &c., sent
out by Messrs. Sutton. Hughes’s Pink Perfection may also be
mentioned as exceedingly pretty. The beauty of form now
attained amongst Potatoes is very conspicuous, and must be
recognised. Potatoes as shown on the Exhibition table are,
however, to some extent misleading, appearance being the chief
and, of a necessity, almost the only point governing the selection ;
the quality of the variety and its cropping propertiessnot being
in evidence, are apt to be overlooked, and judgment formed from

STATISTICAL NOTES. 83

appearance only. Bliss’s American varieties as shown were
somewhat coarse and rough.

IIL—ARTICHOKES, JERUSALEM.
4 Hahibitors.

REMARKS.

There is only one variety recognised. Jerusalem Artichokes
require careful selection of the tubers for planting, and liberal
treatment as regards cultivation—fresh, good soil. Considerable
room exists for the improvement of this tuber.

fit.—LEEKS.
13 Hahibitors.

CLASSIFICATION OF VARIETIES HE.XHIBITED.
(a) THe MussenBuRGH TYPE.
Holborn Model, Musselburgh, Renton’s Hybrid, The Oxonian.

(6) THe Lyon Typz.
Dobbie’s Champion, Ayton Castle, Henry’s Prize, Prizetaker,
Renton’s Monarch, The Lyon.

Certificates of Merit awarded to—
Musselburgh, from Mr. J. Lambert.
The Oxonian, from Mr. J. C. Waite.
The Lyon, from Messrs. Stuart & Mein, and Mr. J.
Lambert.
Dobbie’s Champion, from Messrs. Dobbie & Co.
Renton’s Monarch, from Messrs. R. Veitch & Son.

REMARKS.

The first section, of which the Musselburgh is the typical
example, has the foliage dark green, more upright in growth,
and altogether sturdier and of a more hardy nature than the
others. The second section, of which The Lyon is the typical
example, is generally of a pale green colour of foliage, somewhat
flabby and drooping, of free growth, generally attaining a large
size; but it is somewhat tender, and apt to perish in severe
winters. The examples exhibited by Messrs. Stuart & Mein,
Messrs. Dobbie, and others, were remarkably fine.

G 2

84 ' JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

IV.—ONIONS.
26 Hahibitors.
CLASSIFICATION OF VARIETIES EXHIBITED.
(a) Fuat. Type:—Anglo-Spanish. Colour, yellow to brown.

Rousham Park Hero, Sutton’s Improved Reading, Anglo-
Spanish, Brown Spanish, Globe Danvers, White Spanish, Anglo
White Spanish, Sandy Prize, Banbury, Market Favourite,
Veitch’s Maincrop, Nuneham Park, Strasburg, Deptford,
Sulphur Yellow, Yellow Vertus, Danvers, Danvers Yellow,
Giant Zittau.

(b) GLOBE oR Rounpv. Type:—Ailsa Craig. Colour, yellow to
brown.

Wroxton Improved, Ailsa Craig, Cranston’s Excelsior,
New Paramatta, Bedfordshire Champion, Brown Globe, Cocoa
Nut, Trebon’s White Globe, Golden Ball, Southport Yellow,
James’s Keeping, Pinesfield, Improved Pinesfield.

(c) Tripour. Divided into two sub-sections: 1. Flat Tripoli.
2. Round or Globe Tripoli.
Sub-section 1. Frat. Type:—Flat Madeira or Tripoli.

Giant Lemon Rocca, Giant Rocca, Large Giant Rocca, St.
Laurent, Giant Late White Flat Tripoli, Large Flat Madeira
or Tripoli, Large Blood-red Flat Italian, Red Italian, Yellow
Rocca.

Sub-section 2. RouND on GuoBE. Type:—Guant Madeira or
Globe.
Advancer, Madeira, Golden Globe, Red Italian, Large Round
Madeira or Globe.
(qd) WHITE on SinverR §xin. Divided into two sub-sections :
1. Large. 2. Small or Pickling.
Sub-section 1. LARGE SILVER SKIN.
American or Southport White Globe, White Lisbon, Selected
White.
Sub-section 2. SMALL SILVER-SKINNED. Type:—TZhe Queen.

Karly White Naples, The Queen, Silver-skinned, Silver-
skinned Pear-shaped, Carter’s Silver Ball.

(e)

(7)

STATISTICAL NOTES. 85
BLoop-RED. Divided into two sub-sections :
1. Flat. 2, Round or Globe.
Sub-section 1. Fuat.
Black Douglas, Dobbie’s Red, Blood-red, Red Champion.

Sub-section 2. Rounp.
Southport Red Globe.

Not CLASSED.
Como, Welsh.

Certificates of Merit awarded to-—

Advancer, from Mr. H. Deverill.

Ailsa Craig, from Mr. H. Deverill, Mr. W. Pope, Mr. W. G.
Gilbert, Mr. J. Hughes, and Mr. R. Kneller.

Anglo-Spanish, from Messrs. Oakshott & Millard, Mr. W.
Pope, and Mr. Wingyove.

Bedfordshire Champion, from Mr. G. Wythes.

Black Douglas, from Mr. H. Deverill and Mr. D. Murray.

Blood-red, from Messrs. Dobbie & Co.

Brown Globe, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons.

Brown Spanish, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons. .

Cocoa-nut, from Mr. H. Deverill.

Deverill’s Improved Wroxton, from Mr. W. Pope.

Flat Yellow or Brown Anglo-Spanish, from Mr. H. Deverill.

Giant Late White Flat Tripoli, from Vilmorin-Andrieux et
Cie.

Giant Madeira, from Vilmorin-Andrieux et Cie.

Giant Zittau, from Messrs. R. Veitch & Son.

James’s Keeping, from Mr. Muir, Mr. H. Deverill, and
iwlelsy

Large Blood-red Flat Italian, from Vilmorin-Andrieux et
Cie.

Maincrop, from Mr. Nicholas.

Pinesfield, from Mr. H. Deverill.

Queen, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons.

Reading, from Mr. J. Hughes.

Rousham Park Hero, from Mr. W. Pope, Mr. C. J. Waite,
Mr. Bowerman, and Mr. H. Deverill.

Southport Red Globe, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Song and
RES:

86 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Best KEEPING ONIONS.

(a) Fuat SECTION. (6b) GuoBE Sxction. Yellowto brown.
1. Deptford or Strasburg. 1. Brown Globe.
2. Maincrop. 2. James’s Keeping.
3. Rousham Park. 3. Bedfordshire Champion.
4, Giant Zittau. 4. Wroxton.
5. Anglo-Spanish. 5. Advancer.
(c) Trreo~1 SECTION. (d) Buoop-RED SECTION.
1. Red Italian. 1. Blood-red.

2. Southport Globe.

SEASONS OF ONIONS.

1. Tripoli section—June to September.

2. White-skinned—September to December.

3. Flat, yellow to brown—December to March.
4. Globe, yellow to brown—March to June.

These sections arrive at maturity in the order given, and will
furnish a supply of sound Onions all the year round.

REMARKS.

The Onions formed one of the most remarkable features of
the Conference, and attracted much attention. ‘Those exhibited
by Messrs. Vilmorin, from Paris, proved specially attractive, from
the great size of some of the examples of the Tripoli varieties
and their delicate colouring, to a degree never attained in this
country. The English Onions exhibited by Mr. Deverill and
others were equally remarkable, both for size and handsome
appearance. Rousham Park and Anglo White Spanish may be
specially noted as very extraordinary developments of the well-
known White Spanish Onion, which have been partly secured by
most careful selection for many years, and partly by excellent
cultivation. Banbury would seem to be a district of the country
with soil specially suited for the growth of Onions.

Messrs. Deverill sent the following note on cultivation with
their exhibits :—

“‘ Soil: strong, heavy, dark loam, double dug in autumn, and
plenty of good, fat, rotten farmyard manure worked in, top-
dressed with soot in November, the beds being pointed over in
March, and made firm previous to planting.

STATISTICAL NOTES. 87

‘‘ Seeds sown in cold frames February 1, and transplanted

into the beds April 22.
‘‘During the summer the beds are mulched with spent

mushroom-bed manure, and in showery weather a liberal dose
of Deverill’s Onion Fertiliser, and Thomson’s Vine and Plant
Manure, sown broadcast. Sulphur and a small quantity of
slaked lime, mixed, is sown overhead early in the morning, to
check any signs of mildew.”

V.—SEARLOTS.
5 Hahibitors.

Certificate of Merit awarded to—
Large Red, from Messrs. Stuart & Mein, Kelso.

REMARKS.
There are only two true varieties of Shallots grown, The
common old sort, small, and of a pale colour, is the favourite
variety for culinary purposes. The larger red is more showy.

VI.—GARLIC.
1 Hxhibitor.

Certificate of Merit awarded to—
Garlic, from Mr. R. Smith.

REMARE.
A very fine sample.

VIL—GARDEN TURNIPS.
19 Hzlibitors.
CLASSIFICATION OF VARIETIES EXHIBITED.

{a) Wuite FLESHED
Karly Red American Stone.
Karly Snowball (White Stone section).
Karly Strapleaf.
Extra Early Milan.
Green-top Stone.
Jersey Lily (Snowball section).
New Exhibition (White Stone section).
Model White Stone.

88 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

New Marble (Green-top Stone section).

Red Stone.

Snowball Perfection.

Sutton’s Early Six Weeks (Snowball section).
Veitch’s Red Globe.

White Datch.

White Ege.

The White-fleshed Turnips may, for convenience, be divided
thus:

i. Early, of which the type is Early Milan.

ii, Second early ,, ns White Stone or Snowball.
ii. Mid-season a = Green-top Stone.
iv. Late Hi a Round Red Globe.

(6) YexLow FLESHED.
Carter’s Golden Ball (Golden Ball section).
Golden Ball.
Orange Jelly.
Petrowski (Yellow Finland section).

The Yellow-fleshed Turnips may, for convenience, be divided
thus :—
i. Globe, of which the type is Golden Ball.
u. Flat . mS Yellow Finland.

Certificates of Merit awarded in—
(a) WHITE-FLESHED SECTION.

1. Karly Flat White Sub- HOR) to Early Milan, from
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons.

2. Round White Sub-section, to Model White Stone, from
Messrs. Dobbie & Co. White Stone, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons
and Mr. Lambert.

3. Round Green-top Sub-section, to Early Marble, from
Messrs. Harrison & Sons. Green-top Stone, from Mr. Maher.

4. Round Red-top Sub-section, to Red Globe, from Messrs.
J. Veitch & Sons and Messrs. R. Veitch & Son.

(b) YELLOW-FLESHED SECTION.

To Golden Ball, from Messrs. Dobbie & Co., and Mr. J. L.
Ensor.

STATISTICAL NOTES. 89

REMARKS.

The Globe section are the best for winter use, as they keep
better. The Flat section are the earliest, such as the Milan,
Strapleaf, &c. Yellow-fleshed Turnips are hardier than the
white-fleshed varieties, and are, on that account, well suited for
cultivation in cold and late districts. In Scotland they are
generally preferred.

VUI.—_KOHL RABI.
3 Halibitors.

VARIETIES EXHIBITED.

Early White Vienna, Green Vienna, Large Green, Purple
Vienna.
CLASSIFICATION OF VARIETIES H.XHIBITED.

(a) Green-top. (b) Purple-top.

Certificates of Merit awarded to—

Early Vienna, from Messrs. Veitch & Sons, and Messrs.
Carter & Co.

Purple Vienna, from Messrs. Veitch & Sons, and Mr. C.
Osman.

D.—TAP ROOTS.
T—-BEEL.
27 Lixhibitors.

CLASSIFICATION OF VARIETIES EXHIBITED.

(a) Rep on Crimson FuresuH. Types:—(1) Cheltenham Green
Top. (2) Nutting’s Dark Red.

Blood-red, Cheltenham Green-top, Chelsea, Covent Garden
Red, Covent Garden Perfection, Culverwell’s Perfection, Dell’s
Crimson, Dewar’s Beet, Drummond’s Monarch, Edinburgh Blood-
red, Frisby’s Excelsior, Improved Blood-red, Improved Dwarf
Deep Blood-red, Jersey No. 1, Macgregor’s Favourite, Middle-
ton Park Favourite, Nutting’s Dark Red, Omega, Osborn’s
Select Red, Pragnell’s Exhibition, Sutton’s Excelsior, Veitch’s
Improved Black Leaf, Veitch’s Dwarf Red.

90 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

(6) Buack orn Dark FuesH. Type:—Pine Apple.

Dark Red Pyriform Strasburg, Dell’s Dwarf Black, Dickson’s
Superb Black, Dobbie’s New Purple, Improved Dark Red, Pine -
Apple, Queen of the Blacks, Superb Black Beet, Veitch’s Selected
Dark, Whyte’s Extra Dark Red.

(c) TurNIp-RooTED. Type:—Lgyptian Turmp-rooted.

Bassano, Carter’s Crimson Ball, New Early Round, Eclipse,
Egyptian, Egyptian Turnip-rooted, Turnip-rooted.

(d) ORNAMENTAL.

Dracena-leaved.

Certificates of Merit awarded to—
Kdinburgh Blood-red, from Mr. Hugh Hanan.
Dewar’s Dwarf Red, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons.
Keclipse, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons.
Dobbie’s New Purple, from Messrs. Dobbie & Co.
Draceena-leaved, from Messrs. Vilmorin et Cie.
Cheltenham Green-top, from Messrs. Harrison & Sons,

Mr. W. Poupart, Mr. F. Taylor, and Mr. G. Wythes.

Middleton Hall Favourite, from Mr. H. Deverill.
Turnip-rooted, from Messrs. Carter & Co.

REMARKS.

Beets were extensively shown, and mostly of good quality.
The red or crimson-fleshed varieties are generally preferred to the
dark sorts, which have usually more of an earthy taste, and are
of a dull appearance when cooked. Although a bright crimson
colour may be desirable, it does not at all times determine the
quality. Some varieties which are very pale are sometimes of
fine quality. The Cheltenham Green-top may be noted as a
very excellent sort, of fine uniform size, and of good colour,
the leaves almost green. The Dracena-leaved is a very pretty
leaved variety, quite ornamental, but too small for use. The
Turnip-rooted Beets are valuable on account of their earliness,
and for growing in shallow soils; by judicious sowing they
may be had in use all the summer, and they are also of fine
quality, although pale in colour. The Egyptian Turnip-rooted
is the finest. Bassano is too large.

STATISTICAL NOTES. 9]

II.—CARROTS.
91 Haxlibitors.

CLASSIFICATION OF VARIETIES EXHIBITED.

(2) SHort Horn. Types :—Lrench Horn, Guérande.

Carrotte rouge trés courte, Champion Scarlet Horn, Early
French Horn, Early Gem (Guérande section), Karly Dutch Horn,
Karly Scarlet Horn, French Forcing, Guérande, Parisian Forcing,
Reading Scarlet Horn, Scarlet Model (Guérande section).

(0) INTERMEDIATE. Types :—James’s Intermediate, Nantes,
Stump-roosted.

Carrotte de James, Carrotte de Chantenay, Karly Market
(Nantes section), Early Scarlet Nantes, Half-long Scarlet Nantes,
James’s Scarlet, Scarlet Intermediate, Scarlet Red Intermediate,
Select Stump-rooted, Summer Favourite.

(c) Lona. Types:—St. Valery, Altringham.

Altringham, Carter’s Improved Green-top, Improved Altring-
ham, Long Red Surrey, Matchless Scarlet (St. Valery section),
New Red Intermediate, New Scarlet (St. Valery section), St. Valery,
Scarlet Perfection (St. Valery section), Veitch’s Matchless (St.
Valery section), Select Intermediate (St. Valery section).

Certificates of Merit awarded to—
New Scarlet Improved, from the Novelty Company.
Early Very Short French Horn, from Messrs. Vilmorin.
Guérande, from Messrs. Vilmorin et Cie.
Long Red St. Valery, from Messrs. Vilmorin et Cie.
Sutton’s Gem (Guérande section), from Mr. J. Lambert.
Sutton’s Karly Gem (Guérande section), from Mr. J. Lye.
Red Intermediate, from Mr. J. Lye.
Long Red Surrey, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons.
Scarlet Perfection (St. Valery section), from Mr. W. Chettle-
burgh.
REMARKS.

The Carrots were remarkably fine. Special mention must
be made of the collection of six varieties exhibited by Messrs.
Vilmorin, viz. :—

(1) Carrotte rouge trés courte; (2) Guérande ; (8) Half-long

92 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Scarlet Nantes; (4) Chantenay ; (5) James’s Intermediate ; (6) Long
Red St. Valery, which very fairly represented the whole of the
varieties existing.

For general cultivation the following varieties are sufficient :—
(1) For forcing or frames, Rouge trés courte ; (2) for summer,
Guérande, and the Scarlet Nantes; and (8) for winter, Long Red
St. Valery. The Altringham is frequently too long. It is easily
known from raising itself out of the ground several inches, which
portion, becoming coloured, is useless.

ITT.— PARSNIPS.
14 Hzhbitors.

VARIETIES EXHIBITED.
Dobbie’s Selected, Dobbie’s Selected Hollow Crown, Hollow
Crown, Improved Hollow Crown, Student, Turnip-rooted.
Certificates of Merit awarded to—

Dobbie’s Selected Hollow Crown, from Messrs. Dobbie & Co.
Improved Hollow Crown, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons.
Hollow Crown, from Mr. W. Poupart.

REMARKS.

The examples shown by Messrs. Dobbie were remarkably fine,
large, and clear-skinned. But little distinction is apparent
between one variety and another, excepting the Turnip-rooted,
and this is not appreciated.

LY. HORSE-RADISH:
2 Hahibitors.

REMARKS.
Very large and fine examples from Mr. Poupart.

V.—STACHYS TUBERIFERA.
4 Exhibitors.

REMARKS.
This new vegetable seems to be meeting with increased
approval, both for cooking purposes and also for use in winter
salads.

STATISTICAL NOTES. 93

VI—SALSAFY.
10 Hahibitors.

Certificate of Merit awarded to—
Salsafy, from Mr. R. Smith.

VII.—_SCORZONERA.
5 Hahibitors.
Certificate of Merit awarded to—
Scorzonera, from Mr. J. Willard.

H.—SALADINGS.

I.—ENDIVE.
6 Hzhibitors.
CLASSIFICATION OF VARIETIES EXHIBITED.
(a) CuRLED ENDIVE.

Courte Cloche, Curled, Green-curled, Green-curled Summer,
Imperial Curled, Moss-curled, Parisienne d’Eté, Picpus, Rufiec
(ereen-curled), Stag’s Horn, The Garland, White-curled.

(6) BATAVIAN.
Broad-leaved Batavian, Improved Round Batavian.

Certificates of Merit awarded to—

(a) Ruffeec (green-curled), from Messrs. Vilmorin et Cie.
Green-curled, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons.
Moss-curled, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons.

Parisienne VEté, from Messrs. Vilmorin et Cie.
(b) Improved Round-leaved Batavian, from Messrs. J. Veitch
& Sons.
Broad-leaved Batavian, from Messrs. Vilmorin et Cie.

REMARKS.

Amongst Endive, the fine-curled varieties are the most
appreciated. They are, however, the most tender. Of the
Batavian there is only one variety worthy of. cultivation, viz.,
the Round-leaved Batavian, which forms close, well-blanched
hearts almost naturally. This variety is termed by the French
‘« Scarole en Cornet.”’

94 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

II.—LETTUCES.
1 Hahbitor.

VARIETIES EXHIBITED.

A couper, Parisienne, Albano, Blonde Berlin, Blonde de
Versailles, Brown Marseilles, Balloon, Brown Dutch, Blonde 4
couper, Californian Curled, Early Ohio, Early Paris Market,
Frisée d’Amerique, Frisée 4 couper Beauregard, Frisée & couper,
Grand Admiral, Hammersmith, Lorthois, Marvel, Neapolitan,
Paris White, Royal Albert, Stanstead Park, Sutton’s Queen,
Winter Passion, White Passion, White Bavarian.

CLASSIFICATION OF VARIETIES EXHIBITED.
(a) Cos Lurruce. (1) White, Balloon. (2) Coloured,
(6) CapBaGcE Lettuce. (1) Green. (2) Coloured.

Certificates of Merit awarded to—
Lorthois, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons.
Blonde Berlin, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons.
Albano, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons.
Brown Dutch, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons.
Frisée 4 couper Beauregard, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons.

REMARKS.

Winter Lettuce.—Best type, Winter Passion. Lettuces for
cutting for small Salads.—Best variety, Frisée 4 couper Beaure-
gard. The exhibits in the Cos section were not very satis-
factory, it being too late in the season for this class.

i Cia Y..
19 Hxinbitors.

CLASSIFICATION OF VARIETIES HK XHIBITED.
(a) WHITE.

Dwarf White, Dobbie’s Invincible White, Luckhurst’s Giant
White, Matchless White, New Yellow White Plume, Sandringham
White, White Gem, White Plume, Wright’s Giant White.

(b) Rep.

Aylesbury Prize Red, Covent Garden Red, Divers’ Man of

Kent, Dobbie’s Select Red, Harrison’s Early Rose, Leicester Red,

STATISTICAL NOTES. 95

Major Clarke’s Red, Pale Red, Red, Standard Bearer, Winchester
Pink.
Certificates of Merit awarded to—
Wright’s Giant White, from Messrs. Oakshott & Millard.
Dobbie’s Invincible, from Messrs. Dobbie & Co.
Sandringham White, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons.
Sutton’s White Gem, from Mr. J. Lye.
Aylesbury Prize Red, from Mr. H. Deverill.
Standard Bearer, from Mr. F. Taylor.
Covent Garden Red, from Mr. W. Poupart.

REMARKS.

Celery, although shown in considerable quantity, presented
nothing of special interest. The varieties certificated were all
of excellent character, solid and good. The White Plume may
be noted as distinct, the leaves being considerably variegated,
thus giving it an appearance of being much blanched. In point
of quality it is inferior to the Dwarf White or Sandringham.
White Celeries are, as a rule, inferior to the red varieties. A
Dwarf Red Celery of the same character as the Dwarf White,
which almost blanches naturally without earthing up, would ke
a great acquisition.

IV.—CELERIAC.
2 Halubttors.
VARIETIES EXHIBITED.
Early Erfurt, Large Smooth Prague, Apple-shaped.

Certificate of Merit awarded to—
Large Smooth Prague, from Messrs. Vilmorin & Cie.

V.-SMALL SALADINGS.
1 Halibitor.
(a) Cress :—American, Curled, Plain, and Broad-leaved.
(6) Waite Mustarp.
(c) Laray-roorteD Cuicory :—Witloef.
(d@) Cuicory :—French large-leaved.

(ec) DanpEttion :—Improved, very early Dandelion.
(f) Rapisu :—Black Spanish, China Rose.

96 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Certificate of Merit awarded to—
Witloef Chicory, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons.

VI.—RADISHES.
1 Hahibitor.

VARIETIES EXHIBITED.

Karly Deep Scarlet Olive-shaped, Early Scarlet Turnip, Early
White Smail Turnip, Grey Round, Half-long Deep Scarlet,
Long Scarlet, Long White Vienna, Purple Olive-shaped White-
tipped Scarlet Olive-shaped, Scarlet Olive-shaped, White-tipped
Scarlet Turnip, Early Scarlet Forcing, White Hospital, Large
White Summer Turnip, White Olive-shaped, White Turnip,
Yellow Summer Turnip.

Certificates of Merit awarded to—
Long Scarlet, from Messrs. Vilmorin & Cie.
Karly Scarlet Forcing, from Messrs. Vilmorin & Cie.
Harly White Forcing, from Messrs. Vilmorin & Cie.

REMARKS.

These were all nice clear examples of the respective varieties.
They do not, however, find much favour in this country in the
autumn season.

F.—MISCELLANEOUS.

I.—CARDOONS.
8 Exhibitors.

REMARKS.

The exhibits were all of the common smooth variety,
well-grown. Cardoons are not much grown or appreciated in
this country. They require a great amount of attention in
regard to blanching. Although used in a very different manner,
Cardoons belong to the same family as the Artichoke.

Il.—LEAF BEETS.
3 Halubitors.
Types :—(a) Chilian or Brazilian, Seakale, Silver.
(b) Green, or Spinach.

STATISTICAL NOTES. 97

REMARKS.

Of these Leaf Beets (a) the Chilian is a very ornamental
plant, producing broad fleshy leaf stalks, similar to Seakale, and
which are used in the same manner. The varieties vary in
colour, from silver and golden to the most glowing scarlet.
(b) The Green, or Spinach Beet is quite a different plant, pro-
ducing a quantity of green leaves in the early spring, which
are used as Spinach. It is extremely hardy, and is therefore
often valuable on that account.

III.—PARSLEY.
8 Exhibitors.
VARIETIES EXHIBITED.
Beauty of the Parterre, Carter’s Champion, Curled, Dobbie’s
Selected, Fern-leaved, Hamburgh, Improved Curled, Mote Park,

Moss-curled, Moss-green, Myatt’s Curled, Plain, Treble-curled,
Veitch’s Curled.

Certificates of Merit awarded to—
Myatt’s Curled, from Mr. R. Dean.
Dobbie’s Selected, from Messrs. Dobbie & Co.

IV.—FLAVOURING HERBS.
1 Hahibitor.

VARIETIES EXHIBITED.

Anise, Balm, Burnet, Bush Basil, Borage, Camomile, Chives,
Fennel, Golden Purslane, Green Purslane, Horehound, Hyssop,
Ice Plant, Lavender, Lemon Thyme, Mint, Pennyroyal, Pepper-
mint, Pot Marjoram, Rosemary, Rue, Sage, Sorrel, Southernwood,
Sweet Basil, Sweet Marjoram, Summer Savory, Tansy, Tarry-
gon, Thyme, Water Cress, Wormwood, Winter Savory.

REMARKS.
A most complete and interesting collection, from Messrs. J.
Veitch & Sons.
V.—NEW VEGETABLES.
(a) ASPARAGUS CHICORY.
Exhibited by R.H.8., Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, and Mr. J,

Willard.
Si

98 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

REMARKS.

This new vegetable resembles the common Chicory. The
young tender flowering leaf-stalks are cooked like Asparagus.

(6) Hurton Hawi Sprovts.
Exhibited by Mr. McIndoe.

REMARKS.

This isa variety of Brussels Sprouts recommended for its
superior flavour. It produces very large sprouts on the stem, with
a small Cabbage on the top. The Committee was of opinion
that it required further selection.

(c) KauEs.
Exhibited by Mr. H. Henderson, who sent the following
interesting note :—

‘In common with most gardeners who have to keep up an
unbroken supply of vegetables, I have often felt, after a severe
winter, the want of a Cabbage and Savoy that would be able to
withstand the frosts and snows of winter, and sudden thaws,
which are far more damaging to vegetables than frost.

‘‘ Borecole stands pre-eminent in this respect, besides being the
last to run to seed. This fact led me to think that we might
obtain both Savoys and Cabbages equally hardy and late, and
probably a better hearting Kale, by crossing them. This idea
was carried into effect at the earliest opportunity, making the
Borecole the seed-bearing parent.

‘«‘T was rather surprised to find the progeny af these crosses
showing more of the character of the pollen-parents (Cabbage
and Savoy) than of the seed-bearing parent, only 10 per cent.
or so taking after the Kale. The latter, shown in the basket,
will give a fair idea of how they will heart by November.—Hucu
HENDERSON, gardener to Stewart Clark, Ksy., Cairn Castle, Larne,
co. Antrim, Ireland.”

REMARKS.

Some of the examples very much resembled Gilbert’s Chou
de Burghley, and others plain-leaved Savoys. They seemed very
promising,-but require further selection.

(d) THe Merton Pear (Solanum guatemalense).
Exhibited by Mr. N. T. Fuller and R.H:S;
Fruits ovate, from 3 to 4 inches long; skin pale orange, with

STATISTICAL NOTES. yy

a few streaks of purple; flesh, soft yellow, partaking somewhat
of the flavour of the Cucumber and green Tomato. Not con-
sidered particularly palatable.

(ce) MaizE, or SwEET CORN.
Exhibited by Messrs. Vilmorin & Cie.

REMARKS.

Very fine examples of Karly Minnesota, Hight Round, and
Stowell’s Evergreen.

(f) Butsous LEEks.

Exhibited by Mr. G. Bolas, and accompanied by the following
note :—

‘The Leeks are planted out in May by dibbling them in a
foot deep, not pressing any soil round them. All flowering
stems are kept cut out that put up in the autumn.

‘In the following June the bulbs are formed. As the summer
advances they lose their tender properties, and become hard,
eventually throwing up flower stems.

“It is a very delicate vegetable when cooked in good stock,
and is much appreciated by those who are fond of that excellent
vegetable, the Leek.—Grorcr Boras, Hopton Hall Gardens,
Winksworth.”’

NOTES.

The following notes, relating chiefly to the cultivation of
vegetables, have been kindly sent in by the respective writers,
and may prove of use and interest to some.

Ti

None of the vegetables sent have been specially cultivated
for exhibition. Our soil is very poor, and contains a large quan-
tity of small limestones, and is therefore very unsuitable for
vegetable culture. We always work it with the spade as deeply as
possible, and give plenty of manure for all crops—such as Celery,
Peas, Onions, Leeks, &c. Root crops, such as Carrots, Beet.
Parsnips, &c., are grown without any special application of
manure, but are sown so as to follow a crop that has been heavily
manured, such as Celery for instance ; the ground is also deeply
dug and well pulverised for these crops. Hey

H2

100 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Broccoli are planted on firm ground, without manure; the
ground is often so hard that holes for planting have to be made
with an iron bar; we thus get a firmer growth, which is better
qualified to stand the severe frost.

Manure from the cowyard is solely relied upon, as it has a
more beneficial effect on this soil than mineral manures; but if
we required to manure Potatoes or other root crops, mineral
manures would be used, because, if judiciously mixed and applied,
they encourage root growth more than the farmyard manure.—

W.H. Divers, Ketton Hall, Stamford.

IT:

The vegetable gardens here, extending to about eleven acres for
crops, divided into breaks averaging an eighth of an acre bylines of
fruit trees and bushes, are situated three miles south of the Firth
of Forth, at an altitude of 160 to 200 feet, with a south-by-
east exposure, and well sheltered. The natural soil is a light
sandy loam, not rich, about 1 foot deep, but it has been increased
in the gardens to a depth of about 25 feet, resting on an open
gravelly subsoil. With abundance of manure (well-made farm-
yard manure is best) and high cultivation, it produces excellent
crops, of fine quality, of most kinds of vegetables, especially those
partial to a light warm soil and a sheltered situation.

The supply of vegetables for the family during winter, spring,
and summer is the chief object, and every useful kind of vege-
table is grown in the open, in cold frames, or forced, to meet the
demands of a large establishment during these seasons. Autumn
vegetables are not in demand with us, and consequently the
varieties sent to the Conference are more illustrative of the other
seasons. The set of Cauliflower (Walcheren and Veitch’s
Autumn Giant) and Broccoli (Snow’s Winter White, Veitch’s
Spring White, Dilcock’s Bride, Wilcove Improved, and Veitch’s
Model) are those which supply us with a constant succession (in
the order they are named) of first-rate ‘‘heads’”’ all the year
round. Walcheren Cauliflower is sown in the open in the middle
of August, picked out in cold frames for protection in winter,
planted out as early as safe in spring, and comes into use before
the middle of June. Successional sowings in spring (the first
under glass) keepup the supply; and the same with Autumn Giant,
but all in the open air. Broccoli, several sowings in the open air

STATISTICAL NOTES. 101

of ‘Snows ”’ and “ Models”’ lengthen their season, but have no
perceptible effect on the length of season of the other varieties
of Broccoli grown. All Broccoli, and other vegetable plants,
are ‘‘pricked out,’ and afterwards planted out in the breaks for
crop. Broccoli are laid over, with heads to north and stems
covered with earth, in November, and are seldom injured in our
severest winters, heads of ‘‘Snows”’ being regularly cut from
under a covering of snow. Asarule, the ground is not manured
for a crop of Broccoli, as rich manure is liable to give it a strong
flavour, and cause a rank growth much more susceptible to
frost than when grown in unmanured soil.

The Brussels Sprouts exhibited are the well-known “ Dal-
keith ’’ variety, which is largely grown in the district, and suits
admirably. It is of a sturdy habit of growth, thickly set with
firm, medium-sized sprouts; does not soon run to seed, and
stands our severest winters uninjured. It delights in plenty of
manure and high cultivation.

The Vanack Cabbage exhibited is the most useful garden
Cabbage we have, and furnishes a supply of excellent little
Cabbages all the year round. Sown in July, it usually forms
nice heads in the end of January and onwards, if the season is
not too severe to prevent all growth. It is one of the hardiest
of Cabbages, and very prolific in giving a second crop of nice
heads, which are special favourites with French cooks. Its
flavour and quality are of the finest.

The Leeks—Musselburgh, Ayton Castle, and The Lyon—
are the favourite strains with market gardeners, private
gardeners, and exhibitors. Musselburgh is the hardiest, and
preferred by most people for the main crop. It is largely grown
in the district for market. Ayton Castle is a large, paler
coloured, and softer variety, a favourite in gardens as producing
fine large early Leeks of rather milder flavour than the
Musselburgh, although that is not always considered an im-
provement by connoisseurs of Leek soup.

The Potatoes exhibited comprise several popular new varieties
raised in Scotland: The Bruce, The Maggie, and The Cobbler.
All are very productive in rich garden soil, which, however,
spoils the quality of all but the earliest varieties of Potatoes.
Ashleaf Kidney (Veitch’s) and Sutton’s Early Regent are first-
elass, both crop and quality, in the same soil.

102 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The Stachys tuberifera has not had a long trial, but it
promises fairly well, and produces a numerous crop of small
tubers, which make a nice dish for the table. It should be
grown in well-loosened soil, as the roots run to some distance
from the plant, and bear the tubers at the points.

Generally speaking, carefully chosen kinds and _ properly
calculated quantities of vegetable seeds, combined with high culti-
vation and a well-regulated succession of crops, will furnish a full
supply of the best vegetables in season at all periods of the year.—
Matcoztm Dunn, The Palace Gardens, Dalkeith, N.B.

TEL.

There has been no special method of cultivation in the pro-
duction of the Potatoes sent further than that the ground was
well worked by being forked several times during winter and
early spring. No manure was used, the ground having been
well manured for the previous crop. They were planted on
April 17-18. ‘The soil is light and shallow, resting on a bed of
rock.—J. Huaues, gardener to Colonel Cartwright, Eydon Hall,
Northamptonshire.

1h es

The two varieties of Ridge Cucumber, Laxton’s Open Air
and Laxton’s Excelsior, were sown in drills on the level, on
strong cold land at Bedford, the former on the 16th and the
latter on the 15th May, and have been grown entirely without
any protection whatever.

The fruits of Laxton’s Open-air Tomato are from plants
put out in May last, between early Potatoes, and have been
ripened entirely in the open.

The Sandy Prize Onions exhibited are from seed sown
broadcast at Bedford on January 18, and have had no artificial
treatment.-—THomaAs Laxton, Bedford.

Via
Our land is a sandy loam. For Potatoes I give the soil a
liberal coating of farmyard manure in November, and dig it in a
half-spit deep, and let the ground lie all the winter in a rough
state, and the first week in March fork it over to get the soil as
fine as possible. I generally plant in the end of March in drills

STATISTICAL NOTES. 103

about 28 inches from row to row, and 20 inches from set to set,
giving a moderate dressing of fish manure. I then cover the
sets with a hoe, leaving a ridge over them. This method shields
the sets from the frost, and keeps them in a healthy state. I
make about three earthings after the Potato grows, leaving the
ridges when finished about 15 inches high. By this system I
find hardly any sets fail to grow, and there is very little
disease.

Celery is sown the last week in February or the first in
March. When large enough to handle it is pricked off into
boxes, and towards the middle of May it is planted in trenches
about 4 inches deep. I like to dig my trench a month before
planting, so as to get the soil mellow. I give it about three
earthings, the first one being but a very slight one.

Carrots: The soil is dug early in autumn a spit and a half deep,
and manured at the same time with good well-decomposed farm-
yard manure. The land is forked over again in March to make
it as fine as possible, and the seed sown about the third week in
April in rows 15 to 18 inches from row to row, according to
variety.

Beet is treated about the same as Carrots.—JAmeES Lye, The
Gardens, Clyffe Hall, Market Lavington, Wilts.

VE

The Tomatoes sent were all grown out of doors, some on a
south wall, but the bulk of them in the open, in shallow trenches.
No stimulant whatever has been used, with the exception of a
small quantity of old mushroom-bed soil, used at planting-time.

The Peas were sown on June 18, which I have found to be
a safe date on which to sow late Peas in the counties of Berk-
shire and Kent for latest crop. I always use Marrowfats of the
British Queen and Ne Plus Ultra type. I have sent a small dish,
as a curiosity, of Sutton’s Earliest Blue, sown on July 25; but
such late sowing is not advisable. Ne Plus Ultra and British
Queen here grow 8 and 9 feet high ; the manure principally used
for them is the product of dry-earth closets. _

The Seedling Potatoes are the result of a cross between
Covent Garden Perfection and Reading Russet.—RoBErr
Mauer, The Gardens, Yattendon Court, near Newbury, Berks.

104 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

VII.

Tomatoes are grown here on open walls, and kept to one stem,
all the fruits being kept well exposed to light and air all through
the growing season. Farmyard manure is applied under the
roots before planting. After the first set of bloom, the plants
are heavily mulched with good farmyard manure. ‘his season
only two waterings have been given. ‘The variety shown is
Hathaway’s Excelsior.

Celery is grown in the ordinary way in trenches, a quantity
of farmyard manure being used in the trenches and some mixed
with the subsoil. The plants are ina single row, and are kept
well supplied with water when the weather is dry. Celery mag-
got has this season been very prevalent. Karly Celery is bleached
with brown paper, which is put on lke bandages, and tied
securely. :

Onions: Rousham Park Hero is the best Onion here in all
respects, giving good useful-sized bulbs, with quite ordinary
cultivation. z

Carrots: Sutton’s New Intermediate proves the best for the
main crop. It is of large size, and of good colour and flavour.

Beetroot: I find Pragnell’s Exhibition is the best and most
useful. The roots are of good colour and size, and of excellent
flavour.

Cabbage: St. John’s Day we find the best for autumn use;
it has such good flavour for a cabbage, and is such a nice size
for table-—Rosprertr SmitH, The Gardens, Kenward, Yalding,
Maidstone, Kent.

VIII.

The soil is a heavy yellow loam from 18 inches to 2 feet in
depth, and can only be worked at certain times. The subsoil is
red rock. The aspect is very low and damp, catching both early
and late frosts.

In cultivating Potatoes we have the ground well dug in the
autumn and let it lie until it is well dried, and then, on a fine
day, fork it over, and repeat this process as many times as con-
venient. When planting time comes we never dibble the tubers
in, but nick the soil out with a spade, then lay the tubers in the
proper distance from set to set. Thisis then forked over until the
width you want to plant the next row is reached, then the spade
again, &c., &c.—E.S. Wines, The Gardens, Edgcote, Banbury.

STATISTICAL NOTES. me 105

IX.

We always let our Potatoes follow a crop of Peas, Onions, or
winter Greens. For these crops we give a heavy dressing of
stable manure, with soot, in the growing season. In spring the
ground is worked twice over, with a good dressing of lime and
fine charcoal. The drills then drawn out 2 feet 6 inches apart,
and the Potatoes planted 18 inches apart in the line.

To Shallots we give a heavy dressing of soot and a little lime
(Onions the same) in the growing season. Ours is a strong
loam on the shillet rock.—JosrEPpH Wits, Hollowmead Lodge,
Bishopsteignton, Teignmouth, Devon.

106 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL? HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

CHRYSANTHEMUM CONFERENCE,

CHISWICK.
NovEMBER 5TH AND 6TH.
President—Mr. T. B. Haywoop, F.R.H.S.

THE President, who was suffering from a severe cold and sore
throat, requested the Secretary, the Rev. W. Wilks, to be kind
enough to read the Opening Address in his stead.

OPENING ADDRESS.

So great is the inconsistency of human nature—and, whatever
tender-hearted young ladies may say of us regarding our
barbaric treatment of slugs and snails, of mealy-bug and scale
and aphis, we gardeners after all are human—s9 great is the
inconsistency of human nature, that if I give you what is called
an ‘‘ Opening Address,”’ you will probably be muttering inwardly,
‘* Bother the old fellow! I wish he’d let us get on to something
interesting and practical’’; and if I do not give such an opening,
some of you will be saying, ‘‘ Well, I think he might have given
us an address.’’ I shall therefore endeavour, if possible, to hit
off the happy medium, and say a few words to you, but they
shall be but few.

We have met together to-day to celebrate the Centenary of
the introduction of the Chrysanthemum to Europe and this
country.

A hundred years! If measured by the life-history of man, a
hundred years is indeed a long space of time. A hundred years
ago, and Wellington and Bonaparte were young fellows of twenty
and one-and-twenty only ; Nelson was but just married to Mrs.
Nesbitt, and had not yet seen Lady Hamilton; and Byron was
still in long clothes. A hundred years ago to-day, and I
suppose my grandfather and yours were little toddling fellows just
beginning to walk, or lads of eight or ten years at most ; and
since that time, our fathers have come and gone, and we are fast
following in their steps.

But a hundred years, measured by the life-history of a plant in

OPENING ADDRESS. 107

its natural state, is absolutely nothing. It is scarce long enough to
develop, much less to fix, any trifling natural variation from the
type that may occur. And yet, look at the flowers we see
around us here to-day, and compare them with the pictures,
drawings, or descriptions of the flowers as introduced a hundred
years ago! Compare them with the flowers of fifty, aye of twenty
years ago! Now, how can we account for this marvellous
development, this appearance of new and different types and
classes, this almost embarras de richesse in varieties of the
Chrysanthemum, produced and fixed in comparatively so short
a space in natural plant-life history ?

It appears to me to be simply and solely the result of the
intelligence, diligence, and careful practical cbservation of
gardeners, whether English or French, Japanese or Chinese.
All plants, I take it, have inherent in themselves, as part of the
dowry with which a good and wise God dowered them in the
beginning, a marvellous capacity for development, improvement,
and variation—a capacity which would in a natural state
develop itself very, very slowly, taking centuries, and perhaps
ages upon ages, to complete; and even then, probably, by far
the great majority of variations and developments would never
live to become established and fixed forms, but would perish in
the great natural struggle for existence—the strong and coarse
varieties overshadowing and stifling out the weaker growers, and
the lower and more easily reproduced forms crowding out those
of higher organisation and comparatively slower reproductive
powers. But when once man takes a kindly interest in any
plant, and bestows upon it his patient, watchful care, and his
intelligence, the pace of development, is vastly—immeasurably—
hastened ; and what wou!d have taken ages and ages to appear
in nature, and perhaps then would have failed to last, is accom-
plished by man in comparatively aifew years, and is securely
and permanently fixed and established for just so long as he
chooses to continue and extend his beneficent guardianship and
protection. :

For though I recognise most fully the great and all-pervading
natural laws expressed by the terms, “The struggle for
existence,’ and ‘‘ The survival of thie fittest,’’ yet I cannot but
think that those laws, true as they: no doubt are for all plants
and animals and insects in a natural state, have no place, or

108 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

very little place, and very limited application, wherever and
whenever man’s truest intelligence is brought in as a factor.
Certainly we shall all agree that these natural laws should find
no place where man is dealing with his fellow-man. A struggle
for existence with the powers and forces of the natural world we
must all ever have, since work, labour, struggle—eall it which
you will—is a condition—a happy condition as I think—of our
being; but an internecine struggle for existence, as between man
and man, should never find a place, and can never find a place,
where man’s truest intelligence, and man’s highest capacities
of kindness, long-suffering, and self-sacrifice are allowed to have
free play. These higher capabilities will neutralise, and more
than neutralise, the natural law of ‘“‘ struggle for existence,’”’ and
will lead man—or Christian man at least—to desire, and to use
his utmost endeavour to secure, the survival and wellbeing of
all his fellow-men, instead of the fittest only ; and the happiness
of all others besides—nay, even above and beyond—his own.

And as it ever should be—and to a great extent is—in the
relation of man with man, so also, it appears to me,in his deal-
ings with plants and animals, this same counter-balancing force
is introduced as soon as ever, and whenever, the intelligence of
man is brought to bear upon the point. He no longer permits
the stronger to bear down the weaker, or the lower and more
prolific forms to elbow out the higher; and so, I think, it comes
to pass that we have to-day all these wonderfully beautiful and
various forms of the Chrysanthemum evolved, in so compara-
tively short a time, from the forms originally introduced. They
are due to the kindly intelligence of gardeners, helping on the
naturally existing law of and capacity for development, and
counteracting that other natural law of ‘‘ struggle for existence ”’
whick would otherwise have stifled, almost at birth, many and
many a lovely, but less robust or less prolific, variety.

And therefore I think that, in looking round upon the multi-
tude of lovely Chrysanthemums we have to-day, we gardeners
may well be encouraged to go forward, not only with this same
genus, but also with many another, being confident that, if
the same observation, care, and kindly intelligence and love of
plants be bestowed on them, we may, in years to come, reap
a somewhat similar reward as that which crowns our hundredth
anniversary to-day.

OPENING ADDRESS. 109

To human progress generally I do not believe that there is
any limit whatsoever ; and I am not one of those who think that
the human race was ever better, either as individuals or collec-
tively, than it is at the present time. Although certain limited
parts of it may perhaps deteriorate, yet I believe most fully that,
speaking generally, the world as 1i grows older, grows better and
happier also; and I venture to prophesy most confidently that
the men and women of a hundred years to come will be at least
as great improvements on ourselves, as I firmly believe we are
on those of a hundred years gone by. But as you will have
noticed, if you have been kind enough to listen to these few re-
marks, I consider man to be absolutely distinct from and superior
to plants and animals; and though no doubt many natural
laws are common both to us and them, yet some which apply
to them do not touch us, and some which apply to us do not touch
them. For instance, I cannot help thinking that there is a limit
to the capacity of plants for development and improvement; or,
at all events, that there is a limit to the amount of improvement
possible in any one given period. I mean that plants may, by
natural selection or by human skill, advance step by step, and
hand over hand (sometimes most rapidly), up to a certain point,
and then there comes either a halt ora pause. They have either
reached the utmost limit of their capacity for improvement, or
they have, as it were, tired themselves out by a too quick march,
and need a rest for years—it may be for centuries—before
they are ready again for another period of advancement. This
is but a theory of my own, but it is worth thinking over, and
perhaps some day it will be acknowledged as a natural law. And
I venture, simply as an illustration of this, to suggest to you
whether such flowers, for instance, as the Carnation, the Begonia,
the Dahha, the Auricula, and perhaps—may I venture even to
suggest it?—the Chrysanthemum, have not possibly already
reached, or nearly reached, such pause or limit, as far as the
beauty of the flowers is concerned? But, even were it so, there
remains still ample room for the gardener and skilful hybridist
to exercise their intelligence and patience in improving the vigour,
constitution, and habit of the plants, without losing or impairing
by one jot or tittle anything of the really marvellous standard
of beauty in the flowers which has been already reached. That
there is ample scope for improvement in the habit, for instance,

110 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

of the Chrysanthemum no one will, I think, deny. Shorter,
sturdier growth—something that brings the flower more natu-
rally within the vision of the human eye, without the necessity
of either steps to climb up to the heights, or of placing the pots
as it were down in the cellar. Here is abundant scope for the
skill of the most enthusiastic for, I venture to say, many, many
years to come.

I should be glad also if some of you would turn your atten-
tion a little more to the production of a few more hardy garden
sorts—sorts that can better withstand our slight November frosts
and our by no means slight November damps and fogs. Anyone
who will, as our American cousins say, ‘‘ prospect ’’ in this direc-
tion will earn the thanks of those thousands and thousands who
are every year getting to love and appreciate flowers more and
more, but who have not the means to erect glass-houses in which
to grow or bloom them, and whose cottages and houses are con-
sequently at this time of year bare, or almost bare, of the
brightening, cheering presence of a nosegay, and destitute of that
refining, elevating, purifying influence which we gardeners at
least believe all flowers exert.

Many of you, I know, will not agree with the only other point
that I shall mention; still, if I have to say anything, I do like to
say just what I think; and that is, that in the cultivation of the
Chrysanthemum too much stress is nowadays laid on size—
mere size. You would not surely dream of determining the
beauty of a woman by her size or weight! Much less should you
do so with flowers. A monster potato, or a monster onion, or a
cigantic vegetable of any other sort, may have some merit in the
cook’s eyes, as giving her less trouble to wash and peel,—but in
her eyes alone, for never did you find anyone who did not think
that one of more moderate, or even of actually small size, was
vastly superior in flavour. Idon’t think I shall ever forget how,
when I was gazing last year in rapt astonishment at some of
the mighty Chrysanthemums at the Aquarium, a countryman,
pointing at one of the huge incurved blooms, said to his wife,
“Did ye ever see such a big un now? Why it looks for all the
world, missus, like one 0’ your gert (great) big apple-doomplins.”’
A too big flower, believe me, is far less beautiful than a too small
one; you can place two together, but. you cannot conveniently
cut one in halves. |

OPENING ADDRESS. 111

Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for so kindly listening to
these few remarks, very hastily thrown together ; and, if I have
wearied you by being so uninteresting, you must kindly put it
down to my great anxiety not to trench in any way on any of
the subjects which the readers of papers have already so kindly
appropriated as their own; for otherwise I should but have fore-
stalled their knowledge by my own simplicity. Andif I have been
too long, you must remember that it is just as difficult sometimes
for a layman, as it is proverbial for a parson, to be brief.

THK WILD PROGENITORS OF THE
CHRYSANTHEMUM.

By Mr. W. Bortinac Hemstey, F.R.S., A.L.S., Assistant for
India in the Herbarium, Kew.

Driep specimens of a wild Chrysanthemum sent by Dr.
A. Henry from Central China to Kew have thrown a new light
on the parentage of the cultivated Chrysanthemums. As long
ago as 1792 a Mr. Ramatuelle, when recording the introduction
of the Old Purple, figured in the Botanical Magazine for 1796,
plate 327, defined and described it as a species distinct from
Chrysanthemum indicum, Linneeus, and gave it a specific name
under the three genera Anthemis, Matricaria, and Chrys-
anthemum, in order to meet the diverse views of botanists on
generic limits. Under Chrysanthemum he gave it the name
of morifoliwm, a fact overlooked by Sabine and subsequent
botanists.

Concerning the wild parent of C. imdicwm there has been
no difference of opinion. Some of the cultivated forms are
easily connected with it, while others, such as the ‘‘ Chusan
Daisy,’’ may belong to this species, or may be of hybrid origin.

With regard to the wild parent of C. morzfoliwm (C. sinense)
there has been less certainty. Maximowicz took the slender
plant which I have here named gracile—and I, in the ‘‘ Index
Flore Sinensis,”’ accepting this view without investigation,
described the very different looking plant collected by Dr. Henry
as a doubtful variety, under the name vestitwm.' At Mr. Dyer’s
request, I selected a number of sheets of dried specimens of

112 ' JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Chrysanthemum from the collection at Kew for exhibition at the
Congress, and in doing this I saw that this supposed variety was
much more like the large Chinese cultivated Chrysanthemum
than is the slender plant from the North of China and Japan.
Without careful comparison the slender specimens from North
China and Japan might be regarded as a different species from
Dr. Henry’s plant, but I am of the opinion that they represent a
slender northern variety of the same species. The Chinese spe-
cimens I have seen are all glabrous, or nearly so, whereas the
Japanese specimens have thicker more or less tomentose leaves
and outer involucral bracts.

I append a copy of the synonymy and bibliography of the two
species, as prepared for the Gardeners’ Chronicle, from which I
have omitted references to many of the old writers, who merely
copied from others and added nothing that was new.

1. CHRYSANTHEMUM INDIcUM, Linneus, Species Plantarum,
ed. i. (1753), p. 889, excl. syn.; Sabine in Transactions
of the Horticultural Society of London, iv. (1821), p. 326,
tt. 12 et 18, et in Transactions of the Linnean Society,
xiv. (1823), p. 144; Lindley in Botanical Register (1829),
t. 1287; Roxburgh Flora Indica (1832), iii. p. 486,
Clarke’s Reprint, p. 604; Bretschneider, Early European
Researches into the Flora of China (1881), p. 158;
Hemsley in Journal of the Linnean Society, xxiii. (1888),
p. 487.

Matricaria japonica flore nunore, Breyne, Prodromus fasciculi
rariorum plantarum secundus, exhibens catalogum plan-
tarum rariorum anno 1688in hortis celeberrimis Hollandie
observatarum, p. 66.

Tsjetti-pu, Rheede, Hortus Indicus Malabaricus, x. (1690),
p. 87, t. 44.

Matricaria madraspatana, Petiver, Musei, Petiveriani (1695),
centuria vill. p. 76, saltem pro parte.

Chrysanthemum maderaspatanum, &. Plukenet, Almages-
tum Botanicum (1696), p. 101, t. 160, fig. 6.

Matricaria Chusan, &c., Petiver in Philosophical Transactions
of the Royal Society of London, xxiii. (1703), p. 1421;
Bretschneider, Karly European Researches into the Flora
of China (1881), pp. 56 et 158.

THE WILD PROGENITORS OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM, 118

Matricaria sinensis, minore flore, &c., Plukenet, Amaltheum
Botanicum (1705), p. 142, t. 480, fig. 3.

Matricaria sinensis, &e., Vaillant, Act. (1720), p. 285, ex Sabine.

Matricaria zeylanica hortensis, &c., Linneus, Flora Zey-
lanica (1747), p. 198.

Chrysanthemum procumbens, Loureiro, Flora Cochinchinensis
(1790), p. 499, ex Maximowicz.

Matricaria indica, Ramatuelle in Journal d’Histoire Natu-
relle, 11. (1792), p. 240.

Pyrethrum indicum, Cassini in Dictionnaire des Sciences
Naturelles, xliv. (1826), p. 149; De Candolle, Prodromus
Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis vi. (1887), p. 62;
Maximowicz in Mélanges Biologiques, vil. (1872), p. 516
(excl. B. plenwm?); Franchet et Savatier, Enumeratio
Plantarum Japonicarum, i. (1875), p. 285; Franchet,
Plante Davidiane ex sinarum imperio, 1. (1884), p. 167
(var. lavandulefoliwm) ; icones in libris japonicis Phonzou
Zoufou (1828), xi. tt. 7-9 ; et So Mokou Zoussetz (1856),
xvii. t. 22 (19).

Chrysanthemum tripartitum, Sweet, British Flower Garden,
il. (1827), t. 193.

Chrysanthemum Sabini, Lindley in Botanical Register, xv.
(1829), sub tab. 1287.

2. CHRYSANTHEMUM MORIFOLIUM, Ramatuelle in Journal
d’ Histoire Naturelle, ii. (1792), p. 240.

Matricaria japonica maxima, Breyne, Prodromus fasciculi
rariorum plantarum secundus, exhibens catalogum planta-
rum rariorum anno 1688 in hortis celeberrimis Hollandise
observatarum, p. 66.

Matricaria japonica maxima flore roseo, Plukenet, Alma-
gestum Botanicum (1696), p. 248.

Matricaria hortensis, &c., Kempfer, Amenitatum Exoticarum
(1712), pp. 875-877.

Matricaria sinensis, Rumpf, Herbarium Amboinense, v.
(1747), p. 259, 4. 91, fig. 1?

Matricaria wmdica, Miller, Gardeners’ Dictionary, ed. 8,
(1768), quoad specimen in herbario Musei Britannici con-
sorvatum.

Chrysanthemum imdicum, Thunberg, Flora Japonica (1784),

I

114 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

p- 320, nec Linneus; Loureiro, Flora Cochinchinensis
(1790), p. 499, excl. synon.
Anthems grandiflora, Ramatuelle in Journal d’Histoire
Naturelle, 11. (1792), p. 234.

Matricaria morifolia, Ramatuelle in Journal d’Histoire
Naturelle, 11. (1792), p. 240.

Chrysanthemum indicum, Botanical Magazine, x. (1796),
t. 827; xlvi. (1819), t. 2042.

Anthenis artemsiefolia, Willdenow, Species Plantarum, iii.
(1800), p. 2184.

Anthenuis stupulacea, Moench, Supplementum ad Methodum
Plantarum (1802), p. 258.

Chrysanthemum purpurewm, Persoon, Synopsis Plantarum,
i. (1807), p. 461.

Chrysanthemum indicum, Botanical Register, i. (1815), t. 4;
vi. (1820), t. 455; viii. (1822), t. 616.

Chinese Chrysanthemum, Sabine in Transactions of the
Horticultural Society of London, iv. (1821), pp. 880-854,
t. 14; v. (1822), pp. 149-162, t. 3, and pp. 412-428, tt. 17
& 17* (1824); vi. (1826), pp. 322-359, tt.2 & 3; Trans-
actions of the Linnean Society, xii. (1822), pp. 561-578.

Chrysanthenvum sinense, Sabine in Transactions of the Lin- .
nean Society, xiv. (1823), pp. 142-147; Sweet, British
Flower Garden, i. (1838), tt. 7 & 14; Hemsley in Journal
of the Linnean Society, xxii. (1888), p. 489, var. vestitwm.

Pyrethrum sinense, De Candolle, Prodromus Systematis
Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis, vi. (1837), p. 62; Steetz in
Seemann’s Botany of the Voyage of the ‘‘ Herald ” (1857),
p- 891; Maximowicz in Meélanges Biologiques,. viil.
(1872), p. 517; Franchet et Savatier, Knumeratio Planta-
rum Japonicarum, i. (1875), p. 235; Franchet, Plante
Davidiane ex sinarum imperio, 1. (1884), p. 167; Phonzo
Zoufou, Japonorum (1828), xii. tt. 2-9, absque nominibus
latinis.

Pyrethrum chinense, Ynouma Tsiodjoun, So Mokou Zoussetz,
xvii. (1856), figs. 18 & 19 (15 & 16).

2a. CHRYSANTHEMUM MORIFOLIUM, Ramatuelle, var. gracile,
Hemsley.

Pyrethrum sinense, Maximowicz, a sinense et 8 japonicum in
Mélanges Biologiques, vill. (1872), pp. 517, 518.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM.
By Mr. C. Harman Payne, F.R.H.S.

Writers on China and Japan for many years past have con-
curred in assigning to the Chrysanthemum an origin of remote
antiquity ; but, after much research, it is unsatisfactory to note
that not one has endeavoured to fix, with any degree of certainty,
the date when this popular flower became first cultivated as a
florist’s flower in those far-distant countries. The time allotted
to the reading of this paper precludes anything like an explana-
tion of the course pursued to ascertain some definite knowledge
on this subject, and it must suffice for present purposes to say
that the Chrysanthemum has in all probability been grown in
China for upwards of two thousand years.

There is no doubt that this flower is indigenous to China,
that it is a cultivated form of some wild plant long since lost or
impossible to recognise now, and that, after it had acquired a
worthy reputation in the Celestial Empire, it became introduced
into the islands of Japan, there to obtain a measure of admira-
tion equalling, if not surpassing, that bestowed upon it in its
native land.

The earliest known reference in Chinese literature to the
Autumn Queen occurs in the “ Li-Ki’’ of Confucius, who lived, if
we can trust the evidence of Chinese chronology, about five hun-
dred years before Christ. In that work the celebrated Chinese
philosopher makes distinct mention of the flower to which we
pay our homage this day.

To come to somewhat recent times, we learn that one T’ao-
ming-yang was a cultivator of no inconsiderable repute, and that
in consequence of his successful cultivation the name of the city
in which he lived was thenceforth known as Chrysanthemum
City. Ihave used the expression ‘‘ somewhat recent times’’ in
the Chinese historical sense, for at the period when T’ao-ming-
yang lived and grew Chrysanthemums our forefathers were
under the dominion of the Romans.

What kind of flowers they were in those far-off times we can-
not tell, but there is good reason for supposing they bore some
affinity to the varieties introduced from China a hundred years

1 Gp

116 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ago. Indeed, T’ao-ming-yang subsequently had many admirers
and successors, five of whom published catalogues of their floral
favourites, In one case over one hundred and sixty varieties being
mentioned. Thus it may be assumed that the Chrysanthemums
known then were flowers of some little importance and worthy
of the designation of florist’s flowers.

In Japan from time immemorial this plant has always been
held in honour. A single variety in heraldic form is used as
the national arms and official seal. The most popular féte is
Chrysanthemum Day, and the people throw petals of the flower
into their sakz before drinking, in the belief that it is a potent
charm against evil.

Both in China and Japan the Chrysanthemum appears pro-
fusely illustrated, and in the twelfth century of our era the swords
of the reigning Mikado were decorated with designs of the
flower. To those interested in the artistic features of the Chrys-
anthemum, the Oriental collections of pottery and paintings at
the British Museum and South Kensington Museum offer ample
opportunities.

Among the European botanical writers, Dr. Jacob Breynius
in 1689 first described, in his ‘‘Prodromus Plantarum Rariorum,”’
the object of our delight to-day. He called it Matricaria japonica
maxima, giving a list of six varieties which were stated to be
srowing in Holland at the time he wrote. It is on this account
that some people consider the year 1889 as the bi-centenary of
the Chrysanthemum ; but it is a matter of curiosity that the
varieties mentioned by Breynius soon passed out of existence, and
that when the event which is the cause of this meeting occurred,
the Dutch gardeners were absolutely in ignorance as to anything
concerning them.

Other authors of repute, such as Rheede, Plukenet, Kempfer,
Rumphius, Thunberg, Loureiro, and many more besides, unite
in testifying to the beauty of the Chrysanthemum. They dif-
fered materially in the name, and do not in any case allude to it
other than as a foreign flower which they had heard of or seen in
their travels. Breynius, therefore, up to this point is the only
one who describes it as being in cultivation in Europe.

Mr. Sabine, the Secretary of this Society sixty years ago,
has left behind him much interesting historical information.
We learn from him that in the year 1764 a small-flowering

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 117

variety was growing in the garden of the Apothecaries’ Com-
pany at Chelsea, under the name of Matricaria indica. It is
extremely doubtful whether this was really a Chrysanthemum,
for the description in Mr. Philip Miller’s dictionary, and the
dried specimen preserved, do not tally. Whatever it was, it
soon perished, and the fact remains indisputable that, until
the year 1789, nothing like a large-flowering Chrysanthe-
mum is known to have been cultivated in Europe without inter-
mission.

In that year, notorious for many events in the history of
France, a M. Blancard (usually called Blanchard, an error for
which French ,writers are mainly responsible) introduced from
the Far East into Marseilles, his native town, three plants of a
flower that was destined to play an important part in the annals
of horticulture. They were not at that time recognised as
Chrysanthemums, but regarded as large-flowering Camomiles.
Only one, however, survived, and this became subsequently
known as the old purple Chrysanthemum. M. Ramatuelle
in the Journal d’ Histoire Naturelle, wrote a very exhaustive
account of the new-comer, and contributed to spread it abroad
to a great extent, as he had formed a high opinion of its value
as a late autumn-blooming flower.

The following year M. Cels, a celebrated Parisian nursery-
man, and afterwards a foreign corresponding member of this
Society, sent plants to the Gardens at Kew. We hear but little
of it until Curtis, in the Botanical Magazine for 1796, figured and
described it as having flowered the previous November at Col-
vill’s nursery at Chelsea. He, like some of the French botan-
ists, called it C. amdicwm, and by this name it was botanically
known for many years.

English horticulturists were not slow to appreciate its value.
Within a few years of its introduction here further importations
were made, and Mr. John Reeves, the Society’s agent at Canton,
sent over some new kinds. Mr. John Damper Parks, a traveller
employed on their behalf, also augmented the list to a considerable
extent. At Chiswick, in the Horticultural Gardens, there were
twenty-seven varieties cultivated in 1824, and two years later the
number appears to have grown to forty-eight.

The style of nomenclature in vogue at this period bore little
resemblance to that of the present. The flowers were distin-

118 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

guished by names denoting peculiarity of form and colours; thus
such appellations as “the starry purple,” ‘the quilled pink,” “the
expanded purple,”’ “‘the clustered yellow,’’ were deemed sufficient.
The Chrysanthemum fancier, in the days of the ‘‘ First gentleman
of Europe,’’ found it impossible to adopt translations of the ori-
ginal Chinese names, as they were often too quaint and difficult.
We need only cite a few examples for our purpose, as ‘‘dragon’s
brains,”’ ‘‘ yellow Buddha’s head,”’ ‘full heaven of stars,” and
‘the heavenly interview ’’ Chrysanthemum, the latter being evi-
dently a progenitor of some of our tall-growing varieties, like
Mme. Clemence Audiguier.

After a splendid exhibition of Chrysanthemums in the Chis-
wick Gardens, where upwards of 700 plants in full bloom were
shown, much interest appears to have resulted. The Society,
desirous of extending the culture of the now favourite flower,
distributed plants and cuttings among the nurserymen living
in the vicinity of the metropolis, and thus the Chrysanthemum
became speedily spread abroad. Ina short time after, complaints
seem to have been prevalent as to the impossibility of propagating
the flower by seed. Indeed, the ripening of seed has, owing to
climatic influences, always been a subject of deep regret to the
English enthusiast, and the difficulties are not hkely, perhaps,
to be lessened. The first efforts in Europe were purely acci-
dental. In 1826 M. Bernet, a retired lieutenant in the French
infantry, who lived at Toulouse, discovered on some plants of his
erowing that the withered flowers bore seeds. These he sowed
in the following year, and was rewarded for his labours by the
addition of some new varieties to his then limited collection.
M. Bernet continued the work for many years, and to this pre-
sent day the amateurs of Toulouse regard him as the father of the
Chrysanthemum in France, and in the hall of the local horti-
cultural society a large oil-painting of the retired soldier 1s hung
in grateful admiration.

In England we were not long behind the French. Mr. Isaac
Wheeler, of Oxford, raised a few seedlings in 18382, and exhibited
them at a meeting of this Society in December of that year. He
received in recognition of his flowers, which were poor insignifi-
cant things compared with those we see to-day, a Silver Bank-
sian Medal. A little later Mr. Short and Mr. Freestone in
Norfolk devoted attention to this interesting method of cultiva-

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM.. 119

tion, and an historical point of no little importance is that Non-
pareil, an incurved variety often met with now, is attributed to
Mr. Freestone.

Concurrently with the extension and popularisation of our
favourite, a German horticulturist published in 18838 the first-
known treatise on its history and culture. It must also be
recorded that several attempts at classifying the kinds then
known occurred about this time, the principal one being that drawn
up by Mr. A. H. Haworth. The year 1834 began with fifty-
three varieties being known, but the number was soon to be
increased to a large extent. An amateur in Jersey raised a
number of seedlings about 1835, which were purchased by Mr.
Chandler, of Vauxhall, and upon their appearance the superior
qualities of the Jersey novelties were much appreciated, and at
the meetings of this Society Mr. Chandler became a frequent
exhibitor with a long-continued run of success.

So far as can be learned from contemporary literature Chrys-
anthemum shows in the present sense of the word had not
been instituted. The earliest record is that one was held in
December 1836, at Swansea, and another at Birmingham in the
same month and year. At the latter place a specimen plant
with eighteen branches and over eighty flowers attracted some
attention, and a silver cup was awarded to its exhibitor. It was
the variety called the Golden Lotus-flowered Chrysanthemum, a
name curiously enough borne by a variety cultivated in China
fifty years before, with which it was probably identical.

We must pass over the occurrences during Mr. Salter’s
residence in France between 1838 and 1848 with but a few words.
He obtained a complete collection of the best kinds then grown
both in England and France, to which were added the mosi
valuable of the Jersey varieties, and devoted himself to the im-
provement of the Chrysanthemum in a way not necessary to be
recounted before a meeting like this.

The year 1846 was the beginning of a new epoch in our
subject. Mr. Robert Fortune had been sent to China at the
instance of this Society on a botanical expedition, and during
his absence he despatched to this country many horticultural
rarities. The flora of the Celestial Empire was not then so
familiar to us as now, and among the treasures he obtained
were two small-flowering varieties of Chrysanthemums grown

120 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

and held in great esteem by the florists of the island of Chusan.
Towards the close of the year one of these new flowers, called
the Chusan Daisy, was staged at the Society’s rooms, but the
attention it attracted was of no account until it got properly into
the hands of the Continental florists. Then such men as Lebois,
Miellez, and Pélé proved what it was capable of, and they
annually contributed vast numbers of the new species, to which
was given the name of Pompon. The labours, too, of Mme.
Lebois, who for some years after her husband’s decease eagerly
devoted her attention to the raising of new seedling Pompons
ought not to be forgotten.

Many and frequent are the lamentations that the Chrysan-
themum did not bloom earlier than the end of October or middle
of November. We find no evidence of anything blooming at an
earlier time of the year until somewhere about the year 1850.
The summer-flowering varieties for many years appear to have
been confined to the Pompon section, and made but little pro-
gress in the estimation of the public until ten or twelve years ago.

Towards the close of the fifties a fresh impetus to Chrysan-
themum raising was given in the Channel Islands, Charles Smith
being the pioneer in the work. In his footsteps shortly followed
growers whose names are still famous, such as Thomas Pethers,
James Davis, and Alexander Clark. Many of their productions
were purchased and distributed by Mr. John Salter and Mr.
Bird, of Stoke Newington renown. A marked improvement had
already taken place in the form and build of the show Chrysan-
themum, and the Incurved bloom had been by competent
authorities recognised as the standard of perfection. Large
numbers of the Guernsey seedlings were varieties of that section,
although among them were found Anemone, Reflexed, and
Pompon flowers of the highest merit, many of which still
retain a leading position on the showboards of our foremost
exhibitors in this Centenary year. Time prohibits even the
briefest enumeration of their gains, but I cannot refrain from
observing that, out of all the numerous sports obtained these past
ten years, by far the larger proportion have originated from these
Guernsey seedlings. So, from 1858 to 1868 were halcyon days
for the lover of Incurves, and numerous societies whose special
object was the cultivation and exhibition of the Chrysanthemum
sprang into existence with surpassing rapidity.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 121

The dawn of a new era, the chief, according to my opinion, in
the history of the Chrysanthemum, occurred in 1861. Mr. Fortune
during his second visit to the Far Kast sent home seven varieties
of new Japanese Chrysanthemums to Mr. Standish, of Bagshot.
They were exhibited at the Royal Horticultural Society in the
autumn of that year, without, however, finding very great favour
in the eyes of the growers. ‘Their season of flowering was rather
later than those of the same kind now, and for a time they gave
no signs of increasing in numbers to any appreciable extent.
Kleven years after their introduction, according to Mr. Adam
Forsyth’s catalogue, there were but thirty-five sorts obtainable, a
striking contrast to the lists of 1889. What surprises are in store
for us in the near future no one can tell, but I venture to predict
there will be many, for the remarkable extension of Chrysanthe-
mum-growing in all parts of the globe must mevitably lead to
much that we can scarcely conceive. In America vast strides
are annually being made, and already growers like Dr. H. P.
Walcott, Mr. Thorpe, Mr. Spaulding, Mr. Fewkes, Mr. Waterer,
and others have become famous by either importing or raising
new and varied sorts. In Belgium the famous flower has been
taken up with great enthusiasm, the movement having been led
in the first instance by the Royal Agricultural and Botanical
Society of Ghent three years ago. France, with men like Simon
Delaux, Louis Lacroix, Dr. Audiguier, M. de Reydellet, M.
Boucharlat, and many other raisers of recent date, has long been
foremost as the native country of more than half of our leading
exhibition flowers, and now even her great rival, the German
Empire, is beginning to feel the throes of Chrysanthemum ex-
citement.

It would not be just to conclude a paper of this description
_ without making a passing mention of English raisers. They
have as yet taken but a few steps upon the road, but the results
are promising in the highest degree; Messrs. Cannell, Laing,
and Stevens have so recently as the last three or four years
given us a foretaste of many floral joys to come.

122 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. .

NEW VARIETIES OF CHRYSANTHEMUMS.
By Mr. E. Motynevx, F.R.H.S.

Mucu attention is naturally given to the introduction and
development of Chrysanthemums, and rightly so, for if the supply
of new varieties were to cease, the great and increasing interest in
what is justly styled the Queen of the Autumn would not be sus-
tained. Ido not mean to say that a lesser number of plants would
be cultivated, because the demand for flowers for various purposes
would have to be met; but few persons will deny that the intense
interest now displayed in the Chrysanthemum is largely attri-
butable to the introduction of new forms. While old friends of
proved worth are greatly valued, new are sought for, in the hope
of finding distinct features in them, and new points of merit,
yearly. There is nowadays such a craving after novelties that
sterling new kinds are sure to meet with their just reward at the
hands of the public. Of one thing I am positive, and it is this.
If those persons who are responsible for the description of new
varieties were to be more careful in setting forth their distinct
qualities, and adopt a more simple and exact method of describ-
ing their colours, they would add much to the interest which is
already felt in the introduction of new forms in any section of
this extensive family. I have not come to that conclusion without
good reason. The colours in the case of many sorts are so
glowingly depicted, hence complicated, that it is much too difficult
a matter to find them in the flowers.

I do not suggest that the new varieties sent out annually, and
which, unfortunately, in some instances are merely reproductions
under new names, are wilfully overpraised, but I do think that,
with a better system of proving accurately whether a variety
is really new, distinct, and good, before being distributed, more
confidence would be felt in new varieties and the demand for
them largely increase.

It is annoying, after spending money and time in cultivating
what was thought to be not only new, but improvement upon
existing varieties, to find they are neither one nor the other.
Such experience as that creates mistrust and a relaxation of
interest in kinds of which nothing is known beyond catalogue

NEW VARIETIES OF CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 1238

descriptions. I will mention one example of disappointment of
the nature indicated. A variety in the incurved section has been
grown for trial this season under the name of Belle Poitevire,
described in several catalogues thus, ‘‘incurved, large, flowers
pure white, reverse slightly rose as it declines.” After ten
months’ care bestowed upon the plants the blooms prove this so-
called novelty to be none other than our old friend Mrs. G. Rundle,
which usually assumes a slight rose colour when the petals lose
their freshness. I now pass on to notice some varieties of recent
introduction that I think are worthy of being called improvements,
either in form or colour, on their predecessors.

Taking the incurved section first, I find that during the last
ten years only fourteen varieties have been added which are
likely to retain their position; this is a slow rate of progress
certainly. With two exceptions, Jeanne d’Are and Mr. Brunlees,
they are sports, and because of this the additions reveal no new
character except in two instances, and these of a slight nature
only—Lord Alcester and Mr. Bunn; the former is a sport from
Golden EKmpress of India, and perhaps the finest type of an
incurved Chrysanthemum, owing to the superior general ‘“ build ”’
of the blooms over that of its parent and all others; and the latter
variety by the better formation of its petals over its parent, Golden
Beverley. By the introduction of new varieties we gain additional
colours, which enable us to retain in cultivation only those which
are good in form as incurved flowers, hence raising the general
standard of quality all through a collection, provided we banish
the inferior in colour or quality. The variety which has pro-
duced the largest number latterly of sports is Princess Teck,
viz., Mrs. Norman Davis, rich golden-yellow, which sported from
the type in 1886, and in time produced the deep bronze-red,
centre cinnamon, named Charles Gibson; Lord Eversley, a pure
white variety from the original type, followed ; and, lastly, Lady
Dorothy, paler in colour than Charles Gibson. Although these
may be termed new, the parent is quite equal in every respect, if not
superior, to any of the progeny. Princess of Wales and her off-
spring Mrs. Heales have lately produced two splendid varieties,
Violet Tomlin and Miss M. A. Haggas, the former purple-violet
and the latter a light golden-yellow ; the form of each is quite of
the best, and they are valuable additions. With the exception of
Bronze Queen of England, introduced three years since, no new

124 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

variety has been obtained from the Queen family, although two
or three supposed new sorts are said to be distinct, but they need
further trial to warrant their admission. I have here grouped
the new varieties in the incurved section in two grades of
merit.

First-class sorts that are likely to wear well.—Violet Tomlin,
Miss M. A. Haggas, Mrs. Norman Davis, Charles Gibson, Lady
Dorothy, Lord Eversley, Lord Alcester, Lord Wolseley, Mr.
Brunlees, and Jeanne d’ Arc.

Second-class sorts, useful but likely to be superseded.Bronze
Queen of England, Mr. Bunn, Mabel Ward, and Alfred Lynes.

The Japanese section is much more productive of new
distinct and improved varieties entitling them to a leading position
in the lists. Whereas the incurved section produced only fourteen
good varieties in ten years, as many as fifty possessing good
qualities have been introduced in the same time in the Japanese
section. Edwin Molyneux is distinct in type and new in colour,
therefore desirable. Elaine forms a type in which Avalanche is
a decided improvement; indeed, it is not too much to say that this
variety is the finest white Japanese Chrysanthemum in cultiva-
tion. Mlle. Louise Leroy, introduced last year, is of the same
character, white with a faint tinge of blush, and of excellent
quality. Kynsford White, a variety of this year, comes under the
same category, being of first-rate quality, and so does Mrs. J.
Wright, snow-white and of pleasing form.

Sunflower belongs to Jackson’s Duchess of Albany type, and
is an advance upon that variety. In fact I have no hesitation in
saying that it is the finest of yellow Japanese varieties; the
colour is a rich orange-yellow, the florets are long and droop
eracefully. Mons. Bernard is similar in character, violet-amaranth
in colour. Stanstead Surprise is a purple-magenta, somewhat
after the same form of flower.

Mrs. Falconer Jameson, grown for the first time last year, is
of the Triomphe du Nord character, but a decided improvement
on that variety in the size and solidity of its blooms. The
colour is a peculiar mixture of chestnut, bronze, and yellow,
with the under side of the florets pale gold, In habit of growth
it is dwarf, producing very fine blooms at a height of 3 feet
only.

Florence Percy is new in character ; the florets pure white,

NEW VARIETIES OF CHRYSANTHEMUMS, 125

each being split or forked at its point, somewhat resembling
blanched moss-curled Endive.

Puritan, a new American variety, peach colour, changing to
white, belongs to the Belle Paule type. It has pure white
blooms; these, however, from early and late buds being quite
different in character, which gives it a great range in variety.

Etoile de Lyon displays another character; the blooms are
of extra large size; the florets in the early blooms being both
fluted and quill-formed, gives it a coarse appeararce. The
colour is lilac-rose, shaded silver. George Daniels and Condor are
distinct from others by the formation of their florets, which are
extra broad and semi-drooping ; the colour of both may be termed
white, with a faint tinge of pink.

Mrs. T. H. Spaulding has pure white broad florets, recurved
slightly at the points. This is likely to be a sterling variety.

Sokoto is a clear canary yellow, of the character of Grandi-
florum, and so also is L’Or du Japon.

Mrs. Andrew Carnegie is entirely new in colour—a dark velvety
crimson—belonging to the semi-incurved class.

Mme. John Laing, introduced in 1885, is a new type, having
flat florets of a pointed character, those in the centre being
erect. From this variety sported during 1887 another named
Sarah Owen, colour golden-bronze, shaded rose, the florets tipped
with gold.

Mrs. Frank Thompson and W. G. Drover are synonymous ;
the former, I believe, is the correct name. It is of American
origin, and is entirely new in character. The blooms being of
huge size, the florets deeply and irregularly notched at the
points, white striped purplish-lilac, the colours being indistinct,
coupled with its rough appearance, this variety will no doubt
be superseded by others.

Thomas Stephenson is a sport from Criterion, retaining the
form of that well-established variety ; the colour, orange-red, is
pleasing. Here, again, I have grouped the kinds according
to their order of merit, in a similar manner to the incurved
varieties.

First-class Sorts—Hdwin Molyneux, Avalanche, Mlle.
Louise Leroy, Eynsford White, Sunflower, Mons. Bernard, Mrs.
Falconer Jameson, Ralph Brocklebank, Florence Percy, Puritan,
Ktoile de Lyon, Mrs. T. H. Spaulding, Condor, Mme. John

126 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Laing, Sarah Owen, Thomas Stephenson, Lady Lawrence,
Mrs. H. Cannell, Mme. Bacco, Hamlet, Carew Underwood,
and Mr. H. Cannell.

Second-class Sorts.—Mrs. J. Wright, Stanstead Surprise,
George Daniels, Sokoto, Mrs. Frank Thompson, Lady Cave,
Mrs. C. Orchard, Alpha, Bertha Flight, Fimbriatum, Mr. Garner,
and Maggie Mitchell.

Varieties which do not fulfil expectations.—Kdouard Audiguier,
Albert Victor, Eclipse, Good Tidings, and The Intended.

Reflexed varieties receive but few additions. With the ex-
ception of Cullingfordil, which was introduced in 1883, and Elsie
three years later, and Putney George in 1887, we have no others
which call for comment.

The large or show Anemone varieties have been recently
supplemented by several kinds likely to maintain their reputa-
tion, Mons. Pankoucke and Nelson being the latest additions.
The former isa bold flower, combining both a good disc and
cuard florets; the colour is more peculiar than pretty, being a
deep brownish-red. The latter a dull rose colour, but of good
quality.

Sabine, as far as its colour—a soft yellow, or deep primrose —
goes, is a welcome addition to a class with so little range in
colour.

Mrs. J. H. Taylor is similar to Nelson in form, but differs in
the colour, being rosy-lilac.

George Hawkins is a sport of this year from Georges Sand,
which promises to be a capital addition to the large Anemone class.
The disc is deep yellow, while the guard florets are lemon colour.

Miss Annie Lowe sported from Lady Margaret three years
since. The guard florets are bright yellow, the disc lighter ; quite
a first-class variety.

J. Thorpe, junior, is one year older, but on account of its rich
orange-yellow colour should be classed as one of the best new
introductions.

The Japanese Anemone class has produced several new sorts
of late, which add much to the usefulness of this section, as it
rather lacked variety in colour.

James Weston is the most interesting new variety of this year.
The long outer guard petals are pure white and droop gracefully ;
the centre, or disc, is canary yellow.

NEW VARIETIES OF CHRYSANTHEMUMS, 127

Souvenir de Mme. Blandiniéres is deep rosy-crimson, tipped
with gold in the centre of the disc, which is full; the guard
florets drooping.

Jeanne Marty, although introduced in 1886, did not become
generally known until last season. It is, perhaps, the finest
variety in this section in point of quality, having an especially
large lilac disc ; the drooping guard florets are blush-white.

Single varieties have largely increased during the last three
or four years, so that now there are a goodly number, in shades
of colour from snowy-white to purple-red. Jane, or Snowflake,
is perhaps the finest white variety; America, blush; David
Windsor, chestnut-red; Admiral Sir T. Symonds, deep orange-
yellow; Mrs. A. Le Moult, amaranth-crimson ; and Souvenir de
Londres, rich crimson, are some of the most noteworthy of new-
comers. Mary Anderson being exquisitely formed, the flowers
white with a faint tinge of blush.

Pompons and Anemone Pompons call for little comment ;
nothing very startlng has been added to these of late, if I
except Mlle. Elise Dordan (in the former section), which is
generally admired for its neat form of flower and pleasing colour
—soft lilac-pink.

JUDGING CHRYSANTHEMUMS: MEN AND METHODS.
By Mr. J. Wricut, F.R.H.S.

SEEING that as much depends on men as on methods in the
discharge of the duties in question, I will endeavour to give a
little consideration to both, commencing with the former.

A season seldom, if ever, passes without the qualifications
of persons who are appointed to officiate as judges at the chief
Chrysanthemum shows being questioned by writers in the gar-
dening press. To that I presume they have not the slightest objec-
tion. Honest criticism is wholesome in taking conceit out of men,
and putting them on their mettle in the work they undertake.

One of the favourite grounds of complaint against certain
judges is, that they are not “‘ growers ”’ of the plants and blooms
the relative merits of which they are called on to determine.

I will endeavour to go to the root of this matter. First, who
are the objectors, and what is their experience ? Secondly, who

128 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

are the judges, and what are their credentials? And thirdly, who
are those who make the appointments, and what are their quali-
fications? This lastis a very important question, as we shall see.

As Iam not a rigid adherent to the principle that ‘‘ he who
drives fat oxen must himself be fat,’’ 1 will endeayour to touch
on each question on its merits.

First, then, who are the objectors? Some, though very few
indeed, who appear to acquiesce in the soundness of the above
curious dictum, may be actual and excellent cultivators, but the
majority are not. One of my friends frankly told me he thought
only growers of Chrysanthemums should act as judges. Now,
mark, this candid friend of mine never had any training in gar-
dening, and never unaided grew a Chrysanthemum, yet he had
a few plants under which he claimed as a ‘‘ grower,” and asked
me to mention him favourably as a judge when I could not
accept invitations in consequence of prior engagements. It is
clear, then, that one at least of the objectors to appointed judges
was not a judge and wanted to be one. He failed to get an ap-
pointment, but I think found relief ‘‘ through the press,’ for
editors are compassionate beings when a racily written paragraph
comes in their way.

Next, what are the credentials of those men who are the
most in demand for officiating in the chief classes of Chrysanthe-
mum shows in various parts of the country, and who are engaged
nearly a year in advance? Some of them are still cultivators
and occasional exhibitors; others have been engaged in growing
the plants for perhaps a quarter of a century, and have had oppor-
tunities of inspecting the best work of the best men in the
ereatest possible number of shows in widely separated districts.
Or, in other words, long experience in the garden has been supple-
mented by that of the exhibition hall, and they ought to have
gained knowledge by the splendid object lessons provided there.
Yet some of these men are alluded to as non-growers, and
suggested on that account as not the most competent to
judge the work of others; but all the same, if the principle
on which the objectors base their argument is sound, an
ex-collegian is not fit to be a lecturer on subjects for which
he has gained honours; an old schoolmaster is not fit to be an
examiner of schools because he has passed through them; or an
old cricketer is not fit to be an umpire.

JUDGING CHRYSANTHEMUMS : MEN AND METHODS. 129

But who selects the judges of Chrysanthemum shows ? Com-
mittees of Chrysanthemum societies. And of whom do these
committees consist ? Of the leading growers and the best business
officials. When it is proved that the aggregate capacity of these
growers and officials is inferior to that of some individual who
objects to their selections, he will be in a very strong position,
and not till then. He is only strong when they are weak, and
therefore, conversely, he must be weak when they are strong ;
and, to go a step further, can only be right when they are wrong,
for on them rests the responsibility of the appointments.

And now, why are certain judges chosen to act at exhibitions
and in classes of nationalimportance ? Men are selected because
of their past experience, not as cultivators only, but as judges—
men whose awards in keen competition have been tested by ex-
perts, in cases of protest, and whose verdicts have never been
overturned. It is only natural that should be so, and it is well
known that the more experienced the judges the fewer the pro-
tests. It may, perhaps, be thought that these observations imply
that only old hands should be employed in the work, and young
and fresh men systematically excluded. That is very far from
being in accordance with my views. I think young men possess-
ing knowledge should, wherever it is possible, be appointed to act
with those of wider experience, and so become qualified to carry
on the work as well or better in the future than it has been done
in the past.

But apart from technical knowledge, a judge, old or young,
must be absolutely without sympathy at a critical moment.
Whether he knows to whom the plants or blooms belong or not,
he must seal his soul against all feeling in favour of a particular
man. If there is one point against the products of his friend or
neighbour, he must give it against him as if he were an enemy.
Judges have nothing whatever to do with exhibitors, but only
with exhibits. This is one of the hardest lessons that local
judges at local shows have to learn. Besides, they are often placed
in delicate positions through their friendship, or the reverse,
with exhibitors whose produce they recognise, and in awarding
the prizes are liable to be charged with favouritism on the one
hand or vindictiveness on the other. Moreover, experience
proves how difficult it is for a person to see things as they are
when he is, as the mesmerists say, ‘‘ under influence.’ Men who

K

1380 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

are entrusted with the important work in question should be quite
independent of all local influences ; they must be men of intelli-
gence and high character; of the strictest probity, absolute
impartiality, and who can completely banish from their minds
all thought of individuals, and concentrate their whole attention
on the produce before them, with the object of doing strict
justice to all. They must be prepared to incur displeasure, and
even abuse; but if they act honestly, and make few or no
mistakes, the opposition of disappoimted men will be lghtly
regarded, and, instead of its having a weakening, will have a
strenethening effect on them as adjudicators.

So much for men, and we now come to methods of judging.
Generally speaking, and for practical purposes, there are three
distinct forms of exhibits in a Chrysanthemum show :

1. Groups of plants arranged for effect.

2. Trained specimen piants.

3. Cut blooms arranged in stands.

No strict lines of guidance can be laid down for judging
eroups. It is stated in many schedules that ‘quality and
general effect (or taste in arrangement) shall be the leading
features.”” Undoubtedly they must, for they are the only
features that can render a group meritorious. But in some
eroups high quality of blooms predominates over tasteful asso-
ciation, and in others skill in arrangement predominates over
superiority of blooms. Where are we then? In a dilemma,
and we look for means of escape by searching for faults, in the
hope of finding more of them in one exhibit than in another.
In a group superiority of blooms would lose weight in the
summing up of the plants, and especially if those near the
margin were to a large extent denuded of the foliage, or if the
leaves were small and discoloured. These are distinct draw-
backs, and mar the effect of an arrangement, however good the
blooms may be, as also do naked obtrusive stems. These are
much too prevalent, and there is the less excuse for them since
dwarf plants, with large deep-green foliage down to the pots,
and at the same time bearing good blooms, can be had by
selecting plants for cutting down in May, and raising others from
cuttings from well-chosen stems between April and August. Ex-
cellent marginal plants can thus be provided, and no pots need be
visible except in the front row, and these, if clean and small, are

JUDGING CHRYSANTHEMUMS : MEN AND METILODS. 131

not offensive. Good foliage, then, must be combined with good
blooms, while a well-finished margin is essential for rendering a
eroup the most pleasing in appearance and generally effective.

The huddling of the plants together, making a smooth flat
face of colour, and staking the blooms upright with unsightly
sticks, imparting a stiff, formal, bristly appearance, are defects ;
and a group so presented, though it contained the best blooms,
lost the first prize in an important competition last year. With
much shorter stakes, and a continuance in length of bending
wire, the blooms could have been displayed to the best advantage,
and the group would have won the position it lost. The blooms
should be so disposed that their individual beauty is displayed,
and the almost natural corollary of this is a certain relief, or
freedom, that appeals to the judgment of persons of taste. Clear
and decided colours are more effective than a conglomeration of
neutral tints.

Freshness is an important feature, and large fading blooms,
with the accompanying exhausted fohage, cannot be so highly
regarded as blooms somewhat smaller yet bright and clean, with
foliage fresher and greener ; but it must never be forgotten that
plants which do not represent good culture, no matter how
dexterously they may be grouped for the hiding of defects, nor
how well the colours may be associated, cannot be relied on for
winning a high position. A few well-grown incurved varieties
give weight to a group, the Japanese sorts imparting elegance
and richness of colour.

High quality blooms, fresh bold foliage, no unsightly stakes
and stems, with freedom in arrangement, and pot exposure
reduced to a minimum, are the chief factors in a first-rate group
of Chrysanthemums, and in proportion as they are represented
so will the prizes be awarded.

We next pass to trained specimen plants, and in no other
form is high culture, with skilful manipulation, better displayed
than in the production of the best examples. I wish to state
very emphatically that, in my opinion, the large ‘‘ stretched
out ’’ specimens which occasionally astonish the multitude do
not of necessity represent excellence in production. They more
frequently represent artificiality and distortion. Regard should
be paid to the natural habit of Chrysanthemums in training

them for exhibition. They are not trailing plants, yet the
K 2

182 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

method of tying down the stems, and lacing them over each
other, forming a sort of network, with the ends turned up to the
extent of 2 or 8 inches for showing the blooms, would almost
appear as if not a few exhibitors thought they were of procumbent
habit, and therefore endeavoured to improve on nature in
finishing the plants. Such exhibits are violations of nature,
and are never produced by the best growers of specimen
plants.

The natural habit of the Chrysanthemum is upright and
branching, and this character should be preserved in trained
plants, not obliterated. For presenting them in the most ap-
proved form the length of the stems must often be apparently
reduced, and so disposed that the blooms are the most effectively
displayed in the aggregate, and the stem on which each is borne
should be quite straight for a foot or more, with the foliage in its
exact natural position. Though the stems may, and in certain
cases must, be depressed, the bent parts should not be visible,
but hidden by a wealth of luxuriant leaves, which at once mani-
fest high culture and enhance the beauty of the blooms.

Travelling and judging in various parts of the kingdom, I find
the majority of the trained specimen plants are not of that cha-
racter, nor such as it isa pleasure to honour with prizes. Some
of the best are staged at Birmingham, Southampton, and the
surrounding districts, and creditable examples have been seen at
Kingston, Walton-on-Thames, Brixton, and in the Westminster
Aquarium. The mention of Brixton compels a pause, and I
am sure all who were acquainted with the late Mr. W. Hall
would, if they could, scatter over his grave a few of the flowers
which he loved and grew so well. His grave is in the deep waters,
but his gentleness of spirit, kindness of heart, devotedness to his
calling, and skill as a grower of specimen Chrysanthemums, will
not die while those who knew him best, and the excellence of his
work, live to labour in the floral world. When he exhibited a
few years ago his were model plants—not widely spread out as if
to say, ‘“‘ Look how big Lam!” but massive in stems, leaves, and
blooms—compact without being huddled, and in which art and
nature were so merged that there was no visible line of conflict
between them. Not a twisted stem could be seen in those
beautiful specimens, about 2 feet high, and bearing from eighteen
to two dozen or more blooms equalling those in first prize stands,

JUDGING CHRYSANTHEMUMS: MEN AND METHODS. 188

and a mass of dark leaves hanging like thick drapery all round,
half hiding the pots. Those are the specimens to which judges
award silver cups, and the nearer plants approach them in ex-
cellence the greater is the pleasure in granting them the awards
they merit.

The training is simple. The stems when bent are coiled at
the base, instead of near the tips, and several weeks before the
blooms develop instead of just before a show. The former is the
right method, the latter the wrong, and judges honour the right
as far as they can, as it is represented in pleasing symmetry of
outline, luxuriance of foliage, and massiveness, with richness and
freshness of blooms rising up boldly as if each stem came from
the centre of the plant without a twist or curve.

Pompons may be more dwarfed yet gracefully rounded (ex-
cept in the case of pyramids), but the pancake style is hideous,
and glaring twisted stems unsightly; so they are in standards,
and the better the foliage the easier they are to mask, especially
if the training is not deferred too long.

In this paper the common order of things is reversed in giving
priority to the points of merit in plants and their arrangement
for winning prizes, and if their merits entitle them to this honour
they will be in the best condition for home decoration. Plants,
dwarf, well trained, in the best leafage, and each bearing a dozen
or more of high-class blooms, afford greater evidence of skill in
culture than is displayed in those that produce only two or three
blooms on tall stems for cutting and arranging in stands. More-
over, there is more room for improvement in the former than the
latter. Specimen plants have degenerated, and many recently
arranged groups have been defective ; therefore I have dwelt on
the weak points in Chrysanthemum culture with the view to
their being strengthened by cultivators, so that judges may be
better employed than they have been of late in meting out the
awards in the classes in question.

A little must now be said on cut blooms. The advance in
these during the last fifteen years has been marvellous. The
best stands of incurved and Japanese varieties even a dozen years
ago would not have the remotest chance of winning third prizes
now in the best competition. Exhibitors have increased in equal
ratio, and at no period in the history of the Chrysanthemum has
the standard of excellence as represented in stands of cut

°

184 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

blooms been so high as itis now. And not only so, but there is
a marked approach to equality in the products of the best exhi-
bitors. This compels judges to exercise the greatest discrimina-
tion and adopt the best methods known to them in placing the
competing stands in their right positions. Judging in great
mixed classes in which trophies and prizes of a value not dreamt
about half a generation ago, with the floral world waiting for
the issues, is no light task. The work appears easy enough
when it is done, and it is certainly easy enough to find fault
with, but it taxes the resources of most men who have to do it
in keen competition.

Judging by guesswork will not do nowadays in large close
contests. A few yearsago I heard a famous gardener proclaiming
loudly against recording ‘‘ points of merit.’’ Intuition, he said,
would always lead able men to a right conclusion after a general
survey. I lived long enough to see that same man completely
bewildered in a large class, and never saw anyone so ready to be
extricated, as he undoubtedly was extricated, by the plan he
condemned before he understood it. No judges would be so
foolish as to waste time in recording the value of blooms in
figures if the distinctions in the merits of collections could, as is
the case with the majority, be perceived by a general broad
comparison.

But there must be no jumping at conclusions. Nothing is
so humiliating or so damaging to the reputation of an adjudicator
as to see his verdict proved wrong by figures that he cannot dis-
prove. Unless the differences in value are obvious to every judge,
pointing should be resorted to. Let me give an instance of its
necessity. In one of the most important of contests the loser
and a few of his friends were taken by surprise. He entered a
protest on the ground that the judging had not been done
by points, and assuredly if these had not been produced, the
whole work must have been done over again in a surging
crowd. It is, of course, open for anyone to say, ‘‘ You may
be wrong in your points, and other judges would find a dif-
ferent total.”’ True; but if a man know the varieties and the
value of the blooms, there is no other way by which possible errors
can be so well prevented. In the case in question three sets of
judges pointed the blooms independently, with the result that
out of a possible 576 points in the collections, there was only a

JUDGING CHRYSANTHEMUMS: MEN AND METHODS. 135

difference of two, one set counting one more, and the other one
less than the responsible officials. That was perhaps the best
piece of work Mr. G. Gordon and myself ever engaged in, and
we do not expect to beat the record. The dispute was settled
to the satisfaction of all but the loser, and by no other method
could the accuracy of the verdict have been so clearly demon-
strated.

It has been said that when the competition is so close that
there is only a shade, so to say, or point of difference, equal prizes
should be given, on the ground that one man gets so much more
money than the other with such a trifling margin of merit.
Judges have absolutely nothing to do with the “‘ amount ”’ of the
prize money. Their duty is to accord to the exhibitor who
‘‘ wins”? the honour of the position, and the closer the contest
the greater the honour to him, also to the next in merit for run-
ning him so closely. Giving equal prizes is no doubt an easy
way out of a difficulty, but almost always unjust to one of the
exhibitors. J remember being with the late Mr. Charles Turner
judging Dahlias at a great provincial show. The contest was
close, and one of the adjudicators proposed to settle it in the
manner indicated. ‘‘ No, no,’’ replied the great florist, ‘the
boy there could give equals, but depend upon it there is a dif-
ference, and we must find it,’ and it was found. When a silver
cup is provided, it is either won or lost. There is no dividing..
When a prize is offered for the champion bloom in a show it is
found. There cannot be a draw in such a case and the honour
divided between two blooms. Ifa mark of superiority can be
found in one bloom, surely it can be ina second and a third, and
soon. That ought to settle the matter. It may be a question
of trifles, but to disregard them is no trifle, for it is the aggrega-
tion of trifles that culminates in great results.

When I commenced judging, the work was done by three
points. After sundry trials I found them insufficient, and proposed
four as an advance, then six, as small differencesin merit could
be the better recorded. The six standard is now almost general,
but in extremely close contests itis scarcely satisfactory. Times
out of number I have known judges hesitate between giving six
points or five, but they would give five anda half readily. I
then made two columns for the figures, as in shillings and pence,
placing the five points as 5s. and the half point as 6d. This was

186. JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

again often divided and set down as 3d. or 9d., as the case
demanded, and the columns added together gave the result. It
is as easy as A, B, C, and the acute florist, Mr. Ben Simonite,
said it was the best system he had ever seen. Though I know
there is no other in which the virtues of the blooms can be so
accurately determined and tabulated, | force it on no one, and
in nineteen cases out of twenty the subdivision can be dispensed
with. If anyone wishes to see a practical example of it they
can find it in the ‘“‘ Chrysanthemum Annual”’ for 1888.

Time is an element in judging, especially when that great
blot of exhibitions, late staging, is allowed, and the quickest way
even in pointing has had to be sought for. I think Mr. James
Douglas has found it. Instead of taking the rows in a twenty-
four bloom stand from left to right and setting down the value of
each, he takes them from back to front in threes—says 6, 5, 4
points (mentally}—total 15, and so on with the eight cross rows,
then adding up. That saves figures; and if what may be termed
half points are recognised—thus, 54, 5,34, as may be determined,
we have 14 points to set down. I believe then we should be prac-
tically free from errors, and justice would be done in the shortest
possible time.

Do you ask what kind of blooms score the most points? I
answer, not necessarily the largest in the incurved section if they
are loose, flat, rough, or stale; they must possess depth in pro-
portion with width, firmness, freshness, brightness, clearness,
and smartness. There is the difference, to use a familiar simile,
between the well-formed, well-groomed, fine upstanding hunter,
and the rough, shagey, burly, slouching carthorse. How to pro-
duce and present the blooms in the best form is a question for
cultivators. I cannot dwell on that. Time does not permit. I
have gone on too long, but I hope you will remember that in
writing, judging, growing, criticising, though we may each and
all do our best honestly, and I hope pleasantly—all striving for
the same goal, excellence—yet after all, and the best that all can
do, this we must never forget, that ‘‘ to err is human.”

137

PROGRESS IN CHRYSANTHEMUMS.
By Mr. Sxrrtey Hrpserp, F.R.H.S.

Iv appears that the subject Iam appointed to discourse upon
is partly historical and partly biological, for the progress seen in
the development of the Chrysanthemum corresponds with the
progress of taste in selection, and illustrates the capabilities of
the flower to respond to the demands of taste operating through
time, with definite ends in view. By the term “ taste’? may be
understood, in this connection, all that we might otherwise call
science, art, or technical floriculture, for we employ the means
at our command for the production of flowers of certain types
and styles, and it is the taste, whether true or false, that
influences our endeavours from first to last.

In the development of tne flower from its earliest forms, as
it came into the hands of Kuropeans, to the splendour in which
it appears at this time, the florists have been the principal
agents ; but, happily, they have not been all of one mind as a
party, bound by severe laws and obligations, but of very diverse
tastes, and often operating in contrary ways ; In many instances
earnestly labouring and succeeding in obtaining forms that in
other instances would have been, and actually were, regarded as
undesirable, and even objectionable. As an example of the
advantage to society in establishing a diversity of forms of a
particular flower, the London florists objected without hesitation
to the fantastic and often eminently beautiful forms of the so-
called Japanese varieties that a school of florists in the South of
France may be said to have doated on; while Frenchmen, on
their part, cared but little for the sumptuous incurved flowers
that were as emblems of all possible perfection to the florists on
this side. But the men were better than the schools that owned
them, and they soon perceived in each other’s favourites beauties
that should be recognised and qualities that should be
encouraged.

I shall haye to touch the history, but I will endeavour to
keep clear of the connected story told by Mr. C. Harman Payne.
And I shall have to touch on the raising of seedlings, and I will
endeavour to keep clear of the ground that we hope and expect

138 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

will be admirably covered by Mr. F. W. Burbidge in his essay on
that part of the business.

For the historical part of my argument I am bound to direct
attention to the earliest flowers that were cultivated, and more
especially those that became established between 1790 and 1820.
It must be observed of these in a general way, to speak in the
language of the exhibition, they were a very rough lot. The
first that reached us was the veritable Aikw, which has become
a most famous flower as figured in the Botanical Magazine, t. 827.
It was a showy reflexed flower, so far attractive as to be likened
to Dr. Sharpe of the present day, a few of our friends believing
them to be identical. Not sharing in the belief, I am prepared
to believe that Dr. Sharpe is many degrees superior in make
and shape, but probably is of no better colour than its gay
prototype.

If we may regard the Avkw as the first of the reflexed group,
the question will arise, when did the first of the incurved appear ?
IT submit to you that the variety involutwm, figured in Sweet’s
‘‘ British Flower Garden,”’ vol. 1. plate 7, published 1823, is the
first of the series in the historical view, and of true incurved
character, although, in common with other early flowers, rough.
It may be proper to keep in mind that with a little dressing,
involutum, in a well-developed form, might be worthy of a place
on the show table even now. It is enough for my purpose,
however, to establish that at this early date we had the pattern
of the incurved to serve as a guide in selecting and raising. In
this department the English cultivators have had a great tide of
good fortune, for this glorious group is almost wholly of home
manufacture. We will call this the prototype of Prince
Alfred, and hurry on to avoid having to encounter close
comparisons. ©

We will now look for,the earliest of the Japs. I find it in the
series figured in Mr. Sabine’s paper, published in the ‘“ Horti-
cultural Transactions,’ 1822, and it is called the Quilled Flamed
Yellow. If this came to us new this day we should class it as
Japanese, and we might say that in character it comes near to
Gold Thread or Gloriosum.

Prophetic patterns of three great groups being before us, we
fail to find good examples of Anemone-flowered or of globular
pompons, such as Trevenna or Duruflet of early date, but

PROGRESS IN CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 1389

examples abound that come near to them. The double

Chrysanthemum indicum, figured by Sabine in the “ Horticul- »
tural Transactions,” 1822, may be regarded as the precursor of

the pretty Drin Drin, while the Small Yellow of ‘ Horticultural

Transactions,’ 1824, may stand for Aigle d’Or or some such.

Of Anemone flowers any number may be found lacking the
final finish of Lady Margaret, Gluck, or Queen of Anemones. In
“ Horticultural Transactions’ of 1824 and 1826 Mr. Sabine pre-
sents figures that may fill us with delight even now, and that,
at any rate, prepare the way historically for the Anemones and
the single Japs by means of brilliant examples. The Two-colowred
fted is a grand single with large disc and ray florets of a rich
glowing crimson colour. The Semi-double Quilled Pink and the
Semi-double Quilled Orange are such as we now class as single
Japs of fine fantastic quality, from which we might hope to
obtain Jap Anemones of the grandest pattern.

An observation of some importance appears to be necessary ©
at this point. In the making of the Chrysanthemum we certainly
did not begin with raw material. The majority of varieties in-
troduced were obtained from the gardens of China and Japan ;
they came to us with much of man’s work in them already, and,
above all things, with that disposition to vary beyond all known
limit which appears to become a characteristic of certain plants
that have been long under cultivation. It cannot be averred
that cultivation develops the initial impulse to variation, but it
is certain that cultivation encourages it, for we all select for per-
petuation the flowers that please us best, and in the end they
represent our taste almost as much—sometimes perhaps more
than as much—as they represent the species out of which they
originated. Between the more characteristic of Chinese and
Japanese Chrysanthemums the differences are great, but they
represent the diverse tastes of the people much more than the
diverse conditions of production. Forms that assimilate with
the Japanese have unquestionably been introduced from China,
but they are not specially characteristic of Chinese taste. The
change in form and fashion may be traced from the North-west
Provinces eastward through the Corea to Japan, where finally
the reflexed and incurved groups are but poorly represented,
while in place of them we have the magnificent absurdities that
in the eyes of our public threaten to outshine the incurved, but

140 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

in the eyes of true florists only enhance, by the contrast of their
grotesque and extravagant characters, the exquisite beauty and
refinement of the incurved flowers.

We begin, then, with types of all the forms ready made, and >
not a few of the types of good quality, though for the most part
rough. It will be seen in the sequel that the florists have not
created any new form, but have improved all, and to those more
especially favoured for exhibition purposes have imparted qualities
that place our best Chrysanthemums as works of art in advance
of all known florist’s flowers. In power of expression, distinct-
ness of character, in forms of beauty no less cheering to the heart
than delightful to the eye, a beauty that is unique and the em-
bodiment of the highest harmonies of plastic form, the Chrysan-
themum surpasses all other flowers, not even the Rose, the Tulip,
or the Dahlia being excepted.

If we ask for explanation of this, undoubtedly the initial form
is the first to be considered. It is that of any ordinary Aster, a
central circular table filled with tubular hermaphrodite florets for
the disc of the single flower; and a circle of ligulate female
florets for a boundary, a defence, a range of external attractions
to lure to the fertile florets in the centre the insects required to
effect fertilisation. The circle is the most perfect of all figures,
and the source of all beauty of form and proportion ; and related
circles are inexhaustible in variations, as they are also in creative
power in the production of curvilinear forms without end. We
lose a grand primary feature when we have sterilised a flower by
converting the tubular into ligulate florets ; and, from the esthetic
point of view, the double Starwort is less beautiful than the single.
But the loss of the dise which gives such a fine character to the
Anemone Chrysanthemums, and ina less striking degree to all the
single flowers, is compensated by the enlargement of the ligulate
florets, and by the repetition over the entire periphery of their
elegant ribbon or wire-drawn forms; moreover, their curvatures
bring into the field circles, segments of circles, and modifications
of circles without end, giving the imagination the task of leading
where the eye cannot follow, and in the incurved flower display-
ing the regularity of an example of engine-turning, expressed in
the delicate material and translucent colouring of the living
flower. Nature has worked with this primary pattern in Asters,
Helianths, Pyrethrums, and Chrysanthemums as though a mere

PROGRESS IN CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 141

circle to begin with would suffice for her to fill the universe with
varieties of beautiful forms, each having in itself the power to
generate an infinity of other forms; and yet the simple circle
should be the foundation from first to last—the Divine idea of
the pattern of the orbs in space as well as the flowers that adorn
them. You say all flowers are not composites, and not all are
of regular form, but the circle underlies them all, and, like the
world itself, each may be said to revolve upon a centre.

Geographical influences, probably, have been peculiarly ope-
rative in the development of the Chrysanthemum. Its range of
territory in the Far East is greater than it has in the whole of
Europe, and the peninsula of the Corea appears to have been
especially favourable to the transition from the compact form
originating in North-western China to the diffuse form prevalent
in Japan.

The Corea is a cold mountainous country, and cold favours
the doubling of the Chrysanthemum by suppressing fertility, for
the tubular florets more readily change to the ligulate form when
no longer capable of producing pollen in juxtaposition with active
stigmas. Atmospheric humidity is about equally operative with
cold in suppressing the reproductive power, and this again tends
to the encouragement of doubling. Thus the Japanese, who ob-
tained their Chrysanthemums through the Corea, have formed a
race of flowers characterised by a profusion of ligulate florets of
extravagant proportions and irregular forms ; and our friends in
the South of France, having a warm and dry climate, have been
enabled to restore fertility by producing single and Anemone
forms, the overplus of their seed-beds running to Japanese forms
of infertility. Incurved flowers have prospered in this cold
country, which is not only, to speak ina general way, too cold
to ripen seed, but too cold for the production of the pollen that
must precede the process. The names of the Anemone forms tell
us whence they came, and the lesson of the story as thus viewed
appears tobe, that the first step towards obtaining Chrysanthemum
seed will be to make a climate expressly for the purpose, and to
encourage in that climate the production of tubular florets, for so
long as you disbud and feed high, and repudiate discs, you may
whistle for seed and grow weary of whistling.

In all the early forms of the flower it may be said there ig
suspicion of singleness. Observe the beautiful Pink Quilled, as

142 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

figured in the Botanical Register, 1822, t.616. Here you have an
extremely beautiful flower, with narrow rosy florets which incurve
slightly, showing their silvery undersides at the points, and in the
centre appears a half-concealed button, suggestive of a disc, in a
state of transition, having become sterile possibly, but not yet
having completed the doubling process. It is described as ‘* re-
markable for the mcurved form of its florets, which shorten
regularly and gradually towards the centre, forming a brilliantly
pink full flower of about four inches in diameter.” Sabine’s
indicum has a distinct disc which appears to consist of aborted
tubular florets. Sweet’s tripartitum of ‘‘ British Flower Garden,’’
vol. u. plate 198, 1s a single imdicwm differing but little from
Sabine’s type. The Aikwu of 1789 shows a centre likely to be
fertile. The six beautiful flowers figured by Sabine in ‘“ Horticul-
tural Transactions,’ 1822, include four singles, while the other
two, though figured as doubles, would probably prove to have
fertile centres could we but examine them as we do the flowers
on the show table.

It is of the greatest interest to observe that, while we have in
our system of selection co-operated with our cold damp climate
in sterilising this flower, nature has not been utterly thwarted
in her passion for multiplying varieties. The additions that have
been made from year to year to our collections have comprised a
large proportion of sports, these representing, probably, an initial
power derivable from the seed, and possibly indicating that the
pollen parent was of a different colour to the seed parent, for the
stigmas of composites are not of necessity fertilised by pollen
produced in the selfsame disc. This suggestion does not meet
the case of any more than two forms of one variety, but as we
have four Christines we shall want four pollen parents, unless we
stretch the imagination to a case of the conjoint influence of two
or more pollen grains from diverse sources.

Passing from the occult to the practical, we have to note
that while on the one hand we sterilise the flower, and so
reduce the probability of seed production, the plant, no longer
having to prepare for that business, devotes its energies to the
production of ligulate florets in profusion, and in what we may
term gigantic proportions. Could we have an incurved flower with
a fertile disc it would be but a poor thing, for the absorption of
energy by the tubular florets would effectually check the develop-

PROGRESS IN CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 148

ment of the lhgulate florets, and so keep down, from the exhibi-
tion point of view, the quality of the flower. It follows, therefore,
that we must go back for seed while we go forward for exhibi-
tion quality. But for the most striking and splendid decorative
features to select the noblest incurved or tassel flowers for stud
purposes will be a grave mistake. We must rather keep in mind
how double Stocks and China Asters are obtained, for when
these are completely sterilised there will be an end of them. While
we make a climate for the work, we must find fertile forms for
the climate; or, by a combination of roasting and starving, and
allowing the plant to mature all its flowers, force the doubles
back upon the single forms out of which they originated, that
they may be fertile again and useful as seed producers.

Having thus studied the business anew, we shall look forward
for results ; and the question arises, have we anything to hope
for in the way of new forms or new colours? May we expect to
obtain a blue or scarlet Chrysanthemum? May we expect to
substitute for the odour that now pleases few and offends many
one that shall give universal pleasure, like that of the Violet
or the Rose ?

And here the question arises, is the blue Chrysanthemum of
the Eastern pottery a fiction or a fact? You may find examples
easily wherever works of art of Chinese or Japanese origin are
in any plenty. One example shall suffice for my purpose, and I
invite attention to what is undoubtedly intended for a blue
Chrysanthemum on a beautiful jar of Japanese Cloisonné. Itisa
reflexed flower with rigid florets of a full blue colour, all defined
with golden lines of Cloisonné work. The leaves that accompany
the flower are clumsily drawn, but they do not suggest that any
other flower is intended. On this same jar is a blue Peony,
which we may class with the Chrysanthemum as presenting at
least a parallel problem.

Now it is a matter of some interest that the Japanese profess
to have this flower and to keep it as a sacred secret. The love
of the people for the flower is perhaps best embodied in the
Festival of Happiness which occurs in the ninth month of the
year, when the flower is in bloom, and is called Aiku-dzuki, when
the Chrysanthemum enters largely, as the emblem of happiness,
into all the ceremonies of the day. But the blue flower does
not appear in this festival; it is reserved for religious uses; it is

144 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

jealously guarded against inquisitive vulgar eyes, and will only
be seen by Europeans when the safeguards against intrusion
are broken down by artifice, bribery, or treachery. So far as to
the Japanese theory of the blue Chrysanthemum. It will profit
nothing to multiply examples; but I will refer to one amongst
many in the “ Keramic Arts of Japan,’’ the valuable work of
Messrs. Audsley and Bowes. [In plate 15 of that work, repre-
senting pheasants and flowers, occurs a cluster of blue Chrysan-
themums that have a more natural appearance than the average
of examples. They are certainly reflexed flowers, and possibly
were pompons of large size. Near them are some incuryed
Japs of a colour approaching scarlet. I cannot be wrong in
describing these as blue, and yet the colour is of a tone that we
may really hope to attain, for it is removed from the full deep
azure of the example of the Cloisonné jar, and is sufficiently
touched with rosy hues to permit the description of it as rosy
lavender blue. I submit that a colour of this kind may be hoped
for, as in accordance with the range of variation in the direction
of blue already witnessed, as a fact. And I submit further that
a fanciful artist, with a flower of this kind before him, might be
tempted to suppress the red tone and intensify the blue tone
without being over-fanciful in his picturing.

The flowers occasionally met with in Japanese art are the
Chrysanthemum, Peony, Wistaria, Lily, Hydrangea, Iris, Car-
nation; Convolvulus, and Water Lily. But the Aikw stands
before ali, and attains to the highest degree of artistic impor-
tance when conventionalised after the fashion of a star, with a
definite number of rays for every special signification.

The Imperial Crest, termed the Kiku-mon, is a Chrysan-
themum of the flat star pattern with sixteen rays or florets.
And the question may now be put—if the flower is conyen-
tionalised in form, may it not also be falsified in colour ?

Possibly we talk too freely of the fidelity to nature of the
artists of Japan. They are human and inventive, equally
capable of serious truth and boisterous fun, and in burlesque
inexhaustible. What are their dragons that wind around their
bowls but magnificent nightmares that carry the facts of nature
into the region of the impossible, and justify any doubt we may
entertain as to the bona fides of their painted flowers ?

A chronological study of garden varieties will of necessity

PROGRESS IN CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 145

throw some light on the nature and rapidity of progress in the
development of floral qualities. Valuable aid in such a study
may be derived from the catalogue of large Chrysanthemums,
given in the ‘“ Garden Oracle” for 1889. This catalogue
contains the names of about 1,760 varieties, with names of
raisers, dates of distribution, class, and colour of flower, the
whole arranged in alphabetical order for convenience of reference.
With this before me, I take a list of the incurved varieties that
are now in favour, and I make comparisons. It happens that
incurved varieties at this time generally recognised as worthy
of cultivation do not exceed a hundred in number; but while
I deal with certainties, apart from doubts and speculations, I
cannot extend the list beyond eighty. We will now consider
how they rank in order of time.

The very first note to be made is in the nature of a startler.
It is that Queen of Iingland, still unsurpassed for beauty, the
universal favourite as a model of form, and in all other respects
worthy of its name, heads the list as the oldest of the series,
and dating from the year 1847, when the first Chrysanthemum
Society was but newly born and had almost everything to learn
in the way of business, for in the same year it held its first
exhibition. Shall we venture to say we have in this flower an
embodiment of the highest floral qualities, and that in a run of
forty years we have obtained nothing to surpass it ? I will not.
venture on a declaration that can have no basis, in fact, apart
from individual opinion. It is enough now to say that the late
John Salter raised this true queen of queenly flowers, and that
it exercised a potent influence on English taste which may be
said to have culminated in the formal adoption in the year 1851
of the incurved form as the official form, or say the form that
should have precedence of all others on the show table.

In the brief review 1 am now attempting the Queen stands
alone. I find no other flower amongst modern favourites of
earlier date than the year 1852, which claims Beauty and Arigena.
The year 1856 gives us Alfred Salter, which has no companion
in the list of modern favourites. We meet with nothing in the
two years that follow, but 1859 gives us Barbara, Golden Queen
of England, Jardin des Plantes, and Yellow Perfection. From
this time the successive years are somewhat uniformly represented,
as thus: 1860, Novelty ; 1861, Lady Hardinge; 1862, Empress

L

146 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

of India, or White Queen, White Globe (of which there are two,
one Smith’s, the other Salter’s), General Slade, Nil Desperandum ;
1868, Abbé Passaglia, Beverley, Golden Hagle, General Bainbrigge,
Princess of Wales, Venus, Prince Alfred; 1864, Lady Slade,
Mr. Brunlees, Mrs. Haliburton, Rev. J. Dix, Sir Stafford Carey;
1865, Empress Hugenie, Hve, Hercules, Lady Carey, Prince of
Wales ; 1866, Golden Beverley, Gloria Mundi, Hereward, John
Salter, Mr. Gladstone ; 1867, Faust, Hetty Barker, Isabella Bott,
Lady Talfourd, Mrs. Heale ; 1868, Bronze Jardin, Baron Beust,
Finamel, Guernsey Nugget, Le Grand, Mrs. G. Rundle, Mrs. E.
Sharpe, Miss Marechaux, Princess Teck, Princess Beatrice ;
1869, Barbara, Blonde Beauty, Golden John Salter, Pink
Perfection, St. Patrick; 1870, Miss Hope; 1871, Duchess of
Roxburgh, Ensign ; 1872 was a bad year for everything, and it
makes no figure in the present summary; 1873, Hero of Stoke
Newington, Refulgence; 1874, Hmily Dale; 1875, nothing ;
1876, nothing ; 1877, Golden Empress ; 1878, Mrs. Shipman,
Rev. C. Boys; 1879, nothing; 1880, nothing ; 1881, Angelina,
Mr. Bunn; 1882, Jeanne d’Arc, Lord Alcester, Mabel Ward,
White Venus; 1888, Lord Wolseley, Mrs. J. Crossfield, Sir B.
Seymour ; 1884, Duke of Teck, Mrs. Weston; 1885, nothing ;
1886, Bronze Queen, Yellow Globe; 1887, Fingal.

The dry list is, hke many a dry tree, full of useful material.
It points to some interesting, perhaps I may be permitted to say
curious, conclusions. It shows by the list to which I subject the
chronology of the incurved, the best varieties were produced from
1847 to 1871, since when the lists have been refreshed by sports
chiefly, and the true seedlings have been secured through happy
accidents rather than as the result of systematic effort, as in the
case of those produced by Smith and Salter. In plain truth the
incurved pattern was used-up in the course of twenty to twenty-
five years, a result attributable not to the niggardliness of
Nature, who can bestow new countenances on her children ad
infimtum, but through the systematic sterilisation of the flower
for the attainment of floral perfection. When it is clearly under-
stood that to grow for the show-table and to grow for new
varieties are ends incompatible, we may hope for a new era of
variation in the incurved group, and the Chrysanthemum will
enter upon a greater and grander phase of development than
has been witnessed hitherto. Looking back from this point to

PROGRESS IN CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 147

the collapse in 1871, I will ask you, where should we have been
in this particular region of the floral world had not the new tide
of Japs from the South of France arrived to keep us floating ?
In all probability we should not be here to-day to celebrate the
Centenary; and so, however devoted we may be to the civilised
beauties that stand for the highest range of perfection, let us not
forget the services rendered by the savages that are so weak in
artistic finish, but so strong in expression and the vigour that
speaks of enduring vitality.

Imported incurved flowers may date from 1820, when cnvolu-
twnv was obtained from China, but the first home-raised incurved
date from 1836, when an amateur of Jersey originated several, of
the history of which but little is known beyond the fact that
they passed into the hands of Mr. Chandler, of Vauxhall, and,
through him, were distributed. Concurrently, Mr. Freestone, of
Norwich, raised many new seedlings, amongst them some that
were incurved, and these, with the Jersey seedlings, were secured
by Salter when he established himself at Versailles in 1838, and
entered upon the career that has placed his name in a high rank
in our floral Walhalla. Our business is not with the history
except in so far as it teaches something of the principles of pro-
eression. Well, the raisers have generally kept their secrets,
but Freestone has divulged that he selected semi-double flowers
for seed production, and forced them into early bloom to increase
his chances of success. In this way he secured fertility and a
suitable climate.

The future of the Chrysanthemum may be predicated to this
extent, that when distinctive forms no longer appear, it will have
passed the meridian of its fame. It is not likely to “‘ pass into
nothingness,’’ but the appearance of new forms from time to
time will alone advance or sustain its popularity. But in the
evolution of the flower many new features or modifications that
will have the merit of novelty may reasonably be expected. IJf
we do not see promise of blue or scarlet flowers, we may per-
haps find comfort in the consideration that they are not wanted.
If you will take a good stand of twelve or twenty-four, and
having removed one flower, fill its place with a bunch of scarlet
Pelargoniums, you will need no further persuasion that positive
colours are not to be desired. It produces but one pure positive

L2

148 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

colour, and that is yellow—a colour needing to be employed
with caution in all decorative works.

In grouping these flowers it will be found that while rosy
tones may predominate, an unpleasant effect is the certain
consequence of a predominance of yellow. We have a parallel
case in Roses, and nature has taken some care that the golden
colour shall not spoil the Rose-garden or the exhibition table, by
making rosy Roses plentiful, and yellow Roses few. We are less
in need of further developments of the yellow tones than of the
reds and purples in the Chrysanthemum, and we see in Progne
and Julie Lagravére material of a promising nature for newer
and richer tones of red.

Perhaps more than anything, the odour of the Chrysanthe-
mum needsimproving. There are varieties that are said to emit
the odour of the Violet, the Rese, and the Musk; but the senses
of all are not equal to the discovery of them. Considering that
the composites are often highly aromatic, and that our flower
inclines to the manufacture of a Camomile odour, there is some
- ground for hope that varieties’possessed of an agreeable fragrance —
may be secured, andif these appear with flowers of less than the
highest merit, they should be preserved for the inauguration of
a new feature that in time may become characterised by the
highest floral qualities.

DISCUSSION.

Dr. Masters, F'.R.S., in proposing a vote of thanks to the
Chairman and to the readers of papers, said : The whole Exhibi-
tion and Conference to-day have been a triumph of the evolu-
tionary theory. If Darwin, Herbert Spencer, or any of the
modern apostles of the doctrine of evolution, had been here to-day,
they would have been delighted at the exposition of their princi-
ples which we have just heard. We have heard also a great deal
as to the survival of the fittest. But what is the fittest? Iam
sure you will all agree with me in saying that in our Chairman
to-day we have an illustration of such survival. I must say
. also that we have another example in this grand old Society,
which the papers read to us to-day show to have taken such a
leading part in introducing, and to have since done so much to-
wards establishing the growth of the Chrysanthemum in this
country. Wonderful things has the old Society done in the past,

PROGRESS IN CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 149

and wonderful things it is trying to do in the present, and I
trust it may survive for very, very many years to come to be the
pioneer of horticulture in this country. I refrain from touching
upon subjects which have been so ably treated of already this
afternoon, but I may say, as an illustration of what might pro-
bably be done in the development of the Chrysanthemum, that
500 varieties are known to botanists, but of these only two or
three have as yet been utilised by the hybridist and gardener.

150 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

WEDNESDAY, NovemsBer 6.
Mr. Surrtey Hispserp, F.R.H.S., in the Chair.

THE QUEEN OF AUTUMN; OR, CHRYSANTHEMUM
SEEDS AND SEEDING.

By Mr. F. W. Bursiper, F.R.H.S., F.L.5., &c., Curator of the
University (Trinity College) Botanical Gardens, Dublin.

THE Chinese are a peculiar people, and in many ways different
to the gardeners of the West. They are more insulated and self-
contained. Less than a century ago China was the whole world
to the Chinese. Although they live much nearer to the tropics
than we do, they have not felt that soul-hunger for the plants of
other and warmer lands than their own, which is such a charac-
teristic feature in our horticulture of to-day. The mandarins, or
nobles of China, allow the aristocratic Orchid to sway and flutter
neglected on its native bough; but the one thing they do admire
and value is their native Chrysanthemum, a flower which, with
their neighbours the Japanese, they cultivate to perfection. It
is the national flower of a great and powerful people, and not
only of the conservative Chinese themselves, but of the more
liberal Japanese, and also of the people of Siam. But what at
the beginning of this paper Iam anxious to emphasise is the
broad central fact that the Chinese gardeners have gone out to
their own waysides and hedges, and have brought into cultiva-
tion their own wild flowers. The Tree-Pzony, the Camellia, the
Azalea, the Rose, and, above all, the Chrysanthemum, are a few
only of their favourites, which may serve to illustrate what I
mean. Mr. Fortune told us, after his second return from China,
that the Celestial gardeners did not care for any of the plants
he took out with him from England, except for the scarlet Zonal
Pelargonium ; and certainly the faith and persistence with which
these people have improved their own wildings is very remark-
able, and I have sometimes thought that therein les, by implica-
tion, the moral lesson to our British gardeners, ‘‘ Go thou and
do likewise.’’ Iam afraid, however, we are too fond of jumping
to conclusions, too fond of rapid results, to take up the culture
of our native Corn Marigold (Chrysanthemum segetuwm), or our

CHRYSANTHEMUM SEEDS AND SEEDING, 151

great Ox-eye Daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum), with any-
thing like the long-suffering faith that must have prompted and
animated the Chinese gardeners who first began the culture of
the wild Chrysanthemum centuries upon centuries ago. It is
not only possible, but extremely probable, that the Chrysanthe-
mum was a popular garden flower in China when Egypt was in
its prime, and in the future it is lhkely to remain the national
floral emblem of a people who will either, as friends, help us to
keep our foothold in the East, or, as foes, they may possibly eat
up the Russian Bear, and then reserve the Eastern half of the
world’s loaf for themselves.

We have now to consider the flower itself. I have reasons
for believing that the small single yellow Chrysanthemum indi-
cum (commonly cultivated in India, although only wild in Corea,
China, and Japan) is the original wild type from which natural
variation and culture have evolved all larger-growing and more
highly coloured forms. All the botanists, from Linneus and De
Candolle to Messrs. Forbes and Hemsley (Jour. Linn. Soc.,
vol. xxiii., p. 487-8), have considered C. indicum and C.
morifolium (= sinense) as two distinct species. I only believe
in one species—the so-called C. indicum (of which C. morifolium
(C. sinense) is, asI take it, a mere geographical variety), since I
find that nearly every batch of seedlings exhibits a tendency to
revert to this, as the primitive yellow-flowered type, although all
sorts and sizes, and conditions and colours, are obtainable from
seeds gathered from the same capitule, be the seed-bearer pompon
(C. indicum) or large-flowered (C. morifolium-sinense). When
the weird forms, now known to have been of Japanese garden
origin, were introduced by Mr. Fortune in 1862, we were very
nearly led to believe in a third species (C. japonicum), so distinct
and different were these flowers to those previously known in
Britain. Even supposing that there originally were two wild
species of Chrysanthemum in China or Corea (a view from which
I dissent), the result, as above stated, would tend to show that
they must have intercrossed freely with each other; but all my
observations go to prove that the weedy little single yellow Pom-
pons, which so often come from the seeds saved from the finest
and most modern of the large-flowered kinds, really imply rever-
sion to first principles (ativism), and not the unmixing of two
distinct wild plants naturally or artificially cross-fertilised.

152, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Botanically the Chrysanthemum is a glorified Ox-eye Daisy,
trying hard to raise itself from a herbaceous perennial into an
evergreen shrub. It belongs to the great natural family of the
Daisy Flowers (Composite), and what we as gardeners call a
‘« flower ”’ or a ‘‘ bloom”’ is really a flower-head or capitulum (a)
made up of a hundred or more separate individual flowers, all
neatly arranged into a bouquet-like group, and held in their
places by a cup-shaped common calyx or involucre, as shown in
this diagram (b). In fact, composite flowers are made up on

OI
syngenesious
anthers ,X.

Tur. CHRYSANTHEMUM.
a. Diagram showing arrangement and analysis of flower-head, or capitulum.

b. Involucral bracts. c. Hermaphrodite florets.
d,d,d. Female florets, or ray. e,e. Disc of the capitulum.
f, f, f. Syngenesious anthers. g. Bifurcate stigma.

h. Pollen grains. a. Seeds.

CHRYSANTHEMUM SEEDS AND SEEDING. 153

what I may call the paint-brush principle, the florets representing
the hair or bristles, and the involucre replaces the supports by
which the hairs or component portions are held together, as here
shown (b). The florets (c and d) are generally of two kinds, the
outer or ray flowers being more or less ligulate (d), while the
central or dise florets are tubular, as here shown (c). The outer
or ray florets are female flowers having styles only, and no
stamens, but the central or disc florets are hermaphrodite, being
furnished with pollen-yielding anthers as well as with pollen-
receiving bifid styles (e). The anthers (/) of the Chrysanthemum,
as of all the members of the composite order, are coherent by
their margins, or syngenesious, and they are, moreover, proter-
androus—that is to say, the pollen is ripe and ready some days
before the stigmas of the same flowers are fit for fertilisation.
In a word, the Chrysanthemum had ages ago become naturally
adapted for cross-fertilisation, and to that fact no doubt is due
its variability in nature and in our gardens.

Our finest and best Japanese Chrysanthemums of to-day are
raised by M. Délaux, Dr. Ed. Audiguier, M. D. Pertuzes, and
other raisers of Toulouse; M. Reydellet of Valence, M. Boucharlet,
ainé, and M. Rozain Boucharlet of Lyons, and Major Charles Le
M. Carey of Guernsey ; but the American growers, although
much later in the field, are already sufficiently successful to
become formidable rivals in the future.

ENGLAND AND IRELAND.—And now comes the question what
shall we do in England? Shall we rest contented with the
varieties our friends in France, the Channel Islands, and in
America rear and send to us year after year, or shall we rear
home-grown seed and seedlings for ourselves ?

Chrysanthemum seeds were successfully harvested in England
fifty or sixty years ago, and they are ripened here to-day by Mr.
Alfred Salter, Mr. Cullingford, Mr. Teesdale, Mr. Piercy, and
other growers. Mr. Hartland ripened seeds at Cork, cutting the
flowers, which were pompons, as the seed approached maturity,
after which the flowers were dried in a hot air press. Seeds thus
ripened were given to Mr. Cullingford, who raised from them
Hartland’s ‘‘ Marguerite,’’ a small single-flowered white, and
from this last-named variety Mr. Piercy has raised in the second
generation several superior early-flowering kinds, including Miss
P. Broughton, Clara, White Lady, Goldsmith, Dodo, and others.

154 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Jacintha was reared from home-saved seeds of Salter’s
Karly Blush, the flies having no doubt carried pollen to its
stigmas from other single or semi-double varieties. The best
early yellow Pompon, viz., Golden Shah, originated from this
seed, as also did the lovely white Duchess of Fife.

When we come to consider the harvesting of Chrysanthemum
seed in the garden, we of course find that the question of nutri-
tion is at the bottom of the whole thing.

Being, as wehave said, naturally a sub-shrubby plant, the more
woody it is the better it seeds. Our plan of cutting down the
plants every winter, and growing on young plants from the
succulent young growths in rich soil by the aid of stimulants, is
quite opposed to the possibility of seeds being saved. All other
things, such as heat and light, being equal, rich soils and much
moisture or manurial stimulants conduce to the production of
vegetative growth, and the development of the female floral
organs, such as ray florets and styles. On the contrary, poor sovls
and drought are highly conducive to the growth of the andresial
whorl, or the anthers and their golden harvest of pollen, and also
to the production of seed. Heat and drought = $ fls. Cold
and moisture = @? or neuter flowers. Do we not see this result
every year of our lives in the garden? After a hot dry summer
and autumn (which, as the gardeners say, ripens the wood) we
get good fruit and seed crops the succeeding year, but after a
dull wet cold season we know the reverse is generally the rule.
We must apply these broad and simple principles to the Chrys-
anthemum, and good seed will be attained in England quite as
readily as large blooms.

But there must be no manurial stimulants, none of the
syringing, and but little of the watering so necessary in the
culture of large and showy flower-heads for decoration or
exhibition. The Chrysanthemum seeds best as planted out in
the open air in a high and dry position, and when the flowers
show colour they should be protected by a glass coping, with a
roller-blind of stout canvas to let down in front of the plants to
protect them from rain and frost. The thin, late and shabby
blooms seed best, and the greatest drawback to the seed ripening
is wet, or even a damp atmosphere. As a rule, the large and
early flowers of the Chrysanthemum are erect; but the later
axillary flowers are drooping, and not so liable to suffer from

CHRYSANTHEMUM SEEDS AND SEEDING. 155

rain or dew and fogs as are the large full flowers. The whole
secret in the harvesting of Chrysanthemum seed is to place the
plants in a very dry, warm (55° F.), and airy atmosphere when in

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—
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7

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bloom. Even in the dry and sunny winter climate of Guernsey,
the first seed was obtained by a baker (Mr. Webb), who trained
his seed-producing plants on a warm wall at the back of his oven,
thus securing the two great essentials of warmth and dryness so
necessary to seed and pollen production. Again, a good deal of
patience is required, for the seeds swell and ripen slowly long
after the florets have withered away. The decayed florets should
be carefully cut away, or there is great danger of damp ruining
the crop. As is shown later on, Mr. John Thorpe cuts off the

156 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

female florets before he fertilises or pollenises the stigmas. Very
good keen eyesight, and some practical knowledge of what
Chrysanthemum seed is really like when ripe, is also necessary,
for there are numerous instances of good seed having been over-
looked or thrown away by the unconscious grower. M. Rey-
dellet, of Valence, was led to become a raiser of seedling Chrys-
anthemums by finding a self-sown seedling growing in one of
his Geranium pots. On its flowering, it proved to be a distinct
variety, a fact which led him to make further experiments ; and
to-day, as a raiser, he ranks second only to M. Délaux. I have
here a small packet of Chrysanthemum seed, which anyone may
inspect if they care to do so. This seed is very plump and good
and clean ; but as originally mixed up with dried bracts and the
débris of the old flowers which produced it, one might easily
pass it over unnoticed. So far, I believe, but little artificial
cross-breeding has been resorted to by the raisers of Chrysan-
themum seedlings. It has been done, but not so much as is
desirable. Most old raisers seem to have trusted to insect aid,
or to chance, in the matter. It is, however, quite easy to take
the pollen from one flower on a dry and sunny day when it is
ripe, and to apply it to the out-curling stigmas of another
capitulum. A camel’s-hair brush moistened in the honey of
a Fuchsia flower is best for removing and applying the
pollen. As a rule the incurved varieties are deficient in pollen,
most of the florets being 2 or O, and to this fact is mainly due
the extra difficulty in rearing these kinds. Late flowers from
old and hard-grown plants sometimes contain a few disc florets
from which pollen is procurable. All the single and Anemone-
centred kinds seed freely ; and so do the Japanese when grown
naturally as above indicated.

At a meeting of the Floral Committee of this Society held
on April1, 1884, a very interesting specimen of Berberis japonica
was exhibited. Itappeared that the specimen, a flowering shoot,
had been cut from and placed in a vessel of water, where it con-
tinued to expand its flowers for several weeks, and eventually
ripened a number of berries which, when examined carefully,
were found to contain perfect seeds. This was considered more
remarkable seeing that this shrub, although flowering freely,
rarely produces ripe seeds. Now comes the interesting part of the
story. In connection with this fact Mr. Alfred Salter informed
the Committee that nearly all the Chrysanthemum seed from

CHRYSANTHEMUM SEEDS AND SEEDING. 157

which he and his father, Mr. John Salter, raised the many
varieties of Chrysanthemums for which they became famous
was ripened by them on carefully crossed flower-heads cut from
the plants, and placed in jars of water, where they often took
three months to ripen their seed, but that in almost every
instance they did ripen it perfectly and thoroughly, a cireum-
stance which could not be depended on if the flower-heads were
left on the plants, where they usually damped off without
ripening any seeds. (W. EH. G. in Garden, vol. v., p. 304.) I
have written to Mr. Alfred Salter, who kindly replied cor-
roborating in the main the facts as above given. ‘It is quite
true,’ he writes, ‘‘ that I ripened seed from gathered flowers at
Versailles Nursery, Hammersmith, W. They were Japanese
varieties, and it was done in the following manner. It had been
a warm autumn, and some varieties had flowered early. The
flower-heads of these were taken off with about six inches of
stem attached, and were then placed in bottles of water on a
shelf in a warm house, where they remained for nearly two
months, and I was rewarded by a nice lot of plump seed, one of
which produced the well-known James Salter.”’

It seems probable that the first seedlings were raised in
England a year or two later than in France. Salter, at p. 9 of
«The Chrysanthemum,” tells us that “in 1880 seed was first
saved in the South of France.’ Chevalier Bernet, of Toulouse,
has generally been credited as having been the first raiser of
seedling Chrysanthemums in Europe in (?) 1826 ; but if he really
was the first in the field with bond fide seedlings, he must have
been very closely followed by Mr. Isaac Wheeler, gardener at
Magdalen Hall (now Hertford College), Oxford, who is also said
to have reared seedlings from home-saved seed in 1830, or in the
. following year. Mr. Haworth tells us in his ‘ New Arrange-
ment of the Double-flowered Chrysanthemum,” published in
1833, that Mr. Wheeler’s seedlings were chiefly obtained from
the Early Blush, the Early Crimson, and the Two-coloured
Red, all originally imported from China. His eldest son, Mr.
Rowland Wheeler, tells me that he was too young at the time
to know anything of his father’s process; but what he does
remember is ‘ the fact of his having dried the various flowers in
order to procure the seed.’’ I want you to notice this fact of the
seed-bearing flowers having been dried—a point of importance
to which I shall again return.

158 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

On December 2, 1832, Mr. Wheeler is said to have ex-
hibited some of his seedlings in London before the Society, and
it is recorded that he received a silver Banksian Medal for them as
being the earlest seedling Chrysanthemums raised in Eneland.

Mr. Wheeler’s success was very soon followed by at least
two Chrysanthemum growers in Norfolk, about the year 18385,
when Mr. Short and Mr. Freestone reared some fine incurved
kinds. Norfolk Hero, Nonpareil, and Prince of Wales (of
Freestone, not of Davis!) were amongst the pioneers. This
last-named variety was, as Mr. Alfred Salter informs me, a very
remarkable two-coloured, or red and yellow flower, that would
be highly esteemed to-day were it not lost to cultivation.

F'RANCE.—In 1838 the late Mr. John Salter settled as a nursery-
man at Versailles, and, finding the climate suitable, he imported
many of the best kinds as then grown in England, and set himself
about their further improvement. Seedlings began to be reared
at Versailles in 1843, and, at a later date, others appeared
at the Versailles Nursery at Hammersmith, W., and one of my
pleasantest memories as a gardener is of a visit I made in 1868
to that classical ground, where I saw Mr. Salter himself, and
heard him discourse on the best new Chrysanthemums of that
year. Mr. Salter may fairly be called the ‘“ Father of the
Chrysanthemum ’’ in England, since he not only reared many
fine varieties himself, but he bought up the finest and best of the
seedlings of his time, as then reared by Webb, Smith, Clark,
Davis, Pethers, and others in the Channel Islands, where the
tradition still lingers that neither Mr. Salter nor Mr. Bird of
Stoke Newington would look at any seedlings except incurved,
or now and then a superior new pompon.

The following isa list of Chrysanthemums actually reared from
seed by the late Mr. John Salter, or by his son, Mr. Alfred Salter,
who is, happily, still spared to us as an enthusiastic amateur,
and as a distinguished raiser of seedlings of our popular flower :

*Annie Salter (1844) Countess Granville
* Alfred Salter (1856) Cossack (A. Salter)
Adrastus *Crimson King, or King of the
Andromeda Crimsons (1847)
Arthur Wortley | Daimio
Chan | Diamant of Versailles
*Cloth of Gold (1850) _ Duchess of Edinburgh ©

Comet _ Emperor of China

CHRYSANTHEMUM SEEDS AND SEEDING. 159

Fleur de Marie (1846) Marquis of Lorne (A. Salter)
Garnet Meg Merrilies (1871)
Golden Hermione Nancy de Sermet

ena ana (1859) si ne prin

*James Salter ‘ ueen of Englanc
Jane falter Queen of the Isles (1860)
Jenny Lind Rex Rubrorum (A. Salter)
John Bunyan (1862) Scarlet Gem (1857)

*John Salter (1866) Snowball (1862)
Keempfer (A. Salter) Tisiphone (single red), (A. Salter)
King of Anemones (1857) *Venus (1855)

*Lady Talfourd (1867) *Versailles Defiance (1852)

*Madame Poggi (1844)

* Perhaps those marked with an asterisk are Mr. John Salter’s best seedlings.

The way Mr. Salter managed his seed-bearing plants at Ver-
sailles was to plant the early kinds at the foot of a south wall,
and in the autumn a coping of glass was placed just above
the flowers to keep the blossoms dry. They were also pro-
tected in front by a blind or other shelter during severe frost.
The seed takes a long time to mature, and was seldom ready for
gathering before February or March. Seed-saving was found
by Mr. Salter to be a more difficult matter in England, parti-
cularly with the incurved varieties, the rains and, worse still, the
London fogs of November rendering it nearly impossible, so
that one might almost be tempted to say that the seed gained
was not worth the trouble. The only way found successful was
to grow the plants quite naturally in pots (48's), and to flower
them as early as possible, keeping the flowers quite dry, but in
the open air, in a warm sheltered situation, until the flowers were
quite over, after which they were placed in a warm greenhouse,
with a free current of air passing through it, and the result was
a little seed.

CHANNEL IsuaAnps.—Mr. Charles Smith, of Guernsey, who
has raised some of the very best of incurved varieties, tells me
that he grew his seed-bearing plants, and saved the seed, in the
open air, against sunny walls. One season he raised three
thousand seedlings, out of which some sixty or so were sold to
Mr. Salter and to Mr. Bird, of Stoke Newington. Mr. Smith
says a warm, sheltered, high and dry garden are the necessary
conditions for securing seeds, a result very difficult to attain in
low, damp, and foggy localities.

One feature insisted on by Mr. Smith, who reared incurved
and pompon varieties only, is that the seedlings from the same

160 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

seed-head yield flowers of all colours, and he feels convinced that
many of the Guernsey seedlings of twenty or thirty years ago,
and tnen discarded as not fulfilling the conditions required,
would, if they existed now, be placed in the so-called Japanese
section. In those days they failed to ‘fill the bill” of the
florist’s ideal, and were thrown away as ‘‘ rags.”’

A very celebrated amateur cultivator in Guernsey, to whom I
wrote concerning the rearing of seedlings, kindly replied as fol-
lows: ‘‘ As tosaving seeds, we always try to do so every season, but
in damp autumns it is most difficult. We have no secrets about
the subject, merely choosing the finest kinds and placing them
near to each other so as to secure cross-fertilisation by means of
the flies. We then very carefully dry the heads of seeds, sowing
them as soon as ripe, and blooming them the same autumn. All
our seed is now saved ina dry, warm, and airy greenhouse, but
we have had a splendid harvest during dry seasons from plants
outside on a wall covered by a glass coping and protected by a
blind in wet cold weather.”’

Very few growers in Guernsey now save seeds as compared with
those of twenty or thirty years ago, when incurved varieties or
pompons only were all the rage. Major Carey’s gardener (M. N.
Priaulx), however, still harvests seeds, as I am told, under glass.
Major Carey, to whom I wrote in 1885, very kindly gave me the
following list of varieties, as raised by himself to that date :—

Beaumont | Ethel

Belle of Japan | Sarnia

Yokohama Orange | Bijou of Guernsey
Diamond Peter the Great

Sir Isaac Brock The Czar

Emperor Nicholas Hackney Holmes
Red Gauntlet Victoria

The Khedive Mrs. Charles Carey

Another notable raiser in Guernsey is Mr. James Downton
(gardener to Saumerez Carey, Eisq., of The Grange), who will
long be remembered as the raiser of that ‘ snowy-breasted
pearl,’’ Elaine, and her scarcely less popular foster-sister, Fair
Maid of Guernsey. As I have shown, James Salter was
raised by Mr. Alfred Salter, from cut flower-heads in water, in
1869, and it is interesting to know that this variety bore the seed
from which these twin varieties were raised. Mr. Downton,
at my request, was good enough to tell me the history of the

CHRYSANTHEMUM SEEDS AND SEEDING. 161

birth of Elaine, and no words of mine could tell the story
better.

‘“« About seventeen or eighteen years ago,’ says Mr. Downton,
‘“ T sent fora plant of James Salter, a new Japanese variety, to
erow for conservatory decoration. I flowered it in a south house,
and having given up raising seed I thought no more about it
until one day my friend, Mr. C. Smith, the raiser of so many
fine kinds, went into the house and noticed its dried and withered
blooms, and set me looking at the seed-heads, when I noticed for
the first time some seed. I sowed it the same spring, producing
Fair Maid of Guernsey and Elaine. The plant of James
Salter was the only Japanese variety in the house, all the rest
being incurved and reflexed kinds. The Japanese varieties were
very little thought of a few years previous, and I have known
hundreds of single and half-double flowers consigned to the
rubbish-heap, which were certainly superior by far to many of the
kinds now common.”’

PortuGcaAu.—In Portugal, where, as Consul Crawford tells us,
the Japanese varieties were introduced and grown long before
they were imported to England, seed is produced with tolerable
facility. An amateur Chrysanthemum grower in Oporto kindly
tells me that James Salter, Fair Maid of Guernsey, and
other so-called Japanese kinds, produce seed in his garden in
the open air. He also corroborates what Mr. Forsyth, of Stoke
Newington, told us long ago in the Gardeners’ Magazine (April
20, 1872), viz.: that the earliest and finest of the flower-heads
produce no seed, but that the poor and straggling pendulous
flowers, which are borne on weak axillary branches at the end of
the season, or in February or March, do so pretty plentifully if
kept dry. In Oporto cross-fertilisation is effected by a small
drone fly, and also by small beetles. In America, also, where
Dr. H. P. Walcott and Mr. John Thorpe were the pioneers in
saving seed, I am told that the flies are found to be useful in
crossing the various seed-bearing varieties.

SoutHERN France.—Of all modern seedling raisers the place
of honour must perforce be accorded to M. Simon Délaux, of St.
Martin du Touch, prés Toulouse. In 1864 he first obtained some
of the then new importations introduced by Mr. Fortune from
Japan in 1862, and in 1866 he from these obtained his first crop
of seed. During 1872 and 18738 he sold to M. Boucharlet several

M

162 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

distinct seedlings, such as Gloire de Toulouse, Miron, Ornament
de la Nature, Soleil d’Or, Carnot, and Madame Délaux. No other
raiser has been so successful, and, if he continues his labours of
skilful cross-fertilisation and selection, one can scarcely predict
the point where his triumphs may end. M. Délaux has kindly
informed me that he grows his seed-bearing plants in pots in the
open air, but removes them into the houses on the approach of
damp weather in October, or into special structures wherein the
flowers can be kept perfectly dry, and air admitted freely during
fine weather. As will have been gathered by references through-
out this paper, atmospheric drought is the essential factor in
seed saving, and thisis a point M. Délaux particularly emphasises
in his letter to me.

A SELECTION OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM SEEDLINGS RAISED BY
M. Simon DELAUX.

Bouquet Fait Madame John Laing
Fanny Boucharlet ‘ Bertier Rendatler
Fernand Féral M. Tarin

Flamme de Punch Mr. W. Holmes

Hiver Fleuri M. Garnier

Japonais Dr. Macary

L’Lle des Plaisirs M. John Laing

Margot L’Adorable

Mi. Astorg Madame de Sevin

M. Délaux issues every year a descriptive catalogue (illus-
trated) of his new seedlings, which, together with his general
Chrysanthemum catalogue, should be in the hands of all
admirers of this flower. Beautiful and distinct as some of the
Continental seedlings are, there can be no doubt that the selection
of varieties might have been more rigid, seeing the weeding-out
which purchasers in this country have had to do for themselves
after paying high prices for delicate or worthless novelties.
The new seedling varieties of the past two seasons were, generally
speaking, below our average standards of to-day, and are not
to be compared with the best English seedlings reared from
Continental seed by Mr. Cannell (Avalanche), Mr. J. Laing
(Stanstead White), or Mr. Stevens, a success that is most en-
couraging.

America.—In America the Chrysanthemum has been a
favourite winter flower for the past eight or ten years, and Dr.
H. P. Walcott began to rear seedlings about the year 1879, he

CHRYSANTHEMUM SEEDS AND SEEDING. 168

being very closely followed by Mr. John Thorpe, and the results
are every year becoming more and more important. Mr. John
Thorpe kindly informs me that, although single and half-double
Japanese kinds seed spontaneously in some cases, the
progeny is as arule poor, and that the best of seed is only to
be gained by careful pollenisation. ‘‘ Before attempting to cross
the flower-heads I always shear or clip off the florets nearly as
low as the protruding styles, and then apply pollen to the
stigmas. But few of these perfect seed, but the little obtainable
under these conditions generally yields some good varieties. For
seeding I generally grow the plants in six-inch pots, each plant
bearing only two or three flower-heads.”’

Some varieties have been refined so much that when well
grown they are sterile and yield no pollen, and such kinds must
be starved back into fertility. Seeds from the best forms cross-
fertilised with each other may be small in quantity, but the
quality of the resultant seedlings is in inverse proportion, and
from 50 per cent. to 100 per cent. of really good seedlings
may be obtained. Mr. Wm. Falconer has also, at my request,
given me the following account of the seeding and the seedlings
of this flower in America :—

Chrysanthemums set seeds very freely in this country, and we have
no trouble whatever in getting all the seed we want either with or
without artificial pollenation. Indeed, on benches where Chrysanthe-
mums have stood and ripened their crop of blooms we often have lots
of little seedlings come up from seeds self-dropped from the plants. I
grow a large number of Chrysanthemums out of doors altogether, and
in long open Novembers, when the flowers open early and mature
themselves, we, next spring, find lots of little seedlings come up around
the old plants; but in cold, raw, wet Novembers seeds do not set
well and seldom ripen on our outdoor plants.

Seed-saving is a little business of itself, and several florists find it
as profitable tu raise seed as sell the flowers. They plant out their
plants in the open ground early in May, lift and pot them early in
September, and bring them into a light greenhouse. Feeding the
plants and thinning the flower-buds are well attended to. When the
flowers begin to open, the house is kept cool and airy, and the
atmosphere dry. This gains stocky plants, stiff stems, and perfect
flowers. As the flowers open wide the petals are clipped off short with
a shears. This gives a good chance to the generative organs to perfect
themselves, and admits of natural aid, as flies or wind, to disseminate
the pollen. But we don’t wait for nature all the time; every fine

M 2

164 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

sunny forenoon we brush the flowers with acamel’s-hair brush tospread
the powder. Clipped flowers set far more seeds than do unclipped
ones—that is in the case of full doubles; of course, in the case of
singles, clipping makes very little difference. Clipped flowers don’t
damp off as do unclipped ones.

In saving Zinnia seed you may also observe the great value of clip-
ping in the petals as a guard against damping off; also to permit air
and insects to fertilise the flowers.

It’s no use talking to us folk in America about imported Chrysan-
themum seed. We don’t believe in it. The American-saved article is
in large demand and commands a big price, but imported seed is in
bad odour.

The following list of the best American kinds is compiled
by Mr. John Thorpe, who is the father of the Chrysanthemum
in America.

List oF THE BEST CHRYSANTHEMUMS AS REARED FROM SEEDS
(MOSTLY HOME-SAVED) IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Mrs. A. Carnegie | Mrs. Judge Benedict (fine anemone)
Mrs. W. K. Harris | Wm. Dewar

John Thorpe _ Colossal

Mrs. L. Canning Mrs. E. W. Clark

Mabel Douglas _ Thorpe Junior (anemone)

Mrs. John Wanamaker Puritan

Mrs. J.C. Price | Grace Attick (very early Japanese)
President Hyde | Sam. Henshaw

Coronet | Shasta

We-Wa _ Robert Walcott

Notre.—Mrs. Alpheus Hardy was introduced direct to New York from Japan, and is
not a seedling raised in America, as some have supposed.

Very often when I have recommended the raising of Chrys-
anthemum seed I have been met with the reply, ‘Oh! it’s no
good: our climate is not suitable for that kind of work”; and
it has not always mended matters when I have pointed out the
fact that we have in England perhaps the finest and most varied
area of glass-roofed climate in the world. Of course, I know
that men worried by business and routine have not the time to
devote to careful hybridising or cross-breeding and seed-saving ;
but is it too much to expect that some few amateurs in such a
wealthy country as is ours should take to the saving and rearing
of Chrysanthemum seeds, not for profit, but as a useful and
pleasant hobby, having some of the exciting attractions of racing
and of whist and chess combined? As a matter of fact, seeds
have been saved in England over and over again, and I believe
far more seeds have been thrown away unconsciously than have

CHRYSANTHEMUM SEEDS AND SEEDING. 165

been seen and preserved for sowing. I have saved seeds in Ire-
land from the golden pompon St. Michael as trained to a sunny
wall, and have now and then found good seeds in the heads of
Japanese varieties, which had ripened as they lay on the rubbish-
heap after having been cut from the plants.

When once good seed is secured, the rest is easy. Sown in
March in a gentle bottom heat of 65° to 70° I’. it germinates as
freely as Cress seed, and in a few weeks from sowing the plants
are large enough for pricking out in boxes or pans. Their after-
culture is similar to that of cuttings, and, as a rule, all the
seedlings flower the same year in which they are sown, 2.e., in
about eight or nine months from seed sowing.

The main good points raisers everywhere should strive to
obtain may be grouped under the following heads : -—

1. Constitutional Vigowr.—That best of all hardy kinds,
old Emperor of China, is the type of vigour and hardihood
desirable in new seedling Chrysanthemums. Hardy outdoor
kinds are most desirable.

2. Habit.—May vary, but dwarf and bushy habited kinds
fulfil the desires of the majority of growers, and a dwarf free-
flowering habit is a point worth striving for, even although by
adopting the ‘‘cutting-down”’ and other cultural methods, we
can render even the tallest kinds dwarfer than they naturally are.

3. Quality and Size of Blooms.—It ought to be more gene-
rally recognised that mere size is by no means an element in
beauty. Blooms of 9 to 12 inches in diameter are now not very
uncommon, and such blooms of good and refined quality are
quite large enough. Some of the smallest of Roses and Chrys-
anthemums are the most exquisite after all.

4. Shape or Form of Flower.—This again may be as variable
as size, and new forms are, of course, always to be welcomed,
seeing that variety is proverbially charming. Incurved flowers,
showing the backs of the florets, will never equal the reflexed or
Japanese varieties in colour, as in these the face of the florets is
shown. All forms are welcome. We want more quaint tlowers
of the Belle Paule, Fabian de Mediana, and Sceur Dorothée
Souille type—the so-called Japanese Anemone-flowered race.
In a word, let us emancipate ourselves from the dogma of the
old globe and circle school, and take our feast of beauty as nature
and art can best develop it to our hands. Beauty is not definable

166 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

by the compass or by the rule; the artist, the amateur, and the
decorator must be pleased, as well as the true and high-bred
florist so-called. The best of all beauty is perfect fitness for a
perfect use, and is not to be bounded by either circles or globes.

5. Texture of the Florets.—So far, as a rule, the florets of all
Chrysanthemums have been smooth, but Mrs. Alpheus Hardy,
one of the most remarkable varieties ever sent from Japan, and
exhibited here to-day for the first time, opens up a vista of tex-
tural possibilities and potentialities undreamed of before its
introduction to Europe. This variety, with Phebus, a heavy
yellow, ought to be welcomed by the seed-raiser as a new
departure indeed. We must try for a new raise of Chrysan-
themums having hairy or fringed florets—a result that is now
foreshadowed and sure to come.

6. Colour.—Our present range of colour is not so vast as to
preclude the hope of more variety. From yellow and white,
through pink and rose tints to orange and red (very brilliant in
Tokio), and crimsons of varying shades to purple, is at present
the range. So far we have no blue Chrysanthemum, and, in-
deed, blue-flowered composites generally are rare. Our native
Chicory plant is an exception to the rule. But twenty years
ago nobody ever expected to see a blue Chinese Primula, and yet
to-day it is very nearly obtained; and I think our Chrysan-
themum raisers should try for a seeding blue Chrysanthemum.
They may not succeed for a generation or two, but it is a result
sure to come sooner or later; and although people now alive
may never reach the end of the journey, what lovely varieties
will crop up by the way!

7. Perfume.—Belonging as does the Chrysanthemum to
that section of the composites (Anthemid@) which includes the
Yarrows, Camomiles, Tansy and Wormwoods, it is at once re-
markable as being the most agreeably fragrant of them all. The
Chrysanthemum flower is very often agreeably perfumed, and
the single white varieties as a class are the sweetest. Nearly all
the single-flowered kinds are more or less scented, and Progne
and Odorata are quite remarkable as deliciously perfumed
flowers, and a plant named St. Leonard in the Society’s
collection at Chiswick has also a Violet-like fragrance. The scent
of the Chrysanthemum is said to be of that sweet and healthful
character that has a good moral in it, and it is very different to

CHRYSANTHEMUM SEEDS AND SEEDING. 167

the luscious and demoralising sweetness of the Gardenia or the
Tuberose. Even the leaves and young shoots of the Chrysanthe-
mum are agreeably aromatic when pressed in the fingers. By
carefully selecting the sweetest varieties and judicious cross:
breeding much may be gained in this direction.

8. Time of Flowering.—This is important, as we want any
quantity of good early-flowering kinds of the Madame Des-
grange and Wm. Holmes types, as also vivid and_free-
blooming pompons like Golden Shah. Chrysanthemums that
are sure to flower well during September, October, and November
will add a wealth of colour to our parks and gardens everywhere.
I shall say no more on this head because our friend Mr. Piercy
has made this branch of the subject peculiarly his own, and is
waiting to tell you about them.

As to very late kinds, so far they have not proved so useful.
Meg Merrilies, Fleur de Marie, and the old Grandiflorum
often flower well into January, as do Roseum superbum and
other varieties after being cut down earlyinJune. Late blooms
are easily obtained by well-known cultural means of retarding
the growth and buds, but the early-blooming kinds must have
precocity inbred in them, and there are enormous potentialities
in this way yet to be developed.

Even the best of raisers in France, in England, in America,
anywhere in the whole world, so far as we at present know, have
never yet equalled the natives of Japan in their culture of this
flower from seed. The names of three or four Japanese seedlings
occur to me that are unique in their way, viz., Comte de Germiny,
Kdwin Molyneux, Mrs. Alpheus Hardy, Thunberg, and some
few others, and, from these and other known results, Japan
seems worth ransacking for varieties from one end to the other.
We may not find the “ true blue ” variety, but we should at least
be able to gather many new and beautiful forms in their native
land, and we might also establish a trade in the best and choicest
of Chrysanthemum seed with the natives of that interesting
country.

Nomenclature.—Not only should the final selection of seed-
lings be a rigid one, but their names should be as short and
euphonious as possible, and should in all cases be authenticated
by the name of the raiser. As things are, much time and labour
is wasted in writing long names, and as several popular names

168 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

are represented by two or more different varieties, the result is
often a matter of annoyance and confusion.

SUMMARY.

From the foregoing information it appears that the early or
summer-flowering Chrysanthemums produce seed more freely
than the late kinds, but that all kinds produce seeds from the
latest or starved blooms in a warm, dry, and airy atmosphere.
Single-flowered kinds seed most plentifully, and are also as arule
more fragrant than the double kinds, while the incurved varieties
produce seed most sparingly of all the sections, because deficient
in pollen. The fact of good seed having been ripened on flower-
heads cut from the plants and preserved in vessels of water in a
dry, warm, and airy greenhouse is very interesting, and would
be a method worth resorting to during damp and foggy seasons.
Iam also perfectly convinced that if half the keen observation
and ability displayed by the growers of large show blooms was
devoted to the practice of careful cross-breeding and seed-pro-
duction, we should soon equal any raisers in the world in the
production of new varieties. Even in Portugal and Spain, and
in the warm Southern States of America, where the Chrysanthe-
mum seeds spontaneously, there are many other climatic draw-
backs that neutralise success. Incurved varieties, for example,
cannot be grown in America, where a Peronospora attacks their
leaves and kills them off, and in Southern France the climate
also spoils them.

After all, no natural climate in the world can equal, all things
considered, our glass-house climate in many parts of England,
where the plants are absolutely under our control. I am sure
we are all free-traders, inasmuch as we gladly take the best
seedlings from America or France, or whencesoever they may
chance to come, but at the same time I think we should also do
our own best to originate more Chrysanthemums than we now
do. I believe it is a well-proved axiom that the plants best
suited to our gardens are the plants we raise from seeds grown
and sown under the climatic conditions in which they have to
live and thrive. People used to say we could not grow seedling
Roses in England, but it has been done, and our English seedling
Roses are equal to those of any other land. We must not blame
our climate as an excuse for our own shortcomings, and I will go

CHRYSANTHEMUM SEEDS AND SEEDING. 169

so far as to say that any plants which cannot be reared from
seeds in English gardens equal to the varieties from other coun-
tries are in the main unworthy of our culture.

In conclusion, I hope most sincerely that some amateurs,
with time and a love for this flower, will take up this phase
of Chrysanthemum culture as a speciality ; and, if they exhibit
some varieties with novel features or extra good qualities before
this Society, I feel sure that they will be rewarded as was
Mr. Wheeler half a century ago.

APPENDIX.

Dates and Authorities in reference to the Chrysanthemum.

1688. Breynius, Jakob (b. 1637, d. 1697), (? as cultivated im
Holland 1688-9).

1690. Van Rheede, tot Draakestein, Hortus Malabaricus (1678-
1703), t. 44, vol. x.

1712. Kempfer, Amoentates Exotice.

1750. Rumphius, Herbarium Amboinense (1741-55), t. 1, vol. v.

1753. Linneus, Species Plantarum (C. sinense, white flowers,
large, and C. wdicum, single white, and double small
yellow), rep. by Willd. 1764.

1764. Chelsea Bot. Gard., introd. 1754 and flowered previous to
1764. See Royal Society’s specimen (= Miller’s specimens,
No. 2,112, in British Museum).

1784. Thunberg, Flora Japonica (as Matricaria).

1789. Introduced into France by Ramatuelle, and cultivated by
M. Cels, then a celebrated nursery gardener of Paris, who
in 1790 sent the “Old Purple”’ (Bot. Mag. t. 327) to Kew.

1790. Loureiro, Flora Cochinchinensis.

1790. Introduced into Engiand by M. Cels from France, and first
flowered in Colvill’s Nursery, King’s Road, Chelsea, in 1795.

1792. Ramatuelle (as C. morifoliwm), Jour. d’Hist. Nat. vol. ii.
(Paris). See Hemsley, ante, p. 111.

1794. Moench, Method. Pl. 1794. Suppl. 1802.

1796. Curtis, Bot. Mag. t. 327. (The first large-flowered Chrys-
anthemum bloomed in England. ‘The variety was
called the ‘‘Old Purple,” and closely resembles the more
modern variety known as “‘ Dr. Sharpe ’’ to-day.)

1797. Willdenow, Species Plantarum (1797-1810).

170 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

1802. First ‘“sports’”’ appeared in England. The first was also the
first white Chrysanthemum in English gardens, and called
‘‘ The Changeable White,”’ or ‘‘ Tasselled White.” It was
a “ sport’’ from the ‘‘Old or Tasselled Purple’ as first
introduced, and resembled it in all points save colour.
(Haworth.) First “sport’’ white from ‘‘ Old Purple,’’ and
a pale pink “ sport ’’ from the ‘‘ Changeable Buff.”

1809. Desfontaines, Hist. des arbres, etc., vol. 1. p. 316.

1813. Aiton, Hortus Kewiensis, ed. 2, vol. v.

1821. Wells, First Essay on Cult., Trans. R.H.S. vol. iv. p. 572.
Redleaf, near Tunbridge, Dec. 2, 1821. (This essay struck
the keynote of all subsequent culture.)

1823-4. Chrysanthemum wvolutum. First “wceurved”’ var.
Sweet’s Brit. Fl. Gard. vol. i.

1824-6. Sabine, Hort. Trans. 1821-1826, p. 326, etc. ; 1824, vol. vi.
p- 412; 1826, p. 8322. (Twenty-seven introduced varieties
from China, including “sports” appearing in English gar-
dens, were cultivated at Chiswick up to 1824.) (Sabine.)

1825. First Chrysanthemum exhibition at Chiswick (700 pots).

1826. First French seedlings by M. Bernet.

1830. First English seedlings by Mr. Wheeler, for which a
Banksian Medal was awarded by the Royal Horticultural
Society, December 4, 1832. First Chrysanthemum show
held at Norwich.

1832. Forty-nine varieties of Chrysanthemums grown at Chiswick
for the Royal Horticultural Society. First arrangement
of varieties into sections suggested by Mr. Douglas Munro,
F.L.8., and published in Hort. Trans. vol i. (2nd series).

1883. Haworth, Loudon’s Gard. Mag. vol. ix. p. 218, rep.
Jan. 1833. (The first good classification, etc., and mention
of the first English seedlings, “ sports,’’ etc.).

1845. Small-flowered or Pompon Chrysanthemum introduced by
Mr. Fortune, viz. ‘“ Chusan Daisy ”’ and Chinese ‘ mini-
mL 37

1846. First competitive Chrysanthemum show for cut blooms
held in England, at Stoke Newington.

1862. Japanese Chrysanthemums introduced by Mr. Fortune
(seven varieties).

1865. Salter, “The Chrysanthemum.”

1884-5. Burbidge, “The Chrysanthemum: its History and
Culture.”

CHRYSANTHEMUM SEEDS AND SEEDING. T7i

1588. Forbes and Hemsley, Jour. Linn. Soc. vol. xxiii. p. 487,
and p. 438-9, Synonymy and Distribution in a Wild
State.

1889. Hemsley, W. Botting, Gardeners’ Chronicle, third series,
vol. vi. History, amended Synonymy, and Distribution.
The Synonymy is repeated in this volume, ante, p. 111.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. W. B. Hemstry drew attention to a selection of dried
specimens of wild and cultivated Chrysanthemums from the Kew
Herbarium, exhibited by the Director of the Royal Gardens,
Kew, and observed that Mr. Burbidge had said that all the races
of cultivated Chrysanthemums had descended from one wild
species, namely, C. mdicuwm. The botanical idea of species was
somewhat different from that of horticulturists, but botanists
endeavoured to make useful limits. Hewas not prepared to say
that Mr. Burbidge was wrong in his opinion, but would point out
the characteristics of the wild forms believed to be concerned in
the parentage of the cultivatedraces. Chrysanthemum indicum
in the wild state was usually a plant of moderate stature, with
relatively thin, much cut leaves, and numerous small wholly
yellow flower-heads. It ranged from Peking to Hong Kong, and
in the southern part of the area the flower-heads were larger and
less numerous. Possibly some of these specimens might have
been cultivated, hence their greater luxuriance. Double-flowered
C. indicum was cultivated throughout India, as well as in China,
and was, he believed, invariably yellow.

Mr. Maxtmowicz, who had travelled widely in China and
Japan, was of opinion that the cultivated Chrysanthemums had
descended, variously blended, from two distinct wild species,
namely, C. indicum, and another from North China and Japan,
which he (Maximowicz) regarded as C. sinense (morifoliwm).
This was a very slender plant, with small, almost or quite
glabrous leaves and moderate-sized tiuwe--heads, with a yellow
disc and bright rose-coloured ray. Mr. rlemsley, however, did
not consider it probable that this form, which he had named
C. morifolium, var. gracile, had been directly concerned in the
parentage of cultivated Chrysanthemums, and pointed out
specimens of a very different plant, recently collected in Central
China by Dr. A. Henry. This was a very robust plant, with

172 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

thick, leathery leaves, very variable in shape and degree of
cutting, and densely clothed with a white tomentum on the
under surface. The flower-heads were large, with thick woolly
bracts, a yellow disc, and a white ray. A similar plant, with
very rounded lobes to the leaves, had long previously been col-
lected in the Loo-Choo Islands. These plants Mr. Hemsley
regarded as typical C. morifoliwm (sinense), and their almost
exact counterparts in foliage and involucral bracts were pointed
out in the double-flowered varieties exhibited. The three wild
forms exhibited could not, with practical utility, be united as
varieties of one species. In botanical matters they could not fix
varieties in the same way that florists did. They had to deal
with the wild material, and name it in the most convenient way
they could—usually from dried specimens ; and he was convinced
that to throw these three forms together would not make what
he had called a useful or intelligible species.

DWARFING AND GROUPING CHRYSANTHEMUMS.
By Mr. C. Orncuarp.

In advocating the practice of cutting down, thereby dwarfing the
Chrysanthemum plant, I am encouraged by the many excellent
examples that it has been my pleasure to see in various parts of
the country this season. Compared with what was generally
seen a few years ago, these show a marked improvement in the
streneth of the plant and the substance of the flower; and I
doubt not that many more will eventually be induced to try the
system, to obtain suitable plants for conservatory and other home
decorations, or for competitive groups at exhibitions.

There has been much diversity of opinion amongst growers
as to the merits or demerits of the cutting-down system as com-
pared with the right-away or natural system, but I must again
say there is but little analogy between the two; and in advo-
cating the cutting-down system, I have never contended that it
should supersede the orthodox way of growing the large exhibi-
tion blooms that have been produced by the natural system of
our leading exhibitors; but I do contend that many of the plants
that produce these large blooms are very unsightly, and that
dwarf plants with good healthy dark-green foliage can be grown

DWARFING AND GROUPING CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 173

to produce flowers of large size and substance, without coarseness,
in their true character and colour, and that such plants are more
ornamental and have much to recommend them. There is an
advantage in their not requiring the same amount of staking and
supporting through the summer months, neither do they require
so much head-room when housed in the autumn. They can be
flowered in a low-pitched vinery or peach-house, or on the stage
of a greenhouse, previously to being arranged in the conserva-
tory if required. There is also this advantage, which to the
professional gardener, who cultivates a large collection of Chrys-
anthemums, is important: there is a fortnight’s relief after the
plants have been cut down, when they require but very little
attention. The potting-up being delayed for that period, more
time can be given to bedding-out, grape-thinning, or the thou-
sand and one things which claim the gardener’s attention at a
very busy time of the year. I can understand cultivators keep-
ing aloof from the system at first. It is totally opposed to the
orthodox way of growing the plant, and it would appear a
erievous sacrifice of a fine stock of plants to cut them to the
eround at a time when they seem to be repaying you for your
attention during the spring. I must say, if we had had more
varieties of the type and habit of Avalanche, Mrs. Falconer
Jameson, and Monsieur Freeman, the system would not have
_ been so forced on me, but exhibitors generally will encourage
any variety that produces large flowers, no matter how tall and
ugly the habit of the plant may be.

Details of striking the cuttings, potting-up, air-giving, soils
and manures, are purposely avoided in this paper. Much has
been written on the subject, and, although it is very important
that these details should be attended to, success depends much
more on the close attention given to plants from day to day.
Many young beginners imagine that if they could only find out
the proper soil or the proper manure, or if they only had the
conveniences their neighbours have, their success would be
assured. But itis not so. A few days’ neglect will undo the work
of a whole season, no matter how closely the other details have
been adhered to ; soI would impress upon my hearers the impor-
tance of doing what appears to them to be the proper thing at
the proper time, and make a note of the same, but yet not to
expect that they will command complete success the first season,

174 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

for it is by experience that we gain practical knowledge.
Although I avoid the details alluded to. cultivation must come
in, for after all the dwarfing system is but another phase in the
cultivation which shows the adaptability of the plant to all cir-
cumstances. ‘To achieve the greatest success it is absolutely
necessary to have a good start with strong healthy cuttings,
struck in single pots, and repotted on in the usual manner into
4-inch or 6-inch pots. By the month of May these should be
standing out of doors in an open position, either on boards, tiles,
or a good bed of cinder ashes, with plenty of room between them
—strong, sturdy plants, with their pots full of roots. While in
small pots, whether before the first or second shift, or as soon as
the roots have reached the sides of the pots, they should be
watered at every watering with weak liquid manure; some of the
erossest feeders will require it twice on some days. The pots
being full of roots, the wood becomes solidified, and the liquid
manure keeps them strong and robust, giving plenty of root
action, which constitutes the driving-power that is necessary to
produce the new wood and foliage, and subsequently the flower-
bud, in the three months that follow after having been cut down.
Water should not be withheld for any length of time either before
or after the cutting down ; if kept dry the root action would be
too much checked. One day is sufficient before the operation,
and they may be sprinkled or syringed the day after, and so on
every day until they break, when they will require more
water.

Before cutting down one must have the object in view for
which he is aiming; be it for conservatory grouping, the height
of the background from which he intends to form the group
should be considered, and some left taller accordingly ; if for
competitive grouping at exhibitions, the number of dwarf plants
required for the front, and the medium height and taller plants
for the body of the group, must be taken into consideration. But
let me observe that, if the whole collection were cut right down,
there is such a diversity in their habits that with the one break
you would get plants ranging from 1 foot 6 inches to 6 feet in
height. But if this were put into practice, it would bring the
sections and varieties too close together in the group, which is
neither desirable or necessary.

From the 1st to the 14th of June is my time for cutting down.

DWARFING AND GROUPING CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 175

The plants should then be in the following stages of growth: the
earliest varieties, such as Mr. Bunn, Beverley, Prince Alfred,
and Lord Wolseley, will have made their first natural break,
ranging in length from 3 inches to 9 inches. The Queens and
other medium varieties, and also the later ones, such as Boule d’Or,
Grandiflorum, Golden Dragon, Meg Merrilies, Princess Teck, and
others of that type, will be in various stages ranging from 1-inch
to’ 6-inch breaks. I commence about the 1st of June with
Boule d'Or, Golden Dragon, Meg Merrilies, Pelican, Princess
Teck, and other late varieties, to cut them down to within 2 inches,
4 inches, or 9 inches from the pot, leaving the foliage on them.
For the convenience of watering, I place them together as they
are cut down. At the interval of two or three days I cut down
another batch, and so on periodically, finishing with the earliest
varieties. With careful attention to syringing and watering,
they soon break into strong shoots, mostly from the stem,
but sometimes throwing up strongly from the base. When the
shoots are from 1 inch to 2 inches long, I thin out the weakest,
leaving three, four, or five of the strongest. Aiter a few days,
when the young breaks are from 3 to 6 inches long, they should
be repotted into their flowering pots. I find 7-inch or 9-inch
pots the most convenient sizes for grouping, and, by judicious
feeding, good plants and blooms can be grown in the sizes men-
tioned. A few of the back-row plants may, however, be put into
10-inch pots. I would just say a good rich loamy soil should
be used, but I prefer unfermented leaf-mould from the woods, if
procurable, to half-decayed animal manure, as is sometimes used.
Bone-dust or horn-shavings should be mixed with the soil, and
half-inch bones used for drainage. They should be potted firm,
leaving room for a top-dressing of a fertilising manure and a
little fine soil at housing time. After repotting they should be
stood out again in an open position with plenty of light between
them, pinching out all surplus laterals or offshoots as they
make their appearance.

The flower-buds should be showing on the points of these
breaks from the first to the third week in August. All side-
shoots should be removed and the centre flower-bud only left;
if any should be subsequently found blind, I remove the shoot
altogether, to throw the strength into the other flowers.

One of the most important things to be considered in group-

176 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ing is one that is often done in a slip-shod way—I allude to the
system of staking and supporting the plants and flowers. Some-
times large white deal sticks are used, or heavy painted ones, tied
close up to the base of the flowers. Such stiff and clumsy supports
are most objectionable, and oft-times the sticks show more pro-
minently than the flowers. The best for the purpose are small
hazel shoots commonly called chisel rods; failing these, the
shoots of the brown willow that are used for basket-making are
the best for the dwarfest plants ; these run different sizes, and it
is best to select a stick of about the substance of the shoot to be
supported, using one stick to each shoot, andframing the plant into
shape whilst proceeding, 2.c. if the plant has three shoots I should
triangle them, if four I should place them in a square or diamond
shape, making the shortest side the front of the plant. And it
is very important, whether the plant be standing out of doors or
under glass, to always keep the shortest side of the plant facing
the light, so that the foliage should grow and keep that way, making
a face to the plant ; this is especially important for the dwarfest
of the plants, that would be required for the front row or facing
to the group.

After the plants are housed and the blooms begin to show
colour, it is necessary then to give support to the flowers. I
use galvanised wire supports to each of the blooms. By that
time the plant will have made its full growth, and the wire-
support can be fixed into position, 7.e., the stick shortened back
to below the foliage and the wire tied firmly to it. I adopted
wire on account of its neatness and pliability, for sometimes
a bloom is stubborn and will turn the reverse way; the wire
then can be bent to face the flower in any position. Nos. 14,
15, and 16 gauges are the proper sizes necessary ; No. 14, being
the stoutest, would be required for the heaviest blooms, and
No. 16 for the smallest. They are twisted with a hook or a
circle at the top. The crutch should be pressed up underneath
the flower-head, and tied firmly close up to the top, and in about
two or three other places. The circle should be used for the
largest flowers, and the hook for the smallest ; they give a great
support to the flowers in travelling to the place of exhibition,
and for grouping generally add a light and natural freedom to
the plant, in contrast to the stiff and heavy stakes tied close up
to the flower.

DWARFING AND GROUPING CIIRYSANTHEMUMS. Lt7

GROUPING.

In competitive groups at exhibitions there should be dwarf-
ness without being too squatty, 7z.e., the plants should be
arranged with a gentle slope, so that each flower stands out
separately to meet the eye of the spectator, and sticks and ties
should have to be searched for to be seen. The arrangement of
colours should harmonise, and be evenly balanced ; the foliage
should be of a dark and healthy green to form a good ground-
work to the flowers, that on the front plants coming down to the
pots. The front row should all be stood on the ground or floor ;
if elevated on pots or blocks it spoils the finish and contour of
the group; the usual size, and one that suits the general body
of exhibitors, is an arrangement in a space of 40 square feet,
made in the shape of a capital letter D. This takes from 90
to 100 plants to fill, a sufficient number to give variety to the
arrangement, and for placing in position in the time usually
allowed on the morning of the exhibition. The best effect
would be gained by having the back rows about 6 feet in height,
sloping down to 1 foot 9 or 2 feet in front. The group should
also slope a little towards the sides. I usually place my back
plants in position first, using a few stouter stakes to give firmness
and support, in case any of the others should require lacing back
to them. I use fine bouquet wire instead of bass for lacing any
flower in position, if required. It is best to put down the two or
three front plants first on the line, and also one or two down the
centre as guide plants to work to. By experience and practice
one can tell pretty well the position of each plant, which should
be selected and placed in position, if possible, at home before leav-
ing for the exhibition. It is essential for the exhibitor to know
the exact shape of the arrangement before leaving home, for
some shapes require more front row plants than others. There-
fore it would be well if all framers of schedules or superinten-
dents of exhibitions would give the shape of the group as well
as the superficial size, and adhere to it, for it is provoking to an
exhibitor to prepare for a half-circle and then find that he is
pressed into an oblong to make room for other exhibits, and
then not having sufficient plants to finish off with. There
should be an equal mixture of incurved and Japanese used, includ-
ing a few large Anemones of both sections ; but Pompons should
not be used if possible—they give a weakness to small groups.

N

178 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Some of the best and dwarfest varieties to grow for the front
plants are Maggie Mitchell, Fleur Parfait, Mawet Postula,
Mons. Freeman, Val d’Andorre, Triomphe du Nord, Chevalier
Domage, Criterion, Mme. de Sevin, Mlle. Lacroix, Avalanche,
Mrs. F. Jameson, Barbara, Princess Beatrice, Hero of Stoke
Newington, Princess Teck, and others. In the case of larger
groups, of course a greater number of the same variety could
be used without causing a sameness; but large bushy heads
of any one kind introduced neither adds to the merits or
the attraction of a group. The colours and sections should be
arranged evenly, without too much formality ; the flowers should
be of good quality, and not too crowded, but, on the other hand,
full enough to give solidity to the arrangement ; there should be
a natural freedom about it that would contrast most favourably
with a stiff and formal arrangement. I never use more than
three or four of one variety in a small group. The charm and
attraction is the variety it contains, and the searching out of
them, if they be of good quality and true to character, is a great
pleasure to visitors at an exhibition. In arranging flowers at
home one must be guided entirely by the construction of the
house and other circumstances. Most tasteful arrangements can
be made in a greenhouse or vinery provided with shelves along
the front or back of the house by first takmg the stakes out of
the plants and standing the pots on the shelves, and tying or
suspending them to the wires and allowing the flowers to hang
over. By judiciously arranging a tall and short plant alternately,
a perfect bower of Chrysanthemums can be formed, although it
does not look so natural; the incurved variety looks and keeps
well in this manner. In conservatories where Camellias are
planted out, the plants could be stood amongst them, the
foliage of the Camellias forming a good groundwork to the flowers
of the Chrysanthemums, which has a very pretty effect. I
need scarcely say that tall, naturally grown plants are the best
adapted for either of these arrangements. Where space will
admit in a conservatory, I prefer a good large bold group
arranged on the floor; it has a more imposing effect, and in
greater contrast to the mixed groups of the usual summer occu-
pants of the conservatory. Palms or other foliage plants can be
used for the background, and some of the tallest should be
arranged loosely and freely at the back; but, for the bulk, it

DWARFING AND GROUPING CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 179

quite pays to wire and stake the flowers as recommended for
exhibition grouping. Pots of Selaginella denticulata and
Maiden-hair Fern should be grown and placed in front of the
groups to hide the pots and give a finish to the whole arrange-
ment.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. Hipperp asked what difference in the time of flowering
was caused by the practice of cutting down ?

Mr. OrcHarp replied that the flowering was delayed about a
fortnight, and one great advantage of the system was, that you
could, so to speak, handicap the naturally earher blooming plants
by cutting down the late bloomers first, and the early ones last,
and thus bring them all into bloom at the same time.

GROWING CHRYSANTHEMUMS FOR PROFIT.
By Mr. Cuarues Pearson, F.R.H.S.

In treating of the Chrysanthemum from the commercial or
money-making point of view, the subject divides itself naturally
under two headings, viz., ‘‘ pot plants’’ and ‘‘ cut flowers.”’ I
propose to give the second heading the preference, as being much
the more important, for while the Chrysanthemum is but indif-
ferently adapted to decorative purposes as a pot plant, it lends
itself readily to almost every purpose for which cut flowers are
used—the flowers having a wide range of colour, lasting well,
and looking well under artificial hght ; in addition to which they
make their appearance in the dreariest season of the year, when
other flowers are chiefly conspicuous by their absence. The
first point to be observed is to make a selection of varieties which
will give you an unbroken succession of bloom through the
Chrysanthemum season, and these varieties must be of such
colours and form as will suit the popular taste.

The Chrysanthemum season proper may be said to last from
the end of September to the middle of January, and though
three or four months may be added to this period by means of
summer bloomers, and by artificially retarding some of the later
kinds, I think the attempt is rather to be deprecated than en-

couraged, as if the public be surfeited with Chrysanthemums
N 2

180 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

in season and out of season they will soon begin to tire of and
dub them common, after which their decline will be rapid.

As regards colour, of course white is by far the most impor-
tant, after which the most distinct shades of red, crimson, and
yellow should be chosen, not forgetting to include a fair propor-
tion of golden bronze, as this shade is very popular and appears
likely to continue so for some time ; avoid carefully all shades of
pink, purple, and mauve, as the fair sex now almost universally
holds these in abomination. In respect to form, the more grace-
ful varieties of the Japanese type are by far the most saleable, as
most of the best florists now refuse to touch any of the buttony
type of flowers and the heaviest of both Japanese and incurved,
though there is still a fair demand for nice blooms of the Rundle
family.

Perhaps the most important question in growing for cut
flowers is whether it is more profitable to go in for quantity or
quality, the answer, I think, depending entirely upon the market
to be supplied. The finest blooms can, of course, only be pro-
duced by rigid disbudding, and it is only in London and one or
two of our largest cities where sufficiently high prices can be
obtained to reimburse the grower for this. Where, however,
the demand exists it pays to cater for it, as the market is never
glutted with really first-class stuff, while, as everyone who has
had any experience as a salesman knows, there is often such a
plethora of inferior blooms that their disposal at anything lke
the cost of production is an impossibility.

On the whole, the best-paying blooms are those grown on
fairly bushy plants which have been stopped once or twice and
then disbudded to the terminal buds. In speaking above of high-
class flowers it must not be supposed that such blooms as would
take first prize at a good show are meant (a writer in a leading
horticultural paper last season estimates the cost of producing
these at five shillings each), but blooms above the average in
size and sufficiently well developed to thoroughly bring out the
characteristic points of the variety.

It should be mentioned here that a few varieties should never
be disbudded at all ; these consist of kinds such as Roi des Pré-
coces and Source d’Or, which bloom in clusters, opening all their
flowers well together, and are very little increased in size by the
process of thinning.

GROWING CHRYSANTHEMUMS FOR PROFIT. 181

While discussing quantity and quality, the rough-and-ready
method practised by many of the market men of planting out
Chrysanthemums during the summer should be considered. By
planting out in May, and lifting before the autumn frosts, a
great saving of labour in potting and watering is effected, and
this through the hottest months, when the pressure of work in
the nursery is the greatest; on the other hand, it must be
remembered that the labour of housing plants that have to be
lifted is much greater than if they were in pots; also, in the case
of sudden frost, they cannot be laid down and covered as pot
plants can, and, what is much more important, the plants always
receive a check in transplanting, however carefully it may be
effected, and the flowers are in consequence never of really good
quality. The planting-out system can, I think, only be recom-
mended where labour is very dear, and the market for cheap
better than for high-class flowers. I have myself given it up
in favour of growing three plants in a 12-inch pot, which, by
stopping once or twice in spring, form great bushes, producing
large quantities of flowers of good average quality. Such large
pots are rather unusual, most growers preferring single plants
in 7- and 8-inch pots; these, however, require looking over
for water three times daily in hot weather, while the large
ones do with once or twice—a difference worth serious con-
sideration.

In enumerating the most profitable varieties, I will com-
mence with half a dozen of the summer bloomers, though I
do not recommend anyone to go in for them heavily, except in
the neighbourhood of our largest cities, where there is generally
a certain demand for any attractive flower which will last well,
as they flower when both private gardens and the markets are
full of Dahlias, Asters, Roses, &¢., in addition to which many of
the best buyers are away at holiday resorts. These are—Flora,
bright yellow, good shape, an improvement on Précocité, which
often produces a large percentage of one-sided blooms; Piercy’s
Seedling, golden bronze, very free; Jardin des Plantes, white ;
L’Ami Couderchet, pale primrose, a beautiful shade of colour ;
Mignon, golden yellow, very dwarf, a model summer-flowering
kind; Lyon, rosy purple.

To succeed the above, Mme. Desgrange, and its beautiful
sports Wermig, Burrell, and Mrs. Hawkins, should be grown

182 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

in quantity, the most economical way of doing so being to plant
them out in good soil in beds 10 or 12 feet wide, where they
will only require keeping free from weeds and an occasional
soak of water through the summer, with attention to earwigs,
when the buds show, if numerous. As soon as the buds show
colour put up a rough framework of light scantling over them,
so that two frame-lights will just reach over the bed; this will
keep the flowers clean, and, with a few mats round the sides,
will form ample protection against any frost which may be
expected before the bloom is cut. The value of a crop of
Desgranges varies considerably with the seasons, being some-
times rather a drug in the market, but, when an early frost clears
off all tender flowers before the harvest festivals begin, it pays
better than the later kinds.

For cutting from October to January I have chosen eighteen
varieties, an apparently small selection when we hear of collec-
tions of five or six hundred kinds, but one hundred, I think, will
be found to pay better than a more extended list ; indeed, some
of the largest growers restrict themselves to even a more
limited number.

For the beginning of October, La Vierge and Mrs. Culling-
ford, both good whites, though a little stiff in shape ; after them
comes Roi des Précoces, dark crimson, one of the best cut-flower
kinds in existence, the colour, form, and habit being all excel-
lent—the fact that one firm has this year grown 20,000 plants for
cutting being not a bad testimonial to its merits.

A good companion to the above will, I think, be found in
Capucine, when better known, as it is similar in habit, but a
bright golden amber in colour. This variety was put in com-
merce by Boucharlet last year, and received an award of merit
from the Royal Horticultural Society.

The next two varieties on my list, Lady Selborne and
Mlle. Lacroix, both white, are valuable as filling a gap in the
succession, but are neither of them perfect, the colour not being
absolutely pure; and, as neither of them last long in perfection,
they must be marketed as soon as fully open. Flowering about
the same time as the pair above mentioned is William Holmes,
so bright in colour as to raise hopes that it is the forerunner
of a real scarlet in the near future, and so well known as a
splendid all-round sort that it is superfluous to more than

GROWING CHRYSANTHEMUMS FOR PROFIT. 188

mention its name. Our next, Elaine, is perhaps as near per-
fection as we can hope to get, especially in purity of colour,
nearly all other whites looking yellow beside it, and, if it
could be had earlier in the season, I think Lady Selborne and
Lacroix would disappear from the market. I have tried to get
it early by early striking, and taking the crown buds, but after
several trials have given up the attempt, as though the plants
promised splendidly, the blooms came very rough and quite out
of character, indeed hardly recognisable. A useful late crop of
Elaines may often be had from early plants which have grown
exhibition blooms, as, if the stems are strong and well ripened,
they will, after being headed and placed in a light house, break
and bloom all the way down. Of course the flowers will be
small, but they come ata time when anything pure white is
acceptable.

Source d’Or, golden bronze and orange, is one of the most
beautiful Chrysanthemums existing, and always sells wellin a cut
state. As remarked before, it should always be flowered naturally
in clusters, as it is much more beautiful in this form, while the
flowers are scarcely increased in size by disbudding. A newer
kind, Charles Delmar, in somewhat similar colour, but more
ruddy, will be found valuable for succession, being free and of
very good habit. The last of the mid-season kinds I shal! men-
tion is Cullingfordii, invaluable for its colour, a grand rich crimson.

The first of the late kinds is Fair Maid of Guernsey, a
grand old favourite. The flowers, though somewhat loose in
form, are very pure, and work well into all kinds of wreaths and
other funereal arrangements. It should be carefully noted that
the ‘‘ Fair Maid”’ is very susceptible to injury from frost, three or
four degrees sufficing to spoil every bud. It shouid not, therefore,
be left outside too long in the hope of retarding it, or the whole
crop may be lost. Another late white, Fleur de Marie, a very
pretty Anemone-flowered kind, is a favourite with some of the
growers for Covent Garden, but has never been profitable with
me. Itis a delicate grower, and unless well done many of its
flowers are defective ; at its best it produces but a scanty crop of
blooms, and unless these fetch a good figure it will lose money
for the grower.

Among the later kinds Fulton stands out prominently
when well done, its rich golden yellow not being surpassed by

184 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

any other variety ; it is, however, a safer plant for the southern
than the northern grower, as, in common with other late sorts, it.
is apt to show a preponderance of blind shoots in dull seasons,
when the wood does not ripen properly.

The number of Chrysanthemums flowering after Christmas
is very limited, and the profitable ones may be counted on the
hand; two of the best are Boule de Neige and Golden Gem,
white and yellow, as the names imply. In habit, &e., they are
very similar, being dwarf and sturdy; the flowers are a nice,
useful size, though just a trifle stiff, the petals being short and
straight.

The last on my lst, Mme. Pages, I have never seen outside
our own collection ; its fault is its lanky habit, the plantsrunning
up to about 7 feet; it is nevertheless very valuable, blooming
naturally up to the end of January. The flowers are Jap in type,
and last well for a fortnight or so; on first opening, the centre
is lemon-yellow, but the whole bloom becomes white with age.

It will be noticed that the above list contains no Pompon
or single kinds. The latter, though very pretty, will not
travel; while the Pompons are too round and stiff to suit the
modern taste. If I did include one Pompon, it would be
Snowdrop, a pretty little miniature white, very pure, and in late
seasons lasting up to Christmas.

My time is so nearly gone that I cannot say much about the
Chrysanthemum as a market plant, more than just to give a
list of the most suitable varieties to grow. These are chosen
principally for their dwarf habit and freedom in flowering, as it
is obvious that a kind producing two or three flowers (however
beautiful) on the top of a lanky stem is useless as a decorative
plant. The following is my selection :---

Summer Bloomers.—Mignon, yellow; L’Ami Couderchet,
primrose; Piercy’s Seedling, bronze; Souv. de M. Rampont,
purple ; White St. Crouts and Mme. Leoni Lassali, ivory white ;
the Desgrange family ; La Vierge, white; Alex. Dufour,
purple; Roi des Précoces, crimson ; Capucine, bronze; William
Holmes, bright crimson ; Isidore Feral, pink; Sceur Melanie,
white ; Cedo Nulli (in three colours), and Précocité, bronze red
(of Délaux, not the early yellow).

In addition to the above, useful little plants may be made by
striking any free-flowering variety of good habit, very late in

GROWING CHRYSANTHEMUMS FOR PROFIT. 185

the season. The cuttings should be inserted the end of June
or early in July, giving them a shady place under a north wall.
When well rooted pot on into 5-inch pots, giving plenty of
elbow room, to prevent drawing. The cuttings are taken from
a few old stumps planted out for the purpose ; or, in case of the
Pompons, which will bear late stopping, from the tops of the
strongest leaders on the sale plants.

You will observe that in my selection for plants I have not
included anything flowering later than the end of October, as I
do not think the late varieties pay at all as pot plants. The
reason is that, if placed too closely when housed, they lose all the
lower foliage and become unsightly; while to give sufficient
space to ensure good foliage to the pot, means that the house will
take less than a quarter the number it would hold if intended
for cutting.

Any remarks on the commercial aspect of Chrysanthemum
growing would be incomplete without some reference to the
exceptionally early frosts which have visited many districts
lately, and made such havoc with the plants that the title of my
paper will appear unpleasantly ironical to many growers. It is
not advisable, I think, to go in for housing the plants much
before October 1, as the blooms suffer seriously if placed under
glass too early, especially if the weather be warm and close, in
addition to which the houses are not generally ready for their
reception before that date. On the other hand, the erection of
light framework, to carry rollers and tiffany in the fashion of
greenhouse blinds, as has been proposed, would be so expensive,
where the plants are grown in large quantities, as to absorb any
probable profits. If these early frosts attacked the whole country
equally, an enterprising man might recoup himself for the cost
of protection by the enhanced prices he would obtain owing to
the scarcity following them; but as they are generally very
local, he would probably have to compete in the market against
men whcse flowers had escaped without the cost of sheltering.

I have come to the conclusion that in this matter we shall
have to go on as we are, taking comfort from the fact that we
have to go back nearly forty years to find parallels to the Sep-
tember frosts of the last few seasons, and hoping that another
forty may elapse before we are called to exercise our ingenuity in
providing against them again.

186 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

SUMMER AND EARLY AUTUMN CHRYSANTHEMUMS.
By Mr. W. Piercy.

By early-flowering Chrysanthemums I mean such as flower
naturally before the beginning of October, and call such as
bloom during that month semi-early, these terms being about
equal to the French descriptions précocé and hatif.

I have in my paper before the National Chrysanthemum
Society on these sorts, reported in the Gardeners’ Magazine of
September 21st, and Journal of Horticulture, September 19th,
1889, dealt somewhat with the modern history of these early
sorts, which began about 1868, and said also some little as to
their ancient record before that date. I have a number of printed
and written lists previous to that time, and my friend Mr.
Harman Payne has kindly supplied me with several scarce ones,
but I think that my limited space will be better used in the con-
sideration of the present and future than in dealing with the
dead past, which I value chiefly as hghting up the immense
future and progress of the present time ; besides, I know but one
really good old sort that is not surpassed, and that is Frederick
Pelé, a crimson Pompon, which, probably, is not beaten because
crimsons are so very scarce.

The main uses of early varieties are not so much to win
prizes, of which there are few offered at present, and which
somewhat militates against their more rapid development, as de-
corative ground and pot plants. During the months of September
and October they are mostly useful to supply vast masses of cut
flowers. .They, except a few sorts such as the Desgrange family,
do not show their most valuable qualities as the bud-picked
plants of the late show kinds, but their excellences are seen when
more naturally grown. The points of the best varieties in the
late sorts have to be judged from an exhibition point of view,
so much so that the minds of many judges of the late sorts become
so moulded to judge of plants and fiowers of that description,
that there are very few indeed fully competent to detect the most
valuable features of these early kinds; in fact, unless some con-
siderable experience in the positive practical culture of them has
been had, I do not think it possible that a proper and efficient
decision can be obtained. My opinion is, that we have not only

SUMMER AND EARLY AUTUMN CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 187

to grow new sorts, but, so to speak, to cultivate the judges of
them and develop the taste. Hitherto, with the late sorts, we
may consider they have been exotics in the climate of England,
requiring the aid of glass to flower them, that flowering being
too late to hope for seed ; and even when, by extraordinary care,
early shoots were bloomed soon in the season under glass, there
was wanting the aid of vast numbers of flies, bees, and other
flying things so essential and prevalent in July and August. When
I first found that Nanuwm, the ‘“‘ Sistou’’ of the French, bloomed
in May and June, and that the wild English Chrysanthemum
leucanthemum, or Ox-eye Daisy, bloomed in May and ripened
eood seed, I quite expected to get good seed from it also; but for
years I failed with that and other early sorts, till the conclusion
came that all these beautiful double flowers, if perfect, were
females without pollen. This seems correct, for if a good double
sort is grown in a poor, starved way, there will sometimes be
what we call a weedy eye in the blooms, and this weedy eye is the
seat of the florets that produce the pollen, and, as far as my
experience goes, leads me to the conclusion that the florets of
this weedy eye are both male and female. Thus, then, if we
have quite double flowers and want seed of them, we must have
erowing near at hand, and in bloom at the same time, either poor
flowers of the same sort, or, probably, what is much better, single
or semi-double plants of other sorts. This belief is confirmed from
the fact that I have raised good seed and seedlings from Salter’s
Karly Blush, which was quite double, and as fine a plant of that
sort as L ever grew. Mr. Adam Forsaith has said that ‘ hybrid-
ising the Chrysanthemum is fudge !’’ (See Gardeners’ Magazine,
April 20, 1872 ; in Burbidge’s ‘‘ The Chrysanthemum,” page 45.)
But thisis quite wrong. Dr. Walcott, of New York, has done this
artificially, and the semi-early variety, Sam Henshaw, is one
of the direct results of a cross between Viceroy of Egypt and
Comte de Germiny; and though my own seed was not obtained
by a regular cross, but by the natural action of flies and bees, the
plants and sorts thus produced are quite as valuable, though
perhaps a greater quantity of seedlings have to be raised to pro-
cure one good sort from the seed naturally fertilised. Generally
speaking, probably from 200 to 400 seedlings would have to be
raised my way to get one worth saving, but I do not know Dr.
Walcott’s or any other raiser’s experience in that respect.

188 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Karly Chrysanthemums, like many other plants, have a ten-
dency to sport, firstly from seed, and secondly as plants.

Sports from seed all gardeners and growers are familiar with,
and are called ‘‘rogues’’ because they do not come like the parents.
Many of us have to unlearn as cultivators what we were taught
at school, viz., that everything came after its kind, but we find
that from seed this is only soin a limited degree. When we come
to think of the strange jumps from the parent in Chrysanthe-
mums, and that the seed of a poor nearly single light pink sort
should produce such a beautiful little double white as the Duchess
of Fife, we are astonished. ‘There is no missing link, but a leap
at one bound to a plant of a totally different sort. It seems to
me that there are some other missing links that will never be
found, because they never existed. Aithough it is not yet quite
demonstrated that what we consider living things are by the
laws of nature evolved from inorganic matter, 1t seems most pro-
bable that very various species can be evolved from one another
if only time and circumstances are long and wide enough. In
the case of seedling Chrysanthemums, the progress is not
obtained, as in some other plants; bit by bit, a little strain each
season selected from among a great number, but apparently
mainly by these jumps among the seedlings. When we grow
the ordinary trade seed of Chrysanthemums we see a most won-
derful variation in the character of the resulting plants, and
naturally, when we know no better, ascribe this to the probability
that the seed came from mixed plants; but when we grow the
seed of early sorts from separate plants, and mark and grow this
seed separately, the resulting plants are astonishing, for out of a
hundred plants there are hardly two alike—-some are tall, some
short, some slender, others stout, while some are late in flower-
ing and a less number early ; still, in the seed from a single plant
there are a few in which may be detected a family likeness.

If the seed of the wild English Chrysanthemum (or Ox-eye
Daisy) be grown, the seedlings are all exactly alike and like the
parent, though I never grew a sufficient number to say that in
ten thousand there might not be found some slight variation.
There is another thing as regards Chrysanthemum seedlings—the
female or petal seeds do not seem to give double flowers as they
do in some plants. If the outside seeds in the pods of the com-
mon Marigold and the African and French ones only are sown,

SUMMER AND EARLY AUTUMN CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 189

a very great general improvement is effected in many of the pro-
geny, and this follows the general tendency that every part of
every plant has, a tendency on propagation to produce the cha-
racter of the part of the plant from which it is grown. Thus, ifa
peck of Potatoes is cut into three sorts of sets, and these sets are
srown separately, the product in each case resembles the part
from which the setis cut. Thus, cut the crown of the Potato off
for one set, and the single bottom eye for another, planting the
middle for the third ; in this case only the middle resembles the
parent, the crown Potatoes being covered with eyes, while the
bottom eye sets have scarcely any. The valuable knowledge of
this law is a great help in the production of variations, but seems
to give us little or no clue to the reason of sports in individual
sorts of plants or single plants themselves, or why a Chrysanthe-
mum, after growing from seed for years in one colour and habit,
should sport to another colour, and in my own place, in one
instance, into another habit. This was when the Pompon
Fiberta, early yellow sort, sported to a late sort with a different
habit, leaf, and flower, being taller and later, and the colour of
the flower bronze, besides being of quite different shape. This
was a sucker from the root, being the most wonderful sport I know,
all others being only in colour of the flowers or leaves. I named
the new sort Root Sport. But, with all our observation, we
at present seem quite in the dark as to why sports originate on
plants—that is, why part of a plant should come of a different
colour and remain so. This seems to occur more frequently in
England than in the United States, though this may only be
owing to more plants and sorts being cultivated here. Another
feature in the occurrence of sports is, that when a sport in a
Chrysanthemum arises in one place, it often does so within a
season or so in another ; there are many cases on record of this.
My own belief is, that a very slight chemical change in some way
effects the alteration, and of course that in a state of nature may
mean whether a plant can survive ornot. Just so, too, in art—if
a sport is useful we propagate it, if not, it is thrown away.

It frequently happens that one of the early or semi-early
sorts gains a certificate from the fact that it is grown for show in
the late sort way—that is, disbudded and exhibited as a fine flower
or two, which is no criterion of its merits, such as belong to the
early sorts. Pomponium some time back obtained a certificate,

190 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

and it is a very poor sort, while Sam Henshaw, which is a plant
much more deserving of culture, was presented twice before one
was granted. This arises because judges decide from the
standards of exhibition sorts and the plants and flowers pre-
sented to them on committee, but not, on the evidence of
erowers, from a flower-producing and decorative point of con-
sideration. The early kind, Pynaert van Geert, is. good when
disbudded, but is not if all the buds are left on; then it is a
poor thing when grown naturally. In contrast to this is Mlle.
Lacroix, which, as a semi-early, is good in every way and for
all purposes, even as a moderately dwarf plant from late struck
cuttings at the beginning of May.

There are many varieties that have been rejected from their
tall slender way of growing; Henderson and Son and Hendersonii
are instances, the latter bearing such masses of flowers that it
is almost impossible to keep the plant up when in bloom. ‘Too
much attention of raisers cannot be given in all Chrysanthe-
mums, especially in the early sorts, to the obtainmg of dwarf
varieties, because the most excellent flowers can be grown on
such plants, as well as those so very tall. The late Avalanche is
an instance of this, and I think American Flora, in the semi-
earlies, is another. Jam not quite certain on this latter, as this
is the first season I have grown it. Whena plant has to grow
6 or 8 feet high to produce the same results as one 8 or 4 feet, I
think it a waste of time, labour, and space. As for cutting down,
that is a mere artifice.

It has been said we want more colour in the early sorts, and
so we do; but at present we have no good early sorts to start
from. Roi des Précoces only flowers in October, and William
Holmes is in the same position.

I expect to obtain from America next season an early dark
single kind; and this is what we want in both Pompons and
Japanese sorts, as most of the early kinds are Pompons. I should
wish to draw the attention of seedling growers to this want, for
the door to more colour lies in this direction. Probably someone
in the South of Europe, America, or elsewhere will be kind
enough to notice this and give us a little help.

I have not. space here to name the best sorts now in cultiva-
tion, and must refer to past papers in the Press and my old lists,
but may say that the first good English seedling of the early

SUMMER AND EARLY AUTUMN CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 191

sort ever raised was the one named Piercy’s Seedling; this was
erown from American seed by Mr. John Thorpe, in America ;
but we have now several from English seed grown here at
Forest Hill, of which Golden Shah is not only the best English
seedling of the early sort, but the best early yellow Pompon
in cultivation, English or foreign. Duchess of Fife is also the
very best early dwarf and double white Pompon. It is a real
beauty, and different from all others. Goldsmith, White Lady,
Miss Phillis Broughton, Mr. Selly, Jacintha, Clara, Dodo, and a
few others not yet named, are all the result of the seed grown
here, showing clearly that the difficulty of seeding the early
sorts in England is not one of climate, but of pollen in proper
condition during the months of August and September, and in
some seasons perhaps July and October.

A hearty vote of thanks was proposed to the Chairman, the
Readers of Papers, and to the Exhibitors, and was carried with
acclamation.

ones de!

DiGtel.On STATISTICS

RELATING TO THE

CHRYSANTHEMUM CONFERENCE

ne S 2

PREPARED BY

MR. EDWIN MOLYNEUX, F.B.H.S.

HON. SEC. TO THE CONFERENCE

* The spelling of the names of the flowers has, as far as possible, been
made to accord with the National Chrysanthemum Socisety’s List.

O

195

LISTS OF VARIETIES COMPILED BY THE JUDGES
IN THE VARIOUS SECTIONS FROM SPECIMENS

EXHIBITED.
Section A.—Judges: Mr. H. Cannell, Mr. A. M. Pollett, and

Mr. W. Wildsmith.

Best VARIETIES OF ALL CLASSES FOR OUT-DOORS, GARDEN
DEcOoRATION, WALLS, &c.

La Vierge, white.
Dr. Sharpe, crimson.

Mrs. Mardlin, rose.

George Glenny, sulphur.

Mrs. G. Rundle, white.
President, carmine.

Golden Trevenna.

Rose Trevenna.

White Trevenna.

Mandarin, light rose.

Elsie, sulphur.

Early Red Dragon, red.

Mme Deggrange, white.

G. Wermig, light yellow.

Mrs. Hawkins, golden yellow.
Alice Butcher, bronze.

Lyon, rosy purple.

Frederick Pelé, red.

Fiberta, yellow.

|

Flambeau Toulousain, rose, tipped
white.

Golden Fleece.

Mrs. Cullingford, white.

Nanum, blush white.

Précocité, reddish crimson.

St. Mary, blush white.

Mme. Jolivart, white.

Alexandre Dufour, violet.

Drin Drin, yellow.

Félicité, orange yellow.

Isidore Feral, rosy lilac.

Margot, rosy violet.

La Charmeuse, purple.

Roi des Précoces, red

M. E. Pynaert van Geert, yellow.

Anastasio, purple.

Little Bob, brown.

James Salter, pink.

Section B.—Judges: Mr. D. Donald, Mr. W. Mease, and
My. J. Wright.

I.—Best IncurvED VARIETIES FOR SPECIMEN Brooms,
ARRANGED IN ORDER OF MERIT.

Golden Empress. |
Lord Alcester. |
Empress of India."

Miss M. A. Haggas.

Princess of Wales.

Alfred Salter.
Mrs. W. Shipman.

Golden Queen of England.
Violet Tomlin. :
Jeanne d’Are.
John Salter.
Queen of England.
Refulgence.

Lady Hardinge.
Prince of Wales. |
Lord Wolseley. |
Mrs. Heale. |
Barbara.

Prince Alfred.
Jardin des Plantes.
Novelty.

Mr. Brunlees.
Hero of Stoke Newington.
White Venus.
Venus.

Cherub.

Nil Desperandum.
Eve.

Beauty.

Mrs. Dixon.

George Glenny.
Mrs. G. Rundle.
Rev. J. Dix.

Emily Dale.
Bronze Mr. Bunn.

196 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Il.—Berst TwWELveE INcURVED VARIETIES, INCLUDING THE
GREATEST VARIETY OF COLOURS.

Golden Empress.
Empress of India.
Alfred Salter.
Lord Alcester.
Violet Tomlin.
Lord Wolseley.

John Salter.
Princess of Wales.
Miss M. A. Haggas.
Refulgence.

‘Prince Alfred.

Jeanne d’Are.

Section C.—Judges: Mr. R. F. Jameson, Mr. W. Holmes, and
My. E. Wills.

I.—Best Firry JAPANESE VARIETIES FOR SPECIMEN Biooms,
ARRANGED IN ORDER OF MERIT.

Avalanche.

Edwin Molyneux.
Boule d’Or.
Sunflower.

Val d’Andorre.
Mons. Bernard.
Album Fimbriatum.
Mrs. Falconer Jameson.
Etoile de Lyon.
Stanstead White.
Elaine.
Fimbriatum.
Maiden’s Blush.
Mme J. Laing.
Mlle.-Lacroix.
Stanstead Surprise.
Mons. Baco.

M. E. A. Carriére.
Criterion.

Puritan.

Annie Clibran.
Japonais.

Ralph Brocklebank.
Yokohama Beauty.
Kynsford White.

II.—TWELVE JAPANESE VARIETIES, INCLUDING THE GREATEST
VARIETY OF COLOURS.

Sunflower.
Jeanne Delaux.
Avalanche.
Edwin Molyneux.
Boule d’Or.

Val d’Andorre.

Roi des Japonais.
Belle Paule.
Thomas Stephenson.
Moonlight. -
Jeanne Delaux.

L’ Automne.

M. A. de Leau.
Thunberg.

Sarah Owen.

My. J. Laing.
Baron de Prailly.
Cardinal Desprez.
Comte de Germiny.
Mons. Freeman.
Mr. Garnar.

Miss Gordon.
Bertha Flight.
Carew Underwood.
Peter the Great.
Florence Percy.
Hiver Fleuri.

M. Brunet.
Dormillion.

C. Sharman.

K. Audiguier.

Mme. C. Audiguier.
Maiden’s Blush.
Stanstead Surprise.
Ralph Brocklebank.
Belle Paule.

Mons. Bernard.

DIGEST OF STATISTICS.

197

Section D.—Judges: Mr. N. Davis, Mr. C. Orchard, and
Mr. R. Parker.

' I.—Best TwEtvE REFLEXED.

King of Crimsons.
Mrs. Mayes.
William Early.
Mrs. Forsythe.
Golden Christine.
Phidias.

|

Pink Christine.
Peach Christine.
Dr. Sharpe.

’ Annie Salter.
- Emperor of China,

Cloth of Gold.

IlL.—Best TWELVE LARGE ANEMONE.

Nelson.

Fleur de Marie.
Empress.

Mrs. Judge Benedict.
Gluck.

Miss Annie Lowe.

Lady Margaret.
Prince of Anemones.
Acquisition.

J. Thorpe, Junior.
Mme. Goderau.

La Marguerite.

TII.—TweELvVE JAPANESE ANEMONE.

Fabian de Mediana.
James Weston.
Minnie Chateé.

Marguerite Villageoise.

Mons. Pankoucke.
Jeanne Marty.

Souvenir de Mme. Blandiniéres.
Ratapoil.

Mlle. Cabrol.

Sceur Dorothée Souillé.

Mme. Bertha Pigny.

Bacchus.

LV.—TWwENTY-FIVE PoMPONS.

Rose d’Amour.
Cendrillon.

Mme. Hoste.

Nelly Rainford.
Marabout.
Eléonore.
Rosinante.

Adéle Prisette.

Feu d’Amour.
Eclipse. °

Golden Mlle. Marthe.
Black Douglas.
Toussaint Maurisot.

La Pureté.
Mustapha.

Golden Marabout.
Pygmalion.
Sunset.

James Forsythe.
Alice Stevens.
Prince of Orange.
Mlle. Elise Dordan.
Mlle. Marthe.
Fanny.

St. Michael.

V.—TIwWELVE Pomrpon ANEMONE.

Antonius.
Regulus.
Marie Stuart.
Astrea.
Sidonie.
Mme. Sentir.

Perle.

Queen of Anemones,
Calliope.

Jean Hatchette.
Mme. Montels.
Astarte.

198

JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

VI.—TWELVE SINGLE VARIETIES.

Jane.
Mary Anderson.

Mrs. M. A. Le Moult.
Crushed Strawberry.

Pure Gold.
Mrs. Wills.

Lily Owen.

Rose Owen.

Yellow Jane.
Buttercup.

Scarlet Gem.
Souvenir de Londres.

Section H.—Judges: Mr. E. Berry, Mr. J. Doughty, and
Mr. J. Laing.

Brest VARIETIES IN ALL SECTIONS FOR TRAINED SPECIMEN

Mrs. G. Rundle.
George Glenny.
Lady Hardinge.

Guernsey Nugget.

Golden Beverley.
Lady Talfourd.
Gloria Mundi.
Beverley.

Empress of India.

Golden Christine.

Dr. Sharpe.
Cloth of Gold.
White Christine.

Hiver Fleuri.
Bouquet Fait.
Val d’Andorre.
Peter the Great.
Mme. Mezard.
Elaine.

Mons. Bernard.
Source d’Or.

Nelly Rainford.

Cedo Nulli, white.
golden.

9 ” a
7 silae:

Golden Mlle. Marthe.

Marie Stuart. -
Antonius.
Dick Turpin.

Queen of Anemones.

Firefly.

PLANTS FOR EXHIBITION.

I.—INCURVED.

Golden Empress.
Mrs. W. Shipman.
Lord Derby.
Queen of England.
Mrs. Dixon.

John Salter.

Mrs. Sharpe.
Jardin des Plantes.

I].—REFLEXED.

Emperor of China.
Elsie.

Chevalier Domage.
Annie Salter.

ITI.—JAPANESE.

Mme. J. Laing.

Mme. B. Rendatler.
Mme. C. Audiguier.
Fair Maid of Guernsey.
L’lIle des Plaisirs.
Mme. de Sevin.

Mule. Lacroix.

TV.—Pompons.

V.—ANEMONE

Mlle. Marthe.
Brilliant.
Black Douglas.
Golden Circle.
Lizzie Holmes.

PoMPONS.

Mr. Astie.
Mme. Montels.
Scarlet Gem.
Perle.

DIGEST OF STATISTICS. me et:

Section F.—Judges: Mrs W. Furze, Mr. C. Herrrin, and
Mr. R. Owen.

Best VARIETIES OF ALL SECTIONS FOR GROWING AS
DECORATIVE PLANTS.

Mrs. Dixon.
George Glenny.
Mrs. G. Rundle.
Baron Beust.
Barbara.

Lady Hardinge.
John Salter.

Lady Talfourd.
Mrs. W. Shipman.

M. Freeman.
Mme. de Sevin.
Mr. Garnar.

M. Astorg.

M. Bergman.
Avalanche.
Hiver Fleuri.

Mme. B. Rendatler.

Sarah Owen.
Mme. J. Laing.
Mme. Rozain.
Edwin Molyneux.
Peter the Great.
William Holmes.
L’ Adorable.
Hamlet.

Triomphe du Nord.

Le des Plaisirs.
Mrs. Townsend.
M. Dargonne.

Chevalier Domage.
Cullingfordii.
Mount Etna.
Annie Salter.

Dr. Sharpe.
Phidias.

White Christine.
Golden Christine.
Mrs. C. Orchard.

Sceur Dorothée Souillé.,

Jeanne Marty.

J.—InNcuURVED.

Guernsey Nugget.

Gloria Mundi.

Miss Hope.

Jardin des Plantes.

Venus.

Bronze Jardin des Plantes.
Virgin Queen.

Yellow Perfection.

II,— JAPANESE.

Source d’Or.
Elaine.
Edouard Audiguier.
Isidore Feral.
Tokio.

Fleur des Bois.
Buttercup.

M. N. Davis.
Elsie.

Val d’Andorre.
Orphée.

Wm. Stevens.
Mons. Bernard.
Feu de Bengale.
L’Or du Rhin.
La Nymphe.
Wi. Robinson.
Jas. Salter.
Lady Selborne.

JIIl.—REFLEXED.

|

Prince Albert.
Beauté du Nord.
Distinction.
Daphne.

Amy Furze.
James Carter.
Elsie.

Julie Lagravére.
Pink Christine.

LV.—JAPANESE ANEMONE.

| Bacchus.

200 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Gluck.

Fleur de Marie.
Prince of Anemones.
Cincinnati.

Aglaia.
Antonius.
Mme. Montels.
Mme. Sentir.
Astarte.
Calliope.

Black Douglas.
Cedo Nulli, white.

: golden.
. lilae.
Fanny.

Golden Mlle. Marthe.

Mlle. Elise Dordan.

Jane.

Yellow Jane.
Mary Anderson.
Mrs. A. Le Moult.

NAMES OF PERSONS WHO WERE KIND ENOUGH TO SEND IN THE
WHICH THE SUCCEEDING

STATISTICAL

V.—Larce ANEMONE.

Gladys Spaulding.
La Marguerite.

J. Thorpe, Junr.

VI.—Pompon ANEMONE.

Mme. Chalonge.
Marguerite de Coi.
Marie Stuart.

Mr. Astie.

Rose Marguerite.
Sidonie.

VII.—Pompons.

Lizzie Holmes.

Miss Wheeler.

Osiris.

St. Michael.

Trevenna, golden.
ia white.
. rose.

VIII.— SINGLE.

Ada Owen.
Rose Owen.
Souvenir de Londres.

Admiral Sir T. Symonds.

FROM

TABLES HAVE BEEN COMPILED.

Abraham, A., Hazelholt, Bishop’s Waltham, Hants.
Ashman, Frank, Billingbear Park, Wokingham.

Barclay, Thos., Beech Cliff Gardens, Keighley, Yorkshire.

Beckett, C., Juniper Hill, Dorking, Surrey.

Beckett, Edwin, Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree, Herts.

Berry, E., Roehampton House Gardens, Roehampton.
Bolas, G., Hopton Gardens, Wirksworth.

Bradford, R., Addington Gardens, St. Mary’s Road, Wimbledon.

Brown, James, Great Dood Gardens, Reigate, purrey.
Buss, J., West Hill, Epsom, Surrey.

Carling, T., Dove Park Gardens, Woolton, Liverpool.
Castle, Lewis, Hotham House, Merton, Surrey.

Chadwick, E., Hanger Hill House Gardens, Ealing, W.

Cherry, E., Norfolk House, Streatham, Surrey.
Clark, W., Eversley Gardens, Herne Hill, 8.E.

DIGEST OF STATISTICS. 201

Coombs, E., Roseland Gardens, Teddington, Middlesex.
Cox, C., Brickendon Grange, Hertford.

Crump, W., Madresfield Court Gardens, Malvern, Worcester.
Dance, W., Gosfield Hall Gardens, Halstead, Essex.

Davey, W., Cedar House Gardens, Stamford Hill, N.

Dean, R., 42 Ranelagh Road, Ealing. .

Dewar, A., Falkland Palace Gardens, Fife, N.B.

Dilley, J., Bowden Hall, Market Harborough.

Doughty, J., Angley Park Gardens, Cranbrook, Staplehurst, Kent,
Douglas, Jas., Great Gearies Gardens, Ilford, Essex.

Duck, Wall Geo., Chard, Somerset.
Dunkley, H., Brookland House Gardens, Market Harborough.
Durrell, W., Hambledon, Hants.

Elhott, H., Leyden House Gardens, Mortlake, Surrey.
Fowler, Chas., Barron Hill Gardens, Henfield, Sussex.
Furze, W., Roselands, Teddington, Middlesex.

Gale, H., Langton House Gardens, Gosport, Hants.

Gibson, Chas., Morden Park Gardens, Mitcham, Surrey.
Godby, F., The Oaks Gardens, Burgess Hill, Sussex.
Groves, G., Rangemore Gardens, Burton-on-Trent.
Hagegart, A., Moor Park Gardens, Ludlow.

Hayes, F. R., Woodville Gardens, Keighley, Yorkshire.
Haywood, T. B., Woodhatch Lodge, Reigate, Surrey.
Herrin, C., Dropmore Gardens, Maidenhead.

Hewett, J., Hillside House Gardens, Hythe, Kent.

Hill, D., Beachboro’ Park Gardens, Hythe, Kent.

Hill, James, Springfield Gardens, Withdean, Sussex.
Hopkins, Jas., High Cross Gardens, Framfield, Sussex.
Horril, J., West Street, Havant, Hants.

Horsefield, J., Heytesbury Gardens, Heytesbury, Wiltshire.
Howe, W., Park Hill Gardens, Streatham Common, Surrey.
Inglefield, G., Tedworth House Gardens, Marlborough.
Tronsides, Briscoe H., Foot’s Cray, Kent.

Jupp, W., 24 Waldrons, Croydon, Surrey.

King, G., Glenchess Gardens, Loudwater, Rickmansworth.
Kipling, J., Knebworth House Gardens, Stevenage, Herts.
Lampard, G., 6 Hogarth Terrace, Chiswick.

Lofley, G., Knighton Church Road, Leicester.

Lyne, J., Belvedere Gardens, Wimbledon, Surrey.

Lyster, H., Easton Lodge Gardens, Dunmow, Essex.
Mease, W., Downside Gardens, Leatherhead, Surrey.

202 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCiETY.

Mercer, J., Childwall Hall Gardens, Liverpool.

Midgeley, M., Bankfield Gardens, Bingley, Yorkshire.

Mitchell, W., The Moorlands Gardens, Bracebridge, Lincoln.

Molyneux, K., Swanmore Park Gardens, Bishop’s Waltham.

Moore, F., Blendon Hall Gardens, Bexley, Kent.

Morton, T. B., Mowden Bridge Nursery, Darlington, Durham.

Nearey, K., Holy Innocents’ Gardens, Hornsey, N.

Owen, R., Castle Hill Nursery, Maidenhead.

Packman, W., The Elms Gardens, Foot’s Cray, Kent.

Page, Chas., Highams Gardens, Bagshot, Surrey.

Parks, W., Fernside Gardens, Bickley, Kent.

Pearson, Messrs., Chilwell Nurseries, Nottingham.

Penford, Chas., Leigh Park Gardens, Havant, Hants.

Phillips, D., Ludgrove Gardens, New Barnet, Herts.

Piercy, W., 89 West Road, Forest Hill, 8.E.

Pope, W., Highclere Castle Gardens, Newbury, Berkshire.

Quarterman, Jas., Silvermere Gardens, Cobham, Surrey.

Ray, W. J., Mount Pleasant Nursery, Green Street, Sittingbourne.

Russell, M., Henfield, Sussex.

Salter, C. J., Woodhatch Lodge Gardens, Reigate, Surrey.

Shenton, C., The Glen, Golden Common, Winchester.

Shoesmith, H., Shirley, Croydon, Surrey.

Simpson, C. J., St. John’s Nursery, Chelmsford, Essex.

Smythe, W., Basing Park Gardens, Alton, Hants.

Springthorpe, Geo., Gifford House Gardens, Roehampton, S.W.

Sturt, A., Mount Oak Gardens, Englefield Green, Staines,
Middlesex.

Trinder, G., Dogmersfield Gardens, Winchfield, Hants.

Turton, T., Maiden Erleigh Gardens, Reading.

Warden, Chas., Clarendon Park Gardens, Salisbury, Wiltshire.

Ward, H. W., Longford Castle Gardens, Salisbury, Wiltshire.

Warner, Geo., 12 Lingfield Road, Wimbledon, Surrey.

Weston, Jas., South Road, Clapham Park, London.

Wildsmith, W., Heckfield Gardens, Winchfield, Hants.

Wilkins, G. A., Castle Gardens, St. Helens, Isle of Wight.

Wills, E., Firs Gardens, Bassett, Southampton.

Winkworth, T., Childwall Hall Gardens, Liverpool.

Witty, J. H., Nunhead Cemetery, London, S.E.

Woodcock, W. K., Barkley Road Nurseries, Syston, Leicester.

Wright, J., Middle Temple Gardens, London.

DIGEST OF STATISTICS. 208

SUMMARY OF RESULTS OF THE STATISTICAL
RETURNS.

By Mr. E. Moryneux, F.R.H.S., Hon. Secretary of the
Chrysanthemum Conference.

The following tables, compiled from returns made by ninety-
five persons interested in the growth of the Chrysanthemum,
cannot fail to be of much interest to lovers of this flower, as
showing the prevailing ideas with regard to selection of sorts for
various purposes as invited by the Committee of the Chrysanthe-
mum Conference. The preceding list of those who sent in returns
is unfortunately not quite complete, as in a few instances the
name and address of the sender had been omitted from the return.

I do not propose to give the names of all the flowers as sent
in for the various classes or sections, as little good would be done
by enumerating varieties which received a few votes only, but I
think it will serve the purpose in view if a reasonable number
are given in each section, sufficient for selection hereafter.

12

THE Best TwENtTy-FouR INCURVED VARIETIES FOR SHOW
Buooms. (87 Voters.)

Only those which obtained more than five votes are included

in this table.

Votes Votes
1. Queen of England ° . 87 | 22. Emily Dale . ° ° . 40
2. Empress of India . ; . 86 | 23. Violet Tomlin. : oa
2. Princess of Wales : . 86 | 24. Princess Beatrice : . 36
4. Golden Empress . ; . 85 | 25. Mrs. N. Davis q . 35
4, Lord Wolseley. é . 85 | 25. Golden Queen of England . 35
6. Lord Alcester ‘ ; . 84 | 27. Miss M. A. Hageas ; . 26
7. John Salter . ; ; . 82 | 28. Mr. Brunlees : : . 24
8. Alfred Salter ‘ é . 80 | 29. Cherub : eae
8. Jeanne d’Are ; : . 80 | 30. Bronze Queen of England ome
10. Prince Alfred : g . 77 | 31. Prince of Wales . : oad
11. Jardin des Plantes E . 74 | 31. Novelty ; : : a)
12. Lady Hardinge . ‘ . 73 | 33. White Venus : ahs
12. Mrs. Heale . F : . 73 | 33. Bronze Jardin des Plantes - 18
14. Barbara A . 69 35. Mabel Ward : : ae |
15. Hero of Stoke New ington . 68 | 86. Charles Gibson . : . 16
16. Princess Teck B , . 67 | 87..Venus . : é : Pps
16. Mrs. W. Shipman i . 67 | 38. Baron Beust. : orl
18. Empress Eugénie é . 59 | 39. Lord Eversley ; - 10
19. Nil Desperandum é 85 | SOR Kive. ... : ° « 9
20..Mr. Bunn . Fs : . 54, 41. Beverley : 3 é . 8
21. Refulgence . . : - 52 42. Lady Slade . ° ° « 6

204. JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

From this list it will be seen that, in selecting the best twenty-
four incurved varieties, eighty-seven growers have named no less
than forty-two sorts; indeed, as many as seventy-six were named
altogether, which shows the wide range over which the fancies of
voters extend. It will be seen that the large-flowered kinds are
the favourites, notably the ‘‘ Queen” family, headed by the
Queen of England herself, which is the parent of the batch in-
troduced as. long ago as 1847, many of the newer kinds take
good positions—as Lord Wolseley, Jeanne d’Arc, sports from
Princess of Wales and Mrs. Heale—Violet Tomlin and Miss
M. A. Haggas; while what is known as the ‘ Teck ”’ family,
represented by five of the type, are highly thought of by culti-
vators. As many as thirty-four varieties received less than six
votes, and therefore are not noted here. Many old favourites
were mentioned which are seldom seen nowadays. Bronze Queen
of England, with twenty-one votes, takes the thirtieth place.

Ie. :
Tue Best TWENTY-FOUR JAPANESE VARIETIES FOR SHOW
Buooms. (85 Voters.)
Only those which obtained more than ten votes are included
in this table.

Votes Votes
1. Mme. C. Audiguier ; .°83 | 27. Mr. H. Cannell . : . 24
2. Edwin Molyneux : . 82 | 28. Sarah Owen : : . 23
3. Avalanche ~. : ‘ ~ 00° | "295 Mis. Jc Wiiekt ~~ : Me
4. Belle Paule . ‘ : . 78 | 29. Florence Percy .. ; Qik
4. Boule d’Or . : : 18.) SieaM. Jovi Pigtis: ox : . 20
6..Meg .Merrjlies . . ; . 70 | 32. M. Tarin : ; " , a9
7. Ralph Brocklebank . . 69 | 32. .Mrs..H. Cannell . ; =» Ad
8. Fair Maid of Guernsey . . 67 | 32. Album fimbriatum : eo
9. Mlle. Lacroix ; 5 . 66 | 35. Fernand Feral . ; . 6
10. .Criterion .. : : . 58 | 35. Stanstead White . : a: ality
10, .Ehunbergyin: : ; ..58 | 35. Maiden’s Blush . : . 16
12. Mme. Laing : : ..55 | 38. Etoile de Lyon: -. J . 15
13..Baron de Prailly . : . o4 | 39. M. Brunet . , : . 14
14. Comte de Germiny P . 52 | 40..M. Freeman , , . 13
14. .M. Marrouch ‘ ‘ . 52 | 40. Edouard Audiguier . ee)
14. J. Delaux. . ; . 52 | 42. Mme. B. Rendatler ‘ see
14. .Carew Underwood : . 52 | 42..M. Ardéne . ‘ é <aie
18..Val d’Andorre. ; . ol |. 42:,Grandifiorum,: 5s é . 12
19. Sunflower . : ‘ . 40 | 42. M. F. Marrouch . , Az
19..Japonais. . ; . 40 | 46. Mons. Bernard . ‘ ae |
21. Duchess of Albany lig . 35 | 46. Mr. J. Laing. aed:
21..Elaine . 2 , . 35 | 46. Comtesse de Beauregard «oll
23..Gloriosum . ‘ : . 831 | 46. Balmoreau . : 3 rae i |
24..Golden Dragon . ; . 30 | 46. Mme. de Sevin . ¢ cel
25., Soleil Leyant : . 28 | 46. Mrs. F. Jameson . E . at

26.,Triomphe de la rue Chalet . 26 | 46. Peter the Great . . f 11

DIGEST OF STATISTICS, 205

To obtain the best twenty-four Japanese varieties, eighty-
five persons have named 133 sorts, from which I give fifty-two
all those which obtained less than eleven votes are not men-
tioned here. As will be seen from the list above, Mme. C,
Audiguier worthily occupies the post of honour with eighty-
three votes, being closely followed by Edwin Molyneux,
Avalanche, and Boule d’Or, all of which represent distinct types
and colours.’ Mons. Tarin occupies the thirty-second place with
nineteen votes. Some of the newer sorts lose points, no doubt,
through not being sufficiently well known to entitle them to
confidence with the voters. From the list given a thoroughly
representative collection can easily be chosen for the purpose for
which they are intended.

ii

THE Best TwELvE REFLEXED VARIETIES FOR SHOW BLOOMS.
(68 Voters.)

Only those which obtained more than two votes are included

in this table.

=

Votes Votes
1. Cullingfordii . : . 66 14. Distinction : , . 22
2. King of Crimsons . 65 15. MoM. Wezier., (5. £8
3. Chevalier Domage . ot 15. Felicity =. ; : . 18
4, Dr. Sharpe. : ; 59 17. Amy Furze , . 3 mri
5. Golden Christine : . 58 18. Annie Salter . ; . 14
6. Cloth of Gold . , . 56 19. Jewess “°. : - 8
7. Peach Christine. : . 50 20. ‘Temple of atom , 7
8. Pink Christine . 4 . 49 21. Alice Bird . ; 3 a6
9. Phidias ; ; 43 22. Mount Etna : : sta
10. ‘White Ghaedne. t on 22. Garibaldi 4
£1), ‘Putney George . : 29 24. Julie Lagravére . 3
12. Mrs. Forsythe . ; .26 |, 24. Snowball: . 3
to. ‘Elsie . : ; ‘ no aa

This section includes some of the oldest kinds in existence,
some having been introduced as far back as the year 1845. This
section provides perhaps the least interest of any in the whole
Chrysanthemum family, partly on account of the flowers being,
with few exceptions, the least adapted for ordinary decoration.
The peduncles are generally weak, therefore the flowers are not
self-supporting, which interferes much with their use for the
purpose named ; neither does this section embrace many. sorts
with decided colours, if I except some few of the older and newer
sorts. With an improvement in this direction this section will
no doubt increase in public favour. To the grower of specimen

906 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

plants this section provides him with some suitable materials
which have a telling effect under good cultivation. Cullingfordii,
perhaps the richest colour of any Chrysanthemum in existence,
heads the list with sixty-six votes, being closely followed by
King of Crimsons, with only one vote less. The first twelve on
the list are certainly of the true reflexed character, although
Annie Salter perhaps represents the opinions of some growers as
to the type which is the more correct ; but as this variety comes
a long way down in the voting, we must take the majority of
Opinions as being correct. Out of the large number of sorts
chosen (forty-six) to select twelve from, I have noted twenty-
five. Thus it will be seen that twenty-one Shsunes less than
three votes.

TY;
THE Best TWELVE LARGE-FLOWERED ANEMONE VARIETIES
FOR SHow Brooms. (50 Voters.)
Only those which obtained more than two votes are included
in this table.

Votes Votes
1. Lady Margaret . . -49 | 15. St. Margaret. . 12
2. Gluck : ; ° . 46 16. Souvenir de Lardenne A alk
3. Fleur de Marie . - - 45 | 16. Nouvelle Alveole 3 me
4. Empress . : : - 41 | 18. Princess Louise . : 9
5. Mrs. Pethers . : . 89 | 18. Minnie Chaté§ . oo
5. Acquisition : : ae) 20. Mrs. Judge Benedict . |
7. Georges Sand . : sv 20. King of Anemones . PS a
8. Prince of Anemones . ~ 33 22. Laing’s Anemone : Puke!)
9. Louis Bonamy . . Se) 23. Nelson F - +e
10. Miss Annie Lowe : . 28 24. Sabine . c Bp 3
11. Mme. Goderau . ° . 22 24. Sunflower . ; . » 4
12. J. Thorpe, Junior . iyi 26. Miss Margaret . . ats
13. Grande Alvéole . ; oat 26. Mrs. M. Russell . : 4 eS
14. Emperor . ° ° , do 26. Mrs. R. Owen . “25

No less than forty-five varieties were named by the fifty voters
in this class, which shows a surprising result in the number of
Show Anemones which can be scraped together when the neces-
sity arises. Although some here named as belonging to this
section will not perhaps meet with unanimous approval, still it
will be conceded that the first twelve do absolutely belong to this
section, which, since the introduction of new sorts of decided
colour, is fast becoming more popular. There is not the faintest
shadow of a doubt but that Lady Margaret occupies her proper
position by virtue of merit, Grande Alvéole worthily bringing up
the rear. As in other classes, the newer kinds suffer for the same
obvious reason.

DIGEST OF STATISTICS. 207

V.
THe Best TWELVE JAPANESE ANEMONES FOR SHOW BtLooms.
(46 Voters.)
Only those which obtained more than one vote are included
in this table.

Votes | Votes
1. Mile. Cabrol s . 44 13. Mme. Thérése Clos . wis
2. Fabian de Médiana . .42 | 14. Mme. Soléville . : a be
3. Sceur Dorothée Souillé . 41 | 15. Margouline 9
4. Ratapoil . ° : . 388 | 16. Mme. Ghys 8
5. Mme. Clos. : 36 ~| “16. “Himperor 8
5. Marguerite Villageoise . 36 | 18. Timbale d’ Argent i
i Mme. Bertha Pigny : . 34 | 18. Ivanhoe a
8. Bacchus . : . 26 20. Mme. Murel 4
8. Minnie Chaté . . 26 21. Sabine : 3
10. Duchess of Edinburgh . 25 21. Mme. R. Owen . 3
10. Jeanne Marty . 5 2h 23. Souv. de Mme. Planidiniates! 2
12. Souvenir de ‘TLardenne .19 | 23. M. Pankoucke 2

This section has made the most headway in a short time of
any. ‘he form of the flower is so attractive as to cause very
general feeling in its favour, much more so than in the case of
their more prim brethren—the large show kinds. No less than
thirty-three names are given in the statistical returns which
again would not meet with unanimous approval. From the
swenty-four sorts here named, exception, I think, could only be
taken to Emperor and Mons. Pankoucke ; in which case eighteen
sorts are still left to select twelve from.

WATS
THe Best TWELVE JAPANESE REFLEXED VARIETIES FOR SHOW
4 ‘
Buooms. (59 Voters.)

Oniy those which obtained more than two votes are included
in this table.

Votes | Votes
1. Elaine j ‘ é . 56 | 16. Avalanche. 3 é epg
2. J. Delaux . : : .53 | 17. Phebus. : : tO
3. Maiden’s Blush . é . 52 | 17. Mme. de Sevin . 2 £0
4, Criterion . ; : 248) 2 OOTS MM! Me Werter : beget:
5. Val d’Andorre . : -47 | 19. Margot 1 : 5 a8
6. La Triomphante ; . 43 | 21. Roseum superbum . art
7. Mons. Astorg . i .42 | 22. Mile. Lacroix . : eae
8. L’ Adorable : ‘ . 38 | 22. L’Africaine : : + 56
9. Mons. J. Laing . 3 .33 | 24. Belle Paule mia
10. Amy Furze : : . 32 | 24. Flambeau . heres
11. Mons. W. Holmes .. . 30 24, Pére Delaux pent;
12. Triomphe du Nord . .29 | 27. Mr. R. Brocklebank no
13. Dr. Macary. 5 2 . 24 28. La Nymphe 3
14. Mile. Paule Dutour . . 20 28. Edwin Molyneux 3
15. Mons. H. Jacotot : .12 | 28. Meg Merrilies . 3

208 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

This section produces perhaps a more divided opinion than
any other as to what properly constitutes a true Japanese
Reflexed flower. No less than seventy-four varieties are named
by fifty-nine voters, a pretty clear indication that much difference
of opinion exists on the point.

EL.

Toe Best TWENTY-FOUR INCURVED, EXCLUDING THE ‘“ QUEEN ”’
Faminy. (59 Voters.)

Only those which obtained more than five votes are included

in this table.

Votes Votes
1. Princess of Wales : 59 22. White Venus . : « 26
1. Hero of Stoke Newington . 59 23. Novelty . : : . 25
1. Jeanne d’Are . : . 09 24. Eve . ¢ . 23
4. Lord Wolseley . : a7: 25. Miss M. A. Hagegas : . 22
5. Lady Hardinge . : . 56 26. Venus : , ‘at
5. Prince Alfred . : . do | 27. Pringe of W flea: , . 20
7. John Salter £ : , 255 27. Mabel Ward : é . 20
7. Jardin des Plantes . .d5 |. 29..Baron Beust ’ . . 19
7. Mrs. Heale : ‘ . 55 | 30. Charles Gibson . , . 18
10. Mr. Bunn . : : . 54 31. Bronze Jardin des Plantes . air
oh ving. W.. oe as ‘ . d3 32. Beverley’ . : é . 16
i. "Barbara . : . o2- |. 82. Mra’ G. Rundle = é a
13. Princess Teck . F B51 34. Mrs. Dixon § : . ee
14. Nil Desperandum 3 . 48 35. Lady Carey : : val
15. Refulgence. : : .45 | 836. Lord Eversley . ; . £6
16. Princess Beatrice 5 2 Sak 36. Beauty : : , .
16. Empress Eugénie : » 4 38. George Glenny . : ee.
18. Mrs. N. Daxas : ./59 | 38. Angelina 2 . a9
19. Cherub : 4 : 35)! 40. Isabella Bott . : 8
20. Mr. Brunlees ; spo 41. Lady Slade 5 : ie
21. Violet Tomlin . : . 30 41. H. Shoesmith . . et

This class was made to obtain a good selection of varieties
irrespective of the ‘‘ Queen”’ family, as it was felt that the type
named most heavily overweighted the smaller, yet perfect sorts of
Incurved blooms, this being considered to be the only way to keep
these smaller kindsin the front. As this is an interesting class,
I have given the names of forty-two varieties. The list shows
that there.is almost unanimous opinion about the first twelve
sorts. Even Eve, the twenty-fourth flower, is well supported in
the matter of points by the fifty-nine voters out of the eighty-five
sorts named altogether.

DIGEST OF STATISTICS. 209

VIII.

Tue Best TWELVE PomMpon VARIETIES FOR SHOW BLOoms,
(33 Voters.)

Only those which obtained more than two votes are included
in this table.

Votes Votes
1. Mile. Marthe . : . 30 16. La Pureté . : oe
2. Golden Mile. Marthe . eel 16. Prince Victor 7
3. Mlle. Elise Dordan . . 26 19. Mrs. Bateman : a6
4. Black Douglas . 3 ak 20. White Trevenna ‘ i, 0
4, President . : : Bel 20. Rubrum perfectum « 5
6. St. Michael . : » 20 20. Bob . : : 5
7. Marabout . 5 é a7 20. Pygmalion : 5
8. Prince of Orange : . 14 24. Charles Dickens 4
8. Nellie Rainford . 3 . 14 24, Toussaint Maurisot 4
10. Cedo Nulli. ‘ - 2 13 24. La Vogue . ‘ 4
11. Fanny ; : . . 12 24. Comte de Morny 4
11. Adéle Prisette . f 512 28. Reine d’Or . 3
13. Rosinante . : ‘ - 10 28. Lilae Cedo Nulli 3
13. Golden Cedo Nulli_. tO 28. Model of Perfection a
15. Lizzie Holmes . : ow o 28. Miss Wheeler 3

16. Eléonore . 2 - ae’ 'E

Pompons are generally appreciated by the majority of Chrys-
anthemum cultivators. They give a wealth of bloom, and do
not occupy nearly so much space as the larger kinds. Thirty-
three voters selected no less than seventy-six varieties from which
the twelve best could be chosen. Thirty-one sorts are here noted,
which would indeed be a lengthy list for ne person, although all
have their admirers no doubt.

IX.

THe Best TWELVE ANEMONE PoMPON VARIETIES FOR SHOW
Buooms. (29 Voters.)

Only those which obtained more than two votes are included
in this table.

Votes Votes
1. Antonius . ‘ : = 29 13. Firefly : : é 14
2. Mme. Montels . é pepei 14. Rose Marguerite , ee aL
2. Mr. Astie . ‘ P aod 15. Sidonie _. ‘ ‘ ~ AO
4. Marie Stuart . : . 24 16. Jean Hatchett : 8
4. Calliope. . P : . 24 16. Regulus. : 8
6. Miss Nightingale , . 22 18. Mr. Wyness : 7
7. Queen of Anemones . . 18 19. Aglaia : 6
7. Perle. : : , as 20. Astrea : 5
9. Mme. Sentir : ‘ ly 21. Briolis 4
9. Mme. Chalonge . : Par Wy 21. Grace Darling ’ 4
9. Mick Turpin, «.. : ae 23. Virginale : ' 3
12. Marguerite de Coi_ . #16 23. Magenta King . : 3

P

210 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

In this class a total of thirty-two sorts were named, of which
number twenty-four are given in this list. The first twelve in-
clude, no doubt, the best of the varieties. The bright yellow
Antonius heads the list, being hard pressed by Mme. Montels,
which is an especially attractive sort.

x.
THE Best TWELVE SiNGLE VARIETIES. (13 Voters.)

Those which obtained only one vote are omitted from this table.

Votes Votes
| 14. Aurora 2 5 : 2

14. Gus. Harris

14. Souvenir de Tondresl:

14. Pure Gold .

14. Magenta King

14. Mrs. Kellock

14. Mrs. Langtry :

23. Crushed ern s! :

23. Effie .

23. Yellow Jane

23. Scarlet Gem

23. John Tyars

23. Canarieuse

23. Pyrethrum.

23. Miss Gordon 3

. Mary Anderson . F
Jane . 4 4 A

; Miss: 8: Yerry: *:

. Admiral Sir T. Sy monds
Miss Rose . :

. David Windsor .

. Miss Cannell

. Helianthus Ss

. Lady Churchill .

10. America ‘

10. Mrs. Wills. ’

10. White Perfection

10. Mrs. A. Le Moult

14. Oriflamme .

14. President Acthur

As many as sixty-two varieties were naraed by the thirteen
voters, almost enough to make one wonder where they all come
from. Thirty are here noted. The chaste and beautifully formed
variety, Mary Anderson, stands at the head of the poll, being
followed very closely by Jane (syn. Snowflake). Thisis a section
which, I think, has a great future before it as a decorative class,
flowering as the majority of them do in such profusion.

NaANoupwwe

—
CWO RR COURANT AOOO
DNNNONNNNMWWwWwWHeWwH

xe"
THE Best TWELVE INCURVED FOR SPECIMENS. (58 Voters.)

Only those which obtained more than three votes are included
in this table.

Votes Votes
1. Mrs. G. Rundle . : oo | | 9. Lord Alcester . . . 24
2. Mrs. Dixon : : . 50 | 10. Golden Empress : «20
3. George Glenny . : . 43 11. Guernsey Nugget + Ame by |
4. Prince of Wales. : . 85 12. Mrs. Sharpe . : . 16
5. Empress of India. . 34 12. Barbara . ; . 16
6. Queen of England . - 29 14. Jardin des Plantes - 15
7. Lady Hardinge . ; ah 15. Mrs. W. Shipman . . 14
8. John Salter . : . 26 16. Mrs. Haliburton : Pag

DIGEST OF STATISTICS. 211

Votes } Votes
17. Venus Seo ec) a eee.) eee. ord. Derby, s 6
17. Prince Alfred . ° .12 | 27. Golden Queen of f England. 6
17. Beverley . ‘ - 12 30. Antonelli . ao
20. Mr. Bunn . . . « 10 30. Jeanne d’Are . ; 5
20. Mr. Brunlees . - «10 32. Bronze Jardin des Plantes f
22. Lord Wolseley . : = So 32. Nil Desperandum . oA
22. Lady Talfourd . - ao 32. Refulgence ° “24
24. Princess of Teck a Ss 32. Faust. : ° . or nk
24. Hero of Stoke New ington Ani 32. Alfred Salter . ° a!
24. White Venus . : oc 32. Golden Beverley e e 4
27. Gloria Mundi . - « 6

No less than seventy-one names were given by the fifty-three
voters in this class, showing that a great diversity of opinion
exists amongst cultivators as to the best kinds for the purpose.
Thirty-seven are here noted; the first twelve comprise a good

selection no doubt.
XII.

THE Brest TWELVE JAPANESE VARIETIES FOR SPECIMENS.
(54 Voters.)
Only those which obtained more than three votes are included
in this table.

Votes | Votes
1. Hiver Fleuri . : . 38 20. Mons. H. Jacotot . 9
1. Peter the Great. - . 38 | 21. Mons. W. Holmes 8
3. Mme. Bertier Rendatler .36 | 21. Avalanche. , 3
4, Bouquet Fait . ‘ . 35 23. Coquette de Castille : 6
4, Lady Selborne . é . 35 23. L’ Adorable 6
6. Mlle.Lacroix . : 2 34 23. La Triomphante 6
7. Elaine ‘ ‘ - . 30 23. Mons. Tarin 6
8. James Salter . - 29 {| 27. Mons. Freeman 5
9. Fair Maid of Guemsey . 27 | 27. Maiden’s Blush . >
10. La Nymphe : . 25+.) 27. Album plenum . 5
11. Val d’Andorre . : .24 | 27. Roseum superbum 5
12. Triomphe du Nord . . 20 31. Joseph Mahood. 4
13. L’Le des Plaisirs : -19 | 31. Fernand Feral 4
13. Source d’Or : : ig 31. Curiosity ; 4
15. Mme. de Sevin . : ed 31. George Gordon . a
16. Dr. Macary : ; «13 31. Jeanne Delaux . 4
16. W. Robinson. : ls” | 431. Mr. J. Langs. . » 4
18. Margot . . e lO} | 30. Tendresse® - . . 4
18. Mme. J. Laing . : 10; | 2.31. Soleil Levant) ° ~ 4

As might be expected, a large number of sorts were named by
the fifty-four voters in this class, the Japanese section providing
so many adaptable kinds for the purpose. Out of ninety-four
sorts, thirty-eight are here noted. MHiver Fleuri aud Peter the
Great head the list, being equal in point of numbers. Perhaps
there are no two varieties more often seen in an exhibition than
these.

P2

912, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

XT

Tur Brest Six VARIETIES OF REFLEXED FOR SPECIMENS.
(46 Voters.)

Votes Votes:
1. Dr. Sharpe. 4 . 36 13. Amy Furze wn.
2. Golden Christine , me! 14. Emperor of China asa
3. King of Crimsons . oe 15. Elsie. ; a
4, Chevalier Domage . sol 16. Mount Etna ue
5. Pink Christine . : . 29 16. Felicity : ot
6. Mrs. Forsythe . ; . 22 18. Boule de Neige . ak:
7. Peach Christine : 20 18. Distinction i :
8. White Christine J ei ks) 18. Phidias oa
9. Cullingfordii . , »- 13 18. Alice Bird . A!
10. Julie Lagravére. : pa 18. Mile. M. Tezier . pa |
11. Annie Salter. ° Pie 18. Beauté du Nord AOU:
12. Clothof Gold . : «ih 0

In this class all the varieties named by the forty-six voters
are given. Dr. Sharpe is, no doubt, in its proper position. It
would indeed be a difficult task to find a more interesting or
showy subject in the Chrysanthemum world than a well-grown
specimen of this richly coloured variety. Many persons consider
that Mrs. Forsythe and White Christine are identical. In that
case this variety would occupy the leading position with forty votes.

Debye

THe Brest TWENTY-FOUR VARIETIES FOR DECORATIVE PLANTS.
(42 Voters.)

Only those which obtained more than three votes are included

in this table.
Votes Votes
1. Lady Selborne . , . 28 21. Chevalier Domage . 112
1. Mrs. G. Rundle . A . 28 22. Jeanne Delaux . : Aa |
3. Mrs. Dixon ; ; Oa 22. Triomphe du Nord . ait
3. Elaine : . 27 22. L’Ile des Plaisirs ‘ pal
5. James Salter . ; . 26 25. Dr. Macary ‘ : . 10
6. La Nymphe “ ; - 23 25. W. Robinson . ; i208
6. Cullingfordii . ; . 23 27. Dr. Sharpe ; : 21S
8. Mlle. Lacroix . : a 22 27. Mons. W. Holmes. 18
9. George Glenny . . pa 27. Meg Merrilies 18
9. Bouquet Fait . ; pedi 27. L’ Adorable Soe
11. Mons. H. Jacotot . . 20 27. Edwin Molyneux -
12. Mme. Desgrange : ely 32. Criterion ; sas
12. Peter the Great. . LY / 32. Florence Percy . eS)
14. Avalanche. : . . 16 34. Flocon de Neige. E ja
14. Mme. de Seyin . : - 16 34. Fair Maid of Guernsey . 7
16. King of Crimsons . . 15 36. Maiden’s Blush. . 6
17. Val d’Andorre . , cols 36. Simon Delaux 6
17. Margot . - : . 14 36. Red Dragon «26
19. Hiver Fleuri . 3 . 13 | 39. Julie Lagravére . . 4

19. G. Wermig ° 3 obs 39. Mr. J. Laing .

DIGEST OF STATISTICS. 913

=<

°

is)

Gi

- =<
7

°

ke

3)

@

39. Mons. Astorg

39. Boule de Neige .
39. George Gordon .
39. Sunflower . :
39. Empress of India
39. Sceur Melanie
39. Progne ; :
39. Fleur de Marie .
39. Jardin des Plantes
50. Pheebus

50. Amy Furze

50. Mons. Bernard .
50. Flambeau .

Naturally there a Bo a large number-named in this class,
as it presents such an opportunity to include all sections, the
subject of decorative varieties having such a wide interpretation
that it would be difficult to obtain anything like unanimity in
this classification. Forty-two voters, in naming 178 varieties, came
to the conclusion that Lady Selborne and Mrs. G. Rundle were
entitled to the leading position with twenty-eight votes each ;
while Mrs. Dixon and Elaine, two sterling varieties, run the
others exceedingly close. It will not be denied, I think, that the
feur mentioned are good for the purpose here required. From
the sixty-five sorts noted a capital selection could be made.

MY.
THE Brest TWELVE SUMMER-FLOWERING VARIETIES.
(29 Voters.)
Only those which obtained more than two votes are included

50. L’Africaine

50. Barbara

50. Source d’Or

50. Perle des Blanches
50. Mons. Tarin

50. Mr. Bunn . :

50. Mrs. W. Shipman

50. Coquette de Castille .
50. Tokio : ;
50. William Clark

50. Alfred Salter

50. Elsie .

PEPER EPP RP PL

He He HE BR Cr OL Or Ou cr Oo or Ot tg

in this table.
: Votes Votes
1. Précocité . : : al 15. Miberta; |. i2 ‘ ‘ 6
2. Mme. Desgrange ‘ 2 18 15. Mme. Piccol 6
3. Flora. : : ; aoe iy 19. La Vierge : 4 5
3. Blushing Bride . : ae, 19. St. Crouts . ; x D
3. Mme. Jolivart . : SLT, 21. M. F. Marrouch. : 4
3. Lyon. 5 : : oy 21. Yellow ha Petite Marie 4
7. G. Wermig. aie 7 LG 21. Mile. Leoni Lagsalli . 4
7. Mrs. Cullingford : , 16 21. St. Mary 4
7. Alice Butcher . j a EG 21. Mignon . 4
10. Nanum . « ; . 14 26. Madeline Davis . ; 3
11. Mrs. Burrell ‘ ~ 12 26. Mons. Pynaert van Gee» ae ue
12. Salter’s Early Blush . . 9 26. La Petite Marie. S
12. Frederick Pelé . F wy 9 26. Roi des Précoces we
12. Mrs. Hawkins . ‘ & 9 26. Anastasio . sis Ys AS:
15. Mrs: J. R: Pitcher .. 6 26. Alexandre Dufour . ios
25. Mr W.. Piercy) ;.. ; 6 26. Piercy’s Seedling 1.8

Sixty-four varieties ‘are named, from which a selection of
the best twelve can be chosen. After this, from the remaining

914 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

twenty sorts, could be selected many other desirable kinds.
Summer-flowering Chrysanthemums are not appreciated nearly
so much as other sections, on account of their period of flowering
taking place when many other kinds of flowers are obtainable.

XVI.
THE Best TweiveE Karty AUTUMN-FLOWERING VARIETIES.
(88 Voters.)
Only those which obtained more than three votes are included

in this table.
Votes Votes
1. Lady Selborne . ‘ . 26 13. Simon Delaux 8
1. Mons. W. Holmes. . 26 17. La Triomphante. 5
3. James Salter . : » 22 17. Sceur Melanie 5
4, Margot ; : ; . 20 17. Mrs. Dixon dD
5. Mme. Desgrange ‘ sgl? 17. George Glenny . 5
5. Elaine : , 3 . 19 17. Isidore Feral 5
7. G. Wermig. : 5 aL 17. Sam Henshaw 5
8. La Vierge . ' : . 14 17. Bouquet Fait 5
9. Mlle. Lacroix . A shes 24. Mrs. Cullingford 4
10. Alexandre Dufour. , ¥2 24. Mrs. Burrell 4
11. Mons. Henri Jacotot . $10 24. Flamme de Punch 4
11. Mrs. G. Rundle . 2 ~ 10 24, Mr. J. Laing 4
13. Mme. Bertier Rendatler . 8 24. M. Tarin 4
13. L’Ile des Plaisirs a x8 24. L’Africaine 4
13. Roi des Précoces A 8

A long list 1s also given under this heading by the thirty-
eight voters, no less than ninety-five being mentioned. No
doubt, where early Chrysanthemums are required to precede the
ordinary November kinds, the lst given provides excellent
material from which a capital selection can be made.

VAT.
THe Brest TWELVE LATE-FLOWERING VARIETIES. (47 Voters.)

Only those which obtained more than three votes are included
in this table.

Votes Votes
1. Princess Teck . : Soh 16. Virginale . é ; 2/13
2. Ethel. : ; : oe 16. Pelican . . ; 5 aa
3. Meg Merrilies . : 32 18. Golden Gem . é fo
4. Grandiflorum . : SOIL 18. Boule d’Or. : : . 6
5. Ralph Brocklebank . > 30 20. Snowdrop . : oa i
6. Mrs. N. Davis . , . 28 20. Thunberg . 7
7. Ceres. ; . Seon 22. Miss Maréchaux. 6
7: Mrs. C Carey A seep 22. Fair Maid of Guernsey 6
9. Hero of Stoke Newington . 26 22. Golden Dragon . 6
10. Charles Gibson . : 19 22. Moonlight . . : 6
19, Boule de Niege . , . 19 26. Mrs. D. B. Chapman . 5
12, Gloriosum : , sokG 26. Princess Blanche 5
12. Lord Eversley . 5 .16 | 28. Yellow Ethel t
14, Mrs. H. J. Jones ’ . 15 >| «28. Duchess of poe 4
U5. W.G. Drover, 7 : .14 +'| 28. Sarnia ; 4

DIGEST OF STATISTICS. O15

This class creates much interest, as evinced by the fact that
forty-seven persons responded to the invitation to send in the
names of those they approved of for the purpose, which, in
itself, is a capital one. Late-flowering varieties are much
appreciated. The thirty varieties noted ave really all good for
the purpose; aS many as seventy-eight were named as being
suitable.

XVIII.
Toe Besr Six VARIETIES FOR STANDARDS. (33 Voters.)

Those which obtained only one vote are omitted from this table.

Votes Votes

1. Mrs. G. Rundle . ° om 16. King of Crimsons : eee

2. George Glenny . : . 24 16. Mlle. Lacroix : re

3. Mrs. Dixon 5 : oil 16. Prince Alfred . 5 «a

4. Dr. Sharpe. : saat 16. Mrs. Townsend . 2,

5. Mme. Bertier Rendatler 8 16. Golden Christine 2

6. Prince of Wales. : 7 O 16. Mlle. Marthe 2

6. Peter the Great . 6 16. Fair Maid of Guernsey 2

6. Elaine 6 16. Venus. ; are

6. Lady Selborne 6 16. Empress of India : a

10. Jardin des Plantes 5 16. Julie Lagravere . : Aer
10. L’Ile des Plaisirs 5 16. Curiosity . A : rie
12. Mrs. Haliburton . 4 16. Lord Wolseley 2
12. Roseum superbum 4 | 16. Margot : 2
14. Bouquet Fait . 3 | 16. George Gordon . 2
14. James Salter. 3 | 16. Mrs. Sharpe 2

Fifty-five varieties were named by the thirty-three voters
in this class. The three small-flowered Incurved kinds show
unmistakably their popularity by the great majority of votes
accorded them over any other. Although a long way down in
the list, Roseum superbum, Prince Alfred, and Lord Wolseley are
good for this method of cultivation.

XCIEXE:
THE Best Six VARIETIES FOR Prramips. (27 Voters.)
Those which obtained only one vote are omitted from this tabie.

Votes Votes

1. Mrs. G. Rundle . 5 6 11. White Cedo Nulli c ~~ 2

2. Mrs. Dixon. 5 : 7 ue 11. Lady Selborne 3

3. George Glenny . ‘ ee) 11. Margot 3

3. Peter the Great . i ge | 11. John Salter 3

5. Bouquet Fait. 7 17. Mlle. Marthe. 2

6. Mme. B. Rendatler 5 17. Golden Mlle. Marthe. 2

6. Elaine 5 17. L’De des Plaisirs 2 2

6. Prince of Wales : 5 17. Venus. ; 2

9. Source d’Or ; : 4 17. Jardin des Piantee vy)

9. Dr. Sharpe. ; 4 17. Empress of India 2

11. Lilac Cedo Nulli J 5 17. Mlle. Lacroix 2
11. Golden Cedo Nulli_. 3 17. Chevalier Domage 2

216 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

As in the preceding class, the small-flowered Incurved varieties
stand well to the front, although this form of training is but
little practised nowadays. As many as fifty-four were named
altogether as being suitable.

XX.
The Best Tuirty-six VARIETIES OF Dwarr GROWTH, ALL
SEcTIONS. (39 Voters.)

Only those which obtained more than five votes are included
in this table.

Votes Votes
1. Avalanche . ‘ : ieo4 31. Lord Eversley . : ae
1. Princess Teck . : . B4 31. Ralph Brocklebank . nals
3. Val d’Andorre . F -oo|. |) 5, BleurPartaie : pe
4, Chevalier Domage . ay 35. Sceur Dorothée Souillé . 12
5. Barbara. : : .~ 31, | B7%. Mons. H: Jacoiot ; o shh
6. Lady Hardinge . ‘ .29 ##| 37. Refulgence. . , glk
7. L’Adorable ; : -2t., || Sty Dr.-Sharpe, : . ght
8. Hero of Stoke Newington . 25 | 37. Golden Christine . . elk:
8. Criterion . : ‘ . 25 | 87. Sarah Owen : ‘ - aed
10. Mons. Freeman . : 24. | “oll. {Gloriosimmi, : . ld
11. Cullingfordii . : OB! 43. Mrs. Cullingford. : , 10
11. Mrs. W. Shipman . 25 .| 43, Mile. Marthe - P «jeu
11. Edwin Molyneux : . 23 43. Peach Christine. ; . 10
14. Golden Dragon . } . 22 43. Dr. Macary ‘ : Pe)
15. Meg Merrilies . ; .21 | 47. White Christine . 2 ae
15. Mme. de Sevin . : 221 47. Lady Talfourd 9
15. Mrs. N. Davis . : ae 49. Duke of Berwick 8
15. Princess Beatrice ’ OT 0 49 he Grande 8
19. Mme. Desgrange : . 20 | 49. Julie Lagravére . 8
20. Mme. J. Laing . ‘ -19 | 49. Empress Hugénie 8
21. Triomphe du Nord . -17 "') 53.° Mons. ‘Astorge di
22. Mons. W. Holmes . -16 | 53. Scur Melanie ae ae
22. Charles Gibson . : . Lo> )9553:.PéreDelaux ‘ Ae
22. G. Wermig. F ‘ .16 | 53. Mrs. Hawkins eh
25. Georges Sand . : Bales 53. King of Crimsons he
25. Hiver Fleuri ; F A 58. Fernand Feral 26
27. Mrs. F. Jameson ; <4 58. Source d’Or 2a5G
27. La Nymphe : ; . 14 58. Baron Beust . 26
27. Gluck. - ; ; _14 | 58. Golden Mlle. Marthe ~ o
27. Fleur de Marie . : .14 | #58. Pink Christine . me
31. Mons. H. Elliott ‘ .13 | 58. Alexandre Dufour yeu
31. Prince of Anemones . Ae) 58. Lakmé 5 - ape)

This class is one of great importance as being instructive to
the beginner in Chrysanthemum cultivation, especially to those
with limited accommodation. The varieties named are those
which are naturally of a dwarf habit, not beimg made so by any
method of culture, but simply naturally so, which will be all the
more acceptable to those about to make a selection of suitable

DIGEST OF STATISTICS. OTT

kinds. No less a number than 254 were named by the thirty-
nine voters; from these sixty-four are selected, any with less
than six votes not being noted here.

XXI.
WEAK VaRIETIES. (51 Voters.)

Only those which obtained more than four votes are included

in this table.

Votes Votes
1. Criterion . ; : . 88 | 19. Agréments dela Nature 8
1. J. Delaux é : . 38 19. Fleur de Marie . 8
3. Princess Beatrice. ~ 30.1), 21. Cherub : 7
4. Mr. Bunn . ; : .25 | 21. Roides Japonais @
5. Balmoreau : : . 24 | 21. Dr. Sharpe : 7
5. Mrs. W. Shipman . .24 | 21. Sir Stafford seat! 7
7. Lady Hardinge , mow ol) aol. Chunbers Th
8. Marguerite Marrouch . 20 26. Mrs. H. Cannell . 6
9. Golden Dragon . ; pan lp 26. Novelty . ; ; ap
10. Meg Merrilies - : sah 26. Mons. Astorg . = 6
11. Empress Eugénie 4 . do *| 29. Le Seeptre Toulousain Be
11. Barbara . ‘ Oy is) 29. Beverley . 5
mb. Mrs RB; Brocklebank : wid ||) 29° Princess:of W ales 5
11. Mons. J. Laing . : .15 | 29. Sceur Dorothée Souillé 5
15. Japonais . . : .14 | 29. Mrs. Mahood 5
16. Mons. Ardéne . : pelts 29. Lady Slade ; oO
17. Martha Harding : tek 29. Mlle. Cabrol : ‘ ao
18. Lady Carey . . . 10

With a view to assist those who do not know the various
sorts which are admittedly weak in their constitution, a class
was made for them, so that there might be a general opinion
obtained. Two kinds (well known to growers), Criterion and
J. Delaux, are bracketed together with thirty-eight votes each, as
being the weakest of the 119 varieties named, of which number
thirty-five only are noted as having received more than four
votes out of the fifty-one voters.

918 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

OPINIONS ON THREE SUBJECTS:

Questions asked :—
i. THE MOST SUITABLE COMPOST FOR PARTICULAR DISTRICTS ;
2. THE BEST TIME TO CUT DOWN PLANTS FOR GROUPING
PURPOSES ;
3. CAUSE OF DAMPING OF THE BLOOMS, AND REMEDY.

Answers received :—
BERKSHIRE.
W. Pops, Highclere Castle, Newbury.

1. Three parts loam, half-part fresh horse manure, half-part
decayed leaves, half-part wood ashes, quarter-part coarse sand,
quarter-part charcoal, half-pound Thomson’s vine manure to each
bushel of soil.

2. Late varieties, third week in May ; other varieties, second
week in June.

3. A too free use of stimulants, combined with a cold, damp
atmosphere. Remedy: Warm, dry, buoyant atmosphere, and
discontinuance of stimulants.

A. STREET, Mount Oak, Enfield Green, Staines.

1. Half yellow loam, half sandy loam, leaf soil, and mush-
room-bed manure.

2. Late varieties, end of May; others, first to third week in
June.

3. Excess of stimulants, insufficient ventilation.

T. Turton, Maiden Erlegh, Reading.
1. Loam, eight parts; two mushroom-bed manure, one wood
ashes, one bushel of hoof parings, and one bushel of soot.

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE.

KR. Owen, Castle Hill, Maidenhead.

1. Loam, leaf soil, lime rubbish, bones, horse manure, and
cow ditto.

2. Karly in June.

3. ‘Too much stimulant, overcrowding, insufficient ventila-
tion, damp atmosphere, and fire-heat without air.

C. Herrin, Dropmore, Maidenhead.
1. Fibrous loam and bone dust, soot, small charcoal, leaf
mould, horse droppings in small quantities.

DIGEST OF STATISTICS. 219

2. May.
3. Principally atmospheric moisture. Remedy: Warm air.

DURHAM.
T. B. Morron, Mowden Nursery, Darlington.

1. Loam in this district very heavy. To one-half add a
fourth half-rotten horse manure, one-fourth leaf mould, charcoal,
dissolved bones, and Beeson’s manure.

2. From May 12 to May 20.

8. Atoocold atmosphere. Remedy: A buoyant atmosphere by
warming the pipes and admitting air moderately.

ESSEX.
C. J. Simpson, St. John’s Nursery, Chelmsford.

1. Fibrous loam, leaf mould, mushroom-bed manure; bones,
half-inch, and bone meal ; small quantity of soot.

2. Late varieties, middle of May; for intermediate varieties,
June 1; early sorts, end of June.

38. Excess of stimulants in wet weather, or in a cold season.
Remedy: Little fire-heat, with moderate amount of air, abundance
of night air.

H. Lister, Kaston Lodge, Dunmow.

1. To three barrow-loads turfy loam add one barrow-load
of the following in equal parts :—Fine-ground bones, wood ashes,
charcoal, sand, pigeon dung, old mortar rubbish, and a little soot.

J. Douauas, Great Gearies, Ilford.

1. Three parts fibrous loam, one part leaf mould, one part
decayed manure. ‘To ten parts of this compost add one part of
pounded oyster shells ; crock with oyster shells also.

3. A too moist atmosphere. Remedy: Admit air freely by day,
warm the pipes, let the heat decline towards night, close the
house with a low temperature, avoid moisture on the floor.

HANTS.
J. Horrit, Havant.
3. Generally caused by moisture in the buds before housing

the plants.
H. Durrewy, Hambledon.

1. Five parts rough turfy loam, one part horse manure, half-
part cow dung, small portion old mortar to keep the soil open.

220 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

2. Late sorts, last week in May; early varieties, first week in
June.

3. Excess of stimulants, insufficient space, and air when
flowering.

W. SmytuHe, Basing Park, Alton.

1. Two-thirds turfy loam, one-third well-decomposed manure,
small quantity of soot and sand, thoroughly incorporated.

2. Early in June.

3. Excess of stimulants.

H. Gaz, Gosport.

1. Turf, with a little manure, little charcoal, firm potting,
and good drainage.

2. The end of May.

3. Excess of water.

G. TrinpDER, Dogmersfield Gardens, Winclifield.
1. No special mixture is required.
3. Too much artificial manure and water.

C. SHenton, The Glen, Golden Common, Winchester.

1. Two barrow-loads of loam, one of turf-mould, half of
rotten manure, half of leaf mould, half of cinders, two or three
gallons of sand. To the mixture add 28 lbs. of bone dust,
one and a half gallons of Clay’s Fertiliser.

3. Excess of stimulants.

K. Motynevux, Swanmore Park, Bishop’s Waltham.

1. For the final potting, which is the more important, I
advise a different constitution of the quantity of heavy and light
turf, as this varies so much in different localities. For heavy
loam—-three parts, removing the fine soil ; one part horse manure,
one half of decayed leaves, one part of coarse silver sand, a
quarter-part dissolved bones, one part of charcoal and wood
ashes, with a 6-inch potful of soot to four bushels of soil. Light
loam—four parts, two parts horse manure, one part leaves, half
a part coarse sand, same quantity of ground oyster shells, half
a part of fine crushed bones, a 6-inch potful of soot to four
bushels of soil.

2. Late varieties, from the middle of May; other sorts, about
the middle of June.

3. Excess of stimulants when the plants are not thoroughly

DIGEST OF STATISTICS, pil i

well supplied with roots, which may have been destroyed by too
strong doses of manures, artificial or otherwise, is the primary
cause of damping. Excess of moisture in the atmosphere will
also cause the flowers to damp, which is much ageravated if
the soil in the pots is kept too wet when the blooms are ex-
panding. Remedy: Less stimulants if the plants are not in
good condition to receive it; a buoyant atmosphere caused by
judicious ventilation and fire-heat; and only sufficient water
to maintain a moist state of the soil.

HEREFORD.

A. Haceart, Moor Park, Ludlow.

1. Three parts loam, one part half-rotted beech leaves, one
part horse droppings, one and a half parts coarse river sand, one
of wood ashes, quarter-part ground bones, and a little soot;
pots crocked with oyster shells, charcoal, and broken pots.

3. Excess of stimulants main cause, with sudden changes of
temperature, combined with a foggy or moist atmosphere.
Remedy: Be careful with ammoniacal manures; give plants dry
air and a temperature of 40° to 55°.

HERTS.

E. Beckett, Aldenham House, Elstree.

1. Three parts loam, one part horse manure; to every six
bushels add one gallon of bone meal.

3. Excess of stimulants after the buds show colour. Remedy :
Check the stimulants, admit air freely, give a little fire-heat.

B. P. Puinures, Ladgrove, New Barnet.

1. One and a half barrow-loads of loam, half of leaf soil,
half of rotten dung, half a peck broken oyster shells, quarter
peck half-inch bones, half a barrow road drift. Soil here is
highly impregnated with iron, which tends to solidify the whole.

2. The third week in May.

3. Excess of artificial manure, too much water at the roots,
and insufficient ventilation. Remedy: Abundance of air, avoid
draughts, careful application of water when housed, and less
stimulants.

G. Kina, Glenchess, Loudwater, Rickmansworth.
1. Yellow loam four parts, one part horse manure, a 6-inch

922, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

potful of soot to four bushels of loam, 6-inch potful of Clay’s
Fertiliser, also a few half-inch bones and crushed oyster shells.

2. About the last week in May.

3. High cultivation and damp atmosphere. Remedy: Keep
a dry atmosphere and as much air as possible, along with a little
fire-heat.

J. Kipnine, Knebworth House, Stevenage.

3. Excess of nitrogenous manures, and too sudden a change
from a warm growing temperature through the day to a cold
stagnant one through the night after the plants are housed and
the blooms well advanced. Prevention : Less stimulants at this
stage of the blooming period, a moderately warm, dry, and equable
temperature for day and night.

C. Cox, Brickendon Grange, Hertford.
3. Wood not sufficiently ripened, and excess of stimulants, are

the main causes.
KENT.

D. H1uu, Beechboro’ Park, Hythe.

1. Nine bushels of loam, four and a half bushels half-decayed
leaves, seven gallons fine-ground bones, one gallon dissolved
bones, sand, old mortar; no horse or cow manure.

F. Moorz, Blendon Hall, Bexley.

1. Yellow loam, one-third well-rotted farmyard manure, wood
ashes, charcoal, and coarse sand, mixed two months previous
to using. To one wheelbarrowful of the compost add a 4-inch
potful of Thomson’s or Clay’s Fertiliser ; well drain the pots
with oyster shells; pot firmly.

2. Second week in May.

H. Briscog, Ironsides, Foot’s Cray, Kent.

1. Twelve parts loam, three parts of horse manure, three
parts leaf mould, three parts coarse sand, a small quantity of
charcoal, bone dust, horn shavings, oyster shells, crushed wood
ashes, and cocoanut fibre. To every bushel of soil add one
ounce of oxide of manganese, and one ounce of gypsum.

3. Excess of stimulants and insufficiency of ventilation when
the plants are housed. Remedy: Moderate stimulants, ample
ventilation, with dry heat during all weather, dispensing with
bottom ventilation during fog or mist.

DIGEST OF STATISTICS. 223

W.G. Gray, Sittingbourne.

1. Turf stored three months, one part spent cucumber beds,
half-part bone meal, quarter-part mixture of wood ashes, charcoal,
and sand.

2. Second week in April, and same time in May.

W. Parks, Fernside, Bickley. |

1. Three parts loam, one part horse manure, a sprinkle of
soot and Thomson’s manure.

2. From May 18 to June 6, according to variety.

3. Excess of stimulants during wet warm weather; a dry
buoyant atmosphere is the best remedy. Crown buds are worst
affected.

J. Doueuty, Angley Park, Staplehurst.

1. Loam here heavy; use equal parts loam and leaf mould,
with a part old mortar. Half hundredweight bone meal to
300 plants. Crock with cinders.

2. Late varieties end of May, early sorts in June.

3. Excess of stimulants during the later development of the
buds, combined with a deficient root action consequent on the
use of strong liquid manures. The suckers should be allowed to
grow when the bud is fully developed.

W. Packman, Foot’s Cray.

1. Turfy loam, six parts; fresh horse manure, two parts;
leaf mould, one part ; fine ground bones, quarter part ; dissolved
bones, one-sixth part; charcoal, half part ; coarse sand, one part ;
wood ashes, half part; one 32-potful of either Thomson’s,
Clay’s, Jensen’s, or Beeson’s manures to five bushels of soil,
with half the quantity of lime added.

2. Late varieties from May 15 to 18; mid-season sorts, June 1
to 4; early varieties, June 15 to 18.

3. Cause: Over-watering, excessive sudden changes of tem-
perature from day to night, deficient and improper ventilation.
Remedy : Tepid water, equable temperature when the plants
are housed, not allowing the thermometer to fall below 42 degs.,
allowing a small portion of air always, with sufficient fire-heat
to maintain a temperature of 45 degs. by night.

J. Hewitt, Hythe.
2. Late varieties, May 14; others middle of June.

294 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

LANCASHIRE.

T. WinkwortH, Childwall Hall, Liverpool.

8. Excess of stimulants, especially just before and after
housing the plants.

J. A. Mercer, Childwall Hall, Liverpool.

1. Loam, three parts; leaf mould, two parts; cow manure,
one part; one part old mortar; one of charcoal, or wood ashes ;
and a fair sprinkling of bone meal.

2. Middle of May to June 1.

3. Excess of stimulants during mild and damp weather.
Remedy : Less stimulants; keep plants drier at the roots when
damping occurs.

LEICESTER.
W. R. Woopcock, Barkley Road Nurseries, Syston.

1. Two parts loam, which is light; one part manure, fresh,
that from stables where moss litter is used; half-part of wood
ashes; a small portion of soot.

2. ‘ Topping” the shoots is here practised in preference to
cutting down, commencing from the middle of May until the end of
June, starting with the late and finishing with the early varieties.

3. Excess of stimulants, as sulphate of ammonia and nitrate
of soda, and the condensation of moisture upon the glass.
Remedy: Roof-heating to dry up condensed moisture, and less
stimulants.

LINCOLN.

W. Mircuet, The Moorlands, Bracebridge.

1. Turf from an old pasture near a brickfield, which is close
and heavy.

2. Commence May 25 with late varieties, finishing June 14
with early sorts.

8. A low, moist night atmosphere. Remedy: A dry atmo-
sphere, especially at night.

MIDDLESEX.
I. Coapwick, Hanger Hill House, Ealing.
2. Last week in May.
3. Dense fogs are the chief cause of damping. Fire-heat to
dry the air the best remedy.
H. Neary, Holy Innocents’ Gardens, Hornsey.
2. Late varieties, May 1; general collection, May 15.

DIGEST OF STATISTICS. 225

W. Davey, Cedar House Gardens, Stamford Hill.

3. Immature state of the wood, and fog. Remedy: Warm the
air, and give as much of the latter as possible consistent with
the outside conditions.

J. H. Wirry, Nunhead Cemetery.

1. Five parts rough loam, one part well-decayed cow manure,
one part partly decayed horse manure, one part coarse silver sand,
half-part ground bones, with half a peck of soot.

2. From fourteen to twenty-one days previous to the final
shift into the flowering pots. Late-flowering varieties a fort-
night before the earlier sorts.

3. Excess of stimulants, or from unsatisfactory atmospheric
influences. Remedy: Less of the former, and a free circulation
of air about the plants, and under the pots also.

G. LAMPARD, 6 Hogarth Terrace, Chiswick.

1. Two parts loam, one of manure, some half-inch bones,
coarse sand, and a little soot.

2. From May 24 until the first week in June.

3. To prevent ups give plenty of air, little fire-heat, and
not much water.

W. Furze, Roselands, Teddington.

1. Three parts loam, one part leaf mould, one part rotten
manure, with crushed bones, mixed with lime rubbish and soot.

2. From the latter end of May to second week in June,
according to variety.

3. Damp atmosphere and over-watermg. Remedy: Paint
the pipes with sulphur, which warm, and give good ventilation.
W. Cuark, Eversley Gardens, Herne Hill.

1. Two parts loam, one of leaf soil, and one of mushroom-bed
manure.

2. Late varieties commence May 20, finishing at the middle
of June with early-flowering sorts.

3. Excess of manures, such as sulphate of ammonia and
nitrate of soda, and insufficient ventilation. Remedy: Check
gradually the use of stimulants when the buds are showing colour ;
sive a little fire-heat once a week to dry the house.

R. Dean, Ranelagh Road, Ealing.

1. Loam from an old pasture, four loads, two bushels of soot,

half a load old lime rubbish, half a load manure, one hundred-

Q

226 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

weight of small bones and a little guano. This mixture would
do for about 300 plants.

J. Wricut, Middle Temple Gardens.

1. Fibrous loam, rotten dung, and crushed bones.

3. Immature wood and insufficient ventilation are the chief
causes of damping. Remedy: Free circulation of warm dry air
continually about the blooms.

NORTHAMPTON.
Henry Dunxuey, Brookland House Gardens, Market Har-
borough.

1. Three parts fibrous loam, one part sweetened horse drop-
pings, crushed bones, charcoal, broken oyster shells, good sprink-
ling of sand, and a little soot.

2. The last week in May and first week in June for late
varieties. The second and third week in June for early sorts.

3. Excessive application of stimulants and water at the roots,
as well as careless ventilation. Remedy: Abundance of air, top
and bottom of house, when weather is favourable, making the
pipes warm to dry up moisture, always keeping air on top when
heat is used in the pipes.

J. Dituey, Bowden Hall, Market Harborough.

1. Two bushels strong turf loam, one bushel of road sidings
with the fibre in it, one bushel of old mushroom-bed material, one
bushel of leaf soil, one peck of sand, 10-inch pot of bone meal,
same of charcoal, half bushel of wood ashes, and a 6-inch pot-
ful of soot.

2. Late varieties, May 14; others from early part to middle of
June.

8. Excess of stimulants and dull moist weather. Remedy:
Fire-heat with air ; fill open boxes with unslaked lime.

NOES.

C. EK. Pearson, Chilwell Nurseries.

1. Three parts turf, one part rotted stable manure, half a part
bone dust, wood ashes and soot.

2. Mabel Ward, Eve, and Cherub to be stopped end of April ;
Princess Teck, Hero of Stoke Newington, Guernsey Nugget,
Gloriosum, Edwin Molyneux, Boule d’Or, Marsa, Val d’Or, and
M.N. Davis middle of May ; Queens, Comte de Germiny, Hamlet,

DIGEST OF STATISTICS. 227

Mr. Garnar, Mlle. Lacroix, Meg Merrilies, Ralph Brocklebank,
and J. Delaux, first week in June. The following week, Elaine,
James Salter, Lady Selborne, W. Holmes, Val d’Andorre, and
Henri Jacotot may be cut down. The above to produce flowers
early in November.

G. Groves, Rangemore Gardens, Burton-on-Trent.

1. Six parts loam, two horse manure, two half-decayed leaves,
two sand, one charcoal, one wood ashes, 5-inch potful of soot,
and a 5-inch potful of Thomson’s vine manure to each barrow
of soil.

For weak varieties, three loam, one half-decayed leaves, one
mushroom-bed manure, half wood ashes, half sand, half charcoal,
5-inch potful each soot and Thomson’s manure.

2. From the last week in April until the end of the second
week in June.

3. Overfeeding and improper ventilation.

SOMERSET.
G. Watt Ducx, Chard.

1. Turf nine parts in twelve, or three quarters of the entire
quantity ; coarse sand and charcoal, one part of each in twelve,
and one part of Clay’s Fertiliser.

2. First June generally.

3. Excess of stimulants and unripened wood, close atmo-
sphere, insufficient drainage, and over-potting are the main
causes. Remedy: Defects named, and in damp weather sprinkle
flowers of sulphur on floor and stages.

SURREY.
K. Cuerry, Norfolk House, Streatham.

2. Late-flowering varieties, June 10 to 18; early-flowering
sorts, from June 22 to 80.

T. B. Haywoop, Woodhatch Lodge, Reigate.

3. The principal cause of damping is a too moist atmosphere,
caused by insufficient ventilation, or dense fogs, which are
difficult to combat around London. Remedy : Use more fire-heat
and a little ventilation at the same time. Damping of the flowers
caused by a too free use of stimulants to the roots I donot think
can be cured.

C. J. SauTER, Woodhatch Lodge Gardens, Reigate.

3. Same as above.

228 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

C. Becxert, Juniper Hill, Dorking. .

3. The chief cause is allowing the opening buds to get wet
before housing. Remedy: Afford protection earlier.
W. Jupp, 24 Waldrons, Croydon.

3. Too much atmospheric moisture; by too little air and
overcrowding of the plants. Remedy: Paint hot-water pipes
with oil and sulphur, sprinkle the latter dry on the floor at
housing time, and hot-water pipes under the roof.

J. Buss, West Hill, Epsom.

1. One-half fibrous loam, one-half leaf mould, well-rotted cow
and horse manure in same quantity, plenty of coarse sand; pot
firm in well-drained pots.

2. Healthy plants of late sorts, May 20. The remainder
during the following three weeks ; the early varieties last.

3. Excessive use of manure with bad drainage, and unripened
wood. Remedy: Sufficient ventilation to maintain a buoyant
atmosphere by warming the hot-water pipes. Never allow cross
currents of air on foggy days.

W. Meass, Downside, Leatherhead.

1. First potting, two parts loam, one part leaf mould, with
a little sand. Final potting, two parts loam, one part leaf mould,
one part horse droppings, halfa part lime rubbish and wood ashes.

2. The first week in June.

J. Weston, South Road, Clapham Park.

1. Seven-eighths yellow loam and Mitcham loam in equal
parts, one-eighth leaf mould and rotten manure, with a sprinkle
of silver sand, fine oyster shell and bone meal. Mitcham loam is
very light and turfy.

2. Japanese varieties from May 28, and June 7 beginning
with the late sorts. Incurved are not cut down.

8. Excess of stimulants, with a too close air, are the main
causes of damping.

H. Exuiort, Leyden House Gardens, Mortlake.

1. Three parts fibrous loam, one of horse manure, one of coarse
sand, a good sprinkling of half-inch bones and charcoal, a little
soot, and the pots crocked with bones.

2. June 1.

3. Sulphate of ammonia, where used, is the main cause.

J. Brown, Great Doods, Reigate.
1. Loam and rotten manure, with a little sand.

DIGEST OF STATISTICS. 229

2. About May 24.

8. Atmospheric moisture, caused mainly by standing the
plants too thickly together on the ground. Make the air dry by
the use of fire-heat.

C. Paar, Highams, Bagshot.

1. Fibrous loam three parts, one part horse droppings, half-
part coarse sand, same of charcoal, one 32-sized potful of ground
bones to one barrowful of soil.

2. Last week in May.

3. Excess of stimulants and atmospheric moisture. Remedy:
Cease the use of stimulants when blooms are quarter expanded,
give fire-heat at night when foggy or wet, with air top and
bottom of the house.

W. Howe, Park Hill, Streatham Common.

1. To four barrow-loads of loam add one of horse droppings,
one 16-size potful of soot, the same quantity of bone dust or
Clay’s Fertiliser. Mix well together and pot firmly.

2. Second week in June.

3.. Atmospheric moisture and the prevalence of green-fly ;
avoid the former by the use of fire-heat and liberal ventilation,
the latter by fumigating with tobacco paper.

J. Lyne, Wimbledon.

1. Turfy loam, two parts horse droppings, one part with
crushed bones, and oyster shell added.

2. From June 1 to June 10 late varieties.

3. Excessive use of ammonia in feeding the plants, damp
atmosphere, and overcrowding of the plants after housing are
the chief causes.

R. BrapForD, Wimbledon.

1. Three parts turfy loam, one of leaf soil, and sand for the
cuttings. For final potting, three parts loam, two of horse drop-
pings, one of half-rotten leaves, half-part coarse silver sand, half-
part bone meal, the same quantity of charcoal, and a 6-inch
potful of soot to every barrowful of soil; use all in a rough state.

2. Late varieties early in May ; others end of month.

3. Excess of stimulants is the main cause. When the buds
commence to unfold, cease the supply of liquid manure; give
only soft water afterwards, and this only in small quantities.

G. SprinetHorrPe, Gifford House Gardens, Roehampton.
1. Two-eighths each strong loam and horse manure, one-

230 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

eighth wood ashes, same quantity oyster shells, with sufficient
river sand to make the whole porous.

2. ‘Top’ late varieties middle of May; early sorts first week
in June.

3. Excessive use of stimulants and moisture after the flowers
show colour. Remedy: Buoyant atmosphere, with weaker
stimulants.

K. Berry, Roehampton House.

1. Good loam, road sand if gully, some quarter-inch bones,
one-sixth part of decayed manure, one-eighth part of earth-closet
mould to the above.

2. Early in June.

3. Excess of stimulants and atmospheric moisture. Remedy -
Check both, employ fire-heat.

CHARLES Grsson, Morden Park, Mitcham.

1. Six barrow-loads light yellow loam, two stiff loam, one
and a half leaf mould, one and a half cow dung, one and a half
coarse sand. To the above add one 44-inch potful of soot, and
same quantity of bone dust to each barrow of soil. :

3. Exposure of buds too long outside when they commence to
unfold, scalding of the blooms by the sun after dull weather, too
much atmospheric moisture, too liberal ventilation in stormy or
foggy weather, bad drainage, and excess of stimulants. Remedy :
Earlier removal under cover, shade in bright weather, careful
ventilation, with fire-heat in moderation.

H. SHorsmit, Shirley, Croydon.

1. Three pounds bone meal to one bushel of light yellow loam,
with a liberal quantity of charcoal added.

3. Excessive use of stimulants, such as sulphate of ammonia ;.

fogs and atmospheric moisture, sun blistering many blooms after
dull weather. Avoid these defects by less stimulants, more air
judiciously applied, fire-heat, and shade.

JAMES QUARTERMAN, Silvermere, Cobham.

1. Four parts of loam, one part of stable manure, one part
cow manure, one of wood ashes, small quantity of lime phos-
phate, and chicken manure.

3. Toovigorousa growth. Plenty of fresh air is the best remedy.
G. WANSER, Wimbledon.

1. Turf, sand, old mushroom-bed manure, leaf mould, char-
coal, and bones.

DIGEST OF STATISTICS. 231

8. Excess of manure, unripe wood, moist, foggy atmosphere.
Remedy: Less stimulants, warm, dry air, with liberal ventilation.

SUSSEX.
JamMES Hopkins, High Cross Gardens, Framfield.
1. Two-thirds heavy turfy loam, one-third leaf soil, and pre-
pared horse droppings, with a liberal quantity of sharp sand.
8. Too close and damp atmosphere after the plants are housed.

CHARLES Fowter, Barrow Hill, Henfield.

1. One-year-old fibrous loam, two parts; spent mushroom-
bed manure, one part ; leaf mould, one part; and a pint of bone
meal to a bushel of the compost.

2. First week in June.

3. Excessive use of stimulants, with too much pot room.
Remedy : Ventilation night and day, with the aid of fire-heat.

M. Russet, Henfield.

1. Three parts moderately light loam, with plenty of fibre, one
part rotted horse droppings, one gallon of soot to four bushels of soil.

2. May 20 for late sorts; June 1 for others.

3. Atmospheric moisture is the great cause; if fire-heat is
judiciously applied, and liberal ventilation given, damping may
be avoided.

F. Gopsy, The Oaks, Burgess Hill.

1. Loam, horse droppings (not too rotten), with a small
addition of leaf soil, soot, and bone dust.

2. From the middle of May to the middle of June.

8. Excessive feeding to plants, with little foliage. Remedy :
More blooms, and consequently more foliage to each plant ;
arrange plants thinly in the house ; give air front and back, with
fire-heat, and not too free a use of the water-can.

WILTS.
H. W. Warp, Longford Castle, Salisbury.

1. Three parts yellow calcareous loam, a good sprinkling of
drift sand or small charcoal, and a handful or two of fresh
soot to each barrowful of the mixture, thoroughly mixed.

8. Plants kept too wet at the roots; a humid, close, and low
atmospheric temperature. Remedy: A thorough state at the roots,
neither wet nor dry ; a buoyant atmospherecaused by artificial heat.

J. HoRsEFIELD, Heytesbury.
1. Four parts sandy loam, one horse droppings, one leaf

2382 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

mould, with a slight addition at the final potting of bone meal
and wood ashes.

3. Insufficient ventilation after the plants are housed; avoid
this by maintaining a buoyant air.

G. IN@LEFIELD, Tedworth House, Marlborough.

3. Over-feeding at certain stages, and damp, foggy weather,
through a want of maintaining a buoyant atmosphere by artificial
means.

WORCESTER.
W. Cramp, Madresfield Court, Malvern.

1. Three parts old turfy loam, one mushroom-bed dung, one
fine lime rubble, and one sharp river sand, fine bones, and soot.

3. Over-feeding, too much water, or a stagnant atmosphere.
Prevention: Thorough drainage; the use of smaller pots for
varieties known to be susceptible to damp more than others ; the
maintenance of a gentle circulation of air in the house by
artificial means.

YORKSHIRE.
I’. R. Haves, Woodville Gardens, Keighley.

1. Three parts good fibrous loam, one good stable manure,
mixed with plenty of sand, one 8-inch potful of ground bones,
and the same quantity of charcoal to each barrowful of soil.

2. Late varieties, April 6; medium flowering sorts, May 1;
the early varieties, such as Mrs. G. Rundle, May 12.

3. A too close atmosphere ; maintain a buoyant air by arti-
ficial means, applying fire-heat at the time air is given.

Toomas Barcuay, Beecheliff Gardens, Keighley.

1. Fibrous turf, leaf mould, rotten manure, a 6-inch potful of
crushed bones to one wheelbarrowful of the compost, with a
good sprinkling of sand and soot, thoroughly mixed.

2. Late varieties, April 1; early sorts, May 6.

3. Too wet a condition of the roots when the flowers are
expanding, and damp weather, cause too much atmospheric
moisture, which should be remedied by artificial means.

M. Mipewey, Bankfield Gardens, Bingley.
2. May 5 is the best time to cut down plants in this neigh-

bourhood.
SCOTLAND.

A. Dewar, Palace Gardens, Falkland, Fife.
1. Turfyloam, pigeon manure, bone meal, soot and sand added.

JOURNAL

OF THE

RoyaL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

A METHOD OF WINTER GARDENING.

By the Rey. W. Wiuxs, M.A., Sec. R.H.S.
[Read Jan. 14, 1890.]

I am quite sure that when you first saw my name announced
as going to give you a lecture this afternoon there rose up in
the minds of many of you the adage, ‘“‘ Fools rush in where
angels fear to tread.’’ But, indeed, it is not so. I have done
myself violence in presenting myself before you in this novel
character of lecturer. I have metaphorically taken myself by
the scruff of the neck and dragged myself to the front. And,
first, I will tell you how it all came about. It has seemed good
to the Council this year that there should be a lecture, if possible,
on every one of the afternoon meetings, not because hitherto our
audience has been so large, but in the hope that when the
regularity of these lectures, and the intrinsic value and interest-
ingness of all except this first one, became better known
through the medium of the Society’s Journal, so, gradually, the
attendance of Fellows of the Society to hear them would increase.
Such being the case, I was instructed to invite two gentlemen,
one living in Cheshire, and the other in the Isle of Wight, to
speak to you this afternoon of Christmas Roses—Helleborus
niger and its varieties. Well, I frankly confess that I shrank
from writing those two letters, and ‘‘ with honeyed words in-
veigling ’’ those two gentlemen to leave their own firesides in
such weather as we may reasonably expect in January, to lec-
ture to so small an audience as we may reasonably expect to
have in such weather. I sat with the note-paper before me,
pen in hand. I got as far as “ My dear Sir,’’ and then the
thought of possibly cold slushy snow, or of a biting cold east
wind, or of a dense dark fog, and of this scantily filled hall in
B

934 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

mid-January, came over me and I could not do the deed; I took
my orders, but put in my own name instead, and I am thankful
to say that at the next meeting of the Council, when I confessed
my wickedness, I received the most complete forgiveness. And
so, instead of the old adage which came into your minds, I
would suggest as applicable to the present case the doggerel :

The good-natured fool lets himself be dragged in,
When to use up an angel would be a great sin.

And having thus dragged myselfin, I had to fix upon a
subject ; and so I began to think over the wide scope—the
many-sidedness—of our old Society. I pictured to myself how
one of its many duties lay with what I may call the aristocracy of
gardeners—the men, I mean, who have vast ranges of glass
houses at their command, and ample funds to keep them up ;
how amongst them the Society should encourage the gathering
together of all the spoils of the tropics for the delight and
recreation and instruction of untravelled folk; and then, with a
tremendous bound, my thoughts passed over to the humble
dwellers in our cottages in the country, and in flats and rooms
in towns, in whom our Society does all that it can to encourage
a love of plants, by granting medals to be competed for in their
local window-gardening and cottage gardeners’ societies, and by
drawing attention to the easier grown hardy flowers and im-
proved varieties of common fruits and vegetables. But between
these two classes lies the great middle class, some of whom are
so worthily engaged in extending the fruit culture of this
country, and for whom our Society has made so many practical
experiments, and has recently held congresses on fruits and
vegetables, and the vast majority of whom are, like myself,
enthusiastic in their love of gardening, but have little time
and less money to devote to their favourite pursuit, and who,
consequently, want to secure the best possible results at the
smallest possible outlay. To these last, then, I determined to
say a word in season if I could, because I know by everyday
experience that the pleasure-gardens of a very large number of
the middle class of amateur gardeners like myself, and some
that have not the similar excuse of want of funds, are wont to
present a most unattractive, almost melancholy, spectacle from
the middle of October to almost the end of March. I determined,

A METHOD OF WINTER GARDENING. 235

therefore, to draw the attention of the Fellows to a very inexpen-
sive but most effective system of winter gardening which I
myself have practised now for some years past, whereby, to a
real lover of plants, my garden is almost as pretty, interesting,
and attractive in winter as it is in the height of summer.

I will premise that my little vicarage garden consists almost
entirely of borders—wide borders—full, or fairly full, of hardy
herbaceous plants and bulbs, and so on. I do not much affect
beds—at least my liking for them varies in inverse proportion
according to whether they are indoors or out—a good proportion
indoors, but only a small one here and there outdoors. A good
expanse of bright green grass, shaded with one or two large trees,
and dotted about haphazard (or rather with the artfulness that con-
ceals the art) with shrubs and large-growing herbaceous plants, like
the Acanthuses, the Rhubarbs, and the Fennels, and good
clumps of Pampas Grass, the Bamboos, Arwndo conspicua, and
such like, and then the whole surrounded by wide borders, some
sunny and some shady, and all backed up with shrubs such as
Rhododendrons, Kalmias, Bays, Azaleas, Portugal Laurels,
Lilacs, Philadelphus (commonly known as Syringas), Laurustinus,
Weigelias, Hollies, and so on, that is my idea of a good, service-
able English pleasure-garden ; a garden with abundant variety
of form and colour, of flower and foliage; a garden in which
every day finds something fresh to look at, to admire, and
watch ; a garden where every step brings variety, and every
season its own especial charm ; a garden not only to take
pleasure in, but to be itself the pleasure.

Well, you will all agree that in such a garden as I have
faintly sketched, spring with its Snowdrops and Anemones, its
Primrosesand Violets, its nodding blue and whiteWood Hyacinths,
its Daffodils and Tulips, and its Apple-blossom, and a thousand
other of a hardy garden’s glories—spring is, and must be,
charming. Who can attempt to describe the summer-garden,
with its Irises and its Foxgloves, its Ponies and its Carnations,
its innumerable bell-flowers, and, chief of all, its Roses?
Summer is always charming. And so is autumn, with its
wealth of colour: its Dahlias—yes, I am very fond of Dahlias,
double and single, pompon and cactus, I would fain have them
all—and its Sunflowers, and its Michaelmas Daisies and

Chrysanthemums ; and then the leaf-glory of the ripening trees,
B2

936 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ard the deciduous shrubs—oh ! autumn is very lovely. But how
about the winter? Well, some devotees of hardy gardening tell
us to leave all the old stalks and decaying foliage, and to rejoice
therein. NowTJI yield to none in my admiration of the colours
and forms of leafless but living twigs and branches in the winter:
the yellow and almost crimson of some of the Willows; the
claret-plum colour some of the Plum bark gathers; the silver
snow of the Birch, surmounted by the falling spray of its delicate
claret-coloured twigs; the bright yellowy-red russet of the
Scotch Firs and Larches ; the grey-dove colour of the Oak trunks,
the twigs all covered with glaucous haze, through which the rosy
nut-brown of the bark or skin gleams out ; the exquisite harmony
of colour in the lichen-and-moss-bearing gnarled branches and
gouty-looking branchlets of old Apple-trees, and so on ; but I can
see no beauty in the absolutely dead stalks of Lilies, Phloxes,
Ponies, Sunflowers, Michaelmas Daisies, Chrysanthemums, and
such things. I seem to see in the one class of colour the evidence
of suspended but existing life, and in the other the presence of
death and decay and gloom. ‘True, one knows the rootstocks
are all living (at least if the slugs are sleeping), but these dead
memorials of a past summer’s glory can never to my mind be
things of beauty, and are better removed to the rubbish heap
and the whole garden tidied, as soon as the leaves have fallen.
Indeed, I believe it better for the plants to do this. The
decaying stalks of Lilies, e.g., form the most convenient and tooth-
some highways for slugs, caseworms, the larve of cockchafers,
and such like, to the dormant bulbs beneath; and in other cases
the old stems accumulate leaves over and round the rootstocks,
and by thus harbouring and attracting slugs and damp do, in
my opinion, far more harm than the slight protection they afford
from frost does good. So I always have a clean sweep made as
soon as ever the sap has thoroughly gone down and the stalks are
dead and the leaves fallen. But this leaves the borders absolutely,
or almost absolutely, bare from the box or turf edgings to the back-
ground of shrubs or trees. The problem is how, ata small outlay
of money, time, and labour—and thisis a most important item—
to make these borders as pretty and interesting in winter as
they have been in summer. The answer to the problem can‘be
stated in four words. Hvergreen plants im pots. It is easily
spoken, but it takes a longish time to work out satisfactorily. Of

A METHOD OF WINTER GARDENING. | 237

course, with unlimited funds at your command, it is easy enough
to order so many dozen shrubs, set three or four skilled men to
prepare the best possible compost, and, hey presto! the thing is
done. But Iam not intending to address people with ample funds,
but that great mass of middle-class folk whose balance at the
bankers’ is, ike my own, constantly nearing the edge, and as to
which a very little more expenditure upon the garden would soon
bring a little note from Coutts’s, most courteously expressed,
“drawing your kind attention to the fact ’’—the horrid fact of
“‘overdrawn.’’ For such people, I say, it takes a longish time
to get up a good stock of evergreens in pots.

Someone will say, But why in pots at all? Because the pot
system is far more economical in the long run and gives much
better results. If evergreen shrubs are moved from the nursery
to the garden, and from the garden to the nursery—two movings
every year—you must expect every now and again to lose some of
the plants—at least that is my own experience ; whereas with the
pot system I have never known but onetodie. Again, evergreen
shrubs of any size, moved thus twice a year, in a very short
time put on a poor, thin, draggletailed appearance and get legey,
and always remind me of those poor, thin, bent-kneed beggars
you see slouching along the streets with torn trouser-ends and
ragged coat-tails with bits of the hning hanging down, and their
hats brushed three-quarters the wrong way, and out at elbows;
whereas with the pot system your plants are feathered down to
the very ground, full, robust, and hearty, reminding you of
chubby, rosy-faced country urchins, stiff and sturdy, amply fed
and amply clothed, and merry from toes to nose. Therefore I.
say if you want really good plants, plants to be proud of, plants
to love, and cannot afford to buy a fresh stock every three or
four years, try the pot plan, which I will now endeavour to
unfold.

And the first question, of course, is, When to begin. Buy
such plants as you must buy in March orin September. These,
too, I find the best months for making cuttings of evergreens ;
the March ones must be put in a dampish place, the September
ones in a half-shady spot. Almost all evergreens will grow from
euttings with a little care and persuasion; but if not, there is
nothing more interesting than growing them from seed. In two
to three years’ time they will be pretty little dots, just suited for

938 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

front places in your borders, and you may grow them thus
gradually on for, I fully believe, twenty or thirty years before
they will have outgrown your powers of management.

Next, What plants to get or raise. It would almost be
easier to say what not to get, but I will give you a list of what I
have found most suitable. But first let me say, do not begin
with too big plants; be content to wait for them to grow big. I
have plants now in pots—Laurels 5 feet high and 5 feet through,
Aucubas 4 feet by 5 feet, Lawsonianas 6 and 7 feet high, and so
on; but they have all been gradually grown on. If you begin with
too big plants, they almost invariably lose their lower branches
and get leggy—I don’t know why they do so, but they do—
whereas if you begin with little fellows, a foot or 18 inches
high, you can keep them for, I am confident, twenty, thirty, or,
I shouldn’t wonder, for even fifty years in pots, and feathered
down to the very ground. It wants just alittle management and
care, but I am sure it can be done.

Well, the most useful plant I know of for the purpose is
Lawson’s Cypress. It is a charming plant, so various that
almost every seedling raised is unlike its brethren. Go into any
good nursery in mid-August and ask for the Lawsoniana quarter,
and you will see rows upon rows of dainty little fellows, 8 inches
or a foot high or so, some close-growing, some spreading, some
tapering, some few with a golden gleam upon the green, some a.
dull dead-coloured green, some with a shining brownish almost
metallic lustre, and some—the loveliest of all—with a pale bluey
‘white glaucous hue upon the foliage, and with bright red stems.
Oh, how I revel in such quarters of plant children! The only
drawback is, I always want to carry off far more than my nursery
—garden, I mean—could possibly contain. Well, you may have
your pick of all these little ones at about 5s. or so a dozen, accord-
ing to their size and age. Do not pick out all the prettiest. No,
you want some of the duller ones as contrasts to the bright ;
some of the plain green to set off the glaucous and the golden
ones. Indeed, in all your choosing bear in mind that variety
of foliage, form, and habit is what you really want, and not all of
the most rare, or even all of the most beautiful. A boy who had.
nothing but plum-pudding for dinner all the Christmas holidays
would loathe plum-pudding soon. It is the contrast with the:
ordinary staple of the dinner which makes plum-pudding so

A METHOD OF WINTER GARDENING. 939

toothsome to the boyish palate; and it is this same contrast
with the more ordinary things of life and nature which charms
our sense and appreciation of the beautiful. I often think
gardens and greenhouses are too full of rarities, and that if a
little less had been spent on the plants a far better effect would
have been obtained.

But Iam wandering. Well, get two or three dozen of these
varying baby Lawson Cypresses, and you will have made a
thoroughly good beginning for making your borders beautiful in
winter. Then you will want other common things (but all
small to begin with), most of which you can raise yourself:
common Laurel—the broad-leafed variety is the best for contrast
—common Portugals, common Yews, a few—just one or two—
common and variegated Box. Box is not by any means a
favourite with me; it smells, to my mind, abominable, and is
very gloomy; still, one or two will make variety. There is a
very broad-leaved and short-jointed sort of Box I remember see-
ing years ago, but which I have not yet been able to get hold of,
but it would be a great acquisition, and I should be grateful to
anyone who would tell me its proper name and where to find it.
Perhaps the most generally useful plant, after Lawson’s Cypress,
is the common female Aucuba. You can hardly have too much
of it. It is good in all stages, from the baby with only her six or
eight mottled leaves, in the foreground, to the big spreading bush
4 feet high by 5 or 6 feet through, to fill a big gap in the middle
of your border. It adapts itself most perfectly to pot culture.
Then there are all the Ivies, green, silver, and golden, and some
kinds which take on the exquisite crimson and yellow-brown tints
more readily than others ; all of them are useful, and with care
——but mark this well, Ivies do want care and attention to train
them into nice pot-plants—but, with careful training, they make
charming specimens. The best, I fancy, is the great heart-
shaped leafed one which I know under the name of ‘“ Algerian ”’
Ivy, though I am doubtful whether it is that variety or dentata,
or Reegner’s, but all three are good.

Having thus made up a good stock of these and many other
common things which will at once occur to you—Berberis Aqui-
foltum and Retinospora plumosa, for example—you must begin to
think about laying in your gems, the little beauties which are to
attract the chief attention in your borders, like the diamonds

240 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

and amethysts and rubies in a jewel. And first of all you must
have one or two specimens of Retinospora obtusa nana, a shrub
on which the light and shade glints more artistically than on any
other plant I know. It is quite perfect, with its soft, flat, spread-
ing branchlets. Then, amongst the other Retinosporas, there are
plumosa aurea, obtusa aurea, obtusa gracilis aurea, and pisifera
aurea, allwith acharming golden hueupon them; £. ericoides, with
a claret-brown mossy appearance; and Jf. leptoclada, a dark
purply green, and one of the most quaint, old-fashioned looking and
slow-growing shrubs possible. Amongst the Cypresses there is
also pyranudalis alba, a very pretty feathery and slightly varie-
gated shrub; Lawsoniana aurea, by far out and away the best
golden shrub I have yet met with; ZL. nana, a perfect little ball
of vivid green, and of very slow and stunted, but most healthy-
looking, growth ; and ZL. argentea, with a most lovely weeping
habit. These I fancy are the best. T’hujopsis compacta is another:
charmingly soft-looking, feathery plant, much in the same way
as the last-named Cypress. I pass on to the Hollies; and
amongst the common green many varieties will at once be seen
in any nursery plantation raised from seed, varying in colour
from bright green to almost black, and some with a bronzy
hue upon them, varying also not inconsiderably in the breadth
of the individual leaves. Here, again, as with the Lawson’s
Cypress, make a good selection of all sorts. Amongst the
variegated Hollies there stand out pre-eminently Golden Queen
and Silver Queen, the leaves of which are perfect pictures in
themselves, but Waterer’s Golden I find of better and more
compact growth, though not quite so beautiful ; you must have all
three. Then there are Ilex myrtifolia and laurifolia, both with
leaves of most vivid, shining green, and Hodgin’s and Shepherd’s
Hollies, both with magnificently broad and almost black-green
leaves ; none must be missing. Osmanthus wlicifolius must by
no means be omitted. It is of slow and compact growth, and
some of its varieties have leaves of a most glorious bronzy
purple colour, and shine with a perfectly metallic lustre, like
brown steel. The Golden Yew makes a very fine pot plant, and
so does the Irish—better, indeed, than the common Yew does.
There is one plant which I like very much, but have left till last
because I am told that it is not frost-proof, and this obviously is
a sine qué non in winter gardening ; but with me it has stood

A METHOD OF WINTER GARDENING. 241

and flourished during five winters, which have sufficed to kill
down to the root the common as wellas the variegated Huonymus
japonicus, so that I think you may rely upon its hardiness, south
of the Thames at least. It is Hleagnus japonicus variegatus ;
it has lovely olive-green leaves, edged and blotched with a rich
cream colour, and the wood part of the shoots is thickly clothed
with rich chocolate-brown hairs or scales; altogether, I think it
a delightful plant to have just one or two specimens of. There
is no suggestion of disease in its variegation, a fault which, to
my mind, utterly ruins so many variegated plants. ‘Time would
fail me to tell of Rhododendrons, Andromedas and Kalmias, Bays
and Laurustinus, the Chinese Juniper, Thwopsis borealis, and
many others, all of which do excellently for pot culture, and may
be had at very little cost.

Hitherto I have only incidentally remarked that small speci-
mens, especially baby Aucubas and small Berberis Aquifoliwm in
tiny pots, do well for the front row; but there are a few excel-
lent things that do permanently for front places. Amongst these
the two best plants by far I know of (and both are propagated
with the greatest ease, the first from layerings, the second from
spores) are Hiica herbacea carnea, with its soft mossy cushions
smothered with bright pink flowers in February and March, and
the Shield Fern (Polystichum aculeatwm), with its long graceful
leaves swaying with every wind; of these you cannot have too
many. One or two of the white variety of H. herbacea are very
useful for variety, and the flowers are charming in mid-winter.
Gaultheria Shallon makes a good pot plant for midway between
the front and second rows; so, too, do the varieties of Menziesia
polifolia, or Irish Heath ; but the white one is the only one whose
flowers I care for, and they are charming, but I am not sure that
the plant is always frost-proof. The common Hart’s Tongue Fern
(Scolopendrium vulgare) I use a great deal of for quite the front,
but itis not altogether satisfactory, as an early wet frost is apt to
take the colour in blotches out of its glorious broad green leaves.
Arabis albida, Iberis corifolia, and such like, serve for a
pleasant change, and Christmas Roses in pots are ever welcome.
I do not mention Snowdrops, Crocuses, Daffodils, &c., as they
belong more to the subject of spring than of winter gardening.

And now a word or two as to culture, &c. The plants,
having been procured, are potted into the smallest-sized pots

942, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

they will conveniently go into, and in the end of October, when
frost has reduced the Dahlias, &., to pulp, they are plunged

very carefully in between the Ponies, perennial Sunflowers,

Trises, Phloxes, Spireeas, Asters, and other herbaceous rootstocks.
Great care is taken in plunging; we rather leave a gap than
injure in the smallest degree a stool of any good hardy plant;
but where the Dahlias, Paris Daisies, Calceolarias, Geraniums,
and such like come out, and where the annuals have been, there
is always room. When the plunging is done the borders are
again very carefully forked over, about 2 inches deep, and all
is tidied up ‘‘ ere the winter storms begin,” and the result is, I
venture to say, as delightsome a winter border as English eye
could expect to look upon. In the middle or end of April,
according to the season, the borders are again all cleared, the
plants being carried straight to the potting-shed to be repotted.
In the matter of compost, I again, as in all else, study economy
most strictly. I grow a great many Chrysanthemums and fruit
trees in pots. These, as everyone knows, are obliged to be
repotted every year in rich soil full of crushed bones, &c., and
are kept during their growing time constantly saturated with
liquid manures of various kinds. The soil, when they are re-
potted, is very far from being entirely exhausted, and is at once
made up into a heap, to be saved for the shrub-potting in the
spring. In this way the compost for the shrubs costs nothing.
It is like the outgrown clothes of the elder children being made
up again for the younger, and I can answer for it that the
shrubs do excellently in this soil. The plants are taken out of
their pots, the pots washed and dried, and clean drainage given.
The roots are shaken out entirely, as much old soil as possible
removed, any long coarse roots shortened back, and then they
are repotted, ramming the soil in firmly as you do for fruit trees
or Chrysanthemums; and very seldom does a plant, when once
of a fair size, require a larger pot than that out of which it came.
When the potting is over we go carefully through all the plants
and prune them. ‘This, of course, must be done with judgment ;
but, as a general rule, I remove all long coarse growth entirely,
shorten down the thin shoots, and head back the leaders, en-
couraging side and bottom growth as against running up in the
head. The pots are then stood back in rows according to size,
in some convenient spot not too shady, but not exposed to

pe Le

THE HIPPEASTRUM (AMARYLLIS). 248

baking, scorching sun ; the chief point, however, is that the place
where they are stood shall be within reach of the water-hose,
and there they stand and go on quietly until October comes
again, and then—da capo.

I ought perhaps to have said that the Ericas, Kalmias,
Andromedas, and such like have some of the old waste peat from
greenhouse Azaleas, Camellias, &c., mixed in with their compost.
And note, that where the Holly maggot abounds (and where does
it not?), there you must look your Hollies over most carefully
once a week in May and June, or you will soon have no Hollies
left. The slight check which the late potting gives them seems
to make them less able to resist the maggot, or perhaps makes
them sweeter, tenderer, and more juicy to its taste.*

I will not again apologise for having inflicted myself upon
you, My only reason was to keep better material for a more
promising occasion; and as for my subject, though great gar-
deners, who have such an expanse of pleasure-ground that they
are glad to devote a portion permanently to a shrub garden, may
think it not worth the trouble, little ones, who have to make a
small patch fulfil all purposes, may perhaps be thus introduced
to a method of winter gardening which, whilst it answers prac-
tically to perfection, is at the same time most economical ; and
great and little gardeners will, I think, alike allow that the
method is not a very hackneyed one; indeed, I doubt whether
they can point to any other garden in the kingdom where it is
precisely similarly carried out as it is at my little country
vicarage in Surrey.

LHe HLEPPRASTRUM (AMARYULLIS):
By Mr. Harry Verrcu, F.R.H.S., F.L.S.
[Read March 11, 1890.]

In making the following remarks on the Amaryllis, I wish to
commence by saying that it is not my province to deal with the
botanical so much as with the practical side of the subject. For

* Since this paper was written, I have fancied that perhaps Hollies

would do better if only repotted every alternate year, and I am giving the
idea a trial—W. W.

244 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

botanical information on this most interesting class of plants I
cannot do better than refer you to the “ Classification of the
Species of Hippeastrum,’’ by Mr. J. G. Baker, in the Journal
of Botany for 1878, page 79, and to a ‘‘ Lecture on the
Amaryllis,”” given before the Royal Horticultural Society on
March 27, 1883, by Mr. Shirley Hibberd, the substance of
which was published in the Gardeners’ Chronicle of March 31
following. But on the very threshold of the subject that is to
occupy our attention to-day I am met by a question of nomen-
clature that cannot be ignored. Are we wrong in continuing to
call these grand flowers after the name of the Virgilian nymph,
and should we therefore drop the pleasing appellative with which
they have been almost indissolubly connected from our earliest
memory, and substitute the rougher Hippeastrum for the softer
Amaryllis? I do not propose to travel over ground already
familiar to many of you further than is necessary for the sake
of clearness, but it does seem desirable that the question should
be impartially considered from a horticultural standpoint, with
a view of setting at rest some uncertainty still prevailing on the
subject.

The following short retrospect will, I trust, bring the matter
clearly before you. Linneus selected the name of the Virgilian
nymph Amaryllis—

Tu, Tityre, lentus in umbra,
Formosam resonare doces Amaryllida sylvas —

for the lovely South African Belladonna Lily ; and when, sub-
sequently, bulbs from the West Indies and South America were
brought to Europe, and were found to produce flowers closely
resembling in form that of the Cape Belladonna, they were
brought under the same genus. It is interesting, nay useful, to
look back sometimes into the distant past, both of science and
horticulture, if we wish to measure the strides that have been
made in both up to our own times. The Amaryllis affords a
striking example of what has been done. Not only were many
species now referred to Hippeastrum figured and described by
the older botanists as Amaryllises, but also a number of others
since separated under various generic designations as Vallota,
Griffinia, Sprekelia, Lycoris, &c. These were all called Amaryllis
pretty much after the same manner as all epiphytal Orchids were
called Epidendrums in the days of our great-grandfathers.

THE HIPPEASTRUM (AMARYLLIS). 245

The beauty of the Amaryllids could scarcely fail to attract
the attention of amateurs. I use the word Amaryllids in the
broader sense of including any plants belonging to the Natural
Order of which Amaryllis Belladonna supplied the type, under
whatever generic name they may be at present known. The
facility with which the bulbs could be imported alive, even in
the age prior to steam navigation, created for them a demand
that could be supplied without much risk; and in the first
decades of the present century collections of exotic plants from
the far East and from the far West consisted chiefly of bulbous
plants and Orchids. Among the amateur collections of Ama-
ryllids formed at the beginning of this century, that of Mr. Griffin
at South Lambeth seems to have been exceptionally well cared
for and rich in species ; the name of the owner is kept in remem-
brance by the genus Griffinia. Another collection, formed by a
clergyman at Spofforth, in Yorkshire, was destined to become
famous throughout the world by reason of the series of important
results, both to science and to horticulture, achieved by the
untiring zeal and energy of its owner, who minutely studied,
assiduously cultivated, and experimented upon every species of
his favourite family he could procure. This was that good old
Churchman, Dean Herbert, who published the results of his
investigations from time to time in the Botanical Magazine, the
Botanical Register, and the Transactions of the Horticultura)
Society of London. Dean Herbert not only cultivated his bulbs
for the sake of their flowers, but he seeded them, crossed and
intercrossed them, and even fertilised species with their own
pollen as well as with the pollen of other species; in fact, he
varied the circumstances in every possible way, making dis-
coveries so remarkable and so unexpected that in that pre-Dar-
winian age, when the operations of Nature were often imperfectly
interpreted, and even wrongly interpreted, the good clergyman
incurred no small amount of reproach for promulgating facts and
deducing inferences from them that were far in advance of the
prevailing notions of his time.

Herbert seeded the Belladonna Lily; he also seeded the
American Amaryllises, and found, as we or anyone else may find,
that the seeds of the latter differ essentially from thosé of the
former, for while the seeds of the Belladonna are few in number,
large and bulb-shaped like those of a Crinum or a Clivia (Iman-

246 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

tophyllum), those of the American Amaryllises are numerous,
flattened, and have a dark-coloured skin like those of a
Pancratium or Zephyranthes. He, however, discovered more
than this, for after several trials he found that the Cape
Belladonna would not cross with the American Amaryllises, a
fact that we have ourselves demonstrated experimentally. On
these grounds, but technically on the characters of the seeds
only, Herbert separated the American from the South African
species, retaining the Linnean name Amaryllis for the latter,
which is monotypic, and founding for the former a new genus,
which he called Hippeastrum, or the Knight’s Star-Lily,
following the idea which suggested the name equestre for one of
the species.

Herbert’s new genus was not immediately accepted by the
most eminent systematists of his time. Dr. Lindley, during his
editorship of the Botanical Register, declined to recognise it,
but admitted it some years later into his ‘‘ Vegetable Kingdom.”’
Endlicher did not adopt it in his ‘‘ Genera,” published in 1841,
nor in the later editions. And, lastly, when we introduced pardina
from Peru through Pearce, and on the occasion of its first
flowering it was figured in the Botanical Magazine (tab. 5655),
Sir J. D. Hooker wrote: ‘‘ The genus Hippeastrum of Herbert,
which includes many American species of Amaryllis, differs from
the South African type by such very slight and variable characters
that it cannot be regarded as of any practical value, and I there-
fore follow Endlicher in regarding it, together with its allies
Zephyranthes, Nerine, Vallota, &c., as sections of the great and
widely diffused and very natural genus Amaryllis.” Now Mr.
Shirley Hibberd, when discussing this question before the Society
on March 27, 1888, said: “In the Botanical Magazine it was
an Amaryllis (using the word in a collective sense) for a period
of about 30 years ; then it became a Hippeastrum for a period of
45 years; but, in describing pardina, the original generic desig-
nation was restored by Sir Joseph Hooker, Linneus triumphed,
and Amaryllis is herself again.’’ That triumph, however, was
but shortlived. At the very time Mr. Shirley Hibberd was
addressing these words to the Society, the final sheets of the
‘Genera Plantarum,” the greatest monument of botanical labour
of our time, were passing through the press, and, when the
concluding part was issued, it was found that Herbert’s

THE HIPPEASTRUM (AMARYLLIS). 247

Hippeastrum had been retained, and not that only, but also the
other genera separated by him from Amaryllis are established
nearly as he left them. Thus the Dean has finally triumphed,
for the question is settled for our lifetime at least. Nevertheless,
the name Amaryllis is so closely, if not indissolubly, associated
with these plants in horticultural nomenclature, that its separa-
tion from them is not likely to be popularly effected for some
time to come, but in deference to our botanical friends the correct
name Hippeastrum is used in this paper.

The present race of Hippeastrum has for its ancestry various
wild forms or species, some of which were introduced to
cultivation more than a century ago. Among the first of these
were equestre and Regine from the West Indies and Central
America, from which were derived the rich red and crimson tints
of some of the earlier hybrids; vittatwm from the same region,
whose influence may still be occasionally seen in the longitudinal
bands of colour more or less distinctly traced on the segments of
several, even of the latest seedlings; reticwlatwm, a smaller-
flowered species from Brazil, well marked by the crimson
veinings and reticulations of its segments, and by its white
striped foliage, characters which it has imparted to some of the
beautiful autumn-flowering hybrids of which we have still too
few. Many years later came psittacinwm, also of Brazilian origin,
a species with larger flowers than the preceding, and among
whose most obvious features are the green centre and deep
crimson veinings confined chiefly to the apical half of the
segments ; and about the same time aulicwm, of robust habit and
bright scarlet flowers, was sent from the Organ Mountains by
Mr. William Harrison, the discoverer and introducer of many
fine Brazilian Orchids. The species I have named were
certainly the chief ingredients of the ancestry of the earliest pro-
genies of Hippeastrum, and it is highly probable that others were
also used, but their influence has long since disappeared from
the existing race, and they may therefore be passed over in
silence. One remarkable species must not be overlooked, on
account of its long tube-like flowers of greenish white, reminding
one of the long tubular Lilies of Japan and the Philippine
Islands ; this is solandriflorwm. Herbert obtained mules from this
and vregio-vittatum, which greatly resembled the remarkable
form figured in the Botanical Magazine for 1837, tab. 3542,

948 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

under the name of ambiguwm, which had been received into the
Botanic Garden at Glasgow. It seems that this form and the
hybrids resembling it, more than solandriflorwm itself, were after-
wards used in the production of the few forms with long tubed
flowers that were occasionally raised. |

With the view of bringing before you as vividly as possible
the improvement that has been effected inthe Hippeastrum, I have
brought together as many of the original species concerned in
the ancestry of the race we now cultivate as could be procured
and brought into flower. With these are associated two or three
others said to be natural species, but of whose identification
there is some uncertainty; and also three or four hybrids that
have exercised a potential influence in the production of the race
of Hippeastrum raised by us at Chelsea, and which form the most
prominent links between that race and the original species. Two
other elements that have contributed to the perfection of the
Hippeastrum have yet to be mentioned; these are pardinwm and
Leopoldi, but as they appeared at a date so recent, and as
the last named has exercised a preponderating influence in the
production of most of the latest acquisitions, it will be best to
deal with them in their chronological place, and to take a rapid
retrospect of what was achieved with the older forms before their
appearance.

Dean Herbert was the first who commenced systematically
and persistently the hybridisation of the Hippeastrum, and he has
left us an account of his early operations in the Transactions
of the Horticultural Society of London, and in the appendix to
the tenth volume of the Botanical Register, published in 1824;
his later operations are recorded in the Journal of the Society
for 1847. As early as 1824 he had thirty-five different crosses,
and there were four or five more in other collections. A coloured
plate of one of his hybrids, which he considered to be the best
in colour he had then obtained, and which he called splendidum,
is given with the appendix to the Botamecal Register for 1824.
He had raised it from vittatwm crossed with Regine or equestre,
but, owing to a confusion in the labels, he was uncertain which.
Judging from the drawing, it would now scarcely attract a
passing glance. At that time, however, another hybrid came
under the notice of amateurs, on account of its brilliant colour,
and which was destined to attain great prominence on account of

THE HIPPEASTRUM (AMARYLLIS). 249

the influence it exercised in the production of future progenies.
This became known in gardens under the name of Johnsoni,
but its origin is somewhat obscure. It is mentioned by Herbert
in the Transactions of the Horticultural Society of London for
1819, where he says, ‘‘I have many: seedlings from Johnson’s
regio-vittatum, and I have some mule equestre-vittatum superior
to Johnson’s flower.’’ What became of these mules is not stated,
but three or four years later, some doubts having arisen respecting
the parentage of Johnson, an experiment was made in the
garden of the Earl of Carnarvon at Highclere by Mr. Gowen,
who crossed vittatwm with Regine, the reputed parents of John-
sont. The seedlings proved to be identical with Johnson, and
its true parentage was thus established. The account of Mr.
Gowen’s experiment is given in the Transactions of the Horticul-
tural Society for 1823, in which there is an incidental allusion
to the Botanic Garden at Liverpool, and from which it may be
assumed that the original Johnson: was raised there. I am
glad to be able to bring before you a bulb of Johnsoni in flower,
and I know of no more interesting subject in the whole history
of the Hippeastrum than the preservation of this hybrid during
so many years.

Passing over several hybrids that subsequently appeared, but
which enjoyed but an ephemeral reputation, I come to Acramanii,
for many years cultivated in gardens under the erroneous name
of Ackermanm. From the Gardeners’ Chronicle for 1850, page
357, we learn that the original Acramanii was raised by Messrs.
Garaway & Co., of Bristol, in 1835, from aulicum platypetalum
(figured in the Botanical Register for 1826, tab. 1038) and
psittacinum. This hybrid unquestionably marks a great advance
on all its predecessors in those qualities which constitute the
ideal of florists, but it appears to have given place a few years
afterwards to a still finer form raised by the same firm from
aulicum and Johnsont, and called by them Acramanit pulcher-
rimum., This, too, 1 am glad to bring before you to-day, and
thus two of the most important links in the chain of affinities
connecting the noble race of Hippeastrum of our time with the
wild forms, and with the first mules raised by the horticulturists
of two generations ago, are here represented.

The appearance of Acramanw pulcherrimun gave a consider-
able impulse to Hippeastrum culture, for we find it taken up shortly

Cc

250 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

afterwards by the late Louis Van Houtte of Ghent, and by other
Belgian and also by French horticulturists, “who raised seed-
lings in considerable numbers, and by careful hybridising
originated many fine varieties.” Some of Van Houtte’s best
acquisitions were figured from time to time in the Flore des Serres,
They were brilliant in colour, and surpassed in that respect
the general host of varieties cultivated at that time; but they
are all characterised by narrow acuminate segments scarcely
broad enough to exclude the daylight from behind. Van Houtte’s
best forms were afterwards surpassed by the acquisitions of the
elder De Graaff of Leyden, to whom we are indebted for the
form that bears his name, and which was one of the parents
of Empress of India, raised by his sons, the present well-known
cultivators of the Hippeastrum—a variety that afterwards became
an important factor in the production of some of our best types.
Both Graveanum and Empress of Indiaare in the collection ex-
hibited by us to-day. In our own country many meritorious
forms have been raised by Mr. R. 8. Holford of Westonbirt,
Mr. Baker, formerly gardener at Coombe Warren, Messrs. Hen-
derson, the late Rev. Thomas Staniforth, an ardent admirer of
the Hippeastrum, and by the late Mr. Speed of Chatsworth.

I have now arrived at another turning-point in the history of
the Hippeastrum; this was the discovery of pardinwm and
Leopold: by our collector Pearce on the Andes of Peru, and their
introduction by us into European gardens. Placing these side by
side with the older species, it will be readily seen that as regards
the shape of the flowers and the length of their tube, a series
may be found of which the half-closed, long-tubed solandriflorum
occupies one extreme, and the open, almost tubeless Leopold
the other. Between these extremes the other species’ partici-
pating in the parentage of our present race of Hippeastrum may
be arranged accordingly. Up to the time of the introduction of
Leopoldi most of even the best forms obtained by hybridisation
were characterised by more or less narrow and acuminate seg-
ments, of which the lowermost was almost invariably imperfect,
or, at best, unsymmetrical with the others; by a longer or
shorter tube, which they had inherited from their wild ancestors ;
and by the green central rays so conspicuous in equestre,
psittacinum, aulicum, and others. The introduction of Leopolds
and pardinum therefore afforded an opportunity of exceptional

THE HIPPEASTRUM (AMARYLLIS). 251

interest for attempting the improvement of the old race of
Amaryllis that was not to be neglected, and we accordingly
commenced in 1867 a series of experiments with that object.
The first experiments with pardinwm were made by Seden, who
raised Chelsont and Brilliant. The general results obtained
with pardinwm were, however, disappointing, and we soon
abandoned the use of that species. We also tried awlicum in our
earlier operations, but we obtained nothing of value, the ill shape
of the flower of that species, and its large green eye, prepon-
derating in the progeny. In Leopoldi we found a more potent
subject; in fact it is not saying too much in affirming that
throughout the genus no single species has exercised so prepon-
derating an influence in the production of the best forms as this.
Our first results with Leopoldi were encouraging, for although
we found, as Dean Herbert had found half a century before,
that when a particular species is crossed with a mule, or any
particular mule with a species, the individuals of the resulting
progeny have not only a great resemblance to each other, but
also many of them come so near the species as to be practically
the same thing, or the same but slightly varied, yet we are able
to select several distinct new forms showing amarked improvement
on their progenitors in breadth and substance of segment, size
and symmetry of flower, &c., while preserving the main features
of Leopoldi. The hybrids of this type culminated, as regards
form and size of flower, in a variety we called John Heal, as a
recognition of the patient and intelligent perseverance of the
foreman who now cultivates our collection. The scapes of
Leopoldi, it will be remembered, are two-flowered, while those
of some of the older species, and especially some of the best
hybrids derived from them, are four to six flowered. We at-
tained great perfection in form and size in the variety John Heal.
Our next step was to attempt to obtain four to six flowered
scapes with flowers equally good in form and size, with diversity
in colour; we therefore crossed De Graaff’: Kmpress of India,
a noble four to six flowered variety of brilliant colour (a specimen
of which is before you), with the best Leopold forms, with the
result of obtaining not only four to six flowered scapes, but also
decided breaks of colour into various shades and tints, and by
the intercrossing of the forms so obtained has resulted the race
now so universally admired.
c2

952 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOUIETY.

In the course of our experiments it was another desirable
point to diminish as far as possible the green central rays that
are objectionable from a florist’s point of view, and how far we
have succeeded the splendid flowers now before you will show.
Then, again, the irregularity of the lowermost segment has
always been looked upon as a defect, but one which is inherent
in the ancestral forms; and although it may never be entirely
obliterated, yet much improvement in that direction has been
effected, as may be seen in some of the flowers exhibited to-
day. Another fine race has been obtained by crossing the best
Leopoldi forms with reticulatum, which has resulted in the pro-
duction of a beautiful series of autumn and winter flowering
varieties, of which the finest of the first raised progeny is known
under the name of Autumn Beauty, while from a subsequent
cross we raised Favourite and Edith M. Wynne. Other fine
late-flowering varieties of the reticulatwm type, in which Leopoldi
did not participate in the parentage, are named Mrs. Garfield
and Mrs. Lee.

Comparing the latest acquisitions with the original species in
respect of size, we find that the flowers of the latter range from
25 to 5 inches in diameter, with segments from 2 to 14 inch
broad, and with tubes 8 to 4 inches long; that of solandriflorum
7 to 8 inches long. Our best recent types have a diameter of
9 to 11 inches, with segments 3} to 4 inches broad, and the tube
almost obsolete. As regards colour, scarlet and red prevail in
some of the natural species ; crimson-scarlet veins, streaks and
reticulations in others, and all with a larger or smaller green
centre. Besides these, solandriflorum and calyptratwm are
ereenish white ; but the last named has not been used of late for
hybridising. We have now an uninterrupted range of colour from
deep maroon-crimson through crimson, crimson-scarlet, pure
scarlet, orange-scarlet, carmine, rose and rose-pink, to almost
pure white, with striped and reticulated forms of all these shades
of colour.

To remove any misapprehensions, if such exist, respecting
the facility with which the Hippeastrum (7.e., the Amaryllis) may
be cultivated, I will now formulate the cultural routine followed
by us, and under which failures are practically unknown.

Soil.—_The compost should consist of two-thirds good fibrous
loam, such as is used for vines, and one-third cow manure fresh

THE HIPPEASTRUM (AMARYLLIS). 2538

from the stall. These ingredients should be brought together
towards the end of July, and allowed to remain in heap for about,
three months, when they should be turned over and well mixed
together. The mixture must at no time be allowed to get too
wet, and when required for potting, in the early part of the
following year, a proportion to the whole of nearly one-third of
silver sand should be added.

Potting.—The pots selected should be in proportion to the
size of the bulbs, and the smaller the pots that can be so used
the better ; in every case the drainage must be ample. Before
potting every vestige of old soil should be shaken off, and any
decaying roots, and any other decayed matter that may be found
about the bulbs, should be removed. The potting should be per-
formed according to the time the bulbs are required to be in
bloom, a period of eight to ten weeks being the usual interval
between the potting and the flowering of the bulbs. We usually
commence potting about the middle of January, and have bulbs
in flower about the middle of March, the flowering season con-
tinuing thence for eight to ten weeks. After potting the pots
should be plunged in some suitable material; no bottom heat
should be applied at first, but the bulbs should be allowed to
start into growth as gently as possible.

Temperature.—After potting the temperature of the house
should be maintained at 18° C. (55° F.) for three or four
weeks, then a little bottom heat should be given, and the tem-
perature of the house raised to 15° C. (60° F.). With this
temperature the house should be damped down occasionally,
and when the weather is warm and bright a little air should be
admitted at the top for a couple of hours in the middle of the
day. When in flower a light shading should be used to prolong
the flowering season.

Watering.—This requires the most careful attention ; it is,
in fact, the pivot on which successful Hippeastrum culture turns.
More bulbs are injured or die from excess of water than from
any other cause, and excess of water is one of the causes of the
so-called Kucharis mite, one of the most destructive pests the
cultivator of the Hippeastrum has to contend with. At the time
of potting the new soil should be a little moist; after potting no
water should be given for four or five weeks, or till the foliage
and flower-scapes have attained a height of 2 to 8 inches;

254 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

then it should be sparingly applied until the flower buds appear,
but from that time a more liberal supply should be given till the
foliage is perfected ; it should be then gradually reduced until
about the middle of August, when it should be withheld alto-
gether. Hight or nine weeks later the pots may be lifted out of
the plunging material, and after an interval of another month
all the plunging material should be removed from the house,
andthe bulbs kept perfectly dormant on the stage till the potting
season comes round again; the house, too, should be kept as
dry as possible the whole time the bulbs are at rest. We use no
liquid or artificial manure at any time. Much has been written
in the horticultural press about the mite that appears both on
the Kucharis and on the Hippeastrum, but we have no fear of it.
In my opinion its prevention is simply a matter of not over-pot-
ting and not over-watering, and we have seldom seen bulbs,
however badly affected, that could not be brought into perfect
health again.

Treatment after Flowering.—After flowering the pots should
be kept plunged, and each pot and about half the exposed part
of the bulb should be covered with the plunging material. When
the roots begin to push, more bottom heat and more water should
be given; the atmosphere of the house should be kept more
humid, and the foliage occasionally syringed. In bright, warm
weather a slight shading should be used, and the growth of the
plants encouraged to proceed as rapidly as possible, for the
stronger the bulbs the finer will be the flower scapes and their
flowers in the following spring. Towards the end of July the
bulbs should be gradually ripened by diminishing the shading,
and three or four weeks later the shading may be discontinued
altogether, and as much light and air admitted into the house
as possible.

Insects.—There will be no difficulty with these pests if their
first appearance is watched for, and their increase checked as
soon as they are discovered. Thrip will spot the foliage, but
fumigating occasionally will keep them under. During the
summer months red-spider will also attack the foliage, but their
increase can be prevented by syringing, and by keeping a moist
atmosphere in the house. Sometimes mealy-bug appears,
especially if the bulbs are placed near plants subject to the
attacks of that plague, but it can be easily kept in check by

THE HIPPEASTRUM, 255

cleaning or syringing with blight composition once or twice a
week, and in winter, when the foliage has fallen, it can be seen
and removed without much trouble.

Some cultivators of the Hippeastrum, as Mr. R.8. Holford, of
Westonbirt, who possesses the finest amateur collection in this
country, do not repot their bulbs annually, nor do they plunge
them as we recommend, but give them liquid manure during
the growing season. The bulbs are also grown in different
houses, amongst other plants, and in vineries, and most success-
fully too, with the advantage of prolonging the season to such
an extent that a Hippeastrum in flower can usually be seen at
any time ofthe year. The value of the Hippeastrum as a decora-
tive plant can thence be scarcely underrated, for even when the
scape is cut and placed in water the flowers continue fresh
nearly as long as if left onthe bulb. Some of the Dutch growers
treat the Hippeastrum much in the manner that we do, notably
Mr. de Graaff, of Leyden, whose collection is a magnificent one,
and to whom we are indebted for very valuable information when
we commenced the cultivation of this beautiful plant, and with
whom we are now in friendly rivalry in the raising of improved
forms.

THE HIPPEASTRUM.
By Mr. James Dovenas, F.R.H.S.
[Read March 11, 1890.]

Tus genus of plants has been well known to cultivators for
many years, but it may be safe to assert that not at any previous
period of their history have they been so popular as they are now,
and as flowering plants for the adornment of the greenhouse or
conservatory in the months of March and April they are of the
greatest value. Nearly the whole of the original species in
cultivation have been introduced from South America, and the
beautiful garden varieties now in cultivation have been obtained
by crossing and inter-crossing those species.

It is to me a great pleasure to trace the history of this or any
other favourite garden-flower from the earliest period of their
culture in gardens to the present time, and it is of much interest

956 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

to us to know who cultivated and improved our garden favourites,
or began the work that we are now able to continue. Our present
subject has not a very early history, for, with the exception of the
well-known Sprekelia formosissima, a close ally, which was
introduced to Europe in 1598, no sort of Hippeastrum was
introduced until more than a century later.

The Sprekelia is not admitted into the genus Hippeastrum,
and cannot be crossed with it, and seldom produces seeds in
England; but it may be interesting to remark here that Colonel
Trevor Clarke gave me a few seeds of the variety glauca, which
he had saved in his garden, and they germinated freely. Parkinson
figured this Sprekelia in the ‘‘ Paradissus,” 1629, and described it
as the ‘‘ Indian Daffodil with a red flower.”” The Vallota purpurea
is a greenhouse plant that is by some supposed to be a Hippe-
astrum, but it is also outside this genus. Some persons do not
cultivate it successfully. I find it does well in peaty soil, and
likes a sunny corner of the greenhouse with plenty of water.
Dean Herbert states in his ‘‘ Amaryllidacee,’’ page 134, on the
authority of Dr. Burchell, ‘‘ that it was the only bulb of the
order that he found growing in boggy peat in Africa. It delights
so much in wet that it will thrive even in water.”

One of the earliest species introduced to our gardens is
H. Regine, figured in the Botamcal Magazine, tab. 458. It has
very handsome flowers, which, as far as we know, opened for the
first time in Mr. Fairchild’s garden at Hoxton in 1728, ‘‘ when
the late Dr. James Douglas caused a figure of it to be drawn, and
wrote a folio pamphlet on it. He gave it the name of Liliwm
Regine, because it was in full beauty on the 1st of March, which
was the late Queen’s birthday.”” The roots came from Mexico.

H. vittatum was introduced about the year 1769, and
Mr. Baker states in his handbook that there is a dried specimen
in the British Museum from the garden of a Mr. Malcolm, dated
1777. Itisa distinct and good species, well figured in the Botanical
Magazine, tab. 129, where it is stated it was introduced from the
Cape by Mr. Malcolm. 4H. equestre is another of the very early
introductions. Mr. Baker says it was noticed by Hermann in
1698. But, according to the ‘‘ Hortus Kewensis,”’ it was not intro-
duced until 1778. Soon after that date it is recorded as flowering
in several collections about London, and it is well figured in the
Botanical Magazine, tab. 805. H. psittacinum is an early

THE HIPPEASTRUM, S57

and important species, introduced in 1814 from South Brazil.
It is figured in the Botanical Register, tab. 199, from flowers
obtained from W. Griffin’s hothouses in South Lambeth, and it
is stated that the flowers were perhaps the most beautiful of
this splendid genus. In 1819 H. aulicwm was introduced, and
also flowered in the South Lambeth garden of Mr. Griffin ;
HI. solandriflorum about 1820; and as this, H. aulicwm, and
all the species of any importance introduced at this time are well
figured in the Botanical Magazine or Register, or both, we have
full knowledge of their flowering, as well as the dates of their
introduction. We also know ,from Dean Herbert’s work (“ The
Amaryllidacee’’) that the first hybrid Hippeastrum raised in
England was Jolnsoni, or regio-vittatum; it was raised in the
year 1810 by a person named Johnson, who had a small garden
in Lancashire, and he thought it was a cross between vittatwm
and Sprekelia formosissima. Dean Herbert produced the same
plant by crossing vittatwm with Regine in 1811. It may be
interesting here to remark that Dean Herbert raised an immense
number of seedlings by careful hybridising from 1811, until his
death, in his gardens at Mitcham, Highclere, and Spofforth.
His hybrids were named by a union of the specific names of the
parents. Thus a hybrid between aulicum and vittatuwm was
named auwlico-vittatum; between reticulatum and Johnson,
reticulato-Johnson, &c., through a long series of crosses,
which are fully described at page 142 of the ‘ Amaryllidacex.”’
The name of Heer §. A. de Graaff, of Leyden, should be introduced
here as a raiser and cultivator of Hippeastrums. Iam informed
by Heer de Graaff that this firm has cultivated Hippeastrums
since 1790; but only one species was known to be cultivated at
that early date, viz., vittatwm. Later, when fulgidwm and
crocatum were introduced, these were used as seed or pollen
bearers, with the seedlings from vittatwm. Heer de Graaff says
in his note to me that his father crossed fulgidwm, crocatwm,
Johnsont, and vittatwm over and over amongst themselves, and
he obtained rich dark colours, but small flowers. The present
Heer de Graaff began working amongst them in 1862, and
obtained the best species and varieties with large flowers to
hybridise with, amongst them psittacinwm. From the seed-
lings handed down to him by his father and grandunele he
obtained numerous remarkably fine forms, of all shades of

958 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOUIETY.

colour, as well as waxy-white varieties. In recent years he
says: ‘‘ We now cross only the best forms with the colours we
want, and never fall back on the species.’ As to the time the
seedlings take to produce their flowers, the Leyden strain can
be flowered in four years from the seeds, the Leopold: and
pardinum strain in two years.

The bulbs are stored on shelves until they are ready to be
repotted early in the year, when the soil is shaken out from the
roots; but the roots are carefully preserved. They are repotted
about the middle of February ; but Heer de Graaff adds, they
would rather do it early in January if convenient. They are in
flower from four to six weeks from the time of potting, and are
plunged in a bottom heat of tan, which is preferred to all
others; the temperature of the house is about 60°. The fine
Hippeastrum Empress of India was raised here by crossing
psittacmun with Graveana—not the French variety, but a
seedling of their own. Heer de Graaff further adds that the
foliage is cut off in November; the bulbs receive no water after
this, nor during their whole period of rest.

Messrs. Kelway & Son, of Langport, Somerset, began seven-
teen years ago a system of culture that seems well worth notice.
Messrs. Kelway have exhibited their strain both in the form of
cut flowers and plants at several meetings of the Society, and
as decorative subjects for the greenhouse or conservatory the
strain is admirably adapted. Mr. James Kelway was good
enough to write me details of the culture practised at Lang-
port.

Writing on January 29, he says :—

“We are now commencing to plant our seedlings and offsets
in unheated span-roofed frames; these frames are 9 feet wide,
with wooden sides and ends. They are placed over the ordinary
soil of the garden in an open position. The soil, after it has
been enriched with old hotbed or cow manure, with a liberal
supply of yellow sand, is ready for planting. The bulbs are
planted in drills from 6 to 9 inches apart, and from 3 to
6 inches asunder in the drills; they are also planted from
2 to 4 inches deep, according to size. They remain in these
frames two or three years, and by that time they are large
enough to flower. In winter they are protected by straw being
placed over the bulbs under the glass, and mats outside.

THE HIPPEASTRUM. 259

When the bulbs are dug up in the autumn, all of them large
enough to flower are planted in pots, the smaller ones being
again planted out in the unheated frames. They flower in April,
May, and June, but isolated bulbs produce flowers all through
the season.”

Messrs. Kelway grow twenty thousand bulbs in this way.

I may just add that I am quite well aware of the great work
carried on now for many years in the nurseries of Messrs. James
Veitch & Sons, Chelsea; but as their Mr. Harry J. Veitch has
also prepared a paper on this subject, it will be best to leave it
entirely in his hands. As a cultivator of these plants, and a
raiser of seedlings, I may claim to be successful, and will
shortly describe the system of management we have pursued
for many years.

First, as to propagation. This is effected by seeds, and by
offsets from the roots. Some varieties are much more difficult
to hybridise than others. For instance, I have tried year after
year to obtain seeds from the variety John Heal, and have
managed to get three seeds in as many years. On the other
hand, the very handsome variety Empress of India has pro-
duced 700 seeds from one flower-scape composed of five flowers.
This is an exceptionally free-seeding variety, and has been the
parent of many good garden forms. The structure of the
flowers is such that anyone may be able to hybridise them.
The seeds are usually ripe in August, and should be sown im-
mediately. They soon germinate in a nice bottom heat, and in
the course of a month or six weeks after the plants appear above
ground they may be pricked out in boxes or flower-pots. I
plant ten or a dozen plants ina 6-inch pot. The plants grow
freely to the end of the season, nor do they cease growth all the
winter. We keep them rather dry at the roots, and repot again
about the first week in February—this time three plants in a
5 or 6 inch pot, and this will be space enough for them to grow
in all through the season ; and if they have been well cared for
they will each have produced bulbs about the size of a bantam’s
egg. Next season these bulbs must be repotted singly, and after
another season’s growth willbe all strong flowering bulbs. Cull-
ture of offsets is as simple as the raising of seedlings. There is
but one time that offsets may be removed from the parent plant,
and that is when the old bulbs are repotted in January. We

2960 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

shake them out of the pots, and all offsets with a bit of root
attached to their base are removed, and planted in pots accord-
ing to their size; but an error is more likely to occur in over
than in under potting. Light compost should be used, and a
little clean sharp sand must be placed around each bulb.

The flowering bulbs are also carefully potted, after being
cleaned from all dead and decaying roots, &c. We are also in
this careful not to use too large flower-pots for them. I have
had and have now bulbs of Empress of India, and seedlings
from it, 18 inches in circumference, but never use pots larger
than 8 or 83 inches diameter, inside measurement ; the larger
number of bulbs go into 6 and 7 inch pots. All the pots are
plunged to the rims in tan beds as they are. prepared. at
the potting-bench. The potting soil is composed of fibrous loam,
two parts; good dry fibrous peat, one part; one part leaf-mould ;
and a barrow-load of manure to six of the loam and peat, with
sand added to keep the mass open. The temperature of the
house should be 50° at night to start with, rising 10° as it is
seen that the bulbs have started to grow. The main collection
will be in flower about the end of March. When in flower they
may be taken from the hothouse and be placed in the green-
house or conservatory, where the flowers remain longer in good
condition. When the flowering period is over the plants must
not be pushed into some out-of-the-way corner where they cannot
get light and heat. They require a hothouse temperature to get
up the bulbs to their original plumpness, and to lay the founda-
tion for an abundant flowering time next year. When the bulbs
rush into flower and leaf in the early spring, the entire substance
of the bulbs seems to go with them, and it requires much care to
bring them up to a satisfactory condition again. The leaves must
be kept clear from all insect pests, and they must be shaded from
the sun in hot weather during the summer months.

SALADINGS.
By M. Henry L. DE Viumorin, F.R.H.S., &e., &c.
[Read March 25, 1890.]

THE craving for fresh, crisp, uncooked vegetable matter is net
only common to most men, it is also a healthy appetite, and one

SALADINGS. 261

that is in accordance with the recognised laws of nutrition. Such
vegetables as are generally known as salads are the means of
supplying to the human frame some elements which are as neces-
sary to the preservation of health as the flesh-forming or heat-
producing matter which is abundant in richer articles of food.
Salads contain a relatively high proportion of mineral matter,
chiefly salts of potash, which, although equally plentiful in other
vegetables, are mostly removed from them in the process of
boiling, and therefore lost to nutrition, while they are preserved
in their entirety in the case of salads.

Although the idea of a salad is at first sight specially
connected with green or partially blanched leaves, the fact is
that every part of plants may be used, and is in some places
used, as a salad, namely: roots, as in Celeriac, Radishes, and
Rampion; bulbs, or underground stems, as in Onions and
Stachys; leaves, as in Lettuces, Endives, Cresses, Corn Salad,
and many others; leaf stalks, as in Celery; stems, as in
Asparagus; bracts, as in Artichoke; and even flowers, as in
Nasturtium and Yucca; or fruits or seed-pods, as in Cucumbers,
Capsicums, and Tomatoes.

To review all the vegetables which are used for salads would
be to go over a ground again which has been gone over before by
so many learned and practical men that I should fear in so
doing to waste your time and exhaust. your patience to no
purpose. I will therefore take the liberty to confine my remarks
to two special points only.

First, I will give a list of the principal vegetables used as
salads in France, and generally brought to the Paris market.

Second, I will insist on one of the operations often connected
with the growing of salading, namely, blanching, and give the
description of some vegetables which, naturally, being almost
uneatable, become by blanching most excellent materials for
salads.

Our Continental conception of a salad does not entirely agree
with the British view of the same. Salads proper, with us, are
only such vegetables as form a special and distinct dish by
themselves, being dressed with oil and vinegar, and, of course,
salt and pepper. Such salads are often served along with meat,
but they are not necessarily a complement to it, and in that
respect they differ from some other vegetables which, although

262 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

served uncooked and dressed in the same manner, are never put
on the table except as companions to meat. Lettuces, Endives,
Corn Salad belong to the former class; Bitter Chicory, Red
Cabbage, Garden Cress belong to the latter. Besides, some other
plants are used only to flavour or decorate salads. I will
mention them all very briefly, stating at what time of the year
each one is obtainable in the Paris market.

I.—SALADS PROPER.

Lettuce: Cabbage or ‘‘ headed ’’ Lettuce is to be had all the
year round. It is supplied from the open ground from April
to November, and is ‘forced under glass bells or under frames
from December to May. Cutting Lettuce is plentiful from
November to May. Cos Lettuce, chiefly Paris Cos, is grown
from May to November in the open, and forced from December
to May.

Common or Bitter Chicory is not much used as a salad
proper, except after blanching. It will be spoken of at some length
hereafter. It is available as Barbe de capucin from November
to April. Improved Common Chicory, a broad-leaved variety, is
in season from June till November.

Curled and Batavian Endives are the most largely consumed
salads next to the Cabbage and Cos Lettuces. They are on the

Fig. 1.—Rurrec CurLteED ENDIVE.

market as open-air produce from June to February, and as forced
produce from April to June.

SALADINGS. 9638

Some of the Curled Endives, the Ruffec variety especially
(fig. 1), can be kept sound and good till mid-winter, and even
later, by throwing straw mats over the beds in dry weather, or by
covering the plants with dry leaves.

Curled Endives are now forced in early spring by sowing,
pricking, and planting, all on a hotbed, and giving as much
light and air as the weather will permit. Heads 15 inches in
diameter, quite full, and weighing over two pounds, can be had
early in May.

Fic. 2.—ScaARoLLE EN CORNET.

Scarolle en cornet, which might be called in English “ hooded’’
Endive, is comparatively hardy, and may assist with the new
variety, Reine d’hiver, in extending the use of out-of-doors
Endives till the end of winter.

Dandelion can be had green all the year round, blanched
from December to April, and half-blanched from March to May.

Corn Salad (fig. 3) is plentiful, in any weather, from October
to April.

Water-cresses, remarkable for their size and beauty, are on
the market all the year round.

Purslane, whether from the open border or forced, can be had
at all seasons, but it is not much used as a salad.

Rampion is mainly a winter salad, from October to March.

Salsafy tops, which give a very fine and tender salad, with a

264 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

pleasant nutty flavour, are used just as the roots from which
they are taken, from September till May.

To the foregoing salads people are often in the habit of
adding, for the sake of flavouring or decorating the dish: Celery

Fic. 3.—Corn Saran ( Valerianella).

from August to March; Celeriac from September to April;
Chervil, Chives, and Shallot all the year round; Nasturtium
flowers, May to November ; Borage flowers, all summer. Mus-
tard and Rape seedlings are not used in Paris.

II.— SALADS USED AS AN ACCOMPANIMENT TO MEAT.

Bitter Chicory: This is used by cutting the young and tender
green leaves in fine, long strips. It is mainly used with boiled
beef, and is a very nice salad if the leaves be cut often, and the
plant watered.

Garden Cress, all the year round.

Cucumbers, ditto.

Red Cabbage, from August till April. This is cut like the
Bitter Chicory, and first seasoned with vinegar, when from a dull
purplish red it turns into a bright crimson ; a little oil is added’
at the time of serving up.

SALADINGS. - 965

Tomatoes, from the open ground from August to October ;
forced from April to July; kept fresh in fruit-rooms from
November to March—ain fact all the year round.

Some more vegetables are much used in the South of France
as salading—namely, Rocket (fig. 4), Hruca sativa, and Terra
crepola Picridium vulgare, but these never appearing on the

Fic. 4.— Rocket.

Paris market must be left out of this paper, as well as the large
. sweet Tripoli Onions.

Several vegetables are added to salads in a cooked state, as
Blood-red Beets, Cauliflowers, Asparagus tips, French and
Kidney Beans, Lentils, hard-fleshed Potatoes, &c. These I
must also dispose of by simply naming them.

Again, some other vegetables are used uncooked, as Radishes
and Artichoke, and are, I think, included in the term “ salading,”’
although not considered on the Continent as materials for salads.
Both kinds are plentiful at all times on the Paris market, the
Artichoke coming from the Riviera or from Algeria, all the time
between November and May.

I now come to

TI].—BuiANCcHING AND BLANCHED VEGETABLES.

It is well known that the flavouring principle is developed in
most plants under the action of light and heat, just as the
colouring matter is, and this is the reason why the process of

D

ee ate wri or eo

266 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

blanching, which makes the vegetable matter acted upon whiter
and more tender, renders it at the same time milder in taste and
more palatable, if naturally of a strong flavour.

M. Henri Lecoq, a well-known professor of botany, published
in the year 1851 a short paper, in which he maintained that
upwards of two hundred neglected or despised native plants
might be converted by blanching into very good and useful vege-
tables. Ofcourse the assertion was made half in jest, but still a
good deal of truth underlies the apparently paradoxical opinion
of M. Lecoqg. In later years MM. Pallieux and Bois, the learned
authors of that very suggestive book, ‘‘ Le potager d’un curieux,”
tried numerous experiments in the same direction, and succeeded
in obtaining very good salading from vegetables not generally
used for that purpose, as Salsafy, Scorzonera, and Skirret, and
even from such wild plants as Cursiwm oleracewm, Helminthia
echioides, and Smyrmum Olusatrum.

Although a very large number of plants can be made esculent
by blanching, it becomes evident, upon careful consideration, that
those only can be made use of profitably which, firstly, form
rather large roots or crowns wherein a good provision of nutri-
ment can be stored, and this being converted into new growth by
the action of heat and moisture, supplies fresh vegetable matter
during the winter months, when such salading is made more
valuable by the scarcity of open-air vegetables ; secondly, such as
are sufficiently hardy for their roots or crowns to be handled,
even in rough weather, without too great a danger of their being
destroyed by cold or damp; and, thirdly, such as are easily grown
in the first stage of their cultivation, and so supply a compara-
tively inexpensive material for the winter treatment, which is
always more or less costly.

Those characters of bulk, hardiness, and cheapness are all
forthcoming in the two vegetables which it is my purpose to
introduce as salading to the notice of the Royal Horticultural
Society in this paper, namely Dandelion and the Common or
Bitter Chicory.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale, Wiggers, or Leontodon
Taraxacum, L.) is a native wild plant, common on well-drained
meadows and pastures, and conspicuous by its large bright
yellow flowers and winged seeds. The stem is reduced to a
short, conical, subterranean body, on which are inserted

SALADINGS. 967

numerous leaves, deeply toothed, which spread in a flat rosette
firmly pressed on the ground, and from the axils of which the
flower-buds are borne on smooth, cylindrical, hollow stalks. By
cultivation and by selection of the best plants, the number and size
of the leaves have been greatly increased, and plants are easily
produced now which, when ready for use, weigh considerably
over one pound. |

In France wild Dandelions are often gathered from grass
lands, and such plants as have been accidentally earthed up by
being buried in mole-hills are considered a delicacy.

But Dandelion has been grown as a vegetable in the vicinity
of Paris for half a century or so. At Montmagny, Deuil,
Sarcelles, and Meaux considerable spaces are devoted to it every
year, and large quantities are sent to the Paris market.

The field culture is made by sowing in April, in rows about
2 feet apart; the soil must be pressed hard before sowing, and
again after covering the seed. Plants are thinned to 3 or
4 inches in the rows. Weeding in summer is very important.
In September or later the plants are earthed up with loose soil,
which by hoeing is made into a small ridge on the top of each
row. The plants grow through the earth, even in winter, and ag
soon as the leaves begin to appear on the surface the plants are
ready for use. Some leaves always manage to steal to the light
unperceived, and immediately turn green. Dandelion grown on
that system is called ‘ half-blanched,’’ and the wholesale price
it fetches is only from eight to twenty shillings per hundred-
weight.

Dandelion is also treated in the same way as Chicory is for
Barbe de capucin, of which more will be said hereafter. Crowns
are pulled up in winter with all their roots and put on a heap of
manure, in a cellar or other dark place, with some earth or
thoroughly decayed manure under the crowns. In eight or ten
days the leaves grow to a length of from 5 to 6 inches, and
they are then cut and sent to market, where they sell for from
ten to twenty-eight shillings per hundredweight.

In gardens Dandelion is generally sown on a seed-bed, pricked
and planted out 18 to 20 inches apart each way, which allows of
some other quick-growing crop being raised between the rows.
Before winter the plantation is cleared up of everything except
the now strong plants of Dandelion; all the dead or decaying

p2

268 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

leaves are removed, and the plants are prepared for blanching,
which is effected either by spreading clean, sharp sand 4 inches
deep over the whole of the bed, or by covering each plant with
an inverted garden-pot. The leaves should not be tied up, and
the inside of the pot should be perfectly clean. By heaping
stable manure or some fermenting material round the pots, the
crop can be advanced several weeks. If blanching be not thought
necessary, simply throwing a mat over the plants just as they
begin to grow after winter greatly improves the tenderness and
flavour.

Three garden varieties are chiefly grown in France :—

1. Broad-leaved Dandelion (Pissenlit trés hdtuf a large
fewille). This is very early, and makes a broad but thin rosette
of leaves. It is often cooked.

2. Solid-hearted or Cabbaging Dandelion (P. d ceur plein)

>

EA
CEG)” AhQs
SW
~ vali Za
tS) AYN
ST sar a ater
arn hh ag 4

[
N r (esi fa >,
u L \

L

Fia. 5.—-SoLip-HEARTED DANDELION.

is more remarkable for the great number than for the size of its
leaves. Instead of a single whorl it produces a great many, and
forms a perfect tuft of dense green foliage, which being blanched
supplies a large amount of very crisp, white, nutty, and slightly
bitter salad. This is the variety grown by market gardeners.

8. Moss or Curled Dandelion (P. mousse). This is rather
like the former, but much more finely cut and curled. Itis very —
pretty, but yields rather less than the solid-hearted variety: It
is a garden sort. All three kinds come true from seed.

Chicory: Everyone knows, at least by name, the large-rooted
Chicory, the fleshy roots of which are extensively grown in
Flanders, where they are sliced, dried and browned by heat, and
powdered, yielding by that process an adjunct to, a substitute

SALADINGS. 269

for, and sometimes an adulterant of coffee. But it is less
generally known that the same plant is largely grown as a vege-
table, the roots being heated in winter to promote growth, which,
according to the size of the roots and the variety used, develop
into two very different market produces—namely, Barbe de
capucin from small roots of the common variety, and Witloof
from large roots of the Brussels Chicory.

Barbe de capucin has been in use for a very long time in
Paris. It can be obtained from the common or wild bitter

Fic. 6.—BARBE DE CAPUCIN.

Chicory; but the forked, misshapen roots of this are far more
awkward to manage and to. tie into bundles than those of the
large-rooted variety, which, being straight and clean, are now in
common use with the growers.

The sowing takes place from April till May, in open fields,
in rows 16 to 20 inches apart. Plants are left rather thick in
the row, according to the goodness of the land. From December
till April, when out-of-doors saladings are scarce, roots are
pulled out to meet the demand from the forcing-house. A bed
of well-mixed manure is laid and well levelled. The roots are

270 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

well dressed, and being tied in large bundles, with all the crowns
on a level, are set upright on the bed, three or four days after it
has been made, when the heat is already somewhat spent. The
roots are watered, if necessary, before the growth sets in. After
a fortnight or twenty days, the leaves are 8 to 10 inches long,
and fit for use. The roots are then untied, sorted, and made
into small handfuls of from 15 to 20 roots, which are again
tied into larger bundles for sending to market, which bundles
sell at from eight to twenty shillings per hundred.

Notwithstanding the utter darkness of the cellars where the
forcing and blanching process is conducted, the Barbe de
capucin offers a marked bitterness, which in Paris is relished
rather than otherwise. Dark-red Beet is often associated
with it.

Witloof, or the Brussels Chicory (fig. 7), is made from a dis-
tinct variety which is chiefly notable for the width of the leaves,
and especially for the great development of their midribs. It is
noticeable that in all leaves developed in darkness the rib seems
to attain its normal size, while the leaf-blade itself is greatly
reducedin breadth. This fact is particularly striking in Witloof,
where the head seems to be made up almost entirely of the
imbricated leaf-ribs.

Roots are grown as with Barbe de capucin, but farther apart,
and must be thinned to a much greater distance, as each root
has to attain the size of a spade-handle or of a billiard-cue at
its larger end.

Brussels remains to this day the head-quarters for the pro-
duction of Witloof. The system adopted there is as follows:
Roots are dug up in October, and either immediately dressed and
placed in the forcing-pits, or put by till the time comes to force
them. Each root must be carefully dressed before forcing.
The leaves surrounding the central shoot are cut back to rather
less than 2 inches of their base, and all leaves belonging to
lateral shoots are entirely removed with all buds, as all the
strength of the root should be thrown into the main shoot. The
inferior part of each root is cut, so as to make the roots perfectly
even, as all the crowns must stand on a level in the pit.

This is made from 12 to 18 inches deep. The roots are put
standing on the bottom, which has been lined previously
with fine sod or leaf-mould; they are planted in rows 4 to 6

SALADINGS. 271

inches apart, and stand quite close in the rows. Fine earth,
sometimes mixed with sandy peat, is sifted over the roots and

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WY) f } ‘\

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Fic. 7.—Wrrt.oor, 08 Brussets CHicory.

272 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

made to penetrate between them, so as to hold them firmly
in their place. More earth is added so as to cover the tops of
the roots about 8 inches deep, and to fill the pit level with the
garden soil. The pit is generally made 4 feet wide, and often
very long, but the whole is not forced at one time.

Stable manure is heaped on the part which is to be forced,
14 to 8 feet high. In twenty days the ‘‘ Witloof’”’ is marketable.
The manure is then removed, pushed further on if not exhausted,
and being mixed with fresh material it serves to force the next
batch.

The eatable part of Witloof is 4 to 5 inches long, not quite
2 inches in diameter, in the shape of the head of a small Cos
Lettuce ; it is almost pure white, very solid and firm. A piece
of the crown of the root is cut along with it, which is too bitter
to be eaten. Used asa salad Witloof is milder in taste, and at the
same time more watery, than Barbe de capucin. It is also used
cooked, and in that way comes nearer Seakale than any other
vegetable I know of.

From one ton to a ton and a half comes daily to the Paris
market from Brussels and the neighbouring places in winter,
the market price averaging thirty to forty shillings per cwt. The
heads are generally placed in small baskets ready for retailing.
Witloof is known in Paris as endive, which is a wrong name, as
the denomination apples to the garden varieties of Cichoriwm
Endivia, the Curled and Batavian Endive.

Some growers in the suburbs of Paris have attempted the
cultivation of Witloof by the apparently simpler and more
effective system of placing the roots on the manure instead of
heaping the manure on the top of the roots. They simply cover
the crowns of the roots with earth or mould to the depth of a
few inches. But the shoots generally expand instead of remain-
ing closed as in the Belgian Witloof. Itappears that the pressure
under which the growth takes place in the Belgian system keeps
it hard and firm, and gives the whole the conical and solid shape
which greatly assists in making it carry and keep well.

Witloof is now quite an adopted winter salading and vegetable
in Paris; it can boast the success of a new favourite, while
Barbe de capucin and Dandelion are to us old and well-
established acquaintances. Still all three vegetables (although
Witloof was mentioned in the excellent paper read by Mr.

SPRING FLOWER GARDENING. Ts

Norman at the Vegetable Conference) are far less widely known
in this country than they are on the Continent, and I think it
is worth while to draw the attention of British gardeners and
amateurs to plants which, as winter saladings, are in my opinion
quite deserving of careful and extensive cultivation.

SPRING FLOWER GARDENING.
By Mr. W. Inaray, F.R.H.S.
[Read April 8, 1890.]

ALTHOUGH it is said with some confidence that our spring
seasons are colder, and that our climate, if not deteriorating, is
not improving, as in theory, from the drainage of large areas and
extended cultivation, it ought to be, those sensitive little
thermometers of the floral world, spring flowers, seem to furnish
an argument to prove that but little real change has taken place.
The habits of growth and blooming implanted in remote times
still cling to them, and thus tell us that the ancient springs
were like our own. The gentle Primrose thus chronicles
seasons of a time long past, and reveals their unchanged aspect
to us.

My confidence in the observance of the season of bloom in
spring flowers is unabated; in my long experience they have
continued to appear and to brave the winds of March and
untoward frosts of April, rejoicing in increased beauty in even
partial gleams of invigorating sunshine, and if I have to com-
plain of them it is that they exhibit too much trustfulness in
our fickle seasons by appearing some weeks in advance of
their ordinary time of flowering, as some of them have done
this year.

I gather confidence in my advocacy of spring gardening
when I recall the great results in decorative planting that may
be obtained without the aid of artificial heat or glass, or forcing
of any kind. The half-hardy plants of summer have their
brilliance marred by heavy rains. This is far from being the
case with spring flowers. I have often seen them covered with
snow, and half obscured with hoar-frost, and yet rise uninjured
from such bitter trials. Rain is as nothing to them.

O74 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Being asked, in the first place, to read a paper on spring
bedding, I proposed instead the more comprehensive title of
Spring Gardening, as one that would permit me to speak of
many interesting plants ineligible for bedding purposes. The
display of spring bedding plants generally takes place from the
beginning of April to the end of May, but there are flowers
that appear and pass away before that time, and amongst these
harbingers of the opening spring are some of our most cherished
examples of floral beauty, and even more welcome for their
precocity than are those which appear amongst a crowd of
others a month or two later.

For convenience I may divide spring flowers into three groups,
the first consisting of the early-blooming kinds, those that com-
monly appear in February and early in March. The second will
comprise those that succeed, and continue in succession, through-
out the spring season. The third will include those plants which
may be commonly employed in massing for floral display in beds
and borders. The distinction between the bedding plants and
the others is merely arbitrary. It may be said generally that
the groups first named are impatient of frequent removal, and
their blooming period individually is comparatively short, while
those plants selected for bedding-out purposes possess a more
active vitality and freedom of growth, and can be annually
transplanted with safety, and even with advantage, and freely
propagated both by seed and division.

The Christmas Rose family may claim a foremost place in
my group of early plants. Although some of the Hellebores
are really winter-blooming, they still belong to the spring from
the duration of their flowers, while others have the merit of
appearing in February and March. The kinds I find most use-
ful are H. niger, and n. angustifolius, and altifolius or maximus.
Added to these are some of the orientalis section. The
Hellebores, like other free-blooming large-leaved plants, show a
partiality for rich deep soil, and are benefited by a surface dress-
ing of manure after the flowering period. Propagation by
division may be successfully effected in March, except perhaps
with the orientalis section, which flower much later than the
niger group, and may be divided towards the end of April. The
late Miss Hope, who was a good grower of the niger varieties,
recommended as a suitable time when the leaves were at their

SPRING FLOWER GARDENING. 275

ripest. This would be in July. So there are really two periods
when Christmas roses may be increased by division.

The Snowdrop, next in our list of early flowers, like Helle-
bores, has an autumn and a winter blooming species; but the
majority belong to the spring, and I must not pass over a plant
which, though so common, has never lost its interest and value
in the eyes of all who visit gardens or woodlands as winter is
leaving us. Our collection of Snowdrops has been enriched by
some fine forms of this flower, Galanthus Elwesw discovered by
Mr. Maw, and some varieties of G. nivalis amongst the number.

I think I have been told by Mr. G. Maw, our great collector
and authority on the Crocus family, that flowering examples of
Croci may be found in every month of the year. But many of
the best known species are spring-blooming, and I introduce
three which I may justly place in my group of very early flowers,
of which Crocus Imperati is a type. These are prone to appear
at a very early period of the year, being lured by the first gleam
of spring sunshine. But it is too often the case that their beauty
is marred by foul weather, but not invariably so. This season
I had a mass of C. Jmperati in bloom in February, and a charm-
ing effect was produced.

Whether I have been unusually fortunate in my method of
propagating that charming plant Anemone blanda, or that I have
been early in the race in securing it, I know not, but I have
certainly succeeded in obtaining a large stock, raising some
fine varieties, and convincing many of my friends of the great
value of the plant for spring decoration. It is a plant that will
not be lost to our gardens ; it seeds freely, and I find it appearing,
self-sown,in many places. It would bea great plant to naturalise
in our woodlands, and would mix well with the wild Wood Ane-
mone, nemorosa. The first gleam of spring sunshine awakens
this little gem of the earth from its winter rest, and as the days
lengthen it throws up a succession of its bright starlike blue
flowers, and its season of bloom is longer than A. apennina,
which produces a pale blue flower and is altogether widely
different from A. blanda. It may be propagated by dividing the
tuberous roots or raised from seed, which should be sown as
soon ag ripe. Light gritty loam with well-decomposed leaf-soil
suits it best.

In gardening, while our admiration is perhaps too readily

276 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

given to gay and brilliant examples of the floral world, we have,
I hope, sufficient taste to turn with pleasure to those diminutive
plants that barely lift their blossoms above the level of the
ground. Such Alpine gems as the spreading, the mossy, and
the tufted Saxifrages have fortunately found appreciative
admirers, and not uncongenial homes in our gardens, and I may
specially mention Saxifraga oppositifolia major, S. Burseriana
major, and SS. luteo-purpurea, as not only plants of interest,
but of beauty. A green carpet of vegetation is always pleasing to
the eye in winter, and the system of spring gardening I pursue
covers every open space of ground with different shades of ver-
dure. The mossy section of Saxifrages helps me materially in
this endeavour, and such examples of what is known as S. mus-
cotdes coccinea, which is a compact mass of bright green in
winter, and in spring is dotted all over its surface with a pro-
fusion of bright red flowers, forms a charming feature both in
borders and on rockwork. Of the Saxifrages the Megasea is a
very distinct section of the family. It affords me two kinds for
early spring, S. ligulata and S. Stracheyi ; the former I employ
extensively.

S. ligulata is perfectly hardy, but its handsome heads
of bloom, lifted above its broad leaves, are not unfrequently
injured by frost; but it is worth protecting on the occasion of
severe frosts. It forms a good base or groundwork, planted in
masses, for Hyacinths, and is a good vase plant. Sazifraga
Stracheyt is more beautiful than the foregoing—its blossoms a
delicate pink and white ; but though early itis very tender. Any-
one seeking for a perfectly unique effect, and taking the trouble
to cover the plants occasionally with some slight guard, would be
amply rewarded by the result in uninjured blossoms.

Scarcely a season passes without the discovery and introduc-
tion of some interesting plants to our gardens. One of the most
beautiful hardy plants brought to us in recent years was found
by Mr. G. Maw in the mountain region near Smyrna. It is called
Chionodoxa Lucilie, and by the mountain people ‘the Glory of
the Snow’’; it scarcely waits for the snow to recede before it bursts
into bloom. It might be presumed that a plant from such a
position and country would be difficult to establish in Britain,
but no imported plant I am acquainted with has so rapidly
naturalised itself or proved more amenable to culture. There is

SPRING FLOWER GARDENING. 277

nothing that I can see to prevent it spreading far and wide over
the country, and delighting our amateurs and cottagers with its
lovely spikes of blue and white starlike flowers. Its bulbs
increase and it produces seed in profusion.

There is no kind of gardening that tends more to popularise
the pursuit than that which renders it possible to achieve con-
siderable success in plant culture with small means. Amateurs
and cottage-gardeners look with keener interest on a garden that
includes simple hardy flowers, of which they possess the counter-
part. Personal pride in the possession of a rare or uncommon
plant is a strong feeling, and a grower of Pansies or Primroses is
in sympathy or rivalry with another who takes pride in culti-
vating the same class of plants. Humble visitors to large gardens
are very proud to be able to say that their Pansies or Daisies
are as good as the duke’s; and I may claim something for spring
gardening on this score, that while it not only interests the great |
majority of people who care little for flowers, it enlists the direct
sympathies of the very humble class of cottagers and artisans.
Spring gardening is extensively practised in the neighbourhood
of Belvoir, both in large and small gardens.

I suppose it is from sentiment that we look upon Heather in
any shape with a certain degree of interest, and few plants
attract more notice andremark than Hrica carnea. In the early
season it is perhaps the most striking feature in the spring
garden ; its masses of glowing crimson form a welcome contrast
to the blue and white and yellow flowers which predominate at
this period of the year. It is one of the family of Heaths that
is a little less particular about peat than others, but I grow it
extensively, and give it as much of that soil as I can afford, with
grit and leaf-soil. There is a white variety which is well worth
a place in the spring garden.

I have mentioned plants in this early section that are used
freely, and give generally broad and fine effects, particularly
when massed; but there are several plants that belong to the
early spring that are either comparatively rare or difficult to pro-
pagate, or fugitive in their period of blooming. But I cannot
omit mention of that brave little Narcissus, minimus, and its
companion nanus—these are with me the first Narcissi to show
their pretty yellow blossoms. That beautiful little shrubby plant
Polygala Chamebucus purpurea has the merits of very early

278 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

blooming and endurance. Hyacinthus azureus is a gem of
rather recent introduction. Scilla bifolia is always impatient
to produce its lovely sprays of blue, but it passes away all too
quickly. I may fairly include Jvis reticulata in this division ; it
has thoroughly established itself at Belvoir, growing freely and
blooming abundantly in beds of light loam and granite grit. A
plant so perfectly hardy, and rivalling many Orchids in its rich
colouring of purple and orange, should be in every garden. Iris
stylosa is also beautiful and early, but its blooms are sparingly
produced.

There is no plant better known or more highly valued than
the Violet, and the Russian Violet may be said to belong to the
winter as well as the spring, and no denizen of the early garden
more readily responds to springtide warmth than the Violet, and
no flower’s appearance is hailed with more satisfaction. I
cannot omit it from my list, and I need not dilate on the merits
of a plant so well known, nor must I fail to record my sense of
its value in spring gardening ; its presence is felt in its fragrance.
Its effective disposal is always worth consideration. I place it
near the approaches to the flower-gardens, under trees, on banks,
in borders, and in any sheltered place. The wild Violet loves the
sunny side of the hedgerow, and that is a good hint for growers.
I plant fresh clusters every year, and these are grown in the
slips of the kitchen garden. It is a mistake, if you wish early
and good blooms, to leave a plant for two years in succession in
the same ground; its habit of throwing out runners tells that it
requires change of ground. Bare spaces under large evergreen
trees—Cedars, for example—might profitably be covered with
Violets. My best beds are thus placed.

These floral results of our spring season may justly be a
source of satisfaction to all interested in gardening. I have
named, without exhausting our resources in early plants, about a
score belonging to February and early March, and there are
probably three times that number to be named for the two succeed-
ing months, April and May; and I may say that my experience
in the cultivation of these plants has not been gained in Cornwall
or Devon, or even in Kent or Sussex, but in a north midland
county characterised by a cold clay soil and great reaches of
pasture-land, but the shelter of ranges of woodland has given
advantages which equalise our position in some respects with
exposed places in more favoured parts of Eingland.

SPRING FLOWER GARDENING. 279

I may now enter on a period of the year a little more
advanced, which includes part of March and the months of April
and May. I need only cursorily mention the common and well-
known plants, the cultivation of which is well known, dwelling
more particularly on others of special merit or recent introduction
—those not so generally grown.

If there is one group or family of plants more thana nother
that deserves prominent mention, and claims the admiration of
all growers of hardy plants, it is that of the Primula. From the
modest Primrose of our wood to the noble forms from India and
Japan, all are more or less charming and interesting, and there
is just that little difficulty in growing some of them that gives a
zest to the endeavour, and satisfaction as the result is favourable
and success assured. The habits of our native and naturalised
species afford us cultural hints. These delight in old woods in
which vegetable matter has accumulated and decayed, generally
on strong soil, so that immunity from dryness is indicated. I
have resorted to a plan which is within the reach of most
gardeners. Icovera space of ground in some half-shady spot, and
make it the receptacle for one season of leaves, short grass, and
a little stable manure. This is levelled when it accumulates to
the depth of from 18 inches to 2 feet, and a layer of soil spread
over it. In the second year this mass of vegetable refuse is
generally rotten, and forms an acceptable bed for Primroses,
Lily-of-the-Valley, and Hyacinths. Primula denticulata grows
luxuriously on one of these prepared beds, and one of the gems of
the early season, Primula rosea, thrives in a position that supplies
congenial support and adequate moisture.

Only next to the Primrose in interest, and of very striking
beauty, is the Anemone. The wild form, A. nemorosa, like the
Primrose, delights in the shelter of woods, and grows freely in
leaf soil, particularly when it rests on light gritty loam. Al-
though other forms prefer open spots, there is a general prefer-
ence shown by all the family for light friable loams enriched with
thoroughly decomposed cow manure or leaf soil. I have found
sea sand very useful in mixing with the soil of this locality,
which is of a heavy nature. Anemone coronaria affords many
valuable varieties for the spring garden; both single and double
forms are strikingly handsome, and by planting early, flowers
may be obtained throughout the spring months. The south of

280 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
l

France gives us one of the most brilliant flowers in A. fulgens.
This genus also includes Hepaticas, than which there are no
more desirable spring plants. H. angulosa is less difficult to
increase than some of the others. Reverting to the Anemone
nemorosa section, [may mention two invaluable kinds for general
garden culture, one known as A. Robinsoniana, the other
nemorosa plena, or double white.

I cannot pass the mossy and spreading Phloxes without
favourable comment. They are ideal plants, both for rock-
work and border, blooming ‘profusely, and supplying tones of
colour from pure white to delicate pink and red (colours very
welcome in the spring). The species and varieties I employ are
amend, subulata, frondosa, Nelsoni, and the charming varieties
raised by the late Mr. Nelson. They all enjoy a rich sandy loam.

Our resources in spring plants are not so ample that we can
afford to be too critical, and amongst the fiowers that might not
hold a foremost position, when placed in comparison with some
of the more choice or refined in character, is Cardamine rotundi-
folia. Neverthless it has the several recommendations that it
is hardy, has good foliage, is very early flowering, and flori-
ferous, and its masses of white flowers produced by well-grown
plants at once claim notice. It is of easy growth, and, like its
family, is impatient of drought. Cardamine pratensis fl. pl. is a
very handsome variety, and C. trifolia is a plant well worth a
place in either borders or on:rockwork.

There is a pretty little bulbous flower not so well known or.
commonly cultivated as the Scillas, but suitable for association
with them, as it blooms about the same time as S. sebirica. It
is perfectly hardy, and seeds freely. It is called Puschkimia
scilloides. Like other small plants, the best effects are obtained -
from it when grown in masses. It is not pure white, but a little
tinted with light blue; but it gives the effect of a white flower.

I have only mentioned two very early Narcissi, those be-
longing to my first division of early plants. Following closely
on the appearance of minimus come pallidus precox, Stella,
obvallaris, princeps; and from March until May a succession of
these beautiful and interesting flowers appear, making in them-
selves a spring garden. The Narcissus is effective, and lends itself
to all kinds of positions and never seems out of place, but when
disposed irregularly on grassy slopes, amongst rocks, or in clumps

SPRING FLOWER GARDENING. 281

of low shrubs, or under tall trees, the brightening effect it gives
is generally excellent.

Neither time nor space will permit me to do more than
briefly mention other plants which belong to the later spring
season, which are of varying interest, affording variety to the
borders or other positions to which they may be assigned.
Amongst the most prominent may be named—Alysswm sazxatile,
Adonis vernalis, Trilliwm grandiflorum, Orobus vernus, Ery-
thronium dens-canis, Cheiranthus Marshall, Corydalis cava
and nobilis, Dielytraspectabilis, Doronicumexcelsum, Pulmonaria
azurea, Triteleia uniflora, Leucojum vernum, Muscarr (the
Grape Hyacinths), Uvularia grandiflora, Ormithogalum nutans.

In regard to the cultivation generally of herbaceous and spring
plants, I venture to caution those who may be led to imagine
that everything they desire may be accomplished in one season,
as with summer plants. No expenditure of money can secure
this. Nursery-grown plants are often necessarily small from
being cramped in pots, and a large stock of healthy subjects for
large effects can only be secured in the course of years. There
is a point of maturity in the period of life of every plant when
its best qualities are exhibited, and its power of resisting climatic
trials and the attacks of insects is the greatest. This vigour
belongs to some plants in the first year of their existence, to
others in the second, to others at a greater length of time. To buy
a plant in its declining time is to court failure, and immaturity
may cause disappointment. We have all failed in our early
trials, and even been led to condemn plants we have subse-
quently found of the first value and interest.

Browning says—

Oh, to be in England now that April’s there !

I think it is generally conceded that there is a freshness,
purity, and beauty in spring flowers, either in masses or grown
singly, that give them a special attraction. Our arrangements
hitherto have been made to secure an early garden of bloom,
March and April being the months in which it was desirable our
sreatest display should take place; we have thus given less
attention to Pansies and other May-blooming plants, though
fully recognising their value. The system of bedding generally
is gradually undergoing modifying influences, and is more
E

282, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

directed by artistic taste than formerly. The mere massing
together of plants of one colour without the relief of variety was
open to the objection—no other existed—of formality. This
artificial arrangement seemed more particularly inconsistent with
the freedom and naturalness characteristic of spring flowers.
I propose to describe some of our bedding arrangements, the
character and kinds of plants we employ, their propagation and
general treatment. For spring bedding those plants must be
employed that not only have the habit of blooming early, but
may be relied on to maintain that bloom for some time, and in
the selection it is necessary to choose those plants whose blooming
period is coincident.

There is no better plant for spring bedding than Awbrietia
greca and its varieties. It is perfectly hardy; it fairly covers the
eround from the time it is planted in October until it is removed
in May; its blooming period is prolonged through the spring
months. We are indebted to Herr Max Leichtlin for two new
and charming varieties, giving us colours that were much desired
—crimson and pink; the common form is bluish lilac in colour.
The Aubrietias are increased by cuttings, division, and seed. I
give the preference to seedlings. The seed should be sown as
early in the year as possible, and the plants pricked out; if
properly treated the young plants will be ready for planting in
October and November. The Aubrietia beds are relieved with
white, orange, and red Tulips, and edged with lght-coloured
Primroses.

IT employ that beautiful and free-blooming Heath Hrica carnea
for massing, the beds being edged with Heuchera lucida. Yellow
Tulips are planted amongst the crimson Heather, suggesting a
piece of wild ground with Tulipa sylvestris springing from it.

Another arrangement which is particularly pleasing consists
of a dwarf variety of Arabis albida with Scilla sibirica intermixed,
and edged with red Daisies.

A hardy and early-blooming yellow Polyanthus is largely em-
ployed in our spring-bedding arrangements. These in masses give
a very definite effect, but will still bear the relief of pink or scarlet
Tulips; and an additional line of colour is lent by double pink
Daisies.

Another yellow bed, but of a more bold and decided charac-
ter, is made with Doronicum austriacum, edged with Myosotis

SPRING FLOWER GARDENING. 288

dissitiflora ; a central clump of Doronicum excelsum is also used
in the case of large beds. These plants should be well grown,
and should have a growth of two or three years.

One of our large beds has a central mass of dwarf yellow
Wallflower dotted with blue Hyacinths, and its limits defined
with Myosotis; lines of pink Aubrietia and Saxifraga muscoides
following.

A similar large bed is occupied chiefly with Sazifraga
ligulata, which affords both flower and foliage; and this plant
makes a good base for Hyacinths, which spring apparently
from its protecting leaves. Avrabis albida separates this from the
other lines; these consist of Primrose, rosy-flush Aubrietia, and
Alpine Daisy, a pretty bright semi-double member of the race,
very hardy and floriferous.

A bed backed with Rhododendrons contains a line of massive
plants of Helleborus orientalis, and is fronted with Cardamine
rotundifolia.

Two Violet beds, even in April, are fragrant and effective ;
one is formed by Marie Louise, the other Victoria Regina.

The bedding arrangements just named are found in a garden
near the Castle. Passing to another, known as the Duchess’s gar-
den, situated in a sheltered bay on the side of the range of hills,
on an outlier of which the castle stands, and entering this
ground, it will be seen how much its conformation favours the
formation of rockwork; indeed rock crops out in the upper
slopes, and the ground invites a system of terracing the abrupt
banks, and still permits flower-beds on its grassy slopes. Trees
and choice shrubs also form a notable feature.

On the hillside above the walk that traverses the garden there
are Cedars, Hemlock, Spruce, and other trees. I am particular in
mentioning this circumstance as I wish to invite attention to a
practice I have successfully pursued of planting Violets and other
spring plants, when properly grown and prepared, in October
beneath the shelter of these evergreen trees on the side open to
the south, and so likely to receive the benefit of the few glints
of sunshine we may receive in the early season. The shelter
afforded by large trees is considerable, and is enjoyed by many
plants, but it is mostly necessary that they should be annually
removed and replanted in the late autumn. During the winter
and spring seasons we are never without Russian Violets

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984 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

grown in this way. Beneath the spreading boughs of one large
Cedar of Lebanon there are four large beds, one of Violets,
one of Wallflowers, another of Sazxifraga ligulata, which here ©
escapes frost, and one filled with Arabis and Myosotis. One of
our most striking beds is in the form of a Maltese cross,
and is furnished with Heaths, Arabis, Aubrietia, Primroses, varie-
gated Aubrietia, and Daisies; another, sheltered by an over-
arching Arbutus, is filled with yellow Polyanthus, and one more
is filled with Anemones and mixed plants. Near the entrance
to this garden, where the ground falls abruptly away, are three
tiers of terraced banks. The upper one has a series of ovals
edged with Huonymus radicans variegata, and filled alternately
with Hrica carnea and Aubrietia Leichtlini ; following the edging
are successive lines of Awbrietia grandiflora, Arabis, and Myosotis
alpestris Victoria.

The next terrace has circular beds, in which the single and
double lilac Primrose are planted, and Awbrietia greca, Primroses,
and Viola Blue King follow in lines.

The third and lowest terrace is planted with lines of Saxifraga
liguiata, Valeriana Phu aurea, Myosotis, and Primroses. The
terraces are held up with stone, and are covered with Aubrietia
variegata, Herniaria, Cerastium, Antennaria, and other spreading
plants.

Passing through an arcade the main garden is gained. Here
again there are three terraces which follow the curve of the
ground.

The first contains a triple row of crimson Primrose, and suc-
cessive rows of crimson Aubrietia, Auricula, Daisy, and variegated
Aubrietia.

The second terrace is planted with Arabis, pink Aubrietia,
Primroses, Myosotis, and Daisies.

The third is filled with yellow Polyanthus, Myosotis dissiti-
flora, Primroses, Aubrietia grandiflora, and Alpine Daisies.

There are ten large beds on the grassy slope below the
terraces, all filled with spring plants, but generally of the same
character as those previously described.

I have before remarked that. our speciality consists very
much in the early period in the spring, in which we secure a
display of flowers. There is an advantage in this: we are able
to clear our beds and fill them with half-hardy plants for

SPRING FLOWER GARDENING. 285

summer. It was once suggested to me that it might be possible
to have a display, part flowers, part shrubs, at each season of
the year, and, in fact, this has really been accomplished; our
flower-beds are never bare or empty, and herbaceous borders and
shrubberies never without bloom. Although I use and value
both Hyacinths and Tulips, they are subsidiary and not the
essential features of the garden. I use chiefly the single bedding
Hyacinths, and the early Van Thol Tulips. In the general garden
arrangements I cannot claim any great merit of originality ; if
anything can be said in commendation of the Belvoir Gardens
it is that, by the use of many simple and well-known flowers,
the flower-gardens have been made attractive and pleasing to
the many visitors who, by the kindness of the noble Duke, have
at all times and seasons the privilege of seeing them, and I have
great pleasure in saying that the trust thus exhibited is rarely
abused.

ROCKERIES AND Rock PLANTS.

There are but few mountain ranges in the world that have not
given us plants of more or less interest. Many tell us of the
wide distribution of certain families, and suggest speculation and
furnish clues to the geologist. Introduced to our gardens with
the story of their mountain homes, it is no wonder that we
resort to rockwork in the endeavour to imitate the natural
circumstances that belong to the plants.

To carry on the recital of the narrative relating to our spring
flowers, my task would be but imperfectly fulfilled if I failed to
glance over our rocky banks, and to record the names of the
plants which have happily established themselves on its recesses
and declivities. It is hardly necessary to say that rockwork
should be constructed chiefly with the view to give advantages
to rock-loving plants which level ground fails to afford, and which
are so much required to exhibit the best qualities of the plants
in growth and bloom. It isalways cool and moist under a block
of stone, and one simple proceeding is to sink masses of rock
slightly into the ground so as to form pockets to hold up soil.
Other pieces may be so laid as to form ledges over which the
trailing plants may freely ramble. Although Gentiana acauls,
G. septemfida, and G. asclepiadea can be grown in our her-
baceous borders, they belong to the rockery, and are never out

286 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

of place on it ; neither are the Androsaces, which are only happy
when they can root in the fissures ‘of rockwork. <A. carnea,
A. ciliata, A. lanuginosa, and A. sarmentosa are amongst the
best. I have already spoken of the dwarf Phloxes; such as P.
reptans, P. amena, and P. Nelsom are essential to the rock-
garden. Primula Auricula, P. pubescens alba, P. rosea, P.
denticulata, P. cortusoides amena, and P. nwalis are amongst
others desirable. Cyclamen ibericwm, when fully established, is
charming in leaf and flower. Ranunculus alpestris and montanus
should not be omitted. Linnea borealis, with its trailing ever-
green stems and sweet flowers, lends special interest to any
spot. The crimson variety of Oxalis acetosella is interesting
as a native plant. Two species of Thymus are especially suited
to clothe rocks with a dense and clinging growth; these are
T. lanuginosus and T. Serpyllum albus. Lithospermum pro-
stratum has no rival in its class of blue flowers, although it is
nearly approached by Veronica rupestris. Tiarella cordifolia
spreads its dark handsome foliage over rocky ground, and is
effective both in flower and leaf. Hypericum reptans is another
creeping plant which bears large yellow flowers, and clothes any
masses of rock within its reach. The Alpine Wallflower and
Cheiranthus Marshallt are members of an interesting and well-
known family. The Forget-me-nots, Myosotis dissituflora and
M. alpestris Victorie, should find a place in every spare corner.
Plants to clothe an interesting rock-garden might be found
formed of Saxifrages and Sedums alone: S. oppositifolia and
S. Burseriana, S. muscoides, Campos, incurvifolia, Maweana ;
then the section represented by crustata, Cotyledon, longifolia,
iMacnabiana ; and even these scarcely represent the types of the
hundred and upwards in cultivation.

SHRUBS.

The spring garden need not be restricted to annuals or peren-
nials, but may derive material assistance from shrubs, of which
the list I present is an example. Some few are better with the
protection of a wall.

Daphne Mezereum. Rhododendron przecox superbum.
Chimonanthus fragrans, Andromeda floribunda.

Lonicera fragrantissima. - japonica.
Rhododendron dauricum. Berberis Aquifolium.

7 Nobleanum. Forsythia suspensa.

SPRING FLOWER GARDENING. . 287

Magnolia conspicua, Azara microphylla.
Genista precox. ‘ah Amygdalus nana.
Pyrus japonica. Ribes.

Berberis Darwinii. | Kerria japonica.

sa stenophylla,

These I have proved. I should like to call special attention
to that very handsome evergreen Azara microphylla. It is now
(at the beginning of April) in full bloom, but it makes its presence
felt not by the attractive characters of its flowers, but by the
wonderful fragrance they exhale. The garden is filled with an
aroma resembling yanilla.

288 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

A Great Exhibition of Daffodils was held at Chiswick on April
15, 16, 17, and 18, 1890, a Conference taking place on the second
and third days of the show.

The exhibition was opened on Tuesday, the 15th, by her
Royal Highness the Princess Mary of Cambridge, Duchess of
Teck, at 3 p.m. Her Royal Highness, who was accompanied by
the Princess Victoria of Teck, was received at the Garden gate
by members of the Council and others, and having been pre-
sented by Miss Thiselton Dyer with a magnificent bouquet,
entirely composed of different varieties of Daffodils, was conducted
to the great vinery, which was filled from end to end with the
flowers. Having carefully inspected the different exhibits, her
Royal Highness was graciously pleased to declare the show
‘‘ open,’’ and expressed her great admiration of the flowers and
the pleasure it had given her to see them.

WEDNESDAY, Aprit 16.

On the first day of the Conference the chair was taken at
2 p.m. by Professor Michael Foster, Sec. R.S., who opened the
meeting as follows :—

I do not quite know why the greatness of presiding at this
Conference has been thrust upon me, unless it is because I had
some part in bringing about the first Daffodil Conference, which
was held some six years ago, and at which I presided. We may,
I think, congratulate ourselves on what has taken place since
that time. If we look at the show here before us, we see
what progress has been made in our favourite flower; and we
have the satisfaction of reflecting—at least those of us who
are Fellows of the Royal Horticultural Society—that while
many on that occasion who were best known for their knowledge
of the Daffodil were outside the Society, they are now gathered

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 989

into our fold. We then met in a place not our own, where our
presence was a matter of sufferance; we are now meeting in our
own grounds, and if not under our own fig-tree, at least under
our own vine.

I do not quite know what to say in the form of an opening
address on this occasion. Perhaps I may be allowed to say that
the keynote of our meeting here seems to be that we are gardeners,
that we are brought together because of our love of flowers, and
that the object of our conference is to increase that love. There
is an old saying of Goethe, in ‘‘ Wilhelm Meister ”’ I think, “ Take
care of the beautiful, the good and true will take care of them-
selves.’ The prime duty of this Conference is to take care of
the beauty of the Daffodil.

We find in life that, in attempting to attain an end,
we are often led into paths which seem indirect; and one
way to take care of the beauty of the Daffodil is to take
care of its names. The greater our love of plants is, and
the more attention we pay to them, the greater is the necessity
which arises for giving names. There is no such necessity for
him who does not care much for Daffodils, and to whom a
Daffodil is a yellow Daffodil and nothing more. If you show to
such a person a wild Pseudo-Narcissus or the “ Glory of Leyden,”’
he will say they are both Daffodils. But we who are led more
and more to take an interest in each individual form, and
to make increasing distinctions between the several forms,
are driven to the use of a number of names. Now in using
names there are, I take it, two rules which we should adopt.
The one is that a name should only be applied where it is neces-
sary. In the case of all the forms occurring wild in nature a
name is necessary, because these are, so to speak, the letters by
which Nature spells out to us her lessons; and it is necessary
that each letter should be recognised. Besides these forms
which occur in nature we have a variety of forms produced by the
hand of man—some by direct hybridisation through his own
hands, some through sowing seeds which insects have fertilised.
In this way we are gradually acquiring a large number of new
forms, and the question arises: Which of these forms deserve
names? I think I shall not be far from the right solution
in saying that new names should be given only to those forms
which on the one hand possess sufficient individuality, so that

290 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

they can be readily recognised as distinct forms by ordinary
people, and on the other hand are more beautiful than, or differ
in beauty from, their forerunners. If we were to attempt to
express all the different forms by separate names, we should lead
ourselves into endless confusion.

It is one of the objects of the Narcissus Committee, and in-
deed of this Conference, to determine which are the forms
worthy of receiving distinct names. In regard, however, to less
marked forms, those seedlings which come into existence and yet
possess no adequately distinct features or merit, it is a matter of
difficulty to know what to do with them. Some recommend that
all such forms should be destroyed at once as soon as they appear,
so that they may no longer trouble the world. For the existence
of a form which does not bear the characteristics which its name
implies is a source of great trouble ; it is important that each
form bearing a definite name should have distinct characters, so
that we may know when we have the real form, and not merely
something like it. It becomes, therefore, of great importance
that the forms to which we attach names should be kept clean
and pure; and on this ground alone there is something to be said
in favour of destroying indistinct forms. It is true that when
one is bid to do this one is tempted to reply, ‘Thou askest a
hard thing.’’ I well remember the pangs with which I consigned
to the rubbish heap last year a number of seedling plants which
I considered did: not possess sufficient individuality to deserve
distinct names. If such indistinct forms are to be allowed to
live for any special purpose, they should be kept apart in some
sort of curiosity garden, and not be thrown into circulation with
names attached to them.

The second rule is that the name should, if possible, be
one which can be easily written, one which can be easily
read, and one which can be spoken, if not easily, at least
without great effort. I believe that one of the objects of the
Narcissus Committee is to ensure that names should be given
on these two principles. There is another quality which it is
desirable that a name should possess, and that is, the name
should in some way indicate the nature of the object named.
But though it is our duty to strive to attain this virtue in a name,
the task is a very hard one.

So much for taking care of the names; but that is only

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 991

part of the duty of the Narcissus Committee, or of this
Conference. When we love any object, there is hardly any
knowledge concerning the object which does not interest us.
And to those who love the Daffodil all knowledge which bears
on the Daffodil is very interesting. Moreover, we desire to
bring these plants to perfection, and to this end all knowledge
must be of use. I dare say many of you have followed the dis-
cussion which has recently taken place in the gardening papers
about the value of theoretical knowledge in relation to practical
cultivation. I may congratulate Mr. Thiselton Dyer on having
started a most interesting discussion, in the course of which
many good suggestions have been made. If I might sum up the
whole discussion with sententious brevity, I would say : All know-
ledge is of use if applied aright ; no knowledge is of use if applied
awry. J think I may assume with confidence that neither
the Narcissus Committee nor this Conference will apply its
knowledge awry, and that all the knowledge which we may
eather here respecting our favourite the Narcissus will be pro-
fitable. We are prepared to receive all knowledge concerning
it—such, for instance, as any information with regard to its
natural history, or the state in which it exists in nature;
also as much knowledge as possible about hybridisation, for
this art often discloses the potentiality of the plant. Lastly,
we are willing to learn everything we can of the way in which
the soil should be prepared for the growth of the plant, and
concerning cultivation in general. And I venture to think when
you read the names of the gentlemen who have kindly offered
to bring before you the results of their observations, you will feel
sure that the knowledge which they will impart must prove of
great value.

REPORT OF THE NARCISSUS COMMITTEE.

At the Daffodil Conference of the Royal Horticultural Society
held in 1884, a resolution, proposed by Mr. Elwes and seconded
by Mr. J. G. Baker, was passed, ‘‘ That in the opinion of this
Conference uniformity of nomenclature is most desirable, and
that garden varieties of Narcissi, whether known hybrids or
natural seedlings, should be named or numbered in the manner
adopted by florists, and not in the manner adopted by

992 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

botanists.’’ In order to carry out this proposition, a Committee
was appointed to revise the names of new Daffodils ; the whole of
the varieties then known in cultivation were gone through, and
English names substituted in most cases for the Latin ones which
had been in use. A list was published containing the changes
thus made, the varieties being grouped under the species given
in the monograph of Mr. Baker. This list is in course of being
checked by the Committee, but up to the present time they have
not had the opportunity of examining living specimens of all
that is described therein.

The Narcissus Committee held meetings in the months of
March, April, and May in 1886, and each of the succeeding years,
and the work which it has done, or had to do, may be described
briefly under three heads :—

1. The acquisition of information as to the natural history of
the Narcissus, native habitats and natural varieties, their cultiva-
tion and development. Special mention may be made of the
following which have been introduced into this country since the
date of the last Conference, either afresh or for the first time :—

Moschatus of Linneus, nobilis of Rédouté, cyclamineus
and Jofnston, and large numbers of Ajax of different
kinds, Corbularia, and triandrus, which have been imported
and cultivated successfully. The wild forms have been found
to vary to a much greater degree than was supposed, and
in many cases a complete chain of forms may be shown connect-
ing two typical varieties which used formerly to be considered
totally distinct. Such, for instance, was the artificial division
separating triandrus and calathinus, a division which it has
been found impossible to uphold, and the latter name is now
civen to the large-flowered varieties of the former. As a paper
will be read on the natural history of the Trumpet Daffodils,
which will embody our knowledge up to the present time, it is
unnecessary to dwell upon the subject here at greater length.
A question having been raised as to the possibility of the con-
version from single to double in flowers produced by the same
bulb, experiments were undertaken to investigate the accuracy
of the statement that under certain conditions of soil or climate
this change could be effected. Bulbs were planted at Kew, in
earth procured from certain localities, and although no change
has been observed in the trial made there, yet sufficient evidence

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 993

has been collected to substantiate the fact that bulbs which at
one time produced only single flowers might have previously
produced, and might again afterwards under certain conditions
produce, blooms in all stages of doubleness. In connection with
this question seedlings have been raised from the variety known
as Telamonius plenus, some of them single, some double.

In the year 1887 the attention of the Committee was called
to a disease then very prevalent among Narcissi, described some-
times as the “rootless”? disease, the results of which were so
disastrous that attention was specially invited to the subject, with
a view to ascertaining its origin and the means to be adopted for
prevention or cure. Since then, however, there seems not to have
been much general opportunity for observation, consequently no
conclusions have been come to in the matter.

The second part of the work of the Committee is that con-
nected with garden varieties, hybrids, seedling, and selected wild
forms. Any such that are submitted are carefully examined,
and if considered to possess sufficient distinctive merit are passed
as standard varieties, and “registered ’’ under a suitable name.
A coloured drawing is made for reference hereafter, and a descrip-
tion of each, drawn up by Mr. J.G. Baker. Up to the present
time fifty-four have been registered in all, including eleven
registered yesterday, the names of which are given in the
schedule attached. It must be clearly understood that the Com-
mittee do not attempt to deal in any way with Narcissi which
can be described botanically as sub-species or typical forms, and
to which Latin or Latinised names may be given.

The advantages of this method are that the nomenclature is
kept in as regular and simple a form as possible; only the best
varieties are sanctioned, and a check is placed upon the possi-
bility of the same form being brought out and distributed by
different people under different names. The decision of the
Committee with regard to one of the white Ajax having been
challenged in 1887, it was arranged to plant side by side at
Kew all the white forms submitted, in order to prove whether,
under precisely similar conditions of soil and climate, the
variation would prove constant which was claimed for the
different forms. These have been watched each year, and the
result of the observation has been drawn up as a separate report
(p. 295).

994 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The third duty has been the identification of flowers sent by
those who were doubtful as to the correct name, and had not the
requisite means of reference or comparison for determining it.
The numbers of letters received both from the trade and from
amateurs show that this work has been appreciated and of
value generally.. Last year the Council of the R.H.S. granted
to the Committee the privilege of recommending the award of
a first-class certificate to Narcissi which might be considered
worthy of the distinction. Hitherto this had been done by the
Floral Committee, causing some confusion, because varieties
were certificated before they had been before the Narcissus Com-
mittee for confirmation of name. The only variety recom-
mended as yet for a certificate is incomparabilis ‘* Lulworth.”

The importance of the Narcissus and the work of the Com-
mittee must not be considered merely with reference to the place
which the flower holds in the gardens of the many amateurs
who cultivate it, but also with regard to the value of its position
as a cut flower in the London and other markets, its production
for this purpose forming an industry of some importance, and
one chiefly confined to this country. This double interest has
enabled amateurs and representatives of the trade to work
together on the Committee, clearly to their mutual advantage.
The number and beauty of the seedlings now being raised and
brought forward render the work as important as ever, and it is
hoped, when what has been done by the Committee is more
generally understood, that they will obtain that confidence in
their judgment which they have endeavoured to earn.

C. R. Scrase Dicxins, Hon. Sec.
April 16, 1890.

SCHEDULE OF REGISTERED VARIETIES.

Pseudo-narcissus : Major—continued :
Achilles. Henry Irving.
Ard Righ. Madame de Graaff.
Automedon. Santa Maria.
Challenger. The Czar.
Golden Plover. » Bicolor :

Troilus. Camoens.
Vicar of Lulworth. Dean Herbert.

Major: Empress.
Distinction. J.B. M. Camm.
Emperor. John Horsfield

Glory of Leyden. (Horsfieldii).

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 295

Moschatus: Bernardi :

Minnie Warren. H.?. Buxton.
Incomparabilis : Tridymus :

Autocrat. A. Rawson.

C. J. Backhouse. Leedsii :

Gloria Mundi. Acis.

Lulworth. Beatrice.

Mary Anderson. Duchess of Westminster.

Princess Mary. Gem.

Queen Bess. Madge Matthew.

Sir Watkin. Minnie Hume.
Backhousei : Barrii:

William Wilks. Conspicuus.

Maurice Vilmorin.

The following varieties registered this season will be con-
firmed next year unless objected to:

Captain Nelson. Mrs. Walter Ware.
Duchess of Teck. Nelson’s Orange (Nelsoni
Golden Vase. Aurantius).

Grandee (Bicolor Grandis). P. R. Barr.

Lena. Queen Sophia.

Madame Plemp. Samson.

Miss White. Sunset.

REPORT ON THE TRIAL OF WHITE DAFFODILS AT KEw,
1887-1890.

In answer to the request that as many forms of white Ajax
Daffodils as were in cultivation should be sent to the Royal
Gardens at Kew for the purpose of comparison with each other,
after having been planted in the same soil and grown under
similar conditions for more than one season, bulbs were received
from different parts of England, from Scotland, Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and from Holland. In the first year sixty-seven
lots were planted, one or more bulbs in each, and labelled with
distinctive numbers (the names of the senders and of the reputed
varieties being withheld from notice during the trial), and in
1888 fourteen more lots were added. The observations of each
member of the Sub-Committee who examined the flowers were
recorded, and a comparison between these indicates the following
conclusions:

1. That the ‘“‘ Moschatus’’ of the Dutch growers is the variety
properly known as “ Albicans.”’

2. That the variety which some call “ Leda’’ is that which

296 , JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY,

others identify as ‘‘ Tortuosus.’”” No member of the Sub-Com-
mittee was able to point out two distinct forms which the two
names should represent.
3. That ‘‘ Cernuus”’ is liable to some variation, the extent
and permanence of which require further observation.
4, That the variety registered provisionally as ‘‘ Minnie
Warren ”’ retains its distinct character.

C. R. Scrase Dicxins, Hon. Sec.

NOTES ON THE HISTORY OF CULTIVATED NARCISSI.
By Mr. F. W. Bursipes, M.A., F.L.S., F.R.H.S., M.R.I.A.

Introduction.

I rH1nK to-day we may do worse than begin with the poetry of
the children—

Queen Daffodowndilly has come into town
In yellow petticoats, and a green gown.

It seems peculiarly appropriate to me that, dressed in her
richest attire, Queen Daffodil holds her court for four days in
this dear old Chiswick garden, sanctified as it is by many
memories of the best. Hither, to the Horticultural Gardens,
years upon years ago, before our springtide Queen was verily
crowned, came Haworth and Herbert, Salisbury and Sabine,
Sweet and Lindley, and many others who even then, in what to
many of us are remote times, loved and admired the Narcissus
for what it really was and is, viz., as the golden harbinger of
the opening year. Or, inthe words of the poet—

Herald and harbinger, with thee
Begins the year’s great jubilee.

We shall not repineat the Cinderella-like ill-treatment our
Queen of Spring had to undergo in the days of “‘ bedding-out.”’
The ‘‘ bedding-out’’ fashion itself has been badly treated of
late, and we are happy enough, and magnanimous enough, to-
day to forget all wrongs, real or imagined, and once more we

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 297

bow the knee and lift up our hearts before the reigning beauty
of the springtide, under the auspices of this evergreen institu-
tion, the Royal Horticultural Society of England. It is quite
sufficient for most of us, and indeed most satisfying, to know
that, in all their fresh young health and beauty, Queen Daffodil
and Prince Narcissus are victorious and happy before our very
eyes to-day. For once the illustrated book is vanquished, and
even the nurseryman’s catalogue, attractive as it is with picture
or with the doings of the pen—for once, I say, they seem bare
and barren to us, because Nature herself, at her very best, is here
before our admiring eyes. This is a point I am anxious to
emphasise—books and book-lore of the best are good, art or
artist’s work of the best is better, but Nature and art at their
best, as we see them here to-day, are better than books or pic-
tures, indeed quite unapproachable, as all who see this noble
exhibition must allow. This is only another way of saying that
the best record is inferior always to the best things; but how-
ever often before expressed, however well expressed before, it is
yet a truism that may and must be preached or said for all
time.

In all the world’s progress we see evidence of a twofold
motive power. First comes the poet, who asa prophet always
leads the thought of the rest of mankind. The poet is a
prophet because he instinctively feels what is right. He may be
a musical poet like Wagner, a rhythmical poet like Tennyson,
a prose poet like Ruskin, a pictorial poet lke Turner or
Leighton, or a garden poet ike Brown or Marnock, but the main
fact remains that the leading men now as of yore are the
bards, and certainly the leading poets of Greece, and Italy,
and of England have been generous in their praises of the
Narcissus.

But we must algo have working followers of even the most
potent leaders, and here to-day is a gorgeous flower show made
entirely, or almost entirely, by gentlemen like Mr. Walker, Mr,
Ware, and Mr. Barr, men whose motto in life ig ‘‘ Work, not
words.” Butif you go to the very root of this question, you will
find a beautiful substratum of poetry in the lives and inner
thoughts of these so-called practical men; and inasmuch as this
is true, so you will find is the real and permanent value of their
work. There are, of course, such things in theory as absolute

re

298 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

right as opposed to absolute wrong. There is truth absolute
(= science) as contrasted with absolute untruth or error; but if
you look closely and deeply into the matter, other things being
equal or nearly equal, the poet is always found to be a reliable
euide-post on the great highway of our lives.

The poet makes a statement, and lo! in succeeding years or
ages, the man of science makes discoveries that prove its truth.

The practical gardener is often to some extent a practical
poet also, and he actually feels by the higher instincts of his
nature what is best under any given set of circumstances for him
to do. And then, again, comes on the chemist or the physiologist,
and it is they who prove the gardener’s actions to have been
right ones.

Now I want you to notice how divided are the modern poets
as to the gender of the word Daffodil. William Cullen Bryant,
for example, although American, agrees with the children’s poetry
in England, and says:

The Daffodil is our door-side queen.

Not so, however, Aubrey de Vere, who, speaking of the Daffodil,
Says :
Thou laugh’st bold outcast bright and brave.

And is it not Lydia Sigourney who likens the ‘“‘ Jonquil” to a
crook-backed old beau ?

Old Jonquil, the crooked-backed beau, had been told
That a tax would be laid upon bachelors’ gold.

Classically, no doubt, Narcissus is masculine. Ovid settled
that, although Pliny says the name is derived from “ narces,”’ or
stupour ; but, biologically, the poetry of the children is right, for
Narcissus must have had a mother, and from the Daffodil as a
mother species have sprung during past ages all the more highly
developed Narcissi known to-day.

I had prepared as a part of this paper a list of poets and
philosophers, of botanists and of gardeners, who have at different
epochs, during the last three thousand years or so, been interested
in our favourite Narcissus, but I fear it would be too long an
infliction on you were I to read it now. Chronologically it
ranges from Homer to Oscar Wilde. I know that some have

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 2999

objected to the Homeric Hymns as not being actually the works
of any particular man, but, if not actually Homer’s work, the
‘‘ Hymn to Demeter” is so beautiful for its own sake, and also
so Homeresque, as to be well worth giving. Ido not at all agree
with modern scholars who try to split up the immortal Homer
into fragmental nebule. Both Homer and Sophocles mention
the Narcissus for its fragrance, and there is no doubt but that
the mention of Narcissus in the ‘ Cidipus”’ refers to the
‘clustered Narcissus’’ (NV. Tazetta, fig. 19, p. 367).

This is what the oldest and greatest poet of Greece says of
our flower :—

And the Narcissus wondrously glittering, a noble sight for all, whether
immortal Gods or mortal men; from whose root a hundred heads spring
forth, and at the fragrant odour [thereof] all the broad heaven above, and

all the earth laughed, and the salt-wave of the sea.—‘‘ Hymn to Demeter,”’
8-14.

The following extract is from the ‘‘ idipus at Colonus’”’ of
Sophocles :—

Stranger in this land of goodly steeds, thou hast come to earth’s fairest
home, even to our white Colonus, where the nightingale, a constant guest,
trills her clear note in the covert of green glades, dwelling amid the wine-
dark Ivy and the God’s inviolate bowers, rich in berries and fruit, unvisited
by sun, unvexed by wind of any storm, where the reveller Dionysus ever
walks the ground, companion of the nymphs that nursed him.

And fed of heavenly dew the Narcissus blooms morn by morn with fair
clusters, crown of the great goddesses from of yore, and the Crocus blooms
with golden beam.

Much of floral history must ever remain unknown. We may
nowadays, for example, never know what was the favourite
flower of Helen of Troy or that of the great Cleopatra, Ligypt’s
fascinating queen; but no doubt both these great and beautiful
women must often have seen the ‘clustered Narcissus” (NV.
Tazetta) ; and even if blue-eyed Helen did not, like Persephone,
stoop to gather it from the grass of the Grecian meadows, it was
more than probable that incense-loving Cleopatra, when tired of
fiery Pomegranate buds, had often worn clusters of the Narcissus
in her blue-black hair, just as do the wives and daughters of
sunshiny Egypt and of Arabia to-day.

From poetry and speculation, and possible doubt, it is inter-
esting to turn to a very matter-of-fact incident in the history

of N. Tazetta, as found naturalised or cultivated in Kgypt. In
FE 2

300 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

1888 Mr. W. Flinders Petrie, while excavating in the cemetery at
Hawara, found some floral wreaths, supposed to have been
made by Greek residents.in the land of the Pharaohs—not in the
time of the Pharaohs, it is true, but certainly as early as the
first century before the Christian era. One at least of these
wreaths is almost entirely made of the flowers of the ‘“ clustered
Narcissus,’’ as immortalised by the poets of Greece, and, being
now preserved at Kew, those who care to do so may see with
their own eyes actual blossoms of Narcissus Tazetta as culled
in Egypt nearly two thousand years ago.

Then the earliest of Greek physicians used or recommended
the roots of Narcissi for medical purposes; and in the making of
funereal garlands we are absolutely certain that the blossoms of
N. Tazetta were used by the Greeks at least in the century
before the Christian era.

You may take it for granted that the Narcissus was one of
the most highly prized of all the native flowers of Southern and
Eastern Europe and Northern Africa at a very early date in the
world’s history, because all the earliest and greatest poets have
mentioned it time after time.

The very earliest allusion I can find as to the culture of the
Narcissus appears to have been made in the works of Theophrastus
of Eresus (B.c. 374-286). As we have no proof to the contrary,
I shall assume his Narcissus to have belonged to the genus so-
called to-day, and what he says of it is this: ‘‘ Its leaves spread
on the ground like the Asphodel, but broader, like those of Lilies ;
its stalk is void of leaves, and bears at the top a herbaceous
flower, and a large dark-coloured fruit enclosed in a membra-
nous vessel of an oblong figure. This fruit, falling down, sprouts
spontaneously, although some gather wt for sowing. The roots
also are planted, which are large, round, and fleshy.”

The Narcisst in the Literature of the Seventeenth Century.

We need scarcely wonder that the Narcissus was one of the
earliest of garden or cultivated flowers, since its fragrance, its
size, its colour, its exquisite form, and its timeliness, even in the
wild or native state, are so remarkable; but it is not until we
eet down to the early sixteenth and the seventeenth centuries that
we find out, by direct written evidence, how popular these flowers

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 801

had become. They were highly valued in that great and general
renaissance which spread over Europe in Elizabethan and
Shakesperian times. The French and Flemish works of the
period are rich in illustrations and descriptions of these flowers.
Dodoens, Lobel, Clusius, Passe, Besler, Sweert, and many others,
all illustrate and describe these flowers. So also, in the merry
England of those times, we find that Turner and Tusser both
mention Narcissus and Daffodils, and Gerard and Parkinson de-
vote pages to them, with many wood-cut illustrations. Parkinson,
indeed, seems to have been one of the earliest of English
authorities on these flowers, as he alludes to 96 species and
varieties, and he arranges or classifies them in a decided manner
in his interesting old folio, entitled the “‘ Paradisus,” a work now
difficult to procure, but one which no Narcissus lover would like
to be absent from his or her library. Green, Spenser, Shake-
speare, indeed nearly all the poets of Elizabethan times, mention
our flowers either as Narcissus, as Jonquils, or as Daffodils, and
Gerard (1597) especially tells us that they existed in London
gardens in great abundance.

As in Egypt and in Greece the Narcissus, so also in Kngland
the Daffodil, became a celebrated flower in the making of gar-
lands, and they were also much used, as an old author tells us,
for the decking up of houses and of taverns when the springtide
Was a-comin’ in.

Daffodils, Natwe and Eaotie.

There can be but little doubt but that the Daffodil is a truly
English wild flower, and is, I believe, the only species really
native to this country. Any traveller to-day on his journey
from Paris to London might see the Daffodil fringing the
fields and woods alongside the railroad all the way. It is
especially abundant in the woods of Normandy, between Rouen
and the sea; and it is also pretty plentiful in the southern
counties of England. But the English people have always been
especially fond of ransacking the world in search of its treasures,
and much as they may have valued their native wild flowers,
they also had a hankering after those of other lands.

Several kinds, including the ‘“‘ Double Roman,’ appear to
have reached this country vid Constantinople, while others came

302 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

vid Spain, France, Belgium, and Holland ata later date. We
are not quite clear how, or when, or precisely whence the
‘Spanish White’’ Daffodils first reached our shores. Gerard
and Parkinson allude to them; and in France, Barrellier illus-
trated several kinds in his celebrated ‘“ Icones.”’ Evelyn, in his
‘ Kalendarium Hortense,’’ especially recommends that the
seeds of the ‘two lesser pale spwriws Daffodils of a whitish
green ’’ should be saved in June for sowing, as they ‘‘ often pro-
duce varieties.”

Continental Narcissi—In Books and Pictures.

In French illustrated botanical works of the early seventeenth
century we find our white drooping Pyrenean NV. moschatus of
tc-day well figured, as also in old oil-paintings of flowers executed
about 1612-20, and now in the Louvre,* or in the Musée des
Arts Décoratifs.+

White Daffodils.

Salisbury mentions that two white Daffodils at least were
erown in the gardens of Paris in the time of Henry IV. ‘These
he defines as N. moschatus (Botamcal Magazine, t. 1,800)
and N. tortwosus (= N. moschatus, Botanical Magazine, t. 924).
These two kinds, as he further tells us, he saw worked in
coloured silks on a fire-screen said to have been presented to
Lia Belle Gabrielle by the king himself. Salisbury saw this
embroidered screen at Fontainebleau in 1786, and below the
plants, which were represented as growing out of the earth, was
the legend or title ‘‘ Coquelourdes-blanes, 1598.”

I shall not say anything more as to these lovely white
Daffodils, since Mr. John Bennett-Poé has kindly made the sub-
ject his own, and will tell us all concerning them. One thing,
however, is very remarkable about them. How they were
originally introduced to Ireland I do not know, but the fact is

* Narcissus lovers who may visit Paris should make a point of seeing
No. 477, a picture in the Louvre by Zampieri, who painted the figures, and
Segher’s “Le Jesuit d’Anvers,’’ who painted a wreath of flowers around
them. No less than fourteen kinds are represented, including the Sulphur
Hooped Petticoat, and the N. moschatus of the Pyrenees, and other rare
species. The date is about 1620-1650.

t The two flower pictures in this gallery are dated 1614-15.

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 803

they have grown and thriven in old neglected Irish gardens
better than anywhere else in the world. That they have seeded
there spontaneously is also past disputation, and hence, no
doubt, the variety noticeable among them to-day. I believe they
are all cultivated seedling descendants of the N. moschatus of
the Pyrenees, which, as we all know, is extremely variable in
size and shape, and in tint or hue, and it also soon becomes
larger under cultivation in our gardens.*

Haworth, in 1831, only knew of four varieties of white Daffodils;
and our friend Mr. Barr could only find three of these in cultiva-
tion down to the year 1879 or 1880; but now the list is swollen
to two or three dozen or more.

Bicoloured Daffodils.

The Daffodils of the N. bicolor group are less numerous, but
quite as perplexing as those of the yellow or golden group, and we
are by no means quite certain as to their origin. But we do
know that two-coloured forms of Daffodil exist in a wild state,
and no doubt our garden forms of N. bicolor have been evolved
from these native varieties. In the Pyrenees there are forms of
N. muticus, and of N. variiformis (or the so-called N. nobilis, of
Maw, not of Rédouté), which have white perianth segments and
golden trumpets, and the N. bicolor of gardens is not only
possibly, but also most probably, a seedling from this source.
Then there is, as we know, a form of N. bicolor found wild in
Portugal, whence Mr. Tait introduced it a few years ago. It was
called NV. bicolor lusitanicus, and more recently was christened
‘“‘Camoens’’ by the Narcissus Committee. It has narrower
leaves, and is otherwise distinct from the old N. bicolor of
Haworth, and of gardens to-day. No doubt the tendency to
vary towards a bicolour, or to a more or less white state, is
inherent in northern or in mountain forms of the Daffodil; even
in England variations more or less bicolorous are found among
the common yellows, and the so-called Bicester white Daffodils
show a tendency to advance still further towards the white

* Some specimens of collected N. moschatus, exhibited at the Conference
by Messrs. Veitch & Son, of Exeter, were very variable in this respect ; and
some of the blooms died off pink, or of a rosy-salmon shade, in a way analo-
gous to the behaviour of “ Mrs. Geo. Rundle,’’ “ Elaine,’’ and other white
and sulphur-coloured Chrysanthemums.

304 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Daffodil stage ; but we cannot venture to accept them as being
quite free from a suspicion of garden origin.

Until negative evidence is forthcoming, I think we must con-
sider N. bicolor of Haworth as a selection from either N. mauticus
or N. varvifornis, and then look upon it as the parent, or co-
parent, of all the seedling or garden bicolour varieties known
to-day. It was grown. by Herbert, as also by Leeds and
Backhouse and Horsfield, all of whom had the good fortune to
develop it to advantage from the florist’s point of view. Mr.
Backhouse indeed expressly tells us that, although N. bicolor
‘‘ seeds badly, and is’’ (or was with him in Weardale) ‘ deficient
in pollen,” he can add, ‘‘ but from crosses of the other Daffodils
with it, I have raised some of the largest and finest of the class.”’
We get here a glimpse of the origin and history of N. Empress,
N. J. B. M. Camm, N. Emperor, N. T. A. Dorrien-Smith, and
other of Mr. Backhouse’s fine seedling bicolour varieties, and his
remarks as to the parentage of these kinds throw a lucid side-
light on the origin of Mr. Leeds’s N. Grandee (N. bicolor
maximus), as also on the production of Mr. John Horsfield’s
noble bicolour Daffodil which now bears his honoured name.

Golden Daffodils and N. Incomparabilis.

It is when we come to consider the yellow or golden Daffodils
and the “ Incomparables,”” however, that it verily seems as if
chaos had come again. They are almost innumerable. But
there are some so distinct and effective that we cannot absolutely
neglect them. The finest and most stately and most golden of
all, as seen at its best,is N. maximus. It is the Narcissus
grandiflorus of Salisbury, who, in Hort. Trans. vol. 1., p. 344,
says it is abundantly wild in the mountains of L’Esperon. I
believe it has been reintroduced from the French or Spanish
frontier quite recently, but we must yet await further details, as
there seems a doubt as to whether the bulbs were collected from
a wild habitat or from a cultivated one. That N. maximus
has long been in cultivation is amply proven by the figures of it
which exist in ‘“ Theatrum Flore’ (1622) and in “ Campi
Elysi’’ (1702).

Another distinct variety (NV. obvallaris), naturalised at Tenby,
is also a puzzle, as no one appears to have found its Continental

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 805

habitat. It is supposed to have been brought to Tenby by a
colony of Flemings, and singularly enough was found naturalised
in Co. Wexford, Ireland, where also a colony of Flemings existed
years ago.

The giant Peerless Narcissus called ‘‘ Sir Watkin” has an
obscure origin. It was found in Wales, and became popular in
1884, but how, or whence, it came to Wales no one now knows.

Then we have quite a number of Daffodils in Ireland the
origin of which is unknown. Ard Righ, Countess of Annesley,
Frilled Trunk or ‘‘ Crom-a-boo,” princeps, Rip Van Winkle,
and others I need not now name. Of these N. princeps may
originally have been imported from Italy, but at any rate it is
naturalised abundantly on old sites, in parks and in gardens
in many parts of Ireland, where, by the way, the common wild
N. pseudo-narcissus of England is unknown as a wild species!

The six best yellow Daffodils are, perhaps, N. Emperor,
N. Golden Spur, N. General Gordon, N. maximus, N. Countess
of Annesley, and Ard Righ. Of these, the history of N.
Kmperor alone is known ; of the remaining five there is nothing
but traditional evidence left to us to-day.

My own view is that these so-called Irish Daffodils, or their
progenitors, were introduced many years ago as garden flowers,
just as they were introduced to England. The only difference
seems to be that they have thriven better in Ireland, and in
many cases have seeded spontaneously, and so reproduced them-
selves with some little variety. At any rate the fact stares us in the
face that from Irish gardens a dozen or more varieties have been
introduced to England within the last ten years or so that have
so far not been disccvered either wild or cultivated elsewhere.

Statistical Note on Cultivated Narcissi.

As bearing on the modern history of cultivated Narcissi, we
may refer to Mr. Barr’s catalogue of 1871, where, at page 11,
we find only 18 kinds offered in the magni-coronati group,
ineluding singles and doubles, Hoop Petticoats, and all the
white Daffodils of that date.

On turning to the same gentleman’s list for 1888 we find
109 Daffodils in the place of the 18 only in 1871.

In the medio-coronati section for 1871 there are 18 species .

806 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

and varieties all told, as compared with 182 species and varieties
in 1888.

Again, in the third, or parvi-coronati, section in 1871 there
are only 28 kinds (including N. Tazetta), as against 74 varieties
in 1888.

Thus in 1888 we find a total of 815 varieties, as contrasted
with 54 varieties all told in 1871.

But there are at least 500 distinct species and their varieties
in cultivation to-day, the lsts of 1871 having been swelled
partly by wild plants introduced from abroad, but mainly by the
enormous influx of garden seedlings from the Leeds, Backhouse,
and other collections in England, and a few garden varieties
from the Emerald Isle.

Popular Names of Sections.

I am very much interested in the question of popular names,
and often regret to hear the popular names, as applied to the
three great sections of the Narcissi, mixed up in a haphazard
kind of way. A Daffodil, for example, is a kind of Narcissus,
but a true Narcissus is not a Daffodil. The true Daffodils are
the large trumpet Narcissi, which Haworth included in his
genus Ajax. The ‘‘Hoop Petticoats,” or Corbularias, are
rush-leaved Daffodils.

The true Narcissi have long and slender tubes to their flowers,
and their stamens are inserted near the mouth of the tube in
two series ; their filaments are very short, so that the anthers
seem to be sessile; while in the obconical tube of the Daffodil
the stamens are in one series, and the anthers are borne on long
stalks or filaments, which are inserted low down inside the tube
near the seed-vessel or ovary.

Then the ‘‘Jonquil’’ Narcissi are those true species and
varieties of Narcissi which have slender green and rush-like leaves.

Seedlings and Hybrids, with Notes on the Principal Raisers.

When we come to consider the seedling and the hybrid
Narcissi we enter upon enchanted ground; and it is curious to
find that the very first variety ever reared from seeds with the

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 307

identity of which there is any direct evidence in print was a
double Daffodil. It was raised by John Parkinson in his London
garden, and is called the “ Double Spanish Bastard Daffodil” at
page 108 of his “‘ Paradisus in Sole,’”’ wherein he thus speaks of
it: ‘I think none ever had this kind before myself, nor did I
myself ever see it before the year 1618, for it is of mine own
raising, and flowering first im my garden.’”’ At page 104 he
further says of it: ‘‘It is risen from the seed of the great
Spanish single kinde, which I sowed in mine own garden and
cherished it until it gave such a flower as is described.’’ This
extract is worth quoting as showing that seedling Narcissi
really were now and then reared by the early seventeenth cen-
tury gardeners. As to hybrid Narcissi, they do not appear to
have been artificially produced in gardens until a much later
date; but that they were produced naturally in the native
habitats of the Narcissi then, as now, is too well established to
be for a moment doubted. Varieties of hybrid origin are
figured by several old authors, and in such works as De Brys
and Sweert’s ‘‘ Florigelia,’”’ in the ‘‘Theatrum Flore,” in the
still earlier ‘‘ Jardin du Roy,” and at least one or two are rudely
illustrated by Parkinson himself. In a word, man had in
Herbert’s time only just begun his apprenticeship as a marriage
priest in the garden, but the bee and the butterfly had been
busily improving the world’s wild flowers for thousands upon
thousands of years, and these insects must be credited with
having made the Narcissi a puzzling study long before any of
the now numerous garden hybrids appeared.

I believe I am right in saying that the first hybrid Narcissi
artificially reared in English gardens were produced by the late
Hon. and Rey. William Herbert (afterwards Dean of Manchester)
at Spofforth in Yorkshire. In the Botanical Register for August
1848 several of these hybrids are figured and described. One
variety, which he tells us is the result of crossing the wild York-
shire Daffodil with pollen of N. poeticus, is a form of N. incom-
parabilis. Another is the produce of N. incomparabilis, fertilised
by the pollen of N. poeticus, and is called N. Spofforthia, a plant
most nearly represented nowadays by De Graaff’s seedling named
N. Burbidges “ Little Dirk.”

Other curious instances might be brought forward, but it will
be better for those most interested to read every line Dean

308 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Herbert ever wrote—and he wrote much—on this question of
hybridisation.

Herbert’s Hybrid Narcissi, as illustrated in Edwards’s
‘* Botamcal Register,’ 1848, plate 38.

No. 1. N. Diomedes var. Crichtoni. From seed of N. nuninvus
(Bot. Mag. t. 6) by the pollen of N. Tazetta (Hermione)
equilimba (of Malta v. Herb. Amaryll. pl. 48).

This is a form of what we call N. tridymus to-day, with a
twin-flowered scape; perianth chrome yellow, chalice deeper
chrome.

No. 2. N. (Ajax) pallidus. <A seedling from N. minor, fertilised
with pollen of N. moschatus. The result is a flower very
similar to the wild Daffodil of England.

No. 8. NV. Spofforthig. Raised from seed of N. incomparabilis
fertilised by pollen of N. poeticus, v. stellaris, a pretty flower,
resembling NV. Burbidget “Little Dirk”’ (De Graaff).

No. 4. NV. Spofforthia, var. spurvus. Reared from seed of same
capsule as No. 8, and resembling a poor pale form of what
we now call N. Barri.

No. 5. N. (Queltia) zncomparabilis auwrantius. This is a showy
flower, white, with an orange-rimmed chalice. It was
raised from seeds of NV. psewdo-Narcissus, v. eboracensis,
crossed with pollen of N. poeticus stellaris.

No. 6. N. (Queltia) swb-concolor. A seedling from N. (Ajax)
minimus, fertilised with pollen of N. poeticus, v. stellaris,
similar to No. 4.

In the paper from Herbert’s own pen, accompanying the
plate of the above six varieties, he incidentally mentions that he
commenced his collection of the known Narcissi at Spofforth, in
1835, when preparing his work on the Amaryllidacee.

Far from claiming priority for his own experiments, Dean
Herbert, after looking over the engravings of Narcissi in the
works of the early seventeenth century, came to the conclusion
that some old gardener had reared cross-bred seedlings even at
that early date, or seedlings that had been fertilised by insects
or the wind. Of course it may so have been, although my own

a

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 309

idea is that the hybrids of the old books were natural ones
brought into gardens from their native Kuropean habitats, just
as we obtain our* WN. Johnston and Bernardi, varieties of to-
day.

Herbert tried all he could to encourage practical work in this
new field, as the following extract will testify: ‘‘It is desirable
to call the attention of the humblest cultivators, of every labourer
or operative who has a plot of garden or a ledge to his window,
to the infinite variety of Narcissi that may thus be raised, and
most easily in plots at his window, if not too much exposed to
sun and wind, offering him a source of harmless and interesting
amusement, and perhaps a little profit and celebrity.”

Although Dean Herbert was first in the field, and by far the
most philosophical of all his compeers interested in Narcissi, yet
he was closely followed by others in this interesting work of
creation. Thus we find that prior to 1850 Mr. Edward Leeds,
of Longford Bridge, Manchester, had reared at least six very
distinct and curious hybrid or cross-bred Narcissi.

After considerable experience in rearing Narcissi, Mr. Leeds
wrote: ‘‘ There is no end to the varieties and elegant forms that
may be obtained’’; and I think to-day, nearly half a century
after he penned those words, we may say that the same is true,
and that we are as far off the end of the journey as ever.

It has many times, and by many people, been taught that
Mr. Leeds and Mr. W. Backhouse were induced to rear seedling
Narcissi by Dean Herbert’s example and precepts, to whichI have
before alluded. I am well aware that Mr. Backhouse alluded to
Herbert’s writings, and that they were well known to Mr. Leeds
is quite certain, since he alludes to them at least once in the
Gardeners’ Magazine of Botany (Moore and Ayre’s) for 1850.
My own opinion is that Mr. Leeds, however inspired, had com-
menced raising cross-bred Narcissi before Herbert’s remarks
appeared in 1848-7, since, when his own seedlings were illustrated
and described in 1850-1, we are distinctly told that he had
been engaged in rearing seedlings many years before that date.
Be that as it may, certainly one of the most interesting of all

* The Rey. G. H. Engleheart has quite recently flowered a remarkable
garden hybrid of this group. It is a seedling between N. Emperor and N.
triandrus albus, and, apart from its own merits, throws a strong light on
the natural origin of the wild Spanish varieties of N. Johnstoni, &e., ‘Ke.

310 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

historical details in connection with seedling Narcissi is the
manner in which Mr. Leeds’s progeny came into the market.
When in failing health, about 1874, he decided to sell his entire
stock, and wrote to Mr. Barr about them, asking £100 for his
collection, saying that if they did not realise that sum he would
destroy them by “digging them in.” Eventually Mr. Barr, and
the late Rev. J. G. Nelson, Mr. Burnley Hume, Mr. G. J.
Brackenridge, and Mr. H. J. Adams, subscribed the amount of
the purchase-money, and thus the collection was saved to science
and to our gardens. The result was that the Leeds seedlings
came into commerce and general cultivation instead of being lost
or destroyed.

These six varieties are fully described, and two coloured
plates are devoted to their portraiture, in Moore and Ayre’s
Gardeners’ Magazine of Botany, vol. i., plates 169 and 289.

The varieties are as follows :—

fox

. N. poculiformis elegans (now called N. Leedsw elegans), a
seedling from N. montanus crossed with pollen of N. poeticus
angustifolius.

bo

. N. Leedsit (now called N. ‘“ Figaro’), an orange-cupped
variety of N. incomparabilis, obtained by crossing Daffodil
major with N. poeticus.

3. N. major superbus. Supposed by Mr. Leeds to be a seedling

from Daffodil major, or maximus.

4, N. aureo-tinctus (now called N.incomparabilis “ Fair Helen’’),
origin not certainly known. Mr. Leeds thought it a cross
from N. propinquus with pollen of N. odorus.

5. N. incomparabilis expansus (now called N. ‘Bianea’’), from
N. major by pollen of N. poeticus.

6. N. bicolor maximus. From N. bicolor crossed with N. pro-
pinquus or N. maximus.

Our history of raisers would be incomplete without a word as
to Mr. John Horsfield, a Lancashire weaver, who raised the cele-
brated and noble bicolour Daffodil which bears his name. It is
supposed to have been raised about 1845, or about ten years
before Horsfield’s death, when the stock of thirty-seven bulbs,
large and small, were sold, twenty-eight of them realising one

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 811

shilling and sixpence each. Unfortunately Mr. Horsfield left no
history of his pet Daffodil, but the tradition is that he had
N. bicolor in his garden, hence it has been assumed to be a
seminal descendant of that variety, maybe fertilised by pollen of
another kind. That Horsfield knew something of hybridisation
is proven by his having previously reared a hybrid Tigridia,
having for its parents 7’. pavonia and 7’. conchiflora.

Another of the pioneers in rearing seedlings was the late Mr.
W. Backhouse, of St. John’s, Wolsingham, Durham. His seed-
lings are many, including some of very fine quality, such as
Empress, Emperor, J. B. M. Camm, C. J. Backhouse, and many
others.

Mr. Backhouse published a few most interesting notes in
the Gardeners’ Chronicle, 1865, and he therein refers to the
crosses between the Daffodil and N. Zazetta, from which N.
tridynwus, N. Backhouset, &c., have been derived. These are the
four men whose names will go down to posterity as the prime
movers in the artificial variation of the cultivated Narcissi, they
having done in the garden what the insects do on the mountain-
side or in the meadow.

Nowadays one may say nearly all the cultivators of these
flowers also rear seedlings. In Holland Messrs. de Graaff have
done great things, and their bold and beautiful Daffodil Mme.
de Graaff so far stands at the head of the list in its way. Mr.
Wilks, Mr. Engleheart, Mr. J. Allen, Mr. Barr, Mr. Max Leichtlin,
Mr. Hartland, and Messrs. de Graaff, not to mention many
others, are now doing their best to emulate the doings of
Backhouse and Horsfield, and some of their results are here
to-day for direct comparison with the older kinds.

THE PROGRESS OF THE NARCISSUS CULTURE IN
THE ISLES OF SCILLY.

By Mr. T. AucernNon DorRien-Smi1TH, F.R.H.S.

TWENTY-FIVE years ago some eight varieties of the Narcissi
were growing in the Isles of Scilly, besides those in the Abbey
gardens, some almost wild, some in the hedges, and some in
the gardens attached to the little farms.

These varieties were: Telamonius plenus, odorus major

S12 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

(Campernelli), Tazetta ochroleucus (Scilly white), Tazetta aureus
(Grand Soleil d’Or), Tazetta Grand Monarque (two vars.),
biflorus, poeticus fl. pl., and poeticus recurvus.

The date of the introduction of these is extremely obscure,
except Campernelli, of which two bulbs were presented to Mrs.
Gluyas fifty years ago by the captain of a French vessel, and
her son now holds the largest stock. The others were introduced
probably by the Governors, the largest stock being found around
their ‘‘ country seat’’ at Holy Vale, St. Mary’s, or they may have
been introduced by the monks residing at Tresco (these monks
belonged to the Abbey of Tavistock, and were of the Benedictine
order). ‘There were most of the above varieties growing in the
Abbey gardens in the vicinity of the old Abbey ruins, as well as
many other varieties which had been introduced since 1834 by
Mr. Augustus Smith. It occurred to him, seeing the Narcissi
growing so early and so luxuriantly, that they might be a useful
article of export from the islands. He advised some of his
tenants to send them up for sale to Covent Garden. He sent
up the first lot himself about 1865, which realised £1.

For some years the cultivation was confined to the Abbey
gardens, to Mr. R. Mumford of Holy Vale, Mr. Trevellick of
Rocky Hill, Mr. Gluyas of Old Town, Mr. T. Mumford of New-
ford, and a few others. The dem#hd for flowers was not so
great as at present; indeed, when first I came to reside in the
islands they did not realise a sufficient amount to go into the
culture to any large extent. It was not till ten years ago that
it became thoroughly remunerative, and even then a very small
quantity was sent to market.

In the year 1883 I wen. to Belgium, Holland, and the
Channel Islands to learn as to the culture, and to judge for
myself as to the probability of our working the industry success-
fully. In the Channel Islands they had turned their attention
chiefly to Grapes, Potatoes, and vegetables. There was no great
stock of Narcissi, nor did they go in to any great extent for
flower culture. Belgium and Holland were a month later than
Scilly, so that I considered it safe to embark more extensively in
the culture than before, and bought largely for myself and my
tenants. The exports rose to 65 tons in 1885, 85 tons in 1886,
100 tons in 1887, 188 tons in 1888, and 198 tons in 1889.

We formed a bulb and flower association in 1885 to promote

ee ST

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 813

the culture, and held annual shows under its auspices, and the
flower show is now quite the event of the yearin the island. The
first year the exhibitors had to be satisfied with myself and my
gardener (the late Mr. Vallance) as judges, but since then they
have had the advantage of the professional opinion of one of the
Messrs. Barr and a member of Mr. Ware’s firm as judges.

The contrast between the first show and the one held this
year was most remarkable. There were over 700 exhibits this
year, and they were so good that, on the advice of a friend, I
ventured to send the prize flowers and others to her Majesty the
Queen, who was graciously pleased to accept them.

With the export of bulbs we have not been so successful, and
up to the present we have been unable to find a good market for
the large quantities we should now be in a position to export. I
have sent some gratis to the market growers around London, to
America, to New Zealand, &c., but so far they do not appear to
take. Most of our farmers have studied the way to grow good
sound marketable bulbs. Our association has held two or three
summer shows of bulbs, and on the last occasion some were
produced as sound and as hard as any that ever came out of
Holland. It may sometimes happen that we cannot thoroughly
ripen the bulbs, owing to a wet season, as was unfortunately the
case the year I sent out the largest number (1888) ; this applies
equally to bulbs from Holland, and that year Dutch Narcissi
were as deficient in power to stand forcing as ours were. But
this is more particularly the case with the Polyanthus varieties.

The very high railway carriage is a great drawback; they
are classified too highly in railway rates. There is no reason why
they should pay more than late Potatoes, or any other vegetable
not of a very perishable nature, whereas they are charged three
times as much.

The Narcissus fly (Merodon equestris), orrather the grub of
the same, has given us a taste of its powers, though I think, if it
were likely to become thoroughly acclimatised, we should have
had a severer example of-its voracity ere this. It seems to
have the most extraordinary proclivity for selecting the most
valuable bulbs. I first obtained itin Sulphur Kroon from
Holland ; it has since attacked Sir Watkin, Barri conspicwus,
C. J. Backhouse, and Nelsont major, but very little else. Do
Barr’s five-shilling bulbs taste sweeter than others, I wonder ?

G

314 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

It is very seldom that we get any curious sports from the
bulbs. I have on two occasions got a single and double obvallaris
on the same bulb, and once a single and double ecomparabilis ;
these I sent for inspection to Mr. Wolley-Dod.

The majority of varieties of Daffodils or Narcissi do well on
these islands. There are, of course, some exceptions—C. mono-
phylla, pallidus precox, triandrus, and calathinus die out;
major and maxinvus do not flower freely ; Corbularia citrina and
Capax (eystettensis) diminish. The cernwus varieties do not
improve. Emperor, Empress, and the bicolours are as good as
can be grown. Obvallaris is sometimes subject to a disease,
but, on the whole, is improving. Spuwrivws and Ard Righ looked
sickly, but are now becoming acclimatised. Fugilobus is sturdy.
Telamonus pl. i some years cannot be surpassed for colour,
though the flowers are occasionally green in situations which
do not suit them.

All the incomparabilis section do well—Sir Watkin grand. I
have never seen such colour as we get in C.J. Backhouse, Bar7v
conspicuus, and other of the crimson-rimmed varieties. Odorus
fl. ml. (Queen Anne’s Double Jonquil), blooms in perfect pro-
portion and colour. Orange Phenix and Sulphur Kroon are
very pure and large; they were difficult to grow at first, but are
now improving.

The Tazettas are quite at home and in their glory; Grand
Monarque especially has most magnificent heads. Bazelman
major does not increase. The colours of Soleil d’Or, when left to
maturity, are veryrich. Orientalis (Muzart) is good. P. ornatus
and vecurvus do as well as possible. In poetarwm the eyes are
very rich. The Burbidget section is beautiful, and very pure in
colour, but too flimsy for a marketable variety. The great
feature in all the flowers is the purity and intensity of colour ;
whether this is caused by the salt in the air, or by a porous soil,
which does not long retain the moisture, I cannot say, but
certain it is we are unusually favoured in this respect.

The flowers of the Narcissi are nearly all picked before they
are thoroughly out, as it is found that they open larger and finer
in a damp atmosphere of about 70° than if they open naturally
in the air, exposed to the winds and the rain. Of course, this
may be carried to extremes, and one occasionally hears of flowers
being boiled; but this will have its own remedy. After taking

—— os

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 815

the flowers out of this temperature, they are tied in bunches of
a dozen stalks each, mostly by girls and women, and then put
into water, and on the morning of departure are packed in single
layers in small wooden boxes.

I cannot speak of the best sorts of manure for the bulbs with
any degree of certainty. Some willtake any amount ; to others
manure is death; some like seaweed, others will not stand it.
Speaking generally, the stronger-growing varieties will take
manure in a decomposed state with advantage, while in dealing
with the weaker sorts manuring should be avoided.

The rapid increase in the export between 1887 and 1888
made it evident that the flower traffic would soon be beyond the
carrying capacity of the steamer. There had been over ten tons
in a day then; so that in 1889 a larger steamer had to be built,
longer, broader, and drawing more water. This necessitated a
considerable addition to the pier, thousands of tons of granite were
put into the sea to export frail and delicate flowers ; otherwise
the flowers would constantly have to be shipped overnight, and
remain in the hot hold of the steamer sixteen hours before
starting, to their great detriment, the old pier being tidal. The
addition to the pier was made and completed in time for the
traffic of this year, this extension, with the original pier, costing
£14,000. Up to this year, while the trade was in embryo, no
pier dues whatever for flowers had been charged; but before
the extension was decided on, the inhabitants were asked if they
objected to pay ordinary pier dues, including 6d. per cwt. on
flowers. There was no objection raised, and the extension was
in consequence made in answer to the unanimous desire of the
islanders.

With this considerable capital invested there is very little
chance of the pier paying a reasonable percentage ; while, in the
event of the traffic failing, the present owner has to bear the
whole of the risk. The original through carriage to London was
9s. per cwt. Two years ago I negotiated a reduction to 7s. 6d.,
so that, with the present pier due of 6d. added, it costs 1s. per
cwt. less to send flowers to London than it did two years ago.

There is no sien at present of any diminution in the demand
for flowers; but we may, of course, be defeated in the end by
foreign competition, as many other English trades have been.

The prices will have to be considerably lower before it becomes
9

“A
iy a

8316 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

wholly unremunerative. We have got our stock of bulbs, and
have therefore obtained a considerable start of others.

Let us consider, in the event of a failure, how we should fare.
Before the industry commenced there was very little shelter and
no glassI may say. Now the essence of flower-growing is shelter,
and shelters—LEscallonia, Huonymus, and Veronica hedges—
are becoming general all over the islands, and glass is on the
increase ; so that if the trade fails, our islands will not be un-
sheltered and exposed to all the winds of heaven (they say there
are five here, N., E., 8., W., and one from above), but we
shall have sheltered islands from all save the fifth wind, and
plenty of glass ought, I think, to stop that, and we shall then be
in a position to take every advantage of the mild and temperate
climate which has been given us.

It will be a curious thing if an industrious, thrifty, and
contented population cannot manage to turn these advantages
to account, and so be enabled to carry on the welfare and
prosperity which at the present time smile upon these islands,
and which I hope, under Providence, may long continue.

SEEDLING DAFFODILS.
By Rev. G. H. Enenexzart, M.A., F.R.H.S.

I must ask you to kindly pardon the fragmentary and “ off-
hand’ character of my brief discourse, for it so happens that I
have of late been occupied with other things than Daffodils, and
have therefore been unable to prepare a paper for this occasion.
Fortunately, however, the great variety of flowers here before
us, and the yearly addition which is being made to our stock of
knowledge by the increasing number of workers among the
Narcissi, make it not difficult to say a few words which may
prove of some interest.

Our knowledge of the results of cross-fertilisation, and there-
fore of the certain or probable origin of the existing hybrid forms
of Narcissi, is rapidly advancing. It is not long ago that we
could speak but dubiously of the parentage of certain varieties
in the collections of Messrs. Barr and others, to whose parents
we can now point with great confidence. It is true that Herbert,

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 817

early in this century, effected and kept a record of many crosses ;
but his flowers were by no means all figured, and appear to have
either perished or been merged in other collections, so that their
identity is uncertain. The accounts left by Messrs. Leeds and
Backhouse of their work, though interesting, is not fully detailed,
and is at present being verified and supplemented by modern
experimenters—e.g., I have, from my own work, no doubt what-
ever that Mr. Backhouse’s Emperor is an enlarged seedling from
N. lorifolius. Those of you who have access to the Society’s
Journal will perhaps kindly refer to a paper upon the subject of
seedling Daffodils which I read in April 1889, so that I need
not again pass over quite the same ground. And with regard to
the history of the work done by our predecessors in.raising seed-
lings, I there made reference to some excellent and almost
exhaustive papers written by our friend Mr. Burbidge.

Of new cross-bred Narcissi flowered since we met last year, I
may instance a pretty and interesting hybrid raised by Prof.
M. Foster, between the white Hoop-petticoat and N. triandrus,
and a curious little yellow, clustered, sweet-scented flower of
my own production from N. psewdo-narcissus var. spurs x
N. Jonquilla.* The latter hybrid belongs to the N. tridymus
group, and must be classed very near to N. muticus x N.
juncifolius, which is found occurring naturally on the Pyrenees.
It is an excellent example of a precisely “ half-way” offspring
from two strikingly different parents. The father has from four
to six flowers on a stem, the mother but one; the child hasthree.
In size of flower and breadth of leaf the seedling stands just
midway between the parents; the yellow of the mother is a
little brightened by the father’s more brilliant colour, and the
mother’s scentless flower is replaced in the offspring by a flower
distinctly Jonquil-scented, but less powerfully so than the Jonquil.

In looking at the host of Narcissi spread out for us here

* Note.—Since the foregoing address was spoken, the following hybrids,
among others, have flowered in Rey. G. H. Engleheart’s garden :—

N. poeticus ornatus x N. Tazetta Bazelman major, a three-flowered
scape of creamy-white flowers with red-edged eye, approaching the poeticus
in size (Botanical Certificate and Award of Merit R.H.S. 1890).

N. moschatus of the Pyrenees x N. triandrus \ interesting as showing

N. Emperor x N. triandrus. the certain parentage of
N. Johnstoni, which they closely resemble in structure.

N. bicolor x N. poeticus in variety = N. Nelsoni.

N. incomparabilis x N. poeticus recwrvus, yielding new forms akin to
NV. Barrvi and N. Burbidge.

318 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

to-day, you will notice that over one-half—probably quite two-
thirds—belong to the large section in which the central part of
the flower is much shorter and shallower than it is in the Ajax
or trumpet Daffodils—is rather a crown or an eye than a
trumpet. This large section has been subdivided into several
sub-sections, according to the varying length or brevity of the
crown in proportion to that of the perianth or outer division of
the flower. In order to simplify my language, I will for the
moment merge the names of these sub-sections, such as Barrit,
Burbidgei, Backhouser, Nelsom, &c., in the one older term of
incomparabilis—the Incomparable or Nonpareil Daffodil of our
old gardeners. It was long ago guessed by Herbert, and proved
by his experiments in hybridising, that this shallow-cupped
Daffodil is no species ‘‘ one and indivisible,’ but the outcome of
a cross between the trumpet Daffodil and the Pheasant-eye,
N. poeticus. The truth of this has been amply corroborated by
the productions of Leeds and Backhouse, and I am able to state
that I have in my own garden raised these ‘‘ Nonpareils”’ in
considerable variety by bringing about intermarriages between
various trumpet Daffodils and the poeticus Narcissus. The great
variety of shape and tint which you observe in this large group
of short-crowned Narcissi is easily accounted for, as is also their
extended season of flowermg. It is a purely arithmetical
reckoning. Given some hundreds of forms of Ajax or trumpet
Daffodil, of which no two are precisely alike in colour, form, or
substance, and a dozen kinds of Pheasant-eye of which no two
are exactly alike, how many different combinations of Ajax and
Pheasant-eye, taken two and two together, can be arranged ?
And as both Ajax and Pheasant-eye may be had in bloom simul-
taneously from the middle of March until the middle of May,
roughly speaking, it is evident that we may obtain Nonpareils,
or intermediate Daffodils, to flower during the whole of that
period.

But when we have obtained this multiform progeny of
short-crowned flowers, it is found that they in their turn will
intermarry among themselves and with their parents, the trumpet
Daffodils and the Pheasant-eyes, so that our computation be-
comes very intricate. But we can, toa large extent, mould the
hybrid to our design, according to the elements we employ in
the mixture. Thus, if we marry one of this short-crowned race

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 819

and a flower of a poeticus kind, we shall still further reduce the
crown of the offspring; but the union of an ‘ Incomparable ”’
and an Ajax will give us a somewhat more extended crown in
the seedling. If there is already a red edge or suffusion in the
crown of our flower we may be able to intensify it by crossing it
with a poeticus, which will add its own store of red or orange
colouring matter. And here I may mention that my own ex-
periments go to show that the varieties of poeticus or Pheasant-
eye Narcissus which have a wholly red crown do not really
contain more pigment than the commoner sorts, in which the
colour is concentrated into a narrower and darker ring. By a
careful selection of the most shapely, substantial, and robust
forms to breed from, we can, with considerable accuracy, secure
a fine progeny. Thus the round and well-shaped N. poeticus
ornatus commonly tends to the production of good flowers, while
those which have the larger, but more flimsy, VV. poeticus grandt-
florus for father or mother are usually wanting in solidity and
symmetry.

It is strange that in modern times double Daffodils from seed
have been considered as almost non-existent, or as great rarities.
Those who have lately turned their attention in this direction
have found that it is by no means difficult to raise double seed-
lings. Thus I have myself saved a good deal of seed from
Telamonius plenus, the common double yellow of our gardens,
and have flowered some quite double seedlings. From the scarce
double cernwus, fertilised with pollen of an early single yellow
Ajax, I have obtained an extraordinary family, consisting so far
—for some of the plants have still to come into flower—of a
large and very early creamy-white double, a yellow double, and
a drooping yellow single. I have seedling plants which resulted
from the application of pollen of NV. poeticus to flowers of the
common double yellow, and am awaiting their blooming with
much curiosity. It was remarked by Herbert and the early
raisers of cross-bred Narcissi that several varieties may be ob-
tained from one and the same seed-pod. This consideration,
taken in conjunction with the fact that, with very few exceptions
indeed, every known or discoverable variety of Narcissus will
breed with every other, demonstrates that the possible multiph-
cation of varied form and colour in seedling Narcissi is infinite.

We may, as I have said, often ascertain the parentage of a

820 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

supposed hybrid plant by putting together the two supposed
elements from which it was produced, and seeing whether we can
ourselves thus produce the intermediate kind. This may be
called, in scientific language, the synthetical method. There is
another method, the method of analysis, or of breaking up a
supposed cross-bred plant into its original elements, which may
sometimes give us clear and useful information. For example,
there are a certain number of creamy-white or sulphury-white
Daffodils, such as those which you will find in Mr. Barr’s collec-
tion under the labels F. W. Burbidge, Exquisite, and J. B. M.
Camm, or those which my friend Mr. Wolley-Dod has some-
times shown as the ‘ Bicester whites.”” Experts have thought
that these must be crosses between NV. cernwus or one of the
pure white Daffodils and some yellow variety. Now, by sowing
seed of these kinds I have raised, from the very same pod, both
pure white and pure yellow flowers; in fact the seedlings have, as
we say, reverted to the characters of their parents ‘“‘ on both sides
of the house,” and demonstrated their origin beyond doubt.

It is a curious fact, by the way, that when two such.diverse
elements as a trumpet Daffodil and a Pheasant-eye Narcissus
marry and produce a ‘‘nonpareil,” or short-crowned offspring,
that offspring never more produces from its seed its parents, but
only itself; while, on the other hand, the seedling from two
closely akin Ajax varieties will give in its turn seedlings which
reproduce both its parents.

Following a somewhat similar analytical method, I have
sowed seed of the fine, well-formed, early Pheasant-eye, WN.
poeticus ornatus, and the result has been a great variety of
flowers, precisely such as appears in a large wild Swiss, Italan,
or Pyrenean bed of N. poeticus, among which I could find
scarcely one so good in shape or substance as ornatus. The
deduction I make from this experiment is this—that long ago
some traveller or plant-collector observed in such a wild bed
a singularly handsome flower, and dug up and took to his
garden the bulb from which our whole stock of ornatus has
descended. As to its early habit, the original plant may, as
sometimes happens, have been more precocious than its fellows,
or it may have been brought from some district where N. poeticus
blooms early.

Thus both science and pleasure may find their satisfaction in

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 821

the work of raising seedling Narcissi. To those who have an eye
chiefly to the pleasure, I must say that they will find the work
tedious at first, while they are waiting the four, five, or six yearg
which must elapse before their seedlings flower, but that the
waiting will be forgotten when they have reached the happy
stage of having a batch of plants coming into bloom every spring,

With regard to practical details of cultivation, &e., I find it
best to keep the young plants in pans, pots, or boxes, plunged
in ashes in a cold frame, for their first two years, and then to
plant them out in slightly raised beds in open quarters. The
Corbularias, triandrus, and such small and half-hardy sorts
may be kept in their pans until they flower. I recommend care-
ful fertilisation by hand, and the excision, in a young state, of
the anthers of the mother-flower, for although some of the
Narcissi may be ‘‘ proterandrous,’’ yet my own experience leads
me to believe that the poeticus section and some others are
rapidly self-fertilised. It igs safer, too, that the mother-flower
should be covered by glass or very fine muslin, for though bees
and insects generally are not very fond of Daffodils, yet they
haunt them to some extent, and a breeze bears the fine dry
pollen a long way.

DISCUSSION.

Referring to the origin of the early-flowering poeticus ornatus,
Mr. Wouuery-Dop said he had no doubt that in fields full of
any variety there would be as much as a month’s difference in
the time of the flowering of some of the forms. The common
wild Daffodil in England was a case in point. It generally
flowers in April, but some forms bloom earlier than this, and
some later, and he said that he had taken the trouble to pick out
the early-flowering kinds in his own collection, and plant them by
themselves. He had no doubt that the same thing occurred in
N. poeticus, and hence the origin of p. ornatus.

Myr. JoHN FRASER said that during the interesting remarks
made by Mr. Engleheart he showed a white Daffodil which was
supposed to have been raised from N. moschatus. In looking at
the flower it would be observed that the tube was short, and that
fact may be due to the doubling of the flower.

In regard to the raising of seedlings, Mr. Fraser said no doubt
the subject was a very interesting one to specialists and enthu-
siasts, to the latter class of whom he was afraid he himself was

322, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

allied. But on looking at the many varieties exhibited in the
conservatory, it was not, he said, likely that the people in the
country would take them and retain their true names. It was
therefore necessary that the Narcissus Committee should take
this question of naming in hand, and he was glad that Mr.
Engleheart was of the same opinion. In the raising of new
seedlings Mr. Fraser urged that only the best kinds should be
preserved. This system was carried out by market growers, who
only grew those kinds which they found the public would buy,
and he thought amateurs would do well to pursue a somewhat
similar course.

NOTES ON NARCISSI, 1890.
By Rev. A. Rawson, M.A., Windermere.

Tue soil in my garden is a sandy loam, not the best for
Narcissus ; for though the common Pseudo-Narcissus grows wild
in great abundance all round, and is, in fact, a weed in some of
the meadows, a more holding soil seems to be required for most
of the varieties. I may specially instance maximus, spurius
coronatus, and similar sorts, which, though fine, do not grow
well here. The climate, apart from the soil, is very suitable for
Daffodils ; indeed, if we had the soil, 1am not sure we should
not manage them as well as Mr. Hartland at Cork. We are
about twelve miles from the sea, with the gulf-stream running
up the coast, and the mean winter temperature is as high as that
of Kent, where I lived for many years; added to which we have
a rainfall averaging nearly 60 inches, in which the Narcissus
delights. The great drawback is ‘‘ want of sun’; we cannot
eet our bulbs so well ripened as in the south, and I have no
doubt that to this we may attribute our want of success in the
management of some varieties.

I have annexed two lists of the sorts I hold most in esteem-—
a first and a second list; for though perhaps some in No. 2 list
ought to appear in No. 1, it is very difficult to make an exact
distinction, and as many are comparatively new varieties, re-
quiring further proof, I feel that, when grown for another year or
two, many may crop up to make me alter my opinion. At pre-
sent, in my estimation, for an all-round flower nothing beats
Horsfieldu. For habit of growth, beauty, and productiveness it

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 823

is A 1, and, growing as it does here, is the admiration of every-
one.

I am not sure that I should not put Sir Watkin next; and
then I have two sent me by Mr. Barr, called Bastomil and Santa
Maria, which are beautiful, and succeed admirably here. I have
also put my own seedling, Tridymus ‘* A. Rawson,’ in No. 1 lst,
not because I think my geese are all swans, but because of its
eood habit, striking flower, and fine foliage, all of which, added
to its lateness, make it a very desirable variety.

The cernwus section do not do well here. They have a
troublesome way of disappearing, but they are very beautiful.
Colleen Bawn and Minnie Warren arein high favour. I have
one also, a variety of pallidus precox, called Asturicus, which
is very fine.

With regard to the small sections, triandrus, Corbularia,
&e., I find they must have protection here, to grow them in per-
fection, or the frost injures the bloom. It is the same with the
Algerian varieties, serotinus, elegans, viridiflorus, &¢., which
should certainly be under cover in summer as well as in winter,
on account of the too great abundance of rain. ‘They succeed
very well with pot culture. I believe the secret in growing them
is not to over-pot them; leave them alone in the pots for two
or three years, and finish them off, if possible, in a cool green-
house, where no frost can reach them. When the foliage dies
down I place the pots (not plunged) under a handlight, in the
hottest place in the garden I can find; there they remain till
September, when I remove the top soil down to the bulbs, plunge
them overhead in a water-tank for an hour, put them to drain
for a day, then top-dress with rich compost, plunge overhead in
cocoa-nut fibre refuse in a cold frame, and think nothing more
of them till they show signs of growth in February. After that
they require the ordinary attention of plants in pots, and just
before the bloom comes on I take the pots into the greenhouse,
place them in pans with half an inch of water at the bottom,
and now and then give them a pinch of any of the artificial
soluble manures; and this method of treatment I find suits them
to perfection. There are, however, two varieties which as yet
beat me—N. dubius (the true sort) and C. monophylla. I used
to grow the last one well, and, indeed, was the first to exhibit it,
some years ago, in any perfection; but my hand “ has lost its
cunning.” The true N. dubiws is a charming little flower, but

324 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

quite distinct from what is advertised as such in bulb catalogues.
I can grow it admirably, but it refuses to bloom. I have per-
suaded it to do so only once or twice, but I hope to succeed with
it yet. Narcissus cyclamineus is another that seems to re-
quire different treatment from the triandrus section, but as Mr.
Barr says it grows in a swamp, it will doubtless be managed soon.

With regard to deep or shallow planting, there seems to be a
ereat diversity of opinion among the best growers. I have hardly
made up my mind about it, but I am inclined to think that where
there is little sun and much rain, as is the case here, shallow
planting is the best. As to the annual moving of the bulbs,
there seems to be the same difference of opinion; my own idea
is that they are better left in the ground for two years at least,
helping them, during the growth of the leaves, with a little
artificial manure sprinkled among the rows.

Tien) Noid: List No. 2.
Maeni-coronati: Magni-coronati:
Ard Righ. Emperor.
Asturicus. Grandis.
Bastomil. Dr. Hogg.
Cernuus. Lady Grosvenor.

Colleen Bawn.
Countess of Annesley.
Empress.

Horsfieldii.

Mrs. George Cammell,
Pseudo-bicolor.

Santa Maria.

Medii-coronati:

Barrii conspicuus.

C. J. Backhouse.
Duchess of Westminster.
Gwyther.

Princess Mary.

Queen Sophia.

Mrs. J. B. M. Camm.
Maximus.

Oporto Yellow.

Wm. Goldring.

Medii-coronati:

Grand Duchess.
Madge Matthew.

M. M. de Graaff.
Mrs. Langtry.

Mrs. C. J. Backhouse.
Sensation.

Parvi-coronati:

Poeticus grandiflorus.

Sir Watkin.
Tridymus, A. Rawson.

Parvi-coronati:
Little Dirk.

For gathering for cut flowers the
following are highly appreciated,
apart from the lists ;

; as Cynosure.
Poeticus grandiflorus. Figaro.
P. patellaris. Glow.

Princess Louise.

Jonquil, double.

Double: Leedsii.
Hale’s Silver and Gold. Poeticus ornatus.

Codlings and Cream. Princeps.
Queen Anne’s Double Jonquil. Rugilobus.
As to the small varieties, all are Tenby.
gems, particularly : Bicolor.
Moschatus.

Cyclamineus.
Dubius, true.
Rupicola.

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 825

THURSDAY, -Aprin 17.

~ On the second day of the Conference the chair was taken at 2 p.m.
by J. G. Baker, Esq., F.R.S., who opened the meeting as
follows :—

In dealing with Daffodils I must necessarily look at them
from the botanist’s point of view. The genus Narcissus has now
got out of the hands of the botanist, and gone into the hands of
the hybridist, who has raised numerous forms by crossing one
kind with another. With these various forms the botanist has
little to do, except in so far as he can trace every production of
the hybridist to its parents. We botanists can only go to a
certain point in dealing with garden plants of all kinds, and
after that the gardeners take them up and knock us out of time
entirely, and can tell us more than we know about their varia-
tions and life history.

When I look back twenty years (for it was in the year 1869
IT wrote a review of the genus Narcissus in the Gardeners’
Chronicle), I am surprised and gratified at the progress which
has been made. At that time very few people took any interest
in Daffodils, but a complete revolution has taken place, and the
Daffodil now shares with the Primrose the honour of being the
most popular flower of the spring-time.

The genus is of great interest from a botanical point of view.
We are obliged as, botanists to deal with all plants on one
uniform plan as regards arrangement and nomenclature.
From that point of view we look upon Narcissus pseudo-
narcissus aS a single aggregate species, and, comprised within
this, there are in gardens about 200 forms. In the whole genus
we have only about twelve or sixteen distinct species in this
sense. The greatest change at the present time is the raising
of forms from species or varieties not known to hybridise before,
and it is wonderful that ail the Narcissi cross so freely, many of
them—as, for instance, N. pseudo-narcissus and N. poeticus—
being so distinct from each other in form. The consequence ig
that we have that enormous range of variation in form which is
so well represented here before us to-day.

I will not take up your time any longer, but call on Mr.
Wolley-Dod to read his paper to you, which will doubtless be of

826 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

great interest. He has been working at Daffodils for a long
course of years, and will be able to tell us much that we do not
at present know.

THE NATURAL HISTORY AND CULTIVATION OF THE
TRUMPET DAFFODIL.

By the Rev. C. WortEy-Dop, M.A.

N. corpunaria stands first on the list of trumpet Daffodils.
Only one variety of this is quite hardy in my garden in Cheshire,
var. citrima. I do not mean to say that the others are killed
by frost in winter, but the meteorological conditions and mean
soil temperature do not suit them. Cvtrina is the only one
found in Europe outside the Spanish Peninsula, and that does not
extend far outside. A line drawn from Bordeaux to Bagnéres de
Bigorre in the Pyrenees will define its extra limits, and it
seems to extend all through the northern provinces of Spain.
The size of the flower varies from that of the smallest to the
largest of the corbularie. ‘This, and all others that I have
erown, ripen seed in cultivation abundantly, which is easily
raised, flowering the fourth year. Jonly further remark that
the white corbularia described by Clusius has been wrongly
referred to the Algerian variety monophylla, which was never
found in Europe; it was var. Graellsi, which is marked by
its green perianth. Coming to the species IV. pseudo-narcissus,
which in Mr. Baker’s arrangement includes all the other kinds
of trumpet Daffodil, its natural distribution has been so greatly
modified by the hand of man that it is difficult to define its
limits. Even where we find it naturalised, we cannot always
tell whether it was introduced there asa wild variety, or one
raised in cultivation. Let us take an example: Iveland isa
country where the soil and climate are especially well suited for
the growth of the Daffodil, and in Ireland we find some very
fine varieties apparently wild. But Bentham, one of our best
authorities on the distribution of plants, says that Ireland is
outside the range of N. pseudo-narcissus. Where did these
Daffodils come from, and when? Italy seems the most lkely
source. Ard Righ, a large self yellow variety, seems like a
development of large Italian forms; another, called princeps,

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 827

can be nearly matched wild in Italy; a very large Daffodil
lately brought into notice from Castle Welland Park, County
Down, and named Countess of Annesley, is very like an enlarge-
ment of an Italian variety which I have. They may have been
introduced by the monks in the middle ages, who were the
herbalists of those times. We know how introduced plants are
found about the sites of old abbeys, and these religious houses
were generally branches from Italian head-quarters. Gerard
and Parkinson tell us of the medicinal virtues of the Daffodil,
and the monks of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, finding no
Daffodils in Ireland, would naturally bring or send for so easily
transported a plant from their head establishment. | Something
of this kind may accouut for the prevalence of these fine forms
in Ireland.

Western Europe generally, from the Atlantic to the longitude
of the Adriatic, is the native home of the Daffodil. I cannot
trace it south of Madrid in the Spanish Peninsula, or south of
Rome in Italy; it may probably be found in Dalmatia, but I
have been unable to obtain it from further east; it is said to be
a truly wild plant in Hungary and Transylvania, though not in
any part of Turkey or Greece. The cradle and the metropolis of
the species, as far as we can judge, would seem to be the
Pyrenees.

The number of wild forms of Daffodil which are distinct in
size, form, colour, and habit is very large, and every year is
adding to our knowledge of them. Little has yet been done to
classify them, or to distinguish between these and varieties of
cultivation. The laborious investigators at the beginning of this
century, such as Haworth and Herbert, worked to a great extent
in the dark, describing the forms they found in cultivation, but
often knowing nothing of their history. It is much to be de-
sired that some enterprising young botanist would make this his
special study, doing for the Narcissus what Mr. George Maw has
done for the Crocus, visiting the varieties in their own home,
and collecting and recording all existing wild forms. The
trumpet Daffodil alone would require perhaps two hundred or
three hundred specimens to illustrate fully all its wild varieties,
but before all the specific distinctions of Narcissus are quite
lost by hybridising in cultivation, giving rise to endless confu-
sion, something of this sort ought to be done.

828 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

We cannot classify Daffodils by their countries; such an
arrangement might have been possible if none had ever been
transplanted, but it would be useless to attempt it now. To
classify by size would be quite as misleading. Haworth and
Herbert recognise that colour is a very important character in
this species, and though a division by colour may be open to
objections, still it is convenient to make some division into sec-
tions, and I can suggest no better character. The division
refers to wild Daffodils only ; in the varieties and crosses of
cultivation, distinctions of colour, like all other distinctions,
become effaced, but for convenience I hope to speak of wild
Daffodils under five sections: 1. Discolor. 2. Concolor. 3. Pal-
lidus. 4. Albus. 5. Muticus. The last name does not refer to
colour, and I shall presently explain the exception.

No. 1, discolor, includes all, except muticus, in which the
perianth and the crown are contrasted in colour. I have
avoided the name bicolor as ambiguous. No one knows what
Linneus intended by N. bicolor. In the old herbaria at Kew
{ find the name Jicolor assigned to forms with rarrow leaves,
quite different from the so-called bicolor of Haworth, and we find
the pure white perianth in many other forms. We do not know
the history of ‘‘ b¢color of Haworth,” but, whether it has a wild
origin or not, it certainly belongs to and is a development of
section 5, muticus. Section discolor is placed first because it
includes the English wild Daffodil, generally accepted as the
type of the species. ‘fhe section is represented in all countries
where the species is found wild, but is least common in the
Spanish Peninsula, and reaches its largest .wild development in
ltaly.

No. 2, concolor, includes all yellow Daffodils in which the
difference of colour between the perianth and crown is slight.
Besides the old types major and minor, we have spwrius of
Haworth, probably Italian, also the ‘‘Oporto” Daffodil, a
varied form prevalent in Northern Portugal, and many others.
The section is common in Northern Italy, and the northern
parts of the Spanish Peninsula, but scarce in France and the
Pyrenees. There is a small Daffodil found near Grasse in the
Maritime Alps in which concolorous and discolorous flowers are
indiscriminately mixed together. This is the only instance I
know where that habit occurs in a truly wild form.

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. . 829

No. 3, pallidus, is distinct in form and characters. It is
very abundant round Bayonne. It extends, as that enterprising
investigator Mr. Barr found, along Northern Spain into Galicia.
I have elegant and distinct forms said to come from the Kastern
Pyrenees, but I have not ascertained its exact eastern limits.
I have never received it from Italy; those offered in Italian
catalogues under the name are light-coloured forms of section 1.

No. 4, albus.—We know but little of this as a wild plant. Only
one habitat and one wild variety have been recognised in recent
times, though several others are indicated by Parkinson and other
old writers. It was re-discovered about 1884, and has since been
imported abundantly from the Spanish frontier of the Central
Pyrenees, a few miles south of Gavarnie, where it is said to have
been nearly exterminated to supply the English market. Other
forms reputed to be wild somewhere have been known in culti-
vation for more than three centuries. The section will probably
be found to have a more extended range. Mr. Barr failed to find
it in Galicia, though recorded as a habitat by more than one
local botanist.

No. 5, muticus.—This section is the most important of all from
a florist’s point of view, because from this base are certainly de-
rived those grand forms Emperor, Empress, Horsfieldii, and the
rest of that class.) The name is adopted from the French
botanist Gay, and means nearly the same as abscissus, referring
to the ‘‘ clipt”’ appearance of the crown. ‘The variety is so dis-
tinct that Haworth made of it a separate genus, which he called
Otleus. He described six species of it, only one of which he
called abscissus, in which the crown seems cut clean off at the
mouth. He tells us that he had never seen any one of the six,
but muticus is so variable in form and size that if Haworth had
had our knowledge of it he could more likely have divided it
into: a dozen than into six. Some of the forms are large, rival-
ling rugilobus in size, and are nearly uniform sulphur-coloured,
while others have a pure white perianth nearly approaching
bicolor of Haworth. The characters are: very thick upright dark-
green leaves, with rounded tops, long cylindrical crown, often of
small diameter, the mouth straight cut or slightly expanded,
without prominent lobes. It is by far the latest to flower of all
the wild trumpet forms. I had thought it limited to the Pyrenees,
but Professor Foster tells me that he found a Daffodil near the

H

830 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Lago Maggiore resembling rugilobus, which is probably a develop-
ment of this variety. The largest I have seen came from the
neighbourhood of Bagnéres de Bigorre, and of Luchon, where
it has a range reaching to 6,000 or 7,000 feet, being the highest
Daffodil except perhaps section 4. Importations to England come
mostly from the valley of Gavarnie, where its size is smaller. In
some parts of the Pyrenees it seems to mix with the local dis-
color forms, which then cease to be uniform in character,
giving rise to the mixtures known as variformis, which afford
ground for a separate study themselves. In other places forms
of pallidus seem to take part in the crosses. Such a mixture as
this is very rare in nature. We find in general that in each wild
habitat uniformity is the rule; and we should infer that the
species had adapted itself in habit and colour in the course of
long ages to the surrounding circumstances of soil and climate.
Still we are met by paradoxes, for if we try to recognise what was
the original type, we might suggest the high mountain form
muticus, with its robust habit and simple crown; but side by
side within a few miles at the same elevation we find the delicate
and slender Daffodil known as moschatus. But moschatus grows
in peat soil and matecus in loamy soil, and perhaps this alone
may account for the difference.

But though uniformity of flower and habit is the rule
in each wild habitat and in each artificial habitat where
only one variety has been planted, the case is quite different,
as I have already told, where two or more varieties have met
or have been planted together. During a long and fruitless
search for an albino wild English Daffodil—an accidental seedling
with a white flower, such as we often find in Scilla nutans, Cam-
panula rotundifolia, and of yellow flowers in Verbascwm mgrum—
I heard of two places widely apart where common wild Daffodils
grew mixed with white-flowered forms. Every shade of inter-
mediate colour and form was to be found amongst them, but a
careful investigation satisfied me that they owed their origin to
the white variety of psewdo-narcissus having been planted
amongst the typical wild form. These had crossed and seeded,
and some of the seedlings had exactly the form of the typical wild
variety, but the colour was pure white.

The results of raising seedlings where a variety of trumpet
Daffodils are grown together are now so well known that I need

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 831

not enlarge further on this subject, except to say that wherever
we find apparently wild Daffodils of very mixed characters it
may be fairly concluded that they owe their origin to a cross
between two or more varieties.

Before speaking of the wild hybrids’of N. pseudo-narcissus, I
must define hybrid as a cross between two plants recognised as
distinct species; a cross between two varieties of the same species
is not rightly called a hybrid. Hybrids may be divided into
non-persistent and persistent, also into barren and fertile.
How many hybrids may have been produced in past time, to
perish again when their life as individuals was ended, we cannot
tell. Itis only when a hybrid comes with such a constitution
and under such conditions as to be persistent and perpetual that
botanists think it worth while to adopt it as a species. The first
hybrid I shall mention is non-persistent, namely, N. jwncifolius
x N. pseudo-narcissus var. muticus. This occurs sparingly and
in single specimens amongst its parents in high mountain
pastures near Gavarnie. It is hardly too much to assume, when
we thus find that one of the largest of the genus forms a hybrid
with nearly the smallest—two species very distinct in form and
habit—that any species of Narcissus may, under favourable
conditions, be crossed with any other. This hybrid was dis-
covered in May 1884, and since that date a local collector has
supplied me annually with a few bulbs. The form of the crown
varies sufficiently in different individuals to prove their indepen-
dent origin. It is not robust in cultivation, having a tendency
to break up into small bulbs, which easily perish, and it never
bears a seed. Itis not unlike a small form of N. odoruws. Perhaps
N. odorus may be due to some similar cross in remote antiquity ;
some botanists have thought its parents to be N. jonquilla x
N. pseudo-narcissus ; but if a hybrid, it is certainly a persistent
hybrid, though it never bears a seed. Its native home is
uncertain ; it is not known that N. jonquilla is now found wild
anywhere in company with N. psewdo-narcissus. Another hybrid
which has established itself persistently and independently in
several places is N. pseudo-narcissus x N. triandrus. Myr. Tait
sent me several bulbs of this in 1885, which he found scattered
singly amongst the parents. Two years later it was found
erowing in quantity near Oporto, and was named N. Johnstoni,
and I believe that Mr. Barr found some variety of it in North-

H 2

332 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULY'URAL SOCIETY.

western Spain. The characters of the flower as well as of the
leaf—the long funnel-shaped tube—and especially the biserial
attachment of the filaments, do not belong to N. pseudo-narcissus.
No seed has ever been found on it, either wild or in cultivation.

The most importantehybrid of the. trumpet Daffodil, as the
exhibition at this Conference testifies, is that with N. poeticus.
N. incomparabilis, which has always been accepted as a species,
is thought by many to owe its origin in some remote time to
this cross ; we can neither affirm nor deny that it is so—it may
be an independent development of the genus Narcissus. Anyhow
itis a plant of great vigour of constitution, and can be closely
imitated by crossing the two species mentioned. Its native
home is probably amongst the Italian lakes, though it is estab-
lished apparently wild in France, and perhaps in Northern Spain
and Portugal. But there is no doubt that wherever N. pseudo-
narcissus and N. poeticus flower in the same spot simultaneously
hybrids are produced similar in form to incomparabilis, but in
ereat variety. These seem to be of good constitution, and include
nearly all the forms, though of smaller size, which have been
raised in cultivation from the same cross. They produce fertile
seed in abundance, which comes up readily ; why they have not
established themselves more widely and travelled from their
birthplace I cannot explain.

One more wild trumpet Daffodil should be mentioned, though
I have no reason to think it a hybrid—I mean JN. cyclamineus
of Northern Portugal. Its history is too well known to repeat.
It bears seed in abundance ; some of the’seedlings sown in 1886
flowered this spring. It prefers peat to loam, comes into flower
very early, and is not of robust constitution in cultivation. The
remarkably short tube, less than one-tenth the length of the
crown, the reflexed perianth, and the large flat dise of the triple
stigma seem to mark it as a distinct species.

It is not intended in these notes to enter into the details of
the hybrids and developments of . pseudo-narcissus which have
had their origin in cultivation. The power of the trumpet
Daffodil to produce a series of endless variety by crossing with
N. poeticus was first shown in nature by wild hybrids, as
already menvioned; and abundant use has been made of this
power to raise a beautiful series of varieties, as exhibited to-day.
But there are many otuer hybrids, old and recent, which bridge

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 833

over the line of distinction between N. pseudo-narcissus and
N. imcomparabilis, and again between N. incomparabilis and
N. poeticus. The sections called Humet, Backhouse, Sabini,
Nelsoni, Burbidgea—I may add tridymus and others—make an
unbroken series from the largest crown to the smallest, and
hybrid has been crossed with hybrid, and species with species,
till we are at a loss in cultivated forms where to find the limit
of the pseudo-narcissus. But when we come to look over the
varieties which have arisen from crosses of different sections of
the trumpet Daffodil, we get quite bewildered by their multitude.
Indeed, in every garden where many -kinds are grown, and are
allowed to ripen and shed their seed, and the seedlings are left
to mature by four or five years’ growth, change upon change, and
novelty after novelty, may be reasonably expected and are very
often found. But thereisa great difference in climates and soils;
some are far more favourable for the development of fine varieties
than others.

In these suitable soils seedlings show advances, whilst in
others they seem to deteriorate from their parents. Some of the
finest garden varieties are said to have been raised by accident,
without any artificial crossing. Therefore all whe grow good
Daffodils may hope some day to find a better, unexpectedly,
especially if they go about on sunny days with a camel-hair
pencil transferring pollen to stigma amongst the best varieties,
and tying a bit of scarlet wool round the stalk of the flowers
dressed, to save them from being cut for the drawing-room.

It may be mentioned, as a mark of the appreciation in which
fine novelties in this class are now held, that when Emperor and
impress were first offered to the public, about fifteen years ago,
their price was two shillings and sixpence each; but last year
Madame de Graaff and Glory of Leyden were brought out at a
price forty times larger.

We now come to double Daffodils—an important part of the
natural history of the species, for N. psewdo-narcissus is one of
the few British plants which produce double flowers in a per-
fectly wild state. I shall speak chiefly of two forms—(1) the
double typical wild English Daffodil, which occurs wild in
Devonshire, in Hampshire, in South Wales, and several other
parts of the country; (2) the large garden double, commonly
called Telamonius plenus. I was brought up in the popular

334 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

belief that to obtain this last flower you had only to dig up the
small single wild flower and to plant it in good soil in a garden.
This matter has often been discussed in gardening journals.
Witnesses are never wanting who positively assert that they have
effected this transformation in their own gardens, and I have
received many private letters, both from amateurs and from
professed gardeners, giving detailed accounts of their experience
in producing this change. The doubling is alleged to take place
not in one or two flowers out of many, but wholesale, and
generally in the second or third year after transplanting, and
when once this advance has taken place the flowers will not
revert to their former small single condition. I am perfectly
satisfied of the good faith of several of my informants, but not
equally sure of the accuracy and continuity of their observation.
Still, I preserve an open mind on the subject. It is about
fifteen years since my attention was first directed to it. During
that time I have done all in my power, by high and low cultivation,
to raise a large double Daffodil out of small single-flowered bulbs,
but in vain. Not only this, but I have asked my correspondents
in these cases to supply me with some of the wild Daffodils
before transformation, and some of them when transformed into
doubles. The singles sent me have in all cases continued single
and small, and the doubles, double and large. Also six years ago
I distributed to about forty gardens, including all where this doub-
ling was alleged to have taken place, a number of bulbs of wild
single pseudo-narcissus, giving careful instructions for isolating
and observing them ; whenever I have heard the result up to this
time, the bulbs have either died out or still retained their small
single form. It may be added that the large double Daffodil of
gardens is a most prolific and persistent bulb, with a very strong
constitution. It often comes from the south of France, mixed
with pallidus precox, and I have watched the way in which it
gradually overwhelms the weaker bulbs in a clump and super-
sedes them, giving rise to the belief, which I have more than once
heard, that pallidus precox also becomes transformed. ‘This so-
called double Telamonius, however, is in more than one way a
remarkable bulb. It can be raised from seed, not only of itself,
which it ripens under favourable conditions, but from the seed
of other varieties. It grows in Pembrokeshire amongst the
Tenby Daffodil, and I have raised it more than once from the

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 885

seed of Tenby gathered in my garden. It abounds in Italy in the
valley of the Arno, mixed with a large single Italian variety, into
which it passes by every degree from full double. It is also
found in the south of France, growing with the concolorous major,
where perhaps both may be of cultivated origin. Lately, Captain
Dorrien-Smith sent me from Scilly a twin bulb of the Tenby
Daffodil, both divisions being included in one tunic, one-half
bearing a typical Tenby single flower, the other a large double
Telamonius. Mr. Engleheart sent me a few years ago from
Hampshire a large number of seedlings from the large garden
double and the wild single grown together, no other Daffodil
being near. These produced a remarkable variety of single and
double forms in a series of varying size, and the doubles retain
their relative size after several years’ cultivation. I infer that a.
double Daffodil, though occasionally a sport, is often, as it were,
a new departure springing from seed, and that it does not of
necessity follow the form of the seed parent; also that there is
a tendency in the double seedlings of large Daffodils to assimilate
to one type. Doubles are not always represented by corre-
sponding singles, and there are probably far more varieties of
doubles in existence than is generally supposed. Dr. Stuart, of
Hillside, in Berwickshire, lately sent me several very distinct
forms of small double Daffodil which he found naturalised in a
field where two or three single dwarf kinds were growing.

Of the five sections into which I divided N. pseudo-narcissus,
Nos. 1, 2, and 4 have produced doubles. I have never seen a
double of pallidus or muticus, or of any of this class.

One more point may be noticed about doubles: we see forms
in which the crown only is double, its outline being preserved
unbroken, and forms in which the doubling is full like a double
Rose. Some kinds seems to assume one form rather than the
other. The wild pseudo-narcissus of Britain and the double
said to be of cernwus generally take the semi-double shape ; but
there is no essential difference, and all pass from one form to
the other according to soil, season, and cultivation. With me
the semi-double forms certainly represent a more healthy and
more robust condition of growth in all Daffodils; when they
break the trumpet and become full double, they are often
beginning to deteriorate, but this season nearly all my double
wild bulbs and double cernuus have produced rose-double

836 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

flowers; next year, if they survive and are transplanted, they
will probably most of them be semi-double again.

Daffodils have different constitutions ; those have a good con-
stitution which readily adapt themselves to various conditions of
climate and soil, and thrive in spite of such changes. As I have
remarked by the examples of maticws and moschatus, constitution
does not depend upon habitat. Varieties of undeniably good consti-
tution are the large garden double, and the single and double type
of incomparabilis, and of newer kinds, Horsfieldii and Sir Watkin.
Daffodils have not a good constitution when the English climate
does not agree with them. Ard Righ and princeps seem robust
enough in Ireland, but degenerate and die out in many English
gardens. MRapidity of increase is quite compatible with a bad
constitution, and nothing helps infirm Daffodils so much as
frequent transplanting. It does for them what change of air
does for mankind. On the subject of cultivation, I shall make
only a few casual remarks. No question is more frequently
asked than ‘‘ How often ought Daffodils to be lifted?’’ This
depends on many circumstances, chiefly on the kinds and on the
soil. Some Iinds in some soils may be left for many years
without suffering any deterioration in flowering qualities; but
when flowers become fewer, in proportion to the mass of leaves,
transplanting is desirable. They should be dug up before the
leaves have quite disappeared, and planted again, from four to
eight inches deep, according to size, in August or September ; the
soil should be well worked, but the bulbs should not be planted
in it whilst loose, as they do much better when it is firm and com-
pact, though it must never be pressed together when wet. When
out of the ground they should be kept airy, dry, and warm. Many
kinds of Narcissus, especially the white trumpets, seem to do
better in the mixed borders of a shrubbery, where there is some
competition with other roots for the nourishment in the soil,
than in beds especially prepared for and exclusively devoted to
them. In such beds the soil is often too good, and the bulbs
increase too quickly—a frequent source of disease. When this
happens they must be frequently moved. I never could succeed
in keeping in good health maximus, Ard Righ, double cernwus,
and some others until I made it a rule never to leave them un-
moved for more than two years. The same soil will not suit all.
N. poeticus likes a strong soil, so the hybrids of this species do

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 337

well in amore retentive soil than suits most trumpets. Maximus,
pallidus, and minor prefer a light soil, and heavy beds must be
mixed with rock gravel for them, or some similar material. Leaf-
mould favours leaf growth rather than flower, and should be
added sparingly. All the whites do well in peat, or soil of that
character. They increase less quickly init, but continue healthy.
The stronger and taller varieties of all kinds should have a
sheltered but not shaded situation; even there violent gales
break not only scapes but leaves. I filled several vases with
flowers broken clean off at the ground-lne by the gale of last
Kaster Monday. ‘The only remedy is tying up, to which Tam
obliged to resort in more exposed places. Daffodils like to see
the sun. They flower as well in the shade their first season, but
need sunlight for the leaves whilst forming the embryo flower for
the following year. A favourite spot for them is the angle at
the base of a steep bank or rockery, where it joins the level. This
preference is most marked, and they keep their flowering
qualities longer in such places without being moved. They
always do well planted against large half-buried stones, either on
arockery or at the edge of raised beds. When planted in grass
they seem never to suffer from disease, and continue for many
years without much increase; but the kinds selected for this
must be those for which the natural soil is suited, and the grass
must not be mown until the leaves are dead, not earlier than the
end of June. Bulbs casually collected by tourists or guides are
generally dug up and dried off when in flower; this may be
known by the large quantity of loose husk which surrounds
them. Such bulbs will not flower the next season, but start into
erowth directly they are replanted; therefore, in order that the
leaves may not become too long before winter, they should be
kept out of the ground late, say until October. Those lifted a
little before the leaves are ripe flower earlier than others, but the
flowers are less fine. Bulbs transferred from a warmer to a
colder climate flower earlier the first season than those which
have been longer in cultivation in the colder climate.

No kind of animal pest ever injures my Daffodils under-
ground—the Narcissus fly (Merodon) is unknown in my garden—
but the bulbs are very subject to a kind of rot, for which I have
long sought the cause and the remedy. The mischief is done
the season before it appears. The leaves come up at the end of

338 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

winter, but about the time the flower-bud shows, the growth is
suddenly arrested. The leaves become brown at the ends, and
if the bulb is examined it is found rootless and dropsical. The
tunic at its base is soft and rotten; the spaces between the
coats of the bulb seem to be filled with water, and it generally
dies slowly, for want of power to complete a fresh growth. This
disease is encouraged by cold wet seasons, and is commonest on
wet heavy soils, and amongst bulbs which have increased rapidly
without being transplanted, and are found in a lump massed
closely round a small central base. If transplanted at once into
very dry soil, as soon as the mischief appears, some of them
recover, but do not flower again for at least two years. The
umcomparabilis section is not lable to be attacked; the white-
flowered trumpets suffer most ; then come Ard Righ, and several
others of the concolor section. Those of the muwticus class are
nearly exempt. In the spring of 1889 nearly one-third of my
trumpet Daffodils perished in thisway. This I attributed to two
causes: first, that transplanting had been neglected too long,
owing to absence from home; and, secondly, that the ripening
season of 1888 was exceptionally wet and cold. Another but
less extensive cause of loss is a habit in the young growth of
rotting off during the end of winter. It is worst when the
season is too forward, and hard frost succeeds wet. The leaves
rot through at the base where they join the bulb, and no fresh
start can be made.

A parasitic fungus, called Puccinia Schraeteri, has for two or
three years infested my triandrus, which were imported from
Portugal. I have not yet determined to what extent it is
destructive to the bulb. Last year I observed it on the leaves
of a clump of the large double yellow Daffodil, which I carefully
marked. The disease has reappeared there this year, and the
leaves attacked seemed less vigorous than the others.

About the end of March in the present year many of my
Daffodil flowers suddenly became spotty. An expert who has
examined them thinks the attack very like the Lily spot, which
in the spring of 1889 was very prevalent amongst young Lilies
and Tulips in the same bed.

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 339

ON POLYANTHUS NARCISSI.
By J. H. KREvaGe.

A stupy of the horticultural treatises of the last century
reveals to us the various flowers which have from time to time
reigned as first favourites in cultivation, and among these bulbous
plants are always placed in the first rank. Thus James Maddock,
in his ‘“ Florists’ Directory ’’ (1792), places the flowers as follows:
Hyacinths, Tulips, Ranunculuses, Anemones, Auricula, Carna-
tions, Pinks; while in the ‘ Traité’”’. of the Dutch florists
Nicolas van Kampen & Son (1760) it is said: ‘‘ After Hyacinths,
Tulips, Ranunculuses, and Anemones, the next flower which
merits our attention is the Polyanthus Narcissus.”’ So that already
more than a hundred years ago these flowers occupied a very
prominent position in Continental gardens, though less attention
seems to have been paid to themin England. At least Philip
Miller, in his ‘‘Gardening Dictionary ’’ (1735),* mentions that the
florists of Holland, Flanders, and France had taken great pains
in cultivating and improving them, while he does not say any-
thing about English gardening in this matter. ‘‘The reason of
this,’’ says James Justice in his ‘‘ British Gardener’s Director ”
(Edinburgh, 1764), ‘‘ is that the raising Narcissi from seeds is so
prolix that it is not worth the trouble, pains, and necessary at-
tendance and expense of a nurseryman.”’ It is well known that
by far the greater number of the varieties of Polyanthus Narcis-
sus were raised in Holland, and so it seems that the Dutch had
in this matter more patience, skill, and perspicuity. And so it
comes to pass that the Polyanthus Narcissus was from the first,
and is still, rightly considered to be a Dutch plant; and it is this
circumstance, I suppose, which led the Council of the Royal
Horticultural Society to invite a Dutch florist to treat of this
subject. And although there are some specialists among my
countrymen to whom this task would have been more familiar,
I will nevertheless try to say something about this favourite
Narcissus of Holland. My communication, however, must neces-
sarily be somewhat superficial, for even if I had the leisure
(which I have not) to make a profound study of this group of
* 7th edition of 1760.

340 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

the Narcissi, it would take up far too much of the time and
patience of my hearers.

The Polyanthus Narcissus is the Narcissus Tazetta of Lin-
neus, belonging to the genus Hermione of Haworth, of which
Mr. J. G. Baker ( “ Amaryllidee,” 1888) enumerates fourteen
sub-species, divided into groups, according to the colours of the
flowers, viz.: (a) perianth white, corona yellow; (6) perianth
and corona both white; (c) perianth and corona both yellow.

This is not the place to give botanical details about the
different forms which are found wild in Portugal and in the
islands of the Archipelago, where Miller states that they were
growing in his time, or in the much wider zone now considered
to be their native habitat, viz., from the Canary Islands to Por-
tugal, and on through the South of Europe to Syria, Cashmere,
China, and Japan. The home of the largest number of the
various forms appears to be in Italy and the South-east of
France. Before, however, I proceed to speak of the forms most
generally cultivated, a few notes about the introduction of this
flower into gardens may perhaps be welcome.

The first Polyanthus Narcissus which was introduced into
cultivation dates from 1561. It was sent by Matthias de l’Obel
to the Netherlands from Languedoc, and is first figured in L’Obel’s
Herbal of 1581 as the second Narcissus medio-luteus, named
“Donas,”’ and is described as growing in Provence as a weed in
the grass. It has a white perianth with yellow cup, bearing six,
ten, or twelve flowers on a stalk; Clusius, who gives the name
precox to this variety, observed it once, by exception, with six-
teen flowers on a stalk.

About this same time, in the Herbals of L’Obel
(1581), Dalechamps (1586), and Gerarde (1597), we find
described and figured, under various names, (1) the above-
mentioned variety, considered to be the first introduced
N. Tazetta Lois; (2) N. polyanthus Lois, ‘‘ the milk-white
Daffodil,” or totws albus ; and (8) “the double white Daffodil of
Constantinople,’’ our double Roman variety. In the different
editions of Emanuel Sweert’s ‘“‘ Florilegium’”’ (1612 and later)
figures are found of eight different forms of Polyanthus Narcis-
sus, and in the splendid ‘‘ Hortus Eystettensis’”’ of the same
year (1612) twelve different Polyanthus Narcissi are finely
reproduced. Caspar Bauhin, in his “ Pinax”’ (1623), gives a

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 841

classification of the N. Tazetta, after the same system as that
which is adopted nowadays, viz.: (a) totus albus; (b) medio-
luteus ; (c) totus luteus. He enumerates eight forms of the first
class, thirteen of the second, and five of the third; numbers of
synonyms of most of these varieties being given with much
more exactitude than heretofore. In Parkinson’s well-known
‘“‘ Paradisus ’’ (1629) we find described and figured a certain
number of Polyanthus Narcissi; but, after comparing his notes
with those of Continental writers, we infer that at that time
many more forms were cultivated on the Continent, especially in
the Netherlands, than in England. It is quite certain, too, from
the remarks of Petrus Lauremberg (1622), and from the different
editions of the catalogue of the Botanic Gardens at Leiden, that
already numerous Dutch seedlings were in cultivation.

Heinrich Hesse (‘‘ Deutscher Girtner,’’ 1710) tells us that
at the beginning of the eighteenth century the Polyanthus Nar-
cissi introduced from the Mediterranean into Holland were
cultivated in cape pits, though some varieties. were treated in
the same way as at present—planted in autumn in the open
eround, with a thick cover of dry leaves or moss laid over them
in the winter. The well-known variety, orzentalis (Muzart), was
already an object of cultivation. You see then that Polyanthus
Narcissus was always a subject of careful cultivation by the
Dutch florists ; and in the second part of the eighteenth century
numerous named collections were found in Holland, unrivalled
elsewhere, from which the amateur gardens of the whole world
were regularly supplied.

As for cultivation, very simple hints are given by Van Kampen
in his above-mentioned ‘‘ Traité’’ of 1760. ‘‘ Their culture,”
says he, ‘‘ presents no difficulty ; they only want careful pro-
tection against frost. They should be planted in November,
8 inches deep, otherwise the new shoots will be damaged by
the frost in spring. The soil should be well worked, but not
much mixed with dung, as they do not lke a greasy soil.
Amateurs living in more northern climates should plant the
bulbs somewhat earlier, covering them with straw or old tan to
protect them against frost. The time for taking up the bulbs is
the end of July.””. The method of cultivation in Holland at
present is very much the same as it was a century ago. The
bulbs for sale the next year are, however, planted earlier—in

342 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

September, sometimes in August, soon after having been taken
up and cleaned. In Van Kampen’s times the bulb trade merely
consisted in selling to amateurs, and the wants of the trade were
very different from what they are now. At present the trade
requires finely formed and strongly grown bulbs, in order to have
a good article for dry sale ; whereas formerly the desire only was
to have bulbs which could give fine flowers. And this difference
in the aim of cultivators has occasioned certain alterations in
the way of treatment. The early planting and thick covering
with leaves during winter keeps the roots active and the plant
always growing, and though the part of the leaves grown under
the mulching remains colourless and yellow, not always changing
into green, it does not appear to injure the bulbs. The system
of taking up the bulbs of Polyanthus Narcissi every year, and
giving them a fresh soil the following season, was in practice
more than a hundred years ago, as is stated by James Justice,
and it is the only possible system by which to grow fine bulbs.

In the last century Polyanthus Narcissus were classified as
follows :—

(a) Perianth white, Corona white.

(d) ” 99 :, yellow.
(c) 9 9 3 sulphur.
(d) ” 99 “y orange.
(¢) 9 yellow, ,, yellow.
(f) ” ” 99 sulphur.
(9) ” 9 orange.

(h) Double varieties of all classes.

The most famous growers of these flowers, as indeed of
other bulbous plants, in the middle of the eighteenth century,
were Dirk Voorhelm and Voorhelm & Van Zompel at
Haarlem. The last firm was succeeded by that of Voorhelm-
Schneevoogt ; and from a catalogue of that house of 1788 we
learn that they offered to the public 155 varieties in various
classes, sold in collections with names at 20s., 38s. 4d., and 50s.
per 100 bulbs, and in mixture at 12s. 6d. and 15s. per 100. The
highest price of any variety was 1s. 8d. a bulb, at which price a
dozen different varieties are catalogued. In this list we find the
following varieties, which are still in cultivation, viz., Ktoile d’Or
(yellow, N. bifrons), Aigle d’Or (yellow and orange), Grand

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 848

Soleil d’Or (yellow and orange), Bazelman major and minor
(white and orange), Primo citronier (white with yellow), &c.

From the beginning to the middle of the present century a
large number of leading varieties of N. Tazetta were grown in
the villages to the north of Haarlem, where the heavier soil is
well adapted to them. In the later years, however, their culti-
vation has spread over the whole bulb district of Holland,
although there are but a few growers who make a speciality of it.
I have consulted the cash-book of one of these growers of
N. Tazetta in the north of Holland, whose family later on was
the most famous in this line. He began to grow in 1785, and in
1791 he sold his first Tazetta, viz., Grand Soleil d’Or, at 1s. per
dozen, and Bazelman major at 3s. 6d. per dozen.

The varieties of Polyanthus Narcissus are much better now
than they were a century ago, and amongst the various growers
who raised these better forms the firm of V. Schertzer & Sons
may be particularly mentioned, the members of this firm having
from the very first paid special attention to raising seedlings
of this class, and the last quinquennial Haarlem bulb show has
again proved that their endeavours have had good success. As
before mentioned, only a few of the older varieties are retained in
cultivation. The inferior forms are from time to time aban-
doned, and their places taken by newer and better ones. The
best varieties for general cultivation are well known among the
trade, as well as by amateurs. As for the most recent novelties,
it would be of no use to speak of them here, as only in excep-
tional cases are they to be obtained as yet. From the registers
of our own firm I find that we have at different times cultivated
between 500 and 600 varieties, of which at the present moment
we retain about one-third.

The principal use made of Polyanthus Narcissi is to grow
them in pots for early forcing, for which they are very well
adapted. The leading “‘sorts’’ were formerly in very great
demand for this purpose, but in the last few years the cut-flower
trade, assisted by easy and quick transport, has developed to
such an extent that in those countries where Polyanthus Nar-
cissi grow readily without the necessity of protection against
frost, and where they flower two or more months earlier in the
open ground than they do in Holland, the blossoms of Poly-
anthus Narcissus have become one of the principal articles of

344 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

export trade. These countries must necessarily buy from
Holiand the bulbs required for this new development of garden-
ing, and so whilst the demand for bulbs for forcing purposes is
perhaps somewhat less than formerly, the demand from time to
time for bulbs for planting becomes very important. Thus the
Polyanthus Narcissus still remains a valuable item in the Dutch
bulb trade, especially as the comparatively low prices of the
bulbs make it possible to purchase them for every purpose.

Like other sorts of Daffodils, N. Tazetta may be grown in
glasses in water most successfully. From Philip Miller we
learn than this method was much practised years ago, but at
the present time it has to a great extent fallen out of use; still
at our Haarlem bulb shows very fine collections of water-grown
N. Tazetta have sometimes been exhibited.

For very early forcing the ‘‘double Roman” and the single
pure white totws albus are used, which by good treatment
may be had in bloom at Christmas or earlier, provided that the
bulbs have been grown beforehand in a southern climate.

This short review would be very incomplete if we did not
mention a Polyanthus Narcissus which has attracted much
attention lately. I mean the Chinese Narcissus called Grand
Emperor, introduced last winter into England for the first time,
and of which formerly reports came from the United States.
We grew specimens of this Narcissus last winter, and find that a
double variety is mixed up with a larger number of single ones.
It is a good white-perianthed Narcissus with yellow cup, but
not exceeding in beauty the well-known varieties, at least so far
as may be judged from the specimens grown, and not a plant to
be recommended for general cultivation. This, too, was the
opinion of the floral committee at the meeting of the Dutch
Royal Horticultural and Botanical Society at Amsterdam, where
we exhibited several specimens. A vote of thanks was awarded
for them, but they were not considered worth certificating. As
has been stated in the gardening papers, this Chinese Narcissus
is considered to be the ‘‘ Flower of Good Luck,” and so they are
generally grown in the apartments of people of all classes, so as
to have it in flower at the beginning of the Chinese year, in
February. We think this Narcissus belongs to the plants called
‘“Ssisen’’ by Engelbert Kaempfer (in his “‘ Amcenitatum exoti-
carum,”’ &c., fase. v., 1712), and of which he describes two

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 845

varieties, viz., N. montanus major polyanthos albus, and N.
montanus polyanthos minor. We are strengthened in this sup-
position because Thunberg, in his “ Flora japonica ’’ (1784), men-
tions the double form too, and tells us that this plant grows
in a wild state on mountains and other places near Nagasaki,
being cultivated also and flowering in January and February.
We do not consider the introduction of this plant of any real
value, but the way in which it seems to be cultivated in China,
and which was recommended by the introducers, deserves great
attention. The bulbs are simply placed in a bowl of water
mixed with stones to prevent them from floating. The water
should, of course, be changed frequently ; it is recommended to
do so every twenty-four hours. We have tried this method and
produced fine flowering plants within four weeks after putting
the bulbs in the bowls, which were kept in a forcing-house.
Bulbs planted in the ordinary manner in pots take longer to
come into bloom. We have also experimented in this way with
other sort’ of Polyanthus Narcissi, and with the same good
success. ‘The varieties used were the well-known early-flowering
totus albus, and the fine Dutch variety, ‘‘ Queen of the Nether-
lands.’’ We are quite sure that a great number of the varieties
of N. Tazetta now in cultivation will be able to be forced in
this way. Itis a very pleasant manner of room decoration to
have Narcissus grown in such bowls, and the method is very
suitable for growing these flowers for house decoration. We
think we may safely recommend amateurs to try this method.
We should not like to advise it for very early forcing, nor should
the bulbs be put into the bowls earlier than the beginning of
December, in order to have flowers of them in January and
February, as bulbs at that period generally seem better adapted
to strong forcing than they do earlier.

It may be of interest to mention a curious fact, recently
observed, viz., the readiness of Polyanthus Narcissus bulbs to lie
dormant, 7.e., to miss pushing shoots for some time. At a meet-
ing of the Royal Dutch Horticultural and Botanical Society this
winter, one of the leading bulb firms of Holland showed a pot
with flowering N. Tazetta “‘ Grand Monarque,” which looked quite
as well as an ordinarily grown plant. The bulbs, it appears,
had been lost in one of the warehouses in the autumn of 1888,
and remained there in a dry place till the autumn of 1889, when

I

846 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

they were found again and placed in a pot, so that they had
had asleep of one whole year without being in any way injured;
and this is extraordinary, for usually bulbs which remain on the
shelf longer than two or three months begin to push their shoots
of themselves.

Before closing these remarks it will be well to say a few
words on that greatest enemy of Polyanthus Narcissus—the
Narcissus-fly (Merodon equestris). No Daffodil seems to be
more liked by the insect than the Tazetta. This pest has been
introduced to us in Holland from Italy and the south of France
with bulbs of the Double Roman Narcissus. The bulbs on which
Réaumur found the Merodon, and of which he published an
account in 1888, probably came from the south of France.
Bouché of Berlin, in 1845, mentions that he had seen the
Merodon on bulbs sent to him from Italy and France. In the
Netherlands for a very long time past every possible means has
been adopted to vanquish this enemy. The best results as yet
have been attained by the method proposed by Mr. A. C.
Groenewegen. It consists in searching for the chrysalides and .
removing them from the soil just before the plants flower. At
that time the insects are found near the surface of the ground,
and where this method is adopted it is only in very rare cases
that the insect is found in the grounds of careful cultivators, so
that the bulbs sent out by respectable establishments may be
depended upon as being, except by the merest chance, quite free
from the Narcissus-fly. Newly imported bulbs should always be
carefully searched, as they sometimes contain this dangerous
pest.

DAFFODILS FOR THE LONDON MARKET.
By Mr. James WALEER, F.R.H.S.

THE London Flower Market may be called the pulse of all the
other flower markets in the three kingdoms. What to grow in
this country to realise a profit is one of the great questions of
the day. If we compare the acreage of Daffodils with that of
fruit, it will be found very small ; but I question if the value of
an acre of our fine varieties could be exceeded by that of an acre

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 847

of any other crop grown. It will be very difficult to give an idea
of the exact number of Daffodils under cultivation, but it is very
certain that the number is rapidly increasing ; and if we can say
that there were ten millions under cultivation at the last Con-
ference in 1884, we can safely say that there are now two hundred
millions. At this rate of increase, six years hence our stock will
be something enormous.

No doubt the cultivation of Daffodils for market has paid,
but the question arises, Will it continue to pay at this rate of
increase ? for if we compare the prices which the blossoms
realised in 1885 with those of the present year, I am satisfied
there has been a fall of 50 per cent.

Large quantities of outdoor English-grown Daffodils were sold
last year as low as 9d. for a dozen bunches, with a dozen blooms
in each bunch, a price that cannot pay; but when the grower
has them in market, it is better for him to take even that price
than to throw them away. This may be taken as the minimum.
On the other hand as much as 12s. has been obtained for the
same quantity. If we look at the enormous quantity of blos-
soms that come from the South of France, the Scilly and
Channel Isles, together with what are forced under glass around
London, the British public may rely upon having a good supply
of cheap Daffodils from the end of January to the middle of May.

The next consideration is a very important one, namely, which
are the best varieties to grow. In classing these, I cannot do
better than follow the order of our schedule for to-day, but I
shall omit Classes 1, 7, and 9, Corbularia and triandrus bemg
unsuitable for market cultivation; gracilis and intermedius
being in little demand; and the Tazettas not succeeding so well
in the open air about London as they do in a somewhat warmer
climate, as, e.g., in the Scilly and Channel Islands.

Class 2.—YELLOW TRUMPETS.

In this section Emperor stands pre-eminent for size, substance,
and constitution.

Mazximus.—Fine deep yellow; if this was a free flowerer it
would rank amongst the first for market purposes. Golden Spur,
Henry Irving, Ard Righ, Countess of Annesley, and Tenby are
varieties that may be grown in large quantities; to these may

12

348 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

be added spuriws and Edward Leeds. The latter, though not a
fine form, gives flowers when those already mentioned are over.

Class 8.—BICOLORS.

The varieties in this class, with a few exceptions, may be alk
considered good, yet to my thinking Empress must take the lead—
HHorsfieldu, grandis, Dean Herbert, and J. B. M. Camm. I am
aware that some growers would place Horsfieldi before Empress,
but after a number of years of careful observation, I consider
Kmpress to be by far the better plant. It multiplies faster, and
nearly every offset will flower; and should a grower have a
bad market, and have to keep his flowers over till next market,
the blooms of Empress will be in a far better condition than those
of Horsfieldi.

Class 4.—WHITE oR PALE SULPHUR.

The flowers of this class, up to the present, have always been
a drug in market. The cause may be that they are soft and do
not stand well; yet a few may be grown to advantage, such as
Mrs. F. W. Burbidge, cernwus, and cernwus pulcher.

With me Mme. de Graaff has not yet flowered, and I cannot
speak of the substance this flower possesses, but it is certainly
_the finest white.

Class 5.—INCOMPARABILIS, BARRII, AND LEEDSII.

This is a very large family, and though possessing a goodly
number of fine varieties, yet it requires a good deal of sifting. If
there is any class which possesses a variety which towers far above
all its fellows it is that of the mcomparabilis, and that variety
is Sir Watkin. Indeed, I question if there is another Daffodil that
possesses such a robust constitution, and perhaps no better com-
panion could be found for this variety than Lady Watkin.
Though not quite the size of Sir Watkin, yet it possesses more
beauty by having a deep-stained orange cup, and though there
was only one bulb of this variety in existence in 1884, I have had
no less than nineteen flowers this year. The next two that might
attempt to hold up their heads here would be Gloria Mundi and
Princess Mary.

Barrvi.—With the exception of conspicwus, it would not be
safe for a market grower to cultivate a large quantity of this sec-

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 849

tion, yet a few of the following varieties always sell: Maurice
Vilmorin, General Murray, and William Ingram.

Leedsii.—Though the tenderest section of this class, yet it
possesses several good varieties of great beauty, such as Duchess
of Westminster, Madge Matthews, Minnie Hume, Gem, Beatrice,
and Acis.

Class 6.—Humet, BAcKHOUSEI, NELSOoNI, Montanus, Mactzat,
SABINI, BERNARDI, AND TRIDYMUS.

In this class the only section that has any market value is
Nelsont, and they are all fairly good.

Class 8—BuURBIDGEI, POETICUS, AND ODORUS.

Burbidgeit.— Though the varieties in this section are not
very popular, yet if well grown a limited number will always sell,
such as Constant, Falstaff, John Bain, and Mary.

Poeticus.—The most popular of all, and perhaps the most
plentiful; and here ornatus is foremost in every respect. But
to secure a continuance of bloom grandiflorus, poetarum, and
recurvus are indispensable.

Odorus and o. rugulosus are both favourites, and can be
gold in large quantities.

Class 10.—DouBLEs.

Sulphur Crown, Orange Phenix, zncomparabilis pl., Tela-
momus pl., and double white poeticus may all be grown in
large quantities. 1 have never heard that anyone has succeeded
in forcing the latter, but if it could be done it would greatly add
to its value. And anyone who has land that would grow
cernuus pl. and capax, would be sure to find a ready sale for
them. In adding to those named the cultivator need not fear
to select varieties with long stems, large bloom, decided colour,
and those that stand well when cut.

THE CULTURE.

This may to some growers be very simple—to others very
difficult ; but it may be taken for granted that no one can grow
a collection of Daffodils with equal success on one plot of land.
In 1881 I planted a collection in a bed of strong heavy land.
After remaining there for two years it was found at lifting time

850 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

that capax and cernwus pl. had entirely disappeared, whereas
Kmperor and Empress had multiplied fourfold—a clear proof
that these varieties require different treatment. Since that time
we have divided our collection into two parts, the one part
consisting of garden forms, and the other of those that are
supposed to be wild forms, or at least are not known to be
garden varieties. The latter section is planted after a crop of
rye,and receives no manure, and the bulbs are not allowed to
remain in the ground more than one season, whereas the former
receives a liberal supply of stable manure.

To prepare the land, I think it will be found that the
‘plough has taken the place of the fork and the spade; and
although, as I have already said, some of.the varieties do well
with manure, yet no variety likes the bulb to come actually
in contact with it; and I fail to see how stable manure can
be dug in with the fork or spade to a sufficient depth.

At Ham Green we use Howard’s digging plough with four
horses, ploughing a depth of 14 inches, which is equal to bastard
trenching. When the land is harrowed and rolled, then follows
a little double-breasted plough, with a bed 2 feet long, and a
wheel in front to regulate the depth; by this method you can get
a more level bed for the bulbs than a man can take out with
the spade. This plough, when drawing out a fresh row, at
the same time covers the row that has just been planted;
thus it will be seen that the Daffodil can be grown much
cheaper on a large than on a small scale. Fortunately for the
cultivator, the varieties in this big family do not require to be
planted all at one time. Some growers plant their bulbs directly
after they lift them, but I have always found it better to dry and
clean the bulbs before planting. We start in August with ornatus,
and like to have all planting over in September. A safe guide
to regulate the time of planting the varieties is the swelling
round the base of the bulb. After planting, it is very necessary
to rake or harrow the beds once in ten days during the autumn.
As soon as the row can be well seen in spring they are hoed.
The custom of gathering the buds and forcing them in water
under glass is well known ; the advantage is, cleaner flowers and
earlier to market. But a little judgment is required in select-
ing the stage at which to pick the various varieties. Poeticus
recurvus may be gathered before it has burst its spathe ; whereas

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 351

ornatus ought to have burst and the bud to have turned, and no
trumpet should be gathered till the perianth has burst free from
the trumpet. The only danger in this system is, that if they
have stood too long in water the flowers seem too full of water,
and therefore are soft and do not carry well.

The question naturally arises, Can we grow Daffodils in this
country as well as in any other? ‘The experience of the last six
years says emphatically Yes.

I have examined ornatus growing under a good cultivator on
the Riviera, and both foliage and bulb were quite one-third less
than those grown in this country. If the demand for bulbs for
forcing goes on increasing at the present rate, I am satisfied
that we shall be able to meet the demand, and that of America
also; and I am satisfied that with annual lfting and planting,
and that done at the proper time, we need fear no competitors.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. JENKINS said he would like to make one or two observa-
tions in regard to some statements in Mr. Walker’s paper.
He agreed with that gentleman in his remarks about N.
Horsfieldui, which could not be compared with N. Empress. The
fiowers of the latter could not be surpassed in the market. The
fault of N. Horsfieldu was the lack of substance in the segments
of the flower, and the only thing in its favour was that it produced
its flowers a few days earlier, but in regard to increase Empress
was far superior. In reference to N. cernuus plenus, Mr.
Jenkins said that Mr. Walker regarded that variety as good for
market purposes. He did not quite agree with the lecturer in
that view, as he was of opinion that NV. cernwus plenus did not
pay for the outlay on it. As to the planting of N. poeticus
ornatus first, as Mr. Walker advised, he would like to know the
reason for such recommendation. The Tenby Daffodil (NV.
obvallaris) was, in his opinion, one of the very best and earliest
flowering kinds, appearing several weeks before poeticus ornatus,
and, in his experience, being of a thoroughly good constitution.
With regard to the question of blindness in the flowers of double
poeticus, he thought no one could explain or knew the reason
of it, he himself having experimented with plants in frames and
in the open air with a view to discovering and preventing the
evil. He had even examined the bulbs at all seasons, according

B52 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

to a hint he had received from Dr. Masters, to see if he could
discover the real cause of the disease, but without any result.
The bulbs, as a rule, got well above the ground in a quite
healthy condition, but after that they became affected.

The Rev. C. WorttEry-Dop said, in reference to the ‘‘ Hoop-
petticoat ’’ Narcissus (Corbularia conspicua), that this was a
difficult species to grow, although he had a certain variety of
it which grew freely in his own garden. This pretty plant
belonged to a section requiring somewhat different treatment
from other Daffodils. In their native country they enjoy a dry
atmosphere, and, if this condition could be imitated in England,
Mr. Wolley-Dod believed we should succeed better with them.
He had seen it growing in a rockery in Aberdeen, where its roots
were kept dry, so that it was in no way a delicate plant.

In reference to the Tenby Daffodil, he said there seemed to
be some difficulty in recognising what the Tenby Daffodil really
was. It had been stated that it was N. obvallaris—a variety
or form of N. pseudo-narcissus, but Babington mentions it as
lobularis. It is one of the earliest-flowering kinds, coming
into bloom in March, and sometimes in February. Some
said that N. pallidus precox was better, but probably Mr.
Walker would disagree with this, as it was not so robust as the
Tenby Daffodil, and could not be so well established for market
purposes.

As to Daffodils grown for market, Mr. Frasmr said the
market people were the ones to show us what could be done
with Daffodils, and what they had done had been seen at the
various meetings of the R.H.S., where it was shown that those
who grew for the market could produce much better flowers
than amateur growers could.

Replying, Mr. WauxKer referred to the going blind of double
poeticus, and said ten years ago his Daffodils suffered very
much from blindness, but after careful observation he came to the
conclusion that the cause of this disease was weakness, for if the
double poeticus was allowed to remain more than two years in
the same situation it would be found that the number of blind
flowers would increase, but in the first and second year hardly
10 per cent. ever went blind. This could be cured by good
cultivation and annual lifting.

In regard to the planting of p. ornatus first, Mr. Walker

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 858

said it would be found that this Daffodil ‘‘ fibred”’ before any
other, and this was a sure sign that it should then be planted.
He gave the merits of Empress and Horsfieldi as he found
them, but it was clear that one could not get every plot of land
to grow a collection equally well, for he noticed that Horsfieldi
did better in some soils than Empress, but, on the whole,
Empress did best with him in every way. Mr. Walker said he
thought the Tenby Daffodil would never become popular in the
neighbourhood of London, simply because there was too much
manure in the soil. Pallidus precox dies out under cultivation,
and it is not a favourite in the market. He did not know the
reason why, but perhaps the ladies could explain that better
than he.

“| Mr. JmenxKIns, in reference to manure, said that at the
present time he could show many thousands of Tenby Daffodils
of the best variety which were grown in soil which had been
manured for several years in succession. He thought it was
more a question of soil than of the dung-cart, and he could not
agree with keeping bulbs free from dung.

Mr. BursipcGe said he hated manure in the cultivation of
plants, but its use depended to a great extent on the moisture of
the soil. Ifthe land were well drained a great deal of difference
would be made. In reference to an appeal as to the Tenby
Daffodils grown in manured soil, Mr. Burbidge said that Mr.
Jenkins had the finest set of Tenby Daffodils he ever saw in his
life.

The Rev. W. Winks said: There can, I think, be no doubt
whatever but that the Daffodil as a flower is rapidly growing
and increasing, and most deservedly so, in popular favour, and
one of the principal results of this Conference will, I hope, be to
call the attention of people to the fact that a vast number of
beautiful forms and varieties of the flower may be quite as easily
cultivated as the few sorts hitherto commonly found. I do not
think that I should have risen to say anything had it not been
for a remark which fell from Mr. Fraser that ‘‘of course
amateurs cannot produce such fine flowers as market or trade
erowers do.’’ Now that is a statement which I venture entirely
to traverse. In my humble opinion an amateur can grow quite
as good flowers as any trade grower. The amateur, of course,
has this disadvantage in exhibiting, that whereas his professional

354 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

neighbour has perhaps ten or twenty thousand flowers of a sort
to select his best dozen blooms from, the amateur has not a
hundredth part of the number to choose from ; but given only the
same number of bulbs, and the tradesman’s exhibit would, I
think, be no whit in advance of the amateur’s. And I hope all
visitors to this Conference will bear it in mind that the great
majority of all the beautiful sorts of Daffodils to be seen here to-
day may be as easily grown by themselves as by those who
exhibit them now. And this seems to me one of the great points
of merit which Daffodils possess—anyone can grow them, and
many of them grow better in our much-abused English climate
than in any other country in the world. There are no glass
houses, no skilled gardener, no expensive manures or applica-
tions wanted, but the veriest beginner in gardening can succeed
with the great majority of varieties if he will only follow one or
two very simple rules. To begin with, he must procure his
bulbs as early in the autumn as possible, and plant them at
once. I always like to plant not later than the first week in
August, although they will do very fairly well planted even as
late as November ; but early planting produces robust growth, and
helps the multiplication of bulbs, which is such a delight to the
amateur. How he rejoices to dig up in July three bulbs where he
only planted one last August! And this I count as a second
point of merit Daffodils possess: Most of them increase very
rapidly by side-bulb growth.

Almost the only other rule a beginner (and I only venture to
speak to quite beginners) requires to know is that the Daffodil,
though it will bear a little rough treatment, and at best requires
but little attention, still will not thrive if absolutely neglected.
No one must think that the bulbs once planted may be left for
good and all to take care of themselves. A lady the other day
said to me, ‘‘ Oh, Mr. Wilks! Daffodils won’t bloom with me ; can
you tell me the reason ? They do very well fora year or two, and
then grownothing but leaves.’’ ‘‘ When did you move them last?”’
T inquired. She answered, ‘I have not allowed them to be dis-
turbed since they were planted eleven years ago!”’ I am afraid
I was rude enough to just shrug my shoulders and say, ‘‘ Mais
voila!’’ The truth is that Daffodils will submit to inattention
for two or three years together, but they increase so fast that
if left undivided for longer than that they gradually cease to

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 855

flower and then they die out. They ought to be taken up and
separated every second or third year at least, and the stock will
increase more rapidly still if they are lifted up every year.

There have been great Daffodil-growers in the past, of whom
you have already heard in the excellent papers which have been
read, but I think I may truly say that our present Daffodil
fanciers have not been more than about ten or twelve years at
their hobby, and marvellous indeed have been the results of all
their labours. And yet how many sorts of Daffodils can even
now be called common, or usually to be met with in gardens ?
Not more than five, I think, viz.: (i.) The common wild English
Daffodil, called psewdo-narcissus ; (ii.) the great double yellow,
called Telamonius, still one of the very best ; (iii.) biflorus, a
poor yellow and white flower with a very strong, almost over-
powering scent; (iv.) the common Poets’ or Pheasant-eye,
poeticus recurvus ; (v.) and the double Poets’ or Gardenia-
flowered. Now, I do not think that by stretch of language can
any other of the now numberless hardy outdoor varieties be
called common or usual. I do hope, therefore, that one result
of this magnificent show and Conference will be to induce people
to try some of the finer forms, such as Emperor, Empress, Sir
Watkin, Horsfieldii, Troilus, grandis, J. B. M. Camm, Ard Righ,
princeps, double odorus, C. J. Backhouse, Barri conspicwus,
poeticus ornatus, and a few others of thoroughly good constitu-
tion and habit. And I venture to say that, at the present price
at which the bulbs I have named can be obtained, it will, con-
sidering the rapidity of increase, be not only worth while to buy,
but absolutely a very fine investment of money; and as an
example of this I may say that in 1888 I paid £5. 5s. for a single
bulb of Mme. de Graaff, and now in 1890 I have five fine bulbs of
it, and they still sell at £5.5s. each. No one therefore need, I
think, grudge a somewhat high “price for a variety if he first
discovers that it has a thoroughly satisfactory and robust con-
stitution.

Mr. Walker laid stress on the early planting of poeticus, and
I should like to support this, for though I take my bulbs up always
early in July, when often the poeticus foliage has not died away,
yet the young roots—next year’s roots—I generally find to have
already started in all the poeticus section. It stands to reason
therefore, I think, that poeticus requires the earliest planting—

856 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

indeed I do not think that any of the poeticus group should be
kept out of the ground an hour longer than necessary.

A good deal has also been said about obvallaris, the Tenby
Daffodil. We can only speak of things as we find them, but in
my garden I cannot grow obvallaris. It is most disappointing,
for do what I will no spot seems to suit it, and every year it
crows less and threatens to die out altogether. I therefore
cannot recommend it, but the one I grow in its place, Troilus, is
a plant of magnificent constitution and enormous capacity both
for seed-bearing and increase of bulbs. The flower is not unlike
the Tenby, and blossoms at just the same time.

Before he sat down, Mr. Wilks said he was quite sure that the
Conference would not like to separate without giving a hearty
vote of thanks to those gentlemen who had been kind enough to
read papers. ‘The papers had taken a very practical form, and
when they were published in the Society’s Jowrnal would afford
much valuable information to their readers—both amateurs and
professionals.

In the vote of thanks he ought also to include those gentlemen
of the trade who had, been so;kind as to bring their splendid
exhibits to the Conference. He felt confident that there had
never been seen such a grand display as that which was then
spread before them, and he begged to propose a hearty vote of
thanks both to the gentlemen who had read papers and to those
who had exhibited flowers.

Mr. J. FRASER, in seconding the vote of thanks, said that no
doubt amateurs could produce individual flowers quite as good as
any in the trade, and he must say that those exhibited that day
by Mr. Wilks were some of the very best he had seen.

Mr. J. G. Baker then put the vote of thanks, which was
carried unanimously by an appreciative audience.

The Rey. C. Wonney-Dop replied on behalf of those who aa
come to give the Conference the benefit of their experience, and
said he was sure they were all much obliged to the Secretary and
the Chairman for their kind vote of thanks, and were always most
happy todo anything they could to further the objects of the
meetings. What was particularly wanted, however, was to pro-
voke discussion, for a great deal more would be learnt that would
be of great value to all if those who took part in the discussions
did so with the determination to contradict anything which they
heard and knew to be contrary to their individual experience.

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 857

NOTE ON THE DAFFODIL CONFERENCE.
By the Rev. W. Wruxs, M.A., Sec. R.H.S.

In writing a note on the Conference after it is over, it is obvious
that one writes not for the skilled cultivator, who can trust his
own experience and knowledge, but for those Fellows of the
Society who have hitherto paid no particular attention to Daffodils.

And first it may interest those who were unable to be present
if I give a complete list of the varieties shown at this Conference ;
it may also, I think, form a valuable record and reference list for
future generations of Daffodil-growers. And here I desire to
acknowledge my grateful obligation—first to Mr. J. W. Barr and
Mr. W. Logan for assisting me in drawing up the following list,
and secondly to the Editors of the Gardeners’ Chronicle and of
the Journal of Horticulture, who have so kindly allowed me the
use of the accompanying plates, in order that the uninitiated may
form a better idea of the sort of flowers included in the various
classes into which, for the better examination and comparison of
the flowers, each exhibitor’s collection was subdivided. |

COMPLETE LIST OF THE VARIETIES EXHIBITED AT. THE
CONFERENCE, APRIL 15, 16, 17, 18, 1890.
Class 1.—CorpubaRia.
Citrina. Conspicua.

! f
Fig 8—Co npuLania, or Hoop-petticoat Daffodils (sce p. 323).

358 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Class 2.—Asax, yellow varieties of.

Abscissus

Achilles

Ard Righ (Yellow King)
Bastermil

Blondin

Captain Nelson
Countess of Annesley
Cornish Beauty
Coronatus (Gen. Gordon)
Cressida

Cyclamineus

Daniel Dewar

Edith Barber

Eliza Turck

Emperor

Glory of Leyden
Golden Spur

Havelock
Henry Irving
Her Majesty
Hudibras

J. G. Baker
John Nelson
Johnstoni

King Umberto
Major

Maximus

M. J. Berkeley
Morning Star
Mrs. Geo. Cammell
Mrs. H. J. Elwes
Nanus

Nobilis
Obyallaris

Fic. 9.—A YELLow Asax.

Class 3.—AJax, bicolour varieties of.
Grandis (Grandee)

Bicolor

Alfred Parsons
Dean Herbert
Empress

G. H. Barr

Harrison Weir
Horsfieldii
James Walker
J.B. M. Camm

Oporto Yellow
Prime Minister
Prodigy

Prince George
Queen of Spain
P. ‘R. are
Robert Boyle
Santa Maria
Shirley Hibberd
Sir W. Harcourt
Spurius

Scoticus

St. Brigid

Thos. Spanswick
T. Moore
Troilus
Tottenham Yellow

i
<<

Fia. 10.—Asax CYcLAMINEUS. | '

Michael Foster
Murrell Dobell
Princeps

T. A. Dorrien-Smith
Wm. Robinson

gO
Ve YY Wj Yy

7

——S===
————

= — ] I if) S=

= ee a
——_ 7
SS=

= == “4 G Z fhe! pe
—— 4 Y iA \\
=== a j ] \ \\ \\ \
J / iN \ \ \ \ MOY
Ht |
/ Ly

i | /} iff, 1
Mill fff 4 &
ff Yy Ys \\\\\\ WS
tii \\
WIZ \
y
VA sh

i

perianth white or very

Fic. 11.—A Bicotour Asax; trumpet deep yellow,

pale sulphur.

360

JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Class 4.—Agsax, white or pale sulphur varieties of.

Albicans
Antoinette Sterling
Bridesmaid
Cernuus

Cernuus pulcher
Colleen Bawn

C. W. Cowan

Dr. Hogg

Duchess of Connaught
Exquisite

F. W. Burbidge

Gladys

H. Backhouse
James Veitch

Lady Grosvenor
Madame de Graaff
Marchioness of Lorne
Minnie Warren
Mrs. W. P. Milner
Mrs. F. W. Burbidge
Mrs. J. B. M. Camm
Mrs. Thompson

Mrs. Vincent
Moschatus
Pallidus precox
Princess Ida
Robert Boyle
Silver Bar

Sir S. Northcote
Snowflake
Tortuosus (Leda)
W. P. Milner
William Goldring

Fig. 12.Agax Mur. pr Graarr. This is by far the largest and most
robust White Ajax. The majority of the white varieties have a much
smaller blossom, which generally droops at an acute angle from the top of
the flower-stalk.

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION.

361

Class 5.—INcomparaBiuis, Barru, and LEeEpstt.

Incomparabilis :

Annie Baden

Astrea

Autocrat

Albert Victor

Beauty

C. J. Backhouse

Cynosure

Dove

Edward Hart

Frank Miles

Fair Helen

Figaro

Goliath

Gog

Gloria Mundi

Gwyther

Hogarth

King of the Nether-
lands

Leedsi

Lorenzo (C. Hooper)

Longshanks

Mrs. A. F. Barron

Mary Anderson
Mrs. Syme
Miltiades
Poiteau
Princess Mary
Prince Teck
Queen Sophia
Queen Bess
Sir Watkin
Splendens
Semipartitus
Stella :
Sunlight
Titan

Barrii:
Barrii (type)
Conspicuus
Crown Prince
Flora Wilson
General Murray
John Stephenson
Maurice Vilmorin
Miriam Barton
Mrs. Dyer

Fig. 13.

&S

Sensation
William Ingram

Leedsii:

Arsinée

Beatrice

Ceres

Cybele

Duchess of Westmin-
ster

Elegans

Gem

Grand Duchess

Homer

Hon. Mrs. Barton

Tanthe

Katherine Spurrell

Leedsii (type)

Mrs. Langtry

Madge Matthews

Minnie Hume

M. M. de Graaff

Palmerston

Princess of Wales

\\\

\ Y y
: \ lj Y
=e Sissi = =

——————

Fia. 14.

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 363

Figs. 13, 14, and, 15 give an idea of the great variety of forms to be
found in Class 5, and the colour of the flowers varies as much as their form.
Some are all yellow, some deep yellow and sulphur, some all white, some
white and yellow, and some have the cup margined, or even stained through-
out, with deep orange-red. 9

K

364 JOURNAL OF THE RUYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Class 6.—Humet, Backuovuse1, Neusont, Monranus, Macueat, SABInr,
BERNARDI, and TripyMus.

Humei: Nelsoni: Montanus :
Concolor (Hume’s) Aurantius Montanus (type)
Giant (Hume’s) Major Macleai :

Backhousei : Minor Macleai (type)
Backhousei (type) Mrs. C. J. Backhouse Tridymus:

Joseph Lakin Pulchellus Duke of Albany
Wolley Dod Stanley Princess Alice

William Wilks William Backhouse S. A. de Graaff

Class 7.—TRIANDRUS.
Albus.

fis

\

\ \ \
\\\\ \ \ \
\ Ny ZA
\ LN \\\ Ee — =
\ \ \ : \ Z
\ \\\ Pil ; WY
= = \. WZ
\\ f- SA Z

\ \ = SSN 2

=> (ese .

= ZB

B77

\\
AY \
\ \\\ y
\ WN \
A \
\\

Fic. 16.—TRIANDRUS ALBUS (see p. 323),

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION.

365

Class 8.—Bursineet, Porticus, Oporvs, Joncrrouivs, and Jonqurnua.

Burbidgei :
Burbidgei (type)
Agnes Barr
Bacchus
Baroness Heath
Crown Princess
Constance
Dandy
Ellen Barr
Falstaff
John Bain
Lottie Simmons

Little John

Mary

May

Mercy Foster
Model

Princess Louise
St. John’s Beauty
Vanessa

Poeticus (fig. 18) :

Angustifolius
Grandiflorus
Ornatus

Fie. 17.—Tse Jonagviu.

Poetarum
Stellaris
Tripodalis
Odorus :
Campernelli
Heminalis
Minor
Rugulosus
Juncifolius :
Rupicola
Jonquilla :
Jonquilla (type)

Class 9.—Gractuis, Inrermeprus, Pouyantuus and Dovpie Ponyantuus.

Gracilis:
Tenuior
Intermedius:
Minor
Polyanthus (fig. J
Admiral Napie.
Adonis
Apollo
Aurora
Bathurst
Bazelman major
Bazelman minor
Bounteous

Bouquet Triumphant

Blanche Delicate
British Queen
Charles Dickens
Chloris

Diana

Etoile d’Or}

Gannymede
Gloria Mundi
Gloriosus
Grootvoorst
Grand Monarque
Grandeur Triumphant
Grand Soleil d’Or
Her Majesty
Tllustre Soleil
Isabella

Jaune Constant
Jaune Supreme
Lacticolor

La Fiancée

La Constance
Laura

Libertas

Lord Canning
Magnifique

Marie

Merveille

Mont Cenis

Mercurius

Muzart orientalis

Patulas}

Prince de Metternich

Princess of Teck

Prince of Orange

Paper White

Queen Victoria

Queen of the Nether-
lands

Sir Isaac Newton

Schizanthes orientalis

Socrates

Staten General

Verlina

Zinnerust

Fia. 18.—TuHE Poets’, or, as it is sometimes called, Tut PHEeasant-EYE
DarFFropDtiu.

Fic. 19.—A Pouyantrnus or TazetTta Narcissus, sometimes called
Tur CLUSTERED, or BUNCH-FLOWERED DAFFODIL.

Fic. 21.—Capax (Eystetrensis). (Double Odorus is somewhat similar in
form.)

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 869

Class 10.—Dovuste Darropits of all kinds}(except Potyanruus).

Ajax: Telamonius Albus Aurantius
Capax (Eystettensis) Tradescanti (Orange Phoenix)
Cernuus Incomparabilis : Albus Sulphureus
Lobularis Grandi- Aurantius (Sulphur Pheenix)

plenus (Pheenix) Odorus :
Rip van Winkle Odorus

Class 11.—NEw oR UNNAMED SEEDLINGS OF THE AJAx CLASSES.

Yellows: R. P. Ker Duchess of Teck
Buttercup Samson Mme. Plempe
Clarissa Vandyck Mrs. Walter Ware
Fred Moore Vondel Mr. Bowa
Gideon Wide-awake Ouida
Golden Vase Wieniawski White:

Lena Bicolours: Agnes Kingsbury
Pretty Jane Dainty Maid Dante

Class 12.—NEw OR UNNAMED SEEDLINGS OF ANY OTHER CLASS THAN AJAX.
Incomparabilis ; Lulworth

In addition to the living flowers shown, Professor Oliver,
F.R.S., exhibited a most interesting picture of Narcissus incom-
parabilis fl. pl., painted by i. D. Ehret, who died in 1770, showing
that the flower was identical with that which we now know under
the name of N. wncomp. albus aurantwus, or Orange Pheenix.

C. W. Cowan, Esq., sent platinotypes of nine different
varieties ; J. D. Pearson, Eisq., sent photographs of six groups of
flowers; Rev. A. Rawson sent photographs of triandrus and
Corbularta monophylia to illustrate their suitability for pot
culture.

At the time of the Conference a paper of inquiry as to the
best varieties for different purposes was circulated amongst the
principal successful growers of Daffodils throughout the country
—amateurs and market-growers and nurserymen. The answers
received were not so numerous as had been hoped, but they were
all from thoroughly reliable sources, so that the following tables,
which have been compiled from the returns, may be considered
to be representative. At the same time it should be borne in
mind that different soils and situations suit different varieties.
For instance, one well-known grower says: ‘“ Horsfieldii has never
given me one decent flower, though I have tried to grow it for
the last twelve years. Grandis is my favourite for everything.
Empress also is very fine.” Whereas another almost as ex-

370 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

perienced grower writes: ‘‘ I know nothing to equal Horsfieldii.”’
The first gentleman lives on light dryish sandy loam in the
South, the latter in the northern Lake district, where rain is
never a stranger, and the soil is generally heavier.

Many of the white Ajax varieties are distinctly of delicate
constitution, and there appears to be a pretty general consensus
of opinion that the whole of the Spurius group are very particular
as to soil, and often die out. Similar complaints are made by
some of Mary Anderson, Ard Righ, Pallidus precox, Obvallaris,
Mrs. F. W. Burbidge, Vicar of Lulworth, and double Cernuus.

None of the Corbularias (Hoop-petticoats), or Triandrus
(Calathinus), or Juncifolius, or Rupicola, or Cyclamineus should,
I think, be attempted out of doors by any but a very skilled hand
or in a most favoured spot.

The following lists have been drawn up from the returns of
the principal Daffodil-growers, and may be explained by taking
List I. as an example. In this case 17 growers sent in returns of
what they considered to be the 12 best single Ajax or Trumpet
Daffodils, and of these 17 experts 16 mentioned Empress as
among the best twelve; 15 mentioned Emperor, 15 mentioned
Grandis, 14 mentioned Horsfieldii, and soon. Therefore Em-
press is entitled to the first place, Emperor and Grandis are equal
second, Horsfieldii takes the fourth place, and so on.

isa 1.

The 12 best Single (yellow or bicolour) Ajax for exhibition.
(17 voters.)

Votes Votes

1. Empress (fig. 11) ; <2 96 10. John Nelson 7
2. Emperor . ; 5 aye 10. Obvallaris . if
2. Grandis . 2 : lo 12. Ard Righ . 6
4. Horsfieldii. : : aiid 12. Henry Irving 6
5. J.B. M. Camm . F Ae Us: 12. Bicolor ; 6
5. Maximus . : : ale 15. Glory of Leyden 5
7. Golden Spur. ‘ ce 15. Michael Foster . 5
8. Captain Nelson . ‘ ie, 9LO 17. Dean Herbert 4
9. Countess of Annesley Bos)

It may be remarked that, had Glory of Leyden been better
known, it would probably have had amore prominent position
assigned to it, but being so new, and as yet so expensive, it is
known to but few. It is a yellow flower, in: size and form some-
what resembling the white Mme. de Graaff (fig. 12).

aE

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION.

List II.

371

The 12 next best Single (yellow or bicolour) Ajax for exhibition.

. Princeps

. Dean Herbert

. Henry Irving
P..R. Barr.

. Ard Righ .

. Michael Foster .

He HE HR bo bo

(13 voters.)

Votes |

. James Walker . : hb

Votes

The 6 best Single White Ajax. (17 voters.)

. Mrs. J. B. M. Camm .
. Colleen Bawn

. Cernuus pulcher

. Albicans ;

. Tortuosus (Leda)

. Mme. de Graaff.

Dor ODE

i, 4 5
6 8. Mrs. Geo. Cammell 4
6 8. Golden Plover 4
5 8. Bicolor 4
5 8. Edward Leeds 4
5

List ITI.

Votes | Votes
11 | 6. Moschatus . ZENS
10 8. Cernuus 4
8 8. Dr. Hogg 4
ad 8. Pallidus precox . a
6 8. Mrs. F. W. Burbidge . 4
5

The same may be said of Madame de Graaff (fig. 12) in this
list as was remarked of Glory of Leyden in List I. Lady Gros-
venor and Mrs. Vincent, if better known, would also certainly

have found a place.

List LY.
The 6 best Double Daffodils for general purposes.
; Votes Votes
1. Telaménius 13 6. Capax. 9
1. Poeticus : 13 7. Cernuus 8
1. Sulphur Phcenix 13 8. Incomparabilis 4
4. Orange Phenix. 12 8. Pseudo-Narcissus 4
5. Odorus 10 |
List V.

The 12 best Single for exhibition of all other classes from Incom-

parabilis to Jonquilla, Polyanthus excluded.

. Sir Watkin

. Barrii conspicuus

. Duchess of Westminster .
C. J. Backhouse

. Princess Mary

. Poetics orhatus’

. Catherine Spurrell

. Gloria’ Mundi

DADE PRNNE

(17 voters.)

Votes Votes
17 9. Cynosure . ‘ iG
14 9. Maurice Vilmorin 6
14 11. Minnie Hume 5
ib) 11. Flora Wilson 5
11 11. Nelsoni : ; ae
8 14. Gem . A ‘ : Bes
8 14. Sensation . 4
4 14. Poetarum . 4
10)

The same may be said of Gloria Mundi as was remarked of

Glory of Leyden in List I.

372 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Bee © Doe

owe

List VI.
The 12 next best, as in List V. (14 voters.)

Votes Votes
. Mrs. Langtry 9 4, Nelsoni major . » oO
. Beauty 7 4. Beatrice . ° ° 5
op W. Wilks: 2 6 4. Cynosure ‘ : a)
. Maurice Vilmorin 5 9. C.J. Backhouse . . . 4
. Amabilis 5

List VII.

The 6 best Polyanthus for out-of-doors. (11 voters.)
Votes Votes

. Soleil d’Or . ° tg 3) 4, Newton ° ° . .
. Bazelman major . ged 5. Her Majesty ‘ . - 5
. Grand Monarque ° re: 6. Orientalis . é ° . 4

It is doubtful whether any of the Polyanthus Daffodils are

quite hardy in the northern and north midland“counties.

List VIII.

The 12 best Ajax for garden effect, having regard’to constitution,

NOON nNd re

vigour, and varied season. (17 voters.)

Votes | Votes

. Emperor . é 3 . 17 | 7%. Countess of Annesley. 18

. Empress . : : Peel 9. J.B. M.Camm . . mali

. Horsfieldii . ; : «wid 9. Ard Righ . . . ae 3)

sGrandis: =. F ; el 11. Mme. de Graaff . . ‘.

Obvallaris . , : se) 11. Rugilobus . ‘ . 5

. Golden Spur. C a) 13. Pallidus preecox . 4
. Maximus . : ‘ ee:

The voters must have assumed that they were not to include

doubles, otherwise it is difficult to account for the omission of
Telamonius plenus, the common great double yellow Daffodil,
probably the most effective of any for garden purposes, and of
erand constitution and vigour.

List IX.

The 12 best of all other classes, having regard to constitution,

NYORRWHEH

vigour, and varied season. (16 voters.)

Votes Votes
. Sir Watkin ; : iy ee 8. Amabilis . ° ° sti
. Barrii conspicuus . a, (AZ 8. Rugulosus. . ee
. Poeticus ornatus 5 Pipe 8. Odorus . 0
. Cynosure . ‘ ‘ . 40 11. Poetarum . ‘ . 4
. Princess Mary . ‘ afio 11. C. J. Backhouse . . 4
. Nelsoni major . : eS) 11. Frank Miles . . 4
. Duchess of Westminster . 6 11. Minnie Hume . ° . 4

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION. 873

From the foregoing lists, and from notes added to some of the
returns, we may safely infer that the best varieties for ordinary
garden purposes, having regard to constitution, will be found
amongst the following, and I name them in the order in which
I should personally place them :—

A. Single Yellow Ajax.—Emperor, Glory of Leyden, Captain
Nelson, Countess of Annesley, John Nelson, Troilus (fig. 9), Ard
Righ, Rugilobus. Not one of these equals Maximus in colour,
but unfortunately it seems in some soils to be a shy bloomer, but
it is a grand variety.

B. Single Bicolor Ajax.—Empress, Grandis, J. B. M. Camm,
Horsfieldii, Princeps, Dean Herbert, Michael Foster. Empress
(fig. 11), Grandis, and Horsfieldii are, to people unacquainted
with them, very similar, and might sometimes be mistaken for
each other. MHorsfieldii is, perhaps, a trifle the largest, and a few
days the earliest of the three, but it lacks the splendid substance
of its rivals. Empress (fig. 11) and Grandis are glorious flowers,
the one opening a day or two before the other. Dean Herbert
and Michael Foster are both good, but somewhat similar.

C. Single White Ayax.—Mume. de Graaff (fig. 12), Lady Gros-
venor, Cernuus pulcher, Colleen Bawn, Mrs. J. B. M. Camm,
Mrs. Vincent, Cernuus. Mme. de Graaff appears to be not only
undoubtedly the finest, but also the best constitutioned of all the
varieties of white Ajax.

D. Double Daffodils —Telamonius, Poeticus, Orange Pheenix,
Sulphur Phenix, Incomparabilis, Odorus. The Double Jonquil
should never be absent from gardens in which it will grow; it
scents the air all round. Telamonius is still the best all-round
Daffodil for out-of-doors effect. It does well planted in the
grass, but the foliage must not be mown off until it has quite
died down.

EK. Single Incomparabilis, €c.—Sir Watkin (fig. 15), Gloria
Mundi, Nelsoni aurantius, Duchess of Westminster, Barrii con-
spicuus, C. J. Backhouse, Princess Mary, Catherine Spurrell,
Cynosure, Maurice Vilmorin, Minnie Hume, Flora Wilson,
Nelsoni major, Gem, Sensation, Beauty, Splendens, Beatrice,
Mrs. Langtry, M. M. de Graaff.

874 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

F. Single Poeticus, &¢.—Ornatus (fig. 18), Recurvus, Poetarum,
Odorus, Jonquilla. Ornatus blooms three weeks before Recurvus,
and Poetarum comes in about midway between them.

G. Polyanthus.—Grand Monarque. The Polyanthus section
are mostly used for greenhouse culture; but, just as almost all
the other sections previously mentioned will bloom very fairly
well indoors, so in the South of England will many of the Poly-
anthus Daffodils bloom very fairly well out-of-doors. Grand
Monarque does magnificently in my own garden in Surrey, but,
speaking generally, all the other classes (A to F) should be tried
before the beginner turns his attention to Polyanthus Daffodils
(fig. 19) out-of-doors.

W. WILES.

DAFFODIL CONFERENCE, Aprin 15, 16, 17, and 18, 1890.

The following awards were made by the Council for groups of
Daffodils :—
A Gold Medal to Messrs. Barr & Son.
A Silver Gilt Flora Medal to Mr. James Walker.
A Silver Flora Medal to Messrs. James Veitch & Sons.
A Silver Banksian Medal to Mr. W. J. Poupart.

The prizes were awarded by the judges as follows :—
Silver Cup for the best collection, to the Rev. W. Wilks.
Silver Flora Medal for the best 50 varieties, to C. W. Cowan,
Ksq.
Silver Banksian Medal for best 25 varieties, to C. W. Cowan,
Esq.

378

PRIMROSES AND THEIR CULTIVATION IN THE
OPEN AIR.

By Rev. C. Wottery-Dop, M.A., F.R.H.S.
(Read April 22, 1890.]

THE subject of Primroses and their cultivation was nearly
exhausted at the Conference of 1886. The foremost place was
then given to the history of the Auricula; it is easier to discuss
particular species than to speak collectively of the whole genus.
Some things, however, hold true of all of them :—

1. The seed comes up best when sown as soon as ripe. The
longer it is kept the slower it germinates ; sometimes it takes a
whole year or more.

2. All like shelter ; none do well on a very exposed surface,
though some like a sunny aspect.

8. All hate drought in summer. I know none which do well
on a dry, sandy soil.

4. They thrive best when the roots begin as nearly as
possible to the base of the leaves, and the rootstock is reduced
to the least possible quantity.

The importance to cultivators of noticing the formation of
the root in each species was fully pointed out by Dr. Masters at
the Conference four years ago; and their habit, both above and
below ground, varies very much. Between such linds as
P. farinosa, which contracts itself in winter into a compact bud
of leaves, no larger than an acorn, the roots all dying away, or
just enough being left to anchor the bud to its place, and the
rootstock being reduced to a shallow cone inside the base of the
leaves—between this habit and that of the Californian P.
suffrutescens, which branches above ground from a thin stem,
after the manner of a miniature shrub, there is every gradation
of difference, which must be taken into account in the mode of
propagation and cultivation.

For general purposes of garden ornament the common
English Primrose, in its single and double coloured varieties,
and its Polyanthus forms and hybrids, is worth all others
together. In strong soils it is necessary to pull the plants of
these to pieces, and to remove all the old roots at least every
other year, as they form such thick masses of hard rootstock,

876 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

and multiply their shoots so rapidly as entirely to exhaust their
growth. The old roots cannot feed the young shoots through
the thick rootstock, and the young roots, which each shoot
forms below it, cannot get down to the soil. It is generally
thought less trouble to renew the plants from seed, except in
the case of double or very choice kinds; but every gardener
deals with this class in his own way, so no more need be said
of them.

P. farinosa is a type representing a large class of Primroses
to be treated alike. In their native home the winter buds of
these often lie loose on the surface of the ground, or are held to
their place by the fine grass amongst which they generally
grow. Our first impulse in planting these buds is to bury them
like bulbs, but if this is done they invariably die. They must
be planted on the surface, not more than half in the soil. If we
pull off and plant a crown of P. acaulis, burying it some inches,
with only the tops of the leaves above the soil, a stem like a
compound leaf-stalk rises from the centre, spreading into leaves
and making a new crown when it reaches the surface. The
rootstock of such Primroses has a power of prolonging itself
indefinitely upwards, though, as I noticed before, such prolonga-
tion is bad for the plant. But Primroses of the class of P.
farinosa have no such power, or it is so limited as to be
practically none; so they must never be buried in planting.
The multiplication of P. farinosa, by small buds forming round
the base of the leaves, is very rapid. I have known one crown
develop from thirty to forty after flowering ; these very soon
detach themselves entirely from the parent, but it requires very
favourable conditions to enable them to root and establish them-
selves, so that practically such Primroses as these become
biennial, and have to be renewed by seed.

In my garden, when May and June are wet, a fungus like
wheat smut, called Uvocystis primulina, destroys many of the
seed-heads. I conclude that this fungus is indigenous, as all
my stock of P. farinosa were collected in England; and though
I grow many kinds of Primrose near, I have never seen a trace
of smut on any of the others.

Something must be said about European alpine Primroses,
those belonging to groups three and four of Mr. Baker’s arrange-
ment in the report of the Primula Conference. These are more

PRIMROSES AND THEIR CULTIVATION. 877

commonly cultivated in frames than in the open soil, and to do
well on ordinary level borders they require favourable conditions
not often found. Perfect drainage and moisture through summer
are necessary to them. ‘They like the shelter of stones to grow
amongst and to spread their roots on; most of them succeed in
fine débris of rock, mixed with a small proportion of loam. They
delight in a steep slope, facing south or east, and to grow from
under an overhanging stone; and where moisture does not fail,
they like sun. In such situations P. calycina, P. Clusiana,
P. auricula, P. intermedia, and such like grow into large plants
of a dozen or a score of tufts without becoming long-necked and
leggy. But the best of all for rockery decoration are P. mar-
ginata (Curtis), a beautiful plant at all times, with a bright
silvery edging of meal on its leaves, and the white-flowered Prim-
rose often called nivalis, but probably a white hybrid of P. viscosa.
This last produces seed freely, and the seed comes true; but
many of this class produce seed sparingly in cultivation. These
kinds all become long-legged and bare in time, and at last fall
to pieces, but are easily propagated by cuttings of the branches,
and three or four small plants generally make a better show of
flower than one large plant.

To pass from Europe to North America, the new world is
not rich in Primroses, but three may be noticed as good:
P. suffrutescens, mentioned already as the extreme of shrubby
growth, is neat and pretty, but wants a warm situation.
P. Rusbyi, from the mountains of Mexico, is very distinct, and
flowers for two or three months through summer, but it is
scarce and not very robust. P. Parryz does well on a raised
peat-bed facing east; it lasts for several years without being
divided, and is very showy and of excellent habit, seeding freely
and coming up readily.

The Primroses of the Caucasus and Central Asia are not of
great value to the gardener. DP. nivalis of Pallas, as figured in
Regel’s ‘‘ Gartenflora,’’ is not known in cultivation in England.
P. auriculata and P. algida are hardly better than P. denti-
culata, and less easily grown. P. grandis and P. luteola have
less to recommend them than the wild Oxlip of Britain. Gardens
can do without them.

We pass next to P. cortusoides, of which the best variety is
known as var. am@.a, or Sieboldii. The old form of this, with

L

878 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

large bunches of crimson flowers, growing a foot high, is very
hardy, liking good loam and a sheltered, rather shady position.
Its chief merit is its perfect habit of growth. It spreads by
underground horizontal shoots or stolons, not more than an
inch or two long, at the end of which a tuft of leaves and roots
come. The stolon dies before winter, leaving a minute rooted
bud ; so that a clump of this Primrose is really composed of a
large number of independent plants, each at a convenient distance
from its neighbour. The moderate length of the roots makes it
easy to divide and transplant with a trowel, even when in flower.
In the whole range of hardy herbaceous gardening I know no
plant with a more accommodating habit. Primula japonica is
a fine ornamental species; with me it increases abundantly by
self-sown seed. It is usually a short-lived plant, because left to
itself it exhausts the soil beneath it, but by dividing and trans-
planting it may be perpetuated ; it may even be cut through the
crown early in autumn, and latent buds at the sides of the plant
are developed. It likes rich cultivation.

We now come to Himalayan kinds, of which I have grown
from seed to flowering fifteen species or more, most of them, I
regret to say, worthless for garden ornament. Some of them
are not hardy. P. Reid, perhaps the most elegant and beau-
tiful of the genus, flowers and dies without ripening seed.
P. prolifera (syn. imperialis) flowers with a shabby and un-
comfortable look, as if it did not like the climate; it lacks the
constitution of its near ally, P. yaponica. Several other species
are too insignificant to be ornamental in gardens. LP. obtusifolia
seems one of the best, being very distinct in colour and of robust
habit. It may prove the parent of important crosses, but at
present none of these Indian species give much promise of
potential development. LP. Stwartw, and its variety P. purpurea
of Royle, have not come up to expectations. The type takes at
least two years to reach flowering ; it has very coarse leaves and
an umbel of yellow flowers, small in proportion to the plant,
and hardly compensating for the long delay of production. After
flowering the thick rootstock often rots away. A second flower-
ing is sometimes produced in autumn, but a plant seldom lives
for more than two flowerings. The variety P. purpurea I have
several times raised from imported seed; its development is
slow, and the bunch of flowers generally small, though the colour

PRIMROSES AND THEIR CULTIVATION. 379

—rich imperial purple—is good. About four years ago I hada
grand specimen of this plant on a raised bed in ordinary garden
soil; it bore two umbels of thirty or forty flowers each in April,
and again in September. A portrait of the autumn flowering
was taken by Miss North and engraved for the Garden. Though
I have done my best to imitate the conditions, I have never pro-
duced anything like this again.

As for other Himalayan Primroses, I can add but little to what
I said four years ago, as recorded on page 260 of the Report of
the Primula Conference. It is desirable to retard the flowering of
P.denticulata and its varieties, in order that it may be postponed
until the conditions of our English climate give it a better chance
than it has if it tries to flower at Christmas. I have discovered
no better plan than cutting up the large crowns in August, as
before recommended. By exercising selection, having regard
both to colour and to habit, the varieties of this species are
capable of improvement. If by crossing we could improve the
colour and size of the flower, and retain the great vigour of con-
stitution, this plant might have a future before it—a cross I
made with P. rosea was fit only for the rubbish heap. As an in-
stance of the prolific habit of the species, I may mention that
one which accidentally lost its head about two inches below the
surface produced the following spring about twenty shoots from
the neck of each main root. These appeared like a ring of seed-
lings, about 200 in number, each attached to the old roots by a
thin rootstock like thread; some of them which I tried for ex-
periment made good flowering plants by autumn. This mode of
multiplication may be utilised by studying the required conditions.
Closely allied species or varieties are in cultivation under the
names P. Fortunei, P. cashmeriana, P. erosa, &e.

P. rosea has a thickly tangled mass of fibrous roots, showing
that it requires a finely pulverised soil. The easiest way of deal-
ing with it is to make colonies during summer—any time
between the ripening of the seed and the end of August—by
pulling a plant to pieces, breaking off all the old root, and
planting the shoots singly wherever the soil is suitable. They
must, of course, be frequently watered till established, and no
colony must be expected to do well for more than two years—
renewal every year is better. But seedlings from well-selected
seed are more satisfactory still. No successful hybrid has yet

L2

380 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL* HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

been made with P. rosea; if its bright colour could be given to
a larger and more vigorous flower it would be a gain to horticul-
ture. LP. sikkvmensis has roots very like those of P. rosea, but
the habit above ground is very different. I am obliged to keep
it entirely in the shade, where it grows in moist peat nearly a
yard high, with large heads of flowers. It soon exhausts the soil
beneath it, but may be divided by separating the compact crowns
in early spring, and transplanting them to new soil. It is easier,
however, to raise it from seed, which it ripens in abundance. It
shows no tendency to develop improvement in gardens. It may
be mentioned that this Primrose has been made in some nurseries
to do duty for P. reticulata, a plant more slender and smaller
in all its dimensions, and worthless for garden decoration.

In all these Primroses the seed, if sown as soon as ripe—say
about the end of July—generally comes up in a few days, and
by the end of autumn sufficient growth has been made for a
winter bud to be formed, the developed leaves always dying ;
but P. capitata, which I shall now describe, never under any
conditions of cultivation forms a winter bud, and I do not know
how it survives winter in its own home. Its merits are too great
for it to be disregarded as a garden plant, but it is the most
capricious and full of irregularities of all the Primroses I grow.
Sir J. Hooker, in his “ Flora of British India,” says that he
retains this species as distinct from P. denticulata with great hesi-
tation—no doubt regarding their botanical characters ; but their
habit in cultivation differs widely, the one being the most per-
verse, the other the easiest to manage of all the genus. The seed
I always sow as soon as ripe, but as it remains evergreen it
must be carefully sheltered all winter. The first flowering is late
in summer, when the seedlings are a little more than a year old.
They must be kept under glass again during their second winter,
and may be planted out in May when the soil is wet. In a
hot dry summer a large proportion wither and die, but when
July is wet the plants thrive and flower on until the flowers
are lailled by hard frost. November often finds five or six
fine heads on each, but it is difficult, even by covering them,
to keep them through a third winter. They continue open in
the crown and short in the neck, and before the end of
winter the crown comes off lke an acorn out of its cup, and
the rootstock never breaks again. With all its faults P. capitata
is a very ornamental and striking plant in late summerandautumn.

381

THE AURICULA AS A TOWN OR SMALL VILLA PLANT.
By Mr. J. E. HENwoop.
[Read April 22, 1890.]

THE past history of the Auricula isso intimately associated with
town life, that even had we not the experience of the present
time to guide us in forming a conclusion, we have ample testimony
that in the Auricula we have a flower possessing all the necessary
qualifications to be classed as a plant especially suitable for town
or villa gardens. Asis only too well known, the dwellings in
towns and the small villa residences of the suburbs have but a
small space of ground attached to them, a mere apology for a
garden. How to cultivate this small space to the best advantage,
and to grow only those things that will render it most attractive,
is naturally the desire of every lover of floriculture. We want
for these gardens subjects requiring but small space, that are
perfectly hardy, attractive, and interesting at all seasons of the
year. Now we claim for the Auricula that it answers to all
these conditions and requirements in a manner possessed by no
other flower.

Some fourteen or fifteen years ago I was invited into the
garden of a friend living in one of the main roads of Reading to
view his Auriculas. Up till this time I had never heard of,
much less seen, the flower, and so struck with astonishment
was I at the marvellous beauty and unique appearance both of
the plant and bloom that my love for the Auricula dates from
that very hour. In course of time this friend became my next-
door neighbour. To listen to his Auricula lore, to note his enthu-
siasm, and to watch the loving tender care bestowed upon his
plants, kindled in me a similar fire of love that nothing in this
life can extinguish. I do not wish to be egotistical, but I do
desire to kindle in the breasts of some who may be listening to
me that same love and admiration for the Auricula possessed by
myself. I do wish to dissipate that erroneous impression that is
stalking abroad that the flower is difficult of management. I do
not hesitate to say there is not a flower grown that so readily
responds to loving care and proper attention as the Auricula, and
I must also say there is no flower known that so soon resents
neglect. Under neglectit soon wears a woe-begotten, ‘‘ you don’t

382 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

care for me’’ appearance. Its beautiful green leaves are soon
overrun with the dirty green-fly, and its coat of snowy whiteness
becomes covered with filth. And yet under these conditions it is
marvellously tenacious of life. I have seen a plant literally
covered with this pest of the garden, after being freed from its
enemy and made clean and tidy, start again into active growth
in a surprising manner, thereby not only demonstrating its
vitality, but also its gratitude for proper care and attention. I
have seen plants in most luxuriant health and vigour both in
frames and greenhouses, in pent-up gardens of but a few square
yards, and surrounded with bricks and mortar. I have seen
plants in pots, standing down the sides of garden paths. I have
seen plants standing upon boxes in odd corners of the garden. I
have seen them on window-ledges, and even under these conditions
in health and vigour ; and I know of a collection of Alpines that
were repotted last autumn and left in the open, exposed to all
weathers until about six weeks ago, when they were taken into
a spare room having a large window facing south. Ineed hardly
say the bloom has not been satisfactory, but the loss of plants was
almost nil. Another gentleman that I know, having neither
frame nor greenhouse, and thinking the plants required some
kind of protection during the winter months, placed upwards of
a hundred plants in a coal-house last autumn, and there they
remained until about six weeks since. Finding that the plants
had but little inclination to start into growth, he came to me for
advice. In reply to my questions, he said as the coal-house had
a window he thought that gave sufficient light. The plants were
standing upon shelves, but were covered with dust, and were
very small, but only two died during the winter. The plants
were taken out of the coal-house and placed in the most sheltered
portion of the garden, and the owner assures me he has derived
much real pleasure from the bloom, even under such mistaken
treatment as this. I mention these two cases to illustrate the
extreme hardiness of the plant.

A well-known grower and exhibitor from Reading is so
cramped for room in his small garden that his frames are not
only shaded but quite overhung with trees, and as a consequence
his plants are somewhat drawn, but still he can manage to carry
off some of the best prizes at our annual shows. In contrast to
this another Reading man, who in 1888 exhibited for the first

a

THE AURICULA AS A TOWN PLANT. 883

time and won fourteen out of a possible sixteen prizes, cultivates
his plants in a garden situated between two rows of houses
running from east to west, totally devoid of vegetation or natural
shading in any form, and fully exposed to all the fury and
withering influence of the cold easterly winds. Our own small
strip of a garden is also much exposed to the north-east and
devoid of shade, but our great enemy is the smoke from the town,
which is constantly pouring down showers of black smuts ; this
and the dust we find a great nuisance to contend with, but with
these drawbacks we manage to grow the Auricula fairly well.

Travelling from Reading to Birmingham and neighbourhood,
we here again find the flower cultivated most successfully under
most adverse surroundings. The dense mass of smoke and
poisonous acids emitted from the countless number of smoke-
shafts does not prevent the Birmingham florists from producing
splendid specimens of the Auricula. Mr. Bullock, of Stourbridge,
near Birmingham, a well-known florist and successful grower of
the Auricula, grew his plants, not in a garden, but on the house-
top; and even here, with the air filled with poisonous gases from
the chemical works and busy manufactories of the district, the
Auricula grew and flourished where the trees stood leafless,
standing skeletons of what should have been verdant vegetation.
The last town garden to describe, but the first in the heart of every
true lover of the Auricula, is that of the well-known and greatly
respected florist Mr. Ben. Simonite, of Sheffield. This celebrated
garden is situated on the east side of the town, where the dense
mass of smoke constantly overshadows and blackens everything,
on a bleak hillside sloping northwards and overlooking what was
once the beautiful valley of the Don with its market gardens and
fruit orchards, then in the fulness and wealth of natural beauty,
but now covered with factories and workshops noted for the pro-
duction of armour-plates, large guns, &c., and within a quarter
of a mile of the coal-pits. Our friend grows his plants in a span-
roofed house with ventilators on all sides; here they remain all
the year round, and are never placed out in the open, and con-
sequently never get the benefit of any gentle showers in the
summer months, as the Sheffield rains, being heavily impregnated
with poisonous acids, would be positively injurious to the health
of the plants.

Mr. Simonite, through no fault of his own or his plants,

384 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

can seldom exhibit in his best form. His plants bloom too late
for the shows, in consequence“of an almost total absence of sun ;
but they are models of excellent culture, and I can bear personal
testimony to their wonderful health and vigour. Indeed, so good
a judge as Mr. James Douglas, in writing to me after one of his
visits to this garden, said, ‘‘ Had Ben buta climate he would
beat creation.”

I think I have now given ample evidence in support of my
assertion that the Auricula is perfectly hardy and well adapted
for town gardens. On the question of space you have sufficient
proof in the plants before you. An ordinary garden-frame, 6 feet
by 8 feet, will accommodate ninety-eight full-grown specimen
plants, 5 square inches being sufficient space for the finest plants
erown. As most Auricula-frames are placed against a wall or
some other kind of fence, it is very desirable not to have them
more than 38 feet in width, so that the back row of plants may
be reached with ease. The length of the frame can be deter-
mined according to the size of the collection of plants. My idea
of a model frame is one 8 feet wide (inside measurement), 3 feet
deep at back, and 2 feet deep in front, and any length required.
The centre board in front to be hung upon hinges, and fastened
at top with abutton. By this meansair can be admitted under-
neath the plants when required. ‘The staging for the plants to
be made of wood 2 inches wide and 1 inch thick, and in seven
tiers, two pieces of wood to be placed on each tier and a space
of 1 inch to be left between the two pieces to prevent water
lodging underneath the pots. The frames should be made of
good yellow deal 14-inch thick, painted outside a dark stone
colour, and a light stone colour inside. The lights to be 3 feet
square and made of 2-inch stuff, and glazed with 21 oz. glass
in six pieces, so as to have but one lap, and thus avoid drip.
Frames of the dimensions given are not:necessary for the plants
themselves, but for the comfort of the cultivator. With such
frames but little stooping is required and back-aching is reduced
to a minimum; and under such conditions?plants will be sure to
meet with better treatment.

I have sometimes been asked: ‘‘Is a greenhouse necessary
for the successful cultivation of the Auricula?’’ My reply is,
No, certainly not. Auriculas can be grown to a high degree of
excellence in cold frames, but a greenhouse is a luxury to the

THE AURICULA AS A TOWN PLANT. 885

cultivator himself. Here he can attend to his plants at all
seasons, let the weather be what it may—hence the advantage
of a house.

An Auricula-house need neither be costly nor large. One,
9 feet wide and 15 feet long, will give ample space for 400 plants
to bloom in, and will hold many more when not in bloom. This
number of plants, if of the best sorts only, should be quite
sufficient to compete with at all the best shows in the kingdom.
My Auricula-house is 18 feet long and 9 feet wide, and ventilated
at the top of the roof with wooden shutters about a foot wide
and running the whole length of the house, also ventilated on
both sides with shutters near the ground, so that fresh air is
freely admitted underneath the staging. The staging is made
flat and covered with fluted corrugated iron, upon which is laid
about 2 inches of shingle. The house is fitted with a No.1
Loughborough boiler and two rows of 4-inch pipes, so that frost
can be excluded when necessary. I find this kind of a house
suits the plants very well.

The feast of bloom before us to-day, both of Show and
Alpines, cannot fail to call forth the admiration of all who have
looked upon them, whether out of curiosity or genuine love for
the flower ; therefore I need not dwell upon the delicate markings
or lovely tints of the Show, or the beautiful shades of colour to
be found in the Alpines. The foliage of the plants differs so much
that most florists can generally name their collection from the
leaves alone; with some varieties it is a deep rich green, while
with others a beautiful silvery streak runs along the whole edge
of the leaves, and again in others the meal is laid on so heavily
as to form a lovely white coating so delicate in texture that if an
insect but settle upon it the footprints of the trespasser are
plainly visible. Although ithas so many points of delicate beauty,
the plant is of a very hardy nature. Frost seldom injures it,
although it will sometimes cripple the bloom from an exhibition
point of view. It has but few diseases to battle with. Canker
sometimes attacks the tap-root; but, if discovered in time, and
the rotten part cut away, and powdered charcoal as a dressing
applied to the wound, the plant generally recovers. Damp during
the late autumn and winter months is its most deadly enemy,
and this should be carefully guarded against. Should there be
drip in the frames attend to it at once, and be careful that no

386 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

water lodges in the heart of the plant. Give them plenty of air
at all times, and losses will be few and far between.

Soon as ever a green-fly shows itself kill it at once, and thus
prevent thousands soon following, and don’t forget that this dirty
pest not only spoils the appearance of the plant, but also feeds
upon it. The best remedy against the beast is a little patience,
and a soft-haired brush; with a small brush and determined
application a plant is soon cleaned. Iam satisfied soft-soap and
all other nostrums are positively injurious to the plant, and my
advice is, Don’t use them.

There is also another little wretch that lives and thrives upon
the roots of the plant, called the woolly aphis. This silvery-coated
gentleman is difficult to get rid of. At repotting time, when I
come across it, I shake all the soil from the plants and well wash
the roots, and thus for a time the plants are tolerably free from
it. Should it congregate around the neck of the plant at any
time, remove a little soiland dislodge it with a small brush. Time
was when growers were greatly alarmed at it, but time has proved
that it is not so destructive as was at first apprehended, and very
few collections are now free from it.

The most essential thing towards the successful cultivation
of the flower is a proper compost, and without it it is not to be
expected that the plant can be grown to any degree of excellence.

This should consist of two-thirds good fat fibrous loam, and
one-third rotten leaves and well-decayed horse manure; add to
this sufficient coarse sand, or granulated charcoal, to make the
whole porous when pressed into the pots. This simple compost
will keep the plant in health and vigour. Avoid artificial manures
and stimulants of all kinds, or else, like the drunken man, the
plants will go soft. Next in importance to the soil is the size of
the pots, and here so many make the fatal error of having them
much too large; a pot 44 inches across is large enough for the
most vigorous plant, and many will thrive better in pots from
3 to 4 inches in diameter. No hard-and-fast rule can here be laid
down; use pots according to the size and vigour of the variety.

Watering is at all times a most important feature in Auricula
culture; never let them get dust dry, and never keep them sod-
dened. Both are great evils. Try and hit the happy medium.

There are but few secrets worth knowing in Auricula cul-
ture, and here they are:

IVIES IN THE SOCIETY'S GARDEN. 387

A sweet, wholesome compost, perfect cleanliness, and proper
attention to watering.
Give them these, and success is assured.

REPORT ON THE VARIETIES OF IVIES IN THE
SOCIETY’S GARDEN AT CHISWICK.

By Mr. Surrtey Hisperp, F.R.H.S.

A coLLEcTIoN of varieties of Ivies has been formed in the
Society’s Garden by contributions from various sources, and the
Floral Committee have inspected them and awarded marks of
merit to such as were deemed of special value for cultivation by
reason of their distinctiveness and beauty. Having collected and
cultivated garden Ivies, and treated at length upon their characters
and classification in a work entitled ‘‘ The Ivy,” published in
London 1872, a desire was expressed that I would arrange the
Society’s collection in accordance with my own classification and
nomenclature, and present the results in a report to the Council.
It is with pleasure I comply with the request, having assisted
in the official inspection, and having contributed from my own
collection some varieties that appeared to be needful to the proper
representation of the subject in the Society’s Garden. The
varieties added by me to the Society’s collection are not included
in the report, as, at the time of writing, they have not been
planted out, and it‘ might prove an imprudent interference with
the work of the Floral Committee to make any further reference
to them until they have made some growth and have been duly
reviewed, and their relative merits officially marked for the
guidance of persons interested.

The classification adopted in this report is the same as in
the work above referred to,* which has been generally accepted as
sufficient both for the indication of affinities and to make an end
of the confusion arising out of the uncertain nomenclature and
multiplied synonyms hitherto in use. The principle kept in
view has been to attach to all the more distinct varieties names
indicative or suggestive of their distinctive characters; and to

* « The Ivy : a Monograph, comprising the History, Uses, Characteristics,

and Affinities of the Plant; and a Descriptive List of the Varieties in Culti-
vation.’’ By Shirley Hibberd. London, 1872.

388 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

reduce the necessary changes to the least possible, as many of
the old names have been incorporated in the new system as
appeared consistent with its direct simplicity. The three reputed
species of Ivies, namely, Hedera helix, Linn., H. Canariensis,
Willd., and H. Colchica, Koch, are retained in this arrangement
for convenience solely. As representing groups, the members of
which are allied by obvious characters, the names are useful, and
being in common use for practical purposes, it is not desirable
to suppress them. But the specific distinctions they suggest are
no longer recognised, for the idea of a species has of late years
expanded, and it is now generally held by students of Hedera
that there is but one species of Ivy known, the European, Asiatic,
and African forms being but modifications of one and the same
species. ‘This is not the place to discuss the proofs of unity,
but it may be proper to remark that in the work above alluded
to I have explained that the stellate hairs that have been relied
on for the determination of the three species have not the con-
stancy of character requisite for the purpose.

The names here given are those of the garden forms. In
every case the name of the species may be added at discretion,
but to do so here would make a wearisome and useless repetition.
Thus, the variety ‘‘ Fasciata’’ may be labelled Hedera helix
fasciata, although for the present purpose the last name is

sufficient.
VARIETIES OF HEDERA HELIX.

(x x x signifies ‘“‘ Meritorious in the first degree,” x x ‘‘in the second degree.’’)

Minor is a neat small form of H. helix, of frequent occur-
rence in woodlands. As a rockery plant it is distinguished by its
close growth and the grey veins on its dark three-lobed leaves.
Contributed by Mr. Turner as H. minor.

Mimma is the smallest form of H. helix. The form is
distinct in the prolongation of the front lobe, and in winter it
often assumes a rich brown or bronzy colour. It is a miniature
form of the variety here entered as Pedata. Contributed by
Mr. Turner as Minima. Syn. Taurica, Donarailense, Pennsyl-
vwanica. X X.

Gracilis has a singularly elegant appearance. It is a minor
heliz of wiry habit with purple stems and leaf-stalks; the leaves
conspicuously veined. An excellent rockery plant. Contributed
by Mr. Turner as Gracilis. xX.

IVIES IN THE SOCIETY’S GARDEN. 889

Triloba differs from H. helix only in being more distinctly
three-lobed, while the form is more constant, H. helix being
always variable and showing a tendency to a five-lobed outline.
Contributed by Mr. Turner as T'riloba.

Cuspidata minor is of somewhat spare habit, the leaves five-
lobed, the divisions cusped, the colour light green. Contributed
by Mr. Turner as Crenata baccifera mgra.

Palmata has a fine character, and is readily recognised by its
distinct palmate form and full deep green colour. Contributed
by Mr. Turner as Palmata. x x.

Lobata major is of bold outline, with prominent front lobe,
and a deep rich green colour. One of the best green Ivies. Con-
tributed by Mr.Turner as Lobata major, also as Scutifolia. x x x.

Pedata is one of the most distinct and interesting ; the leaves
are divided like a bird’s foot, the grey veins are very distinct.
Being rather spare in growth and given to objectionable varia-
tion when it has mounted to some height on a wall, it is de-
sirable to cut it down occasionally to keep it well furnished
and in proper character. Contributed by Mr. J. Fraser as
Caenwoodiana, also by Mr. Turner as Pedata. Syn. Digitata,
Chrysocarpa, North Indian Golden-fruited. x x x.

Deltoidea has shield-shaped leaves, the lobes broad and often
overlapping, the substance of the leaf leathery, the colour deep
dull green, the leaf-stalks purplish. Contributed by Mr. John
Fraser as Rhomboidea obovata. Syn. Lhomboidea, Rhomboidea
latifolia, Rhombea.

Lucida is a large form of helix, the leaf three-lobed andsome-
what tapering in form, the colour rich deep green, becoming

bronzy in winter, and at all seasons having a glossy surface.

Contributed by Mr. Turner as Lucida poetica. x x.

Tortuosa is one of the grandest of the large-leaved forms of
helix; the leaves are broadly ovate, never distinctly lobed, though
usually tending to a three-lobed form. In autumn they
become twisted, and being ‘dark green or almost black, with a
polished surface, render the plant conspicuous for its massive
beauty. Contributed by Mr. Fraser as Glymu. x x x.

Cinerea is an Asiatic form of helix of rather tender constitu-
tion. It is distinct and pleasing and peculiarly interesting in
erowth on account of the production of the sharp side lobes
subsequent to the growth of the leaf to normal size. The colour

3890 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

is dull green with a shade of grey, in some circumstances giving
the plant the appearance of having been dusted with ashes. In
a cold climate it suffers from frost in winter, but is hardy enough
for all purposes. Contributed by Mr. Fraser as Himalaica,
and by Mr. Turner as Himalaica. Syn. Chrysocarpa, Baccifera
lutea, North Indian Golden, Cunefornis. x Xx x.

Sagittefolia is distinct and easily identified. The leaves are
partly three-lobed, the centre lobe appearing to absorb the side
lobes for its own augmentation; the colour deep dull green.
Though distinct, it is unhandsome and uninteresting. Con-
tributed by Mr. Turner as Sagittefolia. x x.

Nigra is a grand garden Ivy, distinguished by its rich deep
colour and beautiful form. The leaves are distinctly three-lobed,
with the front lobe larger than the others, or broadly ovate and
entire, with a mere suggestion of side lobes. The colour is a
deep black-green, or brownish bronze deepening to black, the
veins pleasingly coloured a clear fresh green. The leaf-stalks
are dull purple; the whole plant impressive by its rich deep
solemn colour. It grows freely, trains itself on the driest wall,
and fills in well by side-growth. One of the very best. Con-
tributed by Mr. Turner as Atro-purpurea.

Conglomerata has the merit of distinctness, and though
scarcely beautiful, is immensely interesting. The growth is in
a somewhat geometric plan, the branches radiating regularly ;
the leaves are ovate, curled and frilled, and overlap so as to
form a dense imbricated mass, the result, as may be seen, of a
peculiar partial fasciation. The colour is a deep rich green.
When trained toa wallits character is destroyed ; it should be left
perfectly free to spread in its own way on an open border, or on
a broad shelf in the rockery. It requires a moist warm climate
to ensure a full development of its interesting characters. Con-
tributed by Mr. Fraser as Conglomerata. x xX X.

Fasciata is a form of Conglomerata, distinct enough, but not
so far away as to be particularly desirable. Contributed by Mr.
Maurice Young as Minima. xxx.

Chrysocarpa is the yellow-berried tree Ivy, a beautiful shrub
that bears fruit abundantly. Contributed by Mr. Turner as
Poetica, and by Mr. Fraser as Arborea flava. It is best known
in gardens as Poetica. Xx X X.

IVIES IN THE SOCIETY’S GARDEN. 391

VARIEGATED YARIETIES OF H. HELIX.

Marginata has the importance of a sub-generic, or at least
of a sub-specific term, owing to the number of varieties that may
be grouped under it, and that are separated only by trifling
differences, forming a series of gradations in size, form, and
colour. Under the garden name ‘‘ Marginata’’ I place a variety
with green stems, purplish leaf-stalks, leaves bluntly triangular,
the colour dull green with a thin wash of grey; the margins
white during summer; in autumn changing to a creamy hue
with tints of red or purple. Only one variety in the collection
agrees with my Marginata, and it is contributed by Mr. Fraser
as Arborescens marginata. XxX X xX.

Marginata grandis has leaves broadly ovate, with bold margin
of creamy variegation never tending to a tone of yellow, and
with a shade of blue in the green blade of the leaf. Itis a true
running Ivy, although it produces occasional short spurs on
which the leaves are narrowed as in fruiting Ivies, and these
spurs become fruitful if allowed to remain. The growth is
short and stout. The plant fills up well from the bottom, and
is singularly massive and beautiful when in suitable circum-
stances, such asa moist shady situation may ensure. Contributed
by Mr. Fraser as <Arborescens variegata. Syn. Marginata
robusta, Arborescens marginata, Tricolor, Hlegantissima, Arbo-
rescens marginata grandis. xX X X.

Marginata major agrees generally with the last, but the
variegation has a decided tinge of yellow, and it is unusual for
spurs bearing narrow ovate leaves to appear, the growth being
even and of running habit throughout. Contributed by Mr.
Fraser as Marginata purpurea. Syn. Marginata argentea,
Marginata pulchella, Marginata elegantissima, Marginata pur-
purea, Silver Stripe.

Marginata media comes near to Marginata grandis, but does
not produce spurs, and is always less robust. The variegation
shows no trace of yellow. Contributed by Mr. Fraser as Mar-
ginata robusta, and by Mr. Turner as Elegantissima marginata
rubra. Syn. Marginata elegantissima, Hlegantissima marginata
Tub AXE Xs

Marginata minor includes a few forms that might with some
propriety have separate names ; but I have felt it better to group

892 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

them as one under a name which is applicable to them all, as
the smallest of the Marginata series. The growth is weak and
wiry, the leaves small, angular, deltoid, obscurely lobed, the
central part dull green washed with grey, the margin clear
cream colour, acquiring a tinge of red in autumn. Contributed
by Mr. Fraser as Awrea elegantissima, and by Mr. Turner as
Marginata purpurea. Syn. Marginata argentea, Folius argose-
mens (!), Marginata elegans, Cavendishi, Marginata latifolia,
Broad-leaved Silver.

Marginata rubra agrees generally with Marginata media,
but differs in the livelier tone of red in the margin, which is a
conspicuous and beautiful feature in the early autumn. Con-
tributed by Mr. Fraser as Marginata elegantissima, and Mr.
Turner as Hlegantiss1ma marginata. Syn. Cullisw, Argentea
rubra, Latifolia elegans, Tricolor, Marginata pulchella. x x x.

Sulphurea has a striking character, the leaves spoon-shaped .
and concave, with small ear-like lobes, the variegation plentiful
but dull, consisting of margins and patches of sulphur yellow
and dull cream. Contributed by Mr. Fraser as Arborescens
argentea variegata. X xX X.

Submarginata is one of the most beautiful, though it has
no conspicuous feature. The leaves are of medium size, irregular
spoon-shaped, with unequal lobes, the colour deep bluish green,
margined with a thin line of whitish variegation, with which in
autumn is associated a pleasing mixture of purplish red. One
of the best for any purpose. Contributed by Mr. Fraser as
Japonica variegata, and by Mr. Turner as Rhomboidea obovata
variegata. Syn. Lhombea variegata, Marginata major, Rhom-
boidea, Japonica, Japonca variegata, New Japanese, Scintilla
argentea, Purpurea metallica. x Xx xX.

Discolor is of neat compact habit, the leaves deltoid, with
obtuse lobes, the colour dark dull green, plentifully sprinkled
with white or grey dots, sometimes tinged with red; the young
leaf-stalks red. Distinct and useful. Contributed by Mr. Turner
as Marmorata elegantissima, and by Mr. Fraser as Maculata
TUROT. XeX:

Chrysophylla is variable and uncertain, and needs to be kept
to the best possible character by propagating from the best
coloured growths obtainable. It is well known as a fast-grow-
ing Ivy of robust habit; the leaves, occasionally richly coloured

IVIES IN THE SOCIETY’S GARDEN. 893

deep yellow in patches or in a mottled form, justify one of its
names of ‘‘Clouded Gold.” Contributed by Mr. Turner as
Spectabilis awrea, and by Mr. Fraser as Gold-clouded. The
plant sent by Mr. Turner as Angularia aurea is Chrysophylla in
one of its many forms differing but little from the type. x x x.

Chrysophylla Palmata is a brilliant golden-leaved variety of
the green-leayed Palmata. Contributed by Mr. Fraser as
Palmata nova aurea. Also known in gardens as Mrs. Pollock,
and Palmata aurea. xX Xx.

Succinata is of small growth, wiry, neat, the leaves bluntly
sagittate in form, pleasingly mottled with amber. Contributed
by Mr. Turner as Succinata. xX x. |

ARBORESCENT Forms OF HEDERA HELIX.

Aurea differs from the common Tree Ivy only in a plentiful
yellow variegation. It forms a neat miniature tree of a pleasing
character. Contributed by Mr. Fraser as Arborea folits aureis.
Syn. Arborescens aurea maculata.

Luteola differs from Aurea in having broader leaves of an
irregular rhomboid form; the young leaves are yellow, but
change to green as they mature. It forms a neat miniature tree.
Contributed by Mr. Fraser as Arborea flava variegata and
Arborea aurea. Syn. Pumila aurea, Aurea spectabilis, Arborea
aurea.

Chrysocarpa is the Tree Ivy bearing yellow berries; a beau-
tiful and fruitful shrub. Contributed by Mr. Turner as Arborea
flava. x Xx X.

Aureola.—The leaves are often broadly three-lobed, the
colouring a pale tintof yellow, chiefly apparent on the young
growth. Contributed by Mr. Turner as Arborea aurea.

Albo lineata is a tree form of Submarginata. The leaves are
narrow, bright green, with a narrow margin of white. It is not
showy, but makes a neat tree. Contributed by Mr. Turner as
Argentea major, andby Mr. Fraser as Rhombea variegata. xX x X.

VARIETIES OF INTERMEDIATE HABIT CONNECTING HEDERA
HELIX WITH HEDERA CANARIENSIS.

These appear to belong exclusively to the Channel Islands.
They are of robust growth, with large leaves, usually of a full’
M

394 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

bright green colour, and the lobes are often in a great degree
suppressed.

Major is a convenient name for a bold and vigorous form of
helix common to the Channel Islands, where several varieties
prevail, mostly intermediate in character between the helix of
the English woods and the Canariensis of the more southern
Atlantic islands. It is an uninteresting Ivy, though of excel-
lent habit both as to growth and colour. Contributed by Mr.
Turner as Major.

Smaragdina is undoubtedly the finest of the green-leaved
Tvies for distinctive character, vigorous growth, and richness of
colour. It approximates to the Channel Islands series; the
leaves are large, three to five lobed, of a brilliant emerald-green
colour. The plant trains itself closely on the driest wall, and
erows freely both winter and summer. Contributed by Mr.
Shirley Hibberd as Hibberd’s Emerald. x x x.

Angularis is a Jersey Ivy, with large leaves, angular in form,
and of a light green colour. Contributed by Mr. Turner as
Angularis.

Contracta approximates to Sagittefolia, the side lobes deltoid
and the front lobe wedge-shaped. Contributed by Mr. Turner
as Contracta.

Intermedia is a convenient name for a Jersey Ivy that ap-
proaches a five-angled form, in colour and general appearance
very near to the true Canariensis, but is of a lighter shade of
colour, and in other respects distinct. Contributed by Mr.
Turner as Hmeritis grandis.

VARIETIES OF HEDERA CANARIENSIS.

Viridis may be described as a giant form of Canariensis,
although it is distinct in outline and colour ; and one of the most
cheerful of Ivies. The leaves have three cusped lobes, or are
without lobes ; very broad in proportion to length, the colour
light grass-green. Contributed by Mr. Turner as Gigantea.
Well known as Algeriensis. x xX.

Maculata differs from the common green-leaved ‘ Irish Ivy’’
in being freely splashed with grey or whitish variegation. It
varies much, the best growths being richly coloured with creamy
blotches, and the young stems and leaf-stalks lively purple-red.

IVIES IN THE SOCIETY’S GARDEN. 895

Contributed by Mr. Fraser as Maculata latifolia. Syn. Mar-
morata, Variegata, Latifolia, Maculata. xX xXx.

Pallida is the best known of the variegated Irish Ivies. The
variegation consists in patches of creamy or whitish variegation,
occupying often half the leaf, and occasionally extending to per-
fect etiolation. It is very inconstant, and the etiolated growths
soon perish. When at its best itis strikingly beautiful. Contyri-
buted by Mr. Fraser as Hibernica variegata. Syn. Golden-
blotched, Aurea maculata, Canariensis aurea. XXX.

Canescens is a variegated form of the Algerian Ivy. The
colouring varies from creamy white to pale ashy grey; the leaves
are narrow and pinched. The plant is tender and inconstant,
and of quite secondary importance in the East of England; but
in Western counties it makes a free growth, and has some beauty.
Contributed by Mr. Fraser as Algeriensis variegata.

Lacteola is a superb variety, of bold, free habit ; vigorous in
growth and brilliant in colouring. The leaves are smaller than
any of the green-leaved forms of H. Canariensis, and somewhat
indistinct in form. The plant derives its beauty from the abun-
dance and purity of its creamy white variegation, in respect of
which it is unique. Contributed by Mr. Fraser as Maderensis
variegata, and as Lee’s New Silver. It is also known as Lee’s
Maderensis. X X X.

Hedera Colchica appears in the collection in one form only,
the well-known FRegneriana. Contributed by Mr. Fraser. It
should be labelled Colchica. x x x. '

Dentata, a large ovate form of Colchica, characterised by a
few sharp marginal spines. Contributed by Mr. Fraser as
Dentata. x x x.

M 2

896 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

CHISWICK GARDENS.

REPORT, ON, POPPING, 1689.

A LARGE and excellent collection of these were grown, and
when in full flower nothing can exceed the gorgeousness of their
appearance, the colours ranging from the most brilliant shades
to the most delicate tints. The one great fault is the short
duration of the flowering season. By good culture, growing in
good soil, and giving the plants plenty of room to extend, the
season may, however, be considerably prolonged.
They may be roughly divided into two classes :—

1. PAPAVER SOMNIFERUM.

This may be taken to include what are termed Carnation
Poppies, Chinese Poppies, and Pony-flowered Poppies, single
and double flowered. The plants are of erect growth. Height
from 2 to 8 feet. Foliage glaucous. Flowers large.

Double-flowered Forms.

1. Chinese Dwarf (Vilmorin).—Colours, cherry-red, flesh-
colour, bright rose, pure white, rose-cherry. Very fine strain.

2. Carnation.—Mixed, of somewhat taller growth than the
preceding.

3. Peony (Barr).—Colours, black, white, and crimson, x x x,
dark lilac, scarlet with violet, bluish red and white, light scarlet
and violet, x x, striped, dark red, rose and white, x x x,
white, X X X.

4, Danebrog.—Brilliant scarlet; base of each petal white ;
prettily fringed. A fine variety.

5. Rawson's Fringed, x x x.—Same as double Danebrog.

6. Stenforth, x x x.—This variety is of more compact
erowth than the others, and remains longer in flower. Flowers
very double ; of a peculiar shade of rose. Desirable.

7. Marseilles splendens.—Colour rose or flesh-colour. Flowers
large.

8. Snowdrift, x x x (Novelty Company).—Flowers large,

REPORT ON POPPIES. 897

very double, and finely fringed ; pure white. A very fine variety,
the best white.
Single-flowered Forms.

1. Danebrog.—Flowers large, brilliant scarlet; base of each
petal white, and beautifully fringed. Very showy. Flowers only
last about a day or so.

2. Mephisto, x x x.—Brilliant scarlet, with a large black
spot on each petal ; beautifully fringed like Danebrog.

3. Snowdrift (Novelty Company).—F lowers large; very pure
white, and finely fringed, like a white variety of Danebrog.
Single forms of the others are only too common, and are not
desirable.
2. PapAvVER RHM@aAs.

This includes the common Field Poppy, and the several selec-
tions made from these,such as the Double French or Ranunculus,
Japanese Pompones, the Shirley Poppies, Umbrosum, and
Hooker’s Poppy. Plants of a spreading or branching habit of
erowth. Leaves much divided; irregular, hairy. Flowers of
medium size, lasting but a short time, but flowering suc-
cessionally.

Double-flowered Forms.

1. Double French.—F lowers of various shades of colour, from
fiery scarlet to pink and white.

2. Ranunculus.—Similar to Double French.
3. Hooker’s Double.—F lowers deep scarlet ; very fine, double.

4. Umbroswm, x X X.—Flowers intense scarlet, each petal
having a large black spot. Very conspicuous. The double form
is inferior to the single.

5. Shirley Poppies, x x x.—Selected by the Rev. W. Wilks
from the common Field Poppy. A great improvement on the
Double French. Flowers large, semi-double; colours varying
from intense scarlet through all the various shades of pink and
rose to the purest white. Altogether of the most charming and
delicate character that may be seen. Require very careful selec-
tion every year to maintain the high standard of excellence.

6. Japanese Pompone (Novelty Company).—A coarse and
inferior stock of the Double French.

398 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Single-flowered Forms.

1. Hooker's Single-—See Hooker’s Double.

2. Shirley.—See double forms.

3. Pavoniwm.—A variety of the common Field Poppy, some-
what paler in colour, and with a dark disc.

4, Umbroswn—Flowers of the most intense scarlet, with a
very conspicuous black spot at the base of each petal. Very
showy and attractive.

NEW VARIETIES OF TOMATOES, 1889.

(For report of trials 1887-88 see page 6, Vol. XI., Journal
of the Royal Horticultural Society, 1889.)

1. Chenun (Vilmorin et Cie.).—Fruit large, smooth, red,
obovate. Vigorous grower. A free cropper. Distinct, good.

2. Conference, The (Royal Horticultural Society).—Fruit
medium size, round, smooth, red. Very free cropper, good
erower, fine quality. A good variety for outdoor culture. First-
class Certificate, 1889.

3. Dwarf Champion (Novelty Co.).—Fruit large, round,
smooth, pale crimson. Very strong dwarf habit, poor cropper.

4, Harly fed (Carter & Co.).—Fruit large, round, somewhat
flattened, smooth, deep red. A moderate cropper. Perfection
type.

5. Ficarazzt (Damman).—Fruit small, round, smooth, red.
A free cropper. Resembles Horsford’s Prelude.

6. First Little Beauty (Oakshott & Millard)—A form of
Early Dwarf Red.

7. Lorillard (Paul & Son).—Fruit large, smooth, deep red,
somewhat flattened. A moderate cropper. Same as New Harly
of Carter & Co.

8. Now Plus Ultra (Damman).—A true form of Hackwood,
Park Prolific.

9. No. 1 O. H. Alexander, Old Red.

10. The Peach (Novelty Co.).—Fruit small, round, smooth,
Geep crimson, covered with a peculiar peach-like bloom. Good
cropper. Very distinct.

11. Reading Hybrid (Oakshott & Millard).—Fruit very large,
corrugated, coarse, pale crimson. A good cropper. Greatly
resembles the Mikado.

REPORT ON MARIGOLDS. 399

12. Surpasse (Gilbert).—Fruit large, smooth, deep red,
obovate. A free grower ; moderate cropper.

13. Tom Thumb (Damman).—A good form of Early Dwarf
Red.

14. Wiles’ Prolific (Wiles)—Fruit medium size, smooth,
round, deep red. Very free bearer. A very good variety.

15. Yellow King (Novelty Co.).—Fruit very large, rough,
pale yellow flushed with red. Moderate cropper.

REPORT ON MARIGOLDS, 1889.
AFRICAN.

Dwarf Orange (Barr) (Dippe), x x x .—Flowers of medium
size, semi-double, of a bright orange colour. Comes into flower
about a fortnight before the ordinary varieties, and is valuable
on that account. Height, 20 to 24 inches. Compact.

Lemon Queen (Dobbie), x x x.—Flowers very large and
double, of a pale yellow colour. Exceedingly fine strain. Height,
24 to 3 feet.

Lemon (Barr) (Dippe).—F lowers large and fine, pale lemon.
Height, 3 feet.

Quilled Lemon (Barr).—Flowers of medium size, prettily
quilled. Height, 3 feet 6 inches.

Orange (Barr) (Dippe).—F lowers dark orange, large and fine.
Height, 3 feet to 3 feet 6 inches.

Prince of Orange (Dobbie), x x x .—Flowers very large and
fine. A very fine selection. Height, 2 feet 6 inches.

Quilled Orange (Barr).—F lowers semi-double, partly quilled.
Pretty.

Dwarr FRENCH.

Aureo-floribunda (Barr).—Flowers small, pure yellow.
Height, 18 inches.

Dwarf Compact Gold-striped (Barr).—F lowers yellow ; a few
striped. Height, 16 inches.

Dwarf Gold-striped (Barr).—F lowers small, having a purple
disc and yellow edge. Very pretty.

Mimature (Dippe).—Flowers small, quilled, dark purple.
Height, 12 inches. Compact.

Minature Brown (Barr)—Flowers mostly single, dark
brown.

400 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Muniature Orange (Barr).—F lowers mostly single, orange.

Dwarf New Golden (Barr), x x x .—Flowers small, orange-
yellow. Very pure and good. A fine selection.

Dwarf Quilled Golden-yellow (Barr).—F lowers small, com-
pact, prettily quilled.

Dwarf Orange (Barr).—F lowers deep orange, very double.

Electric Light (Carter), x x x .—Flowers pale lemon colour
very double, and finely striped. Height, 14 inches.

Dwarf Pulchra fl. pl. (Dippe).—F lowers small, very double,
bright yellow. Height, 12 inches. Compact.

Tall French Marigold (Dobbie), x x x.—Flowers bright
lemon, very double; a few striped. Height, 3 feet.

REPORT ON TEN-WEEK STOCKS, 1889.

A large collection of the different varieties of these were
again grown, the seeds having been received from the two great
German seed-growers, Messrs. Dippe and Otto Putz, of Quedlin-
burg. The various colours in each class were sent separately,
but were mixed before sowing.

1. Dwarf German (Dippe), x x x.—80 colours. Growth
compact. Height, 14 to 18 inches. The dark purple colour,
specially fine, x x x.

2. Hxtra-double Large-flowering (Putz).—Very similar to
No. 1. The yellow colour, x x x.

8. Large-flowering (Dippe), x xX x.—15 colours. Flowers
large, very double. Height, 20 inches. A fine strain.

4, Giant or Tree (Putz).—Same as No. 3.

5. Large-flowering Pyramidal (Dippe).—12 colours. Flowers
large and fine. Height, 12 to 15 inches.

6. Large-flowering Pyramidal Mimature (Dippe), x x X.—
8 colours. Very compact growth. Fine full spike. Height,
12 inches.

7. Large-flowering Globe Pyramidal (Dippe).—12 colours.
Height, 18 inches. Flowers large, fine.

8. Large-flowering New Pyramidal (Putz).—8 colours.
Same as No. 7.

9. Large-flowering Dwarf Pyramidal (Putz).—10 colours.
Of very compact growth. Height, 10 to 12 inches.

REPORT ON CHINA ASTERS. 401

10. Large-flowering Wallflower-leaved (Putz), x x x.—
8 colours.

11. Large-flowering Wallflower-leaved (Dippe).—12 colours.
Of dwarf, compact growth. Height, 12 to 15 inches. A very
fine selection.

12. Hxtra-double Dwarf (Putz), x x x.—12 colours. Very
dwarf, with large flowers.

13. New Perpetual Perfection (Dippe).—38 colours. Height,
24 inches, branching. Second-rate.

14. Newest Perpetual Perfection (Dippe).—8 colours. Of
strong robust growth. Height, 24 to 80 inches. Flowers large
and fine.

15. Dwarf Bouquet (Dippe).—12 colours. Of dwarf, bushy
habit. Flowers small. Inferior.

16. Double Dwarf Bouquet (Putz).—6 colours. Same as
No. 15.

17. Perpetual Dwarf (Dippe).—6 colours. Of small com-
pact growth. Height, 12 to 15 inches.

18. Victoria Bouquet, red (Dippe), x x x .—Of very compact
serowth. Flowers fine deep scarlet.

19. New Robust Rocket or Giant Bomb (Dippe), x x x.—
10 colours. Of strong, vigorous growth, branching and pro-
ducing long spikes of flower. Height, 24 to 30 inches.

REPORT ON CHINA ASTERS, 1889.

Collections of these were received from Messrs. Dippe Brothers
and Otto Putz, of Quedlinburg ; M. Damman, of Naples; Messrs.
Barr & Son; and Messrs. Dobbie & Son, of Rothesay. A good
trial of Asters having been made in 1888, and reported on in the
Society’s Journal, Vol. XI., page 15, it is not deemed necessary—
the same arrangement being followed—to enter into descriptions
again this season.

1. Chrysanthemum-flowered.

Dwarf Chrysanthemum (Dippe).—12 colours. Height,
12 inches.

Dwarf Chrysanthemum (Barr), x x.—Mixed. Height,
12 inches.

Dwarf Queen (Putz).—6 colours. Height, 12 inches.

402 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Dwarf Queen, Large-flowered (Dippe), x x x.—5 colours.
Height, 12 inches. |

Dwarf Victoria (Dippe).—-12 colours. Height, 12 inches.

Victoria (Dippe).—12 colours. Height, 12 inches.

Dwarf Chrysanthemum, Extra-double (Dippe).—4 colours.
Height, 14 inches.

Dwarf Chrysanthemum, Extra-double (Putz).—12 colours.
Height, 14 inches.

German Victoria, Extra-double (Putz), x x x.—12 colours.
Height, 15 inches.

— Veetoria, Extra-double German (Putz).—8 colours. Height,

17 inches.

New Victoria (Barr & Son).—Height, 20 inches.

Chrysanthemum, Dwarf (Damman).—Height, 20 inches.

Improved Lose (Dippe), x x x.—16 colours. Height,
22 inches.

Victoria (Damman).—Height, 20 to 24 inches.

Triunvph (Putz).—Searlet. Height, 17 inches. Very fine.

Mignonne (Putz).—White. Height, 17 inches. Pure white.

2. Peony-flowered.

Dwarf German Peony-flowered Perfection, Extra-double
(Putz).—8 colours. Height, 15 inches.

Truffaut's Paeony-flowered Perfection (Putz).—12 colours.
The purple specially noted. Height, 16 inches.

Dwarf Peony-flowered Perfection (Dippe).—12 colours.
Height, 18 inches.

Paony-flowered Perfection (Dippe’s Improved).—12 colours.
Height, 20 inches. Flowers large and fine.

Peony-flowered Perfection (Damman).—Height, 24 inches.
Mixed, coarse.

3. Globe Peony-flowered.

Peony-flowered Globe (Dippe).—12 colours. Height,
18 inches.

New Victoria Globe, Hxtra-double German (Putz).—6 colours.
Height, 18 inches. Late flowering.

Prince of Wales (Dippe).—4 colours. Height, 17 inches.

Peony-flowered Globe (Putz).—8 colours. Height, 20 inches.

Mont Blanc (Dippe).—4 colours. Height, 28 inches.

REPORT ON CHINA ASTERS. 408

4, Emperor.

German Emperor (Dippe).—12 colours. Height, 19 inches.
New German Emperor (Barr & Son).—Height, 14 inches.

5. Queen of the Market.

Queen of the Market (Dippe).—4 colours. Flowers large,
open, coarse. Very early.

6. Pyramidal Bouquet-flowered.

Dwarf Bouquet (Dippe), x x x.—12 colours. Height,
13 inches. |

Improved Dwarf Pyramidal Bouquet (Dippe).—Height,
13 inches.

Dwarf Pyramidal (Dippe), x x x.—12 colours. Height,
14 inches.

Dwarf Bouquet EHlegantissima (Barr & Son).—Mixed,
Height, 11 inches. Very poor.

Victoria Bouquet Pyramidal (Dippe).—6 colours. Height,
16 inches.

Boltze’s Dwarf Bouquet, Extra-double (Putz).—12 colours.
Height, 12 inches. |

Pyramidal (Dippe).—20 colours. Height, 20 inches.

7. Imbricated Ponvpone.

Imbricated Pompone (Putz), x x x.—8 colours. Height,
18 inches. :

Grace Aster (Dippe).—8 colours. Height, 18 inches.

Imbricated Pompone (Barr & Son).—Mixed. Height,
22 inches.

8. Crown Pompone.

New Imbricated Pompone, white centre (Putz).—6 colours.
Height, 18 inches.

Ponmpone Crown (Dippe).—4 colours. Height, 18 inches.

9. Crown or Cocardeau.
Crown (Dippe), x x x.—6 colours. Height, 22 inches.

Dwarf Crown (Dippe), x x x.—4 colours. Height, 16 inches.
French Cockade (Barr & Son).—Mixed. Height, 24 inches.

404 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

10. Dwarf German.

Best Double German Dwarf (Putz).—12 colours. Height,
10 inches. Very early flowering.

11. Double German.

Half-dwarf Pompone (Putz), x x x.—6 colours. Height,
20 inches. Very compact growth, small flowers.

12. Lilliput.

New Lilliput, Best Double German (Putz), x x x.—6 colours.
Height, 15 inches. Very compact.

Lilliput (Dippe), x x x.—6 colours. Height, 18 inches.

LIuilliput (Damman).—Colours mixed. Height, 19 inches.
Very late flowering.

Schiller (Dippe).—4 colours. Height, 18inches. Half-quilled.

13. Needle or Cellular.

Victoria Needle (Putz), x x x.—4 colours. Height, 18 inches.
Compact growth. Very bright colours.

Victorva Needle (Dippe), x x x.—10 colours. Height,
19 inches.

14. Hedgehog or Porcupine.

Best Double German Hedgehog (Putz), x x x.—6 colours.

Very bright. Height, 18 inches.

Hedgehog Improved (Barr & Son).—Colours mixed. Height,
22 inches. Somewhat coarse.

15. Shakespeare.
Shakespeare (Dippe)—10 colours. Height, 9 inches.
Flowers small, quilled.
Dwarf (Dippe).—20 colours. Height, 8 inches.

16. Quilled.
Extra-double Quilled German (Putz).—12 colours. Height,
15 inches.
Reid’s Improved Quilled (Putz).—10 colours. Height,
18 inches.

REPORT ON CHINA ASTERS. 405

Best Double German Globular (Putz).—8 colours. Height,
18 inches. Coarse flowers and straggling growth.

Quilled (Dippe).—18 colours. Height, 18 inches. Spread-
ing. Inferior.

Globe Quilled (Dippe).—18 colours. Height, 22 inches.
Flowers large, coarse.

Inyproved Betteridge’s (Dippe).—16 colours. Height, 26 inches.
Flowers of fine form.

Betteridge’s Perfection (Barr & Son).—Colours mixed. Height,
30 inches. Flowers large and moderately good.

Dobbie’s Globe Quilled (Dobbie & Co.).—12 colours. Flowers
large and fine.

406

x x x signifies ‘ Meritorious in the first degree ”’;

JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

AWARDS MADE,
On the recommendation of the Floral Committee,

To PLANTS GROWN FOR TRIAL IN THE GARDENS AT CHISWICK
DURING THE YEAR 1889.

x x signifies “‘ Meritorious in the

second degree.’ The names of those considered to possess no particular merit are omitted
from this list.

Ageratum Imperial Dwarf (Cannell). x
5 Cannell’s Dwarf (Cannell). x
es Countess of Stair (Cannell).

Aster Cocardeau (Dippe).

9

x xX xX

Double German Hedgehog (Putz).

PP) ”

» New Lilliput (Putz).
Dwarf Crown (Dippe). x x x
Bouquet (Dippe). x x x
Pyramidal (Dippe). x x x
Queen (Dippe), x x x.

9
9

9

Half- dwarf Pompone (Putz). x x
Improved Rose (Dippe). x x x
Lilliput (Dippe). x x x

Mont Blane (Dippe). x x

New Victoria (Barr). x x x
Victoria (Dippe). x x

Needle (Putz, Dippe). x

Dahlia (Bedding) Yellow Pet (Turner).

(Bouquet) Eccentric (Turner). x

x X
x xX
x X

x

x

x

x x
x X
x xX

(Cactus) Professor Baldwin (Ware).
(Single) Amos Perry (Turner), x x x.

Cetewayo (Cheal).
Chilwell Beauty (Ware).

Edith (Cheal).

Py nS aS

x X X

x
Imbriqué Pompone (Putz).

x

x
x
x

xXx X

x

(Putz), x x
Extra Double Dwarf Chrysanthemum (Putz).
German Victoria (Putz).

x X

xXx XX

x x

(Cheal), x x

x xX

Duchess of Westminster (Ware), x x.

(Cheal), x x x

i Excelsior (Cheal). x x x

5 Fashion (Cheal). x x x

. Florrie Fisher (Ware). x x x
3 Guardsman (Turner). x x

s Hugo (Cheal). x x x

- Kate (Ware). x x x

E; Lady Monckton (Cheal). x x
3 Magpie (Cheal). x x x

a Maud Millett (Cheal). x x

s Miss Gordon (Turner). x x

= Miss Linaker (Cheal). x x x
i Miss Ll. Pryor (Ware). x x x

Negro (Cheal). x x x
Paragon (Turner, Cheal).

Silver King (Cheal).
Victory (Cheal). x x x

Primrose Queen (Turner).
Queen of Singles (Cheal).

xX X X

x

Mr. Kennett (Turner, Cheal). x x x

AWARDS 407

Heliotrope Capus (Lemoine). x x x
- Victor Duruy (Lemoine). x x x
4 Fleur d’Eté (Lemoine). x x x
Pelargonium (Zonal) Charbonnier (Lemoine). x x x
ms », , Copernic (Lemoine). x x x
~ » Monsieur Poirier (Lemoine). x x x
‘ ty Opal (Pearson). x x x
Souvenir de Merod (Lemoine). x x x
Marigold (African) Dwarf Orange (Barr, Dippe). x x x
of 3 Lemon Queen (Dobbie). x x x
~ Prince of Orange (Dobbie). x x x
», (French) Dwarf New Golden (Barr). x x x
; z Electric Light (Carter). x x x
“ Striped (Dobbie). x x x
Stock, Dwarf German Ten-week (Dippe). x x x
», Extra Double Dwarf (Putz). x x x
», Large-flowering Pyramidal Miniature Ten-week (Dippe). x x x
a Be Ten-week (Dippe). x x x
» ” A Wallflower-leaved (Dippe). x x x

Harpy ANNUALS SOWN IN THE OPEN GROUND Marcu 15, 1889.

Asperula (orientalis) azurea setosa (Barr & Son). x x
Mentzelia (Bartonia) aurea (Barr & Son). x x x
Cacalia aurea (Barr & Son). x x x
Calendula officinalis superba (Barr & Son). x x x
Calliopsis bicolor coronata (Barr & Son). x x x
Campanula macrostyla (Barr & Son). x x x
Candytuft, Dobbie’s New White Spiral (Dobbie & Co.). x x x
5 Dunnetti (Barr & Son). x x x
s New Carmine (Barr & Son). x x x
Y », Hybrid, mixed (Barr & Son). x x
$5 Tom Thumb (Barr & Son). x x
Centaurea Cyanus, bright blue (Barr & Son). x x x
. rose (Barr & Son). x x x
Clarkia pulchella integripetala, strain (Barr & Son). x x x
Dianthus sinensis Eastern Queen (Barr & Son), x x x, (Vilmorin), x x
Erysimum arkansanum (Barr & Son). x x x
. peroffskianum (Barr & Son). x x x_
Eschscholtzia crocea alba (Barr & Son). x x x
Ws Mandarin (Barr & Son). x x x
Se tenuifolia (Barr & Son). x x x
Kutoca viscida (Barr & Son). x x x
Gilia linifiora (Barr & Son). x x x
Gypsophila elegans (Barr & Son). x x x
Hawkweed (Crepis), yellow (Barr & Son). x x x
Charieis heterophylla atro-violacea (Barr & Son). x x
Layia elegans (Barr & Son). x x x
» glandulosa (Barr & Son). x x
Lavatera trimestris (Barr & Son). x x x
_ alba (Barr & Son). x x x
Leptosiphon roseus (Barr & Son). x x x
Limnanthes Douglasii grandiflora (Barr & Son). x x x
Linaria reticulata aurea purpurea (Barr & Son). x x x
Linum grandiflorum coccineum (Barr & Son). x x
Lupinus hybridus atro-coccineus (Barr & Son). x x x
» luteus (Barr & Son). x x x
» nanus (Barr & Son). x x x
re » albus (Barr & Son). x xx

408 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Mignonette Covent Garden Favourite (Barr & Son). x x x
Nolana atriplicifolia alba (Barr & Son). x x x

blue, violet, and white (Barr & Son). x x x
Papaver Danebrog (REES.).. . 6 tee

» Double Peony, brick-red, white (Barr & Son). x x

A a - light scarlet, violet (Barr & Son). x x
PP 3 i. rose and white (Barr & Son). x x x
a . * scarlet with violet (Barr & Son). x x
= ") bs white (Barr & Son). x x x

o white and crimson (Barr & Son). x x x
i Hooker’s Double (Barr & Son). . x x x
y Shirley (Rev. W. Wilks). x x x
. (Single) Mephisto (Barr & Son). x x x
» sSnowdrift (Novelty Seed Company). x x x
a somniferum, French Steinforth (Barr & Son). x x x
.3 Rawson’s fringed (Barr & Son). x x x
umbrosum (R.H.S., Barr & Son). x x x
Platy. stemon californicum (Barr & Son).. (xxx
Scabiosa, Dwarf Double, mixed (Barr & Son). x x
= Half-dwarf Double, blood red (Vilmorin). x x x
Silene Armeria (Barr & Son). x x x
5, pendula, Double Pink (Barr & Son). x x x
Sultan, Sweet, yellow (Barr & Son). x x x
Sweet Pea Apple Blossom (Eckford). x x
3 », Splendour (Eckford). x x x

AWARDS MADE

On the recommendation of the Fruit and Vegetable
Committee.

Cuiswick Triats, 1889.

Brussels Sprouts Northaw Prize (Veitch). x x x

_ : Paris Market (Vilmorin). x x x

a ~ e », (Oakshott & Millard). x x
Pea Consummate (Eckford). x x x
Raspberry Hornet (Rivers). x x x

JOURNAL

OF THE

ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

SPRING-FLOWERING TREES AND SHRUBS.
By Mr. W. Gotprine, F.R.H.S.
[Read May 13, 1890.]

THE subject upon which I have been asked to speak to-day is
of considerable importance in gardening, seeing that hardy tree
and shrub growth forms the foundation of all really beautiful
gardens and parks. We can hardly imagine what England
would be like without the multitude of hardy ornamental trees
and shrubs which we have brought from other lands to embellish
our garden and park landscapes, and to mask the poverty of our
native tree flora. Happily our insular climate is peculiarly
suitable for the growth of the vast assemblage of exotic arbores-
cent vegetation which we have gathered from every temperate
region of the world; indeed there is probably no other country
where in one garden may be grown in the open air the plants
from such widely separated countries as Canada and Chili, Japan
and New Zealand.

An English open-air garden, a few acres in extent, may at
the present day contain a greater variety of temperate vegetation
than can possibly be seen collected in a similar area in any other
country, and this is why our park and garden scenery is the
admiration, not to say the envy, of all foreign visitors, especially
those from the mid-Continent, where the rigorous winters and
hot and dry summers are inimical to the well-being of hosts of
the beautiful trees and shrubs which we enjoy here, where the
atmosphere is perpetually moist and the winters rarely injure
even the plants of Japan and New Zealand.

One would scarcely imagine that the subject upon which
I am speaking is so important, considering the little attention
that is given to it at the present time. It is, in fact, one

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410 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

of the departments of gardening left to look after itself, and,
moreover, is one of the branches of the art in which few young
gardeners are trained. No special society is devoted to ornamental
arboriculture as in the case of other important classes of garden
plants, and rarely do we see at exhibitions, except those held by
this Society, any attempt to bring before the public the most
beautiful of the older kinds of hardy flowering trees and shrubs
and the many new varicties that are being continually introduced.
That a really beautiful and interesting display can be made of
flowering trees and shrubs alone is shown by the large and
magnificent collection gathered here to-day, chiefly from our
ereat national botanical garden at Kew, where, happily, there
exists the richest collection of temperate trees and shrubs in the
world, notwithstanding the fact that the soil there is not natu-
rally well adapted for the luxuriant growth of many classes of
deciduous trees and shrubs.

Ticannot be saidthat we have made somuch progress during the
last half-century in the direction of trees and shrubs as we have
in other branches of horticulture ; indeed I am inclined to think
that we have retrograded since Loudon’s time, when there was
far more attention paid to ornamental arboriculture than at the
present day. As evidence of this we have only to turn to the rich-
ness of tree-growth in old gardens and compare it with the poverty
of modern gardens. IT ifty years ago owners of gardens were far
more enthusiastic in the matter of planting than they are now,
stimulated as they were by this Society, which at that time
could boast of the finest arboretum in the world, from which
was distributed, directly or indirectly, a large proportion of the
magnificent trees which are now the admiration ofall from Land’s
End to John o’ Groats. But, unhappily for British horticulture,
the famous arboretum at Chiswick vanished, and from that
period it is not difficult to trace the decline of the public interest
in tree-planting. We ought to be grateful to those early tree-
planters, for have they not bequeathed to us our present enjoy-
ment of the magnificent trees that adorn old gardens, and which
time alone can produce ?

The result of this neglect of flowering trees and shrubs which
now prevails is reflected in gardens, for it is apparent to all who
know anything of the subject that modern gardens are neither
so beautiful nor so interesting as old gardens. The commonplace

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SPRING-FLOWERING TREES AND SHRUBS. ATT

aspect of more recently made gardens is in a great measure
accounted for by their owners’ lack of interest, and by the want
of knowledge on the part of their gardeners, to whom numbers of
the beautiful old flowering trees and shrubs you see around you
here to-day are practically unknown. Moreover, the prevalent
practice of employing nurserymen to lay out and plant gardens
too often results in an insipid garden, as the temptation to plant
the most easily propagated and quickly grown things is too great,
and so, as a rule, only the ordinary varieties of flowering shrubs
are planted instead of the newer and better soris.

As the demand for any class of plants obviously regulates the
supply, the consequence of the neglect I complain of is that it
does not pay nurserymen to keep a stock of the rarer trees and
shrubs that are seldom asked for, so that it is a difficult matter
now to get young plants of rare trees early introduced. Some
of our chief nurserymen haye, however, been active in intro-
ducing new exotic trees and shrubs, and Continental nurserymen
are continually adding to their lists new and improved varieties
obtained by the hybridist’s and raiser’s skill. We get nowadays
improved or florists’ varieties of such things as the Lilac, Cydonia,

Veigela, Hibiscus, and Mock Orange, just as in former days they
commenced to raise varieties of Rhododendron and Azalea ; and if
only greater attention were paid to the subject in this country, and
more encouragement given to nurserymen to produce novelties,
I am sure that as rapid strides would be made in the improve-
ment of fiowering shrubs as has been the case during recent years
with hardy herbaceous plants. Since the days of Loudon—
-than whom no one has done more to advance the knowledge of
exotic trees—_there has been an enormous addition made to the
material which he wrote upon. From the far east we have
obtained those beautiful Chinese and Japanese kinds that we see
before us, while from California in the extreme west, and from
Chili and New Zealand in the south, we have also received
numbers of trees and shrubs that were quite unknown to Loudon.
Our Royal Horticultural Society, through Robert Fortune, has
been instrumental in adding to this treasure, while the names of
Standish and Veitch in connection with Chinese, Japanese, and
North and South American plants will be known as long as
gardening lasts. Our national garden at Kew has always done

much to enrich the country at large, while we owe not alittle to
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412 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

our foreign friends, particularly those of the United States, who
have not only sent us of the rich flora of their great country, but
have also been our intermediary in securing numerous eastern
plants, a noteworthy example of which is before me, the
chastely beautiful Magnolia stellata, or Halleana as it is also
called. 3

Taking the old with the new, we have at the present day an
immense resource of flowering trees and shrubs—a bewildering
variety, I might say—so that the difficulty is to know how to
employ it properly for the embellishment of our parks and
gardens. What to plant and what to avoid is a subject of para-
mount importance to a landscape gardener, cr to anyone who
attempts to lay out and plant gardens so as to create the most
tasteful effects under the ever-varying conditions of soil, climate,
and situation. How to plant and how to cultivate trees and
shrubs should form a prominent branch in the training of every
man whose aim is to manage a garden well, be it public or
private. The cultivation of trees and shrubs—that is, the
proper selection, planting, renovating, pruning, and thinning—
is carried out in very few even among the best private gardens
in this country, the prevalent idea in the gardener’s mind being
that, when once planted, no tree or shrub should need further
attention. But there is a great difference between cultivated
trees and shrubs and those that receive no attention, as an
example of which I need only recall the magnificent specimens
of Coniferz in the garden at Dropmore (which old Philip Frost
used to cultivate as carefully as he did his fruit trees) and the
miserable, half-starved specimens of the same trees in the neigh-
bourhood. Again, let us imagine for the moment a Weigela,
Gueider Rose, Mock Orange, or Lilac that has been properly
planted in good, deep soil, annually renovated by surface dress-
ings, pruned in a rational way, and allowed free space on all
sides to develop its long, arching shoots, which every year would
be wreathed with bloom. Compare such a specimen with what
one generally sees in an ordinary shrubbery where the plants
were at the outset planted so thickly that in two or three seasons
they form a veritable jungle of choked shrubs, each trying to
thrust its head above the crowd, giving no pleasure to anyone
who beholds it. The typical shrubbery in an English garden is
never cared for, never renovated, never pruned, until the time

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SPRING-FLOWERING TREES AND SHRUBS. 418

comes when the drastic remedy of destroying it and replanting
is apphed.

To bring out to the full the beauty of flowering trees and
shrubs, they must be dealt with as attentively as a good gardener
deals with an orchard. Groups of shrubs, or a shrubbery, should
be well considered before planting. The aim should be to create
as much variety as possible, both as regards the skyline of the
masses and the harmony of colour they will display when the
plants assume their adult stage of growth, and this can only be
done properly by those who have an intimate knowledge of the
material with which they have to deal. If the shrubbery is
intended for a screen, then thicker planting than otherwise is
admissible; but if the intention of the groups is to display to
the fullest advantage the beauty of each shrub, then ample
space must be given to each, or, if planted thickly at first, timely
thinning out should be done. It is advisable to plant shrubs of
one species in groups of three or more, for then a fuller ex-
pression of that species can be obtained than by the ordinary,
haphazard mixture, though obviously this can only be carried out
in gardens of considerable extent. Lawn groups of shrubs may
be composed of one or more species; but unless a shrub is of an
elegant habit of growth—hke a Weigela, for example—several
kinds had better be grouped together in order to make a pleasing
mass. The most successful landscape gardeners have always
planted in this way, and in the neighbourhood of London one
may see excellent examples at the Crystal Palace by Sir Joseph
Paxton, at the Regent’s Park Botanic Garden by Mr. Marnock,
and in Battersea Park by Mr. Gibson, where one may see how
shrubs develop themselves and form beautiful groups by
thoughtful planting. In fact, the essence of tasteful landscape
gardening lies in the skilful arrangement of the flowering trees
and shrubs, their colours forming, so to speak, the high lights
of the picture, while the evergreens and other trees form its
body colour.

Withovt attempting to enumerate the long catalogue of
beautiful flowering trees and shrubs with which one may plant a
garden in England at the present day, I shall endeavour to pass
in review some of the more striking kinds that are in flower now,
and of which I have numerous specimens before me, or those
that will come into bloom between now and midsummer, and

414 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOUIETY.

which might be planted in a moderate-sized garden with an
adjoining park or meadow where the soil 1s of an ordinary loamy
nature. Among the deciduous kinds, taken alphabetically, we
have th: Horse-chestnut, such a well-known tree that I need
only allude to the doubie-flowering variety, which as a garden
tree, seeing that the single is so abundant, is perhaps preferable.
It is more showy in flower, the flower spike being more massive and
whiter, lasts in beauty longer, and does not produce fruit, which
in a public park or garden is a consideration. A’sculus rubicunda,
from North America, is one of our best trees of moderate growth,
the flowers being very rich in colour, the finest variety, which
should always be selected if possible, being of a deep rose-pink
with yellow blotches; and a new Continental variety, named
Brioti, is said to surpass in depth of colour any variety that has
been seen. 4. carnea is similar, but inferior in point of beauty of
flower. The Amelanchier, or Snowy Mespilus, is indispensable,
the whole tree being a sheet of white bloom in the middle of
May. If one only is planted, 4..Botryapiwm should be selected.
It groups well with the Almond (Amzygdalus), a favourite with
everyone, it being the first harbinger of spring among trees.
The macrocarpa variety of the Almond has the largest flowers,
and the richest in colour is the Crimson Peach, also called in
nurseries the double-flowering Peach. The Almonds and Peaches
should be planted so as to rise avove a mass of low shrubs,
and preferably with a background of evergreen, which relieves
their leafless mass of flowers. Passing over the deciduous
Berberises, as their autumn fruit is more remarkable than their
flowers, we come to the Caraganas, a small group of Pea-flowered
shrubs, of which it may be desirable to plant a representative,
and C. arborescens should be selected, it being a tall, dense-
erowing bush, with bright green foliage and yellow flowers. fhe

Jherries (Ccrasus) are so numerous that some consideration is
needed to select the best. The common double white, C. Aviwm
multiplex, is such a lovely tree that every garden should contain
it, as well as C. domestica jflore-pleno. A smaller tree is C. ser-
rulata or C. Sieboldi, a Chinese tree of very distinct growth,
and crowded at this season with white double flowers. Other
double Cherries of exquisite beauty are those named C. Waterert
and C. Juliana floribus roseis. The Mahaleb Cherry is perhaps
too common for a garden, but the weeping variety of it should

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SPRING-FLOWERING TREES AND SHRUBS. 415

be in the most select list ; and likewise the weeping variety of
the common Bird Cherry (C. Padus), which should always find
a place in a park or ornamental meadow ; while the list of select
Cherries might be extended to the North American Bird Cherries,
C. serotina and virginiana, both fine trees. The Judas tree
(Cercis Siliquastrum), of which some fine branches are before
me, is quite a neglected tree in modern gardens, yet everyone
admires the quaint old trees one sees in old gardens. It
has, moreover, a peculiar interest in having been one of the
earliest introduced trees from Southern Europe, having been a
favourite in Enelish gardens since the time of Gerard in the
latter part of the sixteenth century. There is a very pale—
almost white—variety of the Judas tree, but the Chinese and
Canadian species are inferior.

The Thorns (Crategus) are most important flowering trees,
all of small size, so that even a small garden may contain the best
kinds. Of the common Thorn there are numerous kinds, a few
of the best being the double scarlet (Paul’s Scarlet Thorn), the
double white (nvwltvplex), the single scarlet (pwnicea), the pink
(carminea), and the weeping white (pendula). What in a garden
can be more beautiful than a group of these Thorns on a lawn
by themselves, or rising out singly from a mass of evergreen
undergrowth ?

Among other species of Cratsmgus desirable to have in a
choice selection would be C. coccinea (scarlet berries) tanaceti-
folia, Crus-Galli var. pyracanthifolia, orientalis, and cordata ;
but the list might be extended to a dozen good kinds.

The Brooms (Cytisws) include the favourite white Spanish
Broom, the common Broom with its varieties, the white, and
Andreanus, which is shown here to-day for the first time, and is
the admiration of everyone (fig. 39, p. lix.). These early Brooms
are capital plants for clothing dry banks, and the group might be
made to incinde the beautiful kinds that flower towards autumn.
The Daphne Mezereum, flowering as it does in winter and spring,
must not be excluded on any account, and a pretty group might
be made by the white and dark red (atro-rwhrum) varieties.
The Deutzias, though they will not be in flower for a month,
must yet be in the list, particularly the double white D. crenata
flore-pleno and candidissima. EHxochorda grandiflora, now in
full beauty of bloom, has deservedly become a popular favourite

416 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

in many gardens; the profusion of its large white blossoms and
its spreading and elegant growth render it an admirable isolated
lawn shrub.

The Forsythias (f’. suspensa and JF’. viridissima) are par-
ticularly valuable, as they flower in April when few other shrubs
are in flower. Both have yellow flowers, and are very showy,
I’, suspensa being a slender weeping shrub suitable for isolation
on lawns, or for banks or bold rockwork ; the other, being erect
in growth, is more suitable for tiie fringe of the shrubbery group.

Garrya elliptica, from California, though not showy, has a
peculiar value, as it flowers in early spring, and when a good
specimen is profusely hung with long green catkins is extremely
graceful. It is generally planted against a wall, but is quite
hardy in ight soils. Among the Genistas there are some choice
shrubs. G. lispanica, the yellow Spanish Gorse, is one of the
best, being something lke the common Furze, but dwarfer, and
forms a neat round bush, which in early spring glows with
bright yellow bloom. As rock shrubs, G. tinctoria and its
varieties and G. sagittalis are desirable ; and in late summer the
tall Etna Broom (G. etnensis) and G. virgata are highly attrac-
tive, and may be grown well on the poorest soils.

The Snowdrop tree is not one to recommend for every garden,
but where it succeeds is a beautiful small tree, being in June hung
thickly with tiny white wax-lke bells. The commoner species,
also called the Silver Bell tree, is Halesia tetraptera, and is pre-
ferable to the others, H. diptera and parviflora.

The Sun Rosos (Helianthemum), though generally grown in
the rock garden, are well suited as an outer fringe to a shrub
eroup planted on sloping ground, but they must have a lght
soil and all the sun and air possible. Besides the endless varieties
of H. vulgare and H. polifoliwm, there is H. formoswm, one of
the most beautiful of all dwarf shrubs, its flowers being yellow
with black spots.

The Jasmines include some indispensable shrubs for a small
garden, but only one, the favourite Jasminum nudiflorwm, which
flowers in winter and early spring, need be mentioned in this
list, and a companion for it is the old-fashioned Kerria japonica,
which is commonly seen adorning cottage walls ; but both are
hardy enough to plant in open groups, and are especially suited
for banks in a bold rock-garden.

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SPRING-FLOWERING TREES AND SHRUBS. 417

The Laburnum (LZ. vulgare) isa tree so well known that I
need only refer to the best varieties of it, which are all much
superior to the common kind usually planted. The varieties
named Watereri, Parkesii, and Carlieri should always be planted
in preference to the ordinary kind. The selection should also
include what is called the Scotch Laburnum (L. alpinum), a
beautiful rich yellow, and with broad deep-green leaves and dense
racemes, produced after all the other Laburnums are past. An
interesting tree is the curious L. Adami, which bears yellow and
purplish flower clusters on the same branch, and it may be
obtained from all good nurseries.

The Magnolias are glorious spring-flowering trees, particularly
the Chinese and Japanese species, which may be grown even in
small gardens. No other tree or shrub can rival the beauty of
the Yulan (1. conspicua) in full flower; the great ivory-white
blossoms are so plentiful as to make the tree a leafless mass of
white, twenty or thirty feet in height in fine specimens. The
varieties of it are several, the finest being those named Soulange-
ana, nigra, Alexandrina, and Norbertu, all having large flowers,
more or less tinted with purple, and were probably originated
by intercrossing M. conspicua with M. obovata (M. purpurea),
of which the splendid M. Lenné is a variety. Every variety of
these Eastern Magnolias is worth planting, but preference should
be given to those named. They are capital trees for a small
lawn, as they do not grow large, but they must be planted in the
open, in good soil, and not in the shade. The very early-flowering
M. stellata or Halleanais a gem among small trees, being in April
and early May a mass of white flowers before the leaves appear.
The larger American species, WM. acuminata, cordata, tripetala,
and auriculata, are all handsome trees, but not so showy as the
others, and do not come under the definition of select flowering
trees; but a place should always be given to the deliciously
fragrant M.glauca and its variety Thompsoniana, which for several
weeks in summer bear larze cup-shaped ivory-white blossoms.

The North American Nuttalliacerasifornus is awelcome shrub
in early spring, bearing flowers resembling a white Flowering
Currant, which shrub (fibes sanguineum) of course must always
be found in a good shubbery; but instead of the common kind
the rich-coloured variety, atro-rubens, should be planted, and
may be grouped with the white (albwm) variety, the yellow

418 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

(f. aureum), and R. Gordomanum, which is intermediate between
R. aureum and f. sanguineum. <A very pretty shrub is R&R. spe-
ciosum, so much like a red Fuchsia that it is also called
RF. fuchsioides. It is Californian, but quite hardy in light soils.

The Pears and Apples (Pyrus) include so many beautiful
flowering trees and shrubs thatit is difficult to select the best, and
as these are well known, I need only mention the names of a
few I should always choose. These are P. floribunda, one of
the most beautiful of small early-flowering trees; P. baccata,
whose showy blossoms are succeeded by bright-coloured Cherry-
like fruits; P. spectabilis, than which there is no finer flowering
tree of medium size; P. Maulei, a small-growing shrub with
orange-vermilion flowers, succeeded by handsome Apple-like
fruits ; and P. japonica, commonly known as Cydonia, of which
now there are numerous varieties, the most desirable being those
named nivalis, white; cardinalis, deep crimson ; princeps,
crimson ; 7osea, rose-pink ; coccinea, scarlet ; and the beautiful
variety certificated to-day under the name of Moerloosei. This
selection would make a beautiful lawn group relieved in outline
by the taller-growing P. floribunda or P. baccata.

The Robinias are beautiful flowering trees, but only R. hispida,
the Rose Acacia, flowers early. This is a splendid small tree,
with long racemes of large flowers of a rose-pink. The variety
inernus does not differ materially from the type, and is equally
beautiful. This tree should always be planted in a sheltered
spot, otherwise it is lable to damage by winds. ‘The later-
flowering Robinias include the beautiful R. viscosa, which is
one of the choicest lawn trees, and also Decaisne’s variety of
R. Pseudacacia. Rubus deliciosus is a shrub from the Rocky
Mountains that is yet but little known, but its extreme beauty
renders it one of the choicest shrubs, the flowers being large
pure white, like single Roses, and produced plentifully on a
eraceful bush, which is perfectly hardy, and may be planted as
a single specimen on a lawn.

The Shrubby Spireas, though so numerous, have not among
them many early-flowerers, the only species that are in flower
now being the pretty little S. Thunbergi and S. confusa, both
good dwarf shrubs ; but soon these will be succeeded by a crowd
of others, including S. callosa and varieties, S.hypericifolia and
varieties, S. cantoniensis or S. Reevesiana, Nobleana, Douglasi,

SPRING-FLOWERING TREES AND SHRUBS, 419

opulifolia, and salicifolia, all of which should not be forgotten
in a choice list.

~The Lilacs (Syringa) include so many good sorts that
it is not easy to say which is the best, but I should always plant
the new highly coloured kinds in preference to the older sorts.
There are none finer than Souvenir de L. Spiith, Camille de
Rohan, Dr. Lindley, Charles the Tenth, and the rich variety
certificated to-day Mme. Kreuter, which perhaps eclipses
all others in colour, while among the whites I should choose
alba grandiflora and Marie Legraye. The double-flowered
Lilacs raised by M. Lemoine are coming into favour, as they are
found to last longer in bloom, and as a graceful shrub the old
Persian, S. persica, must be comprised in a selection.

he Viburnums include the old Guelder Rose, which is seen

in every garden, and a very fine shrub it is when treated liberally
and allowed to spread freely on all sides. The Japanese Snow-
bali-tree (V. plicatum) deserves to be more often planted than it
is, being perfectly hardy, and at this season its long shoots are
wreathed with snow-white balls of bloom.

The Weigelas comprise now a large number of sorts since
raisers on the Continent have taken them in hand. Besides the
beautiful W. amabilis, which is still one of the finest, we have a
long list of varieties of W. rosea, a selection from which would
include those named candida and hortensis mivea, both lovely
white sorts; Van Houttei, Abel Carriére, Dr. Baillon, Isoline, P.
Duchartre, and Stelzneri, all more or less highlv coloured; while
the variegated sort, amabilis variegata, and the golden-leaved,
Looymansit aurea, would lend their leaf-colour to brighten the
sroup when out of flower.

In the foregoing remarks I have been able only to touch the
fringe of my subject, which is a larger one than can be dealt with
in a paper of this nature. I have not even alluded to the host
of beautiful shrubs that could be added to the list I have given
if a garden were on a suitable soil for the growth of peat-loving
shrubs, such as Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Hricas, Ledums,
Clethras, Menziesias, Andromedas, Kalmias, and the like; neither
have I been able to touch upon the evergreen kinds, and the
many fine shrubs that flower later, and which are included
in the genera Ligustrum, Hypericum, Philadelphus, Stuartia,
Kueryphia, Olearia, V evonica, Hibiscus, Spartium, Indigofera,

490 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Cistus, and others, but I hope that sufficient has been said
to point out some of the material which can be employed in
making an English garden attractive and interesting during
the spring and early summer months.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. GEorGE NIcHOLsoN, in referring to the statement that
many plants had disappeared from gardens since Loudon’s time,
said that no doubt this was true to a certain extent, but it should
also be remembered that many other newly introduced plants
had taken their place, and if a census were taken it would be
found that a far larger total number of plants were now cultivated
than in Loudon’s time. Perhaps one reason why many things
seemed to have been lost was because they had been so improved
by cultivation as to be almost unrecognisable when compared with
the original types. ‘There are now many fine shrubs in our gar-
dens, but, like everything else, they require careful cultivation, and
should in every case receive the particular treatment that each
one requires, paying attention to soil, ight, air, and soon. In
fact, shrubs should be treated as if they were fruit-trees, and the
results would then certainly be satisfactory. Among trees worth
cultivating, Mr. Nicholson mentioned the single Horse-chestnut,
than which he could not find anything more beautiful. Magnolia
conspicua, too, was a fine shrub, and by no means uncommon ;
there were some very large specimens of it at Kew. The Ame-
lanchier, with its abundance of sprays of white flowers, and
the common Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus) are shrubs of
much value, and might be cultivated more than they are with
advantage.

Sir JoHn LLEWELLYN, Bart. (who was absent during most of
Mr. Goldring’s lecture) said he was not aware, owing to his absence
if Mr. Goldring had touched on that branch of the subject which
included Azaleas and Rhododendrons. He said he was sure that
most people were unaware of the hardiness in this country of
many Indian species of these plants. They were considered too
difficult to grow, but he said some of them were hardy enough for
the most part in the English chmate. The chief attention, how-
ever, should be paid to the soil in which they grew, as the pre-
sence or absence of lime affects these particular plants very much.

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SPRING-FLOWERING TREES AND SHRUBS. 491

Among the best kinds of Rhododendrons to be planted out, Sir
John mentioned that R. Thomsoni, R. barbatum, R. campanula-
twm, and a few others would be sure to give great satisfaction.
As to Azaleas, he predicted that a great future was before them.
Azalea pontica was introduced in the last century, and he thought
that if seedlings were raised a great variety of forms would be
created. American Azaleas existed in great variety, and are
so good as to require very little, if any, improvement. Azalea
mollis, a native of Japan, has not been so good for crossing as
A. pontica, but the strain might be improved. Some years ago
Mr. Waterer sent out some hardy hybrid Azaleas, into the flowers
of which much colouring was infused. On the whole, Azaleas-—
of course, not Indian Azaleas, which require to be grown only in
very favoured positions out of doors—hold a very high place
among spring-flowering plants, and he recommended, in conclu-
sion, that the hardiest species of every class of plants should be
tried out of doors, and if this were done we should have erat
power in extending the beauty of our gardens.

Mr. GoupRING, in reply to Mr. Nicholson, said that he did not
mean to say we had gone backward in the introduction of trees
and shrubs since Loudon’s time, but that there was a great con-
trast between the plants grown thirty or forty years ago and
those now generally cultivated. This was owing largely to
fashion—for there is a fashion in gardening as in other things.
At one time the craze was for planting trees and shrubs, but
now the fashion runs in ancther direction. He did not mean to
disparage the single Horse-chestnut, but simply mentioned the
double Horse-chestnut for planting, so that his garden might be
different from that of other people. As to the Japanese Snowbal!-
tree (Viburnum plicatum), it sometimes gets frostbitten, though
it is perfectly hardy, and he believed it was one of the best shrubs
for planting. In answer to Sir John Llewellyn, he said he would
have spoken more about Azaleas and Rhododendrons, but if he
once began to talk about one particular species, he would have
felt inclined to go on talking of several.

poe
bo
bo
2

e©OURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

HERBACEOUS FAIONIES.
By Mr. Grorer Pavut, F.R.H.S.

[Read June 10, 1890.]

Tus Pony, cultivated as a double flower in many varieties,
is a modern introduction—so modern that we are in time, by
taxing the memory of men living who have seen the rise of the
plant as a florist’s flower, to secure its correct history. I appre-
hend the Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society cannot be
better employed than in registering the horticultural progress of
any gardening flower, and.so I have endeavoured, in the short
paper I am about to read, to obtain thisrecord. Mr. Lynch will
treat of the various species of Pzeonies, and you will learn that,
in his opinion as a practised botanist, the garden varieties spring
from a few species only. From careful observation of varieties,
he appears to me to be quite correct in assuming them mostly to
be sprung from P. albiflora and P. officinalis; some few from
P. peregrina ; and two or three from P. tenuifolia; but we have
to add to these, as the originals of our garden varieties, the two
double forms imported from China as P. Reevesi and P. Pottsi,
which probably gave rise to their name of Chinese Peonies,
‘‘ hybrids of sinensis’ as they are called in Verdier’s list—the
Anemone-flowered varieties seeming to appear in both the offici-
nalis and paradoxa offspring.

The double forms therefore existing when the florists took
them in hand were the three forms of officinalis, rubra, rosea,
and carnescens plena ; anemoneflora plena, Leevesz, Pottsi, and
tenuifolia plend. The older writers mention few : Gerard in 1598,
the double white and double red, and a single red and white
variety, and he adds ‘‘all sorts of Pseonies do grow in our London
cardens.’’ Parkinson mentions two double forms in the “ Para-
disus ”’ in 1656—the double red as very common and the doukle
blush. Miller’s dictionary gives two double red and “ the greater
Peony with a double whitish flower,” probably our carnescens.
In Hales’ ‘‘ Eden,’”’ 1773,-one, the great double red Peony, is
described. Kew, from the ‘‘ Hortus Kewensis ” of 1789, possessed
only two kinds, officunalis and tenuifolia; whilst Abercromby in
1786, and Mackintosh in 1828, neither of them mentions Ponies
as garden flowers. My own firm’s number book of about 1850

HERBACEOUS PONIES. 493

has only the double forms I mentioned at the beginning of this
paper as forming the groundwork on which the florists worked.

With these data, finding it was about 1840 that the sale of the
first raised seedlings began, I sought information from two of the
Kinglish plantsmen who are still amongst us, Mr. Robert Parker
and Mr. Salter. Mr. Parker’s first recollection of a collection
of named sorts was that of Mr. Loddige, about 1845. But the
collections in his nursery were disposed of, if I recollect aright,
about 1853, and I have no catalogue except a page or two used
in the binding of a small volume of Scott’s poems, but, un-
happily, it is not the Peony page. Mr. Parker sent me some
bound copies of Salter’s lists from 1855, and Mr. Salter kindly
writes : ‘‘ My father began to form his collection about 1850 with
the species—such as edulis (albiflora), Potist and Reevesi from
Osborn’s, others from the Angers nurseries, also four from Van
Houtte and Van Geert in Belgium, and some few were our own
seedlings raised at Hammersmith. This is all I remember about
it, except that they had a large sale and we were quite unable to
execute the orders for such varieties as grandiflora nivea plena,
lutea plenissime, pulchrum, prolifera tricolor, &e.”’ In the
catalogues of 1855 these four sorts appear, and, as far as I have
dissected the lists, some twenty other double sorts.

Of this list four sorts are in my last year’s catalogue and
nine in Mr. Barr’s list of this spring. The names of these kinds
still grown are :—

P. grandiflora nivea, nivalis, anemoneflora striata, carnea
elegans, Duchesse d’Orléans, Reine des Francais, prolifera tricolor,
grandiflora rosea, Hume alba, and Potts.

So far the English record; but as the raisers were in the
earlier days of the herbaceous Peony mostly French or Belgian,
I sought out from those distinguished florists M. Lemoine, of
Nancy, and M. Keteleer, of Paris, both of whom had been
erowers of Peonies from the very beginning of their culture,
a record of the French raisers. I saw M. Keteleer on Satur-
day, and he kindly gave me all the information required, which
was confirmed independently by communications from M.
Lemoine. .

The first raisers were M. Lemon pére, of the Porte St.
Denis, Paris, about 1824: his kinds were mostly obtained: from
P. officinalis syn. sinensis, and amongst his earliest varieties

AQ4 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

were grandiflora nivea, sinensis odorata, and anemoneflora alba ;
and at the same date M. Jacques, gardener to King Louis
Philippe at Neuilly, who began with P. paradoxra. One of his
first was P. fimbriata sanguinea plena, his collection passing
on to his nephew, M. Victor Verdier, of Paris, who about 18388
sent out several of the varieties. Modeste Guérin, of Paris, in
1825 made rapid strides, sending out about 1887-8 such good
varieties as Modeste Guérin, Duchesse de Nemours, Mme. Fur-
tado, and the fine dark crimsons which owed their origin to
Te Potise.

‘Jn 1840 the Prince de Salm Dyck possessed a rich collection
of Peeonies,’’ writes M. Lemoine, ‘“ which I saw in 1842 at his
establishment at Soulange Bodin, near Paris; but,’’ he adds, “ it
was only about 1845 that the fine new double varieties were
sent out from the Paris establishment.’’ The principal and
latest raiser was M. Calot, of Douai (Nord), who inherited a
large collection from an amateur, the Comte de Cussy, and con-
tinued the collection and production of seedlings till 1872, when
his collection passed into the hands of M. Crousse, of Nancy,
whose careful selection of varieties sent out in an annual series
from that date until 1879, and subsequently his own seedlings
from 1882 to 1889, have brought our collections up to the high
standard which the varieties composing them have now attained,
Calot’s plants dominating all others, such as Mme. Calot, Jules
Calot, Souy. de Gaspar Calot, Mme. Crousse, Livingstone, Félix
Crousse, Modele de Perfection, Mme. Geissler, &c.

In Belgium an amateur, M. Buyck, about 1885 produced,
amongst others, Festiva maxima; and M. Parmentier, of Knghien,
some fine dark sorts, such as Duc d’Arrenberg.

Our English raisers, beginning with Mr. Salter and ending
with the fine series so splendidly and continuously shown by
Messrs. Kelway, show what can be done in our climate in raising
new kinds from seed. Mr. Kelway has been good enough to
embody his experience in the following letter :—

June 6, 1890.

Dear Mr. Paut,—You kindly asked me to give you an outline of
my doings with the Peony. Iam afraid I have but little to tell you
that may be interesting. My exhibits during the past ten years are
exemplifications of my success in its hybridisation and cultivation. I
happened to be at a neighbouring “wake” in 1863, and was much
impressei with the blooms of various Ponies which bedecked several

HERBACEOUS PONIES, 425

of the coats and dresses of some young men and maidens. I became
inquisitive as to where they had grown, and I found the plants growing
in an old woman’s “ flower knot,” as she was wont to call her garden—
a narrow strip about two feet wide between her cottage and the London
high road, on the Somerton hill, over which the stage coaches used to
travel from Exeter to London, and the spot which the coachmen and
guards proverbially said was the coldest in the whole drive. It1s worth
noting that in this parish several Roman pavements have recently
been uncovered, as the Peonies may have been brought there by the
Romans. I procured some of each of the species, and set to work in
the following year hybridising. I gota plant of corallina, which my
father’s sister, an old lady of eighty-four, had found on Steep Holm,
an island in the Bristol Channel. The leaves of this species are
different from all others, being entire; the foliage of all others, I believe,
is divided; the seeds, which remain on the seed-pods of corallina
after the pods are open, are very ornamental, and when the sun is
shining on them they look like amethysts. It so happened that the
woman from whom I got my first lot of Peonies possessed the scented
variety, and from this fact I attribute my success in getting so many
highly scented kinds.

I find Peonies will grow freely in any kind of soil—peat, clay, or
stone brash—but they are gross feeders, and luxuriate in deep loam
with plenty of manure. I find by growing the various species, I have
Peonies in bloom from the 1st of May to the end of June. It is very
pleasing to me to know that I have been the means of distributing
such a hardy and decorative plant to the million, giving them such a
profusion of bloom, requiring no protection from the severest weather,
enduring any amount of cold, any quantity of rain, or the severest
drought—filling, as the Peony does, a great want, that of providing «
quantity of flowers just before Roses may be had in abundance from
the open air.

The Peony is never attacked by any blight, game, vermin,* slug, or
snail, and my connection with it has been a source of renewed pleasure
from year to year. I have about five acres occupied with these noble
flowers, and when in bloom they are a great sight, people coming in
large numbers from far and near to see them and enjoy their perfume,
which can be detected at a considerable distance. The most useful
species to grow, with their varieties, are Moutan, decora, tenuifolia,

officinalis, paradoxa, and. albiflora. Yours sincerely
’

Wm. Ketway.

The result of the work of all these raisers may be fairly seen
in the collections submitted to you in the hall to-day.

The flowers are very large; in their varied shapes they are
fairly perfect; and they have nearly every colour. The lines
which improvements should take are, sweeter scent; a variation
of the petals of the flowers—in the one case to more even, closer
petals, in the other to more varied fimbriated petalled flowers ;
the separation of the earlier and later series, so as to prolong the

* Slugs and the larve of cockchafers have been known to work much

mischief.—Ep.
0

426 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
blooming season; and, as far as the bright reds are concerned,
larger flowers, and in the rose colours more variation of colour.
I have drawn up a list of the best fifty double kinds in my col-
lection, adding amongst the single kinds the twelve best early-
flowering sorts and the twelve best later ones. They are :—

50 Best DovusLte PxonIEs, suitable for Decoration of Garden
Borders.

European Sorts, May-flowering.

1. Old Double Crimson, officinalis rubra plena.
nae » Rose, pe rosea plena.
Bees: » -White, " alba plena (opening rose, fading white).

Asiatic Species.

4. Tenuifolia plena (an excellent kind).

Albiflora family, June-flowering.

5. Alice de Julvecourt, 13.
6. Boule de Neige. 14,
7. Duchesse de Nemours.
8

White or tinted pink.

Formosa alba.
Mme. Crousse.

15. Pulcherrima.
. Festiva maxima. 16. Charlemagne.
9. Grandiflora nivea. 17. Alfred de Musset.
10. Mme. Calot. 18. La Perle.
11. Nemie Demay (one of the best). | 19. Mme. de Verneille.

. Virgo Maria. 20. Mathilde de Roseneck.

Pink (and shades of). These we have found to be some of the most beau-
tiful and exquisite in shading, scent, and form of flower.

21. Artémise. 31. Rosamond.
22. Faust. 32. Reine des Roses.
23. Belle Douaisienne. 33. Charles Verdier.
24. Globosa. 34. Delicatissima.
25. Jeanne d’Are. 35. Francis.
26. Lady Leonora Bramwell. 36. L’Elégante.
27. Léone. 37. Mme. Lemoinier.
28. Lucréce. 38. Modéle de Perfection.
29. Mme. Chaumy. 39. Livingstone.
30. Modéste (Guérin).
Red or Crimson tinted.
40. Berlioz. 43. Gloire de Douai.
41. Mme. Forel. 44, Ambroise Verschaffelt.
42. Trojan. 45. Isabella Karlitzky.
Sulphur shades, with Pale Rose.
46. Mme. Emile Galle. 49. Solfaterre.
47. Claude la Lorraine. 50. Belle Chatelaine.
48, Triomphe de Paris. 51. La Fraicheur.

HERBACEOUS PONIES. 427

Brest SINGLE-FLOWERED PmonirES (24).
May-flowering Species.

1. Russi, rosy pink, dwarf, compact | 7. Tenuifolia, bright, vivid crim-
habit. son.
2. Lobata (officinalis lobata=con- 8. Triternata, very distinct in
chiflora). foliage.
3. Peregrina. 9. Decora elatior (from Southern
4. Officinalis (single). Russia).
5. Anemoneflora, golden anthers,; 10. Corallina (the English Peony),
lovely. 11. Wittmanniana, pale sulphur.
6. Arietina, very large rose. | 12. Sibirica.
Single June-flowering Peonies.
13. Albiflora. 18. Eila.
14. Tartarica, splendid shape, white,| 19. Gwendoline, pink.
shaded pink. 20. Numitor, single crimson.
15. Whitleyi,* the largest single her-| 21. Pantius.
baceous Peony. 22. Tameas, deep rose.
16. Pottsi, semi-double, dark crimson.| 23. Marquis de Lory, semi-double,
17. Galmi, rose. 24. Rubescens, white.

Now as to growing Peonies. They do well in any soil, only
I would say, the lighter it is, the deeper the soil needs culti
vating and the richer the manuring necessary. The lighter
also the soil, the more copious and more frequent the waterings,
for the Peony when coming into bloom and during its flowering
season needs frequent soaking. My culture on a heavy soil ig
this. A piece of land in good heart is chosen; the land is
trenched, or bastard trenched, a heavy dressing of manure being
placed just below the top spit; the ground is allowed to
fallow and get somewhat weathered, when it is ready for planting.
November to February is the best time for planting. A plant
with one to three crowns makes eventually the finest clump.
The earth should be cleaned well from the roots, so that they
may be clear of all sour soil or manure, and be ready to take to
the fresh soil. Plant them with the crowns about three inches
below the surface, and leave undisturbed until the shoots appear
in the spring, when an occasional watering and slight summer
mulching will help the next year’s blooms. ‘“ Artis long” in
planting Peonies. The new fleshy roots have to establish them-
selves, so do not expect more than a very moderate, if any,
bloom the first year. A winter mulch of manure, to be forked in
in the spring, will induce a few good flowers the next year, and
a soaking of manure-water will increase the beauty of these few
flowers ; but with this treatment it is the produce of the third

* This is also known as P. albiflora var. candida.—Ep.
c2

498 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

year which amply repays all the trouble of the cultivation, and
each clump in succeeding years will enlarge and become a
greater source of pleasure and enjoyment in the garden. It is
when four or five years old that Ponies give the noble, long-
stemmed flowers which in May and early June one sees filling vases
in almost every window in the French cities, and which make a
garden with only a few large clumps of Pzonies so beautiful and
so attractive.

A NEW CLASSIFICATION OF THE GENUS PAONIA.
By Mr. R. Irwin Lynou, F.R.H.S.; A.L.8.
{Read June 10, 1890.]

I sera leave to lay before the Society a new classification of
the genus Paonia, in which I have grouped and arranged the
species according to my estimation of their true relationship.
No natural arrangement exists that can be used for plants of the

present day, and I believe that such an arrangement is always:

the most useful and convenient. There are, for instance,
several plants in gardens that are incorrectly called Russz, and
by the following arrangement it may readily be observed that
they do not resemble any plant of the group in which Fuss: is
placed, and consequently it may be seen, without reading a
description, that the names are wrong.

This genus is found to be difficult; and though it would
scarcely be possible to remove all the difficulty, I hope by means
of this arrangement to make it more easily understood. It is
difficult for various reasons, but more especially in gardens,
because some of the types are connected by intermediate grada-
tions, both of hybrid and probably wild origin, the history and
knowledge of which have been lost. We have various forms that
have not been described or figured, while the figures and
descriptions that we have are often insufficient for the certain
identification of the plants they represent. It is difficult as a
critical genus on account of rich variation within the limits of
those subordinate groups we call species, and because some

A NEW CLASSIFICATION OF THE GENUS PXONIA. 499
i

of those species, as Asa Gray would have said, are confluent in a
series.

I have endeavoured to make it easy by this arrangement to
refer any plant to a group of a limited number of species, and
then by means of short descriptions to determine the species or
botanical variety to which it must belong. I have set myself
to understand the species as known to Anderson, who gave us
the first good monograph, more than seventy years ago, in the
twelfth volume of the Transactions of the Linnean Society, and
as held by Baker, who gave us the second, published in the
Gardeners’ Chronicle of 1884. In that, but not including all
the garden varieties to which Anderson gave botanical status, I
believe I have sueceeded. I carry discrimination a step further
than Mr. Baker does, but I deal mainly with species according
to his monograph, and, considering the nature of the plants, I
think that enough for one season, as a basis, especially if I may
be allowed at a future time to return to the subject.

Mr. Barr has numerous forms in his well-known collection
that require prolonged attention, for the plants of this genus are
such that they cannot well be understood until the eye has been
educated to see clearly the points they present. We may find it
necessary to make more species or varieties for some of those
plants that Mr. Barr has, or for others that will be introduced.
But this must be done, in most cases, after some. deliberation.
We have, in fact, still to make a study of this genus. It is one
that ean only be understood by study in the garden, and with
proper means. We must have the plants of this genus got
together, just as Mr. Barr has got together those of the genus
Narcissus; indeed, from what I have seen, he already promises
to do as much for it as he has done for the genus Narcissus. The
best example we can have for its treatment is that devoted to Iris
by Professor Foster, which is, in fact, the one method of treatment
for all critical garden genera. We have, no doubt, a great deal
to discover and much to learn. We must get seed and plants
from all quarters where Pzonies are found, and then, as we get
the wild plants side by side, we shall learn what the forms and
variations of the genus are worth. I believe myself in the
permanence of many of those forms we call slight, and I think it
not amiss to ask respect for all so-called mere forms that are
truly wild. They are important for study, and it is only by

4380 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
‘

chance very often that any given form, as we express it, has not
been taken as a type, and reverenced as a centre around which
cther forms must group. By getting wild Peonies together we
may expect to understand the various forms and hybrids that
we now have in gardens. Under the figure of the so-called
Peoma Russi inthe Botamcal Magazine of 1830, it is remarked
that so many hybrids and varieties are now cultivated that it
would puzzle the most acute botanist to mark the limits of the
species. We have now, I dare say, a number of those plants to
deal with. I do not myself believe in much difficulty if we
prosecute a complete study. By following the lines I have
indicated we shall learn the value of characters, we shall avoid
the great difficulty that happens sometimes, of trying to dis-
tinguish botanically those plants that are essentially the same,
and, on the other hand, we shall recognise the importance of
differences that we may now consider shght. If Linneus had
had the complete view to which I refer, he could not, for instance,
have combined P. corallina with P. officinalis in one species. It
is the real knowledge of living plants that we must get, and then
we may go much further in a scientific manner than is possible
with dried plants. I believe the compilers of Continental Floras
might pay attention to us with great advantage when we have
accomplished what we propose to do.

But now as to this classification. The latest, most valuable,
and complete monograph is that by Mr. Baker in the Gardeners’
Chronicle of 1884. He uses certain characters of the carpels for
the grouping of species, by which some closely related species
are separated, and others not related are brought together. Now
mature carpels are not always present or produced, and it
appeared to me that if a new arrangement could be made upon
characters generally present, and by which it would be possible
to keep allied species together, so as to bring their distinguished
features. directly in contrast, that a study of the genus would be
facilitated. In the sub-genus P@on, the only one that has more
than a single species, I take my divisional characters chiefly from
the leaves. Flowers do not afford strong botanical characters by
which to go very far. This does, I dare say, favour the view of
the ‘ Genera Plantarum,”’ that the species (of the date of writing)
might probably be reduced to four or five, and from this broad
view the groups I have made wouldno doubt, with some exceptions, ,

A NEW CLASSIFICATION OF THE GENUS PZEONIA. 431

be regarded as species. But I believe that a greater number must
be admitted even from a purely botanical point of view. The
leaf differences are considerable, and, though leaves do vary, it
is always within defined limits and not in confusion.

In dealing with the entire genus I make three sub-genera.
First of all Moutan, characterised by shrubby habit and a develop-
ment of the disc that envelops the carpels. The carpels are
enclosed, as it were, in a bottle, with the stigmas protruding at
the mouth. The early condition is shown by fig. 22, and a later
stage, with the bottle bursting by the swelling of the carpels, by
fig. 28. Of this there is only the well-known species P. Moutan,
cultivated in China and Japan, and known only in cultivation.
The next sub-genus, One@pia, is herbaceous in habit, and is
characterised by fleshy or leathery petals, shorter, or at least no
longer, than the sepals. An idea of its characters is given by
fig. 24. It has one species, P. Brownet, native from nearly sea-
level in California to nearly the snow-line in the Rocky Moun-
tains. There is at least one good variety, I think, for our
purpose, established by Nuttall with specific rank as P. califor-
nica. It has since been reduced to Brownet, but in such cases
of reduction, when the two plants are known to the botanist who
establishes the second species, we may often suspect something
quite distinct for garden purposes. This differs conspicuously
in the more acute ultimate segments of the leaf, as shown by
fig. 25. P. Browne is the only Peony native of North America,
and may be said to stand as far apart from other Pxonies in
relationship as it does geographically. All other Ponies are
natives of Kurope or Asia.

The remaining sub-genus I call P@on, after De Candolle. It
is always herbaceous, with large spreading petals, not fleshy like
those of P. Brownet.

I come now to the groups of this sub-genus Pon, of which
I make five, indicated by letters A to E, and to the essential
part of the work I have done. They are sufficiently explained
in the following classification, and by the accompanying figures.
It will be noticed that under group H, I endeavour to break up the
species P. peregrina, as understood by Mr. Baker. He includes,
or rather does not distinguish, P. yubens, which appears to me
distinct, and he combines those plants that have the terminal
lobes of the leaf trifid whenever fully developed with those that

4832, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

never have the terminal lobe divided in this way. All the
varieties of peregrina in Anderson’s monograph appear to
have the terminal lobe trifid, and this is splendidly shown by
specimens grown at Glasnevin. Miller is the authority for the
species, and he describes it ‘‘ foliis difformiter lobatis, lobis incisis.”’
The last two words I understand to refer to fissuring of the lobes,
as otherwise it is difficult to comprehend their application. I
take, therefore, those plants which have at least the terminal
lobes trifid for true peregrina. I admit four species which are
not in the monographs to which I have referred, and having
dealt only with those that are in gardens, I have omitted four
not yet introduced, viz.: P. obovata and P. corsica (described
by Mr. Baker in his monograph), together with P. lutea and
P, Delavayi, both recent discoveries in the province of Yun-nan,
of which specimens have lately been added to the Kew Herbarium.
I may add that I have been unable to find any clear mark of
distinction between P. humilis and P. microcarpa, and believe
they will prove at least conspecific.

\ \ \ H
\\ \ 4 \\! WMiW}~LZ
SQN

N
y \

Yr ihe yh
Ht | \ | \ \) YY,
| \ 1 Wi AW
fi { \
YY Q\\\\
| i XN \\
\4

PONIA.
Sub-genus Moutan.

Shrubby. Disc produced enclosing the carpels. (See figs.
22 and 23.)
1. P. Moutan, Sims,

- A NEW CLASSIFICATION OF THE GENUS P#ONIA. 433

Sub-genus Onepia.

Herbaceous. Petals short and leathery, scarcely exceeding the
sepals. N.W. America. (See fig. 24.)

2. P. Brownei, Dougl., Bot. Feg., vol. xxv., t. 30.—Leaflets
ternately divided or pinnatifid, ultimate segments oblong-obtuse,
somewhat glaucous.

var. californica (P. californica, Nutt.), with leaflets bifid or

Fig. 25.

trifid, never pinnatifid, ultimate segments oblong-lanceo-
late, acute and not glaucous. Appears distinct. (See
fig. 25.)

434 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Sub-genus Peon.

Herbaceous. Petals not leathery, large and expanding, much
exceeding the sepals.

A. Leaves pinnatisect, with numerous narrow divisions, glabrous.
(See fig. 26.)

8. P. tenuifolia, L., Bot. Mag., t. 926.—Stoloniferous.
Leaves ten to twelve, the longest about one-third the length of
stem, not longest below ; segments linear. Flowers seated on the
upper leaves. Petalsdarkcrimson. Transylvania to the Crimea,
Caucasus, and Armenia.

4, P.hybrida, Pall., Bot. Req., xiv.,t.1208.—Notstoloniferous.
Leaves about six, the lower long, about half the length of stem ;
segments linear-lanceolate. Flowers stalked above the leaves ;
petals dark crimson. Nota hybrid. Native of grassy places in
the promontory of the Caucasus, especially near Stauropolis ;
rare in Tauria. LP. lacuniata, Willd., according to Bieberstein.

&. P, anomala, L., Pall. Fl. Hoss., 1. 8a (P. srbirica):
described as P. lacimata at p. 98; Bot. Mag., t. 1754.—
The type alone is figured; it has glabrous carpels, with other
marks of distinction, and may not be in cultivation—though
P. sibirica from Canon Ellacombe, called anomala in the Kew

A NEW CLASSIFICATION OF THE GENUS PAONIA. 435

Herbarium, might prove to be it. The cultivated forms belong
to one botanical variety, P. a. insignis. It has stems 15 to 2 feet
high ; leaves about ten, the lower about one-third or one-quarter
the length of stem; segments lanceolate; carpels with red
pubescence and leaves reducing to the flower (typ.), or with
leaves not reducing to the flower (P. Barr), or having carpels
with white pubescence (F. W. Moore). The leaves are some-
times very slightly pubescent.

B. Leaflets normally quite entire, rarely divided, but sometimes
deeply to the base; never decurrent or confluent, except
sometimes the lateral leaflets of a terminal trio. (See
fig. 27.)

Fig. 27.

* Carpels glabrous.

6. P. Wittmanniana, Stev., Bot. Mag., t. 6645.—Leaflets
thin, ovate, deep green; distinctly pubescent beneath. Corolla
pale yellow. Caucasus and mountains of Persia.

7. P. coriacea, Boiss.— Leaflets broadly ovate, firm in
texture when mature, glaucous below, with no sign of pubescence.
Corolla large, bright crimson. Alps of Grenada, mountains of
Morocco, and Algeria.

** Carpels hawry.
Tt Leaflets almost, of not quite, glabrous below.

8. P. triternata, Pallas (P. dawrica, Andr.), Bot. Mag., t.
1441.—Roots oblong or cylindrical. Stems green. Lowest leaf
usually inserted at some distance from the ground, not very long ;
leaflets nearly round, undulated, greyish-green above, sometimes
very slightly pubescent below. Flower rose. Caucasus, Asia
Minor, and the Crimea.

436 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

9. P. corallina, Retz., Hing. Bot., t. 15138.—Root spindle-
shaped or knobbed. Stems reddish. Leaves long below ; leaflets
broadly ovate, often broadest towards the top, flat, deep green
above with reddish veins, quite glabrous on both sides. Corolla
crimson. Follicles densely villose. This is the P. mas of Pliny.
It is not British. France to Asia Minor.

Fig. 28.

10. P. Broteri, Boiss et Reut.—Root cylindrical (one received
from Barr). Stems reddish. Leaflets ovate, acuminate, broadest
about the middle. Corolla rose-red, sometimes white. Follicles
pilose. A new ally of P. corallina. Mountains of Spain and
Portugal.

tt Leaves decidedly hairy below.

TOP: Russi, Bivon.—Root of P. corallina. Lower leaves
exactly biternate; leaflets thin. Corolla crimson. Carpels

A NEW CLASSIFICATION OF THE GENUS PXONIA, 437

- finely pubescent, strongly reflexed when mature. Corsica,
Sicily, Sardinia, and Algeria,

C. Flowers more than one on each stem. All divisions of the
leaf beyond the three primary ones strongly decurrent.
Glabrous. (See fig. 28.)

12. P. albiflora, Pallas, Pall. Fl. Ross., t.84; Andr. Repos.,
t. 64; Bot. Reg., t. 42; Bot. Mag., tt. 1756, 1768.—Common
and well known. Comes out of the ground in spring with
strikingly bright red, long, and slender buds. Leaves at first
reddish, then of ruddy green. Sepals with strongly secreting
glands, very attractive to ants. Single and double garden
varieties vary from white to red. Carpels three to four, glabrous,
though sometimes pubescent in bud. Siberia.

Fig. 29.

13. P. Emodi, Wall., Bot. Mag., t. 5719 (good).—Leaves
deep green, not ruddy as in P. albiflora. Flowers white from
the axils of upper simple leaves. Carpels one, rarely two;
tomentose. Western Hemisphere, Himalayas.

D. Leaves of deep green colour, light green below, and not
glaucous, rarely slightly pubescent ; leaflets broad, cut
and fissured. Sepals glandular, but not with secretion so
copious as in P. albiflora. Corolla large and handsome.
(See fig. 29.)

14. P. officonalis, Retz., Bot. Mag., t.1784.—As above. The

438 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

common species in gardens; single and double species vary from °
white to red. Southern half of Europe.

var. lobata (P. lobata, Desf.), Sweet, 1. Garden, t. 70, not of
Rehb., flora Germanica.—Dwarfer than all the forms of
officinalis proper. Leaf segments numerous, very obtuse,
and decurrent, much imbricated, sometimes slightly pubes-
cent below. LHasily recognised by its unique brilliant
salmon-coloured flower. Native of Portugal according to
De Candolle’s Systema.

Hi. Leaves glaucous, or of very pale green above, generally of
striking grey-green aspect; leaflets glaucous below, and
very rarely without distinct pubescence, always divided,
and with the lobes often fissured. (See figs. 30-33.)

I. Flowers distinctly stalked, not apparently sessile, and resting
on the upper leaves.

* Carpels glabrous.

Use ex atte Retz., Bot. Mag., t. 1422.—Stems 14 to 2 feet
high. Leaves biternate, petioles tinged with red, the terminal
free, stalked, divisions of three lobes, the middle one trifid.
Corolla rose-red. Stigmas long and upright, hooked at the top.
South of France.

16. P. microcarpa, Boiss. et Reut.—A very near ally of the
preceding ; the cultivated plants, so far as I have seen, not
easily distinguished. The Cambridge plant has very red petioles,

A NEW CLASSIFICATION OF THE GENUS PHONIA, 489

with leaflets narrower than those of humilis, very pubescent
beneath. Mr. Baker describes the plant as having stems 1 to
13 foot long. Lower leaves, with about thirty oblong acute con-
fluent segments, + to # inch broad, very pubescent beneath.
Outer sepals not so compound as in humilis. Petals bright
crimson. Follicles two, very spreading, smaller than in humilis.
Mountains of Spain.

** Carpels hairy.

+ Terminal free (stalked) divisions of the leaf usually three-
lobed, with the middie lobe trifid. (See fig. 80.)

17. P. decora, Anders.—Stems 2 to 3 feet high. Leaves hori-
zontal, diminishing to the top ; leaflets oblong-obtuse, longitudi-
nally concave. Flower rather smaller than is usualin the genus,
supported on a long peduncle (Anders.). Petals about eight, small
and narrow. Carpels very large, spreading from the base when
mature. Anatolia and Servia.

Anderson distinguishes two varieties—Pallasw, with leaves
narrowly oblong, and elatior, with leaves broadly oblong. The
plant grown as decora elatior may be recognised even in a weak
state by having few processes of the disc, with a connection
between the carpels at the base of similar surface and appear-
ance to that of the carpels themselves, This connection between
the carpels is found also in triternata.

18. P. peregrina, Mill. (as understood, I believe, by Ander-
son and Miller).—Stems about 2 feet high. Leaflets ovate-
lanceolate, usually flat.

var. byzantina, Anders.—A smaller plant than arietina.
Stem 2 feet high, covered with white hairs. Leaves
biternate, remarkable for pale grass-green colour ; middle
leaflet three-lobed, deeply. incised or pinnatifid; leaflets
more obtuse at the base than those of arietina, rarely
decurrent. Calyx glabrous. Seeds oblong. I have not
seen a plant that answers this description or to match the
specimen in Kew Herbarium.

var. compacta, Anders.—About 1 foot high. Leaflets broad
and imbricating, ultimate divisions very obtuse, deep

green above. Calyx pilose at the base. Corolla purple-
red. Seeds round,

440 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

var. Greviller, Anders.—About 2 feet high. Leaflets deeply
incised, not imbricating, undulated, sometimes twisted,
of pale-green colour, margins red, ultimate division very
acute. Corolla purple-red. Seeds round.

19. P. paradoxa, Anders.; Sweet, Brit. Fl. Garden, t. 19.—
About 1 foot high, the dwarfest except mollis and sessiliflora.
Forms a dense tuft of leaves. Leaflets three-lobed and incised,
the fissures short and obtuse, much imbricated, and with red
margins. Carpels pressed close together, and little separated in
the ripe fruit. Corolla purple-red. A close ally of peregrina,
from which it is known by smaller ovate and more glaucous
leaves, with more divided, crowded, and imbricating leaflets.
Montpellier and Trieste.

++ Terminal free divisions of the leaf three-lobed ; the middle
lobe rarely bifid, never trifid. (See fig. 31.)
§ Leaflets about twice as long as broad.

Fig. 31.

20. P. arietina, Anders.—The largest species of this section.
lt is well marked by decurrent leaflets, with strongly arched
and even recurved carpels when mature. South of Europe.
var. Andersont.—Leaves blue glaucous green. Corolla deep
rose, petals slightly crisped. Perhaps native of the
Levant.

var. cretica(P.arietina oxoniensis, Anders. ; P.cretica, Clusius),
Leaves pale green. Corolla pale rose, or nearly white, petals

‘A NEW CLASSIFICATION OF THE GENUS PHONIA+ 441

lacerated. This is one of the earliest of Pseonies, and
may be known as it comes out of the ground in spring by
the pale glaucous green colour of the leaves. Mountains
of Crete.

91. P. Bakeri, n. sp. (P. peregrina byzantina, Hort. Barr).—
Root cylindrical or somewhat spindle-shaped. Stem stout, about
2 feet high, red or reddish, flexuose, pilose from the lowest leaf
to the flower. Leaves about six, biternate, the lowest often
inserted at nearly its own length from the ground, not quite
one-third as long as the stem; petioles reddish; leaflets (all
divisions cut to the midrib or secondary petiole, and in symmetry

with the rest of the leaf), 18 to 15 of lower leaves, 8 to 8} inches
long, broadly ovate, acute, margin reddish, and upper surface
often suffused with reddish tint, all strongly decurrent and quite
entire, except that the terminal middle leaflet may be cut once
deeply (as in fig. 32), very hairy beneath and glaucous. Flowers
always (apparently) 2-bracteate; calyx slightly hairy, sepals five,
oval or rotundate; corolla deep rose, about 44 inches across,
opening fairly flat ; petals eight, obovate, slightly crisped, usually
with white median line beneath. Carpels tending to three,
arcuate.

One of the most distinct as a species in this group. Its habit
resembles that of P. triternata. It is twice as tall as P. arietina
Andersom in the Cambridge Botanic Garden. Differs in impor-
tant particulars from Anderson’s description of peregrina byzan-
tina, who does not remark some features of this plant. In the

D

449, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Kew Herbarium it is referred to pubens, but from that it differs
greatly in the shorter leaflets and colour of the flower. (Compare
figs. 82 and 33.)

§§ Leaf segments three times, or more, as long as they are broad.

22. P. pubens, Sims, Bot. Mag., t. 2264.—Stem hairy.
Leaf segments tapering to a point, very hairy below, margins
red. Corolla rosy red. (See fig. 83.)

23. P. Barru (P. Russi, Bot. Mag., t. 8481, non Bivon.),.—
Leaf segments about five times as long as broad, scarcely

Fig. 33.

pubescent, but very glaucous below. Corolla brilliant red. Re-
quires a new name, as the type for similar plants with narrow
segments scarcely hairy beneath.

II. Plants dwarf, with flowers subsessile, appearing to rest on
the leaves.

94. P. mollis, Anders., Bot. Reg., vi. 474; Swect, Brit. Fl.
Garden, vol. u., t. 108 ; Lodd. Cab., t. 1263.—Stems a foot high or
more, rigid. Leaves dark bluish green, flat, compact, and much
divided ; secondary petioles almost wanting ; segments broadly
janceolate or oblong, crowded, imbricating, not bordered with
red, densely hairy below. Corolla small, purple-red. Carpels
usually three, erect, slightly incurved. Anderson suspects it to
have come from the Crimea.

25. P.villosa, Sweet, £1. G., t. 113 (P. sessiliflora, Bot. Maq.,
t. 2648).—- Nearly related to the above, but with secondary petioles

)

A NEW CLASSIFICATION OF THE GENUS PZONIA. 443

not abnormally short, leaf segments and carpels nearly the same.
Corolla white. I am assured that this must be distinct as a species
from P. mollis, but I have not seen them growing together.

CoNCLUSION.

Among other gentlemen I have greatly to thank Mr. Barr for
his liberality in sending me specimens and generally in placing
his knowledge at my disposal. I have greatly to thank Mr.
Moore, of Glasnevin, for his liberality in sending me specimens,
and it is only fair to say that the Glasnevin collection is remark-
‘ably rich and well named. The specimens that were exhibited
came from the Cambridge Botanic Garden in part only. i have
to thank Prof. Foster and the authorities of the Botanic Gardens
at Glasnevin, Kew, and Oxford for certain specimens that I
could not provide to the same degree of development, or that I
could not provide at all.

DISCUSSION.

The Rev. W. Wiuxs: Mr. Paul particularly wishes me to
say a few words on the cultivation of Ponies, as he knows my
infatuation for these too little known plants, and the large collec-
tion of garden varieties which I have. Now Peony-growing is
not a case of ‘“‘ small capital and quick returns,” it is rather the
reverse. Itis in its way and degree hke planting fruit-trees: a
comparatively large sum must be spent at planting, and then
the planter must be content to wait three, four, or even five
years before he reaps the full reward of his patience, labour, and
expense—but then whata reward itis! Kings and queens, nay,
very emperors, of the herbaceous border are these Ponies,
so rich and varied in their colours, from the purest white of
driven snow, through ivory and yellow, pink and salmon and
crimson, to the deepest blood-crimson, and a few which have such
an intensity of colour as to look almost claret-brown. And then
the scent of most of them, lke a mixture of frankincense and
roses! Yes, the reward is well worth all the outlay, all the
patience, all the toil.

To grow Ponies successfully you must first well trench the
eround and dig in a quantity of the richest possible manure—
how much I cannot say, for I have not yet discovered the limit

D2

444 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

of a Peony’s greedy appetite—but the manure itself should not
actually touch the young plants when first put in, as it en-
courages slugs and wireworm to come and devour the wounded
tuberous roots. The distance from plant to plant that I have
adopted, and I do not think you can improve upon it, is 8 feet,
and the distance between the rows (if grown in a bed) 4 feet.
The little rosy crowns of the young plants should be planted in
November and placed about 1 inch, or 14 inches, below the
surface of the ground, but in my opinion not deeper, as I believe
the Peony rejoices in heat, and even in comparative dryness, after
it has done flowering. It loves to roast its crowns and tubers in
‘sun-heat, in preparation for itsnext year’s efforts. The first season
after planting all they will require will be to be kept free from
weeds, their leaves loosely tied up to prevent their being blown
off by high winds, and copious watering in dry weather till the
blooming season is well over, i.e. till about the second week in
July; and if any of them show bloom-buds the first year after
planting, it is a wise self-sacrifice which gently nips them out
and is content to wait.

The second and subsequent years they will want move atten-
tion. In November cut off all the fading foliage, lightly fork
the bed over, being careful not to turn up more than an inch
of the soil close round the plants, and not more than 2 or
8 inches anywhere. No spade should ever be allowed in the
Peony bed, except to plant with. Leave the ground rough
through the winter ; do not attempt to protect or coddle them ;
the colder they are the better, as they will not start so soon in
spring, which is the only danger. In February, when the frost
is on the ground, give then a mulching all over the bed of
2 to 8 inches of rich cow-dung, taking care, of course, not to
place any immediately over the crowns, but close round them.
When the young growths are about a foot high they should be
lightly secured against wind-breakage, and as soon as the sharp
frosts are well over, say from the end of April, they should be
well soaked (for they are very deep-rooting plants) with strong
manure-water. not pouring it on the crowns, but around them,
and this snould be continually repeated until July, unless the
weather or the soil be exceptionally wet. In May the plants
should be carefully gone over once a week, and all the side flower-
buds carefully nipped out, leaving only the central or main bud:

ii i i tt i i

THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FLOWEBRS. 445

this is of the utmost importance with all the double varieties, but
does not apply to the single ones, which are far more beautiful
if the side buds are left on, but the doubles are so double that
they have quite as much as they can manage to develop one
good flower on every stalk. When blooming time is over the
seed-vessels should be carefully removed, one more soaking of
manure-water given, and then leave the bed till the November
clearing-up time comes again, and then, da capo, never omitting
the 38-inch mulch of cow-dung or its equivalent.

THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FLOWERS.
By the Rev. C. Woutery-Dop, M.A.
(Read June 24, 1890.]

Our problem for to-day is, ‘‘given a garden, it is required to
make it gay with hardy flowers for about ten months in the year.”’
Hardy flowers suitable for mixed borders often belong to plants
of shrubby habit, or bulbs or annuals, but the larger part of
them grow upon herbaceous plants. Time will not allow me to
include to-day any description of the special cultivations of rock
plants, or alpines properly so called, though the term “ alpines”’
is often used indefinitely, and includes many things suitable for
the mixed borders ; but I propose to deal with hardy plants, as
the term is generally understood by the mass of amateur gardeners,
to whom I address myself.

Probably all my hearers have a garden with hardy plants in
it already ; they wish to know how to select more, and how to
erow them all in the best way. In visiting other gardens they
make notes of what they see and admire, they observe what is
praised in gardening journals, and in due time send an order to
a nurseryman, and when the fifty plants ordered arrive, they
plant them haphazard in the mixed borders. The result rarely
comes up to their expectation. Perhaps many of the things
ordered would never thrive in their soil and climate under the
most skilful treatment—for every plant has its hkes and dislikes,
which must be considered if it is to do well.

In the first place, the soil must be well drained; amateurs

446 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

must learn what this means and see that it is done. Most soils
are well drained by nature, but my own garden is an example of
the contrary. Formerly every flower-bed on a sloping lawn
filled with water, and ran over at the lower side in wet weather,
and of course nothing choice would grow until this was remedied.
You may try your soil by digging a hole 8 feet deep in your
flower border, and filling it with water; if after three or four
hours the water stands in the bottom, artificial drainage is prob-
ably required ; but different parts of the same garden may vary
much. A good test of drainage is afforded by plants themselves.
Observe Gentianella, Hepatica, and Christmas Rose. If the two
last keep their old leaves through the winter till the new ones
come, and if all the three flower well, your garden may be gay
with flowers all the year round; but where any one of the three
flourishes there is not much fault to find with the drainage of
the soil.

However, it is better to be contented at first to make up your
flower borders with plants which you know by your own ex-
perience, or that of your nearest neighbours, to do well in your
soil and climate. In this way you will bring no failures into
conspicuous places, and visitors to your garden will observe how
well everything seems todo. But every garden, however small,
must have reserve and trial beds behind the scenes. It is better
to try to do, if possible, with fewer cabbages and potatoes, and
to take part of the kitchen garden for the reserve beds. These
beds should be composed of different mixtures of soil—some of
the natural soil of the garden, some lightened with leaf-mould
or sand, some mixed with lime and brick rubbish, and so on.
Have as many of them as you can, both for providing flowers for
house decoration—some of the best of which grow on very un-
sightly plants—and for propagating what you wish to increase ;
also for nursing seedlings til] large enough for the mixed borders,
but mostly for gaining experience with plants new to you, and
finding whether you can do well with them, and in what soil
they do best. You can then promote them to a more honourable
position when you please.

Flower borders should never be dug, unless you intend
entirely to empty and replant them. In strong and exciting
soils, in which plants grow fast and are short-lived, this should
be done every five or six years; in the intervals you will from

a

THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FLOWERS. 447

time to time have made notes about the arrangement of the
plants in the bed, in which you should consider how and where
each thrives best as much as where it looks best, because the
first condition generally ensures the latter. In planting observe
that some plants will flower from top to bottom, if not crowded,
and want to be seen all round, especially those of shrubby
habit ; others, such as Lilies, Lychnis chalcedomica, and the like,
flower only at the top and want less room in proportion. There-
fore do not attempt to plant by rule as regards distance, but
consider what space each plant wants in order to be seen to the
best advantage, and give it that space. As for filling the blanks
between the principal large plants with dwarf early-flowering
things such as bulbs, it requires careful judgment and experience,
or the whole border will be made a failure by it. Wood Anemones,
for instance, which I have seen recommended for this purpose,
are very exhausting to soil, and few things can grow through the
dense mat which they make on a surface where they are esta-
blished. Never replant old lumps of anything ; nearly all plants
are better for being pulled into small pieces when moved, so that
every part of the root can find its way through, to be fed by the
renovated soil. ‘There are some few plants, it is true, which
should never be moved or divided; of these the Fraxinella is a
notable example ; Giant Poppies too and some kinds of Eryngium
will grow for a generation in the same spot without exhausting
the soil; such things may be left growing, and be dug round,
when a border is renewed. The feeding roots are so deep that
this may easily be done.

The most convenient size for a mixed fordan. is seven or
eight feet wide, when accegsible from both sides, so that every
part can be reached without walking upon the soil. A large
proportion of hardy plants show a decided preference for an
eastern aspect, or a slope towards the east. It is not east wind |
that they like, but morning sun; and if they can be sheltered
from the wind without taking away the sun, all the better. A
western aspect is the worst of all. Many choice plants dislike
mid-day sun, and do best on the north side of a slope. In
recommending shade, the prevailing atmospheric conditions in
each district must be taken into account. Plants which do well
in shade in Kent or Surrey might die for want of light if planted
in the shade in a sunless part of the kingdom hke Cheshire ; but

448 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

shelter from wind is far more important to many plants than
shade. Most sun-loving plants are quite contented to see the
sun from sunrise to mid-day. However, every garden does not
admit of choice in these matters, and plants must be selected
and placed according to circumstances; but as regards soil, it
may be made heavy or light, and lime or stone may be added
according to the preference shown by each in the trial-beds.

By far the best time for replanting is early in autumn, not
later than the middle of October ; roots will then have enough
activity to fix the plant to its place before the dead time of
winter. Things which cannot be planted before the end of
October had better be left until just starting to grow in spring,
though in that case a spring of late frosts and dry east winds
will cause many to fail; but the worst time to move is when all
the leaves are dead, and the plant is absolutely at rest. It then
cannot anchor itself to the soil; it remains with loose roots all
winter, and subject to evil influences which nothing but the
strongest constitutions can overcome.

I mentioned about five years as the average time during
which a border may be left nearly to itself after planting, if
weedy and rapidly spreading plants on the one hand and short-
lived or delicate plants on the other are avoided ; and this leads
me to say something about the average duration of the life of
hardy plants. This depends in a great measure on the soil, as
they wear themselves out far more quickly in a moist and reten-
tive soil than where it is sandy and dry. Some deep-rooted
plants will go on for many years flowering annually in the same
spot without deterioration. Others continue only on condition
that they are allowed to roam and seek ever new pastures for their
roots. Some of my choicest plants—the best Columbines, for
instance—seldom flower well for more than two seasons. With
other plants, the richer the soil the more they multiply shoots ;
and, if not divided and moved, a plant which in poor soil might
have lived ten years or more becomes helplessly exhausted in
three or four. I therefore determine five years as the average
ornamental lfe of a plant in cultivation, where, it must be
remembered, life is under very artificial conditions. Then there
are some plants which grow for four or five years from seed or
cuttings before they flower well, and such plants must be grown
on in the store-beds. Others never do so well as the season after

.
THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FLOWERS. 449

they have been planted as single shoots in the previous spring
or autumn. All this must be learnt by practice. As for plants
of running habit, they should be avoided in mixed borders. It
is ruin to most of them to try to keep them in bounds by cutting
round, as by this all the best flowering shoots are cut off. I
have tried confining them by underground earthenware hoops, or
within boards, without much success.. Therefore such subjects
as Helianthus rigidus and Anemone japonica, which few of us
can do without, must have special arrangements made for them ;
but, however they are treated, it is better to keep them in full
view, where they can be under constant control, and to assign
to them a sufficient breadth of soil to prevent their soon ex-
hausting it.

Another question which occurs in selecting occupants for
a permanent border, expected to last for years, is that of
hardiness. This is, of courge, a relative term, and there can be
no absolute standard fixed. Some plants which are called hardy
may withstand perhaps twenty, perhaps thirty degrees of frost;
their power of withstanding depends upon a combination of
surrounding conditions and attendant circumstances. What we
want to know, and it must be learnt chiefly by our own experi-
ence, is the relative hardiness of each plant in our own garden.
Many a plant is well worth growing which is killed once in five,
or even once in three years, but such plants should not occupy
positions so prominent that their death would leave a conspicuous
gap. A hardy plant may even require annual renewal by cuttings,
to be wintered under glass, and be quite worth the trouble.
Other perennials seem soon to lose their power of breaking in
spring from the hard or woody base, and are lost if not renewed
by seed or cuttings about every third year. Such are Hyperi-
cum olympicum, Ononis rotundifolia, Gypsophila paniculata, &e.
When we have once lost all our stock of a good plant we should
consider by what precautions we might have saved it, and take
them another time. Perennial does not mean everlasting or
immortal, as some cultivators seem to think. As soon as a new
plant is obtained, our next thought should be how to increase it;
when we have succeeded in this, we should try what soil, what
aspect and surroundings suit it best. Without neglecting what
you ean learn from others about its successful cultivation, try
yourself to discover something new in this way. Gardeners

450 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

should never be content with imitating, and should not think
too much about imitating nature. Those who have seen the
plant growing wild are perhaps more likely to succeed with it
than those who know nothing about its habits; but as this
subject has been fully discussed lately I will only say, never
think you cannot cultivate a plant successfully because you
cannot imitate the conditions in which it is known to thrive in
its native home; you may find it flourish still better under very
different conditions which you can easily give. But one thing
no man can do or ever will do, and that is, train a plant by
habit to live in a greater cold than it is made by nature to bear.
What is called acclimatisation, or habituating plants in succes-
sive generations from seed to become hardier than nature made
them, seems to me to be a theory unsupported by the experience of
facts. Plants may adapt themselves in the course of ages to very
eradual lowerings of temperature in their native home, but it
cannot be done suddenly, or in the space of a man’s life. I
believe an individual plant of any cosmopolitan species will be
equally hardy whether the seed from which it is raised is
gathered in the tropics or in the arctic regions.

Everyone who wishes to have many herbaceous plants should
grow them from seed for many reasons. Seedlings thrive better
and are hardier than divisions of a plant; by saving seed
in your own garden you may exercise a judicious selection in
gathering it. Then it must be borne in mind that not only
species but individual plants vary in constitution ; some seed-
lings will grow more vigorously and flower more freely than
others raised from the same pod. For all who understand how
to deal with seedlings time is saved by sowing seed as soon as it
is ripe ; if it does not come up at once, it will come up sooner
than if stored in a dry cupboard. Every species includes good
and bad forms, and it is desirable to select the best; when once
selected they are generally easy to keep. Seeds come up better
when sown under glass, but artificial heat is often bad for them.
The seedlings should not at any time of their growth be crowded.
For transplanting them I use trays made of 4-inch deal laths,
about 5 inches deep, and 20 inches long by 14; the laths put
together with intervals to allow for drainage and air to the soil.
When wooden boxes are used for plants it is well to smear the

a oe

THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FLOWERS. 451

inside with paraffin and set it on fire to char the surface; this
prevents the growth of fungus.

It is well to notice how long each species takes to attain its
climax of perfection from seed. Some perennials take two years,
others as long as ten; they are liable to vary so much in height,
their first, second, and third year of flowering, as to make the
same position in a mixed border unsuited to all these stages of
erowth. Observe, for example, the annual progress of Cam-
panula lactiflora or Spirea Aruncus. Before dismissing the
subject of raising from seed, I may say that it is well to avoid
disturbing without good reason the soil near rare plants, as I
have often found spontaneous seedlings when I have been unable
to rear gathered seed. This, again, may suggest that it is wise to
imitate nature; but let us consider how small a proportion of
seeds become mature plants in nature. Let us take the case of
a perennial which lives five years and produces a hundred ripe
seeds each year; we thus get a proportion of one in five hundred.
Gardeners expect and obtain a far better result than this.

Many good plants which are short-lived and shy of ripening
seed must be frequently increased by cuttings or by division.
In the case of florists’ flowers like Phloxes and Pyrethrums, rules
for propagation are readily accessible to all gardeners; but
rarer plants have to be carefully studied. Some, like the double
Lychms vespertina, are so hard to increase that the market in
them becomes almost a monopoly. Others are easy to divide
and to strike only at some limited period of their growth—per-
haps during one week in each year. I have heard it said of a
famous gardener at Baden-Baden that he sits up all night
rather than miss the right moment for dividing Omphalodes
Lucilie. Some things require long patience to grow them from
cuttings into plants. Daphne cneorum and Lithospermum
prostratum take four or five years before they are large enough
to make a show; itis a sound rule to take a few cuttings of all
such plants every season, and cuttings make far better plants
than layers. Another item of advice I will give is to utilise for
growing flowers every corner of the garden, especially if the
garden is small. There are always neglected shady spots, which
a few stones covered with leaf mould would easily convert into
an attractive bed of hardy Cyclamens. Other sheltered places

452, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. -

under north walls might be filled with the stalked Hellebores
known as Lent Roses. Coloured Primroses in various forms are
far more ornamental than nettles and chickweed, and would
generally thrive where these have been eradicated. A little
method easily keeps a garden clear of weeds when it has once
been cleaned.

I have said little about improvement of soil, because I do
not wish it to be thought that a gay and flowery garden cannot
be made with the materials which everyone has at hand; but
no doubt in many cases the number of choice plants which can
be grown successfully may be much increased by the addition
of peat soil to some of the beds. Also, if the natural soil is
stiff clay, it is generally advised to burn some of it and break
it small and mix it with the rest; but it is not very easy to con-
struct the kilns for burning, unless the services of a brickmaker
can be obtained. In my own garden, where the natural soil is a
most unpromising cold clay, I have found very successful results
by getting riddlings from stone quarries of the size of small
eravel, and mixing it with the soil. The rougher and harder the
stone, the better; this is far superior to ordinary pit or river
gravel, which rolls together and collects in hollows on the
surface. Indeed where soil is heavy and strong it 1s difficult to
add too much of such material. Half, or two-thirds, of it toa
depth of a yard makes excellent border soil; and by adding a
still larger proportion I can grow even such genuine rock plants
as Saxifraga oppositifolia on the level ground.

It is desirable to have borders varying in their degree of
lightness. Road-scrapings, leaf-mould, coal-ashes, and all
similar materials are invaluable for mixing with heavy soils.
On such soils it is well to raise some of the beds 2 feet above
the ground by blocks of stone round the sides. Not only does
this help the drainage, but the stones may be covered with
Aubrietias, dwarf Phloxes, Rock-roses, and such like ornaments
down to the ground. Tree stumps are not good for this use ;
they encourage the growth of funguses, and give too ready
shelter to vermin of all kinds. This reminds me to speak of
garden vermin in general. IJ could tell ill-natured tales of many
little birds, but, next to a garden without flowers, I should object
to a garden without birds, or one in which birds were persecuted ;
but I will make an exception of sparrows, which have no redeem-

.
|

THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FLOWERS. 458

ing virtue, and in the extermination of which I would gladly
join. Pheasants should not be encouraged; they annihilate
Scarlet Anemones—flowers, leaves, and roots—if not protected
within wire netting, and destroy all the flowers of Fritillarias,
besides doing other mischief. If there are rabbits near, the
garden fence must be made absolutely proof against them, as
they always pick out the choicest plants to feed upon. The
long-tailed field-mice, which dig for Crocuses, are easily trapped,
and are harmless compared with their short-tailed brethren.
If your garden adjoins meadows, these marauders sometimes
invade it in swarms, and eat off the young growth of choice
plants, especially Campanulas, in spring. Luckily their move-
ments are generally followed by weasels, which as well as owls I
always welcome as friends, and as far more effective against these
field-voles than any traps are. Shrew-mice, as well as frogs and
toads, feed upon insects, and though they destroy some slug-
eating beetles, the balance of their work is on the side of good.
Small slugs, though they seldom are seen in winter, are more
destructive at that season than the most severe frosts, which are
often wrongly accused of being the cause why Delphiniums,
Pyrethrums, and such-like perennials are found dead when they
ought to be making a show of growth in spring. Two or three
slugs burying themselves in the crown of a herbaceous plant in
autumn eat off the young shoots as fast as they try to grow,
and are the ruin of many choice flowers in warm and wet
winters. The cultivation of some herbaceous plants would be
impossible with me if I did not constantly use precautions
against slugs. A mixture of coal-ashes, soot, and lime put
over the crowns of all palatable perennials early in autumn, and
renewed from time to time, is the best remedy ; finely broken
coke is pretty good, when the slugs are not already hidden in
the crown ; but every device that has ever been recommended,
besides every new scheme you can invent, should be perseveringly
put in practice against these worst of gardenenemies. A liberal
dressing of finely broken stone, in sharp angular fragments, as
described above, may be spread over the whole surface of the
border. It makes travelling disagreeable to soft-bodied vermin,
besides keeping the soil sweet and preventing it from caking.
But besides these visible pests, garden plants are subject to
many kinds of blight and disease, some of which are within

454 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

our control. The amateur gardener should observe and study
all unhealthy symptoms, and at once try such treatment as is
suggested by the advice of experts. The effect of the remedy
will often be the means of discovering the cause of the ail-
ment.

What shall be said of labels? At the best they are a nuisance
and an eyesore in private gardens, and our study should be to
do without them as far as possible; they add nothing to the
pleasure of gardening. But when it is necessary to mark plants
or bulbs which quite disappear, the compound label, made of a
small wooden tablet fastened on to a stout upright wire is most
convenient and durable; but every gardener likes best the label
he uses. The names themselves are as bad as the labels. To
be asked the name of a neat little white flower, and to have to
bring out ‘‘ Benninghausena albiflora of Reichenbach,” is a
strong temptation to reply ‘‘I don’t know” to the question.
The earliest Greek poet has told us that men bring upon them-
selves by their own folly many more troubles than they were
destined by fate to suffer, and surely long botanical names belong
to the class of self-imposed and avoidable evils. Enough pro-
nounceable combinations of letters might be made without
exceeding six in any word to supply all the plants in the world |
with two names apiece. Still I question the advantage of coin-
ing and trying to force upon the public arbitrary English names
for garden plants. Tull a flower has become popular enough to
make an English name for itself, it seems better to call it by the
scientific name which is common to all languages. Some of
_ these names are hard to pronounce, and it may be doubted how
far etymological correctness should be waived in deference to
popular usage. We may agree to shorten in pronunciation the
last syllable but one in Veronica, Ginothera, Hypericum, though
we know it is wrong, but remonstrate against doing the same
with Hrica, Hchinops, Agave.

As to watering, my own garden is so well supplied with
water that I cannot understand a never-watered garden. ‘There
are no doubt many, but scarcity of water in summer certainly
limits the number of plants which may be grown well. Such
things as herbaceous Phloxes will hardly flower at all in a dry
summer without watering, and it is almost a necessity for what
is newly planted. But watering when not wanted is bad for

THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FLOWERS. 455

gardens. There are certain conditions of the atmosphere when
every plant looks as if it were dying for want of water, though
the soil is quite moist. This happens when rapid evaporation is
going on, and it is a condition very unfavourable to flowers, but
watering is no remedy for it.

Tying up plants is often condemned as giving a stiff and
formal appearance ; yet in wet soils, where stalks are deficient
in backbone, the flowers of tall plants are soon spoilt without
it, as the tops often turn over and rest their heads upon the
ground in rainy weather. Even if they recover from this posture
the stem is left crooked and twisted, and they never look happy
afterwards. I find it best to have an abundant supply of iron
rod, three-eighths of an inch thick, cut into lengths of from three
to eight feet. These last for ever, and are always ready. In
situations exposed to wind, strong tying material such as soft
sacking twine, is often wanted. Plants which require support
when in flower had better be tied as soon as there is any stalk
to tie, so that they may never get bent. Do not wait for a gale
to lay them low before tying, but always tie as if a gale were
coming to-morrow. Well-tied plants are improved in appear-
ance, as the flowers are better displayed, but it is often necessary
to have three or four rods to a plant of many stalks.

If you wish to have every plant in your borders as fine as
possible, you must not cut them down as soon as they have done
flowering. In the garden of hardy plants there must always be
a certain proportion of dead and dying foliage and flower-stalks.
Some of them are ornamental, but such things as Colchicum
and Daffodil leaves must be tolerated, whether ornamental or
not. This mixture of withering flowers and leaves seems to
many a serious objection to borders of perennial plants, and I
know that many visitors have gone away from my garden dis-
appointed, and have decided not to change the neat and trim
arrangement of their ribbon borders, and their masses of bright
colour, for such an untidy wilderness as they have seen at Edge;
and it is true that the bedding-out system is better suited to
some tastes and some situations. But besides the objections on
the ground of untidiness, the arrangement of the plants in the
mixed border will never please all comers. Some wish to com-
promise matters with the advocates of bedding-out by planting
each kind in large masses. This, of course, involves large flower-

a4

456 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

less blanks wherever a plant is out of flower. My advice to
every amateur is to please himself. There may be often unfor-
tunate contrasts of colour in a mixed border, but accidental com-
binations will often please more than others which are carefully
studied, but which depend upon the variable caprice of parti-
cular plants. Make whatever arrangement you please, you are
sure to hear plenty of criticism and to get plenty of gratuitous
advice, and if you acted on it all you would change the place of
every plant in your borders two or three times in a season. Do
not imitate other gardens, but try to be original. Gardens
would be very dull and uninteresting if all were planned and
planted on the same model. Always be studying how you may
have more flowers, and let them be so distributed that your
garden may seem full at every season. Note times which are
deficient in flowers of each particular colour, and look about in
other gardens for any which will supplement these deficiencies,
so that from the finest Snowdrop to the last Michaelmas Daisy
there may be no flowerless time. Above all, display in your
chief borders only what you can grow well, and nurse your
failures in the background till they are no longer failures. To
sum up, study your soil and do your best to improve it; study
the habits of the plants you grow; keep up a good stock for
succession and for replacing losses; do not think so much of
how many species you can grow as of growing nothing which is
not ornamental in itself, and which you cannot grow so as to be
ornamental.

As for the material from which these are to be selected,
we find endless choice in the nurserymen’s catalogues, some of
which enumerate about two thousand names of hardy plants,
without including florists’ flowers. From these I have selected
about three hundred, most of them things cultivated at Edge.
Shrubs and spring bulbs are not mentioned, though many of
them must of course have a place, and florists’ flowers must by
no means be excluded. In the appendix of names about a
hundred of the best plants have a distinguishing mark.

\

THE CULTIVATION

OF HARDY

FLOWERS.

APPENDIX I.

List oF THE Brest Harpy PLANTS FoR Mixep BorDERs.

+ Plants which vary in colour or form from seed, and require selection,
* About a hundred of the best are so marked.
0 Good plants, which do not succeed at Edge.

Achillea wgyptiaca.
cf filipendulina.
re tomentosa.
oAcanthus mollis.
oAlyssum saxatile.
Aconitum Napellus bicolor.
“s 3 albus.
fy) oy japonicum.
Adonis vernalis.
*Anthericum Lilastrum.
- Liliago.
. ramosum.
yAnthemis tinctoria.
Anemone alpina.

)

.. sulfurea.
ae Pulsatilla.
es narcissiflora.
4 nemorosa major.
a 3 flore pleno. |
- », Robinsoniana.|
i trifolia. |
3 silvestris.
a rivularis.
- ranunculoides.
aa aa japonica.
ai ya . alba.
ae ns elegans.
xy apennina. |
a blanda.
hortensis.
*Aquilegia coerulea.
a elandulesa.
2 chrysantha.
- californica.

irc, ee selected hybrids.
*Asphodelus ramosus.
*Aster Thomsoni.
» alpinus.
— pibus:
» pyrenzus.
» spectabils.
» Amellus.
= 6 bessarabicus.
» cordifolius.
* 5, versicolor.
=, . undulatus:
* 4, nove angliex.
» Jevis.
» novi belgi.
», corymbosus.

Ke &

Aster turbinellus.
yy actkis, &c:
oBaptisia australis.
Bocconia cordata.
Boltonia decurrens.
Buphthalmum salicifolium.
t*Campanula carpatica.

a ” turbinata.
ES abietina.
+ 7 latifolia.
fi ae persicifolia.
2 Hendersoni.
Fe Van Houttei.
. rhomboidea.
-f 3 alba.
“ pulla.
1 " pumila.
i 3 barbata.
oe earganica.
ca Portenschlagiana.
Campanula pyramidalis.
50 Trachelium fl. pl.
af re elomerata.
A im lactiflora.
18 grandiflora.

Cardamine pratensis fi. pl.

as trifolia.
Catananche coerulea.
2 bicolor,

‘altha palustris fl. pl.
+Centaurea montana.

* ve ruthenica.

" dealbata.

- elastifolia.
cS macrocephala.
zs Cimicifuga racemosa.

, americana.
*Chrysanthemum latifolium.
jis ss maximum.
- areticum.

*Chrysogonum virginianum.
*Chelone obliqua.
oe glabra.
- Lyoni.
Cnicus heterophyllus.
Chrysobactron Hookeri.
Clematis recta.
*Coreopsis lanceolata.
Fs tenuifolia.
oCommelina cwlestis.

t

7

458

Corydalis nobilis.
*Coronilla iberica.

Chrysocoma Linosyris.

De!phinium formosum.

9 * sinense.
ae nudicaule.
1% Mi hybrid varieties.

*Dictamnus Fraxinella.

ss i var. alba.

*Doronicum Harpur Crewe.
a caucasicum.
1t*Dodecatheon Meadia.

Dracocephalum Ruyschianum.

*Echinops Ritro.

‘s bannaticus.
*Kpimedium pinnatum.
yh violaceum.,
3 rubrum.
F macranthum.
*Erigeron speciosus.
ae elabellus.
= aurantiacus.
ss philadelphicus.
# mucronatus.
*Brodium Manescavl.
se hymenodes.
Eremurus.

Kuphorbia pilosa.
*Eryngium Oliverianum.
giganteum.

> ss planum.
ig 4 alpinum.
Bourgati.
Funkia Sisboldii.
O->, granditiora.
Tes aM.
{VF ritillaria Meleagris.
33 latifolia.
teGaillardia.

*Galega officinalis alba.
*Gillenia trifoliata.
*Gentiana acaulis.

m: asclepiadea.

”

” ” alba.
a Andrewsii.
om he) Bs septemfida.
a verna.
i. Geranium ibericum.
armenum.
pratense fi. pl.
x . Endressi.
- lancastriense.
7. Wallichianum.

”

*Germ chiloense (coccineum).

Hacquetia Epipactis.
*Helianthus multiflorus.

a major.

’ ”

* e fl. pl.

”

JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Helianthus angustifolius.

* Pp rigidus.
Bs letiflorus.
aa giganteus.
45 9 decapetalus.
“i tuberosus var.
* doronicoides.

1*Heliopsis scabra.
*Hieracium villosum.
*Heuchera sanguinea.

a micrantha.
Pes Richardsoni.
Helenium Hoopesii.
* - autumnale.
ae » var.pumilum.

{*Hepatica (Anemone).
*Hemerocallis flava.

Es fulva fl. pl.

: Thunbergii.
= - Sieboldii.

“3 Dumortieri.

Hypocheris maculata.
Hypericum olympicum.
*Inula glandulosa.
» grandiflora.
» ensifolia.
oe tia
t*Ivis sibirica.
+ ,, selected kinds.
x5, spallida,
Jeffersonia diphylla
Lactuca perennis.
Lathyrus (and Orobus).
* i roseus.
sa in vernus.
luteus.
af lathyroides.
* hirsutus.

0 3 canescens.
aA cyaneus.
0 54 Sibthorpii.

5 rotundifolius.
Fe latifolius.
ft) 3 . albus.
Linum narbonense.

» flavum.

» alpinum.
Lindelophia spectabilis.
tLobelia (hybrids).
*Lychnis chalcedonica.

*

i a fl. pl.
7 Coronaria, hybrid.
fee flos Jovis.
Hs Haageana.
*

% viscaria fl. pl.
Se cs alba.
Lupirus nutkaensis.

Tienes polyphyllus.

~~.

THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FLOWERS.

Lupinus polyphyllus albus.
Mertensia sibirica.
ia : virginica.
*Malva moschata alba.
» alcea.
*Mimulus cardinalis.
+*Montbretia Pottsii.
*Monarda didyma.
Morina longifolia.
(inothera marginata.

% - macrocarpa.
‘a ” Youngii.
fy linearis.

Ononis rotundifolia.
*Omphalodes verna.
Ourisia coccinea.
Orchis foliosa.
T*Papaver bracteatum.
- pilosum.
i. nudicaule.
Pentstemon ovatus.

“2 elaber.
ry) “ speciosus.
i barbatus.

*Phlox amcena.
» Sstellaria.
* 45 Ganadensis.
» carolina.
» glaberrima.
+ ,, setacea.
t* ,, florists’ varieties.
*Physostegia virginica.
t* Primula japonica.
5 cortusoides Sieboldii.
ss acaulis, &e.
- denticulata, &e.
Polygonum spherostachyum.

_ amplexicaulealbum.
¥*Polemonium ceeruleum.
S reptans.
humile.
Potentilla nepalensis.
a7 3 atrosanguinea.
+ E florists’ varieties.

1Phyteuma (best varieties, names

uncertain).
Phygelius capensis.
+Pulmonaria (selected forms).
+Prunella grandiflora.

* 48 rubra.
Py rethrum Willemotti.
26: uliginosum.
ica x roseum.
3 florists’ varieties.
Kanunculus Gouani fi. pl.
iF acris fi. pl.
5 amplexicaulis.

459
Ranunculus aconitifolius.
, fl. pl.
*Rudbeckia speciosa.
* - californica.
a laciniata.
rp levigata.
» subtomentosa.
ft) ve purpurea.
0 a intermedia.
maxima.

Rhaponticum cynayroides.
oRomneya Coulteri.
Senecio Doronicum.
» macrophyllus.
» pulcher.
»» japonicus.
ei spathulefolius.
}Sidalcea oregana.
- candida.
*Sedum spectabile.
Silene Schafta.
* , alpestris.
Scabiosa caucasica.
Silphium laciniatum.
Sisyrinchium grandiflorum.
: oe wa Filipendula.

” ” fl. pl.
* 4) ~~ WeMUSta:
» palmata.
4, . alba.
a" » var. elegans.

=. -Araneas:
oStokesia cyanea.
Thalictrum tuberosum.
t 5 aquilegixfolium.
if A minus (for foliage).

*Tiarella cordifolia.
Telekia speciosissima.

t*Trollius europxus.

Aa hess asiaticus.
Tradescantia virginica.
7*Veronica Teucrium.

ahs longifolia.
Bee 33 » var. subsessilis.
ee gentianoides.
% prostrata.
‘ee virginica.
incana.
Veratrum nigrum.
r viride.
Fe album.

+ Verbascum pheeniceum.
- nigrum var. album.
z vernale (2).
3 olympicum.
oZauschneria californica.

od

460 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

APPENDIX II.

DESIRABLE PLANTS REQUIRING SPECIAL SOIL OR TREATMENT..

Achillea Ptarmica. Megasea.
BUS oa mongolica. Anemone coronaria.
Meconopsis Wallichi. Gypsophila paniculata.
ip nepalensis. Cypripedium.
Hellebores. Sanguinaria.
Hesperis (double Rockets). Uvularia.
Tritoma. Trillium.

LILIES SUITABLE FOR MrxEp BoRDERS.

Lilium bulbiferum. Lilium pyrenaicum.

i ao croceum (including ex- » var. rubrum.
cellent hybrids, sold as » tigrinum.
umbellatum). és chaleedonicum.

caren colchicum monadel- 55 pomponium.
phum. » giganteum.

Ad testaceum. Bs pardalinum.
» candidum. ot ,, elegans (varieties).

1s, -.Martagon.

n Good for c ut'ng, Lut too weedy for mixed borders.

461

JARNATION CONFERENCE.

JULY 22, 1890.

A CONFERENCE on Carnations was held at the Chiswick Gardens
on Tuesday, July 22.

The Chair was taken at 2.80 p.m. by Martin R. Smirsu, Esq.,
I'.R.H.8., President of the Conference, who, in opening the pro-
ceedings, said :—

It is my privilege on opening these proceedings to make a
few remarks, and I shall commence them by an apology for pre-
suming to address you at all, possessing as I do but a mere
amateurish knowledge of the subject upon which I am going to
speak.

Iam, however, a sincere lover of that most beautiful of our
flowers—the Carnation—and I avail myself of my privilege to
point out an error into which I believe the great growers of
Carnations are falling, and that is, that I believe they are raising
their plants from a pampered and weakly parent stock, and thus
rendering them unfit to bear the vicissitudes of our severe Einglish
winters and springs.

Now and again a few beautiful, and at the same time
thoroughly hardy, varieties are produced, such as Alice Ayres,
Princess Alice, Paul Engleheart, and others; but, out of the
thousands of seedlings that are raised annually, how many of
them are fit to stand the wet and cold of our winters? Very few
indeed! and I maintain that practically it comes to this, that
the modern Carnation is not a hardy plant.

No doubt the fault lies somewhat in the habit of the plant
itself, which renders it intolerant of snow or continued wet, but
the main fault is the consumptive tendencies of the plant itself.
We ourselves are to blame for raising our Carnations so habit-
ually under glass instead of in the open air, and being contented
and satisfied with the beauty and colour and form with which we
are rewarded.

What I maintain is that the same beauty of form and colour
can be obtained in due time from varieties absolutely hardy.

Nevertheless it must be allowed that there are difficulties in

462, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

the successful growing of Carnations. You cannot stick them
into the ground and leave them to take their chance; but my
complaint is, that when you haye done your best, you are so
apt to meet with failure.

You order your plants from the grower, and I am sure there
are many among my audience who will remember with what
excitement and expectation they have awaited them. They
arrive, not perhaps so sturdy as we hoped and expected to see
them, but our hopes are by no means dashed, for we know what
lovely flowers they will produce in the summer! Have we not
seen them with our own eyes at the exhibitions of the previous
year ?

We prepare the soil for them with as much care as if it were
the food of our own children; we select the choicest corner of
our gardens for them, and in due time plant them out. With
what result 2? The weather is perhaps unpropitious, and we see

ur cherished plants growing smaller instead of bigger, ex-
changing the beautiful blue-green of their grass for a sickly
yellow, and in the end we get but a few wretched, half-starved
blooms, which are no more like the flowers we saw at last year’s
exhibitions than is a Dog-rose to a well-grown Maréchal Niel.

Again Task, with whom hes the fault ? With the amateur ?
I do not think so. No doubt he may be blamed for attempting
impossibilities ; but when he has bestowed upon his plants all
the attention and care in his power, I think he has some right to
complain when he finds that his plants will only really thrive
when grown under glass.

The sinners, I verily believe, are our great Carnation-growers,
who in their natural desire to obtain beautiful flowers sacrifice
stamina and constitution to beauty.

Now I should be both foolish and ungrateful if I did not here
acknowledge the great debt we owe to these gentlemen for the
work they have done. They have shown us to what excellence
the Carnation may be brought—they have, by years of patient
and enthusiastic labour, given us a standard to work up to—and
the only fault I would presume to find is that I do not think
they have taken the public sufficiently into their confidence,
and that in their catalogues they have not drawn a sufficiently
distinct line of demarcation between the hardy and tender varie-
ties. I maintain that the greater proportion of modern Carnations

CARNATION CONFERENCE. 463

belong to the latter category, and the result is much disappoint-
ment and discouragement to the amateur. Indeed, I know
several of my own friends who have “ given up Carnations ”’ on
these grounds.

My own experience is, I am sorry to say, all in the same
direction. I was only looking a few days since at some choice
varieties I had this spring put into my borders, and if their
aspect had not been indescribably ludicrous I could have cried
over them !

And now what is to be done—what steps can we take
towards a better result? I have to-day made a proposal to the
Carnation Society, which I have reason to believe that they wiil
accept, and which I hope may be productive of satisfactory
results—and that is the establishment of a class at their
exhibitions for flowers cut from plants wintered without pro-
tection and bloomed in the open border. The details I have of
course left to them, but I have proposed to give twenty guineas
a year for the next five years towards this purpose.

I know that several leading growers have given much attention
to this matter, and have met with considerable success. Indeed
we shall shortly hear a paper read upon this very subject by Mr.
Dean, to which I shall listen with the greatest interest; but it
is impossible to deny that it is useless to compete with blooms
cut from the open border with those brought out under glass.
The conditions are too unequal—and the public, gazing
admiringly at the lovely flowers they see staged at our ex-
hibitions, are unable to appreciate the humbler excellence of
border-grown Carnations.

I believe and maintain that it is possible to raise a class
of Carnations absolutely hardy which shall at the same time
possess all the grace and beauty of Carnations grown under
elass; but to do this it is abundantly clear that there must be
no “ coddling,” and that the parent plants should be selected
not only on account of their beauty, but mainly with reference
to their hardiness of constitution. And, asa great means to thi
end, I would say emphatically to amateurs, raise your own seed.

You must buy your parent plants, for you can get ready to
your hand what you might probably never succeed in raising for
yourselves.

Select your parent plants from those which flourish best in

464 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

your soil and climate; cross them judiciously, do not over-feed
or coddle them, and undoubtedly you will reap a rich reward.

Do not be satisfied with growing “ trees ’’ and ‘‘ Malmaisons ”’
under glass—anybody can do that—but apply yourselves to the
more difficult task of raisimg for yourselves and for futurity a
race of thoroughly hardy Carnations.

THE CARNATION FROM A BOTANICAL POINT OF VIEW.
By Mr. F. N. Wituiams, F.L.S.

Havina been asked to say a few words on the subject of this
exhibition, I propose to lay before you some facts concerning the
botanical origin and history of the species from which our culti-
vated Pinks have been derived. I have to confess at the outset
that I am afraid I know very little about Pinks from a horticul-
tural point of view; I therefore leave that part of the subject to
those better qualified to discuss it. One or more species were in
cultivation in this country as early as the reign of Edward IL,
and were favourite garden flowers until the middle of the
eighteenth century, when they seem to have gone very much
out of fashion. Of recent years, however, their culture has
been revived, and they have been again installed in their position
as a favourite florists’ flower.

As to the wild species, their number may be reckoned at
present at rather under 250. Ishould say that nearly 1,000 sup-
posed species have been described from the time of Linneus ;
but this number has been considerably lessened by the process of
reduction to varieties and forms, and by the disappearance of
many specific names in the maze of synonymy. It is remarkable
how frequently the same plant occurring in different localities
has been recorded under several specific names, and fully
described in almost the same words, for the confusion of subse-
quent workers and for adding to the cumbrousness of synonymy.
I will first of all speak of Pinks in general, and then of the
different species which have been selected for cultivation. The
five principal species from which the cultivated forms are derived
are D, barbatus (the Sweet-william) ; D. deltoides (the Maiden

CARNATION CONTIERENCE. 465

Pink), the probable origin of the Early Red Pinks and the
Pheasant’s-eye Pinks; D. plwmarius (the Common Pink), the
origin of the White Double Pinks with deep-cut petals; D.
simensis (the Indian, or rather the China Pink); and last, and
not least, D. Caryophyllus, the origin of the Clove Pink or
Carnation, and its various forms, the Flakes, Bizarres, and
Picotees.

The Pink was entirely unknown to the Greeks. According
to Pliny it was known to the Romans as early as the reign of
Augustus Cesar, when it was discovered in that part of Spain
which is now called the province of Biscay, at that time in-
habited by the Cantabri. These people were subdued by
Augustus in B.c. 19, and the plant was conveyed to Rome, where
if was called ‘ Cantabrica,” after the name of the country
whence it was procured. Turner, in his “ Herball’’ of 1568
speaks of it as “ Cantabrica Gelover,’’ and from him we learn
that it was then cultivated in our gardens, since he says: ‘‘ The
Gelovers are made so pleasant and swete with the labours and
witt of man, and not by nature.’ Caryophyllus was the
pseudo-generic term used for many of the species described by the
pre-Linnean botanists, such as Ruellius, Dodoens, Taberneemon-
tanus, Jean Bauhin, Grisley, Cupani, Tournefort, and Seguier.
The derivation of the Linnean name for the genus—Dianthus—
is from dios anthos, the divine flower, in allusion to the beauty
and fragrance of some of the species. Another derivation, which
is not generally accepted, is di anthos, a double flower. Haller *
revived the pre-Linnean name of Tunica for the species, which
as a morphological expression is preferable to Dianthus, referring
as it does to the form of the calyx. This name, however, was
ignored by Linnzeus in his ‘‘ Species Plantarum,”’ the first edition
of which was published in 1753, and in which many of the
Linnean species are described. Adanson, however, retained
Haller’s name for the species. The English name of Pink has been
long in use. Gerard, in 1597, speaks of ‘‘a wild creeping pink
which groweth in our pastures neere about London.” The word
“pink” as the name of a colour is derived from the plant, and in its

* Dillenius and Haller used ‘Tunica’? as a general name for all the
Pinks, but Linneus did not perpetuate either this or Caryophyllus or Armeria
when he established the binomial system of nomenclature on its present
basis.—Ep,

466 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

original sense, as used by Shakspeare, means “ an eye,” or rather
‘‘asmall eye.” In Dutch pinken, or pinkoogen, is to twinkle with
the eye, and in provincial German pinkern is to wink. The
French name of q@zllet (diminutive of cl) also illustrates its
etymology.

The geographical range of the genus Dianthus is considerable.
It is agenus quite characteristic of temperate and sub-temperate
climates. It hasits headquarters in Europe and Western Asia.
There are several species at the Cape; a few are Himalayan,
Chinese, and Japanese; none reach Australia, New Zealand,
or the Andes; and only one, a Siberian species, just touches the
extreme north-western tip of the American continent. The
genus is distributed throughout Europe, with the exception of
Ireland and Iceland, more especially in the southern and central
parts of the continent. The species most frequently occur on
dry pastures in elevated localities with a calcareous soil, on
mountain limestone and chalk cliffs, and meadows on the slopes
of mountains exposed to the sun; never in marshy districts or
in localities with a humid climate. For instance, the Carthusian
Pink ascends to 1,000 or 1,500 metres on elevated plateaux, or
untilit finds a dry soil; below this elevation the mists are un-
favourable to its growth.

I now come to the Sweet-william. The origin of this plant
is D. barbatus, a species indigenous in France, Russia, the
south of Europe, and Western Asia, and growing in dry fields and
alpine pastures. What it wants in fragrance it supplies by
masses of variegated blossoms in large and compact heads. It is
mentioned by Dodoens in his ‘‘ Kruydeboeck’’ (published in 1554)
under the name of “ Keykens,’’ which means a nosegay or
bunch of flowers. Turner does not mention the plant in his
work of 1568, but Gerard mentions it as a common flower in the
gardens of that period, commonly called ‘‘ London Tuftes.’’ This
old herbalist is the first to call them Sweet-williams, and he
also notices many varieties both with double and single flowers.
He says: ‘‘ We have in our London gardens a kind hereof, bearing
most fine and pleasant white flowers, spotted very confusedly
with reddish spots, which setteth forth the beauty thereof, and
hath been taken of some to be the plant called of the later writers
Superba austriaca, or the Pride of Austria.”” The specific name
of barbatus is either on account of the barbed appearance of the

CARNATION CONFERENCE. 467

flower-heads, from the protruding awns of the bracts and floral
leaves, or from the distinctly bearded condition of the petals.
It was also figured and described by Paul de Reneaulme in 1611
under the name of Thyvrsis, of which he says: ‘It is so called
because it has flowers crowded together in the form of a thyrsus;
recent writers call it Armerius, and in France it is known as
Armoiries.”” The Sweet-william may be taken as the type of
that sub-genus of Pinks in which the flowers are clustered and
numerous.

The Maiden Pink, or D. deitoides, is the most widely dis-
tributed, as a native species, of all the Pinks, and occurs from
Norway and Northern Russia, southward to North Africa and
Bengal, and from Scotland eastward to Japan. It was first
recorded by Lobel in 1581 by the name of ‘‘ Armeria sylvestris,”
and Gerard in his ‘‘ Herball”’ says : “‘ There is a wild creeping pink
which groweth in our pastures neere about London and in other
places, but especially in the great field next to Deptford by the
pathside as you go from Redriffe to Greenwich, which hath many
small tender leaves shorter than any other of the wild pinks,
set upon little tender stalks, which lie flat upon the ground,
taking hold of the same in sundry places, whereby it greatly
increaseth, whereupon grow little reddish flowers. The root is
small, tough, and long lasting.’ An old English name for it is
‘‘Sop-in-wine.” This pretty Pink is found on grassy slopes,
roadsides, and dry pastures; it flourishes on soils of primitive or
volcanic origin, é.g. in France on the syenite of the Vosges and
the basalt of Auvergne, in Spain in the subalpine districts of
the mountains of Castile, and in England on dry meadow-land
in the eastern counties. AsI noticed before, this plant is the
origin of the Early Red Pinks.

The various forms of the Common Pink are derived from
D. plumarius, which is indigenous in Piedmont, Austria, and
Central Russia. It is naturalised on old walls in several places
in this country—at Shalford in Surrey, on Haughmond Abbey in
Shropshire, and on Conway Castle in Wales. This is probably
the ‘‘ piggesnie’’ of Chaucer, and is referred by Prior to one or
more forms of cultivated Pinks. The wild Pink was cultivated
in its improved double state in the time of Elizabeth; and
Gerard is the first writer who calls them “ Pinks or wild gillo-
flov.ers,’”’ from their being smaller than the Clove-gilloflower or

468 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

the Carnation, which was also known at that time in English
gardens. Maddock, whose book on gardening was a standard
work just a century ago, lays down as the criterion of a fine
double Pink that ‘‘ the stem should be strong, elastic, and erect,
and not less than 12 inches high; the calyx rather smaller
and shorter, but nearly similar in form and proportion to that of
a carnation, as well as the formation of the flower, which should
not be less than 25 inches in diameter; the petals should be
large, broad, and substantial, and have very fine fringed or
serrated edges, free from large, coarse, deep notches or inden-
tures—in short, they approach nearest to perfection when the
fringe on the edge is so fine as scarcely to be discernible; but it
would be considered a very desirable object to obtain them per-
fectly rose-leaved, 7.c. without any fringe at all; the broadest
part of the lamina, or broad end of the petals, should be perfectly
white and distinct from the eye, unless it be a laced Pink, 2.e.
ornamented by a continuation of the colour of the eye round it,
bold, clean, and distinct, leaving a considerable proportion of
white in the centre, perfectly free from any tinge or spot. The
eye should consist of a bright or dark rich crimson, or purple,
resembling velvet; but the nearer it approaches to black, the
more it is esteemed; its proportion should be about equal to
that of the white, that it may neither appear too large nor too
small.’’ Parkinson also enumerates many fine varieties that
were favourites in the time of Charles I. This plant in its
natural state may be considered as the type of the fimbriate
species, though it is not so widely scattered as the D. superbus.
The next species is the China Pink, or D. sinensis, with
which should be united the remarkably polymorphic D. Seguieri
of the European flora. This plant was known to Tournefort,
who calls it ‘‘ Caryophyllus sinensis supinus.”” The seeds of
this Dianthus were first sent from China to Paris by the French
missionaries about the year 1705; but the double varieties of these
flowers had not been seen before the year 1719, when they were
frequent in some of the Paris gardens. Aiton notices the intro-
duction of the China Pink into England as early as 1713; but
Miller was certainly unacquainted with it in 1724, as he describes
the Indian Pink as bearing yellow flowers only, and tells us that
he takes the description from the written account of Mons.
Liger; but as that author’s work was published in 1703, two

CARNATION CONFERENCE. 469

years before the seeds had arrived from China, it is clear that the
Indian Pink of Liger was a different plant.

Lastly, I will speak of the origin of the Carnation. The wild
species from which the cultivated Carnations are derived is the
D. Caryophyllus of Linneus. This does not appear to have been
known to the ancients, for we have no mention of it by any of
the Roman poets; nor is it anywhere referred to by Pliny. We
learn from Chaucer, who calls it ‘Clove gilofre’’ or ‘‘ Clove
sirofle,”’ that it was cultivated in this country as early as the
reien of Edward III., and that it was used to give a spicy flavour
to ale and wine. He writes in one of his poems :—

Ther springen herbes grete and smale,
The licoris and the setewale,

And many a clove gilofre,

—__—_——— to put mm ale,

Whether it be moist or stale.

The next reference to it is by Manfredus de Monte Imperiali,
who includes it in his group of “‘ Tunici.’’ Jacobus de Manlis
indicated its habitat in Lombardy, growing under conditions
which rendered its introduction very improbable, in a locality
in which it is to be found also at the present time. It was first
called “‘ Carnation’ by Lyte in his translation of Dodoens’ work,
which translation was published in 1578. [dmund Spenser calls
the flower ‘“‘ Coronation,’’ which is perhaps a corruption, and
not, as some of the old books on gardening say, because they
were much used on those and other festive occasions. In the
‘“« Shepheard’s Calendar ’’ we read :—

Bring hither the Pincke and purple Cullambine,

With Gelliflowres ;

Bring Coronations, and Sops-in-wine,

Worn of paramours.
The flowers of this species were formerly employed in medicine.
The. old physicians considered them cordial, and administered
the infusion in pestilential fevers and nervous complaints. They
must, however, have dropped out of the pharmacopeia in
Gerard’s time, for he says: ‘‘ They are not used in physick, but
esteemed for their use in garlands and nosegaies. They are good
to put into vinegar to give it a pleasant taste and gallant odour.
The conserve made of the flowers of the Clove Gilloflower and
sugar is exceeding cordiall, and wonderfully above measure doth
comfort the heart, being eaten now and then.’ He also tells us

470. JOURNAL OF THE RUYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

that he had a Carnation with yellow flowers, ‘‘ the which,’ he
says, ‘‘a worshipfull merchant of London, Master Nicholas
Lete, procured from Poland, and gave me thereof for my garden,
which before that time was never seene nor heard of in these
countries.’ Parkinson enumerates by name 49 kinds of Carna-
tions which were cultivated in the time of Charles I.; and the
largest and principal kind of Carnation was then distinguished
by the name of the Old English Carnation. Rea observes in his
‘“‘ Plora,’’ published in 1665, that we had formerly many good
kinds, but that few of them were then to be found in any of
our gardens. ‘‘ Of these Dutch flowers,’’ he observes, ‘I have
known more than 100 distinct varieties, by several names, all of
them fair, large, and double flowers.’’ In a later edition of
Rea’s *‘ Flora ’’ 860 good sorts of Carnations are enumerated.
Forskiil, the Swedish traveller, and a pupil of Linnzus, observed
the species in cultivation in Arabia and Egypt, and in the gardens
of Constantinople. Kempfer and Thunberg found it a favourite
flower in Japan, where it was called ‘‘Iammasiye.”’ In the
early part of the present century also Roxburgh and Graham
observed it under cultivation in India.

Although the species is cultivated in all countries, its native
habitat seems to be extremely limited, as it is only really wild in
the N.W. of France, the N. of Italy, the littoral provinces of
Austria, and the N.W. part of India. In the Floras of most of
the European countries it is recorded, but only as a more or less
naturalised species. Schultes named a Tyrolese form ‘ D. caryo-
phylloides’’ because he was unable to think that D. Caryo-
phyllus could really be wild there. The typical form of the
wild Carnation is cespitose, glaucous, and glabrous in habit;
the stems paniculately branched above, rarely quite simple, more
or less angular below, jointed and tumid at the nodes; leaves
linear, obtuse, recurved, very long, with the uppermost bractei-
form. Bracts of the calyx four, obovate, mucronate, coriaceous,
and adpressed to the tube; calyx contracted above, teeth lanceo-
late, acuminate, 9-nerved. Petals dentate, beardless, contiguous,
rose-coloured or white. Stamens equalling or overtopping the
styles, capsule ovoid, and seeds peltate. In Hngland the plant
is naturalised on Rochester Castle, and possibly in a few other
places.

CARNATION CONFERENCE. 471

CARNATIONS AND PICOTEES FOR EXHIBITION.
By Mr. Harry Turner, F.R.H.S.

As Mr. Williams has spoken of the Carnation from a botanical
point of view, and we have two more papers to follow—one on
Carnations and Picotees as town plants and one on Border
Carnations—I propose to confine the few remarks I have to make
strictly to Exhibition Carnations, and the first thought that
naturally arises is how to grow Carnations for exhibition, and
with your permission I shall endeavour to give you a few hints
on cultivation. In the first place, Carnations for exhibition
should always be grown in pots. Plants which are grown in
the ground are subject to canker and disease, and are not
so easily under command at the time of flowering. I think,
then, the best period to commence this paper is when the
layer is taken from the stool—the end of September. The
layer should be potted either singly (if a strong grower) or in
pairs (if a medium or weak grower) into 25- or 83-inch pots, the
soil used on this occasion not being too light, and the plants
potted firmly. The plants should be placed in a cold frame
and kept close for a few days after potting. Should the sun
become very powerful, they should be lightly shaded, and
sprinkled overhead night and morning. Should any plants be
found to. be shy-rooted when taken off the stools, they should
be placed in gentle bottom-heat. The plants will require to
have abundance of air day and night, the lights being entirely
removed during the day, but they should be sheltered from very
heavy rains. Keep the plants clean during the winter by re-
moving all the decayed foliage, and lightly stir the top of the
soil. Plenty of air and a judicious use of the watering-pot will
keep away the dreaded spot. The Carnation being thoroughly
hardy, a little dry frost will do them no harm; but should exces-
sive frost set in, a mat or any other slight covering will be of
benefit to them.

We now come to the busy and critical time of the year in
the cultivation of the Carnation for exhibition, viz. March (in
speaking of the cultivation of the Carnation only throughout this
paper, its companion the Picotee is always included); and sup-
posing that the soil (of which I shall give a description later on)

ry 6) JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

has been properly mixed or prepared some months previously,
and protected from heavy rains, but occasionally turned during
bright, frosty weather, the important operation of potting the
plants into their flowering pots will have to bedone. The time of
potting will depend upon the weather and the resources of the
crower to shelter the plants after potting, the middle of the month
being the best time if the weather be favourable. The plants on
being potted should be protected overhead with glass, and the
pots stood upon wooden strips or ashes on gravel which has been
thoroughly drained, the pots best suited to grow exhibition
flowers being 8 inches for a pair of plants. Smaller or larger
pots may be used according to the growth of the variety, one
very important point being not to overpot any variety, and
another most important one to put in all the plants firmly.

The soil to be used in potting the above should consist of
three parts fibrous loam and one part old manure, with a
sprinkling of coarse silver-sand and bone-dust, the loam having
been carefully looked over to find any wireworms. Cover the
hole at the bottom of the pot with an oyster-shell, and at least
2 inches of clean broken crocks should be at the bottom of the
pot, and then some fibre from the loam and a few pieces of
charcoal.

The plants will now soon throw up their flower-stems, and
attention should be given to secure them to some neat sticks,
and as the season advances carefully watch for any attack of
ereen-fly, and wash off with a solution of soft-soap and quassia
or tobacco; the powder of the latter is very effective if applied
after a shower, or the plants sprinkled overhead before applying
it. The plants should now be top-dressed with some well-
decayed manure, or manure and leaf-mould which has been used
the previous season to make a hot-bed, a little of the soil on
the surface being removed and the surface stirred before applying
it. Should the weather be bright and hot, sprinkle the plants
overhead night and morning. The leading shoots will now
require disbudding, and although there is no general rule to guide
the grower, the usual method is to leave the crown bud and two
side buds about the third or fourth joint from the top bud,
removing one of the side buds later on, when the grower can
see which is the most promising, and will also bloom about the
time it is required for exhibition. In disbudding, very much

CARNATION CONFERENCE. 478

depends upon the character of each variety, and an exceptionally
good grower might have four or five buds left until they are
opening, and then remove one or two of the worst; while a weak
grower should be disbudded to the most promising bud. We
now come to the time when the plants should be moved to some
kind of shelter to open their flowers. This should not be delayed
after the buds commence to open, or the thrip, green-fly, and rain
will spoil every flower. The thrip this season has been very
troublesome, and the rain getting into the buds after the thrip
has been at work, it has ruined many flowers, so that it is
quite necessary that the plants should be housed before the buds
commence to open. It is advisable to give the plants two or
three smokings with tobacco-paper as soon as housed to kill any
insects on them. As the buds swell, a little weak manure-
water may be given once or twice a week, and the buds should
be tied to prevent the calyx from splitting down, which would
spoil any flower for exhibition purposes. The best material for
tying the buds is raffia, although small elastic bands are quickly
placed over the buds and look very neat. While the buds are
opening, sprinkle the plants night and morning, and give all the
air possible. Carefully keep all bees out of the house, for if a
flower becomes impregnated it immediately closes. Shade the
house if the sun be very powerful, and discontinue sprinkling
when the flowers have opened. The flowers which appear most
promising for exhibition should have a split card placed behind
the guard petals and a thin back card to keep it in position.
This will keep the guard petals from reflexing too much, and
save the time of the exhibitor on the morning of the show, as
the flowers will then not require so much time in dressing.
The flowers intended for exhibition may be cut and dressed the
day previously.

I may here say a few words on dressing flowers for exhibition,
which some condemn and describe its operation as a mutilation
of the flower. In my opinion, dressing a flower is an operation
which improves the appearance and makes the flower more
attractive to the eye. It simply removes any malformed or
faulty petals, and arranges the flower so that the beauty of each
petal can be seen at a glance. Overdressing is to be condemned ;
by overdressing I mean removing so many petals that a flower
looks loose and hollow-centred. The recognised method of exhi-

F

AT4 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

biting flowers on cards is essential to the exhibitor in taking his
flowers to the show in the best possible condition, and also the
white cards are a contrast to the high colours in the Carnation,
and therefore bring it out to greater perfection on the exhibition
table.

Tmight here deseribe the chief points or merits which consti-
tute ashow flower. The outline should be circular, the colours or
markings bright and clearly defined, and, in a Carnation, running
from the edge of the petal to the base; the petal broad and slightly
cupped, of good substance; the white to be quite pure, without
any spots or bars, and the markings to be distinct and bright.

The Carnation is divided into various classes for exhibition
purposes —viz. Scarlet Bizarres, Crimson Bizarres, Pink and
Purple Bizarres, Purple Flakes, Scarlet Flakes, and Rose
Flakes. The Bizarres should consist of three colours and the
Flakes of two. I shall now pass to a description of the Bizarres,
the first of which are the

ScARLET BIZARRES.

This is a very attractive class, and the colours which con-
stitute a Scarlet Bizarre should be bright scarlet markings, with
stripes of maroon and white on each petal. The oldest variety
in this class now in cultivation is Admiral Curzon, which was
raised nearly fifty years since, and is still to be seen on the exhi-
bition table ; the best varieties of the present day are Arthur
Medhurst, James Mackintosh, Robert Houlerave, Robert Lord,
and George.

CRIMSON BIZARRES.

This class has the richest markings of the whole section, the
colours of which should be bright crimson striped with other
shades of colour and white. Amongst the oldest flowers and
still in circulation we have Lord Milton, over fifty years old.
The most prominent now grown for exhibition are Master
Fred, Harrison Weir, and Rifleman. .

PInK AND PuRPLE BIZARRES.

The Pink and Purple Bizarres are very chaste, one variety,
Sarah Payne, a very old one, still retaining its excellence,
although the petals are very often much reflexed, or what florists

CARNATION CONFERENCE. 475

term “saddle.” The colours in this section should be pink,
purple, and white. Amongst the most prominent varieties are
William Skirving, James Taylor, Mrs. Barlow, Squire Llewellyn,
Sir G. Wolseley, and H. K. Mayor. .

We now come to the Flakes, which consist only of two
colours, viz. purple and white, scarlet and white, and rose and
white.

PurRPLE FLAKES.

The Purple Flakes are a very beautiful class, and add con-
siderable variety to a stand of flowers, one of the oldest in the
class being Millwood’s Premier, which has been in cultivation
over fifty years. Another flower, called Sporting Lass, is a
sport from the Pink and Purple Bizarre called Sarah Payne.
The best now in cultivation are Dr. Foster, Florence Nightin-
gale, and James Douglas.

ScARLET FLAKES.

This is a very attractive class, the scarlet stripes on the white
eround making the flower very conspicuous; the best flowers of
the present day are Matador, Flirt, Sportsman—an old variety,
a sport from the old Scarlet Bizarre called Admiral Curzon,
The other well-known varieties are John Ball, Clipper, and Henry
Cannell.

Rose FLAKES.

A very beautiful class, one of the best being Sybil, which,
when ‘‘run”’ into a rose-self, is a very beautiful flower. Amongst
the best are Thalia, John Keet, Jessica, and James Merryweather,
a flower raised twenty-five years since.

CARNATIONS RUNNING.

>

Carnations ‘‘running,’ 2.e. the flower running into a self-
colour, or the colours becoming suffused and having no white.
This running of the colours has puzzled the florist from the very
earliest days, and no solution of the problem has yet been found
to prevent colours from running, even if grown in poor, medium,
or rich soils; but I would not advise any cultivator to propagate
from run plants, as it is seldom or ever the flower returns to its
normal state. Some flowers, however, are very beautiful in a
run state, such as Sybil, run into a self or into a fancy.

476 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

There are many diseases and insects which trouble the
erower, but the evils which attack them may be very much
diminished if the grower always keep his plants in pots. Pot
culture keeps them healthy, and they are much more under
command from the weather than if grown in the open borders.
Plants for exhibition should certainly be grown in pots.

PICOTEES.

We now come to the Carnation’s companion, the Picotee,
which is divided into various classes, according to the depth and
colour of the markings on the edge of the petal, viz. Red Edge,
Purple Edge, Rose Edge, and Scarlet Edge ; these areagain divided
into heavy, medium, and light edges in each class.

The heavy-edged flowers should have a pure white ground,
and the edges should be heavy, even, and distinct, without any
spot or bar on the white ground ; the heght-edged flowers should
have a thin wire edge on the outside of the petal, and no other
marking whatever. There are also medium-edged flowers between
the above. The improvement made in the Picotee during the
last forty years has been most marked, and scarcely a flower
grown then is now retained in any collection.

Heavy Rep.

Amongst the best are Brunette, Dr. Epps, J. B. Bryant, and

Princess of Wales.
Ligut Rep.

Mrs. Gorton, Thomas William, and Mrs. Bower.

Heavy PURPLE.

Muriel, Mrs. Chancellor, Zerlina, and Norfolk Beauty.

LigHt PURPLE.

Nymph, Mrs. Nicholay, Ann Lord, and Baroness Burdett-
Coutts.
Heavy Rose anp SCARLET.
Fanny Helen, Edith D’Ombrain, Mrs. Payne, Mrs. Sharp,
an Duchess.

CARNATION CONFERENCE. ATT

Licgot RosEzE AND SCARLET.

Favourite, Ethel, Nellie, and Lucy.

YELLOW PICOTEES.

The improvement made in this section during the last few
years has been very great. The first of any note was Prince of
Orange, raised by Mr. Perkins, of Leamington, and from this
many fine varieties were raised in 1879 in the Royal Nurseries,
for example, Princess Beatrice, Mrs. Cavell, Harlequin, Lightning,
Flavius, Mrs. Coleman, Alice Waite, Eleanor, Ne Plus Ulira,
Bullion, and many others which are still in cultivation. Nothing
further of much note was brought out until Mr. Douglas raised
a very fine batch in 1885, which were a very great stride over
those previously in cultivation. These were: Agnes Chambers,
Almira, Annie Douglas, Colonial Beauty, Dorothy, and Terra
Cotta. Mr. Douglas again exhibited several new varieties last
year, one of which, Remembrance, is a great advance on former
varieties; and he will no doubt continue to improve on the
varieties he has already introduced.

Mr. TURNER, in reply to a question by Mr. Martin Smith,
said that when once a seedling had ‘“ run’’ it always maintained
that character afterwards.

Mr. CANNELL said his experience was the same.

THE CARNATION AS A TOWN FLOWER.
By Mr. Martin Roway.

For those like myself who have followed their gardening hobbies
in a London suburb during the last thirty years, the deteriora-
tion of climate, which has caused one favourite after another
to drop out of the list of things easy to grow, is no doubt a matter
which raises many regretful memories. But if the Queen of
Flowers has been almost scared away, while most of our fine
perennials refuse to dwell with us, and dainty creatures like our
Hepaticas and Gentians are quite a dream of the past, there
are, on the other hand, so many things of first importance and
excellence still left to us that we may well lay aside our regrets

478 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

and leave the smoke-fiend to wonder at his moderation towards
us. If the townsman cannot, like his country cousin, go into his
earden and roam among countless species from China to Peru,
his interest and pleasure are none the less rea! and keen because
centred on fewer subjects, many of them being of the most
marked individuality and character.

Quite in the fore-front among our garden favourites as a
townsman’s flower is the subject of the present paper. In its
origin a mountain plant, to which pure air, and plenty of it,
might be expected to be a first necessity, 1ts patient endurance of
the smoke-laden atmosphere of our great towns is most remarik-
able. The collection of Messrs. Veitch at Chelsea and the
Cloves growing and flowering luxuriantly on the Embankment
gardens at Charing Cross will occur in this connection to many
lovers of the flower. In the still more trying situations of
small town gardens the Carnation is equally at home. At
Sheffield, in one of the worst climates conceivable, in the midst
of factories of every description, Mr. Simonite has raised some
of the most exquisite flowers we possess ; and all Mr. Dodwell’s
finest seedlings, up to the time of his removal to Oxford eight
years ago, were raised in a small garden within ten minutes’
ride of Victoria Station. Indeed the bulk of cur exhibitors at
the three great shows in London, Oxford, and Manchester are
amateurs with small gardens, working under all the disadvantages
of adverse climate, cramped space, and scant leisure snatched
from busy occupations of every sort.

Now the Carnation is propagated by seed and by cuttings, or
‘‘pipings,’’ as they are termed. ‘These latter are usually taken
from the plant early in July. It is also propagated from layers,
which are put down about the latter end of July or beginning
of August, as the plant is going out of flower. But, in detailing
briefly the culture of the plant, I shall assume the case of one taking
it up for the first time; and as he would presumably desire to set
out with varieties of known excellence, his best course would be to
obtain plants from the nurseryman in the autumn, say early in
October, at which time the layers put down in July have become
rooted and ready to detach from the old plants. Having got in his
plants, his next consideration will be how they shall be wintered.
There are those who will tell him that the Carnation being by
nature a thoroughly hardy plant, it may, and in fact ought to be,

CARNATION CONFERENCE. 479

planted out to go through the winter in the open ground. Then it
may equally happen that he will find some friend who will recount
his sad experience of having so treated his plants, and lost them
nearly all, These apparent contradictions are not difficult to
reconcile. The Carnation is indeed a thoroughly hardy plant
in an adult stage, but it is necessary to bear in mind that the
layers which we take off in October are scarcely yet developed,
as they have not sufficient root-power to healthily dispose
of all the moisture which our autumns and winters bring
with them ; and when that is the case the plants get into a con-
gested state and die off, nct from cold as a primary cause, but
from digease. Very well rooted layers may go through wet
autumns and winters safely, and when these seasons are compara-
tively dry they are pretty sure to do so even on heavy soil.

T am informed that most of the Newcastle growers plant their
collections out in beds in the autumn, as do also some of the
Lancashire people ; but this is not a wise course to pursue in
localities where the soil is wet and badly drained. On the other
hand, if the layers be left in the ground undetached from the
parent plant, they will usually go through the winter with
impunity.

If we desire to put the hardiness of the Carnation to the
test, we should take, not the newly struck layer, but the seedling,
which raised in the spring is by the autumn a fairly developed
plant. Seedling plants, even of the choicest exhibition varieties,
are always wintered in the open ground.

Dealing, then, with our autumn-struck plants, the safe general
course to pursue is to pot them, and winter them in a cold frame.
The soil suitable at this stage is light loam, with about a fifth
part of good, sweet leaf-mould and a little coarse sharp silver-
sand. The leaf-mould is not a necessity, and, unless it can be
got sweet and pure as it comes from a wood, it may be better
dispensed with. The plants should be potted singly in 24- or
83-inch pots, according to their size, or two small ones may be
potted together. They should be stood upon ashes in a frame,
and the lights should be closed down upon them for five or six
days, while fresh roots are being formed. The plants may then
receive a watering, and air may be given gradually till they are
seen to be establishing themselves, and in about three weeks’
time the lights may be remcyed altogether ifthe weather be fine.

480 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Another mode of wintering is that of bedding the plants in
the frames. It is, of course, only applicable to plants designed
for the open ground, as for pot culture the previous establish-
ment of the plant in a small pot is a necessity. Growing myself
the main stock for pot culture, and turning the surplus beyond
what is wanted for the stage into the borders, I have never myself
used this method; but it is practised by many, and where there
are large numbers of plants intended for the open ground it is
the means of a great saving of labour.

But, whichever mode is adopted, it is essential to bear in
mind that the protection of the frame is designed, not against
cold, but against the soaking rains of autumn and winter with
which these young plants may not at this stage of their existence
have capacity to deal. In its alpine home the plant would
hibernate under snow—the cold frame of nature—to remain
there at an equable temperature in a state of quiescence till
Nature in her own time lifted the covering and awakened the
plant to activity.

Cold, therefore, not being the enemy we have to contend with,
the plants must have plenty of air day and night all through
the winter. If very harsh winds prevail, the lights should be
tilted so as to admit the air from the leeward side. All the
cultural attention the plants will need will be the looking after
them for water, which they will want occasionally if the weather
be open. It should be given in the morning and without wetting
the foliage. They should also be watched for green-fly and for
any sign of maggot.

By February the little pots will be full of roots in the case of
the more vigorous varieties, and, if the weather should be genial,
any showers that fall will be beneficial to the plants.

In March—the earlier the better if the weather permit—
they may, if intended simply for garden culture, be planted out.
where they are to bloom.

As to soil, it has been said in a general way that any soil
that will grow wheat well will grow a Carnation well. A friend
who once complained to me that he thought the soil in his
locality—a good wheat district—unsuitable for Carnations was
not a little surprised at hearing that my first-prize six Carnations
at South Kensington that summer had been grown in soil taken
from a wheat-field in his own neighbourhood.

CARNATION CONFERENCE, 481

From this it will be seen that the Carnation lkes a rather
stiff, loamy soil; and though it will scarcely disdain any soil, the
nearer we approach its natural requirements the more likely we
are to do it justice.

By the end of April or the beginning of May the plants will
begin to throw up the main stem, or to “spindle,” as it is
termed, and will soon afterwards want staking, and also tying as
they grow on. Green-fly and spittle-fly must be watched for
and promptly destroyed.

Karly in June a surface dressing of rotted manure will be
found serviceable in promoting vigorous growth in the plants.
From this time to the period of flowering—in ordinary seasons
about July 20 in the south—they will want little further attention
beyond the tying, and watching for the attacks of ereen-fly and
the ordinary garden enemies.

Towards the latter end of July the plants will be ready to
layer, and the layers will be rooted by the end of September or
beginning of October, when they may be taken off.

Such in brief is the culture of the Carnation as a garden
flower.

But in addition to his plants in the borders, where he will
naturally have regard to quantity as much as to the quality of
the bloom, the amateur may become sufficiently interested in
Carnations to desire to have a few flowers brought up to
exhibition form, whether he intend them for exhibition or simply
for his own enjoyment.

For the production of flowers for exhibition the plants are
usually grown on in pots. Not that they could not be trusted to
give us show blooms in the beds or borders, for, as a matter of
fact, the Newcastle and many other northern exhibitors grow
their plants in this way, and there are none more exacting in the
quality of their flowers. The system of pot-culture as generally
followed is one mainly of convenience, whereby the exhibitor
may have his plants under more complete control than they
could be in the borders—more especially at the time of blooming
in July, which is more often than not a period of rain and storm.

Some good people are occasionally much exercised that
Carnations should be grown in pots, which it is thought must
needs be a system of “ coddling.” This isan utter mistake, but
it is worth noticing, as it reflects an idea to some extent

482, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULYURAL SOCIETY.

prevalent that our exhibition sorts need to be treated as tender
plants, a notion from which the beginner, if he entertain it, should
be disabused at the outset.

People are accustomed to see the Tree and Malmaison sorts
growing under glass for the sake of continuous or early flowering,
and they also see the exhibition sorts—probably at the only time
they ever see them—when they have been brought in from the
stage outside to flower in the same way, and to those unfamiliar
with the various forms of Carnations the idea of artificial treat-
ment is suggested all round.

Of course the objects sought with these diverse forms of the
flower are quite distinct. We desire to exhibit Carnations at the
plant’s natural season of flowering in the highest state of
development to which culture can bring it, and plants in pots for
exhibition are grown in the open air, and are just as much
dependent on seasonal influences as those in the borders. The
simple proof of this is seen in the fact that plants in the borders
flower at just the same time as the same varieties in pots on the
stage.

As illustrative of the above remarks, I may mention that a
friend to whom I had given some plants for his garden surprised
me by producing flowers he had cut from them in the middle of
June in the very backward season of two years ago. It appeared
that his gardener, either through my recommendation as to
winter treatment not having reached him or acting under the
not uncommon idea to which I have referred, wintered the plants
up to March or April in a cool vinery from which the frost was
just excluded, with the result that the flowers were premature,
and comparatively peor, in a season remarkable for its lateness
and the fine quality of the bloom.

After wintering the plants, therefore, as previously detailed,
they will be ready by the latter end of February or beginning of
March for potting on in the large pots in which they are to
bloom. Many persons, indeed, do this early in February, but
this being with me an inconvenient time I am satisfied to begin
the work a: soon as I can in March, and to get it finished by the
beginning of April.

The compost I use is good yellow fibrous loam three-fourths,
and for the remaining fourth a mixture in equal parts of rotted
manure and leaf-mould. To this is added a little coarse silver-

CARNATION CONFERENCE. 488

sand and some charcoal broken up to the size of peas and
shaken over the compost to keep the whole sweet. The loam
may be either sifted or broken up, but must be looked over very
carefully in any case for wireworms.

The most forward plants should be taken for potting first,
and, as the plants vary in size and vigour, it 1s necessary to use
more than one size pot for them. For the largest and most
vigorous 9-inch, for the average 8-inch, and for smaller growers
7-inch pots are the most suitable—two plants being placed in
each. Varieties which are scarce with us should be potted
singly in 5- or 6-inch pots, as their size and root-development
may demand. ‘The pots should be well drained and the plants
potted rather firmly. If the weather be calm and dry I
place them at once on the stage where they are to bloom.
If squally and rainy I keep them close in the frames for a week
or ten days, while they are establishing themselves, and remove
them in batches as they have been done to the stage.

Up to the end of May the plants will need only the same
attention as to staking and tying and watching for insect pests
as those in the borders. Green-fly will need to be specially
watched for, and may be removed with a camel-hair brush. If
the plants should be much infested, as in common with almost
everything else they were this season, it will be necessary to
dust them with tobacco-powder, which must be syringed off
again. The soil should be stirred occasionally, as it may have
got hardened or green through rain or watering, the oppor-
tunity being chosen for this when it has become dry. A top-
dressing of equal parts of loam, leaf-mould, and rotted manure
is commonly given at this time, but I do not myself regard it as
a very essential matter ; and as it takes time to go through the
whole collection, I have never practised it except in a very
partial way.

Only the main stem of each plant is allowed to go up for
bloom, the lateral flowering shoots being stopped. Disbudding
should be commenced as soon as the buds can be taken between
the finger and thumb. Usually only two are left on the plant,
but in the case of some very vigorous varieties there may
remain three. These are the crown or main bud, of course, and
the third and fourth from the top.

Many of the buds when they have swelled will need tying

484 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

with a thin strip of matting to prevent their bursting. In hot
weather syringing up to the time the buds are showing colour
is very beneficial in keeping down thrips, invigorating the
plants, and inducing gradual and perfect opening of the buds.

By the first or second week of July, according to the season,
the greater number will be showing colour, and will then need
to be protected from injury by sun or rain.

Where the stock is not large, or where stock and garden are
both large, a glass house affords, without doubt, the most con-
venient quarters for flowering—-a free circulation of air and
shading from hot sun being matters of course. Where, how-
ever, as in my own case, the stock is comparatively large and the
garden relatively small, the erection of a glass house large
enough to take all the plants would be too great a sacrifice of
garden space. By putting up a light but sufficiently strong
woodwork over the stage, and a covering of very good calico
stout enough to resist heavy rain while admitting light freely, a
elass house may be dispensed with. Such a simple structure
I have found sufficient to resist the heavy rain-storms of the last
three seasons, without the least injury resulting to the blooms.
The flowers, even in the cold summer of 1888, developed per-
fectly under this protection, both as to colour and form—the
first-prize twelve Carnations and twelve Picotees at Oxford
that year, and at Westminster last year, and the first twelve
Carnations and first six Picotees at Chiswick this year having
been all flowered in this way.

Opportunity should be taken in the early morning before the
sun comes on, and again in the evening as soon as it has gone
off, to lift the awning, so as to give both plants and bloom the
full benefit of the air, and in warm, settled weather I keep it off
at night altogether.

Seed should be saved by careful fertilisation of the best
varieties in each class of Carnations and Picotees. It should be
sown about the latter end of March or beginning of April in
pans, which should be placed in a cold frame. It will germinate
in about ten days or a fortnight. The young plants are pricked
out in boxes soon after they show the second leaf, and early in
June are planted in the beds where they are to bloom the follow-
ing year.

Having dealt so far with purely cultural details, it may be

CARNATION CONFERENCE. 485

worth while to briefly note some of the characteristics of the
different sections of the flower.

The Bizarres have two colours disposed longitudinally on a
white ground, and are subdivided according to the leading
colours into scarlet, crimson, and pink-and-purple Bizarres.

The Flakes have one colour, also laid lengthwise on a white
eround, and are classed into scarlet, rose, and purple.

The Picotees have the colour placed upon the edge, and are
classed as red, purple, rose, and scarlet edges, and subdivided,
according to the depth of the edge, into heavy, medium, and light
edges of these colours.

The above disposes of the flowers with distinctive markings on
white grounds,and these are ordinarily termed the “ class flowers.”

A wide section is embraced by the term Fancies, which takes
in all the flowers with markings on coloured grounds, and algo
those too indistinctively or indefinitely marked on white grounds
to entitle them to a place among the class flowers.

Most familiar of all are the Selfs, the flowers of one colour,
embracing almost every tint but blue.

To those little acquainted with our ‘class flowers ’”’ as they
are called, it may seem somewhat strange that we should call
the Picotee a section of the Carnation. The word “ Picotee,”’
meaning ‘‘ pricked,”’ “spritted ”’ or spotted, describes the original
type of flower from which first our Bizarres and Flakes, and
much later—indeed within living memory—our present all but
faultless Picotees have been obtained. The florists’ Picotee of
eighty years ago may be seen in the illustration given by Mad-
dock of “the flower of a fine variegated pink Picotee ”’ in his
work on florists’ flowers published in 1810. The original form
of the flower is familiar enough among those resulting from any
packet of Continental seed purchased to-day.

The actual process of evolution by which our Bizarre and
Flake Carnations and our modern Picotees have been got by
select seeding from the pricked and spotted flower, according
as the tendency has been shown to longitudinal or marginal
marking, may be seen going on now in the case of the yellow-
ground flowers, which, till lately neglected by raisers, will be
made in time, out of the same spritted and spotted forms, to
yield us Bizarres and Flakes, and edged Picotees, as has already
been done in the case of the white-grounds.

?

486 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The yellow-ground flowers, to which allusion has just been
made, must be taken asa race apart from all the rest. The
richly varied and picturesque character of these flowers makes
them general favourites, but coming originally from the South
of Europe they are impatient of our cold, wet summers. Dry
cold does not appear to affect them, and I winter them in the
same way as the rest of the stock. After a long winter, followed,
as in 1887, by a long, dry summer, many of them will grow like
willows, whether in pots or borders ; but when the summer season
is cold and wet for a couple of months together, as in 1888,
erowth is either completely checked or rendered unsound for the
following season.

Some sorts, ike Bell Halliday and Edith, will go through it
quite unaffected, but, as a rule, the yellow flowers, as we have
hitherto known them, need some protection against long-con-
tinued wet weather, if vigorous and healthy growth is to be
maintained.

Latterly, however, it is a pleasure to know that raisers have
succeeded in getting something like a new race of yellow-grounds
which will give us, along with higher quality, a greater adapt-
ability to our trying climate.

Of the various sections of the flower, the Selfs are best known,
and are those which are most commonly seen in our gardens.
Besides the simple charm natural to the unicoloured flower, they
have also a capacity for broad effect which exhibits them to
ereat advantage when grown in large groups of a sort. Our
town gardens do not, as a rule, offer much scope for display of
this kind, but it might be tried in our parks with the happiest
results.

The class flowers—the Bizarres and Flakes and Picotees—
have hitherto remained but little known beyond the circle of the
florist, but the area of their cultivation appears to be widening
considerably of late, owing, without doubt, to the exhibitions of
our three leading societies. These are the florists’ flowers,
representing as they do the highest qualities of the Carnation in
the direction of refinement, and of the seemingly little compa-
tible qualities of strongly marked individuality and wide variety.
One sometimes sees the statement made—only, of course, by
those without knowledge of the flowers—of Scarlet Flakes so
formal as to have every petal marked exactly alike. Such a

CARNATION CONFERENCE. 487

flower, while even less beautiful, is happily as apocryphal as the
eriffin, and could have been seen, if at all, only in a nightmare.
It is opposed to the chief characteristic, to the very genius of
the whole Carnation tribe, and of this section of it more than
any other—that of variety. Not only is the variation great as
between the parent and the seedling, but the proved and named
variety, while preserving always unmistakable individuality of
feature, is never from one season to another exactly the same.
And, be the season what it may, there are always some varieties,
and even entire classes of the flower, which seem by their display
of exceptional high quality, to be exactly suited by it. Two
years ago, when the winter in summer made us fear for the
quality of our flowers, to the surprise and delight of all of us
we were rewarded with blooms of unequalled richness and re-
finement.

The florist every year, as the season of the bloom approaches,
is on the tiptoe of expectation as to how the flowers will come.
Many a disappointment has he, but many a more than equal
surprise and joy to set against it.

In conclusion, I would advise every true lover of the Carna-
tion not to restrict himself in any narrow way to any one section
of the flowers. Let him take the goods the gods provide him.
Increasing knowledge will bring with it the truest appreciation
of the relative merits of each and ever-increasing admiration
for all.

Subjoined is a list of some of the best varieties of Carnations
in the different sections. All are good growers except the few
marked with an asterisk, which are given with the rest on
account of the well-known merits of their flowers.

BIZARRES AND FLAKES.

Scarlet Bizarres. Pink & Purple Bizarres. Rose Flakes.
Admiral Curzon.* Harrison Weir. Jessica.
Fred. Mrs. Barlow. John Keet.
Mars. Sarah Payne. Rob Roy.
Robert Houlgrave. Unexpected.* Thalia.

Robert Lord. Scarlet Flakes. Purple Flakes.
Crimson Bizarres. Alisemonde. Florence Nightingale.
Edward Rowan. Clipper. Gordon Lewis (Dodwell).

J. D. Hextall. Matador, James Douglas.
Master Fred.* Sportsman. Mayor of Nottingham.

Rifleman.

488

Heavy Red Edge.

Brunette.

J. B. Bryant.
Mrs. Dodwell.
Master Norman.

Light Red Hage.

Emily.

Mrs. Gorton.
Thomas William.
Violet Douglas.

White.
Bride (Hodges’).
Emma Lakin.
Mrs. Muir.
W. P. Milner.
White Clove.

Blush.

Comte de Chambord.

Comtesse de Paris.
Governor.

Rose.
John Barnett.

Mrs. George (Dodwell).

Rose Celestial.

PICOTEES.

Heavy Rose and Scarlet

Edge.
Edith D’Ombrain.
Mrs. Payne.
Mrs. Sharp.
Royal Visit.
Light Rose and Scarlet
Edge.
Favourite.
Miss Lee.
Mrs. Ricardo.
Nellie.

SELFS.

Pink.
Celia.
Lady Agnes.
Maroon.
Florizel (Dodwell).
Maestro (_ do.
The Old Clove.

Yellow.
Bell Halliday.
Edith.
Germania.
Will Threltfall.
Buff.
Amber.
Florence.
Mrs. Reynolds Hole.

JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY,

Heavy Purple Edge.
Amy Robsart (Dodwell).
Mrs. Chancellor.
Muriel.*

Ligit Purple Edge.
Clara Penson.
Juliette.
Mary.*
Nymph.

Salmon.
Kyveline (Dodwell).
Mrs. Vernon Harcourt
(Dodwell).
Wm. Harding (Dodwell).

Purple.
Imperator (Dodwell).
Neptunes) lo):
Purple Emperor.
Purple Clove.

Scarlet.
A. L. Roland.
Joe Willet.
Murillo.
Scarlet Gem.

YELLOW-GROUND CARNATIONS AND PICOTEES,

Agnes Chambers.
Almira.

Alfred Grey.
Colonial Beauty.

Dodwell’s Seedling, No. 574.
No. 166.
No. 614.

Do.
Do.

Prince of Orange.
Rachel.
Terra Cotta.

THE CARNATION AS A BORDER FLOWER.
By Mr. Ricnarp Dean, F.R.HLS.

I HAvE been asked to treat of the Carnation as a border
flower, as everybody’s flower, in fact—the floral pet of all who
love the sweet-smelling blossoms of the old Gillyflower of our
English gardens. It can appeal to our patriotism with a kind of
pride of race, andit compels the homage of the heart and senses
to a degree perhaps shared only by the Rose. Let the rosarian

CARNATION CONFERENCE. 489

extol his favourite flower, as he doffs his cap and shouts Floreat
Regina Florum! It is worthy of his highest devotion and
service. We who love the Carnation maintain that if any flower
can be said to be the idol of the masses itis the Carnation—in
whose honour we are holding high festival to-day. And it can
boast of aristocratic admirers also, for did not Sarah, Duchess of
Marlborough, display great partiality for the Carnation? The
gossip in the society papers of her day declared that she had
every year about two hundred pots of them, esteeming them as
her successor at Blenheim does in these days his Orchids; and
she is reported as frequently saying that nothing gave her so
much pleasure as the sight of her Carnations in full bloom,
which she preferred to all the greenhouse plants in her posses-
sion. And in our day the Malmaison and other Carnations
repose as button-holes upon the breast of many a one who can
prefer the claim of long descent, and whose blood is as blue as the |
most regal Delphinium. We who are to-day attending the levée
the Carnation holds in the historic gardens at Chiswick justify
our laudation of it on the grounds that it is popular with all
classes, that it is easily cultivated, that it abundantly repays
good culture, that to beauty of form and expression it adds a
delightful variation in character, that it combines brilliant hues
with delicate tints, and, as of supreme importance, it perfumes
the air with grateful fragrance, which rises up through the fine
pores of its scented petals. Let me guard against any possible
assumption that, in pleading for the recognition of the Carnation
as a border plant, | am in any way opposing the practice or
manifesting hostility to the methods of the florist, who grows
his plants in pots im order to secure fine exhibition flowers.
Nothing of the kind. The florist—meaning thereby the culti-
vator for exhibition—is as much an advocate of border culture for
the Carnation as I am, or anyone else. I state this much because
it has been made to appear that the florist cultivates a number of
varieties in pots that need to be so treated, making them—so his
critics say—greenhouse plants, because they are weakly and
delicate, and unless so treated would surely die. In such strains
of playful banter some writers are found gently tickling the
susceptibilities of our floricultural brethren who make up ow:
Carnation shows. Nothing can be further from the truth, except
it is this type of writer. Many of the best varieties of bizarre and
G

490 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

flaked Carnations and edged Picotees are so robust and so full
of constitutional vigour that they make excellent border plants, as
can be seen by the beds in these Chiswick gardens planted with
Carnations received from all parts of the country. Ido not think
I ever knew a grower of Carnations in pots who did not also have
his beds and borders of Carnations in the open. If he be a raiser
of improved varieties from seed, he plants them out in the open
and proves them there, and if anything of promise reward his
efforts he will lift the plant and place it in a pot for security, as
also for the convenience of layering the grass, and so obtaining
increase. Do we not all adopt the practice of specially caring for
those possessions to which we attach the greatest value ?— though
I have known a florist to think much more highly of a seedling
flower than of his own reputation. I confess that when I visit Mr.
Dodwell’s Carnation garden at Oxford during the blooming time
I always take more interest in the beds of seedlings in the open
than in the named varieties he cultivates in pots. They over-
flow into beds and borders at all points; it is a kind of Carna-
tion inundation that for a time almost hides from view every other
floral aspect. And there is scarcely an exhibitor of Carnations
of whose garden this could not be said. The real fact is, it is the
florist who raises superior varieties of the Carnation that does
so much to enrich our borders with new and valuable flowers.
He is limited by the rules governing exhibitions in his selection
of types to grow. Outside of these are hundreds full of grace and
tenderness—-winsome and delightful floral morsels—that become
the occupants of the borders, gilding and enlivening them with
touches of beauty, of which the Carnation is so prodigal. There
is nothing too good to go into the open border; the most valuable
Carnation ever raised would not be out of place there. There
is excellent common sense in the remark made by old Luke
Ashmole, of Tulip renown, some years ago: ‘‘ Thou knowest that
a good thing takes up no more room in the garden than a bad one,
and what’s the use of growing a bad one?’’ Let some organs of
the gardening press rage ever so furiously, and ambitious and not
always well-informed writers imagine a vain thing, to-day, in our
Carnation Parliament, we gratefully acknowledge the valuable
help of the florist in enriching our borders with lovely Carnations.

I would have every grower of border Carnations be also a
raiser of seedlings. It is a hackneyed saying, but I do not think

CARNATION CONFERENCE. 491

any cultivator of flowers has rightly comprehended the poetry of
the subject until he has raised and bloomed seedlings. There is
romance in it as well as poetry ; the evolution of seedling flowers
is so full of surprises as to come near to the miraculous. Let
anyone who to-day has found in the Carnation a goddess worthy
of his worship and a life’s devotion make a note of some of the
varieties exhibited which strike him as being worthy of posses-
sion, or that are in the Carnation beds yonder. Let him obtain
young plants of these in the autumn, and plant them out in a
well-prepared bed, tend them as objects of almost priceless
value, bloom them well, and then, if Nature is in a consenting
mood, save some seed, and commence the fascinating and all-
engrossing pastime of raising seedlings. Or, to save time, he
may prefer to obtain seed from a reliable source. Let him sow
it—not in the autumn, for that is risky without due convenience
for wintering the plants, but in the opening spring-time —early
in March to April, when the storm of heat rolls hitherward :—

Knveloping heat, enchanted robe,

Wraps the daisy and the globe,

Transforming what it doth unfold,
Life out of death, new out of old.

Sow the seed carefully in pots, pans, or a shallow box of a
suitable and somewhat gritty compost, place them in a cold
frame, keep them cool and moist, and in a short time the tiny
piants will appear. As soon as they are large enough to bear
it, let him prick them off into shallow boxes or deep pans, pro-
tecting them from withering winds and drying sunshine, and
erow them on until they become large enough for transplanting
to beds in the open ground. The older florists in the North
used to make a point of sowing seed at midsummer, doing it in
the open air ona northern aspect; and they always advocated
deep sowing. Nowadays a quicker return is sought for; hence
the plan of sowing I have suggested. The position of the bed is
a matter of moment—the Carnation likes an open and breezy
aspect, revelling in pure air and bright sunshine. Important
also is the matter of soil. I think the soil of the Chiswick
Gardens too light generally for the Carnation. It does best in
a fairly firm one, and, if a suitable compost has to be prepared,
let it be of good fibry yellow loam, with the addition of plenty

of thoroughly rotten manure from any old cucumber bed, as
G2

492, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

far as possible free from grubs and any noxious insects; add
some leaf-mould and the ashes from burnt vegetable refuse, or,
failing that, some grit from a gravelled, but not a granite, road.
The bed should be deeply dug, and the manure and other
materials forked into it to the depth of a foot or so. If the soil
of the garden be a light and friable one, it should be strengthened
and made firmer by the addition of some stiff yellow loam, and
then a good Carnation bed is secured ; and at the time of plant-
ine let the plants be removed with as much soil as possible
adhering to the roots, so that the check in development shall be
a slight one—placing a little fine compost about the roots to
encourage a quick root action, and pressing the soil firmly about
the plants. Carnations, whether in pots or in borders, may be
said to like a firm bottom; if the soil be light and loose, the
plants suffer severely at a time of drought. Whether a bed be
made specially for the plants (which is not always convenient),
or the plants be placed in the mixed border, let there be good
cultivation. He who would have good flowers must cultivate
well—that is a golden rule in plant culture for all time. Other
points in the cultural process are to give a support to any plants
at the time of planting that may need it, and maintain this until
blooming time; let the surface be stirred occasionally, and be
kept clear of weeds, and let the soil be kept firm about the roots
of the plants, and some top-dressing of a rich character be
occasionally given.

When planting out in beds the plants should be eighteen
inches apart, and even further in the case of strong-growing
varieties, so that they may be conveniently layered. A keen
look-out must be kept for vermin—for wireworm and grubs in
the soil, for green-fly and cuckoo-spit on‘ the foliage, and that
marauder by night, the snail—and no quarter be given. Dy
means of a large camel’s-hair brush, green-fly;can{be swept away
into infinite space ; frequent brushings are advantageous. The
ereen-fly is a small and insignificant insect, but ‘it can tax the
resources and exhaust the patience of the biggest man.

Do not trouble about plants that have bloomed two years in
succession; their tenure of existence is uncertain and their
flowers small. It is better to renew annually jby seedlings or
by layers. Let the work of layering be performed by the end of
July or early in August, so that the layers may root well by the

CARNATION CONFERENCE. 193

autumn. No winter will destroy a healthy, well-rooted layer ;
but the winter will often destroy the pith of old plants, and death
ensues.

Success in Carnation culture lies through a round of daily
attentions constantly given. It is the small services rendered to
the plants which help to make up the sum of success. Remem-
ber the story of the sculptor Michael Angelo. A friend called
on him as he had just finished a bust. He called a month
afterwards, and there was still the bust—apparently untouched
during the intervening period. Accusing the sculptor of idleness,
Angelo replied by instancing the execution of several small
details which had improved his work. ‘ But these are trifles”’
said his visitor. ‘‘ True,’ said the sculptor, “but trifles make
perfection, and perfection is no trifle.” So itis with the suc-
sessful culture of Carnations and other plants.

The critics of the florist in the gardening papers are some-
times imaginary painters; they picture an ideal plant of a
Carnation so dwarf and robust that it can support its head of
bloom without stakes. I have never yet seen a satisfactory
representative of this ideal plant able to set wind and rain at
defiance. You cannot coerce Nature into producing plants of
equal height. She manifests her independence by bringing forth
both tall and short ones. Some like tall and some short plants
of Carnations. I hke them all if they carry beautiful flowers.
Some day one of these critics may depose Nature and assume the
reins of government in the vegetable kingdom, and then we
shall see floral wonders made to order. ‘Till then we must be
content with what comes in the ordinary way of things, and
be very thankful that the Carnation is such a lovely, useful,
and satisfying flower, and that, let it be presented to us in
any form that is fair and beautiful, we shall gratefully welcome
it, and heartily recognise its great capacities for calling forth
the admiration, ministering to the delights, and so gladdening
the hearts of the children of men.

DISCUSSION.

In reply to a question from Mr. PEArson as to the reason
why the sweepings from gravel instead of granite roads should be
used, Mr. DnaAn said that because the sweepings from gravel

494 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

roads did not make the soil sticky, as the sweepings from granite
did.

Mr. Rowan said this applied also in the case of soil for
Verbenas.

Mr. Smith (the Chairman) asked if there was any “royal
road’’ by which maggot might be destroyed; and the general
opinion was that this could only be achieved by means of the
finger and thumb.

A gentleman asked if anyone could give him any information
respecting a certain disease which attacked the stems of Carna-
tions just above the ground. ‘This disease appeared suddenly
and quickly destroyed plants which twenty-four hours previously
were in the best of health.

Dr. Masters said he believed the gentleman referred to what
was known as the ‘eelworm,” and there was no remedy, he
feared, for this ruthless destroyer other than the total cremation
of the plants attacked.

At the close of the Conference Dr. Masters said the pleasant
duty had been imposed on him of expressing on behalf of the
audience their thanks to the readers of papers that afternoon.
Before sitting down he said he would lke to ask a question,
namely, whether Fairchild’s ‘‘mule’’ was still in existence. It
was a hybrid between Dianthus Caryophyllus and D. barbatus,
and was not only the first hybrid Carnation ever raised, as it was
produced at the end of the 17th century in the village of Hoxton,
but actually the first artificial hybrid of any kind on record.
Some of the clerical auditors who were familar with flower-
services would perhaps know something about this plant, as
Fairchild, who died in 1667, left a sum of money to the preacher
of his parish that he might set forth the omnipotence of the
Creator by means of an annual fiower-service in the church.

FERN CONFERENCE,

WEDNESDAY, Juny 238, 1890.

A CoNFERENCE on Ferns was held at the Chiswick Gardens on
Wednesday, July 23.

In-the absence, through illness, of J. G. Baker, Esq., F.R.5.,
President of the Conference, the chair was taken at 2 p.m. by
Dr. Maxwell T. Masters, F.R.S., who, in opening the proceedings,
expressed the regret that all lovers of Ferns felt at the absence
of Mr. Baker, whose presence would have been of so much
importance on this occasion, when questions of nomenclature
and of classification would have to be considered. The Chair-
man then read the following note sent by Mr. Baker :—

‘“‘T am very sorry not to be able to be present personally at the
discussion this afternoon. What I particularly wished to bring
before the Congress is the very unsatisfactory condition at the
present time of the nomenclature of the varieties of British Ferns.
In Lindley and Moore’s ‘ Nature-printed Ferns’ and in Lowe’s
‘British Ferns’ (pub. 1867) a large number of varieties is de-
scribed and figured. About the nomenclature and identification
of these there is no difficulty. A very large addition is made to
these in Fraser’s Catalogue of 1868, and since 1868 Mr. Lowe
and others have added a large number of new names. Tor the
forms of the sixty British Ferns I am certainly not exaggerating
in saying that three thousand Latin names have been invented.
The result is a complete chaos, and I wish to appeal to Mr. Lowe,
who has worked so long and so actively in the field, to make an
attempt to put astop to this state of things. The best way to do
this, so far as I can judge, would be to separate the true varieties
from the monstrosities and to classify the subordinate forms under
the leading types. A great number of the names have no bota-
nical standing, because they have not been published anywhere
with a definition. I very much wish Mr. Lowe would write a
paper on this basis for the Jowrnal of the Horticultural Society,
codifying the nomenclature, and referring to the figures in

496 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

his book as a standard of comparison for the added names pub-
lished by Fraser, and any that have not been put into print which
he thinks worth mention. Unless this is done by someone
who, like himself and Mr. Wollaston, understands the matter
thoroughly, it will have to be done in a few years’ time by some-
one very much less qualified for the work.

“oe ‘(G: DanaEe
‘¢ Kew, July 23, 1890.”

WHICH ARE THE. OLDEST FERNS?
By Professor Bower, D.Sc., F.L.S.

To many who take an interest in their cultivation, and are the
most enthusiastic admirers of their beauty, Ferns are simply
Ferns, and their relation to other families of plants is a matter
of minor importance, or perhaps never considered. But to those
who pursue comparative morphology—and I beheve that the
majority of Fern cultivators really fall into this category—it is
ever an object to trace evolutionary series within given groups of
organisms, in the expectation that this may lead to a better
recognition of the relation of the group in question to others.
And so with Ferns it should be our first object to lay them out
in such a series as we may believe to correspond more or less
nearly to the course of their evolution.

It has been the result of my own comparative observations,
extending over a considerable period, together with the facts
recorded by others, to demonstrate that such a series exists, and
the conclusions are enunciated at length in the ‘“ Annals of
Botany,’ vol. iii. Here it will suffice to state that by a com-
parison of the various parts of the Fern plant in the embryonic
condition—viz. of stems, leaves, wines of the leaf, roots, and
sporangia—it is possible to range the chief families of Ferns as a
series. At one end of this series would be placed those whose
several parts are of more complex construction, and from the
first relatively bulky, while at the other end would be those
which are of more simple construction and more delicate in
texture.

FERN CONFERENCE. 497

Asa key to the whole may be taken the case of the sporan-
gium, and it is to be noted that the facts of development were
first worked out in the sporangium, and upon them were based
the distinction of EKusporangiate and Leptosporangiate Ferns.
Taking first those of simpler construction, the sporangium is
there seen to originate from a single superficial cell, which pro-
jects as a single cell beyond the general surface of the leaf which
bears it, before the segmentation begins. The divisions of this
cell are for the most part definite and regular, and the result is
the development of a stalked sporangium, of relatively small
size, with a wall consisting, when mature, of a single layer of
cells, which encloses the mass of spores; to this more simple
type belong the sporangia of the Hymenophyllacee, Polypodiacce,
and Cyatheacee, which are accordingly styled collectively, to-
gether with certain other minor families, the Leptosporangiate
Ferns. At the other end of the series are to be placed those
Ferns which have a more bulky type of sporangia; here they
originate as an outgrowth of a mass of cells, not referable in
origin directly to a single parent cell. The segmentation in these
is not so definite or strictly regular, and the individual sporan-
gium when mature is not stalked, but is inserted by a broad base
either directly upon the frond or upon a joint outgrowth at the
base of the whole sorus. The sporangia themselves are often
laterally confluent, so as to form large masses, or they may be
deeply sunk in the tissue of the frond. To this type belong the
Marattiacee and Ophioglossacee, and they are styled the Eu-
sporangiate Ferns.

Between these extremes are found, as intermediate types, the
Schizeacee, of which the affinities appear to be rather to the
Leptosporangiate, and the Osmundacee, which constitute a well-
marked connecting link between these and the Husporangiate.

It has been found, as the result of a comparison of the other
parts of Ferns of the above families—-viz. stem, root, leaf, and
wings of leaf—that, as regards regularity of segmentation and
relative complexity of structure, there is a remarkable paral-
lelism with the characters of the sporangium, so that the
sporangium may be taken as a general index of the nature of the
other meristems ; where the segmentation of the sporangium is
precise and regular, as is the Leptosporangiate, the same is
the case with several apical meristems, while in the Husporan-

498 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

giate a less regularity of segmentation accompanies the greater
bulkiness of all the parts. Thus, as regards the embryonic
characters of all the parts of the sporophyte, the Ferns may be
ranged in a series starting with the Leptosporangiates, and:
leading through the Schizeacce and Osmundacee to the
Husporangiate.

But while we thus trace the characters of the embryonic
tissues (in itself a somewhat technical study), it must not be
forgotten that these are the parent tissues of the several parts ;
speaking broadly, it may be stated that the several parts of
the mature Kusporangiate Ferns---stem, leaf, wing, root, or
sporangium-—ayre ofa more bulky mould than the corresponding
parts of the Leptosporangiates. In the case of other plants we
recognise a more bulky habit as commonly characteristic of
plants of dry situations, while a delicate habit is more usual for
those exposed to moist air or shaded, and there is no apparent
reason why we should not recognise in the series above indicated
a similar correlation, which would find its justification in the
well-known facts that such plants as Botrychiwm and Ophio-
glossum may be found growing on exposed hillsides, and the
former even on dry, sandy links, while the Filmy Ferns are at
home in shady, damp situations, and require to be cultivated in
closed glass cases.

A comparative examination of the sexual generation shows
that in it also a parallelism is to be traced as regards relative
bulk. The prothallus of the massive Marathacee and
Ophioglossacee is itself also massive, and the antheridia and
archegonia are sunk in the tissue of the prothallus, thus
corresponding to the massive or deeply sunk sporangia of the
sporophyte; in the Hymenophyllacee the prothallus is even
protonema-like and filamentous, and the sexual organs are
prominent and exposed, thus corresponding to the sporangia of
these same plants. There is, I think, every reason for
recognising here again that the Kusporangiate Ferns are better
fitted for growth under circumstances of exposure to drought
than the Leptosporangiate. To sum up, whether we consider
the embryonic condition of the stem, leaf, wing, root, or
sporangium, or even the prothallus and the mode of insertion of
its sexual organs, the Homosporous Ferns constitute a series

FERN CONFERENCE. 499

between extremes of greater and less bulk, and the series may
be laid down thus :-—
(Relatively bulky.)
Ophioglossacee.
Marattiacee.
Osmundacee.
Schizeacer.
(Gleicheniacez ?)
Polypodiacez and Cyatheacez.
Hymenophyllacee.
(Relatively delicate.)

This I believe to be a true series, from the evolutionary point
of view ; it may be objected that bulkis not always a satisfactory
character, and I admit that in detail it is not within narrow
circles of affinity. Everyone knows of genera which include both
relatively delicate and fleshy forms—e.g. Euphorbia, Senecio ; or
it may be pointed out that a single species may vary in this cha-
racter according to its position, and I well remember a peculiarly
fleshy form of Luchnis dioica growing on the Bass Rock, in ap-
pearance quite distinct from the inland plant; and this is not
uncommon in other plants. But the point is, in the case of the
series of Ferns, that all the parts show the parallelism, and that
it may be traced in the earliest stages of development. Moreover
the series, as above laid out, conforms in the main to the views
of botanists, arrived at on purely systematic, as apart from
developmental, grounds ; a point which is the strongest possible
support to the recognition of the series as a natural one.

I shall assume, therefore, that it will be granted that the
series is a natural one, and we may now proceed to discuss the
main question with regard to it, which I propose to bring before
you to-day, viz. which is the upper and which is the lower end
of the series; in other words, are these more simple HWymveno-
phyllacee the original type of Ferns, or are they a degenerate
type ?

In the memoir, published in 1889, in which this series was
laid out and discussed (p. 874) I concluded that the series from
the Hymenophyllacee onwards is an ascending series, though it
was remarked that the converse is capable of defence; since then
a paper taking the opposite view has been published by Douglas
H. Campbell (Bot. Gaz. January 1890). But since this does
not exhaust the discussion I shall now reconsider the pros
and cons of these two views; and first we shall see what may be

500 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

said for the Filmy Ferns, as representing the more primitive
forms.

1. On the general ground that because development has pro-
ceeded from the simpler to the more complex, it may be assumed
that the comparatively simple Hymenophyllacee were the original
type, and certain points of similarity to the Mosses strengthen
the assumption ; but nowadays everyone knows that degenera-
tion in one form or another, resulting in simplification, is not
uncommon, and most parasites, or any aquatic Phanerogam,
might serve as an example to show that this assumption is un-
trustworthy, unless it be supported by strong evidence.

2. Let us then examine the evidence by comparison of the
Hymenophyllacee with the Mosses. The chief points of simi-
larity are :—

(i.) The filamentous, protonema-lke prothallus.
(ii.) The projecting sexual organs.

(iii.) The presence of single, well-defined apical cells.
(iv.) The filmy character of the leaf.

The last of these may be at once dismissed ; it is obvious that
the filmy leaf of the Hymenophyllace@ is a part of the sporo-
phyte, while the so-called leaf of the Moss is part of the game-
tophyte; the two are not homologous parts, and accordingly the
comparison cannot be looked upon as convincing. Moreover the
“filmy ”’ character is not restricted to any one division of the
Ferns ; it appears in the Aspleniwms and Todeas as well as in
the Hymenophyllacee, and therefore we have every reason to
believe that it is a character of adaptation to a moist habitat,
which may be assumed at distinct points in the system, in which
case the similarity of the Moss-leaf and that of the Filmy Ferns
might also be viewed as a similar adaptation rather than as a
token of affinity.

The presence of a single apical cell at the apex of the young
Moss sporogonium, and also at the apex of the stem, leaf, and
root of the Leptosporangiate Ferns, while such are absent (or
less definite) in the Eusporangiate Ferns, is certainly a fact
worthy of note; and the common presence of single initial cells
in the lower forms, and their absence from most Phanerogams,
may be regarded as pointing towards the conclusion that the
former are the lower in the scale. Examples are, however, known

FERN CONFERENCE. 501

of the existence of a single initial cell in Phanerogams,* while
such a regular and definite type of meristematic construction is
absent in certain Thallophytes and Bryophytes, so that this can-
not be accepted as a decisive point. The presence of a single
initial seems frequently to follow a less robust habit: plants of
aquatic position are commonly of delicate texture ; most of the
lower forms are more or less distinctively aquatic: accordingly,
though many of the lower forms have a single initial cell, the
presence of a single initial need not necessarily be viewed as an
indication of low affinity, but rather it may, at least in some
cases, be the outcome of adaptation as regards bulk to a relatively
. moist habitat.

But it is in the characters of the gametophyte that the
affinities of the Hymenophyllacee to the Mosses appear to be
most obyious. The filamentous prothallus of the former is so
very like the protonema of the Moss, and the free protrusion of
the sexual organs beyond the general surface of the gameto-
phyte so striking in them both, and in some cases the repro-
duction of the gametophyte by gemme so similar, that the
comparison hardly needs to be pointed out. But against these
similarities, which it is quite possible to imagine may have
arisen from adaptation of distinct stocks to similar external
conditions, is to be set the objection which will weigh most
heavily with many, and is specially alluded to by D. Campbell,
viz. that the leptosporangiate sporangium is quite unlike any-
thing found among the Bryophytes or Algz; there is among
known forms none which gives a definite clue to such a transi-
tion as that which must have occurred if the Hymenophyllacee
were the original Ferns, and were derived from the Bryophytes.
It is true that Prantl has attempted to compare the sorus of the
Hymenophyllacee with the capsule of Anthoceros,t but a sug-
gestion which depends upon the conversion of the internal
sporogonous layer into a number of superficial sporangia, without
any evidence that such a conversion ever took place, here or in
any other series of plants, will hardly commend itself to the
reason as In any way probable. Moreover it is not apparent on
other grounds that there is any near affinity between Anthoceros

and the Hymenophyllacee.

* The most prominent example is the root of Heleocharis palustris,
and it is to be noticed that this is a plant of aquatic habit.

t+ Hymenophyllacee, p. 62.

502 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Having now considered the several points of similarity be-
tween the Hymenophyllacee and the Mosses, and haying
recognised where the chief difficulty hes in imagining a transi-
tion from the Bryophyta of the present day to the Filmy Ferns,
we may turn to the other end of the Filicineous series, and
discuss the probability of the Eusporangiate Ferns being the
more primitive type. It may be stated at once that the affinity
of the Husporangiate is rather to certain Liverworts than to the
true Mosses, and the whole question practically resolves itself
into this—whether the affinity of the Hymenophyllacee to the
Musci, or of the Kusporangiates to the Liverworts, be the nearer
and the truer one.

Comparing the gametophyte of Anthoceros with that of
Marattia (or even Ophioglossum, though this is too imperfectly
known), the similarity of general conformation is obvious
enough; but especially the deeply immersed position of the
archegonia in both cases is worthy of remark. The similarity is
here quite as great as that above traced between the gameto-
phytes of the Hymenophyllacee and Mosses. But I do not
propose to draw detailed comparisons between any one Euspo-
rangiate Fern and any one of the Liverworts, but rather approach
the question from a more general point of view. The following
general reflections appear to me to deserve consideration :—

1. Of the three phyla of Vascular Cryptogams the two
others—the Lycopods and Hquiseta—are eusporangiate. If, as
is most probable, these, though now distinct, had a common
origin with the Ferns, it would be reasonable to assume that
the original Ferns would also be eusporangiate, and the lepto-
sporangiate type be of more recent origin. Colour is lent to
this assumption by the absence of any intermediate steps leading
to the leptosporangiate type, excepting through the Husporan-
giate themselves.

2. If the Husporangiate were derived from the Liverworts,
the bulky sporangium is already foreshadowed by the capsule
itself, and it is hardly going too far to say that the capsule of a
Jungermannia or a Marchantiais one eusporangiate sporangium.
Thus, by whatever line of development the more complex sporo-
phyte, with its leaves, stem, and root, was derived, the bulky
eusporangiate type is probably the original one.

3. Passing on to the apical meristems, the characters of these

FERN CONFERENCE. 5038

have been used by me as evidence in laying out the Mlicinee
in series as above stated; such evidence is of greater weight
within narrow circles of affinity than in comparison of more
remotely related organisms. It is, however, worthy of note that
in the Liverworts a single initial is not present as in the Moss
sporogonium. The epibasal half of the zygote divides into four
quarters by principal walls, which might be compared with those
found in apices of the Mayrattiaceous type; but it would bea
mistake to put too fine a point upon such a comparison as this.

4, The evidence from the geological side is interesting and
important, even while allowing a liberal discount for imperfect
representation of the Flora of any given period. The general
conclusion of Paleophytologists is that though in the Devonian
and Carboniferous periods Ferns of the Marattiaceous type were
among the most prevalent of plant-forms, Leptosporangiate Ferns
were apparently uncommon or even absent, and there are those
who hold that no undoubted remains of them have been found
in those strata ; in the Rhetic series of transition between the
Trias and the Lias, Ferns allied to our present Gleicheniacee
appear to have been common, and other leptosporangiate forms
appear in more recent rocks. Whether or not the Leptosporan-
giate were actually absent during the earlier periods, there can
be no doubt that the Husporangiate, which are now so restricted
both in number of genera and species, and also in geographical
area, were in the ascendant at the Carboniferous period. It may
be urged that the more delicate structure of the sporangium of
other forms prevented their preservation; but, on the other hand,
the annulus is a firm band of tissue, and quite as likely to be
preserved as many of the tissues which retain their characters in
geological specimens. It will also be pointed out that very many
of the fossil Ferns show no fructification at all. This is true, but
as far as the positive and well-ascertained facts go, they appear
to point to the conclusion that the Husporangiate were the prior
forms, or at least that their period of prevalence was prior to
that of the Leptosporangiate.

It may, however, be objected that the leaves of the Marat-
tiacee are commonly of a highly branched type, while those of
certain Hymenophyllacee are simple, and the simpler form is the
more likely to be the original. Itis true that the Marattiacee
cultivated in gardens have branched leaves, but this is not the

504 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

case with them all—e.g. Danea simplicifolia, Rudge, in which
the leaves are simple, and bear on their lower surfaces the
synangia, or sori, composed of coalescent sporangia, which
dehisce by terminal pores; and I do not feel that the difficulties
are greater in regarding this as a relatively primitive form than
if we place one of the simpler Hymenophyllacee in that position.
The view that the Eusporangiate Ferns, including the Ophio-
glossace@, may represent a relatively ancient form as compared
with the Leptosporangiate is thus capable of defence—I am even
disposed to think the weight of evidence is inits favour. At the
same time, however, it is to be constantly remembered how ereat
the gulf is between the #licinee and the Bryophyta, so great
indeed as to make it difficult to conceive by what steps the
transition came about, and to leave it a matter for speculation,
rather than of demonstration, which are the nearest points of con-
tact of the two series. But, as above stated, the choice now seems
to be between an affinity of the Musci: and Hymenophyllacee,
or of the Eusporangiates and the Liverworts, and, as at
present advised, I am disposed to think the latter the more
probable.

The effect of this, if established, will be in some measure to
modify the general view of the relations of the main series of
plant-forms. The Bryophyta and filicinee might be viewed as
two series which show a certain parallelism of adaptation to a
moist habit. In each case the series would start with a relatively
bulky character of all the parts, and especially with the sexual
organs more or less completely immersed ; the progression would
be in either case towards forms with filmy, foliar characters, a
filamentous stage of the gametophyte, and with the sexual
organs not deeply immersed. Both these series would be so-called
“blind ’’ branches of development, leading on to no higher forms.
As regards the geological evidence, the more delicate representa-
tives of both phyla probably represent forms of relatively recent
origin, and the absence of Mosses from the earlier strata is to be
noted in this connection.

Secondly, it seems very probable that the Marattiacce are
related to the Cycads; accordingly, if the former be viewed as
more prunitive Ferns, the developmental series leading tothe latter
is proportionally telescoped, while Jsoetes, which has of late been
a subject of frequent discussion, would probably find a place as

FERN CONFERENCE. 505

representing an independent line intermediate between the
Kusporangiate Ferns and the Lycopods,

But while we may thus speculate as to the evolutionary
relations of these several forms, it will be well to hold firmly to
the main point which has served as the basis for this discussion,
viz. that on the ground of detailed comparison the homosporous
Filicinee form a natural series extending between two extremes.
At the one end of the series may be placed those in which all the
parts are relatively bulky im origin, and show irregularity of
meristematic segmentation—these are the Husporangiate ; at
the other end of the series are those in which all the parts are
relatively delicate in construction, and the meristematic segmen-
tation is definite and regular—these are the Filmy Ferns. In
this series we probably see the results on the one hand of adapta-
tion to relatively dry conditions, on the other to a comparatively
humid habitat ; and, whichever end of the series is ultimately
proved to have been the primitive one, the fact that the series
exists 1s, in my opinion, beyond the possibility of doubt.

HYBRID FERNS AND CROSSED VARIETIES.
By Mr. E. J. Lows, F.R.5.

A pAPER embracing all that is of interest in so important a
subject as hybrid species and crossed varieties would occupy
more time than could be devoted to it this afternoon. An outline
is all that can be attempted.

It is comparatively a new branch of inquiry, and fresh facts
are constantly cropping up.

Although the crossing of Ferns has only been recently
acknowledged, nevertheless my own investigations, experiments,
and, may I add, successes commenced many years ago, dating
even to the middle of the century. It has therefore been thought
that a brief history of my own work may not be unacceptable.

In the first place, let me explain that a hybrid Fern is the
offspring of twoso-called species—as example, between Aspleniwm
marinum and Aspleniun. lanceolatum, whilst the offspring of
two varieties of the same species is called a cross.

H

506 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Forty-six years ago a German botanist discovered the re-
productive organs of Ferns; before this we only knew that sori
containing numbers of spores were formed on the underside of
the fronds, and that these varied in shape and position in different
genera. Spores when they fell to the ground under favourable
circumstances were known to germinate, at first appearing as
mere points, and in course of time expanding and somewhat
imitating the appearance of Liverwort. Eventually a tiny frondlet
would show itself, to be followed by cthers, larger and larger,
and more and more developed, until a mature plant resulted.

It was on the underside, during its prothalloid or Liverwort
life, that the reproductive organs were discovered. Thus there igs
a dual existence: the spore producing the prothallus, and the
impregnated prothallus the frond-life, which in its turn produces
the spore to repeat the process. This discovery was made in
the year 1844. The late Professor Henfrey gave me the details
in 1851, and I remember at once pointing out to the late
Professor dward Forbes that it could not be difficult to cross
Ierns, and by his persuasion commenced experiments. At that
time there were but few well-marked varieties, but in the next
ten years many more were discovered by Padley, Barnes,
Clapham, Stansfield, Sim, and others.

My first spores were sown in 1855, but the crop of seedlings
were nearly all normal, whilst at the present time it is difficult
for me to raise anormal form; one or two marked varieties used to
be the reward, now they can be counted by hundreds. Most of
the Ferns that I have brought to this show are my own crosses.
We have now got so far away from the original species that the
original characters seem to be lost.

When lving in Nottinghamshire there were no wild Ferns
near my residence, but favourable situations were in course of
time crowded with varieties scattered by the winds from the
fernery. I could by the year 1875 find more distinct forms
within a mile radius than could be collected by months’ diligent
gearch in a wild Fern district. This has been repeated ait
Shirenewton, for, although my Ferns have not been there ten
years, the spores have sown themselves in all directions.

Where Ferns grow under adverse circumstances there appears
to be more variation in form. ‘To test whether bad treatment
would produce any change in shape, the drainage was removed

FERN CONFERENCE. 507

from a large plant of Aspleniwm nidum; this was done in the
autumn, and all the spring fronds came up crested. Spores from
these produced a crested variety. A change of circumstances with
a large number of varieties of Scclopendrium vulgare—z.e. planted
where the surroundings were not favourable—caused all of them
to return to the normal form of the species. Under pot culture
I have never found varieties to degenerate ; better soil, a more
avourable situation, and greater attention is a sufficient reason.

At the Dundee meeting of the British Association in 1867 I
pointed out that a certain law of form in the varieties of Ferns
seemed to be common to all species—crested, branched, revolved,
truncated, tortuose, brachiated, plumose, cruciate, linear, de-
pauperate in both fronds, pinne and pinnules—and the manner
of these changes are common to all the species, and even the
multiple of these, the combination of several characters, such as
the linear-crested or cruciate-crested. In course of time we may
produce plants having many of these forms combined on the
same frond.

Again, spores gathered from an abnormal portion of a frond
can reproduce this abnormality, whilst spores from a normal
portion of the same frond can produce normal plants. Also if
plants are raised from varieties for several generations, it is
almost impossible to obtain the original normal forms.

The spores from crossed varieties are quite as proliferous as
that of the normal form, whilst hybrids—z.e. crossed species—are
all but sterile. There appears to be no absolute sterility. Take
the hybrid that I raised between the Aspidiums acwleatwm anc
angulare. A hundred pans of spores that I sowed did not produce
a single plant. Mr. Carbonell, however, raised nine, and Mr.
Barnes thirty plants, all of which differ from the parents and
hybrids, the grandchildren being more or less congested in
erowth. With regard to Nephrodiwm remotum, a hybrid between
spinulosum and filix-mas, repeated sowing of spores for more
than ten years did not produce a single plant, though by accident
Dr. Stansfield has succeeded.

At the British Association meeting in 1870 I gave the
following additional results : --

Spores from a normal frond produced only normal Ferns.

Iiqual proportions of spores from a normal and from an

abnormal frond produced 990 per cent. of abnormal forms.
H 2

508 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY,

Spores sown in separate pans from abnormal fronds produced
plants like the variety from which they were gathered.

Spores from a dozen varieties mixed together produced many
new varieties, and the more remarkable the varieties
selected, the more extraordinary were the results.

Further experiments on hybrid Ferns and crossed varieties
were reported to the British Association in 1865, 1867, 1870, and
1888, but the late Professor Hutton Balfour was the only botanist
who would allow that a cross had been obtained up to the year
1885 ; indeed it was difficult even to convince such experimental
Fern authorities as the late Thomas Moore and Abraham
Clapham, although the latter in 1879 acknowledged he was
satisfied, and, what was more to the point, commenced experi-
ments and raised some beautiful forms of Polypodiwm vulgare.
A large number of fine varieties have been raised by crossing, and
in this respect we are especially indebted to the late Colonel
Jones, Mr. Barnes, and Mr. Clapham, as wellas Messrs. Stansfield
and Mr. HE. F. Fox, for many of these plants, and also for
numerous wild finds ; for the latter we must also acknowledge
the successful labours of Padley, Klworthy, Hodgson, Moly, Lyall,
James, Wollaston, Philips, Mapplebeck, Kitson, Thompson,
Foster, O’Kelly, Fraser, Praeger, Cooper, Druery, Patey, Fitt,
Cowburn, and others. Far more varieties are raised from spores
than are found wild, but we get new blood, new forms, and
consequently increased vigour from the latter, that adds to the
importance of wild finds.

Some Ferns have young plants growing on their fronds, and
these are termed “ bulbils,”’ yet these young plants are not invari-
ably like the parent. In 1865 bulbils from Scolopendrium Wardir
produced strong-growing conglomerate forms, and bulbils on the
crested Osmunda regalis produced a dwarf grandiceps, with a
more spreading root ; this plant is twenty-five years old, and is
here to-day. Bulbils from Scolopendrium Kelwayi have pro-
duced a more diminutive form ; and others from Colonel Jones’
polydactylous divisolobum of Aspidium angulare, plants that are

not polydactylous.* Ferns that are not usually bulbiferous

* The beautiful plumose varieties of Aspidiwn cairgulare Baldwint and
imbricatum, which received certificates at the Conference, were from bulbils
produced on the densum of divisolebum-pliumosum.

FERN CONFERENCE. 509

occasionally put on this character. Miss Bellairs sent me the
Axminster plumose Lady Fern, having the fronds crowded with
young plants.

There is yet another means of propagation which has been
discovered by Mr. Druery in the sterile Lady Fern Inown as
clarissima. This is in reality the formation of prothalli on the
frond without the medium of the spore; when these touch the
eround they strike roots and produce fronds. More than twenty
years ago Mr. Clapham showed me an Adiantum Capillus-veneris,
having fronds touching the ground, producing a crop of young
plants, and this might have been a case of apospory. Plants,
however, raised by this means are also liable to sport. Colonel
Jones had several more or less revolved, one fureate, and another
not unlike Elworthy’s sawbplumosum.

As soon as the discovery of the reproductive organs was
known, it occurred to me that the character of the frond must
depend upon whether impregnation took place from the same
prothallus or from one of a different Fern. This determined me,
in making my first experiments, to mix the spores of two varieties
of the Hart’s-tongue, and as another experiment two varieties of
the Lady Fern. The seedlings from these were convincing that a
cross had been obtained between the two varicties.

The next experiment was with spores from the varieties of
the Lady Fern known as Victorie and proteoides. These seed-
lings showed a series of variations, having Viclorie at the one
extreme and proteoides at the other.

The third experiment was the mixing together the spores of
half-a-dozen varieties of the Lady Fern, and, as a further trial,
half-a-dozen varieties of the Hart’s-tongue. This brought out a
new fact—there were seedlings that showed the characters of
three, and even four, varieties on a single frond, so that male
organs from several varieties had assisted in this impregnation.
The microscopic character of these organs was a difficulty to be
overcome in crossing Ferns, and the only way to overcome this
seemed to be sowing the Fern spoves thickly together, trusting to
their close proximity to enable two or more varieties to be self-
crossed. The antheridia (or male organs) having been noticed
to move about with activity in the moisture on the surface of the
prothallus, it was thought possible for them to come in contact
with the archegonia on another prothallus, and thus fertilisation

510 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

would take piace on a different plant ; and this has been accom-
plished.

The above idea was considerably strengthened more recently
from the remarks of my friend Dr. Hudson, a great authority
on microscopic animal life. He showed that it required a crowd
of male organs to effect impregnation amongst microscopic ani-
mals; and to test this with Ferns further experiments were made
—1.e. sowing together in equal quantities spores from a crested and
anormalform of Nephrodiuiu paleaceum--in order toascertain the
proportion of crested to non-crested seedlings. These plants are
young, and therefore have not as yet their distinctive characters ;
nevertheless there is not a single plant that is not crested more
or less. However, I had in reality proved this previously when
spores from four varieties sown together produced seedlings
having all their characters on one frond.

A further experiment with the Hart’s-tongue is also of
peculiar interest. An undulate form, a spiral form, a rugose
form, and a tasselled form were sown together, and amongst
the seedlings there are plants that exhibit all these charac-
toristics.

Ferns that I am now sowing spores from have a long pedi-
gree. Some date back more than thirty years, at least a dozen
generations, and the seedlings from these plants are all abnormal.
Over and over again I have had batches of seedlings without
producing a single common normal form. It is quite true that
these may degenerate under adverse circumstances to the original
form, and keep normal under those conditions. Nevertheless a
more generous treatment and a more suitable situation will, in
the course of time, restore them to their original varietal cha-
racters. As early as 1844 I divided Polypodiwm cambricum
and Scolopendrium crispum, growing the one half in large tlower-
pots and planting out the other halves in exposed situations in
a soil mainly composed of New Red Sandstone. In the course of
a few years both these had returned to the normal state, yet
divisions taken from them in time again became true cambricum
and crispum. This was alsowell seen in the Scolopendriwms that
I moved from Nottinghamshire to Shirenewton Hall in 1881. They
were planted in an unsuitable situation, and although there were
nearly five hundred distinct varieties, in three or four years they
were all common Hart’s-toneues. In 1886 and 1887 they were

FERN CONFERENCE. 511

again transplanted, and have gradually returned to their varietal
form, some of them being exhibited here.

In 1876 an attempt was made to cross two species; and as
there were no known cruciate forms of Aspidiuwm aculeatwm, it
was determined to try to produce one, for if successful this
would be a satisfactory proof. The varieties selected were Aspi-
dium angulare var. Wakleyanwm and Aspidiwm aculeatum var.
densum, the former being cruciate. Out of a batch of several
thousand seedlings there were five plants unmistakably cruciate
aculeatums, and also a close copy of the cruciate angulare.
Tor six years these five plants were normal aculeatwms, but on
the seventh they assumed the narrow cruciate form. In 1884
Mr. i. F. Fox and the late Colonel Jones repeated the experi-
ment successfully. At the same time they both endeavoured to
add the polydactylous character to different varieties of Aspi-
dim angulare, and succeeded, the most marked of Mr. Fox’s
seedlings being polydactylous congestwm forms, and those of
Colonel Jones being polydactylous varieties of diwisolobum and
lineare; and a variegated polydactylwm of Padley’s variegated
angulare. I had previously produced similar polydactylous forms
in the Lady Fern. The endeavour to produce various golden
Hart’s-tongues, from using spores of different varieties mixed
with those of a golden form, resulted in seedlings some of which
have been brought to speak for themselves.

One of my more recent experiments was the endeavour to
ascertain whether more than one plant could be produced from
a single prothallus. It had been noticed over and over again
that in trying to separate seedlings into single plants it often
occurred that some were so closely connected that it required
great skill in separating them. When these grew to maturity
most of them were seen to resemble each other, and probably
had sprung from one prothallus, and this was well seen, more
especially in three plants of a very distinct variety being a copy
of each other.

Four years ago I sowed spores very- thinly, so as to allow
them room to expand. When these prothalli were fully grown
a number were cut with a sharp knife into two, three, and four
pieces and replanted, and those simply cut into two produced
two plants, but when divided into four they have not produced
fronds; they have increased in size, and though it is more than

iyi, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

two years since they were divided, are yet without fronds. It

seems probable that the male organs may be on the one portion

and the females on another; hence the absence of fronds. Plants |
raised from a split prothallus are not, however, always alike ;

occasionally they are strikingly distinct, though mostly bearing

a resemblance to each other.

Increased or diminished development in fronds, pinne, or
pinnules in endless directions will eventually add enormously to
the varieties cultivated. The energies are often expended in
certain directions. A large capitate head may be at the expense
of the tassels of the pinne, or large tasselled pinne at the
expense of the capitate head. A well-developed plumose form
is more or less sterile; the energy is directed in subdivision,
and in consequence the texture is thinner, and there does not
appear to be sufficient strength left to produce spores. On rare
occasions there is a thickening in this texture on parts of the
frond, and there sori are formed. In the case of the plumose
form of the Hart’s-tongue known as crispuwm, occasionally a
number of plants, all sterile, are found in close proximity ; the
late Colonel Jones found twenty-nine near Shirenewton, and
Major Cowburn has found nineteen at Dennil Hill. Marvellous
wild finds are usually solitary examples. The Nephrodiwm
paleaceum var. cristatum found in the West of England was a
single specimen, and no second example has been discovered ;
yet a somewhat similar form has more recently, however, been
found in North Wales, the two differing in the one being flat-
crested and the other bunch-crested.

An increase in the strength of a plumose form would thicken
the texture of the frond, and enable it to bear spores.
Experiments have been tried on flowering plants as well as on
Ferns, in the hope of procuring this strengthening result.
Taking into consideration that a vast number of antheridia are
requisite to fertilise a plant, the single Dahlia was selected as
the flowering example, and capitate forms of Aspidiwm angulare
as the Fern to be experimented upon. As it was wished to use
six times as much pollen ofa white Dahlia as that of a pink one,
six small brushes were filled with the pollen of a white flower,
wnd one from that which was pink, the whole being collected on a
larger brush and then repeatedly applied to a white flower.
The result in the seedlings was 87 per cent. of white flowers ;

FERN CONFERENCE. 518

whilst equal parts of white and pink pollen only gave 44 per
cent. of white flowers. The second experiment with Aspidiwm
angulare, in order to increase size as well as greater develop-
ment, could only be done by using mixed spores in certain
proportions—z.e. six times the number of spores from the largest
crested varieties to one of a variety of larger growth, if sown
together, was thought might increase the vigour of the plant,
and thus produce a Fern having a larger size and a greater
crest. ‘here are several of the plants here, and I might have
brought many more that give great promise of a successful
issue, though they are as yet only infants. Strength added in
this way might develop a tripinnate frond, so that the lobes of
the pinnules should even become stalked, crested, and more
divided.

Investigations such as these are not confined to Ferns ; they
extend to flowering plants, and a great future is before the
students who prosecute these inquiries. Those who give them-
selves up to scientific investigations cannot avoid receiving adverse
expressions from unbelievers; but doubt may change to belief,
for sooner or later truth will assert itself. The reasoning
which at first seemed cloudy and obscure may, by the multi-
plication of a chain of evidence, clear away these clouds, and
then the sun, the emblem of truth, will shine in all his glory.

Discussion.

Dr. Scott said that the most surprising statements in Mr.
Lowe’s interesting paper related to the combination of the
characters of several varieties in a single individual in cases
where the spores of the varieties in question had been sown
together. If the result were really due to multiple hybridisation
it would involve the fertilisation of an ovum by several spermato-
zoids, each contributing somewhat of its own character to the
offspring. This supposition contradicted all that was directly
known as to fertilisation in Ferns, in which it had always been
found that only a single spermatozoid fused with the ovum.
Instances of multiple fertilisation in plants were rare; Stras-
burger found that in certain Orchids both the male generative
nuclei sometimes fused with the ovum, but this instance was only

514 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

remotely analogous, as the two generative nuclei were derived
from the same pollen-grains. Among the lower plants a few
eases of the kind were known. It had been stated that in Fucus
more than one spermatozoid united with the ovum, but recent
observations had rendered this very doubtful.

Mr. Lowe’s explanation of the facts could hardly be accepted
by botanists until direct microscopic observation had established
the possibility of multiple fertilisation in Ferns.

PLUMOSE BRITISH FERNS.
ay Mr C. Do DRunay, bain.

In selecting for the subject of my paper the plumose section of
the varieties of our indigenous Ferns, I have been actuated
to some extent by my own special taste, and also by the
conviction that, so far as the mere instinctive admira-
tion for the beautiful is concerned, that taste is generally
shared by the friends who visit my collection. With the
ladies especially I find the conventional expressions of ad-
miration unmistakably emphasised into sincerity when the
delicately cut, yet normally shaped fronds of the plumose Lady
Ferns or Shield Ferns are under examination. On the other
hand, when I parade for their delectation the heavily crested
forms of the same species, laying special stress upon those which
are furthest removed from the common type, almost invariably
there is some allusion, more or less broad, to that ornament of
our kitchen-gardens, but hardly of our conservatories, “‘ Parsley ”’
—even that marvel of cristation, Athyriwm filix-femina var.
acrocladon, and its still more extraordinary progeny, provoking
this, from my point of view, degrading comparison.

Another and probably more potent reason for my choice les
in the fact that I have been exceptionally fortunate in raising, in
a very unexpected manner, some very beautiful new plumose
Athyria, a few of which I have exhibited in company with their
progenitors in that family and various plumose forms of other
species.

The form of variation known as ‘“ plumation ”’ consists in an

FERN CONFERENCE. 5B

abnormally leafy or feathery development of the fronds, accom-
panied by partial or entire barrenness, the general normal out-
line being retained or merely widened. It has been found to
characterise specially the three species of Athyrium filiz-famina,
or the Lady Fern; Polystichum angulare, or the soft prickly
Shield Fern; and Scolopendriun vulgare, or the common Hart’ s-
tongue, in all of which species several distinct forms have been
found wild. Among the other genera the Lastreas, considering
the large number of other varieties their several species have
yielded, have afforded only two true plumose forms—the soft
Male Fern giving Lastrea filiz-mas Bollandie and the Moun-
tain Lastrea, or Lemon-scented Buckler Fern, a very fair form
indeed. Both, however, fall far short in their foliaceous develop-
ment or decomposite cutting in comparison with the best forms
of the other three species named. Among the smaller species,
the Sea Spleenwort (Aspleniwmn marinum) and the common
Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asp. trichomanes) have each yielded true
plumose varieties. Asp. t. inciswm is especially fine, and,
varying slightly in form, has been found in several localities.
That} found by Mr. Clapham is the best. The Hard Fern
(Blechnum spicant) has yielded, so far, no wild plumose form,
but one has been raised under cultivation and named, at too early
a stage probably, B.s. serratwm, Airey No.1. The specimen of
this which I exhibit is well worthy of note, being sub-tripinnate,
or divided thrice. The Maidenhair, Ad. cap. veneris var.
Cornubiense, is the plumose form of that species, and is the
counterpart of Ad. Farleyense ona smaller scale. The common
Polypody (P. vulgare) has afforded several varieties. P.v. caim-
bricum, or the Welsh Polypody, has been found in several places,
and a much more developed form of it, P. v. Prestoni, was dis-
covered in the Lake district. P. v. plwmosum (Hadwin) is
another cf less advanced type. Incidentally I may remark that
the various names given to these true plumose forms afford a
proof that Fern nomenclature is far from perfect.

In the common Hart’s-tongue (Scolopendrium vulgare) we
have the plumose form exemplified in the numerous finds of
erispum, of which the major number are perfectly barren. In
these the normal strap-shaped frond is transformed into a
deeply puckered frill, which, in extreme cases, attains a width of
five inches. The form found by Dr. Wills in Dorsetshire is

516 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL? SOCIETY.

certainly the finest. I exhibit several specimens of this beauti-
ful form. Strange to say, although perfectly barren, and quite
incapable, therefore, of widespread propagation through their
spores, a considerable number of independent plants have been
found in various localities. Colonel A. M. Jones found, in one
lane in Monmouthshire, twelve on one occasion, and no less than
seventeen on another, attributable, possibly, to some normal, or
apparently normal, plant in the vicinity yielding abnormal
spores. Some decidedly plumose forms have been found which
are fairly fertile; they lose their foliaceous character, however,
in proportion to their fertility. An intermediate variety, S. v.
undulatum rigidum, has been found by Messrs. Stansfield, of
Sale, to yield a percentage of very fine fimbriate crispwms
through its spores. These have laciniate edges to the frill, and
are sparsely fertile. There seems to be considerable latent re-
productive energy in the bases of the stalks of these forms, as,
eut into half-inch leneths and inserted in sandy soil, each piece
is fairly sure to yield two or three plants, small white warty
knobs developing at first, and eventually producing true specti-
mens. Polystichwn angulare Pateyti, a fine plumose form,
but of delicate constitution, is perfectly barren, but the other
plumose forms of that species are not so. In the Lady Fern
(Athyriwmni filix-femina) I believe ali the plumose forms produce
spores, generally in nonindusiate patches, @ la Polypodium ; and
in the Axminster and divaricatum plumosums small bulbils are
sometimes developed among the sori, from which plants can be
raised by careful pegging down. The two most distinct plumose
Athyria are pluwmoswm Horsfall, found in Yorkshire, and
plumosum Axminster, found near that town. Of these Horsfall
is very constant under cultivation, and has, so far as we know,
yielded no sub-variety. A very similar form has, however,
yielded A. f.-f. kalothrix, or ‘‘ beautiful hair ’’—perhaps, if we
exclude exotic Filmy Ferns, the most delicately made Fern known.
I exhibit a plant of this, upon which will be noted a reverted
frond, showing us the parental type which is also produced occa-
sionally from its spores. The Axminster variety has sported
freely, yielding some very fine forms, and in one special instance
has afforded so wide a range of beautifully distinct plumose plants
as certainly to merit careful record.

In 1888 I discovered upon A. f.-f. divaricatum the existence of

FERN CONFERENCE. 517

bulbils associated with the spores, and as the result of some
inquiries a portion of afrond of A. f.-f. plumoswm elegans (Parsons),
a finer-cut seedling from the Axminster, was sent to me. In this
Fern it will be borne in mind that there is not the slightest trace
of cresting, and yet as the result of a sowing of spores entirely
without admixture with spores of other varieties, fully 90 per
cent. of the progeny were heavily crested and of very similar
type to each other. One of the best of these is seen in No. 2,*
exhibited ; most of the others, though heavily tasselled, had
considerable irregularity in the pinne, which detracted from
their beauty. Two only of the batch reproduced the parental type
truly; one of these is No. 8. Among the remainder were several
superior forms, characterised by greater regularity of cresting and
finer cuiting; one of these is No. 4. Finally, one plant appeared
whose peculiar delicacy of detail and symmetry fully entitled it
to the name ot plumosum superbum. This figures as No. 1.

In this sowing it will be observed that the spores of a perfectly
uncrested plumose form yielded without crossing over 90 per
cent. of crested offspring and only two of parental type. The
possible admixture of a few deposited chance spores could not
have crossed so many plants or produced such similarity of type.

We now go a generation further. dA. /f.-f. superbum yielded
in 1887 a very few spores in minute patches, which were care-
fully sown, with striking results. The equilibrium of the spores
had now obviously become entirely upset. Out of some 120 plants
resulting, a score or more are quite devoid of cresting, but charac-
terised by all the delicacy of cutting of superbum, which has
stamped its special character upon the whole batch, with perhaps
one exception, which reverts towards the Axminster, with infinitely
finer cutting. This is numbered 5. A number ofthe plants show
more or less irregularity, but they are still young, and I note a
tendency to outgrow this defect. One only has so far deciared
a decided resemblance to superbum itself, but promises to be
denser and more developed still than that. This is numbered 6.
The uncrested forms differ much in detail (see Nos. 7, 8, and 9), |
all of which may certainly claim first rank, even in their young
state, and as the tendency of plumose forms is to increase in
delicacy of detail as they do in size, they may certainly be ex-

* The numbers in this and the following paragraph referred to grow-

ing specimens which Mr. Drucry had placed in a line on the table before
him.— Ep.

518 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

pected to hold their own in the future also. In No. 4, a sister
plant to superbum, a singular example of local variation may be
noted, two pinne on one frond being quite distinct in character
from the rest of the plant. In concluding my notes on this batch
I would especiaily invite comparison between the uncrested
types and No. 10, a grandiceps form, as affording possibly a
unique case of wide variation in one batch of spores. It is worthy
of note that Mr. J. H. Fitt, from whom I received the frond from
which I raised the original batch, also made a sowing therefrom,
with the same result of a large percentage of crested plants,
minus, however, the superbum.

Reflecting upon these phenomena of cresting as associated
with plumation, it seems to me that both are probably closely
akin. In cresting we have a localised tendency to repeated
fission and extension of growth on the apices of the fronds,
pinne, and even the pinnules, terminal tassels being thus
formed. In plumation we have a generally distributed tendency
towards simple fission and extension of all apices, resulting in a
greater featheriness.

This idea may be better grasped by a minute inspection of
the pinnulets or tertiary divisions. In the case of the common
Lady Fern, it will be noticed that the minor subdivisions are
provided with simple veins running to their blunt apices. Ina
pinnulet from the Axminster variety we find an immense advance
and it will be noticed not only that the veins fork more than
once, but that the apices in many cases show a distinct tendency
to fork again. There are also forked veins running out to the
sinus between the divisions, and forming small subsidiary divi-
sions, which at a later stage would, I expect, bear spores and
bulbils. A plant of the third generation shows more decided
forking and extension, and with a peculiar tendency in the tips
_of the divisions to curve inwards, which gives a decided character
to the variety. A pinnulet of one of the offspring of superbum
shows a further advance in plumation and betrays its grand-
parents still by the inturned tips. Finally, the crest of a pinnule
of elegans cristatum, a sister plant to superbum, shows the
localised ramification of the veins, which constitutes cresting, in
conjunction with the simple dichotomous forking and lengthening
which produce plumation, and you will, I think, agree with me
that no line can here be drawn between the two.

FERN CONFERENCE. 519

The equilibrium being disturbed and the tendency to division
persisting, we may here have some explanation of the results we
have been considering, viz. the production of crested plants from
spores of uncrested plumose Ferns ; while the tendency to revert
now and again predominating, the equilibrium is re-established,
and the normal outline, plus the finer cutting only, reappears.
Of course I only put this forward hypothetically ; perhaps others
will direct their observations in the same channel, and either
confirm or refute, as the case may be.

My paper on Plumation would be incomplete did I omit
special reference to the very charming plumose form of Poly-
stichum angulare, for which we are indebted to the wild finds
and selective culture of the late Colonel A. M. Jones,and his
colleague, Dr. E. J. Fox. Several specimens of these are
exhibited, three forms being of exceptional beauty: P. ang.
plumosum laxum, densunr, and robustum. I learn from Dr. Tox,
who raised these, that they are all the direct offspring of a far
inferior wild find of Colonel Jones; so inferior, indeed, that it was
only when a second sowing confirmed the first by identical re-
sults that Colonel Jones could be brought to credit the parentage.

Such forms as these and some of the plumose Athyria, which
may worthily be associated with them, give us a glimpse of the
British Ferns of the future, and amply support my contention
that our native Fern varieties can compete with the finest exotics
in decorative value, with the additional advantage of perfect
hardiness and more economical culture.

DISCUSSION.

Prof. Bower said this inquiry had now arrived at the stage
when it might be put to a vigorous test. Perhaps the best way
would be to cultivate certain ‘“ prothallia,’’ and then to actually
follow the whole process of development through, under the micro-
scope. The next step would be to proceed in the same way as with
Fungi. He thought the views put before the Conference that after-
noon would make any man take the subject in hand to investigate.

Mr. STaNnsFIELD said he had experimented in the same way
as Mr. Lowe with spores of the Axminster variety, with the
result that a multifid character was produced. The spores were
sown together, and great variety was shown in the progeny.

520 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Not only was cresting developed in the pinnules, but instead of a
flat crest a round one was obtained. Another result, different
from Mr. Druery’s, was from sowing plwmoswim elegans. It did not
result in any ‘‘cresting,”’ but in the development of the cutti
of the pinnules.

®

HARDY FERNS, AND THEIR CULTIVATION.
By Myr. J. BirkENHEAD, F.R.H.S.

THERE appears to be a prevailing idea that among hardy Ferns
there is but little variety ; those, however, who are well acquainted
with this section of Ferns know how erroneous such an idea is.

British Ferns for many years have been receiving attention
at the hands of Fern lovers; their haunts have been searched
through and through, their spores have been collected and sown,
with the result that while many exceedingly beautiful varieties
have been found growing wild, and have been cared for and
cultivated, many other equally beautiful kinds have been raised
from spores, so that now the variety to be seen in hardy Ferns is
as great as that in tender Ferns.

Hardy Ferns are worthy of the attention of everyone possess-
ing a garden. They may be cultivated not only in the specially
constructed fernery on a large scale, but they may be inter -
mixed with shrubs in borders and in plantations ; they may be
planted in beds by themselves, or in nooks and corners and
shady places where flowering plants cannot be induced to grow;
indeed there are many places where flowering plants have been
tried again and again with unsatisfactory results, causing dis-
appointment and annoyance, which, if planted with Ferns, would
have become as charming and interesting as any part of the
garden.

But Ferns are not suitable merely to plant where nothing
else will grow. There are some varieties possessing such
exquisite beauty that they are worthy of the greatest care and
attention, and the most conspicuous position they can have
assigned them. Not only may they be utilised in the sunless
positions referred to, but they are also very suitable for window-
boxes outside and for cultivation as window plants inside. How

FERN CONFERENCE. yA

often you may see in windows miserable, lanky Geraniums,
Fuchsias, and other plants struggling for existence, while Ferns
in the same position would grow freely and present a beautiful
and pleasing appearance.

Thus British and other hardy Ferns are suitable for cultiva-
tion in the dwelling-house; in window-boxes; in situations where
flowering plants will not live; in the gardens of those who can
give them a position exactly suiting their requirements of shade
and shelter ; in borders, beds, shrubberies, plantations, rockwork,
or specially constructed ferneries. They are specially suitable
for cultivation in unheated frames and cold greenhouses. The
extra protection accorded the Ferns in such places will be
much more than repaid by the additional beauty of foliage and
colour they will exhibit under these more favourable con-
ditions.

In the cultivation of hardy Ferns it will be found that a
position shaded from the sun and sheltered from strong winds
suits them the best. But although they should be shaded from
the hot rays of the sun, they should have as much light as
possible. If shaded too much they become weak, and do not
grow so sturdy and bushy as they would with an abundance of
light. They should not be crowded together, as they neither
grow so well nor have they the pleasing appearance possessed
by those which have more room in which to develop their fronds.
Besides, when growing one into another, they lose their individu-
ality, and their particular characters and forms are not so notice-
able. Strong winds break their foliage; hence protection from
these should be provided. Care exercised on these points in their
culture will result in much greater success than when these
matters are not attended to.

Ferns revel in moisture, and it is an essential both in the goil
and in the atmosphere. A dry atmosphere prevents the perfect
development of their fronds and minimises their beauty. If short
of moisture at the roots they are checked in their growth; often
their fronds shrivel and the plants die. Stagnant moisture is
injurious to them, so that, although the soil in which they grow
should be continually moist, it must be drained. Ferns planted on
rockwork will require examining during dry weather, and should
be watered when they require it. Probably the most favourable
position for Ferns is a natural or specially constructed dell, where

I

599, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

they can have a certain and continual supply of moisture at the
roots, and protection from strong winds, with shelter from trees
overhead. Here they will grow luxuriantly, and prove a beautiful
and interesting feature.

Some Ferns, as Osmundas, do well planted by a pond or
running stream. ‘They grow naturally in boggy and marshy
situations, and attain an enormous size. Others, as Aspleniwm
trichomanes, A. ruta-nwwraria, Ceterach officmarum, and Poly-
podium vulgare, will grow in drier positions, and are usually
found wild in places where apparently they get but little water ;
but even they grow much more luxuriantly if supplied with
moisture to their roots continually. Athyriwm filix-femina, the
Lastreas, Polystichums, and Scolopendriums all like an abundance
of moisture in the soil.

To obtain the best results in the cultivation of hardy Ferns,
not only should the above conditions of shade and moisture be
attended to, but the soil in which they are to grow must be of
suitable kind. Good loam should, of course, form the foundation ;
with this a good supply of sand should be intermixed to keep it —
open and help the drainage ; to this good, well-decayed leaf-mould
should be liberally added—for Polypodiums an extra supply
being given, and in addition a little peat, with an extra quantity
for Osmundas.

This is a compost in which all hardy Ferns will grow well
when planted eutside; but for Ferns in pots, instead of the
common peat, the better kind, such as is generally used for stove
and ereenhouse plants, should be substituted.

Some of the British Ferns are rather difficult to cultivate,
and often fail to grow satisfactorily when in pots, or even on
rockwork. Those referred to more particularly are the Parsley
(Allosorus crispus), the Ceterach, the Wall Rue (Aspleniwm ruta-
muraria), the Forked Spleenwort (Aspleniwm septentrionale),
the Alternate-leaved Spleenwort (Aspleniwm alternifolium or
germanicum), the Holly Fern (Polystichum Lonchitis), and
several other suchlike. If these Ferns are planted out in a cold
frame, in the compost previously recommended, with the lights
raised 2 or 8 anches so as to cause a current of air over
them during the day, they will be found to grow much more
satisfactorily, and quite as freely as in their native homes.

Among British Ferns there are some exceedingly beautiful

FERN CONFERENCE, 528

"varieties, as may be seen in the fine collection now growing in
the gardens at Kew; there are many others also which do not
appear to be represented there at present, but by seeing those
which are there anyone may gain a fairly good idea of the
variety of form and beauty possessed by perfectly hardy British
Ferns. The lovers of the curious forms also may find much to
interest them among the Scolopendriums, Athyriums, Lastreas,
Blechnums, and others.

Our native species are not very numerous, but many are very
pretty and ornamental ; and had they come from other countries,
instead of being found wild in our own, they would, no doubt, be
more highly esteemed. The species number about fifty, more
or less according to how they are joined or separated by various
authorities, but the wild and the cultivated varieties are simply
innumerable. Some thousands of these have been named ; they
are of every conceivable shape and form, and they range in size
from the tiny Hymenophyllums to the Osmundas and Pteris
aquiluana, which may be seen in wild luxuriance from 8 to 10 feet
in height. Some of the North American species are perfectly
hardy ; and while a few of them are somewhat like species found
in this country, others are quite distinct, possessing characteristics
and a beauty entirely their own. Japan furnishes us with a few
species which are quite hardy, and a few others that will live
outside here, but require a little protection in winter. <A few
also are found elsewhere that do well in the outdoor ferneries of
this country.

Having to treat my subject briefly, it will necessitate the
leaving out of much interesting matter, and reference to those
species and varieties only which are particularly noticeable for
their beauty or peculiarity of form, and but a small proportion
of these, as it would occupy a long time to merely enumerate
those which are deserving of attention and worthy of cultiva-
tion.

There are three Filmy Ferns natives of Britain—Trichomanes
radicans, Hymenophyllum tunbridgense, and, Hymenophyllum
unilaterale or Wilsonw. If these are planted outside it must be
in a very damp, secluded position ; for, although they will bear a
low temperature, a dry atmosphere or lack of moisture at their
roots is very injurious to them. They give most satisfaction

when grown in an unheated frame, where they will bear eight or
I 2

524 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ten degrees of frost without injury; in a cold greenhouse, under
a glass shade, or in a fern-case they will grow luxuriantly.

The true British Maidenhair (Adcantwm capillus-veneris)
does not appear to be hardy enough to bear frost; it rarely, if
ever, gives satisfaction when planted outside. It will grow in a
cold greenhouse, but better still im a warm house, its varieties,
daphmtes, grande, magnificum, cornubiense, all requiring the
same condition. <Aspleniwm marinum (the Sea Spleenwort) and
A. lanceolatum should receive the same treatment.

Allosorus crispus (the Mountain Parsley Fern) is the opposite
in its requirements. This species cannot bear confinement ; in
its native habitats, where it grows in immense patches on the
mountain sides, it 1s exposed to the full sun and every breeze
that blows, to say nothing of the storms which rage in those
localities ; the nearer its condition under cultivation approaches
this the better it appears to like it.

The Alternate-leafed Spleenwort (Aspleniwm germanicum),
the Forked Spleenwort (Aspleniwm septentrionale), the Wall Rue
(A. ruta-muraria) are all dwarf in habit and very interesting, but
they cannot be said to possess much beauty. Asplenvwm Adian-
tum nigrum (the black Maidenhair Spleenwort) grows rather
larger, and has dark green glossy fronds. It is a pretty Fern,
but the variety acutwm, being thinner in texture, is more grace-
ful in appearance. Asplencwm trichomanes is also a pretty little
Fern, growing in dense clumps and found in great abundance on
old walls and bridges, in some instances completely clothing them
with foliage. In its company the Wall Rue is found in profusion,
causing one to wonder how they manage to live at all apparently
without moisture or food. There is a nicely crested variety of Asp.
trichomanes named cristatwm, but not so easily grown; another
variety, A. t. incisuwm, is a beautiful Fern, having its pinnules
deeply cut. A. virideis similiar in appearance to A. trichomanes,
but has a green instead of a black stem. These and Ceterach
officinarum (the Scaly Spleenwort) are all dwarf and interesting ;
the latter has the under-surface of its fronds covered with
scales, at first light-coloured, afterwards becoming brown, from
which it is known among unbotanical observers as ‘‘ the Rusty
Back.”

Cystopteris fragilis (the Bladder Fern) is a light, delicate-
‘looking species, very pretty, but dwarf. C. regia is more

FERN CONFERENCE. 525

finely cut, while C. montana has triangular fronds, quite dis-
similar to the others. These are all suitable for planting on
rockwork.

Blechnum spicant (the Hard Fern) is of larger growth. It is
an evergreen species, producing two distinct kinds of fronds, the
barren usually lying close to the ground, the fertile fronds, much
contracted, standing upright. This species grows in large clumps,
and is very ornamental as seen in many places wild. There are
a number of distinct varieties, as cristatwm, a pretty crested
form ; Maunderw, like a green ball ; trinervo coronans, peculiarly
crested ; serratwm, strictum, and others, not omitting the beauti-
ful concinnum, with narrow, crimpy fronds.

The Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina) is one of the most
eraceful of hardy Ferns, and one of the most prolific in production
of varieties. Not only have many varieties been found wild, but
from spores there have been so many others raised that we may
say of them their name is legion. If it were not impossible, it
would be unwise to give names to every one of these, though
they differ from others in some respects.

In the wonderful power of production and variation possesse
and exhibited by this and other British species we have a gua-
rantee of many yet unseen beauties of the Fern world. If culti-
vators, raisers, and hunters of Ferns will exercise a wise discretion
in selecting only the most distinct and beautiful as well as the
most remarkable in other respects, at the same time discarding
all others, the hardy fernery may be replete with most interest-
ing subjects, and there will be no lack of handsome kinds
which will bear comparison with the more tender Ferns of other
countries.

Among Athyriums there may be mentioned the exceedingly
beautiful pluwmoswm, of which there are several distinct forms,
which produce in great profusion large plume-like fronds, forming
masses of waving green foliage. One of the most lovely of these
is plumosum elegans, with its exquisite fronds of pale green cut
into fine segments—a perfect picture. A. f.-f. plumosum multifi-
dum, a heavily crested variety, is also very handsome, the weight
of the crests giving to the already plume-like foliage an addi-
tional grace.

A.f.-f. kalothriz has its foliage so finely cut, and possesses such
a peculiar, somewhat glossy appearance, that a little distance away

526 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

it looks almost like a green mist. A. /f.-/. Victorie, styled the
‘*Queen of Lady Ferns,”’ is a most distinct variety; its fronds
(from 2 to 3 feet long) arching gracefully, its narrow pinne cross-
ing each other lke lattice-work, its pinner slightly and the apex
of the frond more heavily crested, it is at once the most remark-
able of this section, and quite alone in its peculiar beauty.

A. setigerum is another handsome variety, very bristly in
appearance ; several of its crested forms are specially attractive.

A. Frizellia, with its narrow, slender fronds only half an
inch or so wide, is very pretty, but unfortunately not very con-
stant. A. F. cristatwm is very distinct, being crested; while
A. Applebyanuwm, which produces very narrow fronds 2 feet
long and heavily crested, forms a handsome plant. A. Mieldiea
is heavier in appearance than F'rizellie, its fronds being longer
and its pinnules cruciform.

A. Pritchardu and A. P. cristatum are in the same style,
but produce longer fronds, the pinne more decidedly cruciform
than Fieldia, the point of the frond being drawn out, and in
the case of cristatum bearing a crest. A. Craig and Howard-
aanum are very handsome, the one having a red and the other
a green stem, the pinne depauperated and crested. A. acrocladon
is a marvellously crested variety; its fronds grow from 12 to
15 inches in length, being branched and crested to such a degree
that it becomes a dense bush of fronds.

Athy. crispum is a dwarf variety, also much branched and
crested. A. Hdwardsu is dwarf and much congested. A.apicale
is a lovely dwarf crested variety. A. corymbiferum is a very
handsome form, its fronds being very regular in outline, all the
pinne crested, and the apex of the frond bearing a heavier crest,

The Lastreas, like the Athyriums, are very numerous and
distinct, though the tendency to produce varieties is in the
former more restricted, but they are much more constant. They,
so to speak, do not change their minds as some of the Lady
Ferns are prone to do, but, having developed a particular cha-
racter, they may be relied upon to retain it from year to year.

Of the three distinct forms of the Male Fern, the one now
distinguished by the name pseudo-mas is most attractive, and
although the commoner filix-mas grows luxuriantly, and makes
a fine specimen, the pseudo-mas has a more symmetrical habit
of growth: its fronds are of a pleasing yellowish-green, and

FERN CONFERENCE. 527

densely covered at their bases by golden-yellow scales. In
spring, when growth is commencing, this is particularly notice-
able. The varieties worthy of mention among the many that
are now in cultivation are Barnesw, a fine, tall-growing kind;
fluctuosa or crispatissima, compact in habit, with very crimpy
fronds ; grandiceps, bearing heavy crests and forming immense
clumps; cristata, a handsome variety, its fronds regular in. shape,
with crests along each side and at the point; cristata angustata,
a narrow-fronded, crested form; the very handsome fimbriata
cristata, remarkably distinct; ramosissima, exceedingly pretty
branched, crested, and compact in habit ; and Lastrea propinqua
cristata Barnesu, also very distinct and handsome.

Lastrea Oreopteris or montana, the mountain Buckler Fern,
is a pretty species, while its varieties, Barnesw with narrow
fronds, cristata, and particularly coronans and ramo-coronans,
are distinct, the latter being very beautiful.

Lastrea emula, the Hay-scented Fern, and its variety c7is-
tata are very pretty Ferns.

Osmunda regalis is one of the most noble of hardy Ferns,
and is well named the Royal Fern. In some places this species
may be seen in immense clumps, 6 to 8 feet high or more, its
spikes of spore-cases developed at the tips of the fronds giving
the plant a peculiar appearance and gaining for it the common
name of “‘ the Flowering Fern.”’ There is a very handsome crested
variety, usually ighter in colour and more graceful in habit,
which under favourable conditions makes a beautiful specimen.

The Oak Fern (Polypodium Dryopteris) and the Beech Fern
(P. Phegopteris) are so well known as not to require more than
passing notice, the former, however, deserving an extra note of
praise for its lovely pale green foliage, carpeting the ground
where it grows.

The varieties of Polypodiwm vulgare deserving notice are
numerous. Among them there are cambricum, with its deeply
cut leafy pinnules, and the even more handsome cambricum
Prestomz ; semilacerum with its deeply lacerated fronds; omnv-
lacerum, finely serrated; pulcherrimum, very lovely; bifidum,
bifidum-cristatum, cristatum, and multifido-cristatwm, all crested ;
grandiceps, heavily crested; the finely cut elegantissimum; the
still finer cornubiense Fowler, and the selected form of this,
the most beautiful trzchomanoides.

528 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The Polystichums are among the most handsome of hardy
Ferns, and, being evergreen, are additionally valuable for
ferneries. P. aculeatum and P. angulare have both produced
numerous varieties. While those of aculeatum appear harder,
stiffer, and better calculated to stand the weather, those of
angulare are softer, more graceful and pleasing in appearance.
What can be more charming than those exquisitely lovely
divisilobums—laxum, densum, and plumosum? Words fail to
convey an adequate idea of the beauty of these gems, and others
closely related to them as seen in some ferneries. Their fronds,
2 feet or more long, broad at the base, tapering to a point, cut
into minute segments, densely overlapping each other, mossy in
appearance, of lovely light green—they must be seen to be
appreciated.

Then there are the noble plwmoswms, the heavily crested
grandiceps of several forms, the various cristatwms, the finely
cut acutilobum, the charming gracile, the lovely venustum, the
curious Wakleyanum with cruciform pinne, and many others
worthy of a place in the most choice collection.

The Scolopendriums are the most variable of all Ferns; to
their eccentricities there is no limit. Fortunately some of the
most beautiful are constant, and from year to year retain their
special characters.

The various forms of crispwm are very beautiful, their fronds
being deeply frilled, and it is difficult to say whether the narrow
or broad fronded forms are the more lovely. Crispwm fimbriatum
is specially pretty when in character; cristuwlatwm is a very
distinct and handsome crested variety, forming a compact head
of crisp crests; grandiceps is a heavily crested variety ; ramo-
margumatunm is very beautiful, being branched and crested, the
fronds slightly wavy and graceful; Coolingw and others like it
are compact, dwarf, and much crested; while denswm is of a
dwarf, dense habit of growth, branched and crested to such a
degree that it looks like a small ball of green foliage.

By taking the plain Scolopendriwm vulgare, a handsome Fern
when growing under favourable conditions, and trying to imagine
every degree of serration, laceration, and cutting up of the frond ;
every degree of unevenness, from the slightly wavy to the deeply
goffered ; every degree of roughness of surface, from the perfectly
smooth to that like a toad’s back; every degree of cresting, from

FERN CONFERENCE, 529

the simple fork to the heavy crests of grandiceps; every degree
of branching, from the one division to that in which the plant is
a mass of branches difficult to separate into fronds; fronds
drawn out and fronds abruptly terminated ; narrow fronds, broad
fronds, fronds with horns below, others with horns above, others
again with pockets; fronds bearing bulbils at the edges, and
others with plants on the surface; fronds deformed, every one
being different from every other on the same plant—in fact,
imagine every variation in form beautiful and ugly, and an idea
may be obtained of the appearance presented by the 1,000 or
2,000 varieties of Scolopendriums.

Many of the North American Ferns are equally as hardy as
our English ones. There appears to be in them an utter absence
of the tendency to crest, and sport in other ways, so common in
our native species. During the last twenty years I have imported
many thousands of North American Ferns, and during that time
have only met with two plants showing any tendency to crest,
both Polystichum acrostichoides. One was simply forked, and
after the first year reverted to the normal form; the other de-
veloped into a fine crested plant, which I exhibited in London
in June 1888, and for which a first-class certificate was awarded
by the Royal Horticultural Society and a certificate of merit by
the Royal Botanic Society. Up to the present time, however,
all efforts to propagate this variety from spores have been
without result.

It appears that the first exotic Ferns brought to this country
were from North America—the exceedingly beautiful Adiantum
pedatum and Cystopteris bulbifera as long ago as 1628;
Asplenium (Camptosorus) rhizophyllum was brought in 1680,
and Onoclea sensibilis in 1699. Adiantum pedatum is perfectly
hardy, but its fronds produced in the early spring are liable to be
caught by the late frosts; but the fronds which come up subse-
quently develop very beautifully when sheltered from the strong
winds and shaded from the sun. In such a position a clump of
this lovely Fern is very charming. It produces fronds 2 feet in
height, spreading, circular in outline, light and graceful, of pale
green colour, with deeply glaucous stems. Asa cold greenhouse
Fern it is not surpassed by any other, and it is just as much at
home, and grows even morefreely, in a warm greenhouse or stove.
Onoclea sensibilis is a very handsome species. It produces large

530 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

fronds which appear like Oak-leaves attached to the upper part
of the stem. The colour is light green. The fertile fronds are
quite distinct, being simply a stem bearing on the upper 2 inches
clusters of hard round spore-cases. It is a rapid grower, its
rhizomes spreading quickly, and soon producing a dense clump
of foliage. It requires shade from the sun and shelter from the
wind, or its foliage is soon injured, being, as its name implies,
very sensitive to these influences.

Osmunda cinnamomea is a distinct and ornamental Fern,
quite unlike our Osmunda. Its fertile fronds are produced in
spring in the centre of the plant, standing erect, destitute of
leafage, the spore-cases clustered together in the 38 or 4 inches
of the upper part of the stem. As the spores mature the cases
become the colour of cinnamon, and give a very attractive
appearance to the plant, but they soon shrivel and die away.
The spores when collected are like beautiful green powder. The
barren fronds are spreading, and being produced freely, the plants
form nice specimens.

Probably the most beautiful Osmunda in existence is znter-
rupta, otherwise known as Claytoniana, which produces rich,
velvety-looking fronds of pale green. Its fertile fronds bear the
spore-cases midway of the frond, where several pairs of pinne,
instead of developing as the other leafy part, become spore-cases.
These in time turn brown, shrivel up, and the frond then has
the appearance of having been interrupted in its development,
and thus receives its name interrupta. The barren fronds, perfect
in their development, are spreading in habit, and the plants
are exceedingly pretty.

Osmunda gracilis is a light, graceful, and pretty form of
regalis. Some plants have red and others green leaf-stalks,
those with red stems being particularly attractive.

Struthiopteris pennsylvameca is a strong-growing ornamental
Fern, its habit of growth suggesting its common name, “the
Shuttlecock Fern,’’ and the peculiarly curled pinne of the fronds
when young suggesting its other name, ‘‘ Ostrich Feather”
Tern.

Polystichum mumtum is a handsome evergreen Fern, which
grows to a large size, and resembles to a certain extent a Holly
Fern. In California this species attains such a size that clumps
are often seen 5 to 6 feet across and 4 feet or more in height.

FERN CONFERENCE. 531

Polystichwm acrostichoides is a distinct and very hardy
species ; the variety imciswm is very pretty.

Lastrea Goldiana, L. intermedia, L. marginale, Polystichum
Braunii, Woodwardia angustifolia, and W. virginica are all very
distinct. Phegopteris hexagonoptera is like a large Beech Fern,
deeply cut. Aspidiwm nevadense is of a pale delicate green
colour, its fronds emitting a pleasing perfume when touched.
Dennstedtia punctilobula is also an attractive Fern. Lastrea
fragrans, a dwarf compact species, with its strongly Violet-
scented fronds, is neat and pleasing in appearance.

These, with several of the Woodsias and a number of others
which bear a strong resemblance to some of our British species,
are the most hardy and suitable of the North American Ferns
for outside cultivation in this country.

From Japan there come the glossy-leaved Cyrtomiwm
faleatum ; its duller-leaved relatives, C. Fortune and C. Caryo-
tidium; the handsome bright glossy Polystichwm setoswm ; the
leathery-fronded Lastrea Sieboldu, L. opaca, L. varia, L. atrata ;
the very distinct L. prolifica, which bears crowds of little bulbils
on its fronds; the very handsome Polystichwm concavum; the
Woodwardia orientalis, also bearing young plants in large
numbers on its long spreading fronds; W. yaponica, and Lastrea
decurrens. These, except the last, are all evergreen when pro-
tected from frost, and hardy enough to bear our winters in most
parts of England, unless the situation is bleak and unfavourable.
It is nevertheless advisable to put some little protection about
them ; it will not do any harm even if not actually required.

Struthiopteris germanica, a European Fern, resembles the
American S. pennsylvanica, but is smaller and neater in appear-
ance. Lomaria alpina and DL. crenulata are hardy dwarf-
growing, creeping kinds, and Lomaria chilense is a large-
growing, leathery-fronded species, very ornamental.

There are a few other Exotics which may be hardy enough
for outside cultivation in some parts, but not in others; but,
leaving these out, there is clearly an immense field for selection
of beautiful and ornamental hardy Ferns, not to mention the
curious and, from one point of view, less attractive, though none
the less interesting varieties.

Given the conditions mentioned earlier on, hardy Ferns,
without doubt, will prove a source of very great pleasure to those

532 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

who cultivate them, and for unheated greenhouses, particularly
those which do not get the sun, they will prove the most
satisfactory plants to cultivate, and will develop a wonderful
degree of beauty when so protected.

AMERICAN FRUIT-EVAPORATORS AND EVAPORATING.
By Mr. Epwarp W. Bapesr, F.R.H.S.
[Read August 12, 1890.]

Most growers of hardy fruits in this country have found that
the years in which the most plentiful crops are produced are not
usually the most profitable years. The glut of fruit then sent
into our markets so lowers prices that the cost of gathering,
carriage, and marketing invariably leaves little or nothing for
the grower. One consequence is that much good fruit remains
ungathered, or is otherwise wasted, for want of some mode of
dealing with it that would preserve it, and enable growers to
select their own time for sending it to market, and thereby tend
to prevent prices going down to a profitless point, as they often
do under existing circumstances.

American fruit-growers have suffered from the same cause,
much as we have done; but more than twenty years ago they
applied themselves with characteristic energy to find out a way
of combating the difficulty, and it was not long before it was
discovered that there zs a way of treating fruit, for which a
profitable sale cannot be found in a fresh state, which enables
the grower to convert every pound of it into money, and avoids
glutting the market with a perishable commodity. My purpose
this afternoon is to describe the American mode of procedure,
which is in use in all the fruit-growing States so successfully
that it has caused an immense increase in fruit-growing, and
made it not only a very large, but a more reliable and profitable
industry than it was previously. It is a method applicable to
all sorts of hardy fruits—apples, pears, plums, cherries, apricots,
peaches, and even such soft kinds as raspberries and strawberries.
By its aid fruit can be cheaply preserved in a wholesome and
saleable condition for a year or more. The method is known in
America as “ fruit-evaporating,”’ and the apparatus by which

AMERICAN FRUIT-EVAPORATORS AND EVAPORATING. 583

the work is done is called an “evaporator.’’ In the course of
this paper I hope to give you such a sufficiently clear description |
of this apparatus, and the mode of using it, as will convey accurate
ideas about it. I shall also endeavour to show in what the
merit and advantages of evaporating consist, and shall place
before you such other information on the subject as I have

gleaned from various sources.

Fig. 35.

There are many manufacturers of fruit-evaporators in
America, and each maker claims that his apparatus is the most
efficient. But, whatever differences there may be between one
evaporator and another, they may on this occasion be classified
into two kinds. I have had outline sketches made which I
think will convey to you a more precise and better idea of
what these two types are like as to appearance (and to some
extent where they differ) than a mere description would.

Fig. 34 and fig. 35 represent what we may call the

584 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

“upright” or vertical type, which is the one made by most
manufacturers. Fig. 86 represents the other type, and in
that, as you will see, the hot-air chamber is not vertical, but in
an inclined plane at a slight angle from the stove or furnace.

It is necessary to point out that evaporated fruit must not be
confounded with sun-dried or kiln-dried fruit ; the latter are both
very inferior in quality, and are in a different chemical state.
Sun-drying is still much used in California and elsewhere, but
is being rapidly superseded by the more scientific process of
evaporation. The description of the chemistry of this process
which I am about to submit to you I have selected as being the
best I am acquainted with, and for which I am indebted to an
eminent American scientist, Dr. J. F. Symons, of Fayetteville,
Arkansas. It is the account he gave to the ‘ South-West
Association of Fruit and Vegetable Evaporators ’’ at Springfield,
Mo., and will, I hope, afford useful information as to the reasons
why properly evaporated fruits are superior to those which are
sun-dried or kiln-dried. Dr. Symons says :—

I will now describe the process of true evaporation. It has been
found that by removing a part of the water rapidly, in swift-moving
currents of air, heated from 240° F., a different product is the result,
wholly unlike either the fresh or sun-dried fruit, and which will
keep better, is more digestible and nutritious, is less acid, and will sell
for more in the market. Butif, after having heated the air hot enough,
there is not sufficient circulation, or the currents not rapid enough, the
fruit will cook and then dry, or burn the same as in a close oven.
Apples will cook in boiling water at a temperature of only 212° F.,
or bake in an oven at 225° F.; butif the heated air circulates fast
enough, the fruit will not cook or burn or become itself heated to the
temperature indicated by the thermometer, even at 300° F., for the
evaporation of the water is a cooling process, and every particle of
vapour leaving the minute cells which contained it carries with it also
a large amount of caloric in a latent form, and thus keeps the heat of
the apples far below the surrounding air. The chemical changes which
belong to truly evaporated fruit will now begin, and the albumen,
instead of being slowly dried, is coagulated precisely the same as in an
ege when boiled. The soluble starch existing in all the fruit, and
composed of C,H,,0;, will, if the heat is high enough, combine with
one equivalent of water (H,O),so that now we have an entirely differ-
ent compound, to wit, glucose, or fruit sugar, which will assist in the
preservation of the fruit, instead of being lable to decomposition as
the dried starch is in sun-dried or slowly dried product.

All the pectine, or fruit jelly, remains in the cells undecomposed, or
is left upon the surface by the evaporation of the water in which it was
dissolved, and may be seen condensed upon the surface, instead of
being decomposed, and passing on with the starch and gluten into the
acetic fermentation. The diastase or saccharine ferment contained in

AMERICAN FRUIT-EVAPORATORS AND EVAPORATING. 5385

‘all fruit, and which is the primary cause of its ins has been rendered
inoperative, and all germs of animal or vegetable life have been
destroyed by the high heat. It is by this chemical change which I
have briefly described, in uniting a part of the water already contained
in the fruit with the fruit starch, that these truly evaporated products
are rendered more wholesome, more digestible, more indestructible,
and are thereby made more valuable, not only as articles of food, but
because they are not subject to deterioration and loss. And it is also
the reason why a bushel of apples will make more pounds of evaporated
fruit than can be made by sun-drying it, as a portion of the contained
water which would otherwise be lost is retained by combining with the
starch to form glucose, and the carbonic acid, which is always lost in
the slow decomposition resulting from sun-drying, is retained in its

ey

Fig. 36.

natural combination with the other substances composing the fruit,
and hence it is heavier. ‘These profitable and healthful chemical
changes which I have mentioned are all in accordance with the laws
of nature, and are certain to take place if the necessary conditions of
heat and air,as I have detailed them, are properly supplied; otherwise
you will have a different product, and no matter how fine your apples,
how perfect your paring, coring, and trimming, or how white you may
have bleached them, you have not made truly evaporated fruit, and
no matter how many have been deceived by its bright colour, or full
weight, or fancy packing, your fruit will not stand the test of long
keeping in warm, damp weather. The natural starch, gluten, and
albumen of the fruit, instead of being cured, or made indestructible by

536 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

the chemical changes which constitute the difference between the
evaporated and dried fruits, will absorb moisture from the air, will
swell or increase in bulk, and be attacked by mould, will absorb addi-
tional oxygen, and finally sour and decay.

The mode of preparing apples for drying in an evaporator is,
first, to pare them, then to remove the core, and finally to cut
them into slices or rings. It is customary now to submit the
pared apple before slicing to the fumes of sulphur, which process
is called ‘‘ bleaching,’”’ the object being to prevent the discolora-
tion of the fruit, which is nearly certain to take place unless the
fruit is placed in the heated evaporator directly it is cut. The
bleaching process is said to improve the appearance of the fruit,
and not to injure its flavour. Paring, coring, and slicing are
done very rapidly by ingenious machines which are to be bought
at a moderate price. The prepared fruit is then placed on wire
trays, made to fit inside the drying-chamber of the evaporator,
and there remains until the whole of the moisture has been
abstracted. ‘The time occupied in doing this varies from 24
hours to 4 or even 5 hours, according to the kind of apples
operated upon. Thus an American apple known as ‘‘ Roxbury
Russet ’’ requires only 24 hours; “ Baldwins,” 3+ hours; the
kind called “ King,” 4 hours, and so on. After passing through
the evaporator the next thing is to pack the dried fruit in neat
boxes which hold 25, 50, or 75 lbs. These boxes are lined with
paper: 50-lb. boxes are those mostly used. They are 24 inches
long, 12 inches deep, and 12 inches wide; they are made of
t-inch stuff (with ends 1 inch), poplar wood being preferred.
The evaporated fruit, before being used for making pies, tarts,
compotes, &c., is soaked in water for a sufficient length of time
to swell to nearly its normal bulk.

I shall now describe what an evaporator is like, and shall
commence with a kind of which more than twenty thousand
have been sold. This is the “ Zimmerman,’ manufactured
by the Zimmerman Machine Company at Cincinnati. (See
figs. 834 and 85.) The Zimmerman evaporator is an “ up-
right ’’ apparatus made almost entirely of galvanised iron. Its
general form will be seen on reference to figs. 34 and 35
in the papers you have in your hands. It is made in several
sizes, which are known as No. 1, No. 2, &e. No. 1 (fig. 34)
is the smallest size, and costs at the works £5. 5s. It is intended

AMERICAN FRUIT-EVAPORATORS AND EVAPORATING. 637

especially for family use, and is so constructed as to be usable as
a fruit-evaporator, or, by a simple contrivance, as a baking-oven.
It is large enough to dry from three to five bushels of apples per
day, or to bake eight to ten loaves of bread at a time. It is
4 feet high, 26 inches wide, and 2 feet from back to front. It
is supplied with six galvanised wire trays, on which the fruit is
evaporated, the drying surface being rather more than 20 square
feet. In appearance this dryer is much hke an ordinary stove.
At the bottom is the furnace in which coal or wood can be used
as fuel. The smoke is carried off by a pipe at the back of the
dryer. Above the furnace is the evaporating-chamber, and the
admission of air is regulated by dampers. The air is heated by
contact with the furnace, then passes among the fruit, &c., and
out through a covered chimney at the top of the chamber; thus
there is a continuous upward current, which in the larger dryers
is increased by so connecting the smoke-pipe with the ventilating-
pipe that the ascending current from the furnace helps the
upward draught. The drying-trays rest upon ledges fixed on
the sides of the drying or hot-air chamber.

The dryer No. 2, which is double the capacity of No. 1, and
54 feet high, is both dryer and baker. Its cost is £10. 10s.
This is the size most generally sold for private use. It will dry
from five to seven bushels of apples per day. No. 8 (fig.
85) is a larger apparatus, stands 6 feet high, 88 inehes wide,
37 inches deep, has twenty-four wire trays, 15 inches by 24 inches,
supplying 85 square feet of drying surface. The drying space is
divided into two chambers, the smoke-pipe being carried up
between them. It will dry about double the quantity of fruit
that No. 2 will dry. Its price is £21. This is the size in most
general use for drying fruit for market on a moderate scale.
The larger sizes, Nos. 4 and 5, are called “ factory dryers,” or
evaporators. No. 4 will dry from twenty to thirty bushels of
apples per day, and costs £35. No. 5 will dry from thirty-five to
fifty bushels per day, and costs £52. It is the same size as No. 4,
but differs from it in being fitted with a mechanical contrivance
called an elevator, by means of which the racks or drying-trays
are gradually lifted from the bottom to the top of the drying-
chamber, whereas in all the other sizes the trays are stationary.
The arrangement for the admission of hot air in No. 5 is some-
what different from that in the other sizes, and the makers state

K

538 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

that “it is the fastest, and for its capacity the most economical,
evaporator offered for sale.”

The other form of evaporator I shall describe differs from
the Zimmerman and others of the same general pattern in the
arrangement of its hot-air chamber, which is not placed vertically
above the stove, as is the case in those already described, but at
a small angle in an inclined position, away from the stove or
furnace. This, which is known as the “‘American’’ evaporator,
is made at Waynesboro’, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, by the
American Manufacturing Company ; also by Messrs. Ph. Mayfarth
& Co. at Frankfort-on-the-Main, who have an agent in England,
Mr. A. Ludwig, 16 Mincing Lane, London. A sketch of this
evaporator is given in fig. 386. These are the terms in
which the American Manufacturing Company describe the merits
of their evaporator :—‘‘ By a process contrary in effect to that
so long practised faut de mieux by the old-school dryers, we, by
the direct action of heat in the primary stages, fix the essential
oils to which aroma and flavour are due. At the same time, by
the action of the automatically diffused currents of hot dry air,
is developed an artificial cuticle or parchment-like skin, and thus
hermetically sealing the cellular formation contaming the volatile
essential oil, on the perfect retention of which so much depends.
. .. By our method we likewise prevent any retrograde effects,
for the operation is continuous to the finish, which takes effect
at a reduced graduated point of temperature, and, while the
automatic discharge, seriatim, of waste vapouric elements is
effectually provided for, we likewise insure a succession of currents
of fresh dry hot air, which automatically pass underneath, diago-
nally through, .and then off over’’ the trays inside the ‘inclined
pneumatic flue.” It is claimed that the action of the evaporator
is so rapid that the exposure of green fruit for ten minutes only
in the hot-air chamber is sufficient to perfectly dry it on the
outside. The currents of hot air passing through this evaporator
when in full work are said to be ‘“ self-created and continuous,
strike the trays at a uniform upward angle with considerable
velocity, quickly absorb all moisture, then pass off out of the
evaporator.’ The ‘‘ American” is made in a number of
sizes. The smallest, No. 0, is made for family use or limited
operations only; price at the works, £7. 10s. No. 1 has a
surface drying capacity of 85 square feet, and the price is

-AMERICAN FRUIT-EVAPORATORS AND EVAPORATING. 589

£16. No. 2 (fig. 86) is of rather more than double the
capacity of No. 1; price £21. The evaporators of a larger
size are called ‘commercial sizes.” Of these No. 3 has a
drying capacity of 800 square feet, and is capable of drying
from forty to fifty bushels of apples daily; the price is £52.
Nos. 4 and 5 are much larger in size, as may be judged from the
prices, which are respectively £104 and £135. No. 5 is equal to
drying 150 bushels of apples every twenty-four hours. All
through this paper a day may be taken to mean twenty-four
hours, as it seems clear to me that the usual plan is that when
an evaporator is set at work in the States it is kept going night
and day. Except the furnace fittings, the ‘‘ American” evapo-
rators are chiefly made of wood, which the makers claim to be
the best substance for the purpose, and it is stated that the
insurance record shows that they are quite safe from injury by
fire under ordinary circumstances.

The prices quoted by Messrs. Ph. Mayfarth & Co. for the
various sizes of the ‘‘ American ’’ evaporator are somewhat less
than those given above: thus No. 1 is quoted at £13 instead of
£16. This evaporator has been exhibited at several agricul-
tural shows in this country; and one has been at work at
Well Place Farm, Penshurst, Kent, for some time; also at the
‘Invicta’? Works, Maidstone; and satisfactory reports of the
work done have appeared in the local papers. This evaporator
was exhibited at the Royal Agricultural Society’s Nottingham
Show in 1888; and at the Windsor Jubilee Show in 1889, where
it was awarded the Society’s prize, value £30. The size which
won this prize was the No. 2 evaporator (the fig. 36 in my
sketch). In vol. l. pp. 494-6 of the Royal Agricultural
Society’s Journal (1889) there is a most favourable report on
the trial made at Windsor, where the judges appear to have
been quite satisfied with the performance of the ‘‘ American ”’
evaporator.

The Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society for October
1888 (pp. 490, 491) contains a paper in which there are some
interesting particulars about fruit evaporation, and as the author
is Mr. D. Pidgeon, a civil engineer, officially connected with the
Royal Agricultural Society, I feel 1 may commend what he says
on the subject to everyone interested. He contributed another
paper on the same subject in the first part of the third series of

kK 2

540 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

the Society’s Journal, published March 1890. From these two
papers and other sources I have collected the following par-
ticulars. First, I will give an extract from Mr. Pidgeon’s first
paper. He says :—

A bushel of green apples, weighing about 50 lbs., can be dried ata
cost of from 6d. to73d. The total cost of the dried product i is from 8d.
to 5d. per lb., and the average selling price from 34d. to 6d.. per Ib.
One bushel of green apples produces about 6 Ibs. of dried apples. One
pound of coal is consumed in evaporating enough green fruit to yield
1lb. of dried fruit. Before drying the apples are pared and cored
by one of the many ingenious contrivances in use for that purpose.
The cores and parings are dried and sold for jelly-making, realising
about £4 per ton. A bushel of apples yields 801lbs. of “meat” and
20 lbs. of refuse (cores, &c.). The 30 lbs. of “ meat”’ is reduced to 6 lbs.
by evaporation, and the 20 lbs. of refuse to 4 lbs.

The Zimmerman Machine Company give the following particu-
lars: A bushel of green apples weighs about 50 lbs., is worth from
74d. to 10d., and will produce 65 lbs. of evaporated fruit. It
will cost 5d. to do the work, and the market value of the
evaporated fruit will be from 5d. to 73d. per lb. Assuming these
figures to be correct, then the 65 lbs. of a ee fruit at lowest

price (5d. per lb.) will realise. ; ; . Qs. 85d.
Deduct: Value of fruit at janhestine price . . £100;
Cost of evaporating . ; . ee iy
=. ssa
Leaving a gross profit of , ; : ; . Is. 54d.

or about 23d. per lb., from which carriage and salesman’s com-
mission will have to be deducted. The net profit will be over
and above the value of the apples as gathered from the trees.
It will be noticed that in making this calculation I have put the
price of the apples at the highest quoted amount, and the sell-
ing price of the evaporated fruit at the lowest.

The same company give the following figures to show the
result of one month’s run, working day and night, of a No.3

GvapOrgnor == £ 3. d. 2am

Produce: 2,700 lbs. evaporated apples at 73d.* . . 84 7 SB
Cost: 450 bushels apples at 10d. . So ee)
Fuel 30 days at 1s. Od. per day . 111 38
Labour 80 days . , : sf BD 38

~ 28 12 11

Gross profit ; ’ : . £55 14 7

* This is no doubt the outside selling price.

AMERICAN FRUIT-EVAPORATORS AND EVAPORATING. 541

which is equal to rather more than 43d. profit per lb. cf evapo-
rated fruit. I have some fear that this is an over-stateiment,
but it is only fair to sayI find similar estimates given by
other firms. If Mr. Pidgeon’s figures and these are added
together, and an average struck, it is probable it will give a not
inaccurate idea of the profit frequently made. But it must be
borne in mind that the amount, whatever it is, is so much real
gain over and above the market value of the fresh fruit, which
has been deducted from the total cost before the profit is ascer-
tained.

In America the total value of evaporated fruit produced and
sold annually must amount to a very large sum of money, but I
have been unable to get any reliable estimate as to how much it
is. Mr. Pidgeon (Royal Agricultural Society’s Journal for
March 1890) furnishes the following figures for California
alone :—Total weight of all kinds of fruit evaporated in that
State during 1888, 31,450,000 lbs., the value of same being
£431,590.

The western portion of New York State, in a district lying
within a radius of forty miles around the city of Rochester,
produced in 1888 87,750,000 lbs. of evaporated fruit (all but
750,000 lbs. of which were apples) of the value of £297,000.
Mr. Pidgeon states that to produce this amount 250,000,000 lbs.
(111,000 tons) of green apples and 250,000 quarts of fresh
raspberries were operated upon; 19,000 tons of coal were
burnt in 1,500 drying-houses (each containing one or more
evaporators of various sizes), and 45,000 hands were employed
during the four months of the year, bringing about the result
quoted above.

The conditions are not in several respects the same in
America and England. The quantity of fruit which can ever
be available for evaporating is much smaller in this country;
but I cannot see any reason for thinking that there would not
be always plenty of work to employ a good number of evapora-
tors here in prolific seasons. The best fruit would of course
realise the most money if marketed as fresh fruit, provided it
was unmixed with inferior fruit, and as much care bestowed
upon grading it and sending it to market in the best possible
condition as is the invariable rule in America. The second-rate
fruit is, however, sufficiently good to produce the best quality of

542 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

evaporated fruit; and I feel sure that the price this would pro-
duce, after passing through an evaporator, would yield a much
larger profit than would be obtained under any ordinary cireum-
stances for the same fruit if marketed in the green state. And
then it must be borne in mind that the evaporator could be used
for drying vegetables, of which a large quantity are so treated,
and find a ready sale in America. This use of the evaporator
was tested at the Windsor show, and the result was deemed
quite satisfactory. | i

The much smaller production of apples, &c., in this country
as compared with America suggests the idea that it will not be
advisable for every English fruit-grower to set up an evaporator,
but that a better plan would be for one man to do all the evapo-
rating for his immediate neighbourhood, either buying the fruit
outright or evaporating it for his neighbours at a reasonable rate.

I think what I have said tends to show that the evaporator is
an appliance which ought to come into use in this country, or,
at all events, that it deserves a fair and full trial; and I hope
some enterprising landowner, in a fruit-growing district, may be
induced to buy one of these apphances and have its usefulness
tested for the benefit and instruction of his tenants and neigh-
bours, as well as his countrymen generally.

It is right to add, in conclusion, that I have purposely avoided
recommending any one evaporator as the best. I should also like
to state that Ihave no pecuniary interest in any of them, and do
not personally know either of the many manufacturers.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. Cuxat said he had long thought something in the way of
the fruit-evaporator was much needed in this country, because
in years when there was a good crop of fruit the markets were
glutted, and the cost of production could not be realised; con-
sequently much fruit was sold at very low prices, and some of it
was even spoiled and lost. But this loss would be prevented if
fruit-evaporators were adopted, and there was no doubt they
would be a great boon both to the producers and consumers.
Therefore some means should be found to preserve fruit, instead
of allowing it to spoil, but it should be preserved without sugar,
agit would then be rendered more valuable for domestic purposes,

AMERICAN FRUIT-EVAPORATORS AND EVAPORATING. 543

Some years ago experiments in fruit-preserving were made by
the Royal Horticultural Society not only by heat but also by
exhaustion, but Mr. Cheal said he did not think they were
altogether a success. Fruit dried by means of heat would, in his
opinion, be most valuable.

Mr. D. Morris, Treasurer R.H.S., said he had seen fruit-
evaporators at work in America. . Apples were chiefly experi-
mented on, though at times other fruits also, and many farmers
used to dry all sorts of fruits, &c., by their means. The
machines were simple things, notwithstanding their complicated
appearance. In 1882-8 he saw them at work, which is performed
as follows: The apple, or whatever it may be, is pushed into a
tube which takes out the core; afterwards a chisel-like tool takes
off the peel, and at the same time a sharp instrument goes into
the apple and cuts it into a long spiral string, or sometimes it
is cut into rings. The fruit is then put in trays, which are
placed in position in the drying-machine. One objection in
regard to the drying-machines was that the steam rising from
the lower trays of fruit has a tendency as it rises upwards through
the upper layers to cook the fruit on the upper trays. This dis-
advantage has now been remedied by means of the ‘“ Zimmer-
man ’’ evaporator, which has a flue specially constructed to
carry off the generated steam. There could be no doubt as to
the utility, simplicity, and economy of these evaporators, and he
thought that, where a person had a surplus quantity of second-
class fruit, it would be much better to preserve it by means of
these machines than to have it wasted. In the tropics the
banana must be cut before it is ripe, so that it may reach this
country in proper condition for consumption ; but very often they
are spoiled from one cause and another and hardly fit to eat. I,
however, they were dried by these machines they would then
reach this country in a much better condition. But, somehow,
bananas were little cared for in England, and this was no doubt
because it was inferior to British fruit, which was by far the
best, and perhaps this fact accounted for fruit-evaporators not
being generally used here; but still he would recommend anyone
that could do so to use these evaporators wherever possible.

A gentleman asked if these machines could be applied in the
ease of potatoes, and also if there was any commercial value to
be attached to fruits preserved by means of these evaporators.

544 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Mr. Morris replied that, as far as commercial value was concerned,
the apples prepared by these machines were much used in
America, and formed the ingredients of puddings and pies.
Fruit so prepared was very palatable, and even retained some of
the fresh juices, and, besides, it could be kept for almost any
length of time.

THE HOLLYHOCK (ALTHAIA ROSHA).
By Mr. James Dovetas, F.R.H.S.
[Read August 25, 1890.]

Tus is a very old inhabitant of our gardens. It was cultivated
in its single and double forms nearly three hundred years ago.
When Gerard published his ‘“‘ History of Plants ’’ he gave woodcuts
of single and double varieties. At that time single red, white,
and purple varieties were grown. Gerard figures at page 783 a
double purple and a double scarlet. This was in 1597. About
a quarter of a century later, when ‘The Paradisus”’ was pub-
lished by Parkinson, many more double Hollyhocks had been
raised. He says: ‘‘The flowers are of divers colours, both
single and double, as pure white, and pale blush, almost like a
white ; and more blush, fresh and lively, of a rose colour ; scarlet,
and a deeper red like a crimson; and of a dark red, like black
blood.”” And he further states that they will reasonably abide
the winter. The Hollyhock has been treated upon by all the
leading authors on gardening subjects from the time of Gerard
until now. It is altogether a noble garden plant, and when well
placed is an crnament in any garden, be it that of the humble
roadside cottage or that of prince or peer. It would be tedious,
nor would it be desirable, to continue the history of our plant
during its progress to the high state of perfection it has now
attained; but I may be allowed to record as much of its modern
history as falls within my own recollection during a period of
some thirty-five years. About that time two types of Hollyhock
were in cultivation, usually termed the English and Scotch
varieties. The first named were, if I may say so, of the more
refined character. The flowers were, in comparison to those
grown now, of small size, closely set on the spikes; they had

THE HOLLYHOCK (ALTHHA ROSEA). 545

also neat, well-filled centres and narrow guard-petals. The
Scotch varieties had immense flowers, with wide guard-petals
and smaller centres, indented with openings, termed ‘ pockets ”’
by gardeners. It occurred to Mr. John Laing, who was at that
time a famous gardener in Scotland, to hybridise the English and
Scotch types with each other, hoping thereby to obtain a new
strain with a smaller width of outer petal than the Scotch type,
and a greater width than the small English fiowers. In this Mr.
Laing was eminently successful. Other growers at that time, or
earlier even, made great improvements in our plant; amongst
them it is only right to mention Mr. Charles Baron, a working
shoemaker, of Walden, who, by concentrating his energies on one
flower, was able to improve it very much indeed, as the record of
beautiful varieties raised by him will testify. It is very gratifying
to me not only to record the result of the labours of the Walden
shoemaker, but also to acknowledge our indebtedness to the
labouring class for the many beautiful florists’ flowers that adorn
our gardens; to such men as the hand-loom weavers of Lanca-
shire, the working cutlers of Sheffield, and the factory operatives of
Newcastle, for producing Auriculas, Pinks, Carnations, Picotees,
Tulips, and Polyanthuses. Other raisers in England at the time
I have mentioned were Messrs. Paul & Sons, of Cheshunt ;
Mr. Chater, of Saffron Walden, &e.

Propagation.—The Hollyhock is propagated by seeds,
cuttings, and root-grafting. Seedling raising is the easiest and
most natural way, and if seeds are obtained in a haphazard way,
from the best named varieties at present in cultivation, at least
50 per cent. of the progeny will be as good as the parents—a
few may even surpass them. This method of culture does not
require the use of glass lights or glass protectors of any kind.
The seeds may be sown in the open border early in May; and
when the plants have grown so that they may be easily
handled, they may be pricked out about 6 inches apart on
a bed of fine soil, to be planted where they are to flower about
the middle of September. The plants should be 3 feet apart
in the rows, and 4 feet between the rows.

Cuttings are taken in the summer and autumn by cutting
out the leaf-buds from the lateral growths, much in the same
way as the eyes of vines are taken for propagation. Plant each
eye singly in a small pot of sandy soil. At the same time many

546 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

cuttings may be found in the form of leafy growths quite at the
base of the main stem ; a portion of these may be cut off with a
sharp knife quite close to the stem and planted singly in small
flower-pots, in the same manner that the eyes have been. They
will also produce roots in a close frame, but must be shaded
from bright sunshine, a little ventilation being necessary at the
highest part of the frame. These, when rooted, may be planted in
larger flower-pots, and wintered in cold frames ; for we must not
ignore the useful hint given by Parkinson, that they will reasonably
abidethe winter. I am sure no good gardener would trust his entire
stock of any good variety out in the borders during the winter
months, even in the south of England. This remark on hardiness
does not apply to seedling plants that have not flowered, for
if these are well established in the open ground before the winter
the losses are so few that they need not be taken into account.

General Cultural Remarks.—In the preparation of the soil
for any plant we must consider the nature of the subject with
which we have to deal. The Hollyhock is a gross-feeding plant,
and requires very rich deep soil to grow in, so that the ground
should be trenched 2 feet deep, and plenty of farmyard manure
should be incorporated with it in the process. The time of planting
is in spring, when the really severe frosts are over, but the prepa-
ration of the ground should take place in the early autumnal months
of the previous year: this is necessary if the very best results are
expected. Even stiff clay soils are pulverised into fine powder
by the winter frosts, and if the surface is lightly forked over in
fine weather (for it must not be touched in a wet state) it will be
in the best possible condition for planting about the end of March
or early in April. Hollyhock plants will grow from 6 to 12 feet in
height, or even more ; therefore they require stout sticks about
6 feet out of the ground. To save labour and future injury to the
roots of the plants it is best to put in the permanent supports at
once. A stake of some kind is necessary, and it does not take
much longer to place a large one than it does a small one which
must be removed later. When well established not much culture
is needed, except to tie the stems to their supports; and if the
best results are expected, the leaves must be copiously syringed
and the plants freely watered in hot dry weather. A mulching of
decayed manure ought to be spread over the surface of the
ground at the base of the stems of each plant.

THE HOLLYHOCK (ALTHHA ROSEA). 547

The flowers must be removed as soon as they show signs of
decay, for two reasons—first, because if seeds are expected the
decaying mouldy petals will cause the seed-pods to rot; and in
the second place, decaying flowers detract very considerably from
the beauty of the fully developed sound ones higher up on the
spikes.

When the flowering and seeding periods are over cut the
stems down to a height of 6 inches from the ground. Soon
after this the plants may be dug up and either planted out
closely together in a frame or planted in flower-pots, and these
may be plunged to the rim in some dry material, such as dry
cocoa-nut fibre refuse. In the spring all the shoots or growths
except one may be taken off to form cuttings or root-grafts, and
they will produce roots freely in a hot-bed or propagating-house
as early in the year as January and February.

Diseases and Insect Pests.—Red-spider is the most trouble-
some of all the insects injurious to the Hollyhock. It spreads
over the leaves very rapidly, if unheeded, in hot weather; but
it is detected in its earliest stages by the experienced cultivator,
who speedily orders the application of water by a good syringe
to the under sides of the leaves, and the mere mechanical force
of the water, if applied daily, dislodges the pest; and the water
which trickles down the main stem to the roots is beneficial to
the plants, as it is only in hot dry weather that the spider is
troublesome. The spittle-fly does a little mischief in the early
stages of the plant’s growth, but they are seldom so numerous
as to be a pest to the cultivator, and they are easily destroyed.

A much more formidable parasite is the Hollyhock fungus,
Puccima malvacearum (figs. 87 and 88*); it is very insidious in its
attacks, appearing when it is least expected, and holding on until
the plants are reduced to unsightly objects, with the withered leaves
rustling in the wind—a melancholy spectacle. J have tried to
destroy it by picking off the affected leaves and well washing
the apparently sound ones in soft-soapy water im which had been
mixed a large portion of flowers-of-sulphur. This repeated
several times has had the effect of warding it off until quite the
end of the season, when not much mischief has been done. Mr.

* For the use of the illustrations (figs.37 and 38) of the fungus which

affects the Hollyhock as well as other Malvaceous plants we are indebted
to the Editor of the Gardeners’ Chronicle.

548 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Harry Renton Mein, of Messrs. Stuart & Mein, Kelso, informs me
that he has quite destroyed the parasite on the leaves by washing
them with Condy’s fluid. I tried the plan of leaving the plants
just where they flowered in the open garden for the winters of
1887 and 1888, and no trace of fungus appeared during the

Fic. 37.—PuccInIA MALVACEARUM---HIGHLY MAGNIFIED.

srowing and flowering seasons of 1888-9; but we lost many
plants during the winters. In the autumn of 1889 I had all the
plants lifted and planted in flower-pots, and we propagated plants
from cuttings last February. They were placed in a forcing-
house to form roots, and, to my extreme vexation, the disease

HARDY GLADIOLUS. 549

appeared ; and although we tried to get rid of it when the plants
were small, it resisted our efforts, and has done much damage to

y eet S .
Vie ° :
Le) he a ee @o0,? © ,°,
(a2/\% COSTS 0
Wd ly ee eae
. °, $9 3 K

Fig. 38.—LEAF ATTACKED WITH PUCCINIA MAIVACEARUM.

some of the plants, although the general collection has not failed
to flower remarkably well.

HARDY GLADIOLUS.

By M. Emuite Lemorne, of Nancy.
[Read Sept. 9, 1890.]

Brrorz I enter upon the subject which is to occupy us to-day,
viz., the study of the Gladiolus, as it has been transformed by
numberless hybridisations and improved by successive selec-
tions, I am anxious to tender my most grateful thanks to the
Council of the Royal Horticultural Society for the honour done
to French horticulture in inviting one of its members to utter
his ideas before so celebrated a Society. Although I fear that
such atask may be too hard for me, I shall endeavour to fulfil
it as well as I can, treating the question from a general point
of view and avoiding constant enumerations as well as tiresome
particulars. After having examined as summarily as possible
the first hybridisations that amateurs and growers have been

550 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

trying since the first species of Gladioli were introduced, and
mentioned first the various sections of early-flowering Gladioli
(a specialty of some Dutch firms and of the nurserymen of the
Channel Isles), and then the extensive series of Gandavensis
hybrids, I shall examine more thoroughly the new races of hardy
hybrid Gladioli, where I shall distinguish two classes, which are
now quite distinct, and have been termed—one, Lemoine’s spotted
Gladiolus, and the other, Gladiolus nanceianus. I shall explain
how both sections were obtained and improved, and, treating
their cultivation and their uses, I shall show how easy it is to
succeed with them in every soil and exposure, even in places
where the growing of other Gladioli may present some difficulty.

I do not intend to give here a classification of the different
botanical species, either introduced and cultivated, or only re-
presented in herbaria as dried specimens. Such a work is the
business of men of science, and, moreover, it would be beyond the
subject of this lecture. Suffice it to state that the genus Gladiolus,
one of the finest and most popular of the Iridaceous family,
numbers about ninety species, all belonging to the flora of the
Old World. Though the greater part of them, and the most
beautiful, are natives of South Africa, some are to be found in
South Europe: one, for instance, G. illyricus, grows naturally
as far northward as England; some others exist in Persia and
Afghanistan, in the oriental regions of Africa, and in the island
of Madagascar.

Gladiolus communis, a native of Mediterranean Europe, is
often met with in private gardens along with the Gladiolus of
Constantinople (G. byzantinus), both introduced into Western
Europe about two centuries ago. They are perfectly hardy, and
their cultivation requires no special care. From the middle of
last century travellers began to introduce from the Cape of Good
Hope a great many species, among which may be mentioned
G. angustus, brevifolius, blandus, campanulatus, cruentus,
Cunona,* cusprdatus, dracocephalus, edulis, elatus, gracilis,
hastatus, hirsutus, involutus, namaquensis, Millert, quadrangu-
laris,*recurvus, sulphureus, trichonemifolius, trimaculatus, tristis,
undulatus, versicolor, viperatus, Watsonius, &e. Nearly all
these species offered to amateurs have but a merely scientific
interest ; therefore it is no wonder if the greater part of them

* G. Cunona and G. quadrangularis belong to the genus Antholyza.—Ep.

HARDY GLADIOLUS, . 651

have found their way only into botanical collections, and have
disappeared from gardens.

Towards the end of the last century were introduced from the
Cape G. cardinalis and G. floribundus, and about the year
1824 G. psittacinus (or natalensis), three very interesting
species, which, intercrossed some years later, produced the
beautiful hybrids known as gandavensis. From that date were
introduced some other new species, among which may be pointed
out G. paptlio, atroviolaceus,* and especially purpwreo-auratus
and Saundersi, from which the new hardy spotted varieties
have been raised.

As nearly all the above species are very easy to grow, and
many of them quite hardy, a great number of amateurs undertook
their cultivation. Growers did not confine themselves to increas-
ing them by planting the bulblets, which-are produced in great
quantity at the base of the corms ; they endeavoured to save seeds,
and, seeing how easily self-fertilisation takes place in the Gladioli,
many experimented in the way of artificial hybridisation and
crossing. Among those who obtained the finest results was Dean
Herbert, who raised a great many hybrids in his garden at Spof-
forth, more than seventy years ago; many of these hybrids
were hardy, and maintained themselves for a long time. They
proceeded from crossings between G.cardinalis, blandus, carneus,
inflatus, angustus, tristis, &c., and showed a great variety of
shades. The greater part of these hybrids are now probably lost.

But the amateurs’ endeavours were not limited to the above
trials. Their attention was also drawn to the whole series of
early-flowering species, yielding flowers during the first months
of summer under a special treatment. They grew for this purpose
such kinds as G. cardinalis, communis, floribundus, ramosus,
trimaculatus, &c., and soon began to intercross them with
one another. Hence issued a great many intermediate forms,
the majority of which showed features of consanguinity with
G. ramosus, aS was suggested by the existence of a long, lenti-
cular purplish blotch, with a white spot in its centre, which
imparted to the whole spike a very pleasing appearance. A
rather large number of these offspring are still grown for cut
flowers, especially Ardens or Fire King, Formosissimus, Prince
Albert, Prince of Wales, Queen Victoria, Sarnian Gem, Ville

* A native of South-western Asia.— Ep,

552 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

de Versailles, Colvillei, and its variety Colvillei albus or The
Bride, a highly esteemed and world-wide grown plant. As pre-
viously stated, they are cultivated in the Netherlands and in the
Channel Isles. They are planted from October to December in
pits, where they are sheltered from frost, and they open their
flowers from June to July.

Thus far, in spite of the variety of its shapes and colours, the
Gladiolus was little more than a plant for amateurs. The ap-
pearance of the Ghent Gladiolus (gandavensis) produced quite a
sensation in the horticultural world, and caused the rapid diffusion
of a kind which became in a short time very popular.

In the course of the summer of 1837 the gardener to the
Duke of Aremberg, at Enghien, named Beddinghaus, thought of
hybridising G. psittacinus with G. cardinalis.* It is possible that
some other species, grown along with the two named ones, had
been used at the same time as polleniferous plants. However,
the appearance of the offspring revealed its origin. This Gladiolus
showed the habit and inflorescence of G. psittaconus but. with
larger individual blooms, and the colour of G. cardinalis but
more diversified, red with pink shades, and yellowish spots on
the lower segments of the flowers.

As soon as Louis van Houtte, the celebrated Ghent horti-
culturist, heard of Beddinghaus’s success, he purchased the
novelty and gave it the name of Gladiolus gandavensis.

“‘ T have justacquired the exclusive property of this Gladiolus,”’
said he in his Catalogue for 1841, ‘‘ excepting two bulbs which
are in the possession of another Belgian nurseryman. Everyone
is coming to see it whilst I am writing these lines. For its habit
and colour it leaves far behind everything known among Gladioli.
Its size surpasses that of G. ramosus; its majestic corollas,
seventeen to twenty in number, are of the brightest vermilion,
their lower petals, adorned with chrome-yellow, amaranth-red,
and pistachia, are, besides, beautified through the sky-blue anthers
which decorate the centre of the flower.”’

When the reader of this pompous description has before his
eyes the coloured plate which Van Houtte published in his
‘‘ Flore des Serres et des Jardins de l’Kurope”’ for 1846, he may
find some difficulty to understand how such a flower could sug-
gest such enthusiastic ideas. In fact, since 1841, nurserymen have

* On the origin of G. gandavensis, see note, p. 574.

HARDY GLADIOLUS. BT 3:

worked diligently, and the gorgeous things we are now accus-
tomed to see exhibited by the lucky raisers of Gladioli cause us
to lose sight of the first origin whence they have arisen.

Indeed, a short time after G. gandavensis had been dis-
tributed in gardens, it was reported that Mr. Cole, gardener to
J. Willmore, Esq., of Oxford, had crossed this variety with a
pink-flowered species, G. floribundus, and had raised three
seedling plants, one of which, named G. Willmoreanus, had white
flowers with pink stripes, and was described and figured in 1850
in the Gardeners’ Magazine of Botany. Nearly at the same
date M. Souchet, of Fontainebleau, was undertaking similar
trials. During the summer of 1852 were to be seen in his gardens
some beds of seedling Gladioli in full bloom. They were raised
from an artificial cross, viz. G. gandavensis fertilised with the
pollen of G. blandus and ramosus. This experiment had perfectly
succeeded, every intermediate shade of colour between white
with lemon tinges and the darkest purple-crimson having been
obtained; many plants showed large and well-expanded corollas,
and the influence of G. blandus and ramosus had imparted to the
offspring a much hardier constitution than was known in the
first Gandavensis. ‘‘ M. Souchet’s beautiful plants,” it was stated
in the Bulletin of the Central Horticultural Society of France for
1853, ‘‘ are as great an advance on G. gandavensis as it was
itself an improvement on G. psittacinus, its mother.”

M. Souchet was not the only French grower who was in-
terested in hybridising the new Gladioh. Atthe same time M.
Truffaut, of Versailles, M. Verdier péere, of Ivry, near Paris, and
M. Courant, of Poissy, were renowned for the results they
obtained.

Asa matter of fact, all these so praised plants now seem to rs
to be poor acquisitions in comparison with the beautiful new
hybrids which we are admiring every year; but I thought it was
necessary to do justice here to those who first created the
earden Gladioli, and marked out for their successors a way so
easy to follow.

Another voice will have more authority than mine in pointing
out the improvements which slalful growers have hitle by little
made in this group, and the latest results which both English
and French specialists have in store for the numerous lovers of
this beautiful sort. I will not dwell any more upon it, but will

L

554 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

examine the new class of purpureo-auratus hybrids which have
been termed Hardy Spotted Gladioli.

Gladiolus purpureo-auratus (J. D. Hooker) was introduced
from Natal into England by Mr. William Bull about 1870, and
was described for the first time in the Sotanical Magazine,
January 1872, No. 5,944, and afterwards in Van Houtte’s
‘‘Flore”’ of February 15, 1874. This well-known nurseryman,
in whose grounds the new species was already grown, speaks
thus : ‘‘ Let this native of Natal be welcome, for its shape and
especially its colour are unusual, and will allow us to obtain
from it some interesting hybrids.”’

As this plant, though very easy to grow, 1s somewhat rare in
gardens, and seldom met with at horticultural exhibitions, it
will be as well to describe it shortly. Its rather broad and firm
leaves, ofa glaucous green, are notoften more than 18 inches high.
The flower-stalk, about 8 feet, is first upright, and then arched
on a level with the lower flowers; the latter (there are never
more than three open together) are small, funnel-shaped, and
kneed at their base, so that normally, and without a stake, they
are quite bent towards the ground. The colour isa pale sulphur
yellow, more apparent on the lower segments, which are marked
with a long, purplish spot. There are about fifteen blooms,
opening successively on the principal stem, which are followed by
one or two secondary spikes laterally inserted on the first. The
corm is very small, about one inch across, and puts forth, after
the plant has done flowering, some bulblets, frequently as big as
itself and borne on long peduncles, which are horizontally
developed, and extend two or three inches from the bulb. G.
purpureo-auratus is perfectly hardy, and if one of its bulbs is
left in the ground, the second or third year there will be a large
clump of leaves and flowers—thanks to its peculiar power of
emitting bulblets to a distance.

Such is the species which was destined to become the mother
of a new race of hardy Gladioli.

Having noticed the perfect hardiness of this plant, the bulbs
and bulblets of which, when left in open ground, would invariably
spring up every year, M. Victor Lemoine, of Nancy, determined
to try if a hybridisation between it and the Gandavensis varieties
would not give greater vigour to the latter. Having purchased
some of the best varieties of Gandavensis in the course of the

HARDY GLADIOLUS. 50

ox

year 1875, he impregnated G. purpureo-auratus with their
pollen. Some seeds were saved and sown, and produced, after
two years, three flowering plants. One received the name of
Gladiolus Lemoinei; the second was called Marie Lemoine; and
the third, which bloomed somewhat later, was discarded as
haying a dull shade of colour. The two named plants were
grown for some years in our trial grounds before they were
sent out. It was quite obvious that, like their female parent,
G. purpureo-auratus, they were hardy, and could, without any
danger, remain in the open ground during the winter. Both having
the same habit and hardiness and height of spike, and possessing
equally large and well-expanded flowers, with purple blotches
and yellow tips on the lower segments, they differ from each
other in the fundamental colour of the corolla, which is a pale
salmon-pink in Lemoinei and straw-white in Marie Lemoine.
At the Paris Universal Exhibition in July 1878 the new G.
Lemoinei attracted the attention of many amateurs, who foretold
for it a great and successful future. It was exhibited a year
later at the Royal Horticultural, thanks to the kindness of
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, who gave themselves the trouble to
erow it, and it was awarded a first-class certificate.

The Garden of August 16, 1879, speaks thus in its report :—

“This fine hybrid Gladiolus, raised by M. Lemoine, of Nancy, is the
result of a cross between G. purpureo-auratus, a true species, and a
native of Natal, and G. gandavensis, which is itself a hybrid, and one of
those from which the many varieties grown in gardens have emanated,
having been raised some years ago between G. psittacinus and G.
cardinalis. Lemoine’s Gladiolus, which grows from 2 feet to 3 feet
high, partakes in a striking degree of the characters of both parents,
but it is said to have the more perennial character of G. purpureo-
auratus. It is of robust growth, with plaited foliage of a rich green
colour. Its flowers, which are about the size of ordinary garden
Gladioli, are arranged closely onthe spike, which is about one foot long.
The three upper segments, which are broad, are of a creamy-white
colour suffused with pink, and the lowermost one has a thick streak of
rich, deep, purplish crimson down the centre ; the other two are wholly
that colour except about half an inch at the tip, which is a bright yellow.
It is now in flower in the open border at Messrs. Veitch & Sons’ nursery,
at Chelsea, whence it was exhibited at the Royal Horticultural Society
on Tuesday last, and was deservedly awarded a first-class certificate.”’

The two new Gladioli were sent out in January 1880. Not
long afterwards M. Froebel, nurseryman at Zurich, offered under
the name of Gladiolus Froebeli a plant which resulted from the

LZ

556 URNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

same cross and bore a great resemblance to G. Marie Lemoine.
It would not appear that M. I’roebel continued his experiments in
this direction, and with the exception of one or two other sorts
which are found in his later catalogues, he seems to have relin-
quished his attempts to improve the purpuwreo-auratus hybrids.
I shall only mention the florists who have raised seedlings from
Lemoine’s Gladioli by crossing them with some sorts of Ganda-
vensis, and have obtained good varieties. Such are MM.
Deleuil, of Marseilles; Tréfoux, of Auxerre ; Torcy-Vannier, of
Melun; Souillard et Brunelet, of Fontainebleau; Haage &
Schmidt, of Erfurt; and Krelage, of Haarlem. As the varieties
which they sent out, and are now still sending out, were
originated long after ours, I only name them in justice to their
endeavours.

In reality we had taken a long stride in the way of obtaining
a new race of hardy Gladioli, and we had to go on. We were in
possession of but two varieties a little different from each other,
with elegant shades and blotches, but far behind the striking
colours peculiar to Gandavensis. Our object was plain and
evident : to impart to the new race the variety and brightness of
colour that were wanted ; to give them strong and upright spikes;
to increase the number and the size of the blooms; in short, to
infuse into them as many as possible of the good qualities of
Gandavensis which they did not yet possess, without depriving
them of their own vigour and hardiness, which they had just
acquired, and which, in our opinion, was so great a merit.

There was nothing else to do than to fertilise the new hybrids
with the finest Gandavensis sorts, and to discard mercilessly,
and in spite of their beauty, all the offspring that did not seem to
stand sufficiently against the winter frosts; and our experience
soon proved that the more the seedlings resembled G. Lemoinei
in shape, colour, and strong markings, and even in the smallness
of their bulbs, the more they retained their hardiness; while
those in which the characteristics of Gandavensis predominated
would not thrive well in our stiff soil, and gave no satis-
faction.

In the beginning of 1882 a set of five varieties (among which
was that named Lafayette), all raised and obtained by the above
means, was offered for sale, and met with favour at the hands of
amareurs. In the course of the same year these varieties, along

HARDY GLADIOLUS. bak

with some unnamed ones, which were to be offered in the follow-
ing autumn, were staged before the National Horticultural
Society of France, and were awarded a first-class premium.
From that date a large number of seedlings have been raised and
preserved, and though a large proportion of them after being
grown for one or two seasons have been cast away without being
sent out, the remainder, considered as good varieties, have
been successively offered to the trade at the rate of about ten
novelties every autumn. ‘To enumerate them would be super-
fluous.

Amateurs in every country soon recognised what an acquisi-
tion they had gained in these Hybrid Gladioli, and many spoke
most favourably of them, and I seize this opportunity to return
publicly my thanks to Mr. W. E. Gumbleton, of Queenstown,
who made it his business to try, and to study accurately, each
of our novelties as soon as sent out, and to publish every year
an impartial and sincere account, with the descriptions of the .
varieties, accompanied now and again with severe remarks on
some, and many a lover of plants thus received very valuable
information, and was able to benefit by Mr. Gumbleton’s well-
known experience.

There are now actually in cultivation about sixty varieties of
Lemoine’s Gladioli, among which I only think it necessary to
mention the most distinct and striking ones, those which ought
to find a place in every collection :—

White.—Mme. Lemoinier (1886), cream, with a long plum-
coloured blotch ; Venus de Milo (1888), white, with a blush shade
and a feathered spot on the lower segments, large flowers.

Salmon and Rose.—André Chénier (1884), pink, with a large
brown spot and yellow tips; La France (1884), salmon rose,
with long violet blotches ; Boussingault (1887), an improvement
on André Chénier.

Cream and Straw - colowred.—Uafayette (1882), cream,
spotted with maroon; Etoile (1885), salmon yellow, with blood-
red markings; HK. V. Hallock (1887), large straw-coloured blooms,
with brown spots; Amiral Krantz (1887), a beautiful improve-
ment on Lafayette.

Yellow.—Alsace (1884), pale sulphur yellow, a little spotted ;
Sceptre d’Or (1885), bright yellow, heavily blotched with brown ;
Louis van Houtte (1887), pale yellow, long dark blotches;

558 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Mirabeau (1887), dwarf and strong spike, erect flowers, sulphur-
yellow; and Pactole (1888), the deepest yellow, with black
spots.

Rosy and Carnmine.—W. 1K. Gumbleton (1883), a tall spike
of large round flowers, carmine, with violet spots; Voltaire
(1885), a fine rosy violet Hower with purple and yellow spots;
Beaurepaire (1889), very large flowers, bright rose, with purple
spots.

Salmon and Brick-colowred.—Lamartine (1885), Dugues-
clin (1888), Lamarck (1888), Ferdinand Bergman (1889), very
large flowers, carried on tall spikes of various shapes and
markings.

Red.—Masque-de-fer (1883), dull red flower, with two
entirely black lower segments, very peculiar appearance ; Bossuet
(1885), large blooms of a bright scarlet; Marquis de Saporta
(1886), cinnabar-red, with yellow and purple spots; Vésuve (1886),
velvety dark red; John Laing (1889), an enormous flower of
perfect shape and substance, vermilion, with purple spots.

Purple.— Gambetta (1884), a tall, erect spike, violet-purple ;
M. Lévéque (1888), a perfect shape, the darkest crimson.

Violet.—Emile Gallé (1887), large violet flowers with darker
spots.

As may be seen from the above descriptions, almost every
colour is to be found in the different varieties, which together
form a quite distinct and separate group, for they all have such
an evident appearance of consanguinity, which the variation in
their colours is unable to conceal, as to make a strong impression
on anyone who has the opportunity of seeing them exhibited
side by side with a collection of the Gandavensis group. In the
latter group one wonders at the soft shades and delicate hues,
the predominance of pink and rosy colours, the stately appear-
ance of their high, well-furnished spikes, and one moves back
some steps the better to see and to appreciate the general effect
of the whole exhibit. When looking at Lemoine’s Gladioli one
is struck with amazement at the contrast of colours; for here,
in almost every variety, let it be white or yellow, pink or red,
you will observe a very dark and striking blotch, surrounded
with a yellow space, which is the distinctive mark of the whole
race. ‘To be able to judge them you must come nearer and
look at the oddness of the markings in almost every individual

|

HARDY GLADIOLUS. 559

flower. You were admiring the Gandavensis at a distance; but
you will find the others all the finer as you gaze at them nearer
and for a longer time.

What is most astonishing to those who study the great im-
provements made with hardy hybrid Gladioli in so short a period
is the almost unlimited natural variation, which has allowed us
to obtain and to preserve by selection colours which were quite
unknown in the various kinds of Gladicli pxeviously in cultiva-
tion. We can easily understand that, starting from a species
with yellowish flowers, we should find in the offspring a strong
proportion of yellow shades ; but what is less easy to comprehend
is why these yellow tinges are far deeper and purer in the hybrids
than in either G. purpureo-auratus or any of the Gandavensis
hybrids, and that we also get bright scarlet and orange-coloured
blooms; and it is altogether out of our power to understand how
it is that we obtain plants with nearly blue flowers; nor can we
determine which of the two parents must be charged with the
paternity of such new colours as are unknown in the Ganda-
vensis group, and impossible to perceive in the small yellow:
purpureo-auratus. We are, therefore, inclined to believe that
hybridisation generally extends considerably the bounds of
natural variation, and produces in the offspring shapes, sizes, and
colours which were quite unknown in either of the original
parents, and which would never have appeared had not the
mixiure of two different types disturbed and greatly diminished
the heredity of both types. This theory will appear even more
probable if we study the transformations imparted to the hardy
race of Gladiolus through the influence of the new species
Gladiolus Saundersii.

Gladiclus Saundersi * was sent to Mr. Wilson Saunders, of
Worthing, by Mr. Thomas Cooper, a collector of plants in
Natal. It flowered for the first time at Kew, and a coloured
plate of it was published in The Garden of July 27, 1877,
from a plant which had been in flower the year before in
Messrs. E. G. Hendersen & Son’s nurseries. It is a rather
dwarf species, the spikes not being more than 2 feet high. The
short leaves are of a pale, glaucous green, and the slender foot-

* G. Saundersii was first described by Sir J. D. Hooker in the Botanical
Magazine in 1870, sub. t. 5873. The drawing was made by Mr. Wilson
Saunders from a plant flowered in his garden at Reigate.—Ep.

560 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOUIETY.

stalks bear a few flowers, which would be large-sized were the
seements fully expanded imstead of being reflexed. As in
G. purpureo-auratus, the flowers are arched at a short distance
from their insertion, and, unfortunately, bent towards the ground.
The colour is a pale scarlet, while the throat and the three lower
segments are profusely covered with white and pink dots. This
plant rarely produces fine specimens in our country, although it
is quite hardy without any shelter; and everybody knows that
winters in the north-east of France are peculiarly severe.

Amateurs were not long in appreciating the interest of cross-
ing G. Saundersit with the beautiful garden hybrids, and the
first such attempt appears to have been made by M. Max Leichilin,
of Baden-Baden. This amateur nurseryman published in 1882
the results he had obtained by crossing some varieties of Ganda-
vensis with the new species. Its influence was made manifest
by a considerable increase in the size of the blooms. M.
Leichthn spoke of some of his hybrids measuring as much as
4 inches across, and even more, and producing a large variety
of shades.

Apparently Max Leichtlin did not make so much of his dis-
covery as one might haye supposed he would have done; his
collection was scarcely distributed in the trade. I was told he
had offered the whole set of his novelties to the chief raisers of
Gladioli in Kneland, and finally sold this stock to American
nurserymen. However, some years later, M. Godefroy-Lebeuf,
of Argenteuil, offered for sale some specimens of Max Leichtlin’s
hybrids in unnamed sorts. We secured some of these varieties
from M. Godefroy-Lebeuf, as well as another that Max Leichtlin
was kind enough to send us, for we were anxious to compare
them with the hybrids that we had just raised ourselves by
crossing our hardy spotted Gladioh with G. Siundersi. We
ascertained that Max Leichtln’s were generally vigorous plants,
carrying tall and strong spikes with large flowers, and would
reward anyone who would try to improve them, both in colour
and substance.

In the course of the summer of 1883 we made our first ex-
periments in crossing G. Saundersii in M. Victor Lemoime’s
earden at Nancy. ‘To secure the success of the operation this
species was grown under various conditions, some of the subjects
of the experiment haying been planted in the open ground and

HARDY GLADIOLUS. 561

some in pots, of these last some being left out of doors and
some cultivated in a greenhouse. And whereas Max Leichtlin
had used for his hybridisations some Gandavensis varieties, we
were careful to employ in our experiments only the most
characteristic of Lemoine’s blotched hybrids.

While the pistils of G. Sawndersii were being impregnated
with the pollen of the above, the reverse cross was also tried,
and many spotted sorts were fertilised with G. Saundersiz
acting as male parent. It is known that Saunders’ Gladiolus
seldom yields fertile seeds; and in a large quantity of developed
ovaries we found only four seeds, which, however, came up and
flowered in 1885, and out of which were chosen the two beautiful
sorts named afterwards President Carnot and Maurice de Vil-
morin, both so remarkable for their great size and the strange
appearance of their dotted spots. The seeds which resulted from
the reverse hybridisation came up in much larger number, and
produced many fine sorts, none of which, however, offered so
wonderful an opulence of colour, nor such characteristic shapes.

Thus originated the new hardy race of Gladiolus nanceianus,
to which further fertilisations imparted a great variety of colours
and good-sized spikes, as well as still more prominently dotted
blotches, which are quite a peculiar feature of this group. Nine
of these hybrids were offered for sale in 1889; and a larger
number, quite as beautiful and still more distinct, have been
kept in store, waiting for names. Many amateurs were able
to acquaint themselves with them at the Paris Exhibition of
1889, and at last year’s meetings of the Royal Horticultural
Society of Great Britain, where Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons had
the kindness to stage the blooms of a few varieties, which were
awarded certificates. To give an idea of the characters of the
whole group, it will be enough to describe the variety President
Carnot, which may be considered as the typical form of the
series, aS the other sorts, while different in colour, are very
similar in shape. President Carnot is a plant of great vigour,
with dark green leaves and spikes 6 feet high, carrying large-
sized flowers. It is not unusual to find flowers measuring more
than 7 inches across, between the tips of the two lateral
segments of the corolla, which are developed in the form of two
large triangular, fully expanded wings. The upper segment is
quite upright and very long, and the three lower petals, of

562 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

rounded shape, still further embellish with their pleasing dis-
position the perfect symmetry of the flower. The general colour
is a soft cherry-red, more or less striped with carmine on the
edges; the lower segments are covered with a purple-scarlet
blotch, surrounded, as it were, with a profusion of small drops
of blood on a white ground, and numerous white dots on a rosy
eround. The flowers are quite open, and look you straight in
the face.

Among the other varieties we may mention P. Duchartre, a
dwarf plant, carrying enormous copper-red flowers, the lower
segments being completely covered with dark maroon dots;
Comte Horace de Choiseul, orange-red, with purple and yellow
markings; M. Hardy, crimson or very dark carmine, with
purple blotches and yellow dots ; Maurice de Vilmorin, a singular
flower, where every sort of shade is to be found in a mixture,
slate-coloured blue with a violet hue, the blotches pointed with
purple, blood-red, and yellow—an advance towards the blue.

A single glance at the flowers of G. nanceranus makes one
wonder to see how much they differ from the species from which
they originated. Gladiolus Saundersii is a dwarf plant with
weak stems and hooded blooms, humbly bent towards the
eround. Gladiolus nanceianus possesses strong, upright spikes
and fully expanded flowers, boldly looking upwards. Saunders’
species is of a pale vermilion colour; the Nancy Gladioli are
bright-coloured flowers, in which red, crimson, carmine, and
even bluish shades are met with, and it impossible to say to what
extent this variation of the colour may not be pursued.

M. Froebel, of Zurich, offered for sale last year, under the
name of Gladiolus turicensis, a variety raised from a cross
between Gladiolus Saundersu var. superba and G. ganda-
vensis. From the description which was published of it last
autumn in an English horticultural paper it must be a fine,
vigorous plant. Although we applied to M. Froebel, praying him
to send us a bulb of his novelty, we received nothing, and are
therefore not able to describe it as it probably deserves.

Some words, in conclusion, about the cultivation of Gladioli.
I shall net speak of the manner of growing and forcing early
varieties, in pots or frames, which the Guernsey and Jersey
specialists are managing so well; nor of that of the Gandavensis

hybrids, which is, I imagine, perfectly well known here ; and ~

HARDY GLADIOLUS. 568

growing the new hardy Gladioli is so easy that it will not take
long to explain.

Under the denomination of hardy hybrid Gladioli fall the
varieties both of G. Lemoinei and of G. nanceianus, as both
equally withstand our severe winters. They must be planted in
exactly the same way as the Ghent Gladioli, and successively in
March, April, and May. If you take care to plant first the
earliest varieties, such as Mme. Lemoinier, Vésuve, Mlle.
Thérése Lambert, A. Thiers, Lamarck, Ferdinand Bergman,
P. Duchartre, &c., you will be able to get the first flowering
spikes before July 15, and the bulbs will continue to bloom in
rotation until frost comes. In general, the hardy hybrids are
earlier than Gandavensis: they admirably fill the gap between
the early-flowering and the Gandavensis section.

In such countries as England, where winters are rather wet
than cold, most classes of Gladioli sufficiently withstand the
frosts. It is not the same with us, in the east of France, and it
is for hardy Gladioli a most invaluable quality to be able tc
stand against all frost in the open ground, sheltered with only
one or two inches of straw or leaves. However light it may be,
this shelter is always sufficient, and bulbs preserved in this way
start again readily in the ensuing spring, and give as beautiful
spikes as the year before. This hardiness is not of great moment
to amateurs who are in the habit of lifting their Gladiolus bulbs
every year; it is the same with the trade growers, who need to
keep the bulbs in their warehouses ready for sale and shipment ;
and in any case it is good to lift the bulbs every two or three
years, in order to divide the clumps and to replant the bulblets.

But these hardy Gladioli possess a quality which is, in my
opinion, of far greater importance. They are able to shoot up
vigorously, to send forth strong spikes, to enlarge their bulbs, and
to increase themselves by means of bulblets, in every kind of
soil, either wet: or dry, either of stiff clay or of light sand. I
do not know whether, in the climate of England, the growing of
ordinary garden Gladiol is lable to any failure; but I am per-
fectly aware that there are in our country many places quite
unfit for their cultivation ; the soil of our nursery at Nancy, a
stiff clay ground, may be taken as an instance of it. Imported
bulbs of Gandavensis thrive well and yield good spikes the first
year; in the following season the leaves grow yellowish and the

564 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

flowers inferior in colour, size, and substance, and the bulbs are
smaller ; the third or fourth year they are nearly lost; whereas
in the most varied situations in our soil these hardy hybrid
Gladioli have always succeeded equally well, let the season have
been dry or wet, hot or cold. The fine sorts of Gandavensis may
be preferred by some, but to every true lover of the Gladioli
whom an unfavourable soil or climate forbids to grow them I
shall say, try the hardy Gladioh, and they, at least, will not
disappoint you.

THE GLADIOLUS.

By Mr. J. Kenway, F.R.H.S.
[Read September 9, 1890.]

Mr. CHAIRMAN, Ladies, and Gentlemen,—You have paid me a
ereat compliment in asking me, through your secretary, Mr.
Wilks, to tell you, and through you the world at large, what I
know concerning the propagation and cultivation of the Gladiolus.

In attempting to comply with his request, which I do with
the greatest pleasure, I shall confine my remarks solely to that
portion of the genus commonly known as Gandavensis.

I have cultivated the Gladiolus for sixty years, from the time
that G. psittacinus was first introduced into this country. I have
had great success, and some failures. I have grown a large
number of the species that have been introduced into this
country and nearly all the hybrids that have been put into com-
merce. All are of great beauty and very interesting to lovers of
flowers ; but I came to the conclusion many years ago that, as a
decorative plant, none could compare for grandeur, grace, and
beauty with the Gandavensis hybrids. This was what induced
me to take it in hand as I have done. In no garden, however
small, can they be out of place, and few subjects are better
adapted for arrangement in vases in the house, on the exhibition
table, or for general decoration. It is also the most enduring
flower we have in general use, for a spike cut when a few pips
only are open and placed in water will last for at least a fort-
night. You all know the Gladiolus of which I speak, the one
most generally grown far and wide throughout the British Isles,

THE GLADIOLUS. 565

all of whose varieties look you so boldly in the face as you pass,
conspicuous objects as they are in every border by reason of their
size of flower and delicacy of tint. They are descendants of the
Parrot Gladiolus—G. psittacinus—-a species imported from South
Africa in 1880. There can be no doubt that G. gandavensis was a
variety raised by Dean Herbert from G. psittacinus.* He grew
this production of his, but failed to bloom it. Herbert sent it
to Van Houtte, who tried to flower it at Ghent, but failed also,
and sent it to the Cape, where it first flowered. It was sent
back to Van Houtte, who named it, after Ghent, G. gandavensis,
propagated it, and put it into commerce. We are indebted to
the late M. Souchet, who was gardener to the French Court, for
the first hybrids of this section. I visited him at Fontainebleau
in the year 1874, when he told me that he commenced crossing
G. cardinalis, G. blandus, and others in 1834. With pollen from
the hybrids he thus obtained he impregnated G. gandavensis and
produced numerous seedlings, some of which flowered in 1845.
The first of these hybrids which he put into commerce he named
M. Blouet.

It was in the year 1857 that I first obtained through M.
Souchet’s agent in Paris all the best varieties of his raising
which were then in commerce, and in the following year I
obtained from these a tolerable quantity of seed. In order to
accomplish this I found it necessary with many of the choicer
kinds to use artificial means in impregnating the flowers, as
many will not produce seed without it, and we have no insect in
this country so formed as to be able to take this task upon itself.
It may be done in two ways: either by cutting out the stamens
when the pollen is ripe, and applying them to the pistils of the
flower from which one wishes to obtain seed, or by means of an
erdinary paint brush of small size.

To illustrate the necessity for using artificial means I shall
select a strong spike, say of Lassia, one of the best of the scarlets,
and as soon as the first flowers are expanded take the pollen from
another good variety, as, for instance, the pure white Mrs. Dobree,
and commence operating upon the expanded blooms upon the
right-hand side of the spike. I shall proceed daily as the flowers
open until the whole of those upon the right have been done,
labelling every bloom with the date and the state of the weather

* On the origin of G. gandavensis, see note, p. 574.

566 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY,

each day. The result willbe that the flowers which were operated
upon on hot, bright days form seed. Whereas those on the left
side, which were not fertilised, as well as those on the right side,
which were impregnated upon dull or wet days, form no perfect
seed. Care should be taken that all spikes operated upon be
tied securely to stakes and marked with labels. When I first
commenced saving seed I naturally concluded that the colours
of the flowers of seedlings would be similar to the colours
belonging to the parents; but by experience I found that seed
saved from Norma, a pure white variety, produced all the other
colours found in the Gandavensis tribe except white. I there-
fore gave up recording the parents of seedlings as useless. The
best time to select for crossing one Gladiolus with another I
find to be about ten o'clock in the morning upon a dry day. It is
important to select for the purpose varieties of high quality, such
as Shakespeare, Lassia, Marcianus, and Duchess of Edinburgh,
which possess strong constitutions, with the individual blooms
of large size, good shape and substance, with colours bright
and well defined. The spike should be strong and boldly
erect, carrying not less than eight to ten blooms out
at one time, and bearing these blooms naturally, well to the
front and regularly placed. The seed should be gathered as
soon as the pods begin to burst—spread in an airy loft, and, when
dry, threshed and stored in a dry place until the first week in
April, which is the best time to commence sowing, which
should be carried out as follows: Select an open situation and
have the ground well dug over in the autumn, that it may have
the benefit of the frost. Karly in the month of March it must
be raked over and made as fine as possible.

The most convenient way in which to mark out the ground
previcus to sowing is in 4-feet beds with 2-feet paths between.
Drills should be made about 6 inches apart, and half an inch in
depth. After these drills are made I press the soil with a piece
of wood 4 feet long and 2 inches thick, and of a triangular
shape, with a handle attached at either end: this ensures an equal
depth of soil throughout. When the seed is sown it should be
covered with a mixture of fine sifted soil and sand in equal parts
No other care is required but in keeping the beds free from weeds
and in seeing that in dry weather they obtain an occasional
watering.

THE GLADIOLUS. 567

In order to raise stock from spawn or bulblets, which are
formed at the base of the corms, they should be carefully cleaned
off and stored in a dry place until April, when they should be
sown in the open ground in drills in every way as is done with
the seed, except that they will require to be covered at least
2 inches deep. These small corms should be taken up about the
first week in September, before the foliage dies down, and, after
being washed quite free from earth, should be diied off and spread
in shallow trays until planting time.

I had an experiment some fifteen years ago with sorts that
are shy in producing spawn, when I tried the method of making
stock which finds favour with some—that of division of the corm.
About 80 per cent. grew and did fairly well, the remainder
entirely perished, so that the stock was not much increased, and
certainly much weaker on account of the division, which is very
natural, as we divide the strength which the bulbs had stored up
the previous year. For exhibition spikes it is certainly detri-
mental. It seems absurd to the practical cultivator to give many
trivial details on the cultivation of these plants which may prove
of the greatest moment to the beginner.

CULTURE FOR EXHIBITION.

I have grown the Gladiolus in every kind of soil, and
have used nearly every kind of manure. I have planted in the
autumn and in every month from January until June.

But the first consideration in successfully cultivating this
bulb is, without doubt, the preparation of the soil, for, however
naturally good the land may be, or whatever time the bulbs are
planted, unless the soil is brought into a good tilth all will end
in disappointment. It is a remarkable fact that I, at Langport,
lack the very soil which is usually recommended—namely, black
sandy loam, such as I well remember seeing My. Standish
cultivating his Gladioli in at Ascot. If the soil isa stiff loam
on clay it should be drained; but if on the chalk or gravel this
is not necessary.

In September, or early in October, when the land is in a dry
state, lay on a liberal quantity of stable or cow manure ; spread
the manure and dig deeply with a fork in order to mix it well with
the soil. Then allow the land to lie rough until the latter part of

568 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

February or the beginning of March, until it is once more so dry
as not to clog the feet when walking over it. It should then be
hacked over at least 6 inches deep with a potato-hoe; when
this is done drill out the whole piece in drills 18 inches
apart and 3 inches deep, and mark it out, by means of lines
across and at right angles to the drills, into beds of 4 feet
wide and with paths 2 feet in width.

Commence planting by placing a corm against each line
and filling up the space with two, three, or four corms according
to their size. If the corms are very large, four in a row will be found
quite sufficient. When one bed is finished, cover in neatly with
a rake, remove the lines, and proceed to the next.

Planting thus in beds is preferable, as it affords the cultivator
facilities for examining and tending individual spikes without
danger to the rest.

In this way continue planting, at intervals of a fortnight,
from the end of February until the 20th of May, and you will
extend the succession of bloom from the commencement to the
end of the season, which is usually the end of November, unless
the flowers are previously destroyed by frost.

The plants will require no attention until they commence to
show signs of blooming, except in keeping them quite free from
weeds. When signs of blooming are apparent stimulants may be
advantageously applied. I have for the last twenty years used a
preparation of my own, which I dissolve in water and apply about
once a week according to the state of the weather. Stakes will
now be necessary for any spikes specially required for exhibition,
and these when fixed in the ground should not reach higher than
the lowest bloom, as when a taller stake is used the flowers are
liable to be injured by friction against it. Mulching is also now
necessary—in the first place to keep down the weeds and secondly
to keep the ground moist. I formerly used rotten manure for this
double purpose, but find that straw-chaff is quite as efficacious,
and it is much nicer and cleaner to walk upon when tying or
cutting the spikes.

If the weather should prove very dry during the season, a
liberal supply of water should be given, but some judgment is
required, particularly where the soil is of a clayey nature, as it
often happens that heavy watering or much rain followed by low
temperature causes the fibrous roots to perish, resulting in a

THE GLADIOLUS. 569

sickly yellow tint amongst the leaves—an undesirable result,
erroneously called by many of the uninitiated a disease.

The time of lifting the corms should be carefully attended to,
as it is a point of great importance in preventing their decay. No
harm will arise from early lifting, even if it is done as soon as
the spikes of bloom are cut; but, on the other hand, if the
Gladiolus be left in the ground after signs of its decay are
apparent, by the foliage turning yellow, then the corms of the
most delicate sorts will gradually perish.

The various causes of this premature decay are low tempera-
ture, undrained land, heavy soil, and too much moisture.

From this decay proceeds the greater part of our losses, and
the skill of the cultivator is taxed greatly to devise the best
way of combating the sudden and extreme changes of weather
which we experience in our uncertain climate. A great deal has
been written upon the disease and degeneration of the Gladiolus
in this country, and, from my long experience in its cultivation,
no doubt it will be expected that I should make some allusion
to it.

All sorts of conflicting opinions have been expressed regard-
ing it, some having described it as so bad as to threaten its utter
extinction. I will just state what two of our greatest amateur
erowers have written. One says: ‘‘In a large collection there
are always a number of plants of which the stalks die off pre-
maturely ; the best way is to pull them up and tie them in
bundles to burn. Some growers consider this a disease, but it is
probably nothing but degeneration, as no trace of disease is
apparent in the corms.” The other says: “I grew a root of
Céliméne, which I imported from France. The corm threw up
two shoots and formed two new corms, both of which are fear-
fully diseased. This being an imported bulb, it is not owing to
its cultivation in England. I have observed the same premature
dying off in a seedling bed, when degeneration cannot be laid to
its charge.’’ §So that one of these gentlemen says that the cause
of failure is probably degeneration, and the other disease, and
adds: ‘‘I have no remedy to propound. I consider it analogous
to the potato disease; it is not fungus, though fungus comes
afterwards, and it is contagious.”’

Similar results occur with many of our hardy plants, and I
have no doubt that nearly everyone present has noticed in pass-

M

570 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ing through agricultural districts the yellow sickly appearance of
our fields of wheat in the months of March and April; but no
one would think of banishing the cultivation of wheat from this
country through an occasional failure.

- I do not believe that any disease or degeneration exists in the
Gladiolus, but that the spots found upon the corms are simply
the result of the cold and wet destroying the fibrous roots, which
naturally deprives the plant of nourishment and impairs its
vitality, so that it commences to decay.

Following upon this weakness and decay comes the fungus,
which preys upon the corm, and which has been quoted by so
many as the primary cause of the languor instead of the result
of impaired vitality. !

If the plant be taken up as soon as this languor is visible,
upon examining the fibrous roots the first signs of decay will be
found in them, which proves that the decay does not originate,
as many suppose, in the foliage (as in the hollyhock) or in the
corm (as in the potato tuber), there being no sign of it in either.
But if these corms be not instantly removed from the soil and
gradually dried off, they too will become affected and gradually
perish. It is often found that those lifted late one year will,
during the next, be affected by decay, which, no doubt, was
generated the year before whilst in the ground.

The parents of these hybrids, as is well known, were natives
of a much hotter cliimate—that of South Africa—and we must
therefore expect that our climate will, especially in some seasons
more than in others, be prejudicial to many of the most delicate
kinds.

Therefore, when this sickness is visible, I strongly reeommend
early lifting as a preventative of actual loss—as life will thus
be secured to the bulbs—but, when taken up, they must be
immediately spread in the shade and gradually dried off.

But I do not recommend this course being adopted except in
these cases of premature decay. Practical knowledge must be
used in carrying out every detail, as in the cultivation of all
plants. No man can be a successful cultivator from books alone
for there are peculiarities of which the grower alone knows, and
which he can know only by experience. There is always a
stumbling-block in the way of the unsuccessful : the soil is too
heavy or too light, the water is too hard, we are on the clay or

THE GLADIOLUS. 571

the gravel, and so forth; but these are simply excuses for their
want of success, for the Gladiolus, properly treated, can be grown
to perfection in this country.

EXHIBITION.

I believe that the subject of these remarks is generally
acknowledged to be pre-eminent upon the exhibition table during
the autumn months, on account of its grandeur and brilliancy of
colouring.

Although its season of flowering is rather long, August
25 is about the date in the south of England when we can
generally cut the finest stand of blooms. The method usually
adopted for setting up the spikes, and which I now use, is one
which I invented and first used at one of the Society's meetings
in 1868. Various kinds of foliage have been called into requisi-
tion as a background, but there is no doubt but that the natural
foliage of the plant suits this flower better than any other, and
no other is so effective in throwing up the brilliancy of the
flowers.

The best time to cut the spikes intended for exhibition ig
about five o’clock in the morning ; at this time only can the flowers
be seen in the freshness of their beauty, the dew hanging on
them like pearls.

We are obliged to cut upon the day previous to the show, and
after being cut they are taken to the cut-flower room and arranged
in water in the show-cases ready for exhibition. Despatched by
the night train they arrive quite fresh for the next day’s show.

When at Fontainebleau in 1874 I had a conversation with
M. Souchet, and also with M. Vilmorin, of Paris, upon what
they considered perfection. It seems that the French raisers
prefer the spike to be long, the flowers evenly disposed, and
standing quite independently of one another, so that you may
see between them. They consider our spikes heavy and lumpish,
theirs light and elegant.

I shall now describe what I consider a perfect plant—one of
robust habit, strong constitution, and tall growth, the spike long,
and carrying not less than eight or ten blooms at one time, the
foliage broad, the flowers so disposed as to come naturally to the

fore, and to just touch one another, and so to completely hide
M 2

572 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

the stem. The individual blooms should be four to five inches
across, the petals broad, and of good substance and endurance,
not inclined to curl at the edges; the ground-colour pure, but if
containing two or more tints the flakes should be of a deeper
shade, and the lines in the centre of the petals should be clearly
defined.

Por CULTURE.

The Gandavensis Gladioli are not good subjects for culture
in pots. But if it be desired to have them late for decorating the
conservatory, they may be grown with tolerably good effect. The
corms should be potted singly, in 6-inch pots, about the end of
May, using a rich compost of good yellow loam, old hot-bed
manure, and silver sand. They should then be plunged in a bed
of very rich soil, placing the rims of the pots about two inches
beneath the surface. In dry weather they will require to be
kept tolerably moist with frequent waterings. As soon as frost
commences the pots should be lifted and placed in a cold green-
house or vinery, and brought into the conservatory as soon as
the first buds begin to open.

FIELD CULTURE.

I have proved that the Gladiolus can be grown satisfactorily
in the open fields, by horse cultivation, in almost any soil or
situation. I growthem at Langport tothe extent of twenty-five
acres. The land is double-ploughed or sub-soiled twelve inches
deep, in September or October, dry weather being chosen (it should
never be done when the ground is in a wet state), and about
100 tons of manure per acre are then carted out upon it. I am
not particular as to the kind of manure, but buy all Icanin the
neighbourhood—horse, cow, or pig manure are all equally good
for the purpose. This is spread over the newly ploughed land
and thoroughly worked in with heavy harrows, so as to mix it well
with the soil. The latter is allowed to remain in this state until
March, or until the land is in a fit state for horses to work it ; it
is then again harrowed and made as fine as possible, and struck
out into drills fifteen inches apart and three inches deep, with a
turn-furrow plough.

When the land is thus made ready for planting the latter is
begun, if the weather be dry and fine: this date is, upon the
average, March 10. I plant the corms about six inches apart in

THE GLADIOLUS. 578

the drills, covering in with a hoe. As Iremarked when speaking
of growing for exhibition, nothing more is required until the
blooms commence to show, except frequent hoeing to keep the
weeds down; but for water we have to look to the clouds, and
they are not usually backward in supplying us.

As soon as blooming commences the rows are gone over daily
in order to correct any mistakes in sorts that may have occurred.
This “‘ rogueing ”’ is also carried out before planting, for by taking
off the outer skin we can tell by the colour of the corm under-
neath whether it is true to its kind. The men employed in this
become very expert in correctly separating the true variety from
the “rogue.”’ Every spike, except those specially selected for seed-
bearing, iscut. This is done for two reasons : for the sale of the
blooms, which is extremely large; and also to prevent exhaustion
in thecorms. Of course, the quantity of spikescut from twenty-five
acres of Gladioli is enormous, averaging 15,000 weekly ; they
are sent to every part of the country, and give constant employ-
ment throughout the season to ten or fifteen hands in cutting and
packing.

It is about the first week in September that I commence to
take up and store. All Gladioli should be lifted before the foliage
has died down, for if they be taken up as soon as the leaves turn
yellow they retain more vitality than if allowed to remain in the
ground until late in the season.

After lifting the smaller corms or bulblets, to which I referred
in the first part of my article, and which we always plant and
lift before the larger, we do the same with the latter, commencing
with those which were planted early in the season, as they
naturally ripen off before those planted late. In doing this we
are careful to take first those that show most signs of ripeness,
never allowing any to really die down, as the best bulbs are
always found to be those which were lifted early, even though
the leaves were still green, and, besides this, these bulbs will
vegetate more freely than those taken up after the foliage has
died down.

The majority of corms left in the ground until very late
invariably show some signs of decay, but if a contrary treatment
be pursued they will probably be found quite sound, with a
perfect outer covering and devoid of spot upon the inside. It is
of very great importance to see that all corms, as soon as taken

574 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

up from the ground, be spread in some airy shed, or in the open
gir when fine, and thoroughly dried off before being stored away.

Before closing my remarks I shall give the names of twelve of
the best English-raised sorts; the colours and descriptions are
set forth in the published catalogues. Several of these will be
found in my exhibits here to-day :—Appianus, Caliphon, Duchess

of Edinburgh, Lady Carrington, Lassia, Marcianus, Mrs. Dobree,

Mrs. J. Eyton, Rev. H. D’Ombrain, Prince Henry, Shirley
Hibberd, Sir Trevor Lawrence.

And now, Mr. Chairman, Ladies, and Gentlemen, it is time
that my remarks came to an end, and I can only hope that what
I have said may induce many more amateurs to take up the
cultivation of these plants as a speciality, and if they succeed in
growing and exhibiting varieties of extra quality, they will, I
feel sure, be amply rewarded for the slight trouble it has cust
them; for, although difficulties and disappointments will occur in
the culture of every flower, yet by patience and perseverance
these defects can be overcome, and will prove nothing in
comparison with the pleasure afforded to all ardent admirers of
flowers.

ON THE ORIGIN OF GLADIOLUS GANDAVENSIS.

A QUESTION having been raised as to the origin and parentage
of G. gandavensis, it may be well to reprint the two following
extracts :—

Flore des Serres et des Jardins de lHurope, rédigée par
Louis van Houtte, mars 1846, 8¢ liv. pl. 1. “ Gladiolus gan-
davensis.— ... L’histoire d’une telle merveille ne laisse pas, en
présence d’une telle splendeur, que d’étre curieuse a connaitre.
Cette plante est née dans les jardins de Monseigneur le duc
d’Aremberg, jardins si renommés en Europe pour les richesses
vegétales qu’ils renferment, d’une fécondation hybride opérée entre
le Gladiolus cardinalis et natalensis (psittacinus), et chose
remarquable, elle dépasse de beaucoup ses parens en hauteur.
M. van Houtte...n’eut pas plutot connaissance de ce glaieul,
que le jugeant

... multo dignandus honore (Horace),
qu’enthousiaste de tout ce qui est vraiment beau en fait de plantes,
... amor urget habendi (Virgil),

THE GLADIOLUS. | 575

et bientot une grande partie de l’édition est sa propriété. C’est
done a lui qu’on en doit la dispersion’ &e.
“Cu. LEMAIRE.”

Dean Herbert, writing in the Journal of our own Royal
Horticultural Society in the year 1847, vol. 11. page 89, says :—
“The showy G. natalensis (called also psittaconus) of the Natal
country, which endures more frost than any of the southern
Gladioli, though it suffers much from July rains in many positions,
has been freely crossed by myself, by Mr. Belfield, by Mr.
Bidwill, and by cultivatorson the Continent, with G.oppositiflorus,
a Madagascar plant, found, perhaps, also in Kaffraria, and often
improperly called in shops floribundus—an old name for a very
different plant. The cross named G. Gandavi (for the adjective
name Gandavensis to a garden cross is very objectionable) has
been figured in the beautiful Ghent periodical work of M. van
Houtte. It is there stated most erroneously to have been raised
between G. natalensis and cardinalis. It flowered in Ghent for
the first time in Europe, the soil and climate being more con-
genial to Gladioli there than at Spofforth and in the west of
England, but some of the seedlings raised in Devonshire and
taken to Sydney had flowered earlier.”’

To these two extracts Mr, J. G. Baker, F.R.S., says :—‘ All
that I can add is, that you find nme-tenths of G. gandavensis and
brenchleyensis ready to your hand in G. psittacinus (natalensis),
and I think the other tenth is much more likely to have come out
of G. cardinals than out of G. oppositiflorus. It is not unlikely
that the white varieties of G. gandavensis may be hybrids between
G. psittacinus and oppositiflorus. Since 1847 G. opposiivfiorus
has been refound in Kaffraria, not in Madagascar, and I expect
Madagascar was a mistake.

“J. G. BAKER.

“Kew, Oct. 16, 1890.”

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Perey ee

EXTRACTS FROM THE PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

GENERAL MERTING.

JANUARY 14; 1890.
JamES Dovatas, Esq., F.R.H.S., in the Chair.

ELECTIONS.

Fellows, 46.—Rev. A. B. Alexander, J. Ednie Brown, F.L.8.,
Thomas Robert Butler, D. Campbell-Brown, T. H. E. Compton,
John Cooper, junr., De Barri Crawshay, Mrs. M. Crossfield,
Mrs. C. Curwood, Alexander Dean, 8. H. Dean, James Taylor
Diamond, John T. Gabriel, Rev. G. E. Gardiner, F. T. Good,
Mrs. Grinling, Mrs. M. Grove, Everard Alex. Hambro, John
Henderson, W. H. Hudson, Charles Jeffries, F. W. Justen,
Herbert Howard Keeling, Henry J. Kershaw, John Laing, W. B.
Latham, Thomas Laxton, Miss Agnes Mellish, Arnold Moss,
Richard R. B. Orlebar, Wiliam Owen, Rey. F. Page-Roberts,
W. W. Palmer, Charles Pennell, Frederick A. Philbrick, Q.C.,
F. W. Prior, Hugh Pye, Joseph Rawlings, W. M. Rose, Miss
Rotch, George Steel, Arthur J. Veitch, J. C. Wakefield, Henry
Wallis, A. C. Wheeler, the Viscountess Wolseley.

Associate.—John Slack.

A paper was read :—‘‘On a Method of Winter Gardening,”
by the Rev. W. Wilks, M.A. (Sec. R.H.§8.), Vicar of Shirley.

FLORAL COMMITTEE.

Dr. Masters, F.R.S., in the Chair, and seventeen members
present.
Awards Recommended :—

Silver Banksian Medal.
To Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, Royal Exotic Nursery,
N

li PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Chelsea, for a beautiful and interesting collection of cut Pitcher-
plants (Nepenthes), consisting of 45 species and hybrids.
Bronze Banksian Medal.

To Mr. H. B. May, Dyson’s Lane Nurseries, Upper Edmon-
ton, for a large and effectively arranged group of well-grown
Ferns.

Awards of Merit.

To Pteris serrulata gloriosa (votes, unanimous), from Mr.
H. B. May; a very fine ‘‘ crested” form, of good habit.

To Primula sinensis Eynsford Pink (votes, unanimous),
from Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley ; a rosy-pink flower of
good shape.

To Primula sinensis Her Majesty (votes, 9 for, 1 against),
from Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons; a large pure white flower with
a greenish-yellow eye.

To Primula sinensis Eynsford Red (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons; bright shaded crimson flower.

Other Exhibits.

Messrs. Paul & Son, the Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, sent
Spirea astilboides in flower, to show its value as a winter-forcing
plant.

Messrs. Walshaw & Son, nurserymen, Scarborough, sent cut
flowers of a dwarf variety of Richardia ethiopica. The Com-
mittee expressed a desire to see a plant in bloom.

His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, Chatsworth (gardener,
Mr. O. Thomas), sent Hippeastrum (Amaryllis) aulicum, var.
‘Prince Albert,” a bright scarlet-flowered variety.

Messrs. Barr & Son, Covent Garden, sent Galanthus Elwesii,
Crocuses in variety, and Narcissus minor.

ORCHID COMMITTEE.

Sir Trevor LAwreEnce, Bart., M.P. (President R.H.8.), in the
Chair, and fourteen members present.
Awards Recommended :—
First Class Certificate.
To Dendrobium xanthocentrum x (votes, 10 for, 8against), from
Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P. (gardener, Mr. White). A hybrid
of D. Findlayanum, with flowers of the same form as in that

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. lll

species, and much resembling D. melanodiscus x, but not ex-
hibiting the heavy brown blotches at the base of the labellum,
which is almost wholly orange colour, and with but two small
dark-brown marks on each side of the lip beneath the column.

To Dendrobium Juno x (votes, unanimous), from Sir Trevor
Lawrence, Bart., M.P. (gardener, Mr. White). This fine hybrid
is the result of a cross between D. Wardianum and D. Lina-
wianum (moniliforme). Its flowers much resemble those of
D. nobile nobilius, but the labellum has much of the form of
D. Wardianum, and with the dark blotch on the orange-coloured
base of the labellum as in D. Wardianum.

To Dendrobium Luna x (votes, 11 for, 2 against), from Sir
Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P. (gardener, Mr. White). A hybrid
between D. Findlayanum and D. Ainsworthii x. Its features
may be recalled by likening it to a nearly white D. Findlayanum,
the only colour in it being a pale pink flush over the tips of the
segments, and a sulphur yellow base to the labellum.

To Dendrobium Macfarlanei (votes, unanimous), from Messrs.
James Veitch & Sons, Royal Exotic Nurseries, Chelsea. This isan
extraordinary and beautiful introduction from Torres Straits.
The plant resembles a slender D. suavissimum, and its flowers
are borne on upright spikes, often a dozen on a spike. The
flowers, which are snow-white with the exception of a few violet
marks on the side lobes of the labellum, are between three and
four inches across, and resemble in general appearance a white
Lelia anceps. The small plant which Messrs. Veitch exhibited
had two flowers.

To Lelia anceps Schréderiana (votes, unanimous), from Baron
Schréder, The Dell, Staines (gardener, Mr. H. Ballantine). The
exhibition of the true form of this fine white Lelia anceps
definitely settles the oft-discussed question as to its relation to
L. a. Stella, which appears in some gardens under the name
‘“‘ Schréderiana.’’ As exhibited in Baron Schréder’s plant, the
front lobe of the labellum appeared flat, wavy at the edge, not
deflected at the tip, and not displaying any opening between the
middle and the side lobes, all of which alternative features are
seen in L. a. Stella. L. a. Schréderiana is therefore the better
flower from a florist’s point of view.

Award of Merit.
To Dendrobium nobile, Burford variety (votes, unanimous),
N2

1V PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY,

from Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P. (gardener, Mr. White).
This is another extension of the D. nobile Cooksoni section, in
which the petals partake of the character and colouring of the
labellum (trilabellia) ; in the Burford variety the influence of the
labellum is seen on the inner halves of the two lower sepals, the
trilabellia being thus made up of two segments of the outer
plane and one of the inner.

Cultural Commendation.

To H. Ellis, Esq. (gardener, Mr. G. A. Glover), for a fine
specimen of Lycaste plana with many flowers.

Other Exhibits.

Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., exhibited three examples
of abnormal forms of Dendrobium nobile, viz., D. n. Tollianum,
in which the flowers always open labellum uppermost, D. n.
Cooksoni and D.n. Burford var. ; also specimens of the plant
known in gardens as Leelia Patinii, but which does not appear to
differ from Cattleya Skinneri, and a fine variety of Lela pumila
sometimes named ‘‘ EK] spirito santo.”

From Baron Schréder’s gardens, Mr. H. Ballantine brought
cut spikes of the different white forms of Lelia anceps.

De B. Crawshay, Esq., Rosefield, Sevenoaks, exhibited a
plant of Lelia Crawshayana x, and also a flower of it, and for
comparison one of each of L. anceps and L. Gouldiana.

K. Harvey, Esq., Riverdale, Aigburth, Liverpool, sent a fine
plant with five spikes of a variety of white Lelia near to L.
anceps Williamsil.

From the Duke of Sutherland’s gardens at Trentham, Mr.
Blair brought a well-flowered specimen of Cattleya labiata
Trianze named C. T.albescens. It is the plant known in gardens
as C. T. delicata.

T. Statter, Esq., Stand Hall, Whitefield, Manchester
(gardener, Mr. Johnson), sent a plant with six spikes of a
nearly white form of the fragrant Vanda Amesiana, with a piece
of the pink-lipped form in the same pan for comparison.

Fred. G. Tautz, Esq., Goldhawk Road, Shepherd’s Bush
(gardener, Mr. Cowley), staged a group of Orchids in flower,
comprising Lycaste Skinneri Lucyana, L. S. Imperator, and
another form with very richly coloured flowers ; Lycaste plana
Measuresiana, and Ceelogyne lentiginosa.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. Vv

N. N. Sherwood, Esq., Dunedin, Streatham Hill (gardener,
Mr. Jones), sent a very large and dark form of Lycaste Skinner
named “ rubra.”’

Messrs. James Veitch & Sons exhibited Cypripedium Calypso
x, which somewhat resembles C. Lathamianum ; and Messrs.
Pitcher & Manda, of the United States Nursery, Short Hills,
New Jersey, U.S.A., exhibited under the name Cypripedium
Masereelianum x (C. Spicerianum x C. insigne Chantinii) a
plant which the Committee decided was identical with C. Lee-
anum x, raised in this country some years ago.

Lady Hutt, Appley Towers, Ryde, Isle of Wight (gardener,
Mr. Myles), exhibited a twin-flowered spike of Cypripedium
insigne, bearing evidence of good culture.

FRUIT COMMITTEE.
JOHN Les, Esq.,in the Chair, and twenty-two members present.

Awards Recommended :—

Cultural Commendation.

To His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, Chatsworth (gardener,
Mr. O. Thomas), for a fine specimen plant of the Papaw (Carica
Papaya), bearing a quantity of ripe fruit.

Votes of Thanks.

To A. P. Vivian, Esq. (gardener, Mr. A. Morris), for a fine
fruit of Charlotte Rothschild Pine Apple.

To W. Roupell, Esq., for a collection of twenty varieties of
Apples grown on Paradise stocks—in excellent condition.

Other Exhibits.

A. H. Smee, Esq. (gardener, Mr. Cummins), again sent some
nice fruit of Apple Remborough.

Lady Hutt, Appley Towers, Ryde (gardener, Mr. Myles),
sent examples of Grape Appley Towers, and two seedling varieties.
Of the latter, No. 1 resembled Appley Towers, but the Com-
mittee was unable to arrive at any decision respecting it until
its characteristics were more fully developed. The other seedling
—marked No. 2—was a cross between Gros Colmar and Alicante.
To this similar remarks apply. The Committee desired to see
both these seedlings again.

Vl PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Lord Foley, Ruxley Lodge, Esher (gardener, Mr. Miller),
sent some fine Mushrooms, and Mr. A. Dean, Bedfont, some
excellent specimens of home-grown and imported Spanish
Onions. From the Society’s Gardens at Chiswick came examples
of six varieties of Broccoli—amongst which the Early Penzance,
from Messrs. Veitch & Sons and Messrs. Rutley & Silverlock,
was considered the best.

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE.

D. Morris, Esq., F.L.8. (Treas. R.H.S.), in the Chair, and nine
members present.

Seakale [ioots.—Professor Ward reported that the specimens
submitted to him at the last meeting were affected with the
slime-fungus (Plasmodiophora), a fungus which does great
damage to the roots of Cruciferous plants.

Canker in Apple Trees.—The same gentleman reported on
the specimens referred to him at the last meeting, but which
presented no unusual features.

Acari on Sugar-cane.—Mr. Michael reported on mites affect-
ing Sugar-canes in Barbados. Contrary to anticipation, the
acaroids belong to the family Oribatide, and either to the genus
Notaspis or to Dameus, having the appearance of the former,
while the internal anatomy is more like that of the latter genus.
The species is allied to the English N. lucorum, but is probably
undescribed. The creatures in question are strictly vegetable
feeders, but have not hitherto been considered as inflicting any
material damage to lving flowering plants, being found more
particularly on moss and lichens. Mr. Michael recommended
‘that specimens of the infected cane, slighty moistened, with the
living Notaspis on them, should be put into a tin box, sealed
down to prevent drying, and thus forwarded in a suitable condi-
tion for further examination; other Acari, of the genus
Tarsonymus, and of extremely minute size, are known to be
injurious to Sugar-cane. The species of Damzus are found
under the bark of trees. Judging from analogy only, the mites
in question would not seem likely to do much injury to living
canes.

Dactylopius (Mealy-bug).—Referring to a communication
made to the Committee on December 10, Mr. Morris now read a

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. vu

letter from Professor Riley on the use of resin washes for bark-
lice. ‘If,’ says Mr. Riley, “the insect is a Dactylopius, the
Alexandrians cannot do better than use one of the resin washes
with which we are spraying Icerya so successfully in California.’’
The following extract from Insect Life contains a good formula
for the purpose :—

“ Resin Wash for Red Scale.—In accordance with instruc-
tions, Mr. Coquillet has been making experiments with this wash
against red-scale (Aspidiotus aurantii), and after twenty different
tests made with various preparations, from July 17 to August 8,
the one which gave the best results was found to be composed
of resin, 20 lb. ; caustic soda (70 per cent. strength), 6 lb.; fish
oil, 83lb.; and water to make 100 gallons. In preparing this
wash the necessary materials were placed in a boiler and
covered with water, and then boiled until dissolved, and stirred
occasionally during the boiling. After dissolving, the prepara-
tion was boiled briskly for about an hour, a small quantity of
cold water being added whenever there was danger of boiling
over. The boiler was then filled up with cold water, which
mixed perfectly well when added slowly and frequently stirred.
It was then transferred to a strong tank and diluted with water
to 100 gallons. Neither the leaves nor the fruit was injured,
while a large proportion of the scales were destroyed. Those
which escaped were either on the fruit or the underside of the
leaves. The cost of the wash is 80 cents per 100 gallons, or
four-fifths of a cent per gallon. An Orange-tree, 16 feet tall
by 14 feet in diameter, was given 14 gallons. This, however,
seems to us to be an unnecessarily large amount, but upon this
basis the cost of spraying per tree is 11:2 cents.’”—Lrom “ Insect
Infe,’’ Oct. 1889, p. 92, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Winter Moth.—Mr Wilson called attention to a commu-
nication in the Hereford Times of November 9, 1889, as to the
efficacy of greased bands as a check to the insect, and wherein
Mr. Cranston says :—‘‘I consider that the greasing process which
is being adopted is injurious to the bark of the trees, especially
to young trees. ‘’o the older trees it may possibly not do much
harm, but I believe the old plan of painting the trunks of the
trees with a solution of quicklime is the best. Some use soot
with the lime, but I don’t know that the soot is of much conse-
quence except to dull the white glare of the lime. The painting
should be done in the autumn.”

viii PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY,

Mr. McLachlan pointed out that the proposed trap to be

affixed to the lamp-posts, in the case of suburban fruit planta- —

tions, would be practically useless, as only the male insects
would be thus captured, the females being nearly destitute of
wings, and incapable of flight. All attempts at stamping out the
winter moth should be directed to the destruction of the females,
which are capable of depositing eggs for many generations in
succession without the intervention of the male. The capture
of myriads of males would not have the slightest appreciable
effect on the fertility of the untrapped females.

Monstrous Cypripediums.—Dr. Masters showed drawings of
two Cypripedia, in one of which the three sepals were separate,
as in most Orchids, whilst in the others there was an adhesion
between the median sepal, the lateral petal on the left side, and
the lateral sepal on the same side, the adhesion of these parts
being accompanied by corresponding adhesion of the labellum to
the right lateral petal. The median stigma, G,1, of the Dar-
winian notation, was also petaloid.

Keteleeria Davidiana.—Dr. Masters showed a cone sent by
Dr. Henry to Kew, from Ichang, which has special interest
as being intermediate in character between the Spruces (Picea)
and the Silver Firs (Abies). It is congeneric with Keteleeria
Fortunei, a tree introduced to this country from China, but which
is too tender for general cultivation.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
FEBRUARY 11, 1890.

Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P. (President R.H.S.),
in the Chair.

The minutes of the last Annual Meeting of February 12,
1889, were read and signed.

The following ladies and gentlemen were elected :—

Fellows, 51.—F. B. Armitage, Robert N. G. Baker, William
Balchin, Thomas Bate, Thomas Bate, the Countess of Bective,
Samuel Bennett, Arthur Harper Bond, J. H. W. Bishop, Rev.
Canon Bliss, Francis Augustine Browne, Jas. Brown, Miss

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. 1X

Georgina Carter, Miss E. M. Chute, R. 8. Collier, Alex. Crossman,
C. W. Dalbiac, W. W. Duffield, Rev. Whitwell Elwin, Mrs.
Fleming, W. Garton, Alf. H. Griffiths, J. C. Grinling, Major
Jekyll, W. Hibberdine, Mrs. Hallowell, Mrs. Henry T. Lambert,
Miss Marie Low, Jas. Manson, J.P., Capt. Stephen W. Marten,
R. W. T. Morris, Lady Musgrave, Alex. Overend, Edward H.
Oxenham, Fred. C. Pawle, Jonathan W. Pimblett, Joseph
Prestwick, W. Ransom, Mrs. W. Rivington, Geo. Henry Sage,
Henry Edmund Simonds, Henry Sowter, Rev. Jas. Tillard, H. W.
Underhill, Mrs. Wakefield, Alfred Warner, J. W. Wellington,
Rey. Alfred Wilson, E. R. Wigram, John Wood, Percy T,
Wrigley.

Messrs. H. Williams and A. J. Veitch were appointed
Scrutineers of the Ballot.

A hearty vote of thanks was unanimously accorded to the
retiring members of the Council, viz.: Mr. J. R. Bourne, Mr.
W. Coleman, and Mr. A. H. Smee.

The balloting for members to fill the vacancies on the Council
was then proceeded with, the following gentlemen having been
proposed for election, viz.: Mr. E. A. Hambro, Mr. N. N,
Sherwood, and Mr. Martin R. Smith.

The following gentlemen were proposed for re-election as
officers, viz.: President, Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P.
Treasurer, D. Morris, M.A.,F.L.8. Secretary, Rev. W. Wilks,
M.A. Auditors, Geo. Deal, W. Richards, and Harry Turner.

After careful examination of the ballot papérs, the Scrutineers
declared the above-named gentlemen to be all duly elected.

The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the Annual Report,
reviewed with satisfaction the work of the Society during the year
1889, and directed the attention of the meeting to the schedule
of arrangements for 1890, in which they would find a programme
of equal interest and extent with that of the past year, which
had been so successfully carried out. A scheme was now under
consideration for establishing the Society in a permanent home,
but this he would leave Baron Schréder to explain. In conclu-
sion, the Chairman referred to the loss sustained by the Society
in the deaths of Prof. Reichenbach, Rev. M. J. Berkeley, Hon.
and Rev. J. T. Boscawen, and Mr. W. Wildsmith, whose places
it would be very difficult to fill.

Baron SCHRODER, in unfolding a scheme for establishing the

x: PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

R.H.S. in a permanent home, deprecated the idea of its staying
much longer in its present quarters. He proposed that they
should obtain a suitable site in a central position, and for this
purpose a sum of £30,000 to £40,000 would be needed. The
greater part of this money would be invested in first-class
securities bearing a fair rate of interest, and the remainder
devoted to erecting suitable buildings for the accommodation of the
Royal Horticultural Society. The interests on the investments
and the rent paid by the Society for the use of the building
would cover the annual ground-rent. The whole control of the
money would be vested in trustees to be hereafter appointed, of
whom he himself was willing to be one. He was further prepared
to advance a large sum of money, and to endeavour to induce his
friends to do likewise. Baron Schréder’s remarks were received
with great cordiality, and before the meeting closed nearly
£3,000 was promised towards the fund.

Dr. Hoae, in seconding the motion for the adoption of the
Report, said he had listened with pleasure to the statement made
by Baron Schréder, and thought that once more the scale of
fortune was turning in favour of the Society.

Several other gentlemen also spoke in support of the scheme.

Mr. Morris, in response to an inquiry from Mr. Frank R.
Parker, explained that the Library belonged partly to the
Lindley Trustees and partly to the Royal Horticultural Society,
but, for convenience in working, the whole control of it was in
the hands of the Trustees. The expenditure shown in the Report
was on account of the Society’s portion of the Library.

Several suggestions respecting the affiliation of local societies
were made, and the Chairman stated that the matter was
engaging the attention of the Council.

The Report was then unanimously adopted.

A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the Hon. Secretary
and Treasurer for their labours during the past year.

A vote of thanks to the Chairman for presiding concluded
the proceedings.

REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR 1889.

The work of the Royal Horticultural Society cannot be said
to have stood still during the year1889. Three most useful Con-

? .
EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. X1

ferences have taken place at Chiswick—viz.: on Roses, on
July 2nd and 8rd; on Vegetables, on September 24th, 25th, and
26th ; and on Chrysanthemums, on November 5th and 6th; and
the excellent results thus obtained, together with the most valu-
able statistics and returns sent in by the kindness of correspon-
dents all over the United Kingdom, with a few from foreign
horticulturists, will, as recorded in the Society’s Jowrnal, form
an authoritative standard of reference on the subjects concerned
for some years to come.

Sixteen Fruit and Floral Meetings have been held in the
Drill Hall, every one of which has been productive of good results
to one or other of the different branches of practical horticulture.
The number of awards has been as follows: On the recom-
mendation of the Floral Committee, 54 First Class Certificates,
84 Awards of Merit, 4 Botanical Certificates, 8 Commendations.
On the recommendation of the Fruit and Vegetable Committee,
7 First Class Certificates, 8 Awards of Merit. On the recom-
mendation of the Orchid Committee, 27 First Class Certificates,
7 Awards of Merit, and 12 Botanical Certificates.

The Society’s great Show, held (by the renewed kindness of
the Treasurer and Benchers) in the Inner Temple Gardens, was
even more magnificent than in the preceding year, the collection
of Orchids, in particular, having probably surpassed any collec-
tion ever before gathered into one place. The best thanks of
the Society are due to all those (and especially to the amateurs)
who so generously lent their plants for exhibition.

Nor has the Scientific Committee been idle, and the notes of
their meetings, as given in the Society’s Journal, will be found
full of interesting and valuable information to all horticulturists.

Meantime, the Society’s general work of scientific experiment
and investigation, and of the practical trial of various plants,
has been going on steadily at Chiswick, under the superintend-
ence of Mr. Barron. Trial has been made of 104 varieties of
Potatoes ; 50 vars. of Broccoli; 108 vars. of Vegetable Marrows,
Pumpkins, and Gourds; 380 vars. of Onions; 380 vars. of
Brussels Sprouts; and 41 vars. of Peas. Amongst Flowers,
trial has been made of 270 varieties of Garden Annuals, 66 vars,
of China Asters, 20 vars. of Stocks, 190 vars. of Dahlias, besides
Zonal and other Pelargoniums ; Lemoine’s New Hybrid Gladioli,
Pentstemons, Heliotropes, Iris, &c. Ivies, of which the Society

50 e
X11 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

possesses a very fine collection, have been specially examined and
classified. Reports on these trials will appear in the Journal.
Of Chrysanthemums, 800 varieties were grown, and these not
only added very materially to the display at the Chrysanthemum
Centenary Conference, but, from not being so severely disbudded
as is usually the case in producing the show blooms, the plants
themselves, as well as the blossoms, were greatly admired. A
large sum of money has this year been spent on the Gardens.
Iixtensive repairs have been done to the glasshouses, and the
general keeping up of the Gardens greatly improved. The
breaking down of two of the largest boilers threatened a great
addition to outlay, but the liberal gift from Messrs. Foster and
Pearson of one of their patent Chilwell boilers greatly reduced
the expenditure under this head. A new hybrid Tomato, con-
sidered to be one of the best in cultivation, has been raised by
Mr. Barron, and the seed distributed amongst the Fellows. The
experiment of opening the Gardens on Sundays has not met
with such success as the Council had hoped, but they have
decided to continue it—at least for the present year; and then,
if the privilege should not prove to be more highly valued, it
may have to be abandoned, as, besides the additional work thrown
on the officers on their one rest-day in the week, it also entails
considerable expense on the Society. The meetings held at
Chiswick during the year, though successful in all else, have not
been quite so successful in point of numbers as the Council had
hoped; and they venture to think that in the year now com-
mencing those Fellows who were so strongly in favour of meetings
at Chiswick should make it their business by every means in
their power, privately or through the press, to increase the
numbers attending. |

But perhaps the chief event of the year has been the revival
of the Society’s Jowrnal, by means of which Fellows at a dis-
tance are enabled to enter more fully into and reap the benefits
of the study arid work of those more actively engaged at the
centre. Four volumes, containing about 750 pages, have been
issued during the twelvemonth, and the Council have the
sratification of knowing, from numerous letters received, that
these volumes have been highly appreciated, not only in this
country, but by correspondents all over the world.*

* A few remaining copies of Vol. xi., Parts i., ii., and iii., may now be
purchased at half-price—i.e., Part i., 6d. ; Part ii., 2s. 6d.; Part ili., 2s. 6d.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. Xill

The invaluable work of 876 pages, on ‘ British Apples,’’
which Mr. Barron was able to produce as the outcome of the
‘* Apple Conference, 1888,’’ is now being re-issued by the Society
ina cheap and popular edition, at the price of eighteenpence
only. It may be as well to point out that, unless this issue should
command a very large circulation, it will entail a gross loss to
the Society; but the Council have felt, in face of the wide-
spreading interest taken in British fruit-culture, and of the fact
that this book is a standard work upon Apples, that it was their
duty to encounter this risk, hoping that individual Fellows
would endeavour to promote its sale amongst their neighbours
and friends.

All these Conferences and Meetings, and especially the work
and maintenance of the Chiswick Gardens and the publication
of the Journal, have involved the Society in a very large outlay,
and the Council take this opportunity of endeavouring to impress
upon Fellows the absolute necessity there is for them all indi-
vidually (as many as have the Society’s welfare at heart) to
endeavour to secure new Fellows to the Society if its work is
not only to be continued at its present standard, but still more
so if the ever-opening and extending opportunities of usefulness
are to be embraced and accepted. The adoption of £1. 1s. as
one rate of subscription was, no doubt, a popular movement,
but the Council desire to remind the Fellows that such a low
rate of Fellowship can only be self-supporting if it draws into
the Society a very large number (far larger than at present
exists) as additional Fellows. The Council therefore venture
to express the hope that every Fellow of the Society will make
an endeavour to obtain at least one new Fellow during this
present year. A statement of the privileges of Fellows and of
the aims and objects of the Society, together with a form of
nomination to Fellowship, is for this purpose enclosed with this
Report.

The revival of Lectures at the Afternoon Meetings has
been another good feature in the year’s work, and the Council
hope that as the fact of these lectures and their value become
more generally known, through their publication in the Journal,
that the attendance of Fellows to hear them, and to take part in
the discussions, will gradually increase. The Council cannot
but think that many of the Fellows are unaware of the immense

—_

X1V PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

interest and value of these regular bi-monthly meetings and the
lectures so kindly delivered thereat ; and they beg to expressin
their own name, and in that of all Fellows of the Society,
their very best thanks to all those gentlemen who have so
kindly contributed, either by the exhibition of plants, fruits,
flowers, or vegetables, or by the reading of papers, to the success
of these meetings.

The papers read at these bi-monthly meetings, all of which
have been published in the Jowrnal, are as follows :—

March 12. ‘‘ On Saxifrages,”’ by Mr. J. G. Baker, F.R.S., F.L.S. ;
‘‘ Culture of Saxifrages,’ by Mr. George Paul; ‘‘ Saxi-
frages,’’ by Mr. Reuthe.

March 26. “Dutch Hyacinths,” by Heer A. E. Barnaart;
“ Culture of Hyacinths,”’ by Heer J. H. Kersten ; ‘‘ Hyacinths
in England,” by Mr. James Douglas.

April 9. “ The Narcissus,” by Mr. F. W. Burbidge, M.A.,
F.L.S., M.R.ILA.; ‘Seedling Daffodils,” by Rev. G. H.
Engleheart, M.A.; ‘‘ Portuguese Narcissi,’”’ by Mr. A. W.
ait. felis

April 28. ‘‘ The Auricula,” by Rev. F. D. Horner, M.A.

May 14. ‘On Irises,” by Professor Michael Foster, Sec. B.S.

June 11. ‘“ Orchid Culture,” by Mr. H. J. Veitch, F.L.S.

June 25. ‘ The Strawberry,” by Mr. A. F. Barron ; ‘‘ Strawberry
Culture for Market,” by Mr. G. Bunyard.

July 2. “Roses,” by the Very Rev. the Dean of Rochester,
D.D.; “ Pruning Roses,” by the Rev. A. Foster-Melliar,
M.A.; ‘Groups of Roses,” by Mr. William Paul, F.L.S. ;
‘Stocks for Roses,” by Mr. E. Mawley, Sec. N.R.S.;
“Roses since 1860,’ by Mr. George Paul; ‘ Decorative
Roses,”’ by Mr. T. W. Girdlestone, M.A., F.L.8.; “ On Rosa
polyantha as a Stock,’’ by Mons. Viviand-Morel.

July 3. “‘The Botany of Roses,’”’ by Mr. J. G. Baker, F.R.S.,
F.L.S.; ‘Rose Hybridisation,’’ by the Right Hon. Lord
Penzance; ‘‘A New Classification of Roses,” by Professor
I’. Crépin. j

July 23. ‘‘ The Florist’s Carnation,’’ by Mr. Shirley Hibberd.

August 13. ‘ Peaches and Nectarines,”’ by Mr. Francis Rivers.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. XV

September 25. “On Vegetables,” by Mr. H. J. Veitch, F.L.S.;
“On Asparagus,” by Mr. Shirley Hibberd ; ‘‘ Winter Salads,”
by Mr. Norman.

September 26. ‘The Food of Vegetables,” by Mr. J. Wright;
‘Peas since 1860,” by Mr. T. Laxton; ‘“ Potatoes since
1860,” by Mr. A. Dean; ‘‘ How to have Vegetables all
through the Year,’’ by Mr. J. Smith.

October 8. “ On Conifers,”” by Mr. W. Coleman.

October 22. ‘‘ Pears,’’ by Mr. W. Wildsmith.

November 5. ‘Chrysanthemums,’ by Mr. T. B. Haywood;
“Chrysanthemum History,’ by Mr. C. Harman Payne;
“New Chrysanthemums,” by Mr. E. Molyneux ; “ Judging
Chrysanthemums,” by Mr. J. Wright; ‘‘ Progress in
Chrysanthemums,” by Mr. Shirley Hibberd.

November 6. “ Botany of the Chrysanthemum,” by Mr. Botting
Hemsley, F.R.S.; ‘‘ Chrysanthemum Seed and Seedlings,”
by Mr. F. W. Burbidge, F.L.S.; ‘‘ Dwarfing Chrysanthe-
mums,” by Mr. C. Orchard; ‘‘ Market Chrysanthemums,”’
by Mr. C. Pearson; ‘ Early Chrysanthemums,”’ by Mr. W.
Piercy.

The hearty thanks of the Society are due to the Chiswick
Board and to all the members of the Standing Committees—viz.
the Scientific, the Fruit and Vegetable, the Floral, the Orchid,
and the Narcissus Committees—for the most kind and patient
attention which they have severally given to their departments ;
to the exhibitors and members of the Special Committees also,
who have contributed to so great an extent to produce the
magnificent results of the Rose, Vegetable, and Chrysanthemum
Conferences. And herein the Council cannot refrain from thank-
ing especially the Very Rey. the Dean of Rochester, Mr. Harry J.
Veitch, Mr. Shirley Hibberd, Mr. Molyneux, and Mr. Mawley,
together with all the officers of the National Rose Society, who
so cordially, and with such kindly feeling, co-operated in the
Society’s labours.

In conjunction with the Lindley Library Trustees, the Society’s
Library has received considerable attention. Several defective
series (notably the Botanical Magazine, now complete from its
commencement) have been made good up to date, and a large
number of untidy but valuable volumes have been bound.

The best thanks of the Society are due to all those who, either

XV PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

at home or abroad, have so kindly and liberally presented books
to the Library or plants or seeds to the Gardens. Special
thanks are due to those gentlemen who have so kindly contri-
buted Carnations, in view of the Conference in July. A list of
the donors has been prepared, and will appear in the next number
of the Jowrnal.

The Council recognise as fully as anyone can the great
desirability of securing more suitable premises than the present
Drill Hall affords, and they are now anxiously engaged in con-
sidering a scheme for erecting a suitable building on the Thames
Embankment, which, if ever accomplished, would, they hope,
not only afford ample facilities for our own Society, but also, in
time, form a centre for all kindred Horticultural Associations.
But they must remind Fellows that the adoption of this scheme
is purely a matter of funds, and would entail a very large outlay,
and until they can see their way to provide this, they fear that
no better place than the Drill Hall can, under the circumstances,
_ be readily found.

The Council have the sad duty of recording the death of forty
of the Fellows of the Society during the past year. Amongst
them they regret to find the names, Reichenbach, Boscawen, and
Berkeley.

Besides the losses from death, the Council deeply grieve to
have to record the loss of thirty-nine Fellows by resignation. The
Society has been struggling bravely for the last two years in the
face of many adverse circumstances, and with the burden, finan-
cially speaking, of a large number of Life Fellows—from whom
it derives no income whatever—bequeathed to it by a former
generation ; and the Council had hoped that, with the evidence
which even this Report gives of renewed life and vigour and use-
fulness, the Society would have retained the goodwill and support,
and for a time the forbearance, of all who had joined it. They
have, however, the pleasure of adding that a greater number have
joined the Society than have leftit. Still, as they said in another
paragraph, they wish to impress very strongly the fact that the
Society needs a large augmentation before it will be financially
possible to embrace the many opportunities of usefulness opening
before it. The following tabular statement will show the relations
of increase and decrease during the year, both in the number of
Fellows and the income arising therefrom :—

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. xvi

DEATHS IN 1889. FELLOWS ELECTED IN 1889.
£ s.d. Cale OL Ae 8
Life Fellows ... 22 ...... 0 ’'O O | 2 Guimeas...... Gitar. 128 2,0
4 Guineas ...... Eas bia LE Na apt Pee DOF ga cece 217, 2 0
2 Shy Ui pee ae Tacte +l. ASSOGIAUES:<(.:. hi cctses fie hae 0
1 pas REE SS RO Sig - 0 ao ae

— Ee New Fellows 265 £341 5 O
43 £40 19 O Dede. cscs caus 128 2 0

TOTAL INCREASE IN } -
PHCOME sa.xdiasane f le
RESIGNATIONS IN 1889. E, {Edie eas BE

£ -3..d.
4 Guineas......... tatty 1616 0
2 oS Mon See aNeenae aac cs 46 4 0
i ib) Gee deine 7s Nae ee 26° 3 0 265 New Fellows
<< 92 to deduct.
= See TOTALINCREASE ) | 75
TOTAL scsces 92 £128 2 0 | I Numbers f 7

Dr.

ANNUAL REVENUE ACCOUNT for the

To ESTABLISHMENT EXPENSES—

Salaries and Wages

Rent of Offices ...
Printing and Stationery
Publications—Journal, &c.
Postage

Coal, Gas, and Water
Miscellaneous Bote
Furniture and Fittings...

Library—Books and Binding ...

» CHISWICK GARDEN EXPENSES—

Rent, Rates, Taxes, and Insurance
Superintendent’s Salary

Labour :

Implements, Soil, — Meanie
Coal and Coke

Repairs ze

Water and Gas ...

Miscellaneous

» SHOWS, MEETINGS and CONFERENCES—

Rent of Drill Hall and Cleaning
Show at Inner Temple Gardens
Advertising

Prizes and Medals

Floral Meetings and See eee te &e.

Floral Meetings and Conferences—Labour ...
Superintendent of Flower Shows

Grants in Aid

Miscellaneous ...

», DONATIONS, &c.—

Amount transferred

(el Keay Toon fy (=) tes)

©

eS) ©) 007

i
a

1,306 12 12

1,844 11 9

810 O17

13 2 6

£3,974 6 11

YEAR ending 31st DECEMBER, 1889. Cr,

£° 3, di: £ sa
By ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS ... tae Abe Agee ps vet euleo 19 §
» SHOW AT INNER TEMPLE GARDENS ... A see Pee 408 15 6
» MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES ... Bs aie dee wat 295 26
“A ADVERTISEMENTS IN JOURNAL, &c. ... see ae Mr 122.5 6
» MISCELLANEOUS ; rais a3, aep at 28 3 6
» DIVIDENDS—DAVIS BEQUEST AND PARRY LEGACY Rt bor 10m.
» CHISWICK GARDENS—
Produce Sold ... wae ee a aa wh tom 2. Ss
Admission and Members’ Tickets... i APs 15u16 9
Miscellaneous ... ve wigs Pi ae aah $10 0
Chiswick Horticultural Society— cee Smee
Balance of 1888 ... aad gee a 10m 0
Subscription asa Ae eae 40 0 O
43 10 O
Less Expenses ead ie ee LOr 3 et
oo OFS
— too tb 2
3,520 14 10
» BALANCE TO GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT ae oe Le |
, £3,974 6 11

We have examined the above Accounts with the Books and Vouchers,
correct.
and find the same erence pee
HARRY TURNER Auditors.
HENRY WILLIAMS

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EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. XX1

FLORAL COMMITTEE.

W. MarsHatt, Esq., in the Chair, and sixteen members present.
Awards Recommended :—
Silver Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. C. Lee & Son, Royal Vineyard Nursery, Hammer-
smith, for an effectively arranged group of Hardy Evergreen
Shrubs, consisting of Retinosporas, Aucuba viridis (well berried),
Yucca plicata, Euonymus in variety, Osmanthus ilicifolius and its
varieties, Ivies, Phillyreas, &e.

Bronze Banksian Medal.

To the St. George’s Nursery Company, Hanwell, for a well-

flowered and brightly coloured group of Cyclamens.
Award of Merit.

To Helleborus colchicus, var. coccineus (votes, unanimous),
from Messrs. Paul & Son, Old Nurseries, Cheshunt; flowers of
a deep purple-rose colour.

Other Exhibits.

Messrs. Paul & Son sent a pretty group of Hardy Plants in
flower, consisting of Hepaticas in variety, Bulbocodium rutheni-
cum, Iris Rosenbachia and Iris carnea, Anemone apennina yar.
blanda, and Helleborus (in variety).

Mrs. Whitbourn, Great Gearies, Ilford (gardener, Mr. J.
Douglas), sent flowers of a Helleborus raised from a dark form
of H. guttatus.

The Duke of Northumberland, Albury Park, Guildford (gar-
dener, Mr. W. C. Leach), sent flowers of Violets Marie Louise,
Swanley White, and De Parme; also flowers of a brightly coloured
strain of Cinerarias.

Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, Royal Exotic Nurseries, Chel-
sea, sent cut flowers of Greenhouse Rhododendrons of the group
multicolor. The Committee expressed a wish to see plants in
flower.

Messrs. Barr & Son, Covent Garden, sent several early-
flowering Daffodils, such as the pretty yellow Narcissus cycla-
mineus, N. minimus, Corbularia monophylla, &e. Chionodoxa
sardensis was shown in fine condition ; also Anemone fulgens.

Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, sent a good Primula

XXll PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

under the name of Cannell’s Pink ; also Cineraria blooms of fine
form and colour.
Mr.J. James, Woodside Nursery, Farnham Royal, sent Primula
Woodside Giant ; flowers pure white, with a greenish-yellow eye.
Sir George Macleay, Pendell Court, Bletchingley (gardener,
Mr. F. Ross), sent flowers of Astrapea Wallichi and Akebia
quinata.

ORCHID COMMITTEE.

H. J. Veriton, Esq., F.L.8., in the Chair, and sixteen members
present.

Awards Recommended :—

First Class Certificate.

To Cypripedium Lathamianum x, a variety raised at the
Birmingham Botanic Gardens, and since in other gardens, by
crossing C. Spicerianum and C. villosum. The finest plant was
exhibited by Baron Schréder (gardener, Mr. Ballantine), but
C. L. Ingram, Esq., Elstead House, Godalming (gardener, Mr.
Bond), F. G. Tautz, Esq. (gardener, Mr. Cowley), and Messrs.
Jas. Veitch & Sons also exhibited the same variety, and partici-
pated in the award, which was passed unanimously.

To Cypripedium cardinale x (votes, 6 for, 5 against),
Vanner’s variety, a form of C. cardinale x, formerly raised by
Messrs. Veitch & Sons. The plant certificated was raised by
W. Vanner, Esq., Camden Wood, Chislehurst.

To Cypripedium Elliottianum (votes, unanimous), from H. M.
Pollett, Esq., Fernside, Bickley (gardener, Mr. Parks).

To Cypripedium Germinyanum x (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. Jas. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, and H. M. Pollett, Esq. This
variety has the general appearance of the fine old C. hirsutis-
simum, but with larger flowers.

To Cypripedium porphyrochlamis x (votes, unanimous) (C.
barbatum Crossii x, C. hirsutissimum), from F. G. Tautz, Esq.

To Odontoglossum ramosissimum (votes, 15 for), from A. H.
Smee, Esq. (gardener, Mr. Cummins). This is an old species,
‘but seeing the beauty of its pure white flowers spotted with
crimson, the Committee deemed it desirable to distinguish it.

Botanical Certificate.

To Masdevallia leontoglossa (votes, 15 for), from A. H. Smee,

Esq. (gardener, Mr. Cummins).

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. XXlll

Award of Merit.
To Lycaste Skinneri Regina (votes, 10 for, 2 against), from
H. A. Roberts, Esq., Woodlands House, Greenhithe (gardener,
Mr. J. Simon).

Other Exhibits.

Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons staged the fine hybrid Cypripedium
Germinyanum x (C. villosum and C. hirsutissimum), C. Calypso
x, a new ally to C. Lathamianum x ; Phalenopsis “F. L. Ames”’
x, and Dendrobium Wardiano-japonicum x , a neat variety, with
white flowers with dark red blotch on the lip.

H. M. Pollett, Esq. (gardener, Mr. Parks), sent a fine Odonto-
elossum crispum Bickleyense, with yellowish ground colour to
the flowers, spotted with brown ; also a distinct form of Cattleya
Trianz, in which the front lobe of the lip was coloured with a
decidedly blue tinge over the crimson body colour.

F. G. Arbuthnot, Esq., Bridgen Place, Bexley, sent two hand-
some Odontoglossums and two white forms of Cattleya labiata
Triane for the Committee to name. The names affixed were
Odontoglossum Andersonianum, O. Wilckeanum, Cattleya Triane
virginalis, and for the other Cattleya, which was of fine shape
and substance, the Committee confirmed the Bridgen Place name,
€. Triane Helleniana.

Malcolm §. Cooke, Esq., Kingston Hill (gardener, Mr. Culli-
more), had agroup of Orchids comprising Cattleya amethystoglossa,
with twenty-four flowers onaspike, Odontoglossum Humeanum,
O. Oerstedii, O. blandum, Ansellia lutea, Dendrobiums, and Leelia
albida var.

W. Vanner, lisq., exhibited some good varieties of Cattleya
Triane, and a fine plant of Lycaste Skinneri alba, Dendrobium
nobile Cooksoni, and Odontoglossums.

A. H. Smee, Esq., The Grange, Hackbridge (gardener, Mr.
Cummins), contributed C. Trianz Dayana, from the collection of
the late Mr. John Day. It has flowers of good size and fine colour.

A. §. Smith, Esq., Silvermere, Cobham (gardener, Mr. J.
Quarterman), sent a noble plant of the old Cypripedium 1 insigne,
with eighty-seven flowers.

Lord Foley, Ruxley Lodge, Esher (gardener, Mr. Miller), sent
Ceelogyne cristata, and specimens of the same plant were for-
warded by Mr. Waltham, Streatham Hill, and Mr. O. Thomas,
Chatsworth Gardens.

XX1V PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P. (gardener, Mr. White), sent
his hybrid Dendrobium Aurora x, a variety with the general
appearance of D. nobile, but with broader segments.

H. Druce, Esq., The Beeches, Circus Road, St. John’s Wood
(gardener, Mr. Walker), forwarded, under the name Dendrobium
Waltoni, a variety which the Committee determined was identical
with D. Wardiano-crassinode, a natural hybrid previously certifi-
cated from Baron Schréder’s gardens.

F, G. Tautz, Esq., with the other Cypripediums previously
mentioned, sent C. “ Mrs. Canham.”’

Flowers sent to Name or for Remark.

C. Wood, Esq., Weybridge, for name—Oncidium serratum.

Major Mason, The Firs, Warwick, sent a flower of one of the
darkest and richest coloured Lycaste Skinneri which have yet
appeared.

The Rev. T. M. B. Paterson (gardener, Mr. H. Reynard),
flowers of Celogyne cristata and C. c. alba (?), both decided tc
be ordinary C. cristata, and two forms of Leelia albida flowering
on the same mass—a not uncommon occurrence, as seedlings are
imported growing together.

FRUIT COMMITTEE.

Sir C. W. SrRIcKLAND, Bart., in the Chair, and twenty
members present.

Awards Recommended :—
Silver Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons, The Nurseries, Crawley, for a
collection of forty-five varieties of Apples, in excellent condition,
the most noticeable varieties being Annie Elizabeth, Mére de
Ménage, Golden Reinette, Court Pendu Plat, Brabant Bellefleur,
Cox’s Orange (well coloured), Sturmer Pippin, and Wellington.

Cultural Commendation.

To the Duke of Northumberland, Albury Park, Guildford
(gardener, Mr. W. C. Leach), for good examples of Tomato,
Ham Green Favourite, from seed sown in September.

Other Exhibit.
The Duke of Northumberland (gardener, Mr. Leach) sent
some fine specimens of Coldstream Leeks.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. XXV

Mr. Arthur Sutton proposed a vote of condolence to Mrs.
Wildsmith on the death of her husband—the late Mr. W. Wild-
smith—a valued member of the Committee. This was seconded
by Mr. Hudson, supported by Mr. Bunyard, and carried unani-
mously.

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE.

W. T. Tu1seuton Dyer, Esq., F.R.S., C.M.G., in the Chair, and
eleyen members present.

Mealy-bug at Alexandria—Mr. Morris supplemented the
information already given by him respecting this new Egyptian
pest, by reading a letter from Mr. J. W. Douglas, to whom the
specimens had been sent, stating that the coccids had proved to
be not only a new species but a new genus. It was proposed to
describe them under the name of Crossotosoma xgyptiacum.

Growth on Stem of Catileya—Mr. McLachlan reported on
a peculiar growth on the stem of a Cattleya from Brazil. This
was at first supposed to be of the nature of a cocoon, but a careful
examination of the structure had shown it to be a gall. Professor
Marshall Ward undertook to make further examination.

Sugar-cane Borer at St. Vincent—Mr. McLachlan drew
attention to a disease in Sugar-cane at St. Vincent, where in
some localities about 25 per cent. of the crop would be lost this
year. According to Mr. Herbert Smith, who had examined the
canes, a beetle of the family Scolytide, and the larva of a moth,
were concerned. It is probable that the beetles only enter the
canes by the exit holes of the moths. The moth is probably a
widely spread species, already known to attack Sugar-cane in
other countries. The affected canes should be burned, and steps
taken to destroy the moth in the localities specially frequented
by it.

Disease of Orchids.—Mr. Morris exhibited several specimens
of a Cattleya attacked by a fungoid disease of apparently a very
virulent character. From a specimen received about a fortnight
ago, Mr. Massee had infected at Kew two or three healthy
plants, and in three days the whole of the pseudo-bulbs had
become diseased. Specimens of similarly affected plants were
sent by Mr. James Douglas, from a gardener who was anxious
to know if there was any remedy, as he feared his collection was
in danger of being destroyed. The Committee was of opinion

XXVI1 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

that the disease, whatever the cause, was of a very virulent
character. It was not the ordinary ‘‘spot’’ so well known to
Orchid-growers. The specimens were referred to Professor
Marshall Ward, who had already given some attention to the
subject.

Orchid Hybrids.—Mr. H. J. Veitch exhibited Cypripedium
Lathamianum x, raised first at the Birmingham Botanic
Gardens, by crossing C. Spicerianumé with C. villosum?.
Messrs. Veitch had raised similar hybrids, and had, moreover,
raised hybrids from the reversed cross. Plants from all three
sources were shown. ‘These agreed so closely in all essential

points that they must bear the same name. The fact of plants °

obtained by crossing, and also by reverse crossing, producing
seedlings of almost exactly the same character, is very interesting.
Similar results have been obtained by Messrs. Veitch in crossings
which have produced Cypripedium Sedenii x, and Fuchsia
Dominiana x.

Mr. H. J. Veitch also exhibited a new hybrid Dendrobium.
The seed-bearing parent was D. japonicum, and the pollen parent
D. Wardianum. The hybrid D. Wardiano-japonicum had
smaller pseudo-bulbs than D. Wardianum, but the flowers were
nearly those of D. japonicum, but larger and with broader seg-
ments. They were also highly scented, as in D. japonicum.

Canker in Apple Trees.—Professor Marshall Ward brought
before the Committee specimens of Apple-trees badly affected
with the so-called canker, on which there were numerous red
perithecia of a Nectria. It is probable that the initial injury in
this case had been caused by frost, and that the Nectria had
established itself in the cracks thus formed.

Picea nobilis—Mr. James Douglas forwarded branches of
Picea nobilis affected by gouty swellings, due probably to the
attacks of an Acarus (Phytoptus), or to Avcidium elatinum.
Professor Marshall Ward kindly undertook to examine the

specimens.
London Fogs.—Dr. Oliver and Professor Scott presented an

interim report on the investigations undertaken by them respect-
ing the effects of London fogs on plants under glass. Specimens
of Orchids affected by fog had been received from Messrs. Veitch
& Sons, Chelsea; and of Tomato plants from the superintendent
of the Royal Horticultural Society’s gardens at Chiswick. On

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. XXVil

the suggestion of the chairman, it was decided to take up an
investigation of the chemical constituents of London fog, and
trace the exciting causes of the injury to plants. The question
was avery important one, and lkely to demand considerable time
and attention. In order to carry out the work under advan-
tageous circumstances, it was resolved to make application
to the Government Grant Committee of the Royal Society
for pecuniary aid.

GENERAL MEETING.
Marcu 11, 1890.
The Rev. W. Wriuxs, M.A. (Secretary R.H.S.), in the Chair.

ELECTIONS.

Fellows, 39.—W. G. Baker, Rev. Thos. Bates, F. Bridges,
Thomas Burton, A. R. Minard-Cammell, Thomas Christopher,
jun., Joseph Cobb, George Colville, Alister Clark, Mrs. John
Clerk, James Crute, Hon. Henry W. Fitzwilliam, Henry Ford-
ham, Herbert C. W. Greaves, A. C. Harcourt, John Hart,
H. P. Harris, Sydney Flower Jackson, Edward Harris Jones,
T. Wickham Jones, John A. Laing, James H. Laing, Rev. Fred.
Fox Lambert, H. Vesey Machin, J.P., Oswald Chas. Marston,
R. A. H. Mitchell, George Monro, Mrs. Newton, Miss Nisbet,
KH. T. Partridge, H. G. Quilter, J. Roberts, Miss Frances F. L.
Schreiber, Rev. John Sinclair, James Gray Smeaton, Edward
Waltham, Mrs. H. Ward, Frederick Watson, and William Weale.

Papers were read:—“‘On Hippeastrums (Amaryllis),”’ by
Mr. Harry J. Veitch, F.L.S.; and “On Hybrid Hippeastrums
(Amaryllis),” by Mr. James Douglas, F.R.H.S.

FLORAL COMMITTEE.

W. Marsuatt, Esq., in the Chair, and eighteen members
present.

Awards Recommended :—

Silver Banksian Medal.

To Mr. H. B. May, Dyson’s Lane Nurseries, Upper Edmon-
ton, for a well-arranged group of small Foliage Plants suitable

XXVlll PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

for table decoration, consisting of Draczenas, Crotons, Aralias,
and Ferns, surrounded by Isolepis gracilis.

To Messrs. William Paul & Son, Paul’s Nurseries, Waltham
Cross, for a dozen boxes of Camellias, good and well-known
varieties, some of the most noteworthy sorts being alba plena,
C. M. Hovey, Cup of Beauty, fimbriata, Mathottiana, &e.

Bronze Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. Barr & Son, King Street, Covent Garden, for a
showy exhibit of Daffodils (cut blooms) in numerous varieties,
associated with Anemone fulgens, Chionodoxas, Scillas, and
Crocus.

First Class Certificate.

To Hippeastrum (Amaryllis) Champion (votes, unanimous),
from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea.
A noble flower between 10 and 11 inches in diameter, the largest
yet obtained. Colour, rich deep scarlet.

To Phenix Reebelinii (votes, unanimous), from Messrs. F.
Sander & Co., The Nurseries, St. Albans, and Mr. J. O’Brien,
Harrow-on-the-Hill. A miniature Date Palm of graceful habit,
likely to be very useful for decorative purposes.

To Camellia La Vestale (votes, unanimous), from Mr. C.
Turner, Royal Nursery, Slough. Flowers pure white, and of
fine shape.

Award of Merit.

To “strain” of Cinerarias (votes, unanimous), from Messrs.
H. Cannell & Sons, The Nurseries, Swanley. Flowers well formed,
colours pleasing and diversified.

Other Exhibits.

From the Royal Gardens, Kew, were sent a number of rare
and interesting plants, comprising Strelitzia Nicolai, white and
purple flowers ; Tacca artocarpifolia, bearing a cluster of flowers
and long drooping filaments, somewhat similar to the better
known Attacia cristata; a plant in flower of Buphane toxicaria
(the Poison Bulb); Godwinia gigas, large deep purple spathe;
Arisema speciosum; A’chmea glomerata, bracts scarlet tipped
with purple; rhizomes of Arrowroot plant (Maranta arundinacea).
Several Rhododendrons were also shown, including R. arboreum,
R. a. roseum, R. grande (argenteum), and Acacia retinodes, bearing
sweetly scented flowers.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. XXiX

Mr. H. Porter, nurseryman, &c., Freshfield, Liverpool, sent
Adiantum Porteri, the result of a cross between A. cuneatum
and A. gracillimum.

Mr. J. T. Gilbert, nurseryman, Bourne, Lincolnshire, sent a
seedling Primrose named Ye Primrose Dame, and cut flowers
of Anemones, &e.

Messrs. James Veitch & Sons sent an excellent group of
Hippeastrum (Amaryllis), showing the gradual advance made in
this family of plants since A. Ackermanni pulcherrima appeared.
This later variety, with crocia grandiflora, Johnsoni, Graveana,
and others of the earlier kinds, were shown.

An interesting group of plants from the same firm comprised
Azalea mollis (varieties), Andromeda japonica, Boronia mega-
stigma, and B. heterophylla.

Mr. Moore, Holmwood, Kingston-on-Thames, sent a well-
bloomed plant of Primula obconica.

Messrs. Paul & Son, Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, sent a box
of fresh and beautiful Tea and H. P. Roses, and a pyramidal
plant of Rosa polyantha grandiflora.

ORCHID COMMITTEE.

Harry J. VeitcH, Esq., F.L.S., in the Chair, and eleven
members present.
Awards :—

Silver Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, for a group of
Orchids in which there were some fine specimens of different
varieties of Dendrobium nobile, a large and _ well-flowered
specimen of D. Wardianum ; two plants, each with several spikes,
of Phajus tuberculosus; Maxillaria Hubschu, M. tabularis ;
Oncidium cruciatum, O. heteranthum, a species of the same
section as O. abortivum; Dendrobium lituiflorum superbum,
Ipsea speciosa, Cypripedium Schomburgkianum, and a new and
very pretty yellow Lycaste, which the Committee requested
should be referred to the Kew herbarium.

To Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, Victoria and Paradise
Nurseries, Upper Holloway, for a group of Orchids arranged with
Ferns and Palms. The prominent feature in this group was the
many species and varieties of the favourite genus Odontoglossum,

XXX PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

several forms of O. crispum, O. Pescatorei, and O. luteo-pur-
pureum being present, as well as the white-lipped variety of
O. Halli, O. facetum, which may be referred to O. luteo-purpu-
reum, O. cirrosum, and O. Sanderianum. In Messrs. Williams’s
group also were fine specimens of Platyclinis (Dendrochilum)
glumacea, lycaste fulvescens, Epidendrum lanipes, and
Calanthe Willamsii, the latter the richest coloured variety of
the C. Regnieri section yet seen.

First Class Certificate.

. . x . * /
To Dendrobium signatum (votes, 5 for, 4 against), from Sir

Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P. (gardener, Mr. White). This
Dendrobe is of a distinct type, with growths similar to those of
D. nobile, and clear yellow wax-lke flowers with reddish brown
marks at the base of the labellum.

To Phajus Cooksoniu x (votes, unanimous), exhibited by the
raiser, Norman C. Cookson, EKsq., Wylam-on-Tyne. This was
the result of crossing P. Wallichii with P. tuberculosus; the
seedlings which resulted, and which flowered in the third year,
being evidently intermediate between the parents. The large
crimped labellum of P. Cooksoniu is yellow at the base, then
rose, changing to a darker and duller tint towards the edge. In
form the lip is more tubular than that of P. tuberculosus.

To Lycaste Skinneri, Young’s variety (votes, unanimous), from
Reginald Young, Esq., Fringilla, Linnet Lane, Sefton Park,
Liverpool (gardener, Mr. Poyntz). This variety is the counter-
part of the best form of L. 8. alba, but the labellum has over it
a shade of pinkish orange or apricot colour, and the petals the
same hue more faintly displayed. It is a very charming and
unique variety.

To Dendrobium Aspasia x (D. aureum and D. Wardianum
(votes, unanimous), from Messrs. James Veitch & Sons. A variety
with handsome white flowers tipped with pink, and with orange
base to the labellum marked with crimson.

To Cypripedium Numa x (C. Stonei and C. Lawrenceanum)
(votes, 7 for, 8 against), from Messrs. James Veitch & Sons.
The flowers are much like those of C. Rothschildianum, but the
leaves have narrow green veining as in C. Harrisianum x.

Botanical Certificate.

To Cypripedium Schomburgkianum (3 for, the others not
voting), from Messrs. I’. Sander & Co. This species is similar to
C. caricinum (C. Pearce).

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. XXX1

To Angrecum, new variety (votes, unanimous), from Messrs.
Hugh Low & Co., Clapton. Evidently a natural hybrid between
A. citratum and A. hyaloides, sprays of which were exhibited
with it. (On reference to Kew this was named A. primulinum.)

To Dendrobium Smilliz (votes, unanimous), from Sir Trevor
Lawrence, Bart., M.P. (gardener, Mr. White). This is a singular
species, with white flowers tinged with pink and tipped with green.

Award of Merit.

To Oncidium Larkinianum (votes, unanimous), from J. Larkin,
Esq., Perriville, Highbury New Park (gardener, Mr. Rann). The
flowers were of the form of those of O. Gardnerianum, but with
clear yellow lip as in O. Marshallianum or O. varicosum.

To Odontoglossum Pescatorei melanocentrum (votes, unani-
mous), from Fred. G. Tautz, Esq., Studley House, Goldhawk Road,
W. (gardener, Mr. Cowley). This unique variety has clear
white flowers with purple crest on the labellum, and without
yellow at the base of the lip, as in the type.

To Cattleya Triane marginata (votes, 9 for, 1 against), from
Messrs. John Laing & Son. This variety is fine in colour, and
the lip has a clear white or lavender margin.

To Cattleya Trianze fulgens (votes, unanimous), from H. B.
Mildmay, Esq. The large labellum of this form is of a glowing
crimson colour.

To Ccelogyne cristata varieties (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, who staged a small group of all
the best large-flowered forms.

Other Exhibits.

Messrs. James Veitch & Sons exhibited their new hybrid
Cypripedium Othello x (C. hirsutissimum x C. Boxalli) ; the fine
Cymbidium eburneo-Lowianum x and Dendrobium micans x,
both of which had previously received First Class Certificates ;
also D. Wardiano-japonicum x.

G. Appleyard, Esq., Saville House, Saville Road, Halifax,
sent a pretty Odontoglossum hebraicum, near to the variety
known as lineoligerum.

H. Mark, Esq., Cheriton, Albemarle Road, Beckenham,
exhibited a finely flowered Oncidium tetracopis.

George Firth, Ksq., Manningham Thorp, Bradford (gardener,
Mr. Collier), sent a richly coloured Cattleya Triane in the way
of C. T. Backhousiana or C. T. Normani.

XXX PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

C. Ingram, Eisq., Elstead, Godalming (gardener, Mr. Bond),
exhibited a specimen with several flowers of the richly coloured
but rather small-flowered C. Trianze Louis Ingram.

F. G. Tautz, Esq., showed Cypripedium selligerum rubrum.

Cut FLOWERS.

From Major Mason, The Firs, Warwick, came a flower of a
form of Cattleya Trianz, with the edges or marginal halves of
the petals flaked with crimson. The whole of the flowers on
the plant were stated to be similarly marked. Also to name,
Oncidium (Cyrtochilum) maculatum.

Mr. C. Wythes brought from the Duke of Northumberland’s
gardens flowers of Cypripedium villosum, and a fine spray of
Cologyne cristata, like C. c. Lemoniana, but with orange spot at
the base of the lip. It is locally known as the Syon variety,
but its generally accepted name is C. c. intermedia.

Mr. J. W. Wilson, South Cave, East Yorks, sent flowers of
three good forms of Odontoglossum Rossii majus.

FRUIT COMMITTEE.

Sir C. W. SrrickuaAnp, Bart., in the Chair and nineteen
members present.
Awards Recommended :—
Silver Banksian Medal.

To A. H. Smee, Esq.. The Grange, Wallington, Surrey
(gardener, Mr. G. W. Cummins), for a collection of admirably
grown and well-kept Apples, comprising the Gooseberry Apple,
grown in 1888, Claygate Pearmain, Golden Noble, Cox’s Orange
Pippin, Golden Reinette, and Hoary Morning.

Cultural Convmendation.

To Lord Foley, Ruxley Lodge, Esher (gardener, Mr. W.
Miller), for very fine examples of Mushrooms from an outdoor
bed. .
To A. H. Smee, Esq., for splendid dishes of Stewing Pears ;
the sorts shown being Catillac, Uvedale’s St. Germain, Pius IX.,
Verulam, Winter Franc Real, and Besi Mai.

Other Exhibits.
Mr. J. Moore, Seymour Cottage, Sutton, sent fruits of a
Seedling Pear from Bergamotte Crassane, of rich flavour but

a

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. XXXill

over-ripe. The Committee expressed a desire to see it again,
with particulars as to the habit of the tree, &c.

Lord Foley, Ruxley Lodge, Esher (gardener, Mr. W. Miller),
sent a dish of Apple Claygate Pearmain.

Messrs. R. Veitch & Son, The Nurseries, Exeter, sent Apple
Ashford Seedling, a favourite Devonshire market variety, about
which the Committee requested to have further information.

Mr. Cecil H. Hooper, Swanley, sent a variety of small baskets
for packing fruit.

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE.

Protessor A. H. Cuurcu, F.R.§., in the Chair, and eight
members present.

Effects of London Fog on Plants.—Mr. Morris read the terms
of an application for a sum of money from the Government
srant administered by the Royal Society, to be devoted to the
partial payment of the expenses connected with an inquiry into
the composition of London fog, with special reference to those
of its constituents that are injurious to plants.

Fruit of Loranthus—Mr. Morris stated, on the authority of
Professor Oliver, that the fruit of Loranthus attached to the
panicle of the Sugar-cane, exhibited at a previous meeting, was
L. americanus.

Sugar-cane Borer.—Mr. Blandford reported that the moth
mentioned at the last meeting, as injuring Sugar-canes in St.
Vincent, was Diatreea saccharalis. The beetle alluded to on the
same occasion is known as Xyleborus perforans, and was
originally described by Wollaston in his Catalogue of the
Coleoptera of Madeira, p. 96. It occasions great injury to the
bungs of the wine-casks in Madeira. Wollaston found it
commonly feeding in the stems of Jatropha curcas.

Seedlings of Sugar-cane.—Mr. Morris, in continuation of
information placed before the Committee on December 10,
exhibited specimens of mature seeds of the common Sugar-cane
(Saccharum officinarum). There were also shown germinating
seeds, some plants, drawings of the flower, and dissections of the
fruit (caryopsis) in detail. Mr. Morris stated that there appeared
to be no authentic record of any really wild station for the Sugar-
eane; further that the fruit of the Sugar-cane was not known

P

XXX1V PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

before, and had not hitherto been figuredor described. At Barbados
several times during the last twenty years, and more recently
by Professor Harrison and Mr. Bovell, self-sown seedlings of the
Sugar-cane had been observed. The subject was taken up system-
atically in 1888, and about sixty of the seedlings had been raised
to mature canes. Many of these exhibited well-marked charac-
teristics, differing from the varieties growing near them. Careful
inquiry had shown that canes known as the “‘ Purple Transparent”’
and ‘‘ White Transparent,’’ and possibly also the ‘‘ Bourbon ”
cane, produced seeds in very moderate quantities. Spikelets
received at Kew had been examined and the seed found 7m situ.
A description with figures had recently been laid before the
Linnean Society by Mr. Morris. It is anticipated that by cross-
fertilisation, and a careful selection of seedlings, it will now be
possible to raise new and improved varieties of Sugar-cane, and
renew the constitutional vigour of plants that have become
deteriorated through continuous cultivation by cutting or slips.
Great importance is attached to the subject in Sugar-producing
countries, as it opens up an entirely new field of investigation in
regard to Sugar-cane cultivation.

GENERAL MEETING.
Marcu 25, 1890.
Dr. Rosprert Hoae, F.L.8., in the Chair.

ELECTIONS.

Fellows, 24.—Sir Alex. John Arbuthnot, K.C.S.I., A. Arthur,
R. J. Ashton, Hon. Judge Bacon, Hilton C. Barker, Robert
Beldam, Henry Daniel, F. T. Edridge, Charles French, Rev.
John Green, William Hooper, J. Dunnington Jefferson, Charles
Jordan, F. Mackett, A. Matthew, Alex. Miller, Mrs. Caroline
Miller, Henry Miller, R. Harris Perey, William Russell, Thomas
William Sanders, John F. Seaton, Sir Thomas Wade, and Rev.
Alfred Wilson.

A’ paper was read : “On Saladings,’’ by M. Henry de Vilmorin,
F.R.H.S. (Paris).

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS XXXV

FLORAL COMMITTEE.

W. Marsnact, Esq., in the Chair, and eighteen members
present.

Awards Recommended :—

Silver Gilt Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, The Nurseries, Upper
Holloway, for an extensive group of plants in flower, consisting
of Clivias, Lilacs, Hyacinths, Lily-of-the-Valley, Boronias, and
Epiphyllums.

Silver Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. J. James & Son, Woodside Nursery, Farnham
Royal, Slough, for a very brightly coloured group of Cinerarias,
showing a good strain of these useful decorative flowers.

To Messrs. Paul & Son, Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, for a
beautiful group of Roses in pots, the more noteworthy varieties
bemg Lady Alice, Jean Ducher, Madame Hoste, Souvenir de
S. A. Prince, Madame Lacharme, and Mignonette.

.
- Bronze Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. Barr & Son, Covent Garden, for a group of
Daffodils, Sir Watkin, Princeps, Golden Spur, and Horsfieldii
being the most prominent varieties.

To Messrs. W. Cutbush & Son, The Nurseries, Highgate, for
a pretty group of Epacrises in flower, containing most of the
best old varieties.

To Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, The Nurseries, Swanley, for
very fine trusses of Zonal Pelargoniums and double-flowered
Cinerarias.

Awards of Merit.

To Philadelphus inodorus (votes, unanimous), from the Duke
of Northumberland, Albury Park, Guildford (gardener, Mr.
W. C. Leach). Flowers large pure white, freely produced. The
plant forces well.

To Deutzia candidissima flore pleno (votes, unanimous), from
the Duke of Northumberland (gardener, Mr. Leach). A useful
forcing shrub, bearing very pretty double snow-white flowers in

long racemes.
p2

XXXVI PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY,

To Iris Sindjarensis (votes, unanimous), from Messrs. Barr &
Son. A dwarf and very distinct species, with pale lavender-blue
flowers.

To Trillium discolor atratum (votes, 11 for, 4 against), from
Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. A variety bearing very
dark purple flowers, and with leaves prettily spotted.

To Lily-of-the-Valley, Fortin’s var. (votes, 10 for, 7 against),
from Mr. KE. Morse, The Nursery, Epsom. Plant of strong
habit of growth, and bearing bells of extra size.

Other Exhibits.

Mr. R. Dean, Ranelagh Road, Ealing, sent some well-flowered
Primroses and Polyanthuses showing a wide range of colour.

From the Royal Gardens, Kew, was sent an interesting group
of plants, containing Ccelogyne pandurata [see Report of the
Orchid Committee, p. xxxvii]. Also a group of hardy spring
flowers, comprising Triteleia uniflora, Saxifrages and Primulas
in variety, Hyacinthus ciliaris, Iris persica purpurea, Draba
Mawii, and several Sisyrinchiums.

Mr. C. Turner, Royal Nursery, Slough, sent some beautiful
blooms of Tree Carnations.

J. W. Ford, Esq., Enfield (gardener, Mr. T. H. Froud), sent
cut blooms of well-known varieties of Camellias.

Messrs. James Veitch & Sons sent several new Hyacinths,
Admiration—a pink flower—being considered the best.

ORCHID COMMITTEE.

Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart, M.P. (President R.H.8.), in the
Chair, and fifteen members present.

Awards Recommended :—
First Class Certificate. |

To Dendrobium Wardianum, Schréder’s variety, exhibited by
Baron Schréder, The Dell, Staines (gardener, Mr. Ballantine).
This is the richest coloured form of D. Wardianum, and quite
unique. Its labellum and petals are more heavily marked with
purplish crimson than in the ordinary form, but the chief
difference results from the sepals being crimson over the greater
part of their surface on the reverse side, the colour showing

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. XXXVll

through from the back to the front of the petals, whose margin
is ivory white. It bears much the same relation to D. Wardianum
that D. nobile nobilius does to D. nobile.

To Lelio-Cattleya Hippolyta x, from Messrs. James Veitch &
Sons. A garden hybrid raised at the Royal Exotic Nursery,
King’s Road, Chelsea, by crossing Lelia cinnabarina with pollen
of Cattleya labiata Mossie. The plant exhibited had a flower
about five inches across, in form like a small narrow-lipped
C. Mossi, and in colour of an exquisite tint of Indian yellow ;
the nervures of the flower and the edge of the labellum being
slightly darker than the body colour.

Award of Merit.

To Cattleya Triane Tautziana, from F. G. Tautz, Ksq.,
Studley House, Goldhawk Road, W. (gardener, Mr. Cowley). This
was a very distinct and highly coloured form, of medium size.
The petals were almost as broad as long; the labellum rich
yellow at the base, and of the fine velvety crimson colour seen
more frequently in C. Warscewiczii (C. gigas) than in the
varieties of C. Trianz, on the front lobe, which is evenly and
prettily crimped and frilled.

Cultural Commendation.

To G. F. Darnell, Esq., Devonshire House, Stamford Hill
(gardener, Mr. G. Elliott), for Angrecum citratum giganteum,
a well-grown example of the best variety of this graceful Orchid,
with four spikes.

To A. H. Smee, Esq., The Grange, Hackbridge (gardener,
Mr. G. W. Cummins), for Cyrtopodium Saintlegerianum, Reich.
Two finely flowered specimens of this handsome plant (which,
however, cannot be considered specifically distinct from C
punctatum) were staged; the long green and brown bracts
which hung from the bases of the branches of the inflorescence
lending an additional attraction to the numerous yellow and
brown flowers.

To W. C. Walter, Esq., Percy Lodge, Winchmore Hill
(gardener, Mr. G. Cragg), for Oncidium sarcodes. The plant,
which was a very strong one, had two branched spikes, each
about four feet in length.

All the above awards were by unanimous vote.

XXXVill PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Other Exhibits.

From Baron Schréder’s gardens Mr. Ballantine brought
Cattleya [Traine] Schrodere alba, which the Committee re-
quested should be forwarded again; also the fine and distinct
Odontoglossum Leeanum which was awarded a First Class Certifi-
cate in 1882.

F. G. Tautz, Esq., staged a small group, comprising Den-
drobium chrysodiscus x, Odontoglossum nevium majus, O.
blandum with two spikes, Lycaste cruenta, and some Dendrobes.

From the Royal Gardens, Kew, came a fine specimen of
Celogyne pandurata, which reflected great credit on the cultiva-
tion of this difficult plant at that establishment; it had a fine
spike of its large emerald-green flowers, the labellums being
marked on the prominent parts of the centre and base with black.

Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, staged a group of
Orchids in which were good specimens of Oncidium bifolium
majus with ten spikes, Dendrobium nobile nobilius, Oncidium
tetrapetalum, two showy varieties of Cattleya Triane, a pan of
Miltonia vexillaria, a fine Ccelogyne nearly related to C.
Cummingii, and the pretty Angrecum Germinyanum, which
was referred to the Scientific Committee.

Norman C. Cookson, Esq., Wylam-on-Tyne, again exhibited
his hybrid Phajus Cooksoni certificated at the last meeting.
Reginald Young, Esq., Fringilla, Linnet Lane, Sefton Park,
Liverpool (gardener, Mr. Poyntz), sent a supposed hybrid
Cypripedium—named C. hybridum Poyntzianum—of no great
beauty. It was similar in flower to that known as C. Bullenianum,
but it had a C. javanicum leaf. J. Charlton Parr, Esq.,
Grappenhall Heyes, Warrington (gardener, Mr. C. J. Catt),
forwarded a fine spike of the major form cf Angrecum
sesquipedale with three flowers. Messrs. Pitcher & Manda, The
United States Nurseries, Hextable, Kent, staged several Cypri-
pediums, including C. chlorops x, a C. caricinum cross nearly
related to C. Dominianum x ; also a form of C. Triane with
brightly coloured flowers. Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., Clapton,
sent Phalenopsis Schilleriano-gloriosa, a form with sepals and
petals like P. Schilleriana, but with the sepals marked like
P. Stuartiana ; the Jabellum has the cirrhe at the apex as in
P. gloriosa, and not the blunt horns of P. Schilleriana. HE, Ellis,

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. XXX1x

Esq., The Manor House, Wallington (gardener, Mr. T. A. Glover),
exhibited Ellis’s variety of Odontoglossum Andersonianum with a
fine spike of richly spotted flowers, also cut flowers of Lycaste
Schilleriana and Dendrobium nobile; and H. F. Nalder, Esq.,
Mornington Lodge, West Kensington (gardener, Mr. T. W.
Rogers), a good plant of the same species of Dendrobium.

FRUIT COMMITTEE.

Sir C. W. StRIcKLAND, Bart., in the Chair, and twenty-two
members present.

Awards Recommended :—
Award of Merit.
To Apple Amorel (votes, unanimous), from G. B. Eyre, Esq.,

Welford Park, Newbury (gardener, Mr. C. Ross). A pretty little
flat russety variety, of unknown parentage; good quality.

Cultwral Convmendation.

To W. Eastwood, Esq., Kingswood, Englefield Green
(gardener, Mr. Simms), for very fine well-grown fruits of
Strawberry La Grosse Sucrée.

Other Exhibits.

Mr. T. Lockie, ‘Oakley Court, Windsor, sent fine examples
of Cucumber Lockie’s Perfection—a short-necked, handsome
variety.

Earl Rosebery, Mentmore, Leighton Buzzard (gardener, Mr,
J. Smith), also sent a brace of fine Cucumbers.

Messrs. H. Lane & Son, The Nurseries, Great Berkhampstead,
sent examples of three varieties of Water Cress, showing slight
variations of colour, form of leaf, &c. Messrs. Lane stated that
these variations were quite constant, and that they did not
all succeed equally well in the same parts of the stream.

The Duke of Northumberland, Albury Park, Guildford
(gardener, Mr. W. C. Leach), sent some fine well-blanched heads
of Veitch’s Standard Bearer Celery.

Messrs. Webber & Co., Covent Garden, sent a fine series of
Salads, mostly imported.

Messrs. Rutley & Silverlock, Savoy Street, Strand, sent
examples of an Onion stated to be the true James’s Keeping.

x] PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The Committee considered that it more closely resembled the
Brown Globe.

Mr. W. Roupell, Harvey Lodge, Roupell Park, S.W., sent
some remarkably fine and well-kept examples of Apples, grown
in the London district. The varieties Annie Elizabeth and
Striped Beefing were remarkably fresh and good. Melon and
Bismarck were somewhat past.

Mr. Lewis, South Leasons, Malvern, sent a Seedling Apple,
recommended as a good late culinary variety.

Mr. J. Lye, Market Lavington, Wilts, sent a Seedling Apple,
as also Ashford Seedling, similar to specimens received at the
previous meeting from Messrs. Veitch, of Exeter.

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE.

D. Morais, Esq., F.L.8. (Treasurer R.H.8.), in the Chair, and
six members present.

Dr. Masters introduced M. Henry de Vilmorin, ex-President
of the Botanical Society of France, who was invited to take part
in the proceedings of the Committee.

Figs.—Branches were exhibited covered with a brown scale,
which the sender said had proved very injurious. The remedy
suggested was to scrub the branches with a hard brush and soap-
suds. The specimens were further referred to Mr. MacLachlan
for examination and report. Other branches of Fig in a dying
condition were apparently free from parasites, and their condition
betokened some mischief at the root.

Iris Sindjarensis.—A plant of this was exhibited by Messrs.
Barr & Son, and received a botanical certificate. M.de Vilmorin
pointed out its resemblance in foliage to Iris orchidacea.

St. Helena Hbony.—Mr. Morris alluded to the peculiar vege-
tation of St. Helena, now confined, for the most part, to a small
area in the central and higher part of the island. Many of the
trees formerly native to the island are now all but, or quite,
extinct. Among them is a species of Trochetia, or Melhania,
The trunks of this tree are embedded in the cliffs of the island,
and are dug out by the inhabitants for the sake of manufacturing
ornaments. The following quotation from Melliss’s exhaustive

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. xli

work on St. Helena refers to this plant :—‘ The native Ebony of
St. Helena.—This plant I believe to benowextinct. It formerly
erew on the outer portions of the island, near the coast, at
mid-altitudes, where the weather-beaten stems are still found
deeply embedded in the surface-soil. The last plant I saw was
a small one growing in the garden at Oakbank about twenty-five
years ago, but it is not there now, and I have searched the whole
island over for another, but in vain. The leaves were dark green,
and the flowers white; the wood is very hard, heavy, black in
colour, and extremely brittle. It is still collected and turned
into ornaments, which are much prized on account of its rarity.
That this tree once formed a considerable portion of the vege-
tation clothing the island on those parts that are now quite
barren is strongly evidenced by the many references to it in the
local records. It is the Dombeya erythroxylon of Andr. Bot.
fiepos., vi., t. 889, not of Willdenow.”’

Tt is interesting to know that the plant is still in existence
under cultivation at Kew (and perhaps elsewhere) under the
name of Melhania (Dombeya) erythroxylon. At the present time
the plant, which was obtained from the gardens at Herrhausen,
is in flower at Kew.

Mr. MacLachlan called attention to the interesting remark
on the rare plants of St. Helena contained in Mr. Wollaston’s
book on the Coleoptera of the Atlantic islands.

Fingered Citrons.—Dr. Masters showed a drawing of a fruit
that had ripened in the garden of Mr. Hanbury, at La Mortola,
near Ventimiglia, and made some comments on the peculiarities
of its structure. M. de Vilmorin said that similar malformations
occurred in other Oranges, especially in the Bitter Orange, the
flowers of which were used in perfumery, and in which the
carpels might be seen occasionally in all stages of dissociation.

Sport of Narcissus.—From Mr. Walker came one bulb pro-
ducing two distinct flowers—viz., Silver Phoenix and N. incom-
parabilis fl.-pl. The specimen was referred to Dr. Masters for
further examination.

Florida Pine.—From Mr. Divers came a cone of Pinus
cubensis (Elliotti), and one of P. inops, var. clausa, just brought
home from Florida. Mr. Morris spoke of the wood of the Cuban

xlii § PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Pine in British Honduras as being very hard, and said that many
colonies were now importing soft wood, not that their own forests
were destroyed, but because the timber yielded by them was too
hard to be used profitably. M. de Vilmorin pointed out the
difference between the typical Pinus inops and the specimen
exhibited.

GENERAL MEETING.
Aprit 8, 1890.

D. Morris, Ksq., F.L.8. (Treasurer R.H.§.), in the Chair.
ELECTIONS.

Fellows, 18.—Lord Auckland, T. C. Barnett, Lord Alfred
Churchill, G. C. Churchill, Major Thomas Brett Cowburn, Henry
F. Moore, Thomas Pritchard Newman, George Smailes, G.
Frederick Strawson, Alfred B. Testrail, Anthony Waterer, T.
Welham, John Wood.

A paper was read :—‘‘ On Spring Flower Gardening,” by Mr.
W. Ingram, F.R.H.S., Belvoir.

FLORAL COMMITTEE.

W. MarsHatt, Esq., in the Chair, and seventeen members
present.

Awards Recommended :—

Silver Banksian Medal.

To Mr. W. Rumsey, The Nurseries, Waltham Cross, for a
eroup of Roses in pots, comprismg Lady Mary Fitzwilliam,
Climbing Niphetos, Duke of Edinburgh, Sunset, and Souvenir
de Paul Neyron.

To Mr. J. Walker, Ham Common, Surrey, for a fine collec-
tion of Daffodils. Amongst the list of varieties were Mary
Anderson, C. J. Backhouse, Henry Irving, Emperor, Horsfieldii,
Cernuus, Sir Watkin, and Lady Watkin.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. xhii

To Messrs. Paul and Son, Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, N., for
a good group of plants, consisting of Hippeastrum (Amaryllis)
and Standard Azaleas, well flowered. Also noteworthy were a
number of Alpine plants in pots, flowering Shrubs, Tree Ponies,
Erythroniums, and Tulips (in variety).

Bronze Banksian Medal.

To O. T. Hodges, Esq., Lachine, Chislehurst, for a pretty
eroup of Alpine Primulas in flower.

Awards of Merit.

To Pyxidanthera barbulata (votes, unanimous), from Messrs.
Paul & Son. An elegant little rock-plant, bearing a profusion of
white star-shaped flowers.

To Primrose Oakwood Blue (votes, unanimous), from G. F.
Wilson, Esq., Heather Bank, Weybridge Heath. Colour of
flowers deep indigo-blue—the best in this way yet obtained. The
plant had been flowering out doors since January.

To Polyanthus Terra-cotta (votes, 14 for, 1 against), from Mr.
R. Dean, Ranelagh Road, Ealing. Colour of flower as indicated
by its name.

To Hippeastrum (Amaryllis) Grand Monarch (votes, unani-
mous), from Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. Flower of
fine form, dark-red colour.

Other Exhibits.

The Misses de Rothschild, Gunnersbury House, Acton
(gardener, Mr. James Hudson), sent flowering branches of
Magnolia conspicua (very beautiful), Habrothamnus scaber
(Newelli), and Maranta Warscewiczi.

From the Royal Gardens, Kew, was sent a good group of
useful Greenhouse Plants in flower, such as Eupatorium atro-
rubens, Agapetis buxifolia, Mackaya bella, Goodia latifolia, Olearia
stellulata, Bauera rubioides, Chorozema Soulangeana, &c.

Mr. R. Dean, Ealing, sent a number of Primroses—the
variety White Cloud being very distinct and beautiful.

Mr. W. Rumsey sent excellent blooms of Roses Innocente
Pirola and Niphetos.

The Rev. W. Wilks, Shirley Vicarage, Croydon, sent Cytisus
atro-purpureus.

xliv PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Messrs. Barr & Son, Covent Garden, sent a showy group of
Daffodils in excellent variety.

O. T. Hodges, Esq., Lachine, Chislehurst, sent some well-
flowered plants of Lachenalia Nelsoni.

ORCHID COMMITTEE.

Dr. Maxwewt T. Masters in the Chair, and thirteen members
present.

Awards Recommended :—

Bronze Banksian Medal.

To the Duke of Sutherland, Trentham Hall, Stoke-on-Trent
(gardener, Mr. P. Blair), for a group of Orchids comprising
Cattleya Triane ‘‘ Trentham variety,’’ a form with richly coloured
purplish crimson labellum ; Odontoglossum Ruckerianum variety
with heavily blotched flowers of good size; O. crispum flaveolum
with clear yellow flowers; Dendrobium nobile nobilius, D. n.
Cooksonu, D. chrysodiscus x, and a large variety of Odonto-
elossum triumphans.

To F. Wigan, Esq., Clare Lawn, East Sheen (gardener,
Mr. W. H. Young), for a group of Orchids whose chief feature was
two well-grown specimens of the large and fragrant Cattleya
labiata Schrédere, the one with twelve and the other with seven
flowers. This species was named C. Triane Schrédere by
Professor Reichenbach, but in odour and other respects it is more
distinct from C. Triane than C. labiata Mendeli is; its proper
designation therefore should be C. labiata Schréderee. Mr. Young
also staged a fine Aéranthes (Angreecum) Leonis, Cypripedium
Swanianum x, C.hirsutissimum, anda small plant of Bifrenaria
Harrisonie.

Cultural Commendation.
To F. Wigan, Esq., Clare Lawn, Hast Sheen (gardener,
Mr. Young), for Aéranthes Leonis.
To E. Ellis, Esq., Manor House, Wallington (gardener, Mr. J.
A. Glover), for a fine specimen of Aérides suavissimum with four
spikes of flowers.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. xlv

Other Exhibits.

The Rey. E. Handley, Royal Crescent, Bath (gardener, Mr.
Kerslake), exhibited a good specimen of Angraecum sesquipedale
with nine flowers; also a superb variety of Odontoglossum
crispum and a highly coloured form of O. maculatum.

F. G. Tautz, Esq., Studley House, Goldhawk Road, W.
(gardener, Mr. Cowley), staged a brilliantly coloured Cattleya
Lawrenceana, a fine specimen of Cypripedium selligerum majus x ,
and Miltonia vexillaria, with white edges to the segments and
white rays on the labellum.

Messrs. J. Laing & Son, Forest Hill, sent a pigmy form of
Cypripedium niveum; Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, Chelsea,
a distinct new Dendrobium from New Guinea. Its growths are
similar to those of D. macrophyllum (Veitchianum), and the
flowers approach that species in form ; they are yellowish, two
inches across, the sepals and petals spotted with violet, and the
lip striped with the same colour. Mrs. Brightwen, The Grove,
Stanmore (gardener, Mr. J. W. Odell), exhibited for the first time
the pretty little white Disa sagittalis with six spikes.

Cut spikes of a spotted form of Odontoglossum Pescatorei
were sent by T. H. Powell, Esq., Drinkstone Park, Bury St.
Edmunds (gardener, Mr. George Palmer). The sprays bore
evidence of good culture, and, although both cut from the same
plant, exhibited some little difference in the spotting of the
flowers. Drewett O. Drewett, Esq., Riding Mill on Tyne, sent
flowers of his hybrid Cypripedium delicatulum x, a hybrid
between C. barbatum Warnerii and C. Dayanum, and also an
inflorescence of a variety of Dendrobium thyrsiflorum with
unusually white sepals and petals.

FRUIT COMMITTEE.

Sir C. W. STRICKLAND, Bart., in the Chair, and twelve members
present,

Award Recommended :—

Award of Merit.
To Strawberry Auguste Nicaise (votes, unanimous) as a good
forcing variety, from Earl Rosebery, Mentmore, Leighton
Buzzard (gardener, Mr. J. Smith).

xlvi PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Other Exhibits.

Lord Foley, Ruxley Lodge, Esher (gardener, Mr. Miller), sent
some good Mushrooms from outdoor beds.

Earl Rosebery (gardener, Mr. J. Smith) sent fine fruits of
Laxton’s Noble Strawberry.

From the Society’s Gardens were sent thirteen varieties of
Broccoli which had been on trial, the varieties consisting of
Smith’s Protecting (Rutley & Silverlock), Leamington (Veitch),
White Sprouting (Oakshott & Millard), Mammoth (Veitch),
Purple Sprouting (R. Veitch & Son), Improved Early Purple
Sprouting (J. Veitch & Sons), Sutton’s Dwarf Favourite
(Oakshott & Millard), Sharpe’s Monarch (Sharpe & Co.),
Paragon (Hooper & Co.), Knight’s Protecting (Veitch), Cooling’s
Matchless (Veitch), Sutton’s Perfection (Oakshott & Millard),
Sulphur or Chappell’s Cream (Veitch).

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE.

D. Morris, Hsq., F.L.8. (Treasurer R.H.S.), in the Chair, and
five members present.

Scale on Fig Tree.-—Mr. McLachlan reported that the scale
on the Fig-tree was a species new to Great Britain, and named
Mytilaspis ficus.

Purple Primrose.—Mr. Wilson exhibited a plant of a Prim-
rose, a seedling from Scott Wilson, showing a greater advance
to a deep blue colour than has yet been made. A series of inter-
mediate forms were also shown.

Root Galls on Poa annwa.—Professor Marshall Ward showed
a specimen of this grass with spiral knobs on the rootlets, due
to the irritation of the cortical tissues caused by root-worms,
Heterodera rexdicicola. Mr. Morris alluded to the recent publi-
cation of a report on this subject by the American Department
of Agriculture.

‘“« Fingered’’ Orange.—From Mr. Rivers, of Sawbridgeworth,
came specimens of Oranges showing a partial dissociation of the
carpels similar to the corresponding anomaly in the Citron, of
which drawings were recently laid before the Committee.

Cytisus Adam x.—Mr. Wilks showed a flowering root of

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. xlvii

Cytisus purpureus which had been engrafted on a_ seedling
Laburnum. Professor Marshall Ward called attention to the
explanation offered by Professor Strassburger, of the occurrence
of the famous Cytisus Adami, viz., that it was due to an acci-
dental fusion of two nuclei, one from one species, one from the
other.

Diseased Vines.—Mr. Blackmore sent a specimen with the
following note :—‘‘ The specimen submitted is the entire upward
erowth of a young Gros Colmar planted in a vinery border, and
started into growth some two months since. About three weeks
ago it was suddenly struck with the fatal complaint, having, up
to that time, been strong and healthy, with richly coloured
foliage. I have not examined the roots, but believe that they
are quite healthy, as in fifty similar cases I have always found
them to be. There are no cold draughts in the house, neither
has there been any sudden fall of temperature. Other vines
close by are in luxuriant health and full growth.”’ The specimen
was referred to Professor Marshall Ward for examination and
report.

Botamcal Certificates.—Certificates were recommended on
the ground of botanical interest and novelty to Dendrobium
albo-violaceum and Disa sagittalis.

GENERAL MEETING.
Aprin 22, 1890.

Sir Trevor LAwReEnce, Bart., M.P. (President R.H.S.), in the
Chair.
ELECTIONS.

Fellows, 30.—W. E. H. Baker, Mrs. Ida Mabel Benyon,
Mrs. E. Bodkin, John Burrell, Frank F. Butler, Rev. W. H.
Churchill, Mrs. Coleman, Drewett O. Drewett, Geo. Edwards,
R. F. Finnis, Mrs. Wm. Robt. Fox, J. C. Geiselbrecht, J oseph
Harding, Colonel E. §. Hill, Chas. F. Howell, Geo. Bond
Howes, Henry Hide, Miss Jaffray, Henry Hart Jones, Peter Kay,
W. Mann, John Pope, Dr. Richard Quain, Herbert Rothera,
Henry Simon, Edwin Skewis, Richard Steel, Richard Tyser,
Lynch White, jun., Mrs. Wurton.

xlylll PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The President presented a Veitch Memorial Medal to Mr.
David Thompson, gardener to the Duke of Buccleuch at Drum-
lanrig Castle, and to Mr. Bruce Finlay, superintendent of the
Botanical Gardens, Manchester.

Papers were read:—‘‘On Primulas,’’ by the Rey. C.
Wolley-Dod, M.A., F.R.H.S.; and ‘On Auriculas,’’ by Mr.
T. E. Henwood, Treasurer National Auricula and Primula
Society.

FLORAL COMMITTEE.

W. Marswatn, Esq., in the Chair, and nineteen members
present.

Awards Recommended :—

Silver Git Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. Ryder & Son, The Nurseries, Sale, Manchester,
for a very beautiful group of Primula Sieboldi, in variety, the
most noticeable sorts being Bruce Findlay, Distinction, Rosy
Morn, Mrs. Ryder, Beauty of Sale, Nymph, and Mrs. F. §.
Woodward.

Silver Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. B. §S. Williams & Son, The Nurseries, Upper
Holloway, for a large group of flowering plants, consisting prin-
cipally of very well-grown specimens of Clivias, Hippeastrum
(Amaryllis), and Spirea astilboides.

To Mr. H. B. May, The Nurseries, Upper Edmonton, for a
eroup of well-grown Ferns.

Bronze Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. H. Lane & Son, The Nurseries, Great Berkhamp-
stead, for an attractive group of Rhododendrons and Azaleas in
flower.

To Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, for a small but
interesting group of plants in flower, noticeable being Staphylea
colchica, Azalea roseflora, and Chionanthus virginica.

Awards of Merit.

To Mignonette Garaway’s Double White Improved (votes, 7
for, 2 against), from Messrs. Garaway & Co., The Nurseries,
Bristol. An excellent ‘type, producing very erect spikes of pure
white flowers.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. xlix

To Nephrolepis exaltata plumosa (votes, unanimous), from
Mr. H. B. May, Upper Edmonton. A distinct variety, with
heavily crested fronds.

To Rhododendron Williamsi (votes, unanimous), from Messrs.
B. 8S. Williams & Son. Obtained from a cross between Rhodo-
dendron arboreum and Azalea sinensis; flowers nearly white,
tinted with lilac.

To Primrose Red Gauntlet (votes, unanimous), from G. F.
Wilson, Esq., F.R.S., Heather Bank, Weybridge. Flowers of
rich purplish blue, having a band of red round the yellow centre.

To Primula (ameena) Bruce Findlay (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. Ryder & Son. Finely formed flowers of a bright blue colour.

To Primula (amcena) Distinction (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. Ryder & Son. Flowers deep rose, beautifully fringed.

To Narcissus George Engleheart (votes, 5 for, 4 against),
from the Rev. G. H. Engleheart, Andover. Raised from a cross
between Narcissus Tazetta Bazelman major and N. poeticus
ornatus ; perianth white, cup pale yellow, with bright yellow
margin.

Other Exhibits.

Messrs. Paul & Son, Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, sent a beautiful
eroup of hardy flowers, especially noticeable being the fine
masses of Doronicum plantagineum excelsum, Anemones in
variety, and Iris pumila azurea.

T. H. Burroughs, Esq., 16 Lower Berkeley Street, W., sent a
charming display of cut flowers of Anemone hortensis (varieties).

From the Royal Gardens, Kew, was sent a very interesting
sroup, consisting of Sikkim Rhododendrons, Aristolochia Gol-
dieana, Streptocarpus Dunni, Amherstia nobilis, Tropswolum
azureum, Primulas in variety, &c.

M. Hodgson, Esq., Shirley Cottage, Croydon, and Mr. J.
Walker, The Nursery, Thame, each exhibited very fine blooms
of Marechal Niel Rose.

Mr. J. T. Gilbert, The Nursery, Bourne, Lincolnshire, sent
some beautifully coloured flowers of Anemone fulgens.

The Rev. W. Wilks, Shirley Vicarage, Croydon, sent flowers
of the fine Trumpet Daffodil Mme. de Graaff.

Messrs. Barr & Son sent an attractive collection of Daffodils
and other hardy flowers,

1 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Mr. R. Dean, Ealing, sent a plant of Boscawen’s double
yellow Primrose. This the Committee desired to see again
next year.

R. I. Measures, Esq., Camberwell, sent cut flowers of Pelar-
gonium Miss I’. Measures, pure white. The Committee expressed
a desire to see plants in flower.

The Duke of Northumberland, Syon House, Brentford
(gardener, Mr. G. Wythes), sent some well-berried Pernettyas.

Mrs. Grinling, Harrow Weald House, Stanmore (gardener,
Mr, Seabright), sent a well-flowered plant of Ochna multiflora.

ORCHID COMMITTEE.
T. B. Haywoop, Esq., in the Chair, and fifteen members present,

Awards Recommended :—

First-class Certificate.

To Odontoglossum triumphans aureum, from A. H. Smee,
Ksq., The Grange, Wallington (gardener, Mr. Cummins). This
variation from the type has pale yellow markings in place of
chestnut-brown. It is the first appearance of this variation in
O. triumphans, and it bears the same relation to that species
that the yellow O. luteo-purpureum sceptrum known as O. Mase-
reelianum bears to its species.

To Cattleya Lawrenceana Vincku, from Baron H. Schréder,
The Dell, Staines (gardener, Mr. H. Ballantine). This fine
variety has the flowers tinged with pale blue or bluish slate colour.
It is a very novel colour in Orchids. The plant had two spikes,
one of three and the other of four flowers.

Awards of Merit.

To Miltonia vexillaria le Doux variety, from G. le Doux, Esq.,
East Moulsey, Surrey. A variety with very large flowers, the
labellum white, and the sepals and petals tinged with rose colour.

To Odontoglossum Pescatorei, Mrs. G. W. Palmer, from
G. W. Palmer, Esq., Elmhurst, Reading (gardener, Mr. B.
Dockerill). The flowers were of good size, pure white, with
purple spotting on the halves of the sepals and petals near the
centre of the flower, the character of the marking resembling
that of O. hebraicum.

All the above awards were by unanimous vote.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. li

Other Exhibits.

Malcolm §. Cooke, Esq., Kingston Hill (gardener, Mr. D.
Cullimore), staged a small but select group of Orchids, con-
sisting of two very highly coloured forms of Odontoglossum
Rossii majus, O. nebulosum, O. Hallii, Oncidium cucullatum,
Sophronitis grandiflora, and Masdevallia ignea. Also a full-size
photograph of a plant of Cattleya guttata Prinzii (C. amethysto-
glossa) which he had flowered with twenty-four flowers on a
spike.

R. I. Measures, Esq., Cambridge Lodge, Camberwell (gar-
dener, Mr. H. Simpkins), exhibited his new hybrid Cypripedium
Apollo x, the result of crossing C. vexillarium x with C. Stonel.
The flowers, which were flushed with bright rose, were inter-
mediate between the two parents, but the plant being small, the
Committee requested to see it again.

A. H. Smee, Esq., exhibited a good plant of Dendrobium
thyrsiflorum with three spikes.

H. M. Pollett, Esq., Fernside, Bickley, sent what was said
to be Odontoglossum luteo-purpureum sceptrum, differmg from
the type by having a white ground. The variety seemed to be a
form of O. Wilckeanum.

Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, Royal Exotic Nurseries,
Chelsea, sent their form of Cattleya calummata x,and a new
Cypripedium obtained between C. Philippinense and C. villosum,
not yet strong enough to show its character.

Sir Trevor Lawrenee, Bart., M.P., sent Masdevallia Arminil,
Oncidium phymatochilum, Dendrobium sulcatum, and a grand
cut inflorescence of Phalenopsis grandiflora.

F. Lee, Esq., Lyndford Hall, Mundford, sent two fine cut
spikes of the rare Cymbidium chloranthum, with numerous pale
greenish yellow flowers marked with purple on the lip.

FRUIT COMMITTEE.
Sir C. W. StrickLanp, Bart., in the Chair, and eighteen
members present.
Awards Recommended :—

Silver Banksian Medal.
To Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons, The Nurseries, Crawley, for a
collection of well-kept Apples, the most noteworthy sorts being

li PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Cox’s Orange, Curltail, Alfriston, Dutch Mignonne, Brabant
Bellefleur, and Betty Geeson.

Cultural Commendation.

To the Duke of Northumberland, Syon House, Brentford

(gardener, Mr. G. Wythes), for very fine fruits of Strawberries
President and Keen’s Seedling.

Other Exhibits.

Messrs. H. Lane & Son, The Nurseries, Great Berkhampstead,
sent examples of Apple Lane’s Prince Albert.

Lord Foley, Ruxley Lodge, Esher (gardener, Mr. Miller),
sent Mushrooms from an outdoor bed.

Mr. W. B. Hartland, nurseryman, Cork, sent Broccoli April

Queen. Heads very large. The Committee expressed a desire to
have it tried at Chiswick.

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE.

Dr. M. T. Masrmrs in the Chair, and nine members present.

Hybrid Narcissi.—Rev. G. H. Engleheart exhibited a col-
lection of hybrids, amongst which was one called George Engle-
heart, a cross between N. poeticus ornatus and Narcissus Tazetta
Bazelman major. This was quite new, and received a botanical
certificate. Another was between N. poeticus and a trumpet
Daffodil, Hudibras ; this had a remarkably large and flat crown.
A third, between P. poeticus ornatus and Mary Anderson, had
an orange-streaked cup, both parents having an orange-bordered
cup; the colour had become intensified. Mr. Engleheart ob-
served that the anthers being situated half-way between the
points of the insertion of those of the two parents, was a cha-
racteristic feature of hybrids amongst Narcissi, and that no
appreciable difference occurs in the hybrids raised when the
parentage is reversed. He also remarked that Dean Herbert
thought that N. Tazetta Bazelman major was barren with
its pollen, as he could raise no plants from it. This was probably
due to a too chilly climate. Mr. Henslow remarked that N.
Tazetta is very abundant amongst the rocks in Malta, and has
two forms, one with a short stout stem and many flowers, an-
other with a long slender stem and fewer flowers.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. li

Aristolochia Goldieana.—Mr. Morris commented upon the
singular flower of this plant, which had blossomed at Kew,
and now exhibited. There had been a race between the flower-
bud and the shoot-bud. The former was small, and proceeded
out of the old wood. The flower-bud finally prevailed, and the
shoot was thereby checked. It is a West African species, dif-
fering from the South American in having twenty-four stamens,
&c. It is figured and described in the Botanical Magazine,
No. 5672.

Primrose variety—Myr. Wilson exhibited a seedling from
‘* Scott Wilson,” of a deep blue-purple, with a red eye.

Plant Diseases—Rev. C. Wolley-Dod gave an interesting
account of several diseases of plants in his garden, and com-
mented on the difficulty of finding curative means, or of hearing
of other suggestions than burning. He first alluded to a species
of smut (Ustilago) on Primula farinosa, which appeared to be
indigenous, as the plants were collected in Lancashire; and,
although it was grown with P. denticulata, the smut was con-
fined to the former species. Aicidium ficarie had attacked his
Hellebores. In this case, a drier soil was suggested as likely to
prove effective in ridding the plants of the fungus. The ‘“ Lily
spot,’ due to Polyactis cana, usually appearing late in summer,
had been seen in April upon Tulips, and apparently the same
species on Daffodils. It was suggested that a mixture of sulphate
of copper and quicklime would prove effective, as in the case of
Vines, described below. Puccinia Schreeteri had occurred on
Daffodils from Portugal, and also upon the common double
sorts.

Diseased Vines, Treatment of, in France, with “ Bouillie
Bordelaise.””—Mr. Dod.read the following communication :—‘ In
the Médoc there are three applications of the treatment. (1)
The first is towards the end of May, when the Vine has produced
shoots about 80 centimetres long. At this period the flower of
the Vine is not yet opened. (2) A second application is made at
the end of June or the beginning of July. (8) A third about the
first half of August. ‘The first application requires about 2 hec-
tolitres of Bouillie per hectare. The other two, 23 to 8 hectolitres
per hectare. With regard to the preparation of the Bouillie, the
following is the method employed :—For 100 kilos. In one
tub is put 50 kilos. of water and 8 kilos. of sulphate of copper ; in

liv PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

another tub 50 kilos. of water and two of lime. The sulphate of
copper having been dissolved, and the lime well soaked, the two
liquids are then mixed. Cold water is used and slaked lime.
Formerly small brooms made of Heather or Butchers’ Broom
were used to sprinkle the liquid on the vines. Several varieties
of syringe are now used. It was at first hoped that the Bouillie
would destroy both the mildew and the Oidium. Up to the
present time such has not been the case; and if the mildew is
absolutely destroyed by this treatment, the use of sublimed
sulphur has to be continued against the Oidium.

Sulphate of [ron as a Remedy against the Potato Disease.—
Rev. G. Henslow quoted the following passage from a report. by
the late Professor G. Gulia, of Malta, upon the Orange disease,
but bearing on the question of the destruction of vegetable para-
sites :—‘‘ Having watered two Aralias, three Begonias, an Orange,
and several Rose bushes, with a solution of sulphate of iron, in
the proportion of six grains to one litre, these plants, far from
sustaining any injury, seemed to gain intensity of colour to their
chlorophyll, and their buds shot with greater rapidity and luxu-
riance. Towards the end of the past year, Potatoes were attacked
by Phytopthora infestans, to such an extent as to impoverish
and destroy the crop of the greater number of fields, especially in
the eastern districts of the island. Ina small field adjacent to
others infected by the fungus, the ground was sprinkled with the
solution prior to the sowing of the Potatoes; some young plants
sprang up, and the crop was so abundant as to astonish the cul-
tivators of the neighbouring fields, who were seized with a longing
to adopt the method in question. Not a single leaf of these
plants bore the fatal fungus. This was certainly due to the
sulphate of iron, which had destroyed the spores buried in the
soil, and rendered the plants so vigorous as to impede the growth
of the pernicious fungus.”

Colours of Flowers, Experiments on.—The following com-
munication was received from Mr. Smee: “Some years ago,
when experimenting with flowers and plants placed in a weak
solution of silicate of soda, I noticed that the plants and flowers
were affected by the solution according to their colour. The
colours disappear in the following order: blue, lilac, red, and
brown, whilst yellow was the most persistent. Greens behaved
according as blue or yellow predominated in its composition.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. lv

The question has occurred to me whether the white varieties of
flowers are not formed among plants in a similar order. We
have an example in the blanching of the old flowers of Franciscea,
Then again in the poor varieties of Vanda cerulea, the petals
are almost white with very pale blue veining. In Cattleya, the
colour of the petals and lip disappears, leaving the yellow throat
and the pale pink tint (which so often spoils a white Cattleya
from a florist’s point of view), as the remains of the red tint in
the mauve colour. Therefore, as yellow is so persistent, we can-
not expect an albino of ©. citrina to appear amongst our white
varieties. The white Odontoglossum crispum is due to the dis-
appearance of the brown blotches, leaving only the yellow mark-
ings on the column; and in the case of the yellow O. triumphans,
which is a poor form of the ordinary type, the brown blotches
are either absent or are in process of disappearance. The only
pure white forms of Orchids are Cologyne cristata alba, Dendro-
bium Kingianum album, and Saccolabium Heathii.” [Calanthe
vestita, var. nivalis, is another purely white orchid, and there
may be others. |

Primrose with Foliaceous Corolla.—Mr, Douglas sent a plant
with the corolla foliaceous ; the calyx was normal. It is a not

uncommon form.

RULES FOR THE NAMING OF ORCHIDS
FOR GARDEN PURPOSHES.

Adopted by the Council, May 138, 1890.

Sect. I.—GENERA, SPECIES, WELL-MARKED VARIETIES, AND
NATURAL Hyprips.

1. The names of natural genera, species, and well-marked
varieties, as well as of presumed wild hybrids, shall be written
so as to accord with botanical language and usage, and to
conform with the laws of botanical nomenclature (Lovs de la
Nomenclature Botanque) as adopted at the International
Botanical Coneress at Paris in 1867.

2. Exhibitors showing, for the first time, a plant under a
Latin name, shall be required to furnish the name of the botanist
who has described the plant.

lyi PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Sect. II.—ArtTiIFic1AL HyBRIDS BETWEEN GENERA.

3. Every bigener shall receive a generic name in Latin
formed by combining the names of the parent genera, and a
specific name also in Latin, the sign of hybridity x being always
added.

Snot. II].—ArtiriciaL HyBrRIDS BETWEEN SPECIES.

4, Hybrids between species raised artificially shall be named
in Latin, with the addition of the word hybridus, or of the sign
of hybridity x. (See par. 1.)

Snot. [LV.—ARTIFICIAL CROSSES BETWEEN VARIETIES.

5. Crosses between varieties raised artificially shall receive
suitable vernacular names.

Sect. V.m—GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS.

6. The Orchid Committee shall decline to recognise any
unauthorised name, or any name that is deemed unsuitable, or
is not applied in conformity with the preceding rules.

7. A name once authoritatively adopted shall not be altered.

8. An award may be made to any plant that is considered
by the Committee worthy of such distinction, even though it be
unnamed, or not named in accordance with the preceding reeu-
lations, provided that, within a reasonable time, to be deter-
mined by the Committee, a proper name be given. Any award
made under these circumstances shall be suspended until the
plant has been properly named.

9. The operation of these rules to be prospective, not
retrospective.

10: The Council wishes to impress upon Orchid orowers the
desirability of obtaining drawings or photographs of all new
and certificated Orchids, and of depositing such drawings in the
Library of the Society for reference.

11. The Council also desires to remind cultivators of the
great importance of preserving specimens for future reference
and comparison, and suggests that, wherever practicable, speci-
mens should be sent for this purpose to the ‘ Director of the
Royal Gardens, Kew.”

EXTRACTS FROM THE PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

a

SSS

GENERAL MEETING.
May 18, 1890.

Gro. Pauu, Esq., in the Chair.
ELECTIONS.

Fellows, 85.—W. C. Atkinson, Mrs. E. Bramah, Robert
Brown, Geo. Catherell, Robt. Caught, D. Alex. Coles, Geo. Cox,
Robt. Cumming, Geo. Dixon, 8. W. Edelsten, P. H. Emerson,
Edw. Empey, Alf. Florance, Wickham Flower, Mrs. Blackett
Gill, John H. Gray, C. H. Hall, W. R. Hawson, Capt. Cecil
Holder, W. Chas. Jones, Mrs. Kidston, Mrs. Louis Levy, L.
Lopes, John Lynam, Albert Middleton, Mrs. E. G. Codrington
Parr, Thos. Peed, Samuel Reid, A. W. Smith, A. M. Smithers,
F.. A. Taylor, 8. Thacker, Col. Wm. Brooke, G. W. Truscott,
Richard Winch.

A paper was read on ‘‘ Spring-flowering Trees and Shrubs,
by Mr. W. Goldring, F.R.H.S.

FLORAL COMMITTEE.

W. Marsuatt, Esq., in the Chair, and fifteen members present.

3

Awards Recommended :—
Silver Gilt Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. Kelway & Son, The Nurseries, Langport, Somer-
set, for a collection of cut flowers of Tree and Herbaceous Ponies,
single-flowered Pyrethrums, masses of Lilac (Syringa alba grandi-
flora), Kurybia Gunni, and the pure white Anemone sylvestris.

Silver Banksian Medal.
To Messrs. Paul & Son, Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, for an
interesting collection of cut specimens of hardy flowering trees

Iviii PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

and shrubs, comprising several varieties of Lilacs, Cytisus
scoparius var. Andreanus (certificated), double Cherry, Cydonia
japonica, Staphylea colchica, &c.

Bronze Banksian Medal.

To Mr. F. Hooper, The Nurseries, Bath, and Mr. J. Forbes,
The Nurseries, Hawick, N.B., for collections of Pansies (cut
blooms).

To Messrs. Barr & Son, Covent Garden, for a group of Daffo-
dils, Irises, Tulips,“and other hardy flowers.

To Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, The Nurseries, Swanley, for
cut blooms of French and Zonal Pelargoniums, and baskets of
Pansies arranged in distinct colours.

To Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, for a group of hardy
trees and shrubs: Cydonia japonica Moorlezi, Enkianthus
campanulatus (both of which were certificated), Ledum buxi-
folium, L. latifolium, L. palustre, &e.

To Messrs. Ryder & Son, The Nurseries, Sale, Manchester,
for a group of many varieties of Primula Sieboldii and Pansies,
in variety.

Furst Class Certificate.

To Calla Elhottiana (votes, unanimous), from Captain Elliott,
Farnborough Park, Farnborough (gardener, Mr. G. M. Knight),
bearing a fine rich yellow spathe; large deep-green leaves,
spotted with white.

To Cytisus scoparius var. Andreanus (fig. 39) (votes, unani-
mous), from Sir T. Lawrence, Burford Lodge, Dorking ; Messrs.
Paul & Son, and Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons. A handsome and
distinct variety of the common Broom. Flowers large bright
yellow, wings of a rich reddish brown.

To Blandfordia nobilis imperialis (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans. A handsome plant, bear-
ing large bell-shaped rich orange-red and yellow flowers.

To Lilac Madame Kreuter (votes, unanimous), from Messrs.
Paul & Son, bearing large clusters of rich purplish-crimson flowers.

To Acer Prince Hendjery (votes, 7 for, 8 against), from Messrs.
Paul & Son. A beautiful variety, with bronzy-coloured leaves.

To Cydonia japonica Moorlezi (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, bearing an abundance of large rich
red flowers.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. lix

Zi ese
ty Yip

Fic. 39.—CytTIsus ScOPARIUS, VAR. ANDREANUS.

For this figure we are indebted to the Editor of the Journal of Horticulture.

lx PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY,

Award of Merit.

To Tree Peony Beatrice Kelway (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. Kelway & Son. Flowers large white single, of a cupped
form.

To Lunaria biennis variegata (votes, 7 for, 3 against), from
Messrs. W. Cutbush & Son, Highgate, N. Flowers deep purplish
crimson.

To Enkianthus campanulatus (votes, 7 for, 3 against), from
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons. A shrub of compact habit, bearing
small bell-shaped reddish flowers.

To Bedding Pansy Eynsford Yellow (votes, unanimous),
from Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons. A bedding variety. Flowers
deep yellow, very freely produced.

To Primula Sieboldi alba magnifica (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. Ryder & Son. Flowers large white, beautifully fringed.

To Juniperus canadensis aureus (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons. A dwarf-growing variety; young
growths tipped with rich golden yellow.

Other Exhibits.

From the Royal Gardens, Kew, was sent an interesting col-
lection of cut specimens of hardy flowering trees and shrubs,
noteworthy being Cytisus precox, Viburnum cotinifolium,
VY. lantana, Amelanchier botryapium, A. canadensis, Pyrus
Maulei superba, Exxochorda grandiflora, Cerasus avium, C. a.
fl. pl., C. Mahaleb chrysocarpa, &c.

Messrs. W. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross, sent H.P. Rose
Danmark, which the Committee desired to see again.

Mr. J. Hudson, Gunnersbury House, Acton, sent flowering
branches of Cercis siliquastrum.

Mr. W. Poupart, Twickenham, sent some well-flowered Lily-
of-the-Valley.

Mr. R. Dean, Ealing, sent some pretty Alpine Auriculas and
Polyanthuses.

Monsieur Hennequin, Angers, France, sent flowers of a rich-
coloured variety of Anemone coronaria.

Mr. G. Prince, Oxford, sent Tea Rose Souvenir de S. A. Prince
—a sport from Souvenir d’un Ami.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. lxi

ORCHID COMMITTEE.

Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., in the Chair, and
fifteen members present.

Awards Recommended :—
Furst Class Certificate.

To Odontoglossum maculatum anceps (votes, unanimous),
from W. C. Atkinson, Esq., Aigburth, Liverpool. An extra-
ordinarily beautiful form of this old species, the flowers larger
and more richly coloured than in the type.

Award of Merit.

To Celogyne tomentosa (votes, unanimous), sent by R. I.
Measures, Esq., Cambridge Lodge, Flodden Road, Camberwell
(gardener, Mr. H. Simpkins). A very handsome species, allied
to C. Massangeana, but with salmon-tinted flowers. The plant
exhibited was a strong one, with several sprays of flowers.

Cultural Commendation.

To Mr. Cypher, gardener to Mrs. General Studd, Royal
Crescent, Bath, for Lelia purpurata Studdii, a fine form and well
erown.

Other Exhibits.

M. L. Linden, Directeur de 1|’Horticulture Internationale,
Pare Léopold, Brussels, forwarded two plants of a new form of
Cattleya labiata, named Warocqueana. It seemed nearest to
C. 1. Warneri, but being, it was stated, from a new locality, it is
probably distinct from any hitherto introduced. The flowers
were richly coloured, but the plant being imperfectly developed,
the Committee desired to see it again. The same firm also sent
Dendrobium Galliceanum, a form of D. thyrsiflorum, with a
curiously flattened lip; and Odontoglossum crispum virginale,
which was certificated a few years ago.

Sir C. W. Strickland, Bart., again sent the plants he exhibited
of Cattleya citrina in flower last year, to prove that this species
need not deteriorate under cultivation.

R. I. Measures, Esq., staged a pretty new Masdevallia of the
M. simula type, named M. O’Brieniana, and cut spikes of a fine

lxil PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

white C. Mendelii, named C. M. “ Venus’’; also plants of the
finely coloured Masdevallia ignea Southgatei.

N. N. Sherwood, Esq. (gardener, Mr.Jones), sent a fine rose-
coloured form of Odontoglossum crispum and a good cut spray
of Phalenopsis grandiflora.

Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., sent a cut spike of Lelia
purpurata Brysiana, with large richly coloured flowers.

Malcolm §. Cooke, Esq., Kingston Hill (gardener, Mr.
Cullimore), staged Lelia purpurata, Cattleya Mossie, and
Bifrenaria Harrisonie.

Mr. James O’Brien, Harrow-on-the-Hill, sent the new Disa
tripetaloides.

Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, sent a very fine form
of Odontoglossum excellens, named ‘“‘ Albert Edward.” The
large labellum was white, spotted down the middle with choco-
late colour; the sepals and petals yellow, with dark crimson
blotches.

The Duke of Northumberland, Syon House, Brentford
(gardener, Mr. Wythes), sent some well-grown specimens of the
best form of Cypripedium barbatum.

A. Smith, Esq., Cobham, Surrey (gardener, Mr. Quarterman),
also sent the same species.

G. Burnham, Esq., Paget Road, Stoke Newington, staged
Dendrobium thyrsiflorum, with ten spikes, and the curious green-
flowered Cymbidium albuceflorum.

Messrs. Pitcher & Manda, Hextable, Swanley, Kent, had
an interesting lot of varieties of Orchis and Cypripedium
calceolus.

W. C. Atkinson, Esq., Aigburth, Liverpool, sent flowers of a
new form of Cypripedium Hookere, of which the Committee
desired to see plants at the next meeting.

J.T. Bennett-Poé, Esq., Thoerstone, Nenagh, again exhibited
his fine spotted Odontoglossum Pescatorei; and specimens of
Cattleya Warneri and Cymbidium Lowi were forwarded by Mr.
Balderson, Hemel Hempstead.

Phaius Cooksoni.—The hybridisation by artificial means of
such orchids as Cypripediums, Cattleyas, Leelias, Dendrobiums,
&e. has met with so much success that it is not surprising
to find that the hybridist has extended his operations to other
genera. Phaius Cooksoni, for the figure of which (fig. 40)

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. xiii

we are indebted to the editor of the Journal of Horticulture,
is among the latest productions of the hybridist’s skill, being the
result of a cross effected in the collection of Norman C. Cook-
son, Esq., of Wylam-on-Tyne, between P. Wallichii and P.
tuberculosus, the former being the seed parent. The plant

Fic. 40.—PuHatus CooKsont.

exhibited was remarkable for its salmon-coloured sepals and
petals flushed with pink. The large funnel-shaped lip has a
bright yellow throat, on each side of which are blotches of dark
red on a tawny-coloured ground. The other hybrid Phaius
which have been raised are P. inquilinus and P. irrorata in
1867, and P. Sedeniana in 1888, to which may be added Thunia
Veitchiana in 1885. .

lxiv PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

FRUIT COMMITTEE.
Sir C. W. SrrickLanD, Bart., in the Chair, and fifteen
members present.
Award Recommended :—

Furst Class Certificate.

To Broccoli Veitch’s Model, from the Duke of Northumber-
land, Albury Park, Guildford (gardener, Mr. W. C. Leach).
Heads of medium size, very compact, and somewhat conical in
shape, of fine texture and quality.

Other Exhibits.

Mr. Aslett, Warren Wood, Hatfield, sent some fruits of
Alexander Peach, a fine early variety.

Mr. Hawkins, Bridgend, South Wales, sent a seedling green-
fleshed Melon, which was thought promising, but too early in
the season to judge of its merits.

Mr. E. Chopping, Sittingbourne, sent Apple Buggs’ Apricot
Pippin.

Messrs. T. Rivers & Son, The Nurseries, Sawbridgeworth, sent
four varieties of Apples, viz. Gooseberry, Belle de Pontoise,
Hacquin, and Peck’s Pleasant, which were in fine condition for so
late in the season.

The Right Hon. Lord Foley, Ruxley Lodge, Esher (gardener,
Mr. Miller), sent good examples of Mushrooms and Asparagus.

From the Society's Gardens were sent seven varieties of
Broccoli.

The Chairman brought forward the subject of the formation
of local Fruit Committees throughout the country as a means
of obtaining better information on fruits submitted to the
Committee. The matter was adjourned.

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE.

D. Morris, Esq., F.L.S. (Treasurer R.H.S.), in the Chair,
and seven members present.

Plant Bug (Lygus pabulinus, L.).—Mr. McLachlan ex-
hibited specimens of a small green bug which has become very
troublesome in the temperate house at Kew. It attacks
Fuchsias, Rhododendrons, Camellias, &c. It has been observed

EO

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. lxv

for the last ten years. Paris green or London purple (arsenical
preparations) were suggested as the best remedies, fumigating
being difficult in so large a place.

Ceratitis citriperda (McLeay, 1829).—Mr. Henslow gave
some account of the Orange fly, which has become very trouble-
some in Malta. He also exhibited specimens of the grubs,
pup, and insects. It first appeared about fifteen years ago, but
has increased to a very injurious extent during the last three
years. A committee was appointed in 1889 by H.E. the late
Governor of Malta, who have just issued a report (which
will be published shortly in the Kew Bulletin). The fly per-
forates the half-ripe Orange, and lays several eggs within it.
This causes the fruit to fall prematurely. The larva finally
escapes, and enters the ground to pass into the pupa stage. It
is suggested that preventive measures should be taken at this
period, first by collecting all fruits attacked, and mashing them
up with waterin a tank. Secondly, the surface of the ground
should be sprinkled with a mixture of one part of sulphate of
iron, finely powdered, to twenty-four parts of dry earth or sand,
and subsequently slightly watered. An account of this insect
(under the name Ceratitis capitata) will be found in the
Gardeners’ Chronicle of 1848, page 604, at which period it caused
ereat damage to Oranges received from St. Michael’s.. In Malta
it particularly attacks the Mandarine (Citrus nobilis). Cold and
inclement weather is very unfavourable to the fly, which becomes.
much more abundant in a hot dry season.

Cerambyx miles, L.—Mr. Henslow showed specimens of
Pear roots bored by this longicorn beetle; also the grubs and
insects from Malta, where it is causing great damage to many
fruit trees. The only remedy suggested was the well-known
one of spearing. In Malta, however, the beetles attack the roots
rather than the stems, so that the difficulty of reaching them is
greatly increased, as the only sign of their presence may be a
feebleness in the upper part of the tree, and the branches decay-
ing, when the tree may be already past recovery. The greatest
difficulty, however, is to overcome the apathy of the cultivators
themselves. It is not British, but common in the Mediterranean
region.

Delphinium diseased.—Some leaves were sent by Mr.
Haywood, of Reigate, apparently attacked by a fungus. They

N

lxvi PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

were forwarded to Professor M. Ward for examination and
report.

Primula metamorphosed.—Mr. A. Dean sent a number of
seedlings of the ‘‘ Jack-in-the-Green”’ form of Primula. In this
variety the calyx is foliaceous. Of the seedlings some had
assumed the ‘“ hose-in-hose ’’-type, the calyx becoming petaloid ;
in others the calyx had become polysepalous, the sepals varying
from the foliaceous to a setiform condition.

Primroses and Bluebells degenerating.—Mr. Henslow showed
specimens grown in his garden. They were received some years
ago from Wiltshire, but have degenerated on the gravelly soil of
Ealing. The Bluebells become pink, then white, at the same
time changing in shape from the normal cylindrical to a cup-
shaped perianth. This latter form is recognised as a permanent
one—viz., var. campanulata, of which there is a bed at Kew.
Transitional stages are not uncommon. ‘The Primroses ex-
hibited were taken from a number of separate plants of the long-
styled form; but they had nearly all assumed a homomorphic
character, by the pistil being dwarfed in length, and so bringing
the stigma down to the level of the anthers.

Plants exhibited.—My. BR. I. Lynch sent an interesting series
from the Botanic Gardens, Cambridge. Neviusa alabamensis,
A. Gray, a curious apetalous ally of Rhodotypus. It has
foliaceous sepals, and three or four carpels only. Baccharis
patagonica, a shrubby composite, with flowers not unlike that
of Groundsel; the florets, however, are female only, with a
rudimentary corolla tightly fitting the style, and having no
border. Triosteum pinnatifidum, Maxvm.; Aristolochia ringens,
Vahl.; Vanda alpina, a species not generally included in
catalogues; Arisarum proboscideum (Mag. Bot., No. 6684),
from the shaded woods of Upper Arno and Apennines, a very rare
plant ; Asarum Hookeri, var. insignis, Duch., the rarest species in
cultivation. A vote of thanks was unanimously accorded to
Mr. Lynch.

ee

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. lxvil

THE GREAT FLOWER SHOW, 1890.

THE Society's Great Summer Show, held, by the kind per-
mission of the Treasurer and Masters of the Bench, in the
Gardens of the Inner Temple, on Wednesday and Thursday,
May 28 and 29, 1890, was opened by His Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales at one o’clock punctually.

His Royal Highness was conducted round the various tents
by Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., President of the Society ;
Baron Henry Schréder, Vice-President ; D. Morris, Esq., M.A.,
F.L.S., Treasurer, and other members of the Council; and after
the Prince had carefully inspected the exhibits, the following
Address was presented to him by the President and read by
the Rey. W. Wilks, M.A., Secretary of the Society :—

‘Royal Horticultural Society,
‘¢117 Victoria Street, S.W.
‘* May 28, 1890.

“May IT PLEASE youR RoyaL HIGHNESS,

“The Council of the Royal Horticultural Society
desire to tender to you, on behalf of the Fellows of the Society
and the Horticulturists of the United Kingdom, their erateful
thanks for your presence here to-day.

‘The Royal Horticultural Society was founded in the early
years of the present century, and it has been honoured with the
eracious favour and support of Her Majesty the Queen and her
predecessors, and was presided over for several years by the
Prince Consort.

‘‘The Council believe that the Society has, during the 86
years of its existence, conferred incalculable benefits upon the
kingdom, by directing and fostering a love of Horticulture, and
by the introduction and acclimatisation of a vast number of the
trees and shrubs, fruit and flowers, which beautify and enrich
all parts of our country.

«“The Council are aware of the great interest taken by your
Royal Highness in the work of the Royal Agricultural Society,
and they are anxious to secure your interest in the work of the
Royal Horticultural Society. This work they believe to be,

N 2

lxvill PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

under the altered conditions of Agriculture, of great national
importance, in that it encourages the application of Horticul-
tural methods to Agriculture, enlarges the field of profitable
cultivation of the soil, and varies and increases the food supply
of the people.

‘The Royal Horticultural Society, in addition to its ordinary
work, is now devoting its energies to the provision of a great
national want—a Central Metropolitan Hall or Home for the
Horticulturists of the United Kingdom. Such buildings exist
in the chief European capitals and in the United States of
America, and the Council have ample evidence from amateurs
and the very important trade engaged in Horticulture that they
are urgently required in London.

“We earnestly trust that the aims and objects of the Society
may recommend themselves to your Royal Highness’s support

and approval.
“‘ Sioned, on behalf of the Council,

‘TREVOR LAWRENCE, President.”’

To this Address His Royal Highness was graciously pleased
to respond in the following terms :—

‘Sir Trevor Lawrence, Ladies and Gentlemen,—I am very
much gratified by the Address I have just heard, and I beg to
assure you that I have visited this Exhibition with the greatest
possible pleasure and interest. I have always taken a great
interest and pleasure in Horticulture, and I must say I have
never seen a more beautiful show than that which we have here
around us, nor one better arranged. The best proof of the
success of the Society is the fine show we have all witnessed
to-day. You have alluded to a great want—that of a Central
Metropolitan Hall. I sincerely hope your labours in that
respect may be successful, for I feel sure that such a Hall will
be of the greatest use and advantage. Let me thank you again
for the Address, and once more assure you of the pleasure I
have had in being present.”’

The following letter has also been received from Sir Francis

Knollys :-—
‘Marlborough House, Pall Mall, S.W.
‘‘May 28, 1890.

‘Dear Sir Trevor,—The Prince of Wales was extremely

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. lxix

pleased with the Flower Show to-day, and thought the Exhibi-
tion beautiful.
‘* H.R.H. said that everything went off very well.

‘* Yours very truly,

‘FRANCIS KNOLLYS.’’

It is a matter of great satisfaction to be able to state that
the ‘‘ Great Show ’”’ of 1890 was in every respect a vast improve-
ment on its two predecessors held in the Inner Temple Gardens
in 1888 and 1889. There were more exhibits than on former occa-
sions, and it required four enormous tents to shelter the Orchids,
Roses, Pelargoniums, Clematises, Caladiums, Calceolarias,
Aroids, and innumerable other plants. The weather was excep-
tionally favourable during the two days of the Exhibition, and
the number of visitors was even greater than in previous years.
The band of the Royal Horse Guards Blue, under the able
direction of Mr. Charles Godfrey, were engaged during each
afternoon, the music being evidently highly appreciated by the
crowds who sat and listened to it.

To give anything like a detailed account of the beautiful
collections of plants brought together would be impossible, and
the following summary must therefore be considered as only an
outline of the most worthy exhibits.

Orchids.—These marvellously beautiful plants occupied the
entire centre of the largest tent, and were tastefully arranged
to the best advantage, having Palms, Ferns, &c., intermixed with
them, so as to remind one of a portion of the tropics transported
from its natural position. Facing the visitor as he entered was
a huge specimen of Cymbidium Lowianum, forming the nucleus
of Baron Schroder’s collection. It had twenty-nine strong
spikes, the number of large flowers on each spike varying from
twenty to thirty, and presenting a grand sight. In the same
collection was a specimen of Cattleya Skinneri, bearing over
forty spikes of rose-purple flowers; and close by were some
splendid C. Mendelii and its variety, Rothschildiana, as well as
the pale rose C. Lawrenceana delicata. Odontoglossums were
in great variety, being represented by some remarkable forms of
O. crispum, O. Andersonianum, O. excellens, O. Hallii leuco-
glossum, O. Schillerianum, some fine varieties of O. vexillarium,

xx PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

while Cypripediums—both. species and hybrids— Masdevallias,
Dendrobes, &c., formed altogether a most attractive group.

The display of Orchids from the gardens of the President of
the Society, Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., were next those
of Baron Schréder,. and rivalled them in excellence. Among
the better known kinds shown were the curious Bulbophyllum
barbigerum, with its small but exquisitely beautiful flowers, with
the labella or lips so sensitive that the faintest breath of air is
sufficient to cause a great commotion among them. Cypripe-
diums, Dendrobiums, Cattleyas, Lelias, Masdevallias, Thunias,
and Odontoglossums were in abundance, and bore the signs
of good culture, while the ‘“ Bird’s-nest Orchid,’’ Neottia nidus-
ayis, attracted much attention. ,

H. M. Pollett, Esq., of Bickley, exhibited the rare Odonto-
glossum crispum Bickleyense, remarkable for its creamy-white
flowers heavily blotched with chestnut-brown ; O. cirrhosum,
O. Coradinei, the dwarf O. Cirstedii with forty pretty white
flowers, and. that very remarkable Cypripedium Sanderianum,
with twisted petals over eighteen inches long, were also among
the group.

T. B. Haywood, Esq., had a fine collection of Odonto-
elossums, intermixed with Maidenhair Ferns, and also several
highly coloured varieties of Masdevallia belonging to the
Harryana and ignea section. Cattleya gigas (also known as
C. Warscewiczii) had five large flowers of a deep rose-purple
colour on one spike, and formed a striking contrast to the beau-
tiful Odontoglossum Harryanum. |

Some of the best varieties of Cypripedium barbatum were
shown by the Duke of Northumberland’s gardener, Mr. Wythes,
from Syon House, as well as some fine plants of Anthurium
Scherzerianum, with brilliant scarlet spathes.

I’. Wigan, Esq., of Kast Sheen, had some very fine Cattleya
Mendelii, as well as Vanda teres, a magnificent Phalenopsis
grandiflora, Aérides Fieldingii, Cypripedium Dayanum, C. Cur-
tis, and that beautiful “‘ flower of May,’’ Leela majalis. ©

Mrs. Studd, of Bath, exhibited a lavender-coloured Sobralia
macrantha, and a fine specimen of Dendrobium MacCarthiz.

. Among the trade exhibits were some grand. displays. The .
collection of Messrs. Sander & Co., of St. Albans, occupied a space
about forty feet long, and contained a specimen of almost every |

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. Ixx

Orchid in flower at the season. The remarkable hybrid Miltonia
Bleui splendens was shown; it has white flowers, with crimson
lines at the base of the lip, and is the result of a cross between
M. vexillaria and M. Roezlii. Among the others may be men-
tioned, as worthy of note, the unique Miltonia vexillaria ‘“ Fairy
Queen,” pure white, with a stain of lemon-yellow at the base of
the lip; Cattleya Mendeli ‘‘ Prince of Wales,” having a glowing
crimson lip; Phajus Humblotii, seen for the first time by a great
many, and its white variety, P. H. alba; Vanda suavis, with a
dozen spikes ; Dendrobium Dearei, with about fifty spikes of pure
white flowers just tinged with watery green at the base of the
lip; Lelia grandis, L. purpurata, Ornithocephalus grandiflorus,
Aérides Sanderianum, and Oncidium roraimense, a species closely
allied to O. sessile, and having yellow flowers barred and spotted
with dark brown. With the Orchids was also staged a new
Anthurium album maximum, with a large creamy spathe tipped
with red.

Mr. J. Cypher, of Cheltenham, contributed a large group, in
which Lelia purpurata, Cattleya Mendelii, and Dendrobium
Bensoniw were well represented. ‘The Dendrobes were excep-
tionally fine, and the Odontoglossums were very showy.

Messrs. Low & Co., of Clapton, had a unique collection of the
beautiful Ancectochilus Lowu, with a backeround of Cypripedium
Lawrenceanum, C. Elhottianum, C. Godefroye, C. caudatum, C.
bellatulum, and others. Plants of the new Phalenopsis gloriosa,
P. amabilis, P. grandiflora, Vanda cerulescens Boxalliu, Cattleya
Mendelii, C. Mossi, &c., were also present, showing much variety
of colour.

Mr. G. T. White, of Winchmore Hill, staged an effective
group of Orchids, among which a large Lelia purpurata was con-
spicuous. Plants of the Hippeastrum (Amaryllis) solandreflorum
conspicuum were also among the group, to which they gave a
charm.

Messrs. B. 8. Williams & Son, of Upper Holloway, displayed
to advantage a fine group, among which the Vandas attracted
attention, especially a form of V. teres known as ‘‘ Aurora,” with
pretty blush-white flowers. There were also present Calanthe
veratrifolia, with its strong erect scapes of snowy-white flowers ;
C. Williamsii, Anguloa Clowesii, deep-coloured Masdevallias,
among which was M. Veitchu, with thirty flowers; while Cattleyas, :

xxi PROCHEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Cypripediums, Oncidiums, Leelias, and Dendrobes were in great
variety.

Messrs. J. Laing & Sons and Mr. Peed also showed some
well-grown Orchids among their other exhibits; while the Disa
racemosa of Messrs. Backhouse was greatly admired on account
of its rose-purple fiowers.

fioses.—There were several attractive collections. Messrs.
W. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross, had a large collection of
specimens, as well as a fine display of cut blooms. The beautiful
hybrid Moss Rose “ Crimson Globe,’”’ raised by the firm, received
a first-class certificate. Other fine Roses were ‘‘ Spenser’ and
‘‘ Crimson Queen.’

Messrs. Paul & Son, of Cheshunt, had a remarkably fine
group, comprising over forty flowering specimens, among which
examples of ‘‘ Her Majesty’’ were strikingly attractive.

Some well-flowered specimens of ‘‘ Niphetos’”’ were shown by
Mr. W. Rumsey, of Waltham Cross.

Ferns.—Such a fine display of Filmy Ferns was never seen as
that of Messrs. Jas. Backhouse & Son, of York. There were over
one hundred specimens, representing as many as fifty distinct
species. Some of them were about two feet across, and were
unique. Special mention might be made of Trichomanes
Luschnathianum and its invalvable variety T. L. prolongum.
Very handsome were T’. Borneense and T. meifolia, the latter re-
sembling a Todea superbain habit. The ‘‘ Killarney Fern” was
represented in great variety, from the largest form of T. radicans
to the tiny T. r. alabamense. The “ kidney-leaved’’ Fern,
Trichomanes reniforme, was two feet across. The Hymenophyl-
lums also presented a wide range of variety, and attention may
be called to H. tunbridgense, of which there were several forms,
H, demissum, H. dilatatum, H. obtusatum, H. scabrum, H.
magcellanicum, and others.

Messrs. Birkenhead, of Sale, staged about five hundred plants,
arrangedin sections, the Adiantums, Aspleniums, Gymnogrammes,
&¢e., being staged together. The hardy kinds formed an attractive
group in themselves, and showed some splendid forms of Aspi-
dium plumosum and crested varieties of Scolopendrium vulgare.
The Cheilanthes, Nothochlenas, and Davallias were worthy of
special notice, as was also the new Filmy Fern Todea grandi-
pinnula.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. Ixxill

Mr. H. B. May, of Edmonton, also had an extensive group of
marketable Ferns, tastefully intermixed with such ornamental
stove plants as Crotonsand Dracenas. The Crested Pteris raised
by Mr. May, as well as Davallia exaltata plumosa, Nephrolepis
rufescens pinnatifida, N. davallioides, furcans, Davallia ornata,
and the Gymnogrammes and Nothochlenas, were very fine.

Hardy Plants and Flowers were contributed in immense
numbers. Messrs. Kelway & Son, of Langport, exhibited Tree
and Herbaceous Ponies, and Irises in great variety.

Mr. T. S. Ware, of Tottenham, had a dazzling display of
Poppies, among which a semi-double form was very effective ;
also Spireea japonica grandiflora, with dense masses of flower ;
Tris sibirica, and I. racemosa, a handsome blue-flowered species,
which contrasted pleasingly with a white-flowered Lupin close by.

Messrs. Paul & Son, of Cheshunt, among their charming group
of alpines, had Ramondia pyrenaica and its variety alba;
Dianthus alpina, with large bright pink flowers; Edraianthus
serpyllifolium, with violet-blue bell-shaped flowers, and Myosotis
alpestris. There was also a fine collection of cut blooms of
Trises.

Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons had a handsome group, comprising
standard Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Hydrangeas, Acers, Spirea
astilboides, and large baskets of Gladioli. Messrs. Lane & Sons,
of Berkampstead, had also some well-flowered Rhododendrons.
Messrs. W. Paul & Sons, of Waltham Cross, had a striking collec-
tion of cut blooms of Rhododendrons in great variety, and trusses
seedling Azalea mollis, with flowers of rich red and orange tints.

Messrs. Barr & Son, of Covent Garden, had a choice display
of Pyrethrums, Ponies, Irises, and other seasonable flowers.

Clematis.—Messrs. R. Smith & Co. were the only exhibitors
of these plants, which were so well arranged that they formed
one of the chief attractions of the Show. The specimens were
from three to five feet’ high, and as much through, being arranged
on balloon trellises, &c., and were heavily laden with bloom.
Very conspicuous were the varieties Blue Gem, Duke of Norfolk,
Sensation, and Excelsior of the blue and purple type, and Marie
van Houtte and Impératrice Eugénie, two beautiful white kinds.

Soft-wooded Plants and Florists’ Flowers were in great abun-
dance. Messrs. Sutton, of Reading, had a magnificent collection
of Gloxinias, as had also Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, of Chelsea.

lxxiv PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Tuberous Begonias, comprising single and double varieties
were shown in effective groups by Messrs. J. Laing & Sons,
Forest Hill, and Messrs. Cannell & Sons, of Swanley. The latter
firm also contributed some fine Pansies and Violets, as well as a
collection of cut blooms of Zonal and Decorative Pelargoniums.

Mr. J. James, of Farnham Royal, Slough, had some well-
bloomed specimens of Herbaceous Calceolarias; and Mr. C.
Turner, of Slough, displayed an effective group of Show and
Decorative Pelargoniums,

Mr. R. Miller, of Shoreham, showed Pelargonium Pearl, a
pure white sport from Madame Thibaut.

Two new Pelargoniums, named Princess Beatrice and Prince
Henry, were submitted by Mr. F’. Perkins, of Leamington.

A large and beautiful collection of Pansies was exhibited by
Messrs. Dobbie & Co., of Rothesay, N.B. The group consisted
of about one hundred bunches of fine blooms, and thirty plants
in pots.

Fruit and Vegetables were not exhibited to any large extent.
Mr. G. Munro, of Covent Garden, had some fine Strawberries,
Figs, Grapes, Tomatoes, Beans, Peas, Mushrooms, Melons, and
Cucumbers.

Messrs. Veitch & Sons, of Chelsea,and Messrs. Bunyard &
Co., of Maidstone, each contributed a large and splendid collection
of Apples in great variety.

Messrs. Cheal & Son, of Crawley, also exhibited some good
fruits.

Grapes were shown by J. F. Campbell, Esq., of Uttoxeter
(gardener, Mr. J. Hollingworth), including some fine Black
Hamburgh. J. L. Mansell, Esq., of Guernsey (gardener, Mr.
M. E. Peters), had some grand Muscats. Other exhibitors were
the Duke of Northumberland, Syon House (gardener, Mr.
Wythes); E. Pettit, Esq., Oatlands, Surrey (gardener, Mr. J. W. ©
Reed), and Mr. Maher, Stoke Court, Slough.

Manures, insecticides, and samples of peat and other soils were
shown by Messrs. Wood & Son, of Wood Green.

Messrs. C. Toope & Co., of Stepney, showed samples of
boilers, and various modes of heating the same. .

Mr. G. Phippen, of Reading, had some novel floral decorations ;
and choice bouquets were arranged by Mr. Perkins, of Coventry.

Decorations in Seaweeds were exhibited by Mr. Smout, of °

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. lxxv

Hastings; and Mrs. Hodgkins, of Withington, contributed some
elegant screens, ornamented with skeletonised leaves of Bau-
hinias, Nepenthes, and other plants.

Special attention may be called to a striking exhibit of
Puya chilensis, sent by T. Dorien Smith, Esq., from the Abbey
Gardens, Tresco, Scilly Isles. This remarkable plant was placed
at the end of the central exhibit of Orchids, and attracted uni-
versal attention on account of the number of its metallic-green
flowers. The plant belongs to the natural order Bromeliacee,
and is a native of Chili, as the specific name indicates. It grows
freely out of doors in the Scilly Isles, but it will grow only under
shelter in England, and for this reason is rarely seen. A plant
may be seen in the succulent house at Kew, with its co-species
Puya Whitei.

MEETING AT INNER TEMPLE GARDENS,

May 28, 1890.
FLORAL COMMITTEE.
W. MarsHatt, Esq., in the Chair, and seven members
present.
Awards Recommended :—
First Class Certificate.

To Peony conchiflora (votes, unanimous), from Messrs. Paul &
Son, Cheshunt. Flowers medium size, of a bright salmon-rose
colour. :

To Rose (H. P.) Crimson Globe (votes, 4 for, 2 against), from
Messrs. W. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross. Flowers of large size;
colour rich glowing crimson.

To Lastrea filix-mas cristata fimbriata (votes, unanimous),
from Messrs. W. & J. Birkenhead, Sale, Cheshire. An extremely
beautiful form, more elegant in habit than the ordinary crested
variety of the Male Fern.

To Aster alpinus var. speciosus (votes, 5 for), from Messrs.
Barr & Son, Covent Garden, and Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham.
Ray florets blush mauve, disc orange.

Award of Merit.

To Begonia Enchantress (votes, 5 for), from Messrs. J.
Laing & Sons, Forest Hill. A single variety. Flowers bright
crimson with white centre. 7 |

Ixxvi PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

To Begonia Negro Boy (votes, unanimous), from Messrs.
J. Laing & Sons. Flowers of medium size and fine form; colour
deep crimson.

To Begonia Henshaw Russell (votes, 5 for), from Messrs.
J. Laing & Sons. A double variety. Flowers of large size ;
colour very bright scarlet.

To Gloxinia Mrs. J. Donaldson (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. Flowers of fine form;
colour glowing crimson.

To Pyrethrum Clemence (votes, 5 for), from Messrs.
Kelway & Son, Langport, Somerset. Flowers large, of good
form ; colour bright crimson.

To Pyrethrum Carl Vogel (votes, 6 for), from Messrs.
Kelway & Son. A beautiful pure white variety.

To Lupinus Foxi (votes, 5 for), from Messrs. Kelway & Son ;
bearing handsome spikes of blue and white flowers.

To Delphinium <Autolycus (votes, 5 for), from Messrs.
Kelway & Son; bearing massive spikes of rich violet-purple
flowers.

To Pelargonium Prince Henry (votes, 6 for), from Mr. F.
Perkins, Leamington. A decorative variety. Flower of a bril-
liant carmine-red, the centre and margin pure white.

To Anthurium album maximum (votes, 6 for), from Messrs.
F. Sander & Co. An excellent variety, differing from the type
in having larger ‘“ spathes.”’

To Canna Madame Crozy (votes, unanimous), from Messrs.
Paul & Son. Flowers large, deep scarlet; leaves bright green.

To Gloxinia Her Majesty (votes, unanimous), from Messrs.
Sutton & Sons, Reading. An erect variety. Flowers large, pure
white.

To Gloxinia Prince of Wales (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. Sutton & Sons. An erect variety. Flowers rich crimson
with white margin.

To Gloxinia Princess of Wales (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. Sutton & Sons. An erect variety. Flowers pale pink,
white margin.

To the Strain of new Netted Gloxinias (votes, unanimous),
from Messrs. Sutton & Sons. Flowers of various colours, mottled
with white.

To Begonia Rev. W. Wilks (votes, 4 for), from Messrs. H.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. Ixxvii

Cannell & Sons, Swanley. A double variety. Flowers well
formed, pale pink.

ORCHID COMMITTEE.

Harry J. Verrcu, Esq., in the Chair, and eleven members
present.

First Class Certificate.

To Cattleya Mendelii Prince of Wales (votes, unanimous),
from Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans. This was a very
fine flower, with rich dark purplish crimson labellum.

To Miltonia Bleui splendens x (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. F. Sander & Co. This is a fine form of M. Bleu’s hybrid
between M. vexillaria and M. Roezlii. The flowers are white,
with a few lake-coloured lines at the base of the lip, and a rosy-
purple blotch at the base of each petal.

To Miltonia vexillaria Fairy Queen (votes, unanimous),
also from Messrs. F’. Sander & Co. The finest clear white form
which has yet appeared, no colour being in it except a tinge of
chrome yellow at the base of the labellum.

To Dendrobium MacCarthiz (votes, unanimous), exhibited by
Mrs. General Studd, Royal Crescent, Bath (gardener, Mr. George
Cypher). ‘This fine old Ceylon species is not generally well
cultivated in gardens, but the plant shown had seventeen fine
large white flowers tipped with rose, the slipper-shaped labellum
having purple spots at the base, and a large crimson blotch in
the centre.

Award of Merit.

To Lelia purpurata Empress, from Mr. J. Cypher, Exotic
Nursery, Cheltenham. A fine white form, the purple colouring,
of the lip being divided at the front by a broad white tip.

To Dendrobium Bensoniz album (Mr. J. Cypher), a variation
in which the chocolate colour on the lip of the type is absent.

To Dendrobium Falconeri delicatum (Mr. J. Cypher), another
variety in which the dark colouring of the ordinary forms of the
species is wanting, the flowers of the variety being simply tipped
with delicate rose colour.

To Cattleya Lawrenceana delicata, from Baron H. Schréder
(gardener, Mr. Ballantine). This is a lighter form of C. L. con-
color; the flowers white and lilac.

Ixxvill PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

To Sarcopodium Dearei (Baron Schréder). A very singular
Bornean species closely allied to 8. Lobbii. The flowers are
large, yellow-striped, and veined with reddish brown ; the curious
labellum delicately balanced on a hinge or flexible claw.

To Cypripedium Volonteanum, from Messrs. F’. Sander & Co.,
St. Albans. This appears to be animproved form of C. Hookere,
the petals and pouch broader than in the type; the rose-coloured
expanded tips of the petals spotted with dark brown.

To Oncidium roraimense (Messrs. F. Sander & Co.), an ally
of O. sessile, with large yellow flowers, the sepals and petals
spotted with ight brown.

Other Exhibit.
Drewett O. Drewett, Esq., Riding-Mill-on-Tyne (gardener,
Mr. Keeling), exhibited two hybrid Cypripediums.

FRUIT COMMITTEE.
Puinie CrowteEy, Esq., in the Chair.
Awards Recommended :—
Cultural Commendation.

To the Duke of Northumberland, Syon House, Brentford
gardener, Mr. G. Wythes), for very fine examples of Strawberry
Auguste Nicaise.

Other Exhibits.

C. Allhusen, Esq., Stoke Court, Slough (gardener, Mr. Maher),
sent fruits of Peaches and Nectarines.

Mr. Hopkins, High Cross, Framfield, Sussex, sent specimens
of Cucumber High Sheriff.

Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, sent a fruiting plant of
the St. John Fig, stated to be very early and to retain its first
crop well.

The Right Hon. Lord Foley, Ruxley Lodge, Esher (gardener,
Mr. Miller), sent Peaches, Melons, and Mushrooms.

From the Society’s Gardens was sent an interesting collection
of Radishes, the following being considered the best :—Twrnip,
or round varieties : Scarlet Forcing, White Round, and Scarlet,
White-tipped. Olive-shaped: Scarlet Olive-shaped and French
Breakfast. Long-rooted: Wood’s Long Frame, and Long White.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. lxxix
The other awards made at the Temple Show were :—

SILVER Cups.

To Baron Schréder, for a group of Orchids.

To Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart, M.P., for a group of Orchids.

To Messrs. F’. Sander & Co., for a group of Orchids.

To H. M. Pollett, Esq., for a group of Orchids.

To Mr. J. Cypher, for a group of Orchids.

To Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, for a group of Orchids.

To Messrs. Paul & Son, for a group of Roses.

To Messrs. Backhouse & Son, for a collection of Filmy Ferns.

To Mr. H. B. May, for a collection of Foliage Plants.

To Messrs. W. & J. Birkenhead, for a collection of Ferns.

To Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, for a group of Foliage and
Flowering Plants.

To Messrs. Wm. Paul & Son, for a collection of Roses.

To Messrs. Perkins & Son, for Bouquets.

To Messrs. J. Laing & Son, for collection of Begonias.

MEDALS.
Silver Gilt Flora.

To Messrs. J. Peed & Sons, for a group of Anthuriums, &c.

To Messrs. J. James & Son, for a group of Calceolarias.

To Mr. C. Turner, for a group of Pelargoniums.

To Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, for a group of Gloxinias.

To Messrs. Sutton & Sons, for a group of Gloxinias.

To Mr. W. Iceton, for a group of Palms.

To Mr. F. W. Wiltshire, for a group of Caladiums.

To Messrs. W. Cutbush & Sons, for a group of Foliage and
Flowering Plants.

To Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, for a group of Foliage and
Flowering Plants.

To Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, for a group of Begonias.

To Mr. T. S. Ware, for a group of Hardy Herbaceous Plants.

To Messrs. Kelway & Son, for a group of Hardy Herbaceous
Plants.

To Messrs. Barr & Son, fora group of Hardy Herbaceous
Plants.

To Messrs. Paul & Son, for a group of Hardy Herbaceous
Plants.

Ixxx PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

To Mr. G. Monro, for a collection of Fruit and Vegetables.
To T. B. Haywood, Esq., for a group of Orchids.
To Messrs. H. Low & Co., for a group of Orchids.
To Messrs. R. Smith & Co., for a group of Clematis.
Silver Flora.
To Messrs. H. Lane & Son, for a group of Rhododendrons.
To Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, for a group of Calceolarias.
To Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, for a collection of Apples.
To the Duke of Northumberland, for a group of Orchids.
To Mr. G. F. White, for a group of Orchids.

Silver Banksian.

To Mr. W. Rumsey, for a group of Roses.

To Messrs. Paul & Son, for a group of Alpine and Herbaceous
Plants.

To Messrs. Balchin & Son, for a group of Leschenaultia biloba
major.

To Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons, fora group of Herbaceous
Plants.

To Messrs. Dobbie & Co., for a group of Pansies.

To Mr. J. F. Campbell, for a collection of Grapes.

To Mr. J. L. Mansell, for a collection of Grapes.

To Mr. J. R. Featherby, for a collection of Grapes and
Tomatoes.

To Mr. EK. Pettit, for a collection of Grapes, Peaches, and
Tomatos.

To Messrs. G. Bunyard & Co., for a collection of Apples.

To Mr. F. Wigan, for a group of Orchids.

To Mr. G. Phippen, for Bouquets, &c.

GENERAL MEETING.
JUNE 10, 1890.

Rev. W. Winks (Secretary R.H.S.) in the Chair.
ELECTIONS :—
Fellows, 55.—E. W. Alleyne, R. B. Archibald, A. J.
Ballhachet, Major-Gen. J. Bonus, M. Burn, G. Burnham,
Captain H. J. Charrington, Mrs. H. Clementi-Smith, F. Cooper,

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. Ixxxi

G. H. Cooper, C. Cotes, J. Cowan, Mrs. A. M. Day, H. Dewes,
J. F. Ebner, J. Edwards, H. Elliott, J. Gennings, G. P.
Greenfield, Paul Hardy, J. Hemmerde, G. A. Hillier, J. Holmes,
J. B. Howell, J. Humfrey, R. B. James, J. Leavers, V. T.
Lewis, J. Mackinnon, Mrs. P. Mackinnon, J. Mallet, Rev. C.
MacMichael, J. E. Mapplebeck, N. Masterman, Mrs. Midlane,
W. M. Mitchell, Miss M. W. Newbon, H. W. Nixon, G. Norfolk,
R. C. Notcutt, C. J. N. Palmer, G. A. Perry, W. H. Philipps,
G. De Quatteville, E. E. Reade, E. W. Richardson, E. B. Rogers,
K. F. L. Twynam, E. J. Walker, Mrs. Walkinshaw, R. Walters,
A. White, F. Wright, R. Woodhouse, G. Wootten.

Mr. G. Paul, F.R.H.S., and Mr. R. Irwin Lynch, A.L.S.,
F.R.H.S., both read papers on ‘‘ Herbaceous Peonies.”’

FLORAL COMMITTEE.

W. MarsHAtt, Esq., in the Chair, and sixteen members present.

Awards Recommended :—

Silver Gilt Flora Medal.

To Messrs. Kelway & Son, Langport, for a magnificent collec-
tion of Peonies, Pyrethrums, Delphiniums, and Ivises.

Silver Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, for a beautiful collection
of cut hardy flowers, comprising Shirley and Iceland Poppies,
Irises, Pzeonies, &c.

Bronze Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. B. 8. Williams & Son, Upper Holloway, for an
interesting and well-grown collection of Sarracenias.

To Messrs. W. Cutbush & Son, Highgate, for a large collec-
tion of Ivies, containing some of the best sorts in cultivation.

To Mr. G. Prince, Oxford, for some beautiful flowers of Tea
Roses.

To Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, for single and double
flowered Pelargoniums (cut blooms).

To 8S. Barlow, Esq., Stakehill House, Castleton; Manchester,
for a beautiful stand of Florists’ Tulips.

.@]

Ixxxli PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

First Class Certificate.

To Bertolonia Souvenir de Gand (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. B.S. Williams & Son. Foliage of a rich lilac-crimson on
a green ground.

To Crinum brachynema (votes, unanimous), from the Earl of
Rosebery, Mentmore (gardener, Mr. J. Smith). Flowers pure
white ; a handsome plant.

To Sweet Briar Lord Penzance (votes, 11 for, 5 against), from
Lord Penzance, Godalming (gardener, Mr. Baskett). The result
of a cross between the Sweet Briar and Rosa Harrisoni. Flowers
of a pale copper colour.

To Rodgersia podophylla (votes, unanimous), from Messrs.
J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea ; bearing panicles of yellowish flowers.

Award of Merit.

To Peony (single) Stanley (votes, unanimous), from Messrs.
Kelway & Son. Very deep crimson.

To Prony (double) Princess Mary (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. Kelway & Son. Creamy white.

To Peony (double) Duchess of Teck (votes, 15 for, 1 against),
from Messrs. Kelway & Son. Centre creamy-white, guards rose.

To Delphinium Alfred Kelway (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. Kelway & Son. ‘Tall spikes of flowers—deep indigo blue.

To Peony (double) Sainfoin (votes, unanimous), from Messrs.
Kelway & Son. Large bright rose.

To Lobelia Reine Blanche (votes, unanimous), from Mr. J.
Witney, Turvey, Bedfordshire. Flowers pure white, very freely
produced.

To Xerophyllum asphodeloides (votes, 13 for, 3 against), from
Messrs. Paul & Son. Flowers creamy white.

To Achillea mongolica (votes, unanimous), from Messrs.
Paul & Son. Flowers snow-white; very pretty.

To Begonia (double) Golden Queen (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons. Flowers finely formed, bright yellow.

To Gloxinia Agnes Cook (votes, 15 for, 1 against), from
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons. Flowers white, with purple spots.

To Begonia (double) Black Douglas (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill. Flowers bright crimson.

To Begonia Madame Pfitzer (votes, unanimous), from Messrs.
J. Laing & Sons. Flowers rich yellow.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. Ixxxiil

Other Exhibits.

Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons put up a pretty group of Pxonies,
Delphiniums, and Hydrangeas.

From the Royal Gardens, Kew, were sent the curious Pachira
insignis, and flowers of Solanum Wendlandi, and the beautiful
Nymphea stellata zanzibarensis.

O. T. Hodges, Esq., Lachine, Chislehurst, sent some pretty
varieties of Ionopsidium acaule.

The Silver Challenge Cup offered for the best collection of
Aebaceous Peonies was awarded to the Rey. W. Wilks for some
fine varieties.

ORCHID COMMITTEE.

Sir TREvor Lawrence, Bart., M.P. (President R.H.S.),
in the Chair, and eleven members present. —

Awards Recommended :—
First Class Certificate.

To Phaius Humblotii albus (votes, unanimous), from Baron
Schréder, The Dell, Egham (gardener, Mr. H. Ballantine). This
iS an exquisite variety, differing from the wholly rose-tinted
typical P. Humblotii in having the sepals and petals pure white.
It is a native of Madagascar.

To Batemannia Wallisii (votes, unanimous), staged by Messrs.
F. Sander & Co., St. Albans. - A very fine species, allied
to B. Burtii and B. meleagris. Flowers wax-lke, four inches
across, the sepals and petals white at the base and tinged with
yellow and brown over the surface; lip white at the base, with
a purple blotch in the centre, and tipped with yellowish brown.

To Sobralia macrantha var. rosea (votes, 9 for, 1 against),
from Mrs. General Studd, Royal Crescent, Bath (gardener, Mr.
G. Cypher). This is a beautiful and delicately tinted form, in
which the flowers are lavender or pale rose, the labellum yellow
in the throat and white at the base. The plant was sent to the
Temple Show, but travelled badly, and the Committee desired
to see it again. On this occasion it was past its best, but
sufficient proof remained of its being distinct.

To Cattleya intermedia Parthenia, sent by Sir Trevor Law-
rence, Bart., M.P. The plant exhibited had very large flowers

0 2

Ixxxiv PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

of the clearest white, and this variety is the only instance of true
albino in Cattleya intermedia.

To Cypripedium seedling (C. niveum x C. ciliolare), exhibited
as C. Aylingii x (votes, unanimous), from C. J. Hollington, Esq.,
Forty Hill, Enfield (gardener, Mr. Ayling). This is a really dis-
tinct and handsome hybrid ; in the colour of its flowers it is close
to C. niveum, but its petals are much longer and broader than in
that species; and so also are the sepals, especially the lower
ones, which equal in form and size the upper. The upper sepal
is white, with several narrow pink lines; petals white, with
distinct purple dotted lines following the nervures; lip white,
flushed with rose.

Awards of Merit.

To Odontoglossum Pescatorei, Tilgate variety (votes, unani-
mous), sent by J. H. Nix, Esq., Tilgate, Crawley (gardener, Mr.
R. Young). The plant, which was splendidly grown, and to
which a Cultural Commendation was voted, had two spikes,
bearing together some hundred and twenty flowers of medium
size, the departure from ordinary O. Pescatorei consisting in the
sepals having purplish blotched lines, and a few spots of purple
on the petals.

To Odontoglossum Galeottianum (votes, unanimous), sent by
T. Statter, Esq., Whitefield, Manchester (gardener, Mr. Johnson).
This is a very rare and interesting species, in growth near
O. Cervantesii, but with flowers resembling the white form of
O. nebulosum.

To Cattleya Mendel “Alfred Smee,’’ from A. H. Smee,
Esq., The Grange, Hackbridge. A noble form, with large
flowers, the throat of the labellum being unusually white, and
its front lobe broad, finely frilled, and of a rich crimson.

To-Cattleya labiata, var. Warneri (votes, unanimous). A
large and highly coloured form from Malcolm §. Cooke, Esq.,
Kingston Hill (gardener, Mr. Cullimore).

Other Exhibits.

Sir William Marriott, Down House, Blandford, sent a seed-
ling Orchid, resulting from a cross between Cattleya Mossie# and
Leha purpurata. Messrs. James Veitch & Sons exhibited the
same cross, which the Committee decided was inferior to Lelio-

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. lxxxv

Cattleya Canhamiana previously sent out by Messrs. Veitch.
C. L. N. Ingram, Esq., Elstead House, Godalming (gardener,
Mr. Bond), staged what purported to be a seedling of the same
parentage as the last two mentioned, but its flowers seemed to
exhibit more of the appearance of Lela Boothiana (Cattleya
lobata) than L. purpurata, and the Committee requested to see
it again.

F. Wigan, Esq., Clare Lawn, East Sheen (gardener, Mr. W.
H. Young), sent a fine plant of Phalaenopsis grandiflora, to
which a Cultural Commendation was awarded, and cut flowers
of Cattleya Mendelii and Leelia purpurata Russelliana.

Malcolm §. Cooke, Esq., Kingston Hill, staged a fine plant
of Cattleya intricata var. maculata, like a dwarf C. guttata
Prinz (C. amethystoglossa) with a C. intermedia lp. Also
various other Cattleyas and Kpidendrum vitellinum majus.

A. H. Smee, Esq., The Grange, Hackbridge, exhibited his
Cattleya Mendelii hackbridgensis. A very handsome form, with
white sepals and petals, the latter heavily tipped with crimson,
and a very richly coloured lip. Also cut flowers of C. Mossiz
‘‘ Mrs. Smee,” very fine.

Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., sent a fine white Miltonia
vexillaria, Dendrobium MacCarthie, a fine specimen of D. thyrsi-
florum, and a pretty light form of Cattleya Mossie.

Messrs. B. 8. Wilhams & Son, Upper Holloway, staged in
their group Cattleya Mossiz decora and a spotted form of Odonto-
glossum crispum.

Messrs. James Veitch & Sons exhibited the new Dendrobaam
lineale, from New Guinea, with a spray of numerous white flowers,
the lip marked with crimson lines.

From the Duke of Northumberland’s garden, Syon House,
Brentford, Mr. Wythes brought flower-spikes of the fine old
Oncidium sphacelatum.

FRUIT COMMITTEE.

Sir C. W. SrrickuannD, Bart., in the Chair, and eleven
members present.

Awards Recommended :—
Cultural Commendation.
To Messrs. T. Rivers & Son, The Nurseries, Sawbridgeworth,
for fine fruits of Cherries Early Rivers and Belle d’Orléans.

lxxxvi PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Other Exhibits.

The Earl of Rosebery, Mentmore, Leighton Buzzard (gar-
dener, Mr. J. Smith), sent good fruits of Strawberry A. F.
Barron, grown in pots.

Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, sent samples of Fig
Pingo de Mel, closely resembling White Marseilles.

Mr. J. F. Pascoe, Adelaide, South Australia, sent through
Messrs. Elder, Smith & Co. five varieties of Apples for comparison
with English sorts: Dunn’s Seedling—In appearance like New
Hawthornden or Small’s Admirable, tender, not very juicy, good
flavour, sweet. Cleopatra—Near Golden Noble in appearance.
No. 2—Very tender, wanting in flavour, rather mealy. No. 1—
Resembling Red Astrachan; like Cleopatra in flavour. Garv-
baldi—Slightly acid, might cook well.

The following resolution, proposed by Mr. Bunyard and
seconded by Mr. Cheal, was carried :—

‘That in the opinion of this Committee the climate of
England and South Australia differ so materially that it is
almost impossible to identify the fruit sent with recognised
linglish sorts.”

From the Society’s Gardens were sent ripe early Straw-
berries, Crescent City, Noble, and King of the Earlies, showing
Crescent City to be the earliest by several days.

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE.
D. Morris, Esq., F.L.S. (Treasurer R.H.S.), in the Chair,

and seven members present.

Delphinium, Injured Foliage of.—Prof. M. Ward reported
upon the specimens sent to the last meeting. The damage
appeared to have occurred in the bud, and was probably due to
the low temperature of the night of May 31. There was no
fungus, and he had met with a similar case elsewhere. With
regard to the lowness of temperature, it was remarked by Prof.
Church that at Twickenham 10 per cent. of Tomatoes were
destroyed on that night, Mr. Morris observing that the ther-
mometer on the grass at Kew registered 27° F., or five degrees
of frost.

Cerambyx miles, .—On a further examination of the cater-
pillars or boring beetles, brought to the last meeting by the Rev.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. Ixxxvil

G. Henslow from Malta, Mr. McLachlan noticed three specimens of
the Cerambyx, and two of a Lamellicorn, or Stag-beetle, as well
as one of the Wood-leopard moth, which had perforated the stem
of a Cassia (though it was usually found in Pear trees) from Mr.
Harry’s garden at St. Julian’s, Malta. Another remedy, in
addition to that of ‘‘ spearing,’’ was suggested by Mr. Sandford,
viz., to blow tobacco-smoke down the hole, when the beetle
would attempt to escape, and could be easily caught. It is very
important to observe where the beetles lay their eggs, and to
catch them on the wing at the time. The name was wrongly
reported in the account published in the Gardeners’ Chronicle
of the proceedings of the last meeting ; and the name of the
plant-bug should also have been inserted, Lygus pabulinus, L.

Tcerya Purchasi, Maskell—Mr. Morris exhibited some
mounted specimens, received from Mr. Lewis, of Ealing, of this
so-called “‘ cottony cushion ”’ scale insect from Australia, prepared
for the Kew Museum; they included adult females, with ovisacs,
and the ‘‘ Lady-bird,” Rodolia Tcerye, as well as remains of the
Tcerya which had been destroyed by the Rodolia.

The Fog Report.—Mr. Morris called attention to the fact
that the Royal Society had assigned £100 ‘“ on the recommenda-
tion of the Government Grant Committee, for an inquiry into
the composition of London fog, with special regard to the con-
stituents of fog injurious to plant life.”’” An informal conversa-
tion followed with reference to chemical investigations to be
undertaken at the laboratory of University College, under the
superintendence of Dr. Oliver.

Cynomorium coccineum.—Mr. Henslow exhibited specimens
of this parasitic flowering plant from Malta. It was formerly
supposed to grow only in ‘‘ The Generals’ Rock,’’ a small island
close to Gozo ; butis now found at Mnaidra, on the south side of
Malta, and in Sicily and Algiers. It is popularly known as
Fungus melitensis, and formerly in great repute as a styptic
remedy for hemorrhage, &c. It is parasitic upon Inula crith-
moides, a shrubby yellow-flowered Composite. which abounds on
the rocks of Malta, giving the appearance of Furze bushes at a
distance.

Lemon Seeds Germinating.—Mr. Henslow showed specimens
of embryos which had begun to germinate while within the
fruit.

IxxxvVili PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

GENERAL MEETING.
JUNE 24, 1890.
JAMES Dovuauas, Esq., in the Chair.
ELECTIONS.

Fellows, 16.—J. F. Alcock, E. Bennett, A. Couchman, T.
Cramp, G, Evans, H. Field, EK. Hart, H. J. Jones, Mrs. Lamotte,
J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., W. MacGowan, Miss Nicholson, A. V.
Ramsey, Dr. W. J. Russell, F.R.S., Lady Vincent, Mrs. M. E.
White.

The Rev. C. Wolley-Dod, M.A., read a paper on “ Hardy
Herbaceous and Alpine Plants.”’

FLORAL COMMITTEE.
W. MarsHaut, Ksq., in the Chair, and seventeen members
present.
Awards Recommended :—

Silver Gilt Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, for a large and effectively
arranged collection of cut flowers of herbaceous plants, consisting
of Delphiniums, Ponies, Potentillas, &c.

To Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, for an attractive collection of
cut flowers, comprising Aquilegias, Canterbury Bells, Delphiniums,
&e.

To Messrs. Barr & Son, Covent Garden, for a good collection
of cut flowers of Pzxonies, Irises, &c.

Bronze Banksian Medal.
To Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, for a large collection
of well-developed Ponies.
First Class Certificate.

To Philadelphus microphyllus (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, and Messrs. Paul & Son,
Cheshunt. A distinct species, bearing somewhat small pure
white flowers in profusion.

Award of Merit.
To Campanula persicifolia alba grandiflora (votes, unanimous),

from Messrs, Paul & Son, Cheshunt. A beautiful variety, having
pure white bells of exceptionally large size.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. Ixxxix

To Carnation Pride of Great Britain (votes, unanimous),
from Mr. H. J. Jones, The Nursery, Lewisham. A fine variety ;
flowers large, pure yellow.

To Rose (H.P.) Marchioness of Lorne (votes, unanimous)
from Messrs. W. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross. Flowers rose,
shaded bright carmine in the centre; very free flowering.

To Rhododendron Ajax (votes, unanimous), from Messrs. J.
Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. A beautiful greenhouse hybrid variety.
Colour rich salmon.

To Begonia (double) Miss Eastwood (votes, 14 for, 3 against),
from Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley. Flowers of good
form, bright tinted rose.

To Peony (double) Daubenton (votes, 15 for, 2 against), from
Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt. Flowers large, well formed,
deep rose-coloured.

To Rose (H.P.) J. D. Pawle (votes, unanimous), from Messrs.
Paul & Son. Flowers glowing crimson; delightfully fragrant.

To Rose (Bourbon) Mrs. Paul (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. Paul & Son. Flowers of good form, blush suffused with
rose.

To Pelargonium (Zonal) Midsummer (votes, unanimous),
from Messrs. J. R. Pearson & Sons, Nottingham. A well-formed
flower, rose-pink, shaded carmine in the centre.

Other Exhibits.

Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons sent cut specimens of Kalmia
latifolia splendens ; a fine form.

Sir C. W. Strickland, Bart., Hildenley, Malton, sent Crinum
crassipes. A beautiful species; flowers large, blush suffused
with rose.

Messrs. W. Paul & Son sent several new Roses, including
Spenser, a beautiful light hybrid perpetual.

Messrs. G. Bunyard & Co., Maidstone, sent an interesting and
beautiful collection of Garden Roses.

Messrs. Laxton Brothers, Bedford, sent flowers of some
beautiful Seedling White Pinks.

Mr. R. I. Lynch, Botanic Gardens, Cambridge, sent an inter-
esting collection of species of Pentstemons.

Rev. W. Wilks, Shirley Vicarage, Croydon, sent a large
gathering of Shirley Poppies, containing some very delicate and
beautifully coloured varieties.

XC PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ORCHID COMMITTEE.

Harry J. Verrcon, Esq., in the Chair, and twelve members
present.

Awards Recommended :—
First Class Certificate.

To Epiphronitis Veitchii x (votes, unanimous), from Messrs.
Jas. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. This is another of the phenomenal
bigenerie crosses raised by Messrs. Veitch, and it results from
crossing Ejpidendrum radicans with the pollen of Sophronitis
grandiflora. Epiphronitis Veitchii is of compact habit, and the
plant exhibited bore terminal heads of rich scarlet flowers,
resembling those of E. radicans, but larger.

To Lelio-Cattleya eximea x (Lelia purpurata crossed with
Cattleya Warneri) (votes, unanimous), the latter being the seed-
bearer. The flowers are large; sepals and petals rosy-lilac; lip

Fic. 41.—SARcopoDIUM GODSEFFIANUM.

violet-purple, with brownish lines at the base, and lilac margin.
Also from Messrs. Jas. Veitch & Sons, the raisers.
To Sarcopodium Godseffianum* (votes, unanimous), from

* We are indebted to the editor of the Gardeners’ Magazine for our
illustration.

EE

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. x¢el

Messrs. F’. Sander & Co., St. Albans. This remarkable Philippine
species is of the §. Lobbii section, and in general appearance
nearest to the Bornean §. Dearei, but having the curious white
labellum spotted with purple, and the broad yellow dorsal sepal
veined with purple, giving it almost the appearance of stained
glass. The plant is the smallest in growth of its section and
bears the largest flowers.

To Cattleya Gaskelliana, Cooke’s variety (votes, unanimous),
from Malcolm §. Cooke, Esq., Kingston Hill (gardener, Mr. Culli-
more). A variety with wholly clear rose flowers, which had pre-
viously received an Award of Merit.

Award of Merit.

To Masdevallia Courtauldiana x (rosea x Shuttleworthit).
A pretty variety, with soft rose flowers, from Sydney Courtauld,
Eisq., Bocking Place, Braintree (gardener, Mr. A. Wright). :

To Lelio-Cattleya Canhamize x (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. Jas. Veitch & Sons; (Lelia purpurata x Cattleya Mossie).
The flowers are in shape similar to Lelio-Cattleya Canhamiana,
the reverse cross, but are lighter in colour, the labellum espe-
cially, which is marbled with rose on the front lobe.

To Disa tripetaloides (votes, unanimous), from Sir Charles
W. Strickland, Bart., Hildenley, Malton, Yorks. A pretty
species, with dense heads of white fiowers, spotted with crimson,
each flower nearly an inch across. Some of the sprays had
over twenty flowers, all fully expanded. |

Other Exhibits.

Sydney Courtauld, Esq., exhibited a new Masdevallia like a
white form of M. infracta.

Malcolm 8. Cooke, Esq., Kingston Hill, sent a fine specimen
of Catasetum atratum, having a plant of a handsome new species
of Catasetum, with large yellow and chestnut flowers, growing
with it, as imported.

Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, exhibited several forms
of Phaius Humblotii; Sarcopodium Lobbi, to compare with
their new 8. Godseffianum ; and a well-flowered plant of Angre-
cum Chailluanum.

Messrs. Jas. Veitch & Sons staged Thunia Veitchiana (T.

XGCll PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Marshalliana x T. Bensoniz), which had been previously certi-
ficated.

De B. Crawshay, Esq., Rosefield, Sevenoaks, exhibited a
spray of Cattleya gigas ‘‘Mrs. de B. Crawshaw,” a variety
with large richly coloured flowers; and Messrs. J. Crespin & Son,
Nelson Street, Bath, also staged sprays of Aérides Lobbii,
Cattleyas, and Lelias.

FRUIT COMMITTEE.

Sir C. W. SrrickLanpD, Bart., in the Chair, and sixteen
members present.

Awards Recommended :—

Award of Merit.

To Strawberry Crescent City, from Messrs. Paul & Son, Old
Nurseries, Cheshunt, on account of its earliness.

Cultural Commendation.

To Messrs. de Rothschild, Gunnersbury House, Acton (gar-
dener, Mr. J. Hudson), for very fine fruits of Nectarme Lord
Napier.

To Lord Wimborne, Canford, Wimborne (gardener, Mr.
Crasp), for good examples of Nectarine Stanwick Elruge.

To Mr. W. Palmer, Thames Ditton House, Thames Ditton,
for excellent: samples of Pea Sutton’s Duke of Albany and Long-
pod Beans.

Other Exhibits.

Messrs. Paul & Son sent fruits of seven kinds of Strawberries,
viz. Noble, Pauline, Bidwell, King of Earlies, Vicomtesse Heri-
cart de Thury, La Grosse Sucrée, and Commander.

Mrs. Whitbourn, Great Gearies, Ilford (gardener, Mr. J.
Douglas), sent Melon The Countess.

Seedling Melons were shown by Mr. W. Palmer, Thames
Ditton, and Mr. G. Wythes, Syon House, Brentford.

Mr. C. Osman, Sutton, Surrey, sent six sticks of Rhubarb
Stott’s Monarch, weighing 24 lbs.

Mr. H. Field, Leamington, sent Tomato Brunswick.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. X¢Cill

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE.

Dr. Maxwett T. Masters, F.R.S., in the Chair, and nine
members present.

Tris reticulata, Protection against Mildew upon.—Rev. C.
W. Dod described his experiments of dusting the bulbs of this
Iris with flowers of sulphur before planting them, as well as the
ground where they were placed, in August 1889. The remark-
able effect was to arrest all attempts at growth, the bulbs being
this year exactly in the same state as when planted. Professor
Church suggested that the cause of the arrest might be due to a
slow oxidation of the sulphur, producing sulphurous acid, which
could be absorbed by the tissues, coupled with a consequent
deprivation of oxygen necessary for the development of roots.

Blight.—Mr. Wilson remarked on the excessive prevalence
of blight this year, Iris Kempferi being for the first time
attacked by thrips.

Datura Leaves diseased.—Dr. Masters exhibited some leaves
with small spongy-like processes by the ribs, &c. They were
referred to Dr. Oliver for examination and report.

Spanish Iris with Supernumerary Parts.—Dr. Masters ex-
hibited some flowers with four petals instead of three, and one
with a four-celled ovary. The multiplication of parts had fol-
lowed the chorisis or bifurcation of the fibro-vascular cords of the
organs in question.

Bigener (2) between Raspberry and Strawberry.—Dr. Masters
exhibited drawings of the flower of this remarkable plant, which
Mr. Culverwell had raised. It is generally known as Rubus
Leesii, Bab. The pedicel and sepals are finely setose, but it
wants the epicalyx of the Strawberry. Moreover, the carpels of
the hybrid are setose and not glabrous. They appear to be
abortive. Prof. Babington in his ‘“‘ Manual of British Botany ”’
records it as being found at Ilford Bridges, Devon, and Dunster,
Somerset, with a reference to ‘“‘ A. N. H., ser. 2, ix. 124.”

Hybrid between the Black Currant and Gooseberry.—He also
showed drawings of various organs of this hybrid, also received
from Mr. Culverwell. The foliage more nearly resembles that of
the Gooseberry, being glabrous, except along the nerves of the
under surface. The petiole, however, is glabrous, and not hairy

XC1V PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

as in the Gooseberry. It has no glands as the Black Currant.
The inflorescence is a many-flowered raceme, intermediate in
length between the many-flowered Currant and the few-flowered
Gooseberry. The flowers are larger than those of either parent,
with the sepal lobes erect, and not reflexed as in them. The
stamens are contabescent, and the style is villous in the middle,
whereas those of the parents are glabrous. The stigma or apex
of the style is deeply cleft, those of the parents being sub-capitate
and obscurely two-lobed.

Lelia, two-lipped.—Dr. Masters also showed the not un-
common production of two labella in this Orchid. Itis probably
due to chorisis.

Antirrhinum with Virescent Corolla.—He exhibited a speci-
men with the corolla in the form of a calyx, but undertook to
examine it further and report upon it.

Bigener Orchid.—Mr. Veitch exhibited an interesting plant
called Epiphronitis Veitchi, being a bigener between Epidendrum
radicans, the male parent, and Sophronitis grandiflora, the
female. It received a first-class certificate, and was unanimously
awarded a botanical certificate by the Scientific Committee.

Calceolarias dying off—Mr. Henslow showed plants which
had suddenly died in his garden. They had decayed in the
lower part of the stem, having the cortex split for a length of
about aninch. Mr. Wilks said he was familiar with the fact,
and attributed it to the plants having first suffered from drought
and then being overwatered ; the sap was thus unable to rise, and
burst the tissues. Mr. Henslow observed that this interpretation
corresponded with the conditions of the case in question. It was
a small crimson-flowered variety with hairy foliage. The common
yellow-coloured species showed no signs of injury whatever.

Pistacia Lentiscus,Galls on.—Mr. Henslow exhibited branches
of this plant from Malta covered with flat galls formed from the
metamorphoses of the leaflets, which had assumed a ‘‘legu-
minous’’ shape. It is not uncommon in the Mediterranean
regions. Mr. McLachlan observed that at least four species of
aphides made galls on the Pistacia. Mr. Dod observed that
Cicero speaks of the Lentiscus bearing fruit thrice a year; but
this was probably to be explained by the gum being collected
three times annually.

Orange, Pistilody of Stamens in.—Mr. Henslow showed

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS, XCV>

specimens of this malformation. It was well known before, but,
as Dr. Oliver observed, it appears to be rather more common
than usual during the present season.

Caprificus, or Wild Fig.—Mr. Henslow showed fruits of the
Wild Fig from Malta, used by the peasants for ‘“ caprification ”’
or fertilisation of the autumn varieties of cultivated Figs. Unlike
the latter, the wild Fig called ‘“‘ Duccar”’ invariably grows in
walls or crevices of the rocks. It produces three crops per
annum, each supplying a brood of the Blastophaga. This wild
Fig is not required for the ‘‘summer’”’ or “ St. John’s’ Fig, which
ripens about the end of June (the 24th being St. John the Bap-
tist’s Day), as it contains both male and female blossoms.
Mr. Henslow could find no male blossoms at all in the first or
winter crop of the Duccar. It is not known whether the autumn
Figs are entirely female or not, but a Maltese botanist, Signor
Gatto, has undertaken to make a thorough investigation upon
this and other as yet obscure points involved in the caprification
in Malta, as it appears to differ in some respects in other
countries,

MEETING AT CHISWICK.

JULY 4.
JoHN Les, Esq., in the Chair, and twelve members present.

The Committee inspected the collections of Broad Beans,
Lettuces, and Currants growing in the Gardens— x x x (signify-
ing ‘Meritorious in the first degree’’) being given to the
following :—

Broad Beans.

Bunyard’s Exhibition Long-pod, from Messrs. G. Bunyard
& Co., Maidstone, considered by the Committee to be identical
with Long Tom, sent by Messrs. R. Veitch & Son, Exeter.

Lettuces. :
Prince of Wales (Cos), from Messrs. Jas. Veitch & Sons,
Chelsea.
Karly White Self-folding Trianon, from Messrs. Vilmorin,
Andrieux & Co., Paris.
The Superintendent was instructed to prepare a report on
the Currants.

Xevi PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

GENERAL MEETING.
JULY 8, 1890.
D. Morris, Eisq., M.A. (Treasurer R.H.§.), in the Chair.

ELECTIONS. ;

Fellows, 9—H. C. Baber, C. S. Bruce, J. Burrell, Frank
Howard, J. KE. Knight, C. E. Osman, J. E. Street, Rev. G. J.
Thomas, R. Wake.

Captain H. J. Elwes, F.L.S., delivered a lecture on ‘‘ Culti-
vated Lilies.”

FLORAL COMMITTEE.

W. MarsHAtt, Esq., in the Chair, and seventeen members
present.

Awards Recommended :—

Silver Gilt Banksian Medal.

To Lord Rothschild, Tring Park, Tring (gardener, Mr. E.
Hill), for a large and very excellent group of Carnation Germania.

Silver Banksian Medal.

To Mr. T. §. Ware, The Nurseries, Tottenham, for an
interesting collection of Lilies, the most noticeable variety being
L. Bolanderi, which was certificated.

To Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, for an extensive group
of Flowering Shrubs and other hardy plants.

To Messrs. Barr & Son, Covent Garden, for a varied collection
of Herbaceous Plants in flower.

To Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, for an excellent collection
of cut Roses—the best H.P.’s being well represented.

First Class Certificate.
To Babiana rubro-cyanea (votes, 14 for, 8 against), from
Heer de Graaf, Leyden. Flowers of a deep rich blue.
To Spirea Bumalda variegata (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons. A very dwarf shrubby variety ; leaves
yellow, sometimes tinged with red.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. X¢CVil

Award of Merit.

To Rose (Polyantha) The Engineer (votes, 13 for, 4 against),
from Mr. J. T. Dyke, Bourne, Lincoln. Flowers rich carmine.

To Lilium Bolanderi (votes, unanimous), from Mr. T. S.
Ware. Flowers deep claret-red, with darker spots.

To Zingiber D’Arceyi (votes, 15 for, 2 against), from Messrs.
J. Veitch & Sons. Leaves prettily variegated.

To Gloxinia Gaiety (votes, 16 for, 1 against), from Messrs.
J. Veitch & Sons. Flowers rich crimson, with an outer band of
white.

To Gloxinia Nestor (votes, unanimous), from Messrs. J.
Veitch & Sons. Flowers intense scarlet, and of good form.

To Pelargonium (double) Turtle’s Surprise (votes, unani-
mous), from Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanlet Flowers
deep scarlet ; plant of excellent habit.

To Carnation Mrs. Sanders (votes, 15 for, 2 against), from
Mr. H. J. Jones, Lewisham. Flowers yellow, very free flower-
ing; a good border flower.

To Sweet Pea Stanley (votes, unanimous), from Mr. H.
Eckford, Wem, Salop. Flowers rich dark plum.

To Sweet Pea Dorothy Tennant -(votes, unanimous), from
Mr. H. Eckford. Flowers rosy puce.

Commendation.

To the strain of Canterbury Bells (votes, unanimous), from
Mr. R. Dean, Ealing. An excellent series ; flowers pleasing and
diversified.

Other Exhibits.

Mr. J. Hall, florist, &¢., Cambridge, sent Scclopendrium
vulgare cristata Morgani—a crested form raised true from spores.

The Duke of Northumberland, Albury Park, Guildford, sent.
an effective batch of Alstremeria Seedlings.

Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons sent cut flowers of double and
single Begonias.

Mr. H. J. Jones sent a group of Seedling Petunias.

The Duke of Northumberland, Syon House, Brentford, sent
flowering branches of Clethra arborea and Stuartia virginica.

Messrs. Saltmarsh & Sons, The Nurseries, Chelmsford, sent
very fine cones of Abies nobilis glauca.

XCVill PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ORCHID COMMITTEE.

Harry J. Veitcu, Esq., in the Chair, and eleven members
present. |

Awards Recommended :—
First Class Certificate.

To Lelia grandis (votes, unanimous), from Messrs. F'. Sander
& Co., St. Albans. An exceedingly rare species, totally different
from the smaller L. xanthina usually bearing this name. L.
erandisis of the same form as L. purpurata, and almost as large.
Sepals and petals buff-yellow, ip dark purplish crimson, lighter
towards the edge.

To Masdevallia Schroderiana, from Baron H. Schréder, The
Dell, Egham (gardener, Mr. Ballantine). This pretty species
resembles M. Reichenbachiana, but has whiter flowers suffused
at the base with rosy red. The plant exhibited had several
flowers and buds, and gave evidence of its floriferous character.

To Cattleya Empress Frederick x (votes, unanimous), from
Baron H. Schroder, The Dell, Egham. The plant exhibited had
white sepals and petals, and finely expanded labellum of a bright
magenta-crimson hue. It is said to be from a cross between C.
labiata Mossie and C. 1. Dowiana.

Award of Merit.

To Cypripedium Youngianum x (C. Roebelenii crossed
with the pollen of C. superbiens), from Messrs. F. Sander
& Co. The general appearance of this pretty hybrid is similar
to C. Morganie, but the petals are longer and the flowers paler
than in that variety, the whole of the body of the flower being
ivory white, prettily flushed and spotted with rose. A First
Class Certificate was proposed and seconded for this plant, but
not carried, after which an Award of Merit was passed by unani-
mous vote.

To Zygopetalum crinito-maxillare x (votes, unanimous), from
the Right Hon. Lord Rothschild, Tring Park, Tring (gardener,
Mr. E. Hill). The plant exhibited bore flowers resembling those of
%. Gautieri; sepals and petals pale green blotched with brown,
lip violet.

ea

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. xeix

Cultural Commendation.

To Messrs. F. Sander & Co., for Aérides expansum Leonie,
a fine species of the A. faleatum section ; previously certificated.

Other Exhibits.

From the gardens of Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., the
President of the Society, came a plant of the extraordinary
Bulbophyllum grandiflorum, having the long segments of the
flowers curved forward, and of a yellowish white colour, marbled
with chocolate. It comes from New Guinea, and is figured in
the “ Lindenia,’”’ t. 108. Also the equally curious Sarcopodium
psittacoglossum, the sepals and petals yellow with narrow purple
lines, the labellum purple and curiously shaped like a parrot’s
tongue. Sir Trevor Lawrence also sent the handsome blue
Aganisia cceerulea, previously certificated, and a flower of a very
large variety of Cypripedium Curtisil.

Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, staged a group consist-
ing of Cypripedium Elhottianum and C. Rothschildianum ;
Oncidium hastatum Ernestii, which has a very showy labellum,
much larger than the type; Cattleya gigas Sanderiana; and a
very prettily spotted form of Odontoglossum crispum, named
punctatissimum.

FRUIT COMMITTEE.

R. D. Buackmor#, Esq., in the Chair, and ten mémbers present.

Awards Recommended : —
Silver Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. T. Rivers & Son, The Nurseries, Sawbridgeworth,
for a magnificent collection of fruit, containing very fine
examples of Cherries, Peaches, Nectarines, and Plums.

Bronze Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, for excellent fruits of
thirty varieties of Strawberries.

To Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, for good examples of twelve
varieties of Strawberries, including Auguste Boisselot, which
was certificated.

P2

Cc PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

First Class Certificate.

To Fig St. John, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons.
To Strawberry Auguste Boisselot, from Messrs. Paul & Son;
a very large richly flavoured fruit.

Award of Merit.

Tro Melon Highlands’ Hybrid, from Mr. J. F. Wilkinson,
Minchinhampton. A scarlet-fleshed variety of good flavour.

To Melon Victoria Cross, from Mr. W. A. Cook, Calne, Wilts.
A scarlet-fleshed variety, and finely flavoured.

To Melon Syon House Seedling, from the Duke of Northum-
Lerland, Syon House, Brentford (gardener, Mr. G. Wythes).
This was also a scarlet-fleshed variety of very rich flavour.

To Cucumber Allan’s Favourite, from Lord Suffield, Gunton
Park, Norwich (gardener, Mr. W. Allan); a large handsome
fruit.

To Strawberry Incomparable, from Mr. H. Ridgewell, Cam-

bridge ; fruits well flavoured, dark red colour.

Cultural Commendation.

To Mr. H. Ridgewell, Cambridge, for very fine examples
of five varieties of Strawberries.

To Messrs. G. Bunyard & Co., Maidstone, for excellent
fruits of twelve varieties of Strawberries.

To the Duke of Northumberland, Albury Park, Guildford
(gardener, Mr. W. C. Leach), for fine examples of Strawberries
Sir Joseph Paxton and President.

To Mr. H. J. Jones, Lewisham, for good examples of
Tomatoes.

Other Exhibits.

Mr, J. Collis, Acton Green, Chiswick, sent a Seedling Straw-
berry.

Mr. Rodway, George Town, Demerara, sent dried Bananas,
which the Committee approved of as a valuable addition to th
dessert. .

="

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. Cl

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE.

R. McLacutay, Esq., F.R.S., in the Chair, and five
members present.

Acacia. Seyal, stipules.—Mr. Henslow showed a specimen of
the stipules of this Central and North African species, having
globular bases, about the size of large cob-nuts, terminating with
slender points, two inches in length. They had been perforated
and inhabited in all probability by ants. A discussion arose as
to the possibly hereditary character of the abnormal size of the
stipules of this and other species—e.g., of A. spherocephala, the
‘‘ Bull’s horn ”’ Thorn (as compared with the needle-like stipules
of some Australian species), even when cultivated in England, and
in the absence of ants. It is well known that the presence of
the ants causes an increase of the growth of the stipules, although
they hollow them out and consume the pith as food. It is, how-
ever, the opinion of Dr. Beccari and M. Treub, who have studied
many ‘‘ant-plants,’’ that the comparatively large size of the
stipules, even before they are attacked by ants, is due to the
hereditary effects of the irritations set up in previous generations
of trees (‘‘ Malesia,” 11. and “ Ann. Jard. Bot. Buit.’’ i. p. 129).
An interesting description of A. spherocephala, &c., is given in
Belt’s “‘ Naturalist in Nicaragua,” p. 218.

Inlium Martagon, fasciated—Myr. Elwes sent a large
fasciated stem of this species, in which this abnormality had not
been previously observed. It is not uncommon in other species.
It bore at least 100 flowers on the flattened stem, which was
about two inches across.

Oak-staves, perforated.—Mr. Morris exhibited portions of
staves of beer-barrels, made in England in 1889, and shipped to
Aden in March 1890 from the Indian Store Department. Ofa
hundred barrels nearly every one was found to leak, holes having
been bored into the wood by the grub of some beetle. It was
referred to Mr. Blandford for examination; but in the absence of
all specimens of the creature, and any details in the history of
the case—as, e.g., whence the beetles could be derived—it issome-
what difficult to suggest a remedy.

Carnations attacked by Wireworm (?).—Samples of plants
and grubs were received from R.H.S. gardens at Chiswick. It

Cli PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

was suggested by Mr. Barron that the creature might have been
introduced in the ‘‘ peat moss ”’ (employed as bedding for horses)
used as manure. It appeared to be a species of Tipula. Mr.
Blandford undertook to make a further examination. Mr. Morris
and Mr. Wilks remarked that the Carnations were much destroyed
in a similar manner both at Kew and Shirley. Mr. Henslow
remarked upon the wonderfully efficacious effect of gas-lime in
destroying wireworms. Thinly spread over the ground and dug
in, a plot where previously not a Cabbage could be grown in his
garden has borne excellent crops for several years since.

Gladiolus with Unsymmetrical Flowers.—Mr. Henslow showed
a spray in which the two uppermost flowers were normal, the two
lower reversed in position, having the stamens and style declinate,
while one flower had them situated laterally. The streaked
petals corresponded with the positions of the stamens in each
case. The tubes did not appear to be twisted in any way. As
the style and stigmas were altered in correlation to the stamens,
it would probably not affect the fertilisation by insects, the latter
being simply dusted with pollen in a different part of the body
from usual, Mr. Morris remarked that he had observed similar
alterations in the flowers of the Gladiolus at Kew.

Foliage with Foliaceous Appendages.—Mr. Henslow exhibited
specimens (1) of leaves of Acalypha eremurus with narrow wing-
like excrescence on the ribs and veins of the upper surface. Dr.
Miller has described this peculiarity as a true specific character
in this plant. (2) Aristolochia Sipho, with apparent outgrowths
on the lower surface. These appeared to be due to cracks in the
leaf when young; a portion of the leaf then protrudes below,
when adhesion again takes place. (3) Arum maculatum with a
foliaceous appendage at the base of the blade. (4) Several
specimens of Cabbage-leaves with wing-like appendages to the
ribs, as well as tubular and funnel-like appendages. Mr. Henslow
pointed out the similarity between these foliar excrescences and
many which occur on petals, especially Gloxinias (exhibited),
Primroses, Orchids, and in the ‘crested’? Cyclamen. In all
cases they appear to be due to hypertrophy, and are a means of
disposing of excess of nutriment, the foliar excrescences being
correlated to the chorisis or branching of the fibro-vascular cords.
In a monstrous form of Mignonette, described by the late Pro-

fessor J. 8. Henslow in 1838, the ovules partook of identically the.

eae es a 2 ee ee

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. Cli

same character as the excrescences on tiie Cabbage-leaves—viz.,
cups, funnel-shaped structures and foliar expansions. Such
appears to explain the origin of ovules as being the outgrowths
from the hypertrophied margins (placentas) of carpellary leaves.

Plants exhibited.—Sir Trevor Lawrence sent Bulbophyllum
erandiflorum and Sarcopodium psittacoglossum, for which a
botanical certificate was unanimously awarded. A liliaceous
plant with dark-coloured flowers and two new species of Lily
were sent by Mr. Ware. They were forwarded to Kew to be
named.

CARNATION AND FERN CONFERENCE AND
EXHIBITION.

JULY 22, 1890.

W. MarsHatt, Esq., in the Chair, and twelve members
present.

Awards Recommended :—
First Class Certificate.

To Clematis erecta fl. pl. (votes, unanimous), from Messrs.
Paul & Son, Cheshunt. Flowers double, white, star-shaped, and
very freely produced.

To Carnation (border) Rosalind (votes, unanimous), from Mr.
R. Dean, Ealing. Well-formed flowers, dotted with deep crimson
on a light ground.

To Carnation (border) Rowena (votes, unanimous), from Mr.
R. Dean. Flowers deep scarlet.

To Begonia (double) H. M. Stanley (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley. The flowers glowing
scarlet, large and of fine form.

To Begonia (double) Lafayette (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons. Flowers bright scarlet, of medium
size, freely produced.

To Gloxinia Mrs. Stanley (votes, 10 for, 2 against), from
Messrs. H. Cannell. Flowers white, dotted with rose; very
pretty.

To Rose (Noisette) l’Idéal (votes, unanimous), from Messrs.

civ - PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Paul & Son, Cheshunt. Flowers rich apricot-yellow, flushed
with crimson.

Other Exhibits.

Mr. R. Dean, Ealing, sent a collection of cut Pentstemons.

An interesting group of plants was sent from the Royal
Gardens, Kew, comprising Gladiolus primulinus, A‘schynanthus
speciosus, Solanum Wendlandi, Hedychium flavescens, Littonia
modesta, &e.

Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons sent very fine cut blooms of
Begonias.

Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, sent some cut trusses of
beautiful hybrid Greenhouse Rhododendrons.

The Duke of Northumberland, Albury Park, Guildford, sent
Delphinium Duchess of Northumberland ; flowers deep blue.

The Committee inspected the collections of Carnations,
Picotees, Stocks, and Pansies growing in the Gardens, when the
following awards were made—x x x signifying ‘‘ Meritorious
in the first degree,’ x x ‘ Meritorious in the second degree ”’ :—

Carnation x x x Juliette (R.H.S.), bright rosy purple self.

. » Mrs. Frank Watts (Ware), white self.

x » duno (Paul & Son), rose self.

¥ » Snowdrift (Fisher, Son & Sibray), white self.

5 » Horace (Dan), scarlet self.

. » Maggie Laurie See & Co.), delicate blush self.
a 5 Caledonia bright purple.
- », The Moor (Dean), dark crimson.

ts » Rowena os bright scarlet.

55 », Clown (Dodwell), yellow ground.

a » Oxonian z salmon self.

; x x Beatrice (Fisher, Son & Sibray), buff self.

3 » Fair Maid (Dean), blush.
Picotee x= x x Romeo (Paul & Son).

; , Augusta -
A ‘5 Pica
99 oP arte Bryant (R. ED3)e

9 » Favourite (Turner).
Pansy x x x The Bride (Dobbie), creamy white, edged blue.

3 » Wuchess-of Mite, orange, edged bronze.
- » Neptune dark pur ple, top petals pale.
4 x x Duchess of Sutherland (Dobbie), pale lavender.

a » Marchioness of Tweeddale ,, pure white.
Stocks x x x Large Ten-Week (Putz), brilliant rose.

” ” ” ” purple.
” 9 ” ” white.
se » sulphur yellow.

9 i Dwarf Ten- Week hilac.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. CV

ORCHID COMMITTEE.

Sir TREVOR LAWRENCE, Bart., M.P., in the Chair, and six
members present.

Awards Recommended :—
First Class Certificate.

To Epidendrum faleatum (votes, unanimous—H. J. Veitch,
Esq., in the Chair), from Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P.
This is the original form of the species, and may be botanically
different from the form known as E. Parkinsonianum, with which
it is often considered synonymous. ‘The flowers of the plant
exhibited were over two inches across, pure white, flushed with
rose at the backs of the sepals.

To Oncidium chrysorhapis (votes, unanimous—H. J. Veitch,
Ksq., in the Chair), also from Sir Trevor Lawrence. Its flowers
were numerous, on spikes two feetin height ; yellow, with brown
lines and bars on the sepals. The general form of the flowers,
and especially of the side lobes of the labellum, is like O.
cornigerum.

Award of Merit.

To Grammatophyllum multiflorum (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans. This is an old but rare
species, and the plant exhibited had a spike of over seventy
greenish flowers blotched with brown.

To Masdevallia Rolfeana (votes, unanimous), from Messrs. F.
Sander & Co. A definite idea of this may be formed by calling
to mind a dwarf M. Reichenbachiana with the colouring of M.
calura, both of which species grow together, and M. Rolfeana
might be a cross between the two. The tubular part of the
two lower sepals and the free parts of all three is of a rich
maroon tint ; the portion of the upper sepal combined in the
tubular or concave portion of the flower being yellow, and the
tail-like continuations of all the sepals also bright yellow. The
whole flower has much of the appearance of M. Schréderiana,
especially in the widely extended tails of the lower sepals, which
constitute a distinct feature from the closely arranged ee
ones of M. calura.

ronal PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Botamcal Certificate.

To Masdevallia elephanticeps (votes, unanimous), from Messrs.
Jas. Veitch & Sons, King’s Road, Chelsea. This fine species,
although discovered by Warscewicz about forty years ago, is still
rare. The variety exhibited had large waxlike purplish-crimson
flowers and yellow tails to the sepals.

Other Exhibits.

Messrs. Pitcher & Manda, The United States Nurseries,
Hextable, Swanley, Kent, and New York, exhibited the beautiful
Cypripedium Lawrenceanum Hyeanum, and a supposed new
variety of Dendrobium near to D. crystallinum, but seeming to
exhibit traces of D. Bensoniz.

Messrs F’. Sander & Co. exhibited Dendrobium bracteosum
under its erroneous synonym D. chrysolabium; also Cattleya
Schofieldiana var.

Messrs B. S. Williams & Son exhibited an unknown Orchid
(? Dipodium), which was referred to Kew to be named.

FRUIT COMMITTEE.
T. F. Rivers, Esq., in the Chair, and six members present.

Awards Recommended :—
Silver Banksian Medal.
To Earl Fortescue, Castle Hill, South Molton, Devon

(gardener, Mr. R. Nicholas), for three very handsome fruits of
Queen Pine Apple, weighing 21 lbs.

First Class Certificate.

To Melon Advance, from Mr. J. Barkham, Longford House,
Ryde. A seedling scarlet-fleshed variety, of excellent flavour.

Cultural Commendation.

To Mr. Sibson, Wigton, Cumberland, for wonderfully fine
examples of Black Currants.

Other Exhibits.

The Duke of Northumberland, Albury Park, Guildford,
(gardener, Mr. W. C. Leach), sent fruits of Raspberry Hornet.
Mr. W. A. Cook, Calne, Wilts, sent six dishes of Peas.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. evil

The Committee examined the collections of Peas growing in
the Gardens, when x x, signifying ‘‘ Meritorious in the second
degree,’ were given to the following varieties :—

The Daisy, from Messrs. James Carter & Co. A dwarf
wrinkled marrow.

Boston Hero, a tall white wrinkled marrow.

Ambassador, from Mr. H. Eckford. A tall green wrinkled
marrow.

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE.

D. Morris, Esq., F.L.S. (Treasurer R.H.S.), in the Chair,
and eight members present.

Oak-staves, Perforated.—Mr. Blandford has made an ex-
haustive report on the wood perforated by Trypodendron Quercus,
Lichhoff, brought to the last meeting, which will be published
in the Kew Bulletin. It appears that the cylindrical holes
run tranversely through the wood, having ramifying galleries at
right angles; several of the tubes were empty, others filled with
débris, which might be easily ejected by the beer. He discovered
one hole which had been artificially plugged, as well as others
hidden by the iron bands, conclusively proving that the beetles
(several specimens of which were found) must have been in the
wood before it was made into casks.

Carnations Attacked by Tipula.—Myr. Blandford confirmed
his suspicion that it was a species of Tipula which has ruined so
many Carnations during the present season.

Nest of Weaver Burd from Paraguay.—My. Blandford ex-
hibited a nest made of the mycelium of some fungus. It was in
the sclerotoid condition formerly known as rhizomorpha. Mr.
Morris observed that the Banana birds of Jamaica made a similar
use of rhizomorpha. It is peculiar in being arboreal, and is
found under the bark. It is common in the territories of the
Argentine Republic.

ERhizomorpha of Agaricus melleus.—Mr. Morris exhibited a
specimen of this mycelium received from Mr. I’. C. Fennell, of
Westgate, Wakefield. It was found, at a depth of 70 yards, in a
coal-mine. It appears to be particularly destructive to props and
timber made of the Spruce Fir, but not to the Larch, this proving
to be the best for subterranean supports, though more expensive.

Cvlli PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Cherry-Laurel Fruits Powsonous to Peafowl.—Mr. Morris

recorded the fact that some peafowls at Kew had lately died,
their crops being found to be full of the fruit of the common
Laurel. As the pulp is harmless, it was suggested that perhaps
their death was due to prussic acid being developed from the
kernels, though the presence of the stone appeared to negative
that being the cause, otherwise it was difficult to account
for it.
Laburnum as a Poison.—Dr. Miller observed that although
Laburnum appears to be exceedingly poisonous in all parts of
the tree, the roots, flowers, and seeds having all been known to
have poisoned human beings, yet rabbits will eat the bark with
impunity.

Phylloxera at Chiswick.—Mr. Morris called the attention of
the Committee to the appearance of this disease, and invited
the members to pronounce as to the treatment of it, as it was
undoubtedly present in one vinery in the Chiswick Gardens,
containing young plants from Hungary. It was first observed on
a single plant at one corner, but both root and leaf galls had since
been found on another plant at the other end. Although the
presence of the Phylloxera would suggest the opportunity for a
careful series of investigations and experiments, yet it was the
opinion of the Committee that it was far too serious a matter,
and they were unanimous in counselling instant destruction of
everything growing in the house. The following process was
suggested, and was carried out at once:—(1) Syringing the
whole of the interior of the fabric as well as the ground and
Vines with water, then to burn sulphur, the presence of the
water being desirable in order to absorb the sulphurous acid gas;
this process to be repeated; (2) to burn every part of every
plant, as well as to calcine the soil thoroughly; (3) to remove
and burn all rotten or defective wood that may be in the house;
and lastly (4) to have the whole of the woodwork well scraped
and repainted. It is hoped that these suggestions will be useful,
and followed out elsewhere should the Phylloxera appear in other
gardens.

Vines, Atrophied Foliage of.—Mr. Morris showed specimens
of a very common condition of Vines, several occurring in the
house above mentioned, in which the lateral shoots were dwarfed,
the leaves being only about an inch across. It has been a source

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. C1x

of great trouble to Vine-growers for many years. Dr. M. Ward
undertook to examine into the cause.

Tomatoes diseased.—Mr. Morris showed specimens from the
gardens at Chiswick attacked by Phytophthora. As this appears
to infect the Tomatoes when growing in the open, it is suggested
that whenever possible they should be at once transferred indoors
to a warmer and drier atmosphere, as Tomatoes require a warmer
élimate than the average English summer to ripen properly.
This treatment appears to invigorate them, and renders them not
only less susceptible to the disease, but has been known to check
the further growth of the fungus at once.

Heterecismal Fungi.—The following communication was
received from Mr. Plowright, accompanied by specimens :—

Puccinia Festuce, n. sp.—This species occurs on Festuca
ovina and F. duriuscula. The ecidiospores occur on the common
Honeysuckle. After a long series of unsuccessful cultures upon
various grasses and other plants, extending over a period of eight
years, I was this year induced to try the effect of placing the
spores of Aicidium periclymeni on Festuca duriuscula and F. ovina.
In both cultures the Uredo was produced. I also succeeded in
producing the Aicidium on Lonicera periclymenum from the
germinating teleutospores. The last named are in shape some-
what similar to those of P. coronata, with which species they
have previously been confounded. The material from which the
AXcidium was produced is on the table, as well as the artificially
produced uredospores and the ecidiospores from which they were
produced.

Puccima Agrostidis, n. sp.—The ecidiospores of this species
have long been known under the name of Aicidium Aquilegiz.
Mr. J. H. A. Jenner was kind enough last August to conduct me
to a secluded spot in Abbott Wood, near Lewes, where he had for
several years previously found the Avcidium on the Wild Colum-
bine. We carefully examined the grasses in the vicinity, and
came to the conclusion that the teleutospores probably occurred
on Agrostis alba. Material was brought home to Lynn, and
from it this year the A\cidium was produced on Aquilegia vul-
garis. In May of this year Mr. H. T. Soppett conducted me to
a spot on the east shore of Lake Windermere where the #cidium
Aquilegie occurs. Specimens were obtained from which both
Mr. Soppett and myself produced the uredospores on Agrostis

GX PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

alba and vulgaris. The material used for these cultures is on
the table.

Puccinia Digraphidis, Soppitt.—Mr. Soppitt’s discovery that
the Aicidium on Lily-of-the-Valley is connected with a Puccinia
on Phalaris arundinacea is very interesting—the more so when
we remember that this grass is known to be the host plant of
several other Puccinie—viz., P. sessilis, which has its scidio-
spores on Allium ursinum, P. Phalaridis—which has its ecidio-
spores on Arum, P. maculatum, and a form of P. coronata—the
life-history of which is at present uncertain. The Lily-of-the-
Valley on which I produced the Aicidium from P. Digraphidis
has been growing in my garden at King’s Lynn since the year
1879, and has hitherto been free from any Aicidium ; but eight
days after the germinating ecidiospores of P. Digraphidis were
applied to it the Lily leaves began to show signs of the presence
of the parasite, which in due course developed into the perfect
AXcidium. This culture was done at the request of Mr. Soppitt,
in order that his discovery of the host plant bearing the teleuto-
spores of the Lily-of-the- Valley Aicidium might be confirmed by an
independent observer. The A‘cidium produced and the material
used for producing it are on the table.

Uromyces maritima, Row.—The life-history of the Aicidium
on Glaux maritima was unknown until the present year. In
August last Mr. Peake, jun., of Hull, was kind enough to conduct
me to the only known British locality for this Av.cidium—on the
banks of the Humber. From an examination of the surrounding
plants I came to the conclusion that the Aicidium on Glaux was
due to the Uromyces on Scirpus maritimus. A supply of the
Uromyces was collected, and this spring applied to Glaux mari-
tima in my garden at King’s Lynn. In due course the ecidio-
spores were produced; these in turn were applied to healthy plants
of Scirpus maritimus and the Uredo produced. The specimens
used in their culture are exhibited.

Ajcidiwm on Black Currant Leaves.—This fungus was found
by my friend the Rev. Canon Du Port, on the Norfolk Broads, in
June 1890. Its life-history is at present unknown, although I
have visited the spot, and hope to be able to work it out from
material collected. Whether it be the same species that occurs on
the Gooseberry pretty commonly in various parts of the country
experimental research alone can determine.

ee

Be” Oe

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. Cxi

Melampsora vernalis on Saxifraga granulata.—This fungus,
which is doubtless the teleutospore form of the so-called Ceeoma
Saxifrage, was found by Mr. James Taylor of Clarkfarquhar, is
also exhibited.

Melampsora on Salix repens.—The uredospores of this were
this year produced on a plant of S. repens, that has been growing
for three or fours years in my garden, by applying to it the spores
of Cexoma Orchidis. It is probably a distinct and undescribed
species, as no effect was produced on §. caprea and viminalis by
the Coma spores. C. Orchidis has been the subject of many
cultures made by me during the past nine years. The infecting
material and the uredo produced are exhibited.

Potato Disease.—It would be highly desirable if some simple
experiments could be conducted this year. The long-continued
rains will doubtless induce the disease, and as such experiments
could very easily be made it seems a pity the opportunity should
be let slip. The effect of high moulding of alternate rows of
some variety fairly suspectible is all that is required to show the
protective influence of an efficient earth-covering on the tubers ;
but the recent experiments in France and in America, showing
how powerful are the restraining influence of copper dressings
applied to the foliage of the plants upon the development of the
Phytophthora, certainly ought to be tried. Now that we know
the mycelium of the Phytophthora is localised, and that it
does not extend ‘‘down the stems and along the roots,’’ it is
obvious that the spread of the disease takes place only by the
enormously prodigious production of the conidia; hence it fol-
lows that any agent which can arrest this development, and also
sterilise such conidia as may alight upon the healthy foliage, must
have a powerful influence for good in checking the spread of the
disease. The power that copper dressings have in limiting the
spread of the Peronospora on the Vine has been known in France
for many years.

A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Plowright for his
valuable communication.

exll

PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

MEETING AT CHISWICK.

JULY 23, 1890.

FLORAL COMMITTEE.

W. MarsHatt, Esq., in the Chair, and nine members present.

in the first degree,

Carnation

Pic:

The Committee again inspected the collections of Carnations
and Picotees, also the Pelargoniums, growing in the Gardens,
and made the following awards— x x x signifying ‘“ Meritorious

ae

Dr)

x x ‘* Meritorious in the second degree ’’: —

x x x Mrs. Reynolds Hole (Veitch), terra-cotta.

Gloire de Nancy (Veitch), white, large.

Germania (Veitch-Benary), yellow.

Raby Castle (Turner-Veitch), rose-pink, fine consti-
tution.

Guiding Star (Ware), scarlet self.

Wil Threlfall (Paul), bright yellow.

Edith (Fisher, Son & Sibray ), pale pink, spotted scarlet.

Canary eS pale yellow.

Comtesse de Paris (Paul), pale blush.

Penelope (Hooper), white self.

Merlin (Lakin), deep crimson.

Boadicea (Douglas), purple flaked.

Caractacus __,, crimson bizarre.

Feuerball (Benary), deep scarlet self.

Mirakel von Zerbst (Benary), very dark crimson.

Albrecht Duesser 2 deep rose, crimson flake.

Orestes (R.H.S.), pale rose.

Countess of Eilesmere (R.H.S.), pale flesh, spotted
with crimson.

Scarlet Premier (Storrie), scarlet self.

Rose Celestial (Turner), rose self.

Hypatia (Paul), white self.

x x x Grandiflora (Veitch), deep rose.

Alice Ayres (Veitch-Ware), white, slightly streaked.
Admiration (Veitch), dark purple edge.

Agnes Chambers (Turner), yellow ground, lilac edge.
Colonial Beauty * terra-cotta, streaked.
Dorothy (Turner), terra-cotta.

Atalanta (Dodwell), yellow ground.

Diana ¥ white self.

Ariel ‘3 yellow.

Andromeda _,, terra-cotta flaked.
Grosteen (Veitch), purple edge.

Alfred Grey (Dodwell), yeliow ground.

OO

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. CXlll

Double-flowered Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums—

x x x De Quatrefages (Lemoine), violet-magenta.
Souvenir de Charles Turner, flowers of a deep pink.
Galilee, No. 1, soft lilac.

Ef Me No. 2, soft rosy pink.
99 5 Madame Thibaut, deep pink.
99 » Le Printemps, rosy pink.

Comtesse Horace de Choiseul, satiny rose.
= » Gloire d’Orléans, bright pink.
Single-flowered Ivy-leaved—
x x x Gem, blush white.
. ,» Mrs. H. Cannell, deep mauve-purple.
Zonals ,, Charles Mason (Pearson), fine scarlet, of good habit.
Mons. Poirer (Lemoine), flowers of a beautiful purplish
shade, of good habit of growth.
Stock, Large-flowering Ten- Week—
x x Aurora (Putz).

99

39 9

39
Fuchsia 5 Dunrobin Bedder (Melville), seedling from F. Riccar-
toni, a dwarf, free-flowering, bedding variety.
Mimulus » Moschatus compactus (Putz), of dwarf, even growth,

free flowering, and useful for edging purposes.

GENERAL MEETING.
August 12, 1890.

GEORGE Paur, Ksq., in the Chair.
ELECTIONS.

Fellows, 27.—W. A. Allen, EK. Barber, C. W. Bowdler-Bell,
A. Bruce-Joy, G. Cottman, Miss EK. G. Crossman, Miss S. M.
Crossman, James Dixon, J. Downing, Hy. Eckford, T. Ellis,
T. W. Forrest, P. N. Fraser, W. H. Harvey, J. H. Haywood,
F. Hill, H. B. Hudson, Dr. R. Lake, J. L. McCabe, Mrs. Pollock,
J. Reynolds, Rev. E. Savory, Rich. Silver, N. M. Smith, E. Webb,
J. S$. Whall, Rich. Worsley.

Mr. EK. W. Badger, F.R.H.S., communicated a paper on
‘‘ Fruit-drying by Evaporation, as practised in America.”

FLORAL COMMITTEE.

W. MarsuHaty, Esq., in the Chair, and fifteen members
present.
Awards Recommended :—
Silver Banksian Medal.
To Messrs. Kelway & Son, Langport, Somerset, for a fine

collection of Gladioli (cut spikes).
Q

CX1V PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

To Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, for a beautiful collection
of cut Roses (very fresh for the season), Phloxes, Carnations, &e.

To Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, Upper Holloway, for a
well-erown group of Dracznasg, including D. Miss Glendinning,
which was certificated.

To Mesers. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, for a collection of
Gladioli, African and French Marigolds, and beautiful Hardy
Trees and Shrubs.

Bronze Banksian Medal.
To Messrs. J. Peed & Son, Streatham, for an attractive
sroup of Gloxinias in flower.
To the Duke of Northumberland, Syon House, Brentford
(gardener, Mr. G. Wythes), for a well- flowered group of Campanula
pyramidalis.

First Class Certificate.
To Tilia euchlora (votes, unanimous), from Messrs. J. Veitch
& Sons, Chelsea. A Lime with large deep green, glossy leaves.
To Sequoia sempervirens alba spica (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons. Of slender growth, the points of the
shoots creamy white. |
To Dracena Miss Glendinning (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. B. S. Williams & Sons, Upper Holloway. A distinct and
beautiful variety, having the narrow leaves edged with deep purple.
To Nepenthes Burkei excellens (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons. Pitchers of medium size, mottled
bronzy green, the margin rich of a deep bronzy purple.

Award of Merit.

To Petunia Holborn Blue (votes, unanimous), from Messrs.
James Carter & Co., High Holborn. A single-flowered form ;
flowers of violet-blue, freely produced.

To Gladiclus Empress of Germany (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. Kelway & Son. Flowers ivory-white, veined with rose.

To Gladiolus Stanley (votes, unanimous), from Messis.
Kelway & Son. Flowers flesh-colour, veined with rose.

To Hydrangea hortensis fl. pl. (votes, 14 for, 1 against),
from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons. A double rose-coloured form,
which may be useful for market purposes.

To Nepenthes Burkei prolifica (votes, unanimous), from

;
:

EXTRACTS OF PROCZEDINGS. CXV

Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons. Pitchers very freely produced,
mottled dull green, with a margin of orange-russet.

To Dahlia (Cactus) Robert Maher (votes, unanimous), from
Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham. Clear pale yellow, of fine form.

To Verbena Uranie (votes, unanimous), from Messrs. H. Cannell
& Sons, Swanley. Large flower, mauvy blue with a white eye.

To Sarracenia Claytonii (votes, unanimous), from N. Clayton,
Ksq., East Cliff, Lincoln (gardener, Mr. A. Wipf). A distinct
form, the summits of the pitchers finely coloured with vinous-
purple shading to crimson.

To Hypericum oblongifolium (votes, 13 for, 2 against), from
Messrs. Paul & Son. Flowers yellow, and very freely produced.

To Picotee Mrs. Walford (votes, unanimous), from Mr. C.
Turner, Slough. Yellow ground,crimson flakes on a white edge.

To Picotee Countess of Jersey (votes, unanimous), from Mr.
C. Turner. Yellow ground, with a rose edge.

Cultural Commendation.

To Messrs. James Carter & Co. for a very fine spike of

Hedychium Gardnerianum.

Other Exhibits.

Messrs. James Veitch & Sons sent flowers of beautiful hybrid
Greenhouse Rhododendrong, and good “ strains”’ of African and
French Marigolds.

From the Royal Gardens, Kew, came a group of plants
and cut flowers, including Chironia palustris, C. pedunculata,
Lobelia Tupa, Streptocarpus Watsoni, and many other hybrid
or seedling forms.

Mr. R. Dean, Ealing, sent flowers of a showy strain of giant
African Marigolds.

Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons, Crawley, sent a beautiful collection
of Cactus, Bouquet, and Single Dahhas.

Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons sent fine cut blooms of Begonias
and Verbenas.

Messrs. Hurst & Son, 152 Houndsditch, sent flowers of new
hybrid double Annual Chrysanthemums.

From the Society’s Gardens were sent cut flowers of Car-
nations and Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums, and plants in flower of
white, rose, and blue Brachycomas, Arnebia cornuta, and
Torenias Bailloni, Fournieri, and White Wings.

Q 2

CXV1 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ORCHID COMMITTEE.

Harry J. Verrcu, Ksq., in the Chair, and seven members present.

Awards Recommended :—
Silver Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. Seeger & Tropp, orchid importers, 112 Lordship
Liane, Kast Dulwich, for a splendid stand of Satyriums in
fiower. They were chiefly white and pink forms of 5S. car-
neum, and of the showy yellow S. coriifolium (exhibited under
one of its old names, §. erectum). The tubers were potted into
small pots in spring, and placed in a cold frame, from which,

2p

AN \ \ \
MMOs

——
CAROCHRON.

Fic. 42.—MAspEVALLIA Lowit.
when warm weather came, the lights were removed, and in
this manner they bloomed perfectly.
Lirst Class Certificate.
To Masdevallia Lowii* (votes, unanimous), from Sydney

* We are indebted to the editor of the Gardeners’ Chronicle for the figure
of this species.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. CXVil

Couriauld, Esq., Bocking Place, Braintree (gardener, Mr. A.
Wright). This is a very distinct species from the Cauca, U.S.
Columbia. Itis of the M. Chimera section, its chief peculiarities
being the equal size of the sepals and the small labellum. Its
flowers are white, profusely spotted with purple.

To Saccolabium Hendersonianum (votes, unanimous), from
Major Mason, The Firs, Warwick. An elegant species, with
upright spikes of carmine-pink flowers; the labellum white.
It is a native of Borneo.

To Sobralia Warscewiczii (votes, 5 for, none against), from
Messrs. James Veitch & Sons. A fine dwarf species with flowers
equal in size to those of §. dichotoma, but of a more purple
tint.

To Cypripedium H. Ballantine x (votes, 5 for, none against),
from Messrs. James Veitch & Sons. Thisis the result of crossing
C. purpuratum and C. Fairieanum. The dorsal sepal bears
evidence in its purple lines on a white ground of C. purpuratum,
but in some respects it resembles C. vexillarium x.

Botancal Certificate.
To Phalenopsis Micholitzii (votes, unanimous), from Messrs.
F. Sander & Co., St. Albans. It has ivory-white flowers, the
sepals slightly tinged with green, and both flowers and leaves
bear a resemblance to P. tetraspis, but in the present species
the sepals and petals are broader, and the whole flower larger.

Other Exhibits.

Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, exhibited Cattleya
Schofieldiana, C. Dowiana, several forms of C. Gaskelliana, one
with about twenty flowers; Angrzcum articulatum, and Cattleya
Nilssoni, of the habit of C. bicolor, and with evidence of that
species in the labellum, but the flowers were of the colour of
those of C. Harrisonie. Messrs. Sander also staged a new
Masdevallia—M. hybrida Amesiana, stated to be the result of
crossing M. Veitchiana and M. Tovarensis.

Messrs. B. 8. Williams & Son, Upper Holloway, showed good
specimens of Cypripedium tonsum, C. grande, C. Ashburtoniz
superbum, ©. cnanthum, and the pretty white and crimson
Pachystoma Thomsonianum.

Malcolm §. Cooke, Esq., Kingston Hill (gardener, Mr.

CXVlll PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Cullimore), sent a form of Lelia elegans with five flowers, and a
plant of Cypripedium superbiens with all the flowers having
abnormal labellums.

Mr. H. J. Rogers, Fern Bank Nursery, staged Cypripedium
callosum under the name C. reflexum.

F. Wigan, Esq., Clare Lawn, East Sheen (gardener, Mr.
Young), staged a fine specimen of Oncidium Lanceanum, well
erown and flowered.

FRUIT COMMITTEE.

Sir C. W. STRICKLAND, Bart., in the Chair, and fifteen members
present.

Awards Recommended :—

Silver Gilt Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, for a very fine
collection of Gooseberries, Currants, and early Apples.

Silver Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. T. Burton & Son, Erith Road, Bexley, for eight
boxes of splendid Peaches, the principal varieties being Osprey,
Princess of Wales, Sea Eagle, and Albatross.

To Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, for a good collection of
fifty varieties of Gooseberries.

First Class Certsficate.

To Cucumber Express, from W. 8S. Mortimer, Rowledge,
Farnham, Surrey. The result of a cross between Purley Park
Hero and Tender and True; even, handsome fruit.

Cultural Commendation.

To the Duke of Northumberland, Syon House (gardener, Mr.
G. Wythes), for fine fruits of a variety of Musa, grown on plants
from suckers planted in September last.

Other Exhibits.

Mr. T. T. Macgregor, Great Waltham, Chelmsford, sent a
new Tomato bearing large bunches of fruit of medium size.

a

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. G@X1X

Mr. A. Lancaster, Holkham, Norfolk, sent twa large and
handsome fruits of a very pale green-fleshed Meion named
Holkham Hybrid, grown and ripened without fire-heat.

Mr. W. Roupell, Harvey Lodge, Roupell Park, S.W., sent
very creditable examples of Apples Irish Peach, Mr. Gladstone,
Peter the Great, and Red Joanetting.

The Duke of Northumberland, Albury Park, Guildford
(gardener, Mr. C. W. Leach), sent fruits of a Raspberry named
“12th August.”

Mr. A. Waterman, Alyesford, Kent, sent five pods of ‘‘ Preston
Hall’’ Searlet Runner. The Committee recommended that the
yariety be tried at Chiswick, along with other sorts.

From the Society’s Gardens was sent an interesting collection
of twenty-seven varieties of Tomatoes in clusters as grown.

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE.

Dr. MaxwEetu T. Masters, F.R.S., in the Chair, and six
members present.

Carnations and Tipula.—With reference to the diseased
Carnations, after a further and careful investigation by Mr.
Blandford, he thinks that the Tipule were not the cause of the
mischief, but ‘‘interlopers.”’ He considers the state of the
plants as more probably indicating the work of an anthomyid fly,
but cannot speak positively on the point as yet.

Phylloxera.—A report was received from Mr. Barron that
the instructions of the Scientific Committee had been carried
out at Chiswick with a view to the destruction of the Vines
infected. Mr. McLachlan observed that when the same treat-
ment had been followed elsewhere a few years ago it had proved
perfectly effectual, no trace of the disease haying appeared since
in the same locality.

Distribution of Plants from Chiswick.--To guacd against
the possible extension of Phylloxera, it was determined by the
Council that no plants of any kind, nor Vine-cuttings, should
be issued from Chiswick for the present.

Tomatoes diseasedi—Specimens of the fruit attacked by
Cladosporium and Phytophthora were received from Chiswick.
They will be forwarded to Dr. Marshall Ward for examination
and report.

CXX PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Vine Shoots atrophied.—Mr. Morris called attention to the
fact that this, at present, obscure complaint is by no means
uncommon. It occurs in other gardens in the neighbourhood of
Chiswick, and is regarded by cultivators as very injurious indeed.
If it affects the primary shoot in the early stage of growth ; it
apparently renders the Vine utterly barren. It is suspected as
being due to some fungus. It is in the hands of Professor Ward
for examination.

The Potato Disease. —The following interesting communica-
tion was received from Mr. J. Wright, who records the fact that
the immense advantage of high moulding was known so long as
twenty-five or more years ago in Lincolnshire. He gays: “I
first saw it in full and systematic operation in most of the cottage
gardens at Appleby, in Lincolnshire. The seed tubers were
placed a yard asunder on the surface, and mounded over.
When growth appeared they were mounded again, and when the
haulm had a tendency to fall down, three or four of the best
stems (the weakest being pulled out) were gently bent down, the
early leaves not being smothered, and spread equidistanily, and
then ‘crowned’ with soil. This ‘ crowning’ was repeated at
intervals till no more soil could be dug from between the mounds.
The object of the cultivator was to get a peck of tubers (21 lbs.)
from.a mound. J have had 18 lbs.; 19 Ibs., and 20 tbseabms
never 21 lbs. I have known practically the whole of the mound
crops sound when those on the level were worthless, for the
results of this system were far in advance of crops on the level
in ‘bad disease’ years. With the introduction of strong, upright-
erowing sorts the mound system fell into disuse. I have known
several plants in the middle of a Potato-bed tied upright to
sticks and kept so, so that the early-formed leaves remain
exposed to the light and air. These not only yielded more than
twice the bulk of tubers of the surrounding procumbent planis,
but the former were sound when dug, while the latter were rotten.
This was in a wet and ‘ great disease’ year. I remember once
seeing water standing between the rows in a Potato-field be-
cause it could not pass through the hard ‘sole’ or ‘ pan’ made
with the plough. I took a fork and broke up the pan over a rod
of ground, and the water rushed away. In no other part of the
field were the Potatoes worth digging. With regard to varieties,
short-topped Potatoes were the favourites in former days for late

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EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. CXX1

or winter use and pig-feeding, but the weak-stemmed and foliaged
sorts were annihilated by the murrain, only the more robust and
coarser surviving, and only one that could in any measure be
relied on had stout woody stems that remained upright, with large
thick leaves. It was known as the ‘Old London Red.’ The quality,
however, of the tubers was inferior, and Sutton’s Red-skinned
Flourball was an improvement of great value in those days. Ever
since varieties of the same upright growth and strong leaf-power
have proved to be the best disease-resisters, and, fortunately, the
tubers of several of these are now of good quality. Tender-
stemmed late-growing varieties which fall and cover the ground
not only prevent evaporation from the soil, but lose all their best
leaves prematurely through want of light and air, the weaker
leaves towards the tops of the stems alone remaining (as long as
they can) to exhale moisture and carry on the other functions of
plant life. For this reason such plants fail to withstand the
fungus, which readily takes possession.”

Mr. Henslow drew attention to the recommendation of his
father (the late Prof. J. S. Henslow) to save the starch from
Potatoes which might be so far decayed as to be useless as an
article of food, for 75 per cent. of starch can often be recovered
from such tubers. Several Suffolk farmers followed his sug-
gestion in 1845, when whole fields were utterly destroyed by
the disease. Mr. Henslow would be glad to describe the method
to anyone who will communicate with him at Drayton House,
Ealing.

Stylidium graminifolium.—Mr. Morris called attention to a
plant exhibited, a native of Australia. It is well known for the
peculiarity of its irritable style. Thisis at first bent to one side,
but when touched at the base suddenly flings itself over to the
opposite side of the flower. A similar movement is observable
in Maranta, a plant allied to the Ginger.

Cypripedium superbiens.—A plant was exhibited by Malcolm
S. Cooke, Esq., of Kingston Hill, of this Orchid, remarkable for
having three flowers, two of which bore double labella, while the
third was twin-petalled. Dr. Masters observed that the number
of malformed blossoms of Orchids which he had received was on
the increase ; many occurring on C. Sedeni, they being always
late flowers which are malformed, according to Mr. Veitch’s ex-
perience. C. Lawrenceanum is another which affords many

CXXii PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

monstrous conditions. Dr. Masters raised the question whether
it might not be in many cases an indirect result of hybridisation.
C. superbiens originated from a single plant accidentally in-
cluded in a batch of Orchids, and, though usually regarded as a
distinct species, may possibly be (as Mr. Veitch suggested) a
natural hybrid.

Agapanthus wmbellatus malformed.—Mr. Wilson showed a
flowering scape with the superficial tissue ‘‘ripped up,” as it
were, at various places along the edge of the somewhat flattened
stem. It appeared to be due to an irregularity in the rates of
erowth of the tissues, so that the superficial layers had become
ruptured at places, and curled outwards.

Jeffersoma diphylla, Fruit of.—Mr. Wilson exhibited a
specimen of the fruit of this Berberidaceous plant. It consists of
a single carpel or “ follicle,’ but instead of dehiscing down the
ventral suture, as in Aconite, it bursts by a semi-circumscissile
dehiscence, the lid remaining attached at one, the ventral side. In
most cases of ‘‘pyxis” the lid is quite separate, as in Henbane,
Plantains, and Anagallis. As the fruit is at right angles to the
stalk, it has an extraordinary resemblance to a miniature pipe.

Daffodil Bulbs with Merodon.—My. Wilks exhibited bulbs of
double Telamonius with the grubs of Merodon esquestre within
them. They destroy the interior of the bulb, but their presence
brings about a prolification, as an immense quantity of bulbils
are produced, which would not otherwise be the case. Hence
they may be regarded as useful for the purpose of multiplication,
though of course accompanied by the destruction of the flower
which the original bulb would have borne. It appears that the
erub descends into the ground in autumn to form the chrysalis,
the imago escaping in the following spring. Hence the best
period for examination of bulbs, in order to destroy the grub,
would be July.

Gloxinia Leaves diseased.—Leaves covered on the under
side with light brown spots and patches were received from
Buckskin Hall, Herts. It was first suggested that overwatering,
especially with cold water, might have been the. cause, as
this is apt to produce similar injuries; but a microscopic
examination revealed thrips and acari, which, it was thought,
was no doubt the real cause of the mischief; consequently
it should be treated, as usual, with tobacco powder.

EEE

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. CXX1ll

Haastia pulvinus, Hk. f—A fine specimen of this remark-
able composite was exhibited by Mr. Richards, obtained by him
from Mount Perceval, Amwin, at an elevation of 5,000 feet.
It forms dense masses of agglomerated woolly capitula with
yellow florets.

GENERAL MEETING.
Avuaust 26, 1890.

Dr. Masters, F.R.S., i the Chair.
KLECTIONS.

Fellows, 10.—T. M. Bulkeley-Owen, J.P., Robert Calceutt,
Mrs. K. A. Freeling, Mrs. James Kingsford, Langlois Lefroy,
George Mcheod, E. M. Mundy, Philip Southby, J. H. Telfer, W.
Withers.

A paper on “‘ Hollyhocks ’’ was read by Mr. James Douglas.

FLORAL COMMITTEE.

W. MarsHatt, Esq., in the Chair, and fifteen members
present.

Awards Recommended :—

Silver Gilt Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. Kelway & Son, The Nurseries, Langport, Somerset,
for a remarkably fine collection of Gladioli (cut spikes).

Silver Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons, The Nurseries, Crawley, for a
large and beautifully fresh collection of Dahhas, representing the
single, cactus, and pompon sections.

To Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, for a collection of
cut branches of hardy ornamental shrubs, especially noticeable
being Stephanandra flexuosa, several richly coloured Acers,
Cornus sibirica Spathii, &e.

To Messrs. Paul & Son, Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, for a
beautiful collection of herbaceous flowers, conspicuous being

GXX1V PROCKEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

various Delphiniums, Senecio pulcher, Montbretia crocosme-
flora, Shirley Poppies, Helianthus (in variety), Phloxes, &e,

First Class Certificate.

To Geranium Wallichianum Shirley Blue (votes, unanimous),
from Rev. W. Wilks, Shirley. Flowers of a pale Nemophylla
blue, with a white eye. The plant appeared in Mr. Wilks’
garden as a stray seedling, and was at first supposed to bea
hybrid, but was afterwards found to be a variety of Wallichianum.

Award of Merit.

To Phlox Le Soleil (votes, 6 for, 8 against), from Messrs.
Paul & Son. Flowers pinkish rose, with white eye.

To Potentilla formosa pallida (votes, 7 for), from Messrs.
Paul & Son. Flowers soft flesh-pink.

To Dahlia (Show) Canary Bird (votes, 8 for), from Mr.
G. §. P. Harris, Orpington. Flowers bright yellow, of good
form.

To Dahlia (Cactus) Mrs. Douglas (votes, 9 for), from
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons. Flowers llac-crimson flushed with
buff.

To Dahha(Single) Maud (votes, 9 for), from Mr. T. 8. Ware,
Tottenham. Flowers white, with rich crimson margin.

To Dahlia (Single) Eclipse (votes, 7 for, 2 against), from
Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons. Flowers magenta-mauve.

To Dahha (Single) Northern Star (votes, 7 for), from Messrs.
J. Cheal & Sons. Flowers red-brown, with yellow margin.

To Dahlia (Cactus) Mrs. Stanley (votes, 5 for, 4 against), from
Mr. J. T. West, Cornwalls, Brentwood. Flowers bright rosy-
crimson.

To Dahlia (Pompon) Rouge Chauvriere (votes, 4 for), from
Messrs. Kelway & Son. Flowers creamy-white.

To Pentstemon Le Borda (votes, 4 for), from Messrs. Kelway &

Son. Flowers large, claret-coloured.

To Gladiolus Baron Schroder (votes, 4 for), from Messrs.

Kelway & Son. Flowers brilliant scarlet, of fine form.
To Mentzelea bartonioides (votes, 6 for, 2 against), from the
Duke of Northumberland, Syon House, Brentford (gardener, Mr.

G. Wythes). A pretty Mexican annual, with clear yellow flowers

of good size.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. CXXV

Other Exhibits.

Messrs. H. Low & Son, The Nurseries, Clapton, sent fine
flowers of Lilium Wallichianum superbum and L. nepalense.

Rev. H. H. D’Ombrain, Westwell Vicarage, Ashford, sent
beautiful cut spikes of Gladioli.

Mr. R. Dean, Ealing, sent flowers of a good strain of African
Marigolds.

Messrs. F. T. Smith & Co. and Messrs. Stuart & Mein, Kelso,
each sent fine Hollyhocks (cut blooms).

Mr. H. Herbst, Kew Road, Richmond, sent cut flowers of
“Marguerite’’ Carnations, from seed sown on March 2. A
pretty, useful strain.

FRUIT COMMITTEE.

T. F. Rivers, Esq., in the Chair, and thirteen members
present.

Awards Recommended :—

Bronze Banksian Medal.

To Lord Wimborne, Canford Manor, Dorset (gardener, Mr.
T. H. Crasp), for a collection of well-grown Apples, chiefly culi-
nary varieties.

Cultural Commendation.

To Lord Suffield, Gunton Park, Norwich (gardener, Mr. W.
Allan), for excellent examples of Gros Maroc Grape, grafted on
Frankenthal, the flavour being much improved. Also for good
examples of Mrs. Pearson Grape.

To the Duke of Northumberland, Syon House, Brentford
(gardener, Mr. G. Wythes), for fine fruits of Peaches Sea Eagle
and Princess of Wales.

Other Exhibits.

Lord Suffield sent a large Seedling Grape, a cross between
Muscat of Alexandria and Black Morocco. This was not quite
ripe, so the Committee requested to see it again.

Lord Suffield also sent examples of Strawberry La Grosse
Suerée, second crop; fruit gathered from plants which had been
forced and planted out in the early summer.

CXXV1 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Mr. F. Taylor, Farnborough, Kent, sent some fine examples
of Apple Lady Sudeley.

Mr. T. Bones, Tower House, Chiswick, sent Tomato Tower
House Favourite; of good form, &c., but not superior to other
varieties in cultivation.

Messrs. J. Carter & Co., High Holborn, sent examples of
Tomatoes Blenheim Orange and Market Favourite, which were
over-ripe.

Mr. Ridley, Staines, sent a Seedling Potato, which was re-
ferred to Chiswick for trial.

ORCHID COMMITTEE.

Harry J. Verrou, Esq., in the Chair, and seven members
present.

Awards Recommended :—
Silver Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., Clapton, for a fine stand of

Vanda Kimballiana in flower.
First Class Certificate.

To Cattleya Massaiana (votes, unanimous), from KE. G.
Wrigley, Esq., Howick House, Preston (gardener, Mr. G.
Beddoes). This is one of the numerous fine varieties inter-
mediate between C. Warscewiezil (gigas) and C. Dowiana aurea.
It is like a C. aurea, with sepals and petals marbled with rose
colour, and is near to the form described in the Gardeners’
Chronicle from the Right Hon. Lord Rothschild’s collection as
C. aurea marmorata.

Award of Merit.

To Cattleya Hardyana, Wilson’s variety, from Alfred Wilson,
Kisq., Westbrook, Sheffield (gardener, Mr. Pidgley). This differs
from the original Hardyana in being of a lighter colour, the
labellum having a decided purple hue.

To Lelio-Cattleya Proserpine x (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. James Veitch & Sons. The plant resulted from crossing
Lelia Dayana with pollen of Cattleya velutina. In features
and colour the plant followed closely the seed-bearing parent,

——— ee ee ee

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. CXXVil

but its lip partakes much of the expanded front lobe of
C. velutina.

To Cypripedium Arthur x (C. venustum x levigatum), from
Drewett O. Drewett, Esq., Riding-Mill-on-Tyne (gardener, Mr.
Keeling). This is a pretty variety, resembling C. venustum, but
with the petals elongated and twisted.

Other Exhibits.

Malcolm §. Cooke, Esq., Kingston Hill (gardener, Mr. Culli-
more), exhibited three varieties of Lelia elegans, that known as
‘“‘Cooke’s variety ’’ having previously received a First Class Cer-
tificate.

Mrs. Whitbourn, Great Gearies, Ilford, exhibited Cypripedium
Numa x (Stonei x Lawrenceanum).

Drewett O. Drewett, Iisq., Riding-Mill-on-Tyne, staged
Cypripedium Alice x (Stonei crossed with Spicerianum) and
C. Constance x (Curtisii x Stonei) ; both pretty.

Messrs. James Veitch & Sons sent the true Lelia grandis,
Cypripedium H. Ballantine, Cattleya velutina, and Lelia
Dayana, to illustrate their new cross resulting from them—Leelio-
Cattleya Proserpine x.

His Grace the Duke of Northumberland, Syon House, Brent-
ford (gardener, Mr. George Wythes), staged several forms of
Satyrium carneum.

Specimens of Cattleya Dowiana aurea, C. Hardyana, and
C. Warscewiczil (gigas) were sent by EH. G. Wrigley, Ksq.,
Howick House, Preston (gardener, Mr. G. Beddoes).

Major Mawood, Whitby, Yorkshire (gardener, Mr. Horner),
submitted C. Mawoodi x (C. niveum x C. Harrisianum). The
plant was not strong, and the Committee desired to see it again.

GENERAL MEETING.
SEPT. 9, 1890.
The Rev. H. H. D’Omsrain in the Chair.
]JLECTIONS.
Fellows, 6—W. Herbert Fowler, Captain W. W. Knight,
Harry Renton Mein, D. Radclyfie, Captain John Ramsay,
Charles Herton Woods.

CXXVlll PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Papers were read on ‘“ Hardy Hybrid Gladioli,” by Mons.
Emil Lemoine and Mr. James Kelway.

FLORAL COMMITTEE.
W. MarsHatt, Esq., in the Chair, and fifteen members present.
Awards Recommended :—

Silver Gilt Banksian Medal.
To Messrs. Kelway & Son, Langport, for a remarkably fine
collection of Gladiol, numbering 200 spikes of fine form and
beautiful variety of colour.

Silver Banksian Medal.
To Mons. Lemoine, Nancy, France, for a most interesting
collection of hybrid Gladioli (cut spikes).
To Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, for a very interesting collec-
tion of hardy flowering and foliage Trees and Shrubs.

Bronze Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, for an attractive
series of Dahlias—Cactus and decorative varieties (cut blooms).

First Class Certificate.

To Gladiolus Lemoinei Nuée bleue (votes, unanimous), from
Mons. Lemoine. Flowers pale purplish blue, very distinct in
colour.

Award of Merit.

To Gladiolus Lemoinei Rev. W. Wilks (votes, unanimous),
from Mons. Lemoine. Flowers rich bright orange-scarlet.

To Gladiolus nanceianus Le Grande Carnot (votes, 14 for,
1 against), from M. Lemoine. Large flowers of a bright carmine
colour.

To Gladiolus Lemoinei E. V. Hallock (votes, 18 for, 2 against),
from M. Lemoine. Flowers creamy white, throat yellow,
blotched with rich crimson.

To Gladiolus Lemoinei Louis Thibaut (votes, unanimous),
from M. Lemoine. Flowers violet and maroon-purple.

To Dahlia (decorative) laciniata aurea (votes, 13 for, 2 against),
from Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. CX XIX

To Dahlia (Cactus), Dr. Peters (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons. Flowers bright orange-crimson,
tipped with gold.

To Dahlia (Cactus) Cannell’s Favourite (votes, unanimous),
from Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons. FT lowers golden buff, shaded
with deep orange in the centre.

To Dahlia (decorative) Maid of Kent (votes, 14 for, 1 against),
from Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons. Flowers rich deep crimson
tipped with white.

To Godetia Duke of Fife (votes,.11 for, 4 against), from
Messrs. Daniels Bros., Norwich. [lowers bright crimson, freely
produced.

To Dahlia (Cactus) Black Prince (votes, unanimous), from
Mr. J. Green, The Nursery, Dereham, Norfolk. Flowers deep
shining maroon, almost black.

To Dahha (Show) Lorina (votes, unanimous), from Mr. C.
Turner, Slough. Flowers bright buff, of fine form.

To Dahha (Pompon) Midget (votes, unanimous), from Mr.
C. Turner. Flowers puce and white.

To Dahlia (Pompon) Rubens (votes, unanimous), Mr. C.
Turner. Flowers crimson, deeply edged with white.

To Dahlia (Pompon) Crimson Beauty (votes, unanimous),
from Mr. C. Turner. Flowers brilliant crimson, of pretty
shape.

To Dianthus Caryophyllus Marguerite (votes, unanimous),
from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. A strain of dwarf and
very free-flowering Carnations. Flowers red, rose, orange,
salmon, and white.

To Montbretia crocosmeflora aurea maculata (votes, unani-
mous), from Mr. J. O’Brien, Harrow-on-the-Hill. Flowers
bright orange, with deep crimson blotch.

Other Exhibits.

Messrs. Watkins & Simpson, Strand, sent a well-flowered
plant of Lilium longiflorum japonicum giganteum.

Mr. T. 8. Ware sent Papaver orientale semiplena ; large bright
scarlet flowers.

Messrs. Stuart & Mein, Kelso, sent cut specimens of three

varieties of Pentstemons.

R
e

CXXKX PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

FRUIT COMMITTEE.

Joun Lex, Esq., inthe Chair, and twelve members present.

Awards Recommended :—
Silver Banksian Medal.

To Mr. J. Walker, Ham Common, Surrey, for a collection of
well-grown Apples, the most noticeable varieties being Lord
Grosvenor, Ecklinyille Seedling, Cox’s Orange Pippin, and
Colonel Vaughan.

Award of Merit.

To Seedling Melon Ely’s Seedling, from Mr. 8. Eley, Henley-
on-Thames. A good, sweet, green-fleshed variety.

Cultural Commendation.

To Lord Wimborne, Canford Manor, Dorset (gardener,
Mr. T. H. Crasp), for an excellent collection of fruit, consisting
of Apples, Pears, Figs, &c.

To Mr. A. Selby, Radcliffe-on-Trent, for six dishes of
handsome Potatoes.

Other Exhibits.

Rev. W. Wilks, Shirley Vicarage, Croydon, sent a new Pear
named Marguerite Marillat, which, not being ripe, was requested
to be submitted again. |

Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, sent Melon Little
Heath Improved, which was passed.

Messrs. James Carter & Co., High Holborn, sent Tomato
Market Favourite, and Melon Carter’s Holborn Favourite ; the
latter—a very large handsome fruit, not quite ripe—was requested
to be sent again.

Mr. R. Maher, Yattendon Court, Newbury, sent examples of
two Seedling Grapes, which the Committee desired to see again.
Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, sent a collection of Nuts.

P. Crowley, Esq., Waddon House, Croydon, sent ripe fruit of
the Kei Apple (Aberia Caffra), from Mount Aber, Abyssinia.
Fruit somewhat resembling an Apricot.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. CXXXI

ORCHID COMMITTEE.

Harry J. Verrou, Esq., in the Chair, and ten members
present.

Awards Recommended :—
Silver Banksian Medal.
To Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P. (gardener, Mr. White),
for a pan of several plants of the beautiful Habenaria militaris

in bloom. The plants bore dense heads of soft cinnabar-scarlet
flowers.
First Class Certificate.

To Cattleya aurea Statteriana (votes, unanimous), sent by
Thomas Statter, Esq., Stand Hall, Whitefield, Manchester
(gardener, Mr. R. Johnson). A beautiful form with almost wholly
bright yellow flowers, the only other colour being a marbling of
rose on the edge of the lip and a few reddish lines in the throat.

Award of Merit.
To Lelia elegans, Stand variety (votes, unanimous), from
T. Statter, Esq., Stand Hall, Whitefield, Manchester (gardener,
Ir. Johnson). This is a form near to L. e. prasiata, but with
sepals and petals not exhibiting so much green colour, and a
broader and richer crimson hp.

Cultural Commendation.

To T. Statter, Esq. (gardener, Mr. Johnson), for a large
specimen of Dendrobium aqueum, Lindl. (D. album, Wight).
A fine old species with pure white flowers, each over an inch
ACross.

To T. A. Gledstanes, Eisq., Gunnersbury (gardener, Mr.
H. Denison), for a well-grown plant of Dendrobium formosum
with many flowers.

To Messrs. IF’. Sander & Co., St. nibate, for a fine specimen
of Miltonia candida superba with several spikes of bloom.

Other Exhibits.

Messrs. Seeger & Tropp, Lordship Lane, East Dulwich, sent
a plant of Camaridium ochroleucum (Bot. Reg. x., t.844). It had
one pretty white flower with yellow base to the lip. The genus
is very near to Ornithidium.

@XXXli PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Messrs. F. Sander & Co. staged various Cattleyas of the
‘Jabiata ” section, and the pretty Lelia monophylla with two
flowers. ;

The Right Hon. Lord Rothschild, M.P., Tring Park, Tring
(gardener, Mr. EK. Hill), sent a cut spike of the pure white
and fragrant Cattleya Gaskelliana alba, which had been pre-
viously certificated.

T. A. Gledstanes, Esq., exhibited Vanda Sanderiana, and Sir
Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., contributed Cypripedium prestang,
which had been purchased by him under the erroneous synonymy
of C. glanduliferum.

EXTRACTS FROM THE PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

FERN CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION.
JuLty 24, 1890.*

THE collection of Ferns, both British and exotic, brought
together on this occasion was very extensive, and one of the
finest ever seen under one roof, not only in the Gardens at
Chiswick, but probably in this or any other country.

For the better examination and comparison of the exhibits,
they were divided into six principal classes, viz. :

(1) British Ferns,

(2) Hardy Exotic Ferns and varieties,

(3) Stove and Greenhouse Ferns,

(4) Selaginellas and Lycopodiums,

(5) Ferns best adapted for cultivation in rooms, and
(6) Ferns best adapted for growing in baskets.

The British Ferns, which were subdivided into ten groups,
were remarkable for the great variation which existed among
the different species and varieties. In this class, E. J. Lowe,
Hsq., F.R.S., of Shirenewton Hall, Chepstow, exhibited no less
than 200 distinct forms, many of them quite new, which had
been obtained by hybridisation, a process in connection with
the reproduction of Ferns so well described by Mr. Lowe in his
paper at p. 505.

C. T. Druery, Esq., F.L.8., Fernholme, 25 Windsor Road,
Forest Gate, E., staged about 100 remarkable forms, including
some charming feathery-looking Athyria, which he had obtained

* The Editors regret that the Fern Conference Awards do not follow in
strict order of date. They should have followed page cxi, but were acci-
dentally misplaced.

M

CXXX1V PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

simply by careful cultivation; in this way he had produced
many widely divergent forms of the same variety.

Messrs. Birkenhead, of Sale, near Manchester, were also
contributors to this class, paying particular attention to the
varieties which find most favour in commerce.

These three collections, from widely separated parts of the
country, were remarkable for the healthy condition of the
specimens and their extreme variation, which in many cases,
especially among the common Hart’s Tongue (Scolopendrium
vulgare), assumed most grotesque forms. It would be invidious
to describe any particular variety where all were so excellent,
and perhaps we cannot do better than refer our readers to the
two very valuable books on British Ferns published by Dr.
Lowe and Mr. Druery, in which the description and history of
each form is given. For our present purpose we need only
remark that the varieties which found mest favour with the
Judges are those which received a Certificate of Merit and have
their names given below.

In the second class, Messrs. Birkenhead had a collection of
hardy North American Ferns. There were several examples of
Cheilanthes, Onoclea sensibilis, Struthiopteris germanica, and
others equally well known.

The class for Stove and Greenhouse Ferns was a popular one.
The chief exhibitors were Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea ;
Mr. H. B. May, Dyson’s Lane, Upper Edmonton; Messrs.
Birkenhead ; and J. A. Whittard, Esq., Rydal Mount, Streatham
Hill.

Messrs. Veitch’s collection, containing about 250 species and
varieties, was of a most diverse character, and represented most
of the popular Ferns cultivated under glass. A conspicuous exhibit
was a pan of Todea seedlings raised from spores of T. pellucida
ferulacea, T. grandipinnula, T.superba,T.plumosa, mixed together, .
each of which retained its characteristic distinctions. Thyrso-
pteris elegans, an exceedingly rare Fern, was exhibited by Messrs.
Veitch, and was very attractive on account of its graceful, finely
cut fronds. Lomarias were also well represented, the most
notable being L. gibba, L. platyptera—a hybrid between L. gibba
and Blechnum brasiliense—and L. L’Herminieri, a dwarf species
trom tropical America. Maidenhair Ferns (Adiantums) were
naturally in great abundance, and being perhaps better known

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. CXXXV

than any other class of Ferns, were much admired by the visitors.
The forms of A. cuneatum were extremely numerous, and many
of them were remarkable for their clusters of delicate fronds.
The Hare’s-foot Ferns (Davallias) were well represented. These
Ferns, which have, for the most part, fronds very finely cut and
eracefully drooping, are very ornamental when suspended in
baskets or trained up the stems of such Tree Ferns as Dicksonia
or Cyathea. Gymnogrammes—popularly known as Gold and
Silver Ferns—were a source of. considerable attraction, “and
were extensively staged, not only by Messrs. Veitch, but also
by Messrs. Birkenhead and Mr. H. B. May. Gymnogramme
schizophylla var. gloriosa is a remarkably pretty Fern, and is of
great value for basket decoration, in which class it was placed,
with many others, according to the schedule.

H. J. Whittard, Esq., exhibited a grand bank of plants,
principally greenhouse varieties, the most striking amongst them.
being Platycerium grande, P. alcicorne, and P. Hillii, commonly
known as Stag’s-horn Ferns, the specimens shown being the
finest we ever remember to have seen.

Mention should also be made of those delicate Cryptogams
known as Filmy Ferns, represented by the genera Trichomanes,
Hymenophyllum, and Todea. Messrs. Birkenhad had a splendid
collection of these, of which indeed they make a speciality.
Among the many varieties noticeable were good specimens of
the ‘‘ Killarney Fern” (Trichomanes radicans), and several
strong-growing varieties of it; T. reniforme, having great clusters
of fronds, which, as the specific name implies, are kidney-shaped
in outline; T. alatum, crispum, pinnatum, pyxidiferum, tenerum,
trichoideum, venosum, &c.; the Tunbridge Fern (Hymenophyllum
tunbridgense), Todea superba, T. pellucida, T. grandipinnula, &c.

Awards Recommended :—

The Silver Challenge Cup presented to the Society by N. N.
Sherwood, Esq., was awarded to E. J. Lowe, Hsq., F.R.S., Shire-
newton Hall, Chepstow, for the best collection of Hardy Ferns.

Gold Knightian Medal.

To Messrs. W. & J. Birkenhead, Sale, Manchester, for a
group of Ferns.

To Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, for a group of Ferns.

M2

CXXXV1 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Silver-Gilt Flora Medal.
To Mr. H. B. May, Upper Edmonton, for a group of Ferns.
To C. T. Druery, Esq., F.L.8., 25 Windsor Road, Forest
Gate, for a group of Ferns.

Silver Flora Medal.

To J. A. Whittard, Esq., Rydal Mount, Streathim Hill, for
a group of Ferns.

Certificate of Merit.

To Adiantum Capillus-veneris var. autumnale, from E. J.
Lowe, Esq., F.R.S.

To Adiantum manuatum, from Messrs. W. & J. Birkenhead.

To Aspidium aculeatum vars. hybridum and Nepos, pulcher-
rimum, and Abbotte, from KE. J. Lowe, Esq., F.R.S.

To Aspidium angulare vars. plumosum foliosum, polydactylum
variegatum, latifolium grandiceps, remoto-decurrens, divisilobum
plumosum, flabelli-pinnulum, decompositum frondosum, plumo-
sum, plumosum plumosissimum, plumosum coronare, and divisi-
lobum plumosum imbricatum, from EK. J. Lowe, Esq., F.R.S.

To Aspidium angulare divisilobum plumosum Baldwinii,
from J. L. Baldwin, Esq.

To Asplenium filix-foemina vars. cruciatum columnare, calo-
melanos, Victorie gracile, uncum cruciatum, cristatum magnifi-
cum, and grandiceps coronare, from HE. J. Lowe, Esq., F.R.S.

To Athyrium filix-foemina vars. setigerum percristatum and
Frizilliz coronare, from Messrs. W. & J. Birkenhead.

To Athyrium filix-feemina vars. stellatum angustatum, per-
cristatum J. S. Cousens, and plumosum superbum, from C. T.
Druery, Visq., EL.s.

To Blechnum spicant vars. ramo-cristatum, concinnum, ‘and
plumosum (Airey), from C. T. Druery, Esq., F.L.8.

To Dicksonia Lathami x, from Mr. W. B. Latham, Botanic
Gardens, Birmingham.

To Gymnogramma chrysophylla var. grandiceps superba,
from Mr. H. B. May.

To Lastrea montana var. cristata gracile, from C. T. Druery,
Esq., F.L.S. |

To Nephrodium paleaceum vars. pendens and cristatum

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. CXXXVI

elobosum ; also N. spinulosum var. spectabile, from E. J. Lowe,
Hsq., F.R.S.

To Polystichum angulare var. pulcherrimum (Wills), from
C. T. Druery, Esq., F.L.S.

To Pteris serrulata cristata parvula, from Messrs. J. Veitch
& Sons.

To Pteris aquilina depauperata grandiceps pendens, from
Messrs. W. & J. Birkenhead.

To Scolopendrium vulgare var. crispum (Wills), from C. T.
Druery, Esq., F.L.8.

To Scolopendrium vulgare vars. undulatum synthesina, undu-
latum muricato-spirale, reflexum, grandiceps, Cowburnu, robus-
tum, augustum, variegatum aureolum, luminare, projectum
princeps, capitatum, peraferens rosetta, imeequale cristatum
pericalles, and ramosum Alexandre, from HK. J. Lowe, Hsq.,
F.R.S.

To Scolopendrium vulgare vars. crispum fimbriatum lutescens,
erandiceps fimbriatum, and crispum fimbriatum cristatum, from
Messrs. H. Stansfield & Co.

To Todea pellucida ferulacea, from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons.

To Trichomanes radicans var. crispum cristatum, from HE. J.
Lowe, Ksq., F.R.S.

DAHLIA CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION.
SEPTEMBER 23, 1890.

THE collection of Dahlias brought together for the Conference
was very extensive, and occupied a large tent. The blooms
were, on the whole, very fine, and, for the sake of comparison,
were divided into five groups, in acccordance with the terms of
the schedule, viz. Show Dahlias, Fancy Dahlias, Cactus or
Decorative Dahlias, Single Dahlias, and Pompon Dahlias. This
mode of arrangement proved to be very effective, although single
varieties were not in such abundance as the others.

Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co., Salisbury, had a fine
collection, consisting of twenty-four Fancy varieties, twelve
bunchesof Cactus and Decorative kinds, and twenty-four bunches
of Pompons.

CXXXVlil PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Mr. Charles Turner, Slough, had one hundred and fifty-six
Show and Fancy Dahlias mixed, twenty-four bunches of Cactus
and Decorative kinds, and the same number of Pompons, the
whole presenting a charming sight.

Messrs. Paul & Son, The Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, contributed.
a collection remarkable for the number of fine Single varieties,
besides large and well-arranged bunches of the other kinds.

Messrs. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, had a remarkable collec-
tion of Single varieties, as well as Show and Fancy kinds, mixed,.
and a large group of Pompons.

Messrs. J. Cheal &37Sons, Lowfield Nurseries, Crawley, had
also a striking exhibit of Single, Decorative, Pompon, Show and
Fancy varieties.

Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, contributed fifty bunches
of Cactus and Decorative Dahlias, among them being many new
varieties hitherto unknown to commerce.

Messrs. Rawlings Bros., Romford, had an interesting collec-
tion of Show and Fancy Dahlias, consisting chiefly of varieties
raised during recent years.

Mr. T. 8. Ware, Hale Farm Nursery, Tottenham, had a good
collection of the different varieties.

Messrs. Dobbie & Co., Rothesay, N.B., notwithstanding the
ereat distance, contributed a large collection, well representing
the Show, Fancy, and Pompon types.

Among the amateurs, Mr. J. T. West, gardener to W. Keith,
Esq., Cornwalls, Brentwood, had a group of Dahlias, consisting
of forty-eight Show, twenty-four Hippy, | six bunches of Cactus,
and twelve of Pompon varieties.

In the class reserved for seedlings, and for new and mis-
cellaneous varieties, Mr. George Phippen, Victoria Nurseries,
Reading, made a unique and very effective display. The Cactus
and Decorative Dahlias were arranged in fan-shaped bouquets,
and placed upon the ground on upright stands of various heights,
the background being decorated with Ferns and Palms. Mr.
George Humphries, Kington Langley, Cheltenham, had a group
consisting of many fine varieties, as had also Messrs. Saltmarsh
& Sons, Chelmsford; Messrs. Heath & Son, Cheltenham; Mr.
J. T. Tranter, Henley-on-Thames; Mr. W. Salmon, West
Norwood ; and Messrs. J. Peed & Sons, Norwood Road, §.E.

a _

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. CXXXIX

Awards Recommended for Dahlias :—"

Silver-Gilt Banksian Medal.
To Messrs. Paul & Son; Messrs. J. Laing & Sons; Messrs.
J. Cheal & Sons; Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co.; and Mr. C.
Turner.

Silver Flora Medal.
To Mr. George Phippen; Messrs. Rawlings Bros.; Mr. J. T.
West; Mr. T. S. Ware; and Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons.

Silver Banksian* Medal.
To Messrs. Dobbie & Co.; Mr. George Humphries; Messrs.
Saltmarsh & Son; and Messrs. Heath & Son.

Bronze Banksian Medal.
Mr. J. Tranter; Mr. W. Salmon; and Messrs. J. Peed & Sons.

Certificate of Merit.

To Eldorado (Show) and Mikado (Pompon), from Mr. Charles
Turner.

To Comedian (Fancy) and Phebe (Pompon), from Messrs.
Keynes, Williams & Co.

To Beauty of Arundel (Cactus) and Centennial (Decorative),
from Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons.

To Melita (Pompon Cactus), from Mr. T. 8. Ware.

To Yellow A. W. Tait (Decorative), from Messrs. H. Cannell
& Sons.

To Daisy (Pompon), from Mr. J. T. West.

GRAPE CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION.
SEPTEMBER 24, 1890.

THE Exhibition of Grapes was not so large as could have been
desired, and comparatively few of the smaller-berried kinds were
shown. One feature of the exhibition, however, attracted much
attention, namely, the manner in which Grapes were packed for
market. The methods of packing were various, some of the
exhibitors using shallow baskets technically known as ‘“ flats”

cxl PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

(fig. 483), others what are known as ‘‘ handle baskets ”’ (fig. 44).
Mr. George Monro, of Covent Garden, contributed many samples,
exactly as they had been sent to him, from the Channel Islands,
containing some remarkably fine Grapes, which bore no sign
of ill effects from their long journey. There was a class for
Grapes sent in small quantities either by rail or parcels post, but
transit by the latter means seemed to be a failure, owing to the
mutilated condition of the Grapes on arrival. It is unnecessary
to describe here the various modes of packing Grapes, as that is
fully done in Mr. Coleman’s paper (see vol. xiil. p. 59).

Particular attention was attracted by the collection of small-
berried Chasselas and Frontignan Grapes from plants grown in
pots by W. Roupell, Esq., Harvey Lodge, Roupell Park. The
varieties included the American Raspberry and the Strawberry,
Chasselas Musqué, Chasselas de Fontainebleau, Muscat of Hun-
gary, Muscat Troveren, &c.

Messrs. T. Rivers & Son, Sawbridgeworth, had a collection
of eighteen varieties, among them a new one named San
Antonio—a black oval-berried Grape of promising appearance
and fair quality.

S. W. Graystone, Esq., Hurst Side, West Moulsey (gardener,
Mr. A. G. Hookings), exhibited fine bunches of Gros Colmar and
Gros Maroc, as well as of Black Alicante.

Messrs. J. Peed & Sons, Norwood Road, S.E., sent s) n>
bunches of Gros Maroc and Black Alicante.

The Rev. W. Sneyd, Keele Hall, Staffs. (gardener, Mr. J.
Wallis), exhibited eighteen varieties, which had, however, unfor-
tunately been somewhat injured by the long railway journey.

T. Barnes, Esq., The Quinta, Chirk (gardener, Mr. J. Louden),
sent some fine specimens of Alicante and Black Hamburgh, as
well as Muscat Champion and Muscat of Alexandria.

Numerous other well-known kinds were shown by various
exhibitors, and most of them were remarkable for their fine size
and flavour.

A promising new white Grape with Muscat flavour was sent
from the Marchioness of Downshire, Hillsborough Castle,
Ireland (gardener, Mr. Bradshaw), which may probably prove a
very valuable addition to late-keeping high-flavoured Grapes.

In the class for ‘“‘ high-flavoured’’ Grapes, Mr. J. Clarke,
Albion Nursery, Farnham, sent some bunches of Muscat of

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. exli

ay Pay} IN Ms sills "i baen Ny LW y Lat ty
WN) i iH ! i uranic Wah AY

RAT ON TH Ne j
H, By A)
i : Mt Waa

f
Ba ALU LR

¢ | ’ ce v 7
Peticere ey A
MMe OTUNHTR TID

Fig. 44.--Haxpie Basket. (From the Gardeners’ Chronicle.)

exlii PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Alexandria and Madresfield Court. He also sent bunches of

Grapes which had been grown under glass but without artificial
heat, among this group being Madresfield Court, Gros Colmar,
Gros Maroc, Lady Downes, &c.

Some specimens of the Vine-moth (Tortrix anqustiorana)
(fig. 45) were exhibited. This pest is of comparatively recent

Fic. 45.—Torrrix ANGuSTIORANA. (From the Gardeners’ Chronicle.)

appearance in this country, although well known on the Conti-
nent. The caterpillar first eats the skin of the berries, and then
envelops the latter in a webbed net.

Awards Recommended for Grapes :—

The Silver-Gilt Cup presented to the Society by D. Morris,
Esq., F.L.8., was awarded to Mr. R. Dawes, Temple Newsam,
Leeds, for examples of packing Grapes for private use.

Silver-Gilt Banksian Medal.
To W. Roupell, Esq.; Mr. P. Kay.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. exlil

Silver Banksian Medal.
To Messrs. T. Rivers & Son; Mr. St. Clair; Mr. J. Sweet;
Messrs. Parrott Bros.; Mr. A. G. Hookings; Mr. J. Clarke.

Certificate of Merit.
To Black Monukka, from H. Balderson, Esq., and the Society’s
Gardens.
To Canon Hall Muscat, from W. Roupell, Esq.
To Muscat of Alexandria, from Mr. G. Wythes.
To Muscat Hamburgh and Alnwick Seedling, from the
Society’s Gardens.
To Gros Colmar and Gros Maroc, from Mr. A. G. Hookings.
To Muscat of Alexandria, Muscat Champion, Alicante, and
Black Hamburgh, from Mr. J. Louden.
For a collection of Frontignan Grapes, from Messrs. T. Rivers
& Son.
For a collection of Grapes, from Mr. J. Wallis.
For packing Grapes, Mr. 8. Castle, Mr. J. Hudson, and Mr.
C. J. Waite.

FLORAL AND ORCHID COMMITTEES.

MEETING AT CHISWICK.
SEPTEMBER 28, 1890.

W. MarsHatt, Esq., in the Chair, and eighteen members
present.

Awards Recommended :—

Silver Gut Banksian Medal.
To Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, for an excellent
group of Begonias in flower. Plants of dwarf habit, producing
flowers very freely.

Silver Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. Harkness & Sons, Bedale, Yorks, for a beautiful
group of hardy flowers, consisting of bold masses of Doronicum,
Helianthus, Tigridia, &c.

To Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, for fine groups of
double- and single-flowered varieties of Begonias, lifted from the
open ground.

exliv PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Bronze Banksian Medal.
To Messrs. Reid & Bornemann, Sydenham, for a good group
of Early-flowering Chrysanthemums.

Award of Merit.

To Chrysanthemum (Pompon) Miss Lilly Stevens (votes,
18 for), from Mr. G. Stevens, The Nursery, Putney. Pretty,
small white flowers, very freely produced.

To Lelia Eyermaniana (votes, unanimous), from Messrs.
Pitcher & Manda, The United States Nursery, Hextable, Swanley.
It had a peduncle bearing four pretty rose-coloured flowers,
which in construction resemble L. majalis and L. autumnalis.

Other Exhibits.

Mr. J. O’Brien, Harrow-on-the-Hill, sent Oxalis imbricata
fl. pl. (fig. 46). Hxceedingly pretty, producing rich rose-coloured
flowers, deepening to a more intense shade in the centre.

Mr. C. B. Powell, Southborough, Tunbridge Wells, sent the
scarce white form of Crinum Powelli named album. Mr. Powell
also showed spikes of varieties of Gladiolus (Lemoinei), which
had been produced in five months from seed.

Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, sent Gynerium argenteum
aureo-variegatum. The Committee expressed a desire to see
larger plants.

A. H. Smee, Esq., The Grange, Wallington (gardener, Mr.
G. W. Cummins), sent the old and pretty Eucomis punctata.

Mrs. Sherard Clay, Comyns Hill, Ilfracombe (gardener, Mr.
J. Dadds), sent a very fine specimen of Adiantum Daddsi; also
A. variegatum, a seedling from A. cuneatum.

Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, sent two well-flowered
plants of Chrysanthemum Mrs. Alpheus Hardy.

Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, sent beautiful cut flowers
of Javanese Rhododendrons, and several flowering shrubs, par-

. ticularly noticeable being Abelia rupestris, producing delicate
- pink flowers,

Subsequently the Committee examined the collections of
Dahlias growing in the Garden (sent for trial). Three marks
(x x x), signifying ‘‘ meritorious in the first degree,’ were
given to each of the following varieties, viz. :—

Cactus vars.—Honoria, Panthea, Juarezi, Empress of India,
A. W. Tait, and Mrs. Hawkins from Messrs. Keynes, Williams

— ee ee eee

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. exlv

& Co.; Juarezi from Mr. C. Turner; Mrs. Hawkins, Henry
Patrick, Charming Bride, and Lady Kerrison from Mr. T. 8. Ware.

\
\
iN

\\

Fic. 46.—OxaAtis IMBRICATA FL. PL. (From the Gardeners’ Chronicle.)

Pompon vars.—Darkness, Brunette, Millie Wood, Fairy Tales,
Whisper, Mdlle. V. Faconet, Gem, Red Indian, The Khedive,

exlvi PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Janet, Rosetta, Rosalie, Lady Blanche, E. F. Junker, White
Aster, Fashion, Isabel, and Mabel from Messrs. Keynes, Williams
& Co.; Ernest, Isabel, Fanny Weiner, Anna Zachman, Dove,
Princess Sophie Sofiela, Cupid, Lady Jane, Admiration, and EK. F.
Junker from Mr. C. Turner.

Single vars.—Miss Linaker, The Sport, Sunningdale White,
Mr. Kennett, Alfonso, Lady Monckton, Cetewayo, and Formosa
from Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons; Florrie Fisher, Miss Henshaw, and
Kate from Mr. T. S. Ware.

Bedding vars.—Yellow Pet, Marguerite Bruant, and Flora
Macdonald from Mr. C. Turner.

Show vars.—Condor, J. B. Service, George Rawlings, Ovid,
Mrs. Gladstone, Cyprus, Royalty, Primrose Dame, Leah, Gold-
finder, Royal Queen, Diadem, Toison d’Or, Mrs. Glasscock,
Statesman, Mrs. Harrison,:and Pioneer from Mr. C. Turner.

Fancy vars.—Grand Sultan, Queen Mab, and General Gordon
from Mr. C. Turner.

FRUIT COMMITTEE.
JOHN Luz, Esq., in the Chair, and fifteen members present.
Awards Recommended :—

Cultural Commendation.
To Mr. R. Dean, Ranelagh Road, Ealing, for very fine examples
of The Conference Tomato.

Other Exhibits.

The Marchioness of Downshire, Hillsborough Castle, Co.
Down (gardener, Mr. T. Bradshaw), sent Grape Lady Down-
shire, a large, white, oval variety resembling White Tokay,
Examples of this Grape were also exhibited, stated to have been
erafted on Black Hamburgh, having smaller and somewhat
rounder berries. This Grape, unfortunately, did not arrive until
after the Committee had separated.

Mr. Myles, Appley Towers, Ryde, sent examples of Grape
Appley Towers, which had previously been certificated by the
Committee. Mr. Myles also sent examples of another seedling
Grape of the same character.

Rey. W. Wilks, Shirley, again sent Pear Marguerite Marillat,
which was now, however, found over-ripe.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. exlvii

Mr. W. Palmer, Thames Ditton, sent a good fruit of Melon

Hero of Lockinge.

Mr. R. Maher, Yattendon Court, Newbury, sent fruit of a
scarlet-fleshed Melon named Red Gauntlet, which was not ripe.
Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co., Salisbury, sent a seedling

Apple named Chorister Boy.

Mr. L. Castle, Merton, sent Apple Marie’s Pippin, which was

requested to be sent again.

The Baroness Burdett-Coutts, Holly Lodge, Highgate (gar-
dener, Mr. J. Willard), sent nice examples of Grape Stillward’s

Sweetwater.

Mr. Jardine, Ravelston, Blackhall, Midlothian, sent examples
of a Grape supposed to be Foster’s Seedling, but the Committee

were unable to identify it.

MEETING AT CHISWICK.
OcToBER 2, 1890.

JOHN Lez, Esq., in the Chair, and eight members present.

The Committee examined the new varieties of Potatos grown
in the Garden, when the following varieties—on account of their
appearance and good cropping—were selected to be cooked, viz. :

“Victory,” Lye.

‘“Governor,’’ Dean.

‘* Reliance,” Ridgewell.

‘‘ Sharpe’s Standard,’’ Sharpe
& Co.

“Ellington’s Prolific,” Elling-
ton.

“Market Favourite,’’ Elling-
ton.

‘« Lye’s Perfection,’’ Lye.

“The Amateur,’ Maher.

* Capital,” Ross.

‘¢The Times,’ Ross.

‘“« Stanley,’ Barrows.

** Aplin’s Success,”’ Aplin.

‘¢The Poor Man’s Friend,’
Maher.

When boiled they were, however, all found to be deficient in
quality—possibly on account of the previous wet season.

Cxlvili PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

GENERAL MEETING.
OcToBER 14, 1890.

JOHN T. Bennett-Pok, Esq., in the Chair.

ELECTIONS.

Fellows, 31—T. Adams, R. Armour, T. P. R. Bradshaw
J. Brooking-Rowe, E. Clapham, J. H. Clibran, J. Cocksedge,
G. W. Dalton, Rev. Dr. Dangar, H. Fincham, E. Fison, Rob.
Fyfe, T. A. Gledstanes, 8. W. Graystone, T. Jefferys, Rev. R. V.
Kinleside, J. H. Lane, W. L. Lewis, A. J. Manda, Lady D.
Neville, Mrs. Newall, W. Paice, M.A., G. L. Palmer, Hy. Power,
H. W. Pownall, W. H. Preston, A. Rudder, C. Tuffin, Sir Jas.
Whitehead, R. Yeats, 8. Yoshida (of Tokio, Japan).

A paper on ‘‘ Crinums” was read by Sir Chas. Strickland,
Bart.

FLORAL COMMITTEE.

JOHN FRASER, Esq., in the Chair, and twelve members present.

Awards Recommended :—

Silver Gilt Banksian Medal.
To Mr. H. B. May, Edmonton, for an effective group of
small Crotons, Palms, and Ferns, in good variety—the Crotons
being particularly well-coloured.

Silver Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. Wm. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross, for a beautiful
collection of cut Roses, from the open, the most noticeable
varieties being W. A. Richardson, The Bride, Mrs. J. Laing,
Ella Gordon, Madame Hoste, and Marie Van Houtte.

To EK. Mawley, Esq., Rose Bank, Berkhampstead, for a
charming arrangement of cut flowers, comprising Tea Roses,
Tuberous Begonias, and Chrysanthemums.

To Mr. H. J. Jones, Lewisham, for a well-grown collection
of Early-flowering Chrysanthemums.

Bronze Banksian Medal.
To Mr. C. Turner, Slough, for an excellent collection of
Show Dahlias. Flowers fresh and in beautiful variety.
Award of Merit.
To Richardia ethiopica Little Gem (votes, unanimous), from

a

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. exlix

Mr. H. Elliott, Jersey. Flowers quite white and small; useful
for decorative purposes.

To Bouvardia Purity (votes, unanimous), from Mr. H. B. May,
bearing dense heads of pure white flowers; habit of plant
compact.

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Fic. 47.—Counizia Maryana. (From the Jowrnal of Horticulture.)

To Carex species (votes, 3 for), from Mr. J. Robson,
Altrincham. A graceful, narrow-leaved form. Award made
subject to name being given by the Scientific Committee.

To Cunilla Maryana (votes, unanimous), from Messrs. Pitcher
& Manda, Hextable, Swanley, bearing dense racemes of small
lilac flowers ; plant about a foot in height (fig. 47).

To Chrysanthemum Pink Lacroix (votes, unanimous), from

N

el , PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham, and Mr. H. J. Jones. A useful
early-flowering, light pink-coloured variety.

Other Exhibits.

Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons sent beautiful blooms of their pretty
Greenhouse hybrid Javanese Rhododendrons.

Mr. G. Fry, Lewisham, sent Fuchsia triphylla alba carminata,
which the Committee requested to see again in a larger form.

T. B. Haywood, Esq., Woodhatch Lodge, Reigate (gardener,
Mr. C. J. Salter), sent flowers of Japanese Chrysanthemum
Memoir, a sport from H. Wellam.

ORCHID COMMITTEE.

H. J. Veriton, Esq., in the Chair, and seven members present.

Awards Recommended :—
Silver Flora Medal.

To Baron H. Schréder (gardener, Mr. Ballantine), for a
select group of Orchids, including a magnificent plant of the rare
Cypripedium Fairieanum carrying seven flowers; three plants of
the large form of Dendrobium Phalzenopsis ; Cattleya Fausta x ;
C. aurea Imschootiana, and Lelia porphyrites.

First Class Certificate.

To Cattleya aurea Imschootiana (votes, unanimous), from
Baron Schroder, The Dell, Egham. This is a form of C. aurea
approaching C. Hardyana, but with nearly white sepals and petals.

To Cattleya Warocqueana var. amethystina (votes, unani-
mous), from M. Linden, |’Horticulture Internationale, Pare
Léopold, Brussels, by whom this noble and distinct form of
C. labiata was introduced. It appears to be an importation from
the same ground from which the famed ‘‘ autumn-flowering
labiata’’ came in 1818, and which has hitherto been sought in
vain. The plant exhibited was a true autumn-flowering labiata,
but with brighter sepals and petals, and more showy lip.

To C. Warocqueana flammea (votes, unanimous), a variety
resembling the preceding, but with only a bright wedge-like mark
of crimson on the lip.

Award of Merit.

To Cattleya aurea Lindenii (votes, 3 for), from M. Linden, Pare
Léopold, Brussels. This is a noble form of the well-known

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. eli

C. Dowiana aurea, the difference being in its larger golden-yellow
sepals and petals, and the peculiar plum-coloured blotch at each
side of the base of the labellum.

To Cattleya du Buyssoniana (votes, unanimous), from M.
Linden, of Brussels. This is the nearest approach to an
‘‘Albino”’ in the C. granulosa section. The flowers are five
inches across; sepals and petals cream colour, or the colour of
old ivory; lip amethyst-red, with obscure yellow marks in the
centre.

To Catasetum Burgerothii var. Randii (votes, unanimous),
from M. Linden, Brussels. A yellow form of the type, said to
have been collected in a new locality.

Botanical Certvficate.

To Dendrobium (Bulbophyllum) amplum (votes, unanimous),
from Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P. A most extraordinary
and rare plant, with large yellow and chocolate-coloured flowers.

To Anerecum Kimballianum (votes, unanimous), from W.
Vanner, Esq., Chislehurst. This has sprays of white, fragrant
flowers, and can only be regarded as a form of A. polystachyum,
figured as Kpidendrum polystachyum in the work of Aubert du
Petit Thonars on the Orchids of West Africa.

Cultural Commendation.
To a fine specimen of Odontoglossum grande, from Mr.
Alfred Sanders, 146 Camden Road, N.W.
To Odontoglossum Londesboroughianum and Lelia Perrinii,
from Mr. James Crispin, Fishponds, Bristol.

Other Exhibits.

M. Linden exhibited various forms of the new Cattleya
Warocqueana—all beautiful; also Aganisia cyanea, Lelia
grandis vera, and Mormodes maculata.

Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., sent Epidendrum radiatum
fucatum, which may be considered the highest form of the
EK. fragrans section.

Messrs. Pitcher & Manda, The United States Nurseries, Hex-
table, Swanley, staged their Lelia Arnoldiana.

Captain Hincks, Brechenborough, Thirsk, sent a flower of

N 2

elil PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

his Masdevallia Stella—M. Estrade x M. Harryana—which the
Committee desired to see again.

W.C. Atkinson, Esq., Aigburth, Liverpool, sent a spike of
Vanda coerulea.

FRUIT COMMITTEE.

Sir C. W. StricKLAND, Bart., in the Chair, and eighteen members
present.

Awards Recommended :—

Silver Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. William Paul & Son, Waltham Cross, for a very
fine collection of the principal varieties of Apples and well-
fruited shoots of October Red and White Raspberries.

To Messrs. Gaymer & Son, Attleborough, Norfolk, for an
interesting collection of ,Apples—varieties grown for the manu-
facture of Cider, samples of which were also shown.

First Class Certificate.

To Melon Westley Hall (votes, 9 for, 3 against), from
R. Burrell, Esq., Westley Hall, Bury St. Edmunds (gardener,
Mr. A. Bishop). Scarlet-fleshed, tender, and of rich flavour.

To Apple Beauty of Stoke (votes, unanimous), from Lord
Savile, Rufford Abbey, Ollerton, Notts (gardener, Mr. R. Doe).
Sir Charles Strickland and Mr. A. H. Pearson, to whom the fruit
was referred when shown in December last, reported very
favourably as to quality and cropping. Fruit large, solid, conical,
of a uniform green russet, somewhat resembling Alfriston.

Cultural Commendation.

To the Messrs. de Rothschild, Gunnersbury House, Acton
(gardener, Mr. J. Hudson), for very fine examples of Golden
Noble Apple.

To the Duke of Northumberland, Syon House, Brentford
(gardener, Mr. G. Wythes), for fine fruits of Monstera deliciosa ;
also for fruits of a large red Banana, afterwards identified by the
Scientific Committee as Musa sapientum var. paradisiaca.

Other Exhibits.
H. Balderson, Esq., Corner Hall, Hemel Hempstead, sent a
dish of fine fruit of D. T. Fish Apple, with the object of deter-

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. elili

mining its identity with Warner’s King, or otherwise. It was
unanimously declared to be identical with Warner’s King.

Mr. Lewis Castle, Merton, sent Apple Duc d’Aumale, a large,
firm fruit, with a distinct aromatic flavour, but it was considered
rather dry.

Messrs. Jarman & Co., Chard, sent a small collection of

Apples.

My. R. Fenn, Sulhamstead, Reading, sent fruits of a medium-
sized Apple named ‘“ Pay-the-Rent’’; also a collection of dif-
ferent kinds of Fruit and Nuts, and Home-made Wines.

Mr. Roffey, Croydon, sent fine seedling fruits of his selected
Telegraph Cucumber.

Mr. A. Dean, Bedfont, Feltham, sent interesting examples
of jam and syrup preparations of Tomato, Carrot, Vegetable
Marrow, and Beetroot, the first and last named finding the most
favour with a majority of the members present.

PRESERVED FRUIT EXHIBITION.

At this meeting an Exhibition of Jams, and of Dried, Preserved,
and Bottled Fruits, was held, which attracted considerable interest.
The judges in the various classes were Mrs. Dunsford and Miss
Gibbs of the School of Cookery, and D. Morris, Esq., M.A.,
F.L.S., who recommended the following awards :—

Silver Knightian Medal.
To Messrs. T. W. Beach & Sons, Ealing Road, Brentford,
for Jams and Bottled Fruits.

Bronze Kimghtian Medal.
To Messrs. §. Chivers & Son, Cambridge, and to Mr. D.
MacGregor, Edinburgh, for Preserved Fruits and Jams.

Certificate of Merit.
To Mr. D. MacGregor for Candied Orange and Lemon Peel.
To Mr. Austin for Mulberry and Apple Jams.
To the Mid-Kent Fruit Factory for Quince Marmalade, Quince
Jelly, and Black Currant Jam.
To Mrs. Fenn, Sulhamstead, for Strawberry Jam.
To W. Roupell, Esq., Roupell Park, for Muscat Grape Jam.

cliv PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Highly Commended.
Preserves from Mr. J. E. Austin, Kingston-on-Thames, and
the Mid-Kent Fruit Factory, Tonbridge.

Commended.
Preserves from Sir Chas. W. Strickland, Bart., Hildenley,
Malton, and Mr. Edmunds, Liverpool Road, N.

Honowrable Mention.

Dried Fruits, Syrups, Sweets, &c., from Messrs. J. Veitch &
Sons, Chelsea.

This Exhibition brought to light some peculiar fruit and
vegetable compounds. Mr. A. Dean, of Bedfont, succeeded in
making very excellent and palatable preserves from such material
as Tomatoes, Carrots, Marrows, and Beetroot.

Mrs. Fenn, of Sulhamstead, sent some fine Strawberry Jam,
as well as some made from Apples mixed with Mulberries, Black-
berries, &c.

Sir Chas. Strickland, Bart., contributed wild Strawberry and
Blackberry Jams.

Mrs. Shore, of Newington Green Road, sent Blackberry Jam
and Orange Marmalade, which created some interest; and Lady
Susan Byng, Sherborne House, Gloucester, had fine Jams made
of Apricots and Red Currants.

An interesting exhibit in the way of Grape Jam was sent
by W. Roupell, Esq. It was made from Muscat of Alexandria
Grapes, and had a good flavour.

The contribution of Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, Chelsea,
attracted general attention and was full of interest. It consisted
of Syrups; Preserved, Candied, and.Dried Fruits; Sweets, &c.,
imported from Turkey, and gave one a good idea of the tastes
(which, to judge from the exhibits, were very numerous) of the
inhabitants of that country. Besides these there was also
exhibited a collection of common articles of food sold in the
streets of Constantinople. These included St. John’s Bread
(John the Baptist’s Locust), baked and unbaked Pistacio Nuts,
American Earth or Butter Nut, Persian Apricots, baked seeds
of Pumpkins, Sunflowers, Stone Pines, &c., all more or less used
for culinary purposes.

Among the trade exhibits, those of Messrs. Beach & Sons
attracted much attention. Most of the fruits preserved were

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. cly

selected from fine varieties of Plums, Damsons, Raspberries,
Black Currants, Green Gooseberries, &c., erown on Lord
Sudeley’s fruit farms at Toddington, near Cheltenham,

Messrs. Chivers & Son, of Histon, near Cambridge, had a
smaller but equally excellent display of similar fruits.

Mr. J. K. Austin, Kingston-on-Thames, had some very clear
light-green Jam made of Plums, and also Quince Marmalade
having a flavour peculiar to that fruit.

Mr. J. Edmunds, Liverpool Road, N., contributed some
excellent foreign preserves, including Mango Chutnee, Tamarinds,
and Preserved Mango—the latter being attractive in colour, but
somewhat disappointing to the palate. Vanillas, Ripe Mangos,
and Guava Jelly were among the remaining exhibits.

Tinned fruits preserved in liquid were sent by Messrs. Ellis,
Rislingbury & Co., of St. Mary Axe, and consisted of Spanish
erown Cherries, Greengages, and Apricots ; while the ‘‘ Frame
Food Co.”’ exhibited some of its ‘‘ Jelly,’’ said to be a preparation
of Wheat phosphates, and recommended by the Company as a
substitute for ordinary Jams.

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE.

W. T. Tutsenton Dyzr, Esq., C.M.G., F.R.S., in the Chair,
and seven members present.

Plantain Fruit.—Myr. Morris exhibited two large fruits of
Musa sapientum var. paradisiaca, or the common Plantain,
erown at Syon House. In the tropics it is generally used
as a vegetable before it is quite ripe. It practically takes the
place of the Potato, and is a very valuable food, especially in
tropical America.

Merulwus lachrymans (?).—Dr. Oliver exhibited an interesting
specimen of the mycelium of some fungus which had grown
between two sheets of canvas. It had spread in a radiating
manner, covering a space of about 8 inches square.

Antirrhinum majus, Monstrous.—Mr. Henslow showed a
flower of the yellow Snapdragon, with narrow ribbon-like yellow
and white outgrowths from the calyx. Such emanations are
not uncommon from the outer surface of corollas, as in the
fringed Cyclamen, Polyanthus, Gloxinia, &c.; but in. the present

elvi PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

instance they were detached from the inner surface of the calyx
—1.e. by tangential chorisis.

The Fog Report.—Dr. Oliver read a report as to the scheme
proposed at the preliminary meeting. A discussion followed as
to the methods to be adopted, and it was suggested (1) that Dr.
Oliver should confer with Mr. Veitch as to the setting up of a
pump at Chelsea for collecting fog particles; (2) that the
Meteorological Society should be asked to lend a pump already
used for the purpose; (8) to consult with Dr. Russell as to the
construction of an absorbent apparatus; and (4) that a duplicate
chamber with filters should be prepared for use at Kew. It was
also proposed to reissue circulars with an additional request as
to the opacity of the fogs experienced.

GENERAL MEETING.
OcToBER 28, 1890.
Sir Cuas. STRICKLAND, Bart., in the Chair.

ELECTIONS.

Fellows, 7.—Revy. S. E. Bourne, B.A., Mrs. Campbell, F. C.
Dodsworth, Mrs. H. Hill, G. D. Leslie, Mrs. Murdoch, W. H.
Williams.

Dr. Maxwell T. Masters, F.R.S., gave an interesting lecture
on ‘Trees and Shrubs for Large Towns,” illustrated by specimens
sent by Messrs. W. Paul & Son, of Waltham Cross, and Messrs.
Paul & Son, of Cheshunt.

FLORAL COMMITTEE.

W. Marsuatt, Esq., in the Chair, and fourteen members
present.

Awards Recommended :—

Silver Banksian Medal.

To Lord Wimborne, Canford Manor, Dorset (gardener,
Mr. T. H. Crasp), for a very fine collection of Chrysanthemums
(cut blooms).

To Mr. W. Taylor, florist, &c., Twickenham Road, Isleworth,
for a beautiful group of Cyclamen, the white ones being espe-
cially good.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. clvii

Bronze Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. W. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross, for an interest-
ing collection of shoots of Hardy Trees and Shrubs suited for
town gardening.

To the Duke of Northumberland, Syon House, Brentford
(gardener, Mr. G. Wythes), for a very good stand of Chrysanthe-
mum blooms—rendered very effective by the introduction of
suitable foliage gracefully interspersed amongst the flowers.

To Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, for cut blooms of
Chrysanthemums of the various sections.

To Messrs. W. Cutbush & Son, Highgate, for a couection of
Pernettyas, beautifully berried.

First Class Certificate.

To Berberis Thunbergii (votes, unanimous), from Messrs.
W. Paul & Son. A very useful shrub, bearing foliage of an
intense crimson colour.

Award of Merit.

To Chrysanthemum (Japanese Anemone) Duchess of West-
minster (votes, 6 for, 8 against), from Mr. R. Owen, Maidenhead.
Colours crimson and yellow; a graceful flower.

To Chrysanthemum (Japanese) Miss Anna Hartshorn
(votes, unanimous), from Mr. R. Owen. Pure white, broad petals.

To Chrysanthemum (Japanese) Eugene Gait (votes, unani-
mous), from Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley. Rich
crimson ; silvery reverse to the petals.

To Chrysanthemum (Incurved Japanese) W. Tricker (votes,
unanimous), from Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons. Bright rose-
pink, broad petals.

To Chrysanthemum (Incurved) Miss Violet Tomlin (votes,
unanimous), from Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill. Warm
violet-purple ; very decided and distinct.

To Chrysanthemum (Incurved) Miss M. A. Haggas (votes,
unanimous), from Messrs. J. Laing & Sons. Rich yellow.

To Chrysanthemum (Japanese) Viviand Morel (votes, unani-
mous), from Messrs. J. Laing & Sons. Rich rose, shaded with
white.

To Chrysanthemum (Japanese) Mlle. Marie Hoste (votes,
. unanimous), from Messrs. J. Laing & Sons. Yellow, tinted
with blush.

clviii PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

To a strain of Pentstemons (votes, unanimous), from Mr. R.
Dean, Ealing. Very rich and varied; colours ranging from the
brightest scarlet to violet-purple.

Other Exhibits.

From the Royal Gardens, Kew, was sent an interesting
collection of plants, amongst which may be mentioned Solanum
Seaforthianum, lovely lilac flowers; Cleome leptaphylla, rich
rose; Ipomea Briggsii, a variety of I. Horsfallize, bright carmine
flowers; and Spathiphyllum longirostre, having a remarkably
sweetly scented spadix. Philodendrons, in variety, formed a
beautiful feature.

Lord de L’Isle, Penshurst Place (gardener, Mr. Bridger),
sent hardy Border Carnation Saccharissa. A useful sort, bearing
creamy-yellow flowers, with a pinkish stripe.

The Marchioness of Huntley, Orton Hall (gardener, Mr. A.
Harding), sent Helianthus tuberosus (Jerusalem Artichoke) in
flower.

ORCHID COMMITTEE.

Dr. Maxwett T. Masters, F.R.S., in the Chair, and eight
members present.

Awards Recommended :—

Silver Flora Medal.

To Mons. Linden, l’Horticulture Internationale, Pare Léopold,
Brussels, fora group of Orchids, consisting chiefly of fourteen
varieties of their new Cattleya Warocqueana, which bids fair to
be a fine “autumn-flowering labiata,”” some of the varieties

closely approaching the original plant grown in collections
under that name.

Award of Merit.

To Cattleya Lindenii (votes, unanimous), a new form of the
Cattleya Hardyana type, very closely resembling the plant
certificated at the last meeting as C. Imschootiana, but with pale
lilac sepals and petals exquisitely veined and netted with white.

The lip is of the richest purplish maroon, veined at the base
with yellow.

Cultural Commendation.
To Reginald Young, Esq., Fringilla, Linnet Lane, Sefton

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. clix

Park, Liverpool (gardener, Mr. Poyntz), for three magnificent
cut spikes of Vanda Sanderiana, all, it was understood, taken
from the same plant.

Other Exhibits.

Cut flowers of Cattleya Warocqueana came from W.C. Atkinson,
Esq., Aigburth, Liverpool; Reginald Young, E&q., Liverpool ;
and W. T. Thomson, Esq., Ghyllbank, St. Helens, Lancashire,
that from Mr. Young having petals mottled with white, and
that from Mr. Thomson being almost identical with the old
autumn-flowering labiata. Mr. A. Coombes, The Gardens,
Hindley Hall, Dudley, also sent flowers of the same plant.

A well-grown plant of Odontoglossum grande, in flower, was
sent by W. J. Nicholls, Esq., 258 Kingsland Road, E.

Messrs. Seeger & Tropp, 112 Lordship Lane, East Dulwich,
exhibited a box of cut flowers of various forms of Lelia Perrinu,
among which the pure white variety, L. P. alba, was conspicuous
for its beauty.

Mons. Linden also exhibited Cattleya granulosa Russelliana.

FRUIT COMMITTEE.

Sir C. W. STRICKLAND, Bart., in the Chair, and eleven members
present.

Awards Recommended :—

Cultural Commendation.
To Mr. R. Dean, Bedfont, for large and fine examples of
Grange’s Winter Pearmain Apple and Noveau Poiteau Pear.

Other Exhibits.

W. Nicholson, Esq., Basing Park, Hants (gardener, Mr. W.
Smythe), sent a seedling Grape, stated to be a hybrid between
Black Alicante and Mrs. Pince. The example bore a great
resemblance to Gros Colmar.

Mr. Colbourn, Woolhampton, Berks, sent a few fine ripe
fruits of Strawberry Noble, second crop.

Mr. T. Laxton, Bedford, sent some examples of a ‘white-
skinned Artichoke, which appeared good. They were referred
to be tried as to their cooking qualities. Mr. Laxton also sent

elx PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

examples of a Cabbage named Chou de Bedford, stated to be
very hardy and of excellent quality, but the Committee did not
consider it to be any improvement on the Couve Tronchuda.

Messrs. James Carter & Co., High Holborn, sent a very
large head of Carter’s Early Autumn Giant Cauliflower.

Mr. G. Wythes, Syon House, Brentford, sent examples of
Cheltenham Green-top Beet.

Mr. Hunt, Ashtead Park, Surrey, sent Apple Ashtead Park
Seedling, a nice-looking variety, but of little quality.

From the Society’s Gardens were brought collections of the
different varieties of Endives and Potatoes which had been
erown in the Gardens for trial.

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE.

R. McLacutan, Esq., F.R.S., in the Chair, and seven members
present.

The Fog Report.—Dr. F. Olivér reported to the Committee
that through the kindness of one of its members an experimental
conservatory had been placed at his disposal,and was now in
process of equipment for the purposes of the inquiry into the
effects of London fog upon vegetation. The pump for fog-
washing, mentioned at the last meeting, would be put in order
and arrangements made for its use directly leave had been
obtained from the Council of the Meteorological Society. Dr.
Oliver further stated that he was fitting up his own conservatory
attached to the botanical laboratories at University College with
apparatus of appropriate character, so that he could follow out both
the macro- and micro-scopic effects of fog, and also of some of
the noxious constituents known to exist in fogs.

Garrya elliptica in Fruit.—Mr. Morris exhibited sprays of
the fruit of this North Californian shrub. The berries have a
tomentose, ash-coloured, dry skin, and are compactly arranged
in a dense spike. They were received from Mr. H. D. Pochin,
of Bodnant Hall, Denbighshire, who described it as fruiting
well, and that numerous plants have been raised from the seeds.
The male plant was introduced in 1828, and first flowered in
the gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society in 1834 (Bot.
eg. tab. 1686).

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. elxi

Supposed Bigener between Dahlia and Helanthus.—Dr.
Scott exhibited flowers received from Mr. E. J. Lowe, of
Shirenewton Hall, Chepstow, of white Dahlias, the supposed
offspring of a cross between the ordinary single white Dahlia
and Helianthus decapetalus. The “ cross ’’ agrees with the Dahlia
in general appearance, and in the inyolucre, shape of receptacle,
palew, external characters of the florets, and form of stigmas,
but differs as follows: The corolla-tubes of the disk florets,
especially the outer ones, are more ventricose; the stamens
are shorter; the pollen has blunt and obliquely truncated
prickles, and not conical as in the Dahlia; the style also is shorter,
the stigmatic arms being less divergent, with shorter papille.
The above differences do not appear to amount to more than
may perhaps be seen on various seedlings of Dahlias. The fruits,
however, show more pronounced peculiarities, besides being only
one-fourth in quantity. The achenes are smaller, less com-
pressed, much less obovate in form, and have prominent ribs,
which are not evident in Dahlias. The achenes are also about
half as long. It may be added that neither in the pollen nor
in stigmatic character does the ‘‘cross’’ agree with Helianthus.
Mr. Lowe observes that in a cross it is often difficult to detect
the effects of the male parent, and mentions Fuchsia fulgens
crossed by ‘‘Semiramide’’ and the reverse cross, the seedlings
in both cases resembling the female. Other observers have
experienced the same fact, or, as Mr. Lowe expresses it, the
female parent ‘received life from the pollen without showing
traces of it, the active property of the male seeming to be enough
to produce seeds, but not to show the characters of the male.”

Apple Diseased (?).—A remarkable Apple, with a super-
ficially translucent appearance, was received from Mr. Marshall
of Bexley. Being possibly due to a fungus, it was forwarded to
Professor Ward for examination and report.

Carex Species (?).—A plant was received from Mr. Robson,
of Altrincham, for name ; not being in flower, it was referred to
Chiswick for cultivation.

Grapes attacked by Larve.—Some Grapes were received
from Mr. Galpin, of Putney Heath, with the supposed larve of
Tortrix angustiorana. Some doubts being expressed by Mr.
McLachlan as to their identity, they were referred to Mr. Bland-
ford to rear and to report upon them later.

celxii PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

GENERAL MEETING.
Novy. 11, 1890.

Dr. MAxwEtu T. Masters, F.R.S., in the Chair.

ELECTIONS.
Fellows, 6.—Richard Buckworth, Mrs. T. Chamberlain,
A. Ludwig, Edward Moon, W. Spooner, Col. E. Woodward.

Mr. A. W. Sutton, F.L.S., read a paper on ‘‘ Chinese
Primulas.”

FLORAL COMMITTEE.

W. MarsHatt, Ksq., in the Chair, and eight members present.

Awards Recommended :—

Silver Banksian Medal.
To Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading, for a beautiful group of
Primulas, well-flowered, plants barely six months old from seed.

First Class Certificate.
To Vaccinium pennsylvanicum (votes, unanimous), from Mr.
A. Waterer, Knap Hill, Woking. Crimson-coloured foliage of a
neat character, and very ornamental.
To Scarlet-leaved Oak, ‘‘ Knap Hill variety ’”’ (votes, unani-
mous), from Mr. A. Waterer. Bold foliage of a scarlet-crimson
hue, shaded with bronze.

Award of Merit.
To Chrysanthemum (Japanese) Arthur Wood (votes, unani-
mous), from Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley. Rich chest-
nut-brown, tipped with yellow.

Other Exhibits.

His Grace the Duke of Northumberland, Albury Park, Guild-
ford (gardener, Mr. W. C. Leach), sent some good flowers of
Violets.

Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, sent a stand of Chrysan-
themum blooms of various sections.

W. Kaye, Esq., The Court, Worcester Park, Surrey (gardener,
Mr. W. Melford), sent a sport from Chrysanthemum Gluck in
three different colours.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. elxill

ORCHID COMMITTEE.

H. J. Vertcu, Esq., F.L.S., in the Chair, and eight members
present.

Awards Recommended :—

First Class Certificate.

To Cypripedium Antigone x (votes, unanimous), from
Messrs. Jas. Veitch & Son, King’s Road, Chelsea. This fine
hybrid was obtained by crossing C. niveum and C. Lawrence-
anum. The lip is creamy white, tinted with purple in front;
petals also white with a rose-coloured hue; the dorsal sepal
broad; white with green lines at the base, and suffused with
a rosy-purple tint.

Award of Merit.

To Odontoglossum Duvivierianum (votes, 3 for, 1 against),
from M. Linden, |’Horticulture Internationale, Pare Léopold,
Brussels. It is stated to be a natural hybrid between O. cor-
datum and O. nebulosum, and may be likened to a pale yellow
variety of the former; but the whiter ground of the flower and
the different form of the lip betray traces of O. nebulosum.

To Cypripedium Doris (C. venustum x Stonei) (votes, unani-
mous), from Norman C. Cookson, Esq., Wylam-on-Tyne. The
plant exhibited resembled a fine form of C. venustum pardinum,
but its flower was larger in all its parts, and especially the
petals, which are broad towards the tips and slightly curved
downwards.

To Cypripedium Cleola x (C. Boissierianum x C. Schlimii
albiflorum) (votes, unanimous), from Messrs. Jas. Veitch & Son.
Both parents are of the Selenipedium section, and consequently
C. Cleola has much of the habit of plant and flower as in the
well-known C. Sedeni x. Its flowers are very neat and nearly
white.

To Cypripedium Eyermanianum x (C. Spicerianum x C.
barbatum grandiflorum) (votes, unanimous), from Messrs. F.
Sander & Co., St. Albans. It is a fine form, with white dorsal
sepal, bearing traces in the green lines at the base of C. bar-
batum. The lip has the form and also the reddish hue of that
species. The petals green, tinged with brown.

To Cypripedium Muriel Hollington x (votes, 4 for), from

clxiv PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

A. J. Hollington, Esq., Forty Hill, Enfield (gardener, Mr.
Ayling). The cross of this is not recorded. Flowers cream-
colour tinged with green, the petals being suffused with rose.
Probably a C. niveum cross.

Botanical Certificate.

To Odontoglossum Noezlianum (votes, 5 for, 1 against), from
M. Linden, Pare Léopold, Brussels. The species is quite new and
distinct. The flowers, which individually measure one and a
half inches across, are produced on branched panicles, and are
reddish scarlet in colour. The specimen exhibited had not been
imported long enough to develop perfectly.

Cultural Commendation.

ToT. Statter, Esq., Stand Hall, Whitefield, near Manchester
(gardener, Mr. R. Johnson), for a finely flowered plant of Cattleya
aurea.

To Baron Schroder, The Dell, Egham (gardener, Mr. Ballan-
tine), for a fine spray of the beautifully spotted Odontoglossum
crispum Sanderianum.

Other Exhibits.

M. Linden, l’Horticulture Internationale, Pare lLéopold,
Brussels, exhibited for the third time specimens (four) of his
new winter-flowering Cattleya Warocqueana.

Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, staged the pretty pale
rose Cattleya O’Brieniana, Cypripedium Laucheanum x, and
C. Ashburtonize x.

T. Statter, Esq., Stand Hall, near Manchester, exhibited
several cut spikes of different varieties of Cattleya Bowringiana ;
also Vanda coerulea and two plants of Dendrobium Statter-
lanum.

A. J. Hollington, Esq., Forty Hill, Enfield, exhibited Cypri-
pedium polystigmaticum x.

W. C. Atkinson, Esq., St. Anne’s Road, Aigburth, Liverpool,
sent a cut spike of the true Lelia anceps alba.

Messts. Pitcher & Manda, Hextable, Swanley, again exhibited
Cypripedium Masereelianum x, which the Committee before
decided was only a good form of C. Leeanum x.

Baron Schréder sent cut flowers of Lelio-Cattleya Euterpe.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. clxv

FRUIT COMMITTEE.
T. F. Rivers, Esq., in the Chair, and ten members present.

Awards Recommended :—

Silver Gilt Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. T. Rivers & Son, Sawbridgeworth, for a fine col-
lection of Apples and Pears, the most noteworthy varieties
being—Apples: Lane’s Prince Albert, Lord Derby, Dumelow’s
Seedling, and Cox’s Pomona. Pears: Duchesse d’Angouléme,
Durondeau, Beurré de Capiaumont, and Doyenné du Comice.

Other Exhibits.

Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, sent Pear Beurré Ton-
queray, which was over-ripe, but gave promise of being a decided
acquisition.

Colonel Eyre, Welford Park, Newbury (gardener, Mr. C.
Ross), sent seedling Apple Charles Ross, which the Committee
desired to see again in the spring.

Mr. Jarvis, Essendon Place, Hatfield, sent a seedling Apple,
which the Committee considered too closely resembled that
already known as ‘“‘Greenup’s Pippin.”

A. H. Smee, Esq., The Grange, Wallington (gardener, Mr.
G. W. Cummins), sent nice examples of Apple Remborough.

Mr. T. Laxton, Bedford, again submitted examples of the
white-skinned Artichoke and Chou de Bedford.

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE.

Dr. Maxwett T. Masters, F.R.S., in the Chair, and seven
members present.

Grapes attacked by Larve.—With reference to the Grapes
brought to the last meeting, Mr. Blandford remarked that the
larve might very probably prove to be those of Tortrix botrana.
It was a well-known pest on continental Vines, and had been
exported to America. Herecommended that the Grapes infested
should be covered with a fine gauze net, and that the larve
should be watched to discover their further stages.

Endogenous (?) Bud.—Dr. Masters exhibited a drawing of
what appeared to be an endogenous bud in the axil of a leaf of

| O

elxvi PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Actinidia, embedded in the cortical tissue. Dr. Oliver remarked
that the buds which arise from the roots of Anemone japonica
are also endogenous. Similar buds on the roots of germinating
plants are well known and described—e.g., by Van Tieghem,
Bull. Soc. de Bot. Fr. 1886, page 40; Irmisch, Bot. Zeit.
1857, page 48, with pl. The interpretation appears to be that in
roots the pericycle is the most active layer, and such buds as arise
from roots are developed exactly as lateral roots are from this
tissue. On the other hand, in stems the pericycle is more often
in abeyance, while it is from the cambium from which ordinary
buds and adventitious roots arise.

Translucent Apple.—-Professor M. Ward reported upon the
specimen sent to the last meeting as follows: ‘The Apple sent
for my inspection was affected with a disease known as
‘Glassiness,’ and was totally free from fungi in the interior.
The parts affected by this disease are distinguished by the cells
being very full of sugar and singularly poor in acids. The inter-
cellular spaces are filled with water, whereas in the healthy parts
they contain air. This season, a wet one, has been somewhat
prolific in such Apples. A condition not unlike this is produced
by frost, and by any changes which cause the intercellular spaces
to fill with water.”

Chrysanthemum ‘‘ Hen and Chicken”? Form.—Mr. Gooding,
of the Manor House, Hayes, sent a remarkable specimen of a
yellow variety with a large circle of small heads springing from
the base of the central one. The latter was arrested in its
crowth, and dead. The florets had a tendency to be pedicillate,
especially the outer ones. It is difficult to assign a cause, but
possibly it received a check through frost, as no trace of insect
attacks was discoverable.

Lycaste Skinneri, Monstrous.-—Dr. Masters exhibited drawings
of this plant received from M. Linden, of Brussels, in which the
flowers were aborted and replaced by petaloid bracts.

Leucadendron argentewm.—He also showed drawings of
germinating plants of the Silver Tree of Africa, which showed a
curious cavity at the base of cotyledons encircling the plumule.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS, elxvii

GENERAL MEETING.
DECEMBER 9, 1890.

Gro. WytuHEs, Esq., in the Chair.
ELECTIONS.

Fellows, 12.—G. Gordon, W. H. Gower, John Grant, H.
Hainworth, J. R. Jessop, W. Kates, Gustav R. Le Doux, Major
H. M. Scriven, John Shaw, jun., J. W. Swinburne, Joseph
Woodjer, Geo. Woodward.

Affiliated Societies, 2.—Bath Floral Society, Wellington
(New Zealand) Horticultural Society.

FLORAL COMMITTEE.

W. MarsHatt, Esq., in the Chair, and fifteen members present.
DeatH oF Mr. SHirtEY HIBBERD.

The following resolution, proposed by the Chairman and
seconded by Mr. Harry J. Veitch, was carried unanimously :—

“That this meeting of the Floral Committee, which has so
greatly benefited by the labours of the late Mr. Shirley Hibberd,
desires to place on record its deep sense of the loss it has sus-
tained, and of the gratitude and respect it feels towards the
memory of the late Mr. Hibberd.”

Awards Recommended :—
Silver Flora Medal.
To Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, for a series of Zonal
Pelargoniums (cut blooms). Rich, bright, and beautiful.

Silver Banksian Medal.
To Mr. H. B. May, Upper Edmonton, for a group of Primu-
las. A good market strain, well flowered.

First Class Certificate.
To Picea pungens argentea (votes, unanimous), from Mr. A.
Waterer, Knap Hill Nurseries, Woking. Foliage of a beautiful
silvery colour; a plant of vigorous growth, bold character, and

splendid habit.
oO 2

elxvili PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Commended.
Patent Tree Pruner (votes, unanimous), from Messrs. G.

Coppin & Sons, Addington, Surrey. A simple and effective
contrivance for the purpose in view.

Other Exhibits.

His Grace the Duke of Northumberland, Syon House, Brent-
ford (gardener, Mr. G. Wythes), sent blooms of a white-flowered
Chrysanthemum named Duchess. of Northumberland. The
Committee expressed a desire to see a plant in flower.

Messrs. Pitcher & Manda, Swanley, sent a plant in flower of
Chrysanthemum Mrs. Alpheus Hardy.

Mr. A. Waterer sent fine examples of Picea pungens glauca
and Cedrus atlantica glauca, two very handsome Conifers.

A unanimous vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the
proceedings for 1890.

ORCHID COMMITTEE.

Harry J. VeitcH, Ksq., F.L.S., in the Chair, and eleven
members present.

Awards Recommended :—

First Class Certificate.

To Cymbidium Tracyanum (votes, unanimous), from Mr.
H. A. Tracy, Orchid Nurseries, Amyand Park Road, Twickenham.
This is the largest flowered of all the Cymbidiums, the botanical
features resembling those of C. Hookerianum, and the colouring
that of C. giganteum. The plant bore a fine spike of sixteen
flowers, each six inches across (see fig. 48).

To Cypripedium Osbornei x (C. Harrisianum superbum x C.
Spicerianum) (votes, 9 for, 1 against). The flowers are larger
than those of C. Pitcherianum x, which it resembles in many
respects. It should be recorded that there are several varieties
obtained from the same parentage, and therefore resemble
each other in a great degree, viz., C. Hrycina x, C. Pitcheri-
anum x, C. Savageanum, C. Seegerianumx. The plant cer-
tificated was sent by W. Howard, Esq., The Grove, Teddington
(gardener, Mr. T. Osborne).

To Cypripedium Pollettianum x (C. calophyllum x C. enan-
thum superbum) (votes, 5 for, 8 against), from Messrs. F’. Sander &

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS.

clxix

Fic. 48.—Cymsipium Tracyanum.? (From the Gardener’s Chronicle.)

elxx PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Co., St. Albans. This is like an enlarged form of C. cnanthum
superbum, the same bright rosy crimson being in the dorsal
sepal, which also has dark brown lines at the base. The petals
much resemble those of C. calophyllum x, and the lip is of a
purplish brown.

To Lelia Gouldiana (votes, unanimous), from T. Statter, Esq.,
Stand Hall, Whitefield, Manchester (gardener, Mr. R. Johnson).
The species is now well known; its flowers much resemble those
of L. autumnalis atrorubens.

Award of Merit.

To Cattleya O’Brieniana (votes, unanimous), from Messrs. F.
Sander & Co., St. Albans. The plant has the growth of a dwarf
C. Loddigesii, and the flowers, which are of a pale lilac colour,
also resemble those of that species in some particulars; but the
labellum has the form of C. Walkeriana.

To Lelia Tresederiana (L. crispa superba x Cattleya Lod-
digesii), from T. Statter, Eisq., Whitefield, Manchester (gardener,
Mr. Johnson). The growth of this plant resembles Cattleya
Loddigesii, but the flowers call to mind a small Lelia crispa.
Sepals and petals nearly white ; lip yellow, marked with purple
lines on the throat, the front lobe being veined and tinged with
purple, the edge undulated. (Votes, unanimous.)

To Cypripedium Maynardi x (C. purpuratum x Spiceri-
anum) (votes, 8 for, 1 against), from Messrs. F. Sander & Co.,
St. Albans. The upper sepal is green at the base, suffused with
rosy veins over the lower half, and white at the upper half. The
edges are revolute at the base, and a purple line runs up the
middle. Petals pale green, spotted with purple at the base, and
suffused with purple on the outer halves; lip brownish purple ;
staminode violet colour.

Cultural Commendation.

To Lieut.-Colonel G. N. Pepper, Milford Hill, Salisbury
(gardener, Mr. J. Currey), for a specimen of Lelia anceps
with thirty flower spikes, bearing together over sixty blooms.

To T. A. Gledstanes, Esq., Manor House, Gunnersbury
(gardener, Mr. Denison), for a fine specimen of Ceelogyne barbata
with seven spikes of flowers.

Other Exhibits.
Messrs. James Veitch & Son, King’s Road, Chelsea, exhibited

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. elxxi

Cypripedium Medeia (C. Spicerianum x hirsutissimum), and good
specimens of their C. Niobe x and C. H. Ballantine x, both
previously certificated.

Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, sent Cypripedium
Castleanum x (C. hirsutissimum x C. superbiens); C. Alcides
(C. insigne x C. hirsutissimum); C. Orpheus x (C. venustum x
C. callosum) ; C. Weidlichianum (C. Hartwegii x C. Schlimii),
and C. longisepalum, apparently a very low form of C. insigne.

Mr. T. Walters, Squires Mount, Hampstead Heath, exhibited _
Oncidium Forbesii Borwickianum under the name of O. F.
maculatum.

Mr. James Crispin, Nelson Street, Bristol, submitted a spike
of a variety of Lelia, which the Committee decided was a small
pale form of L. autumnalis.

FRUIT COMMITTEE.

R. D. Buackmors, Esq., in the Chair, and seventeen members
present.

Awards Recommended :—

Bronze Banksian Medal.

To Mr. W. G. Hazell, The Rosery, West Worthing, for a
collection of Grapes in excellent condition, the principal varieties
being Muscat of Alexandria, Gros Colmar, and Alicante.

First Class Certificate.

To Grape Lady Hutt (votes, unanimous), from Lady Hutt,
Appley Towers, Ryde (gardener, Mr. T. Myles). Bunch long,
tapering ; berries medium sized, round, of a pale amber colour ;
flesh firm, juicy, and with a rich Sweetwater flavour.

Cultural Commendation.

To Lieut.-Colonel Eyre, Welford Park, Newbury (gardener,
Mr. C. Ross), for two handsome, well-ripened Smooth Cayenne
Pines, weighing 7 lbs. 12 oz. and 6 lbs. 4 oz. respectively.

To Mr. H. Deverill, Corn Hill, Banbury, for a well-grown
collection of Onions, the most noteworthy varieties being
Rousham Park Hero, Anglo-Spanish, Ailsa Craig, and Cocoa-
nut.

To His Grace the Duke of Northumberland, Syon House,
Brentford (gardener, Mr. G. Wythes), for very fine examples of
Spanish Cardoons.

clxxii| PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Other Exhibits.

The Liverpool Horticultural Company sent Grape Scar-
borough Seedling, which was considered too near Gros Colmar.

His Grace the Duke of Northumberland sent examples of
Improved Round Victoria Spinach and Cheltenham Green-top
Beet, which were referred to Chiswick for trial.

Mr. J. O’Brien, Harrow-on-the-Hill, sent good examples of
Jamaica Oranges.

Mr. Sidney Ford, Horsham, sent fruits of Apple King of the
Pippins.

Messrs. Saltmarsh & Sons, Chelmsford, sent seedling Apple
Chelmsford Wonder, which the Committee desired to see again in
February or March, with specimens cooked.

Messrs. T. W. Beach & Sons, Brentford, sent an interesting
collection of Preserved Fruits.

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE.

Dr. Maxwett T. Masters, F.R.S., in the Chair, and seven
members present.

Diseased Grapes.—Grapes received from Mr. Barron were
exhibited, attacked with fungoid disease. Dr. Masters pointed
out that the disease had been described by Mr. Worthington
Smith, and called attention to its resemblance to and possible
connection with “ scald,” a much commoner complaint in which
no fungoid growth has been described.

Soil for Alpine Plants——The Rev. C. Wolley-Dod showed
samples of burnt clay, which he had found the best soil for
Alpine plants. To a great extent it prevented the growth of
Marchantia, and was soft and friable, and far superior to broken
brick. The cost of burning was about a shilling a ton. Pro-
fessor Church undertook to examine the chemical composition
of the earth used.

Effects of Frost.—Dr. Masters showed leaves of Aucuba
blackened and killed by exposure to a temperature of — 2° Fahr.
on the night of November 28 at Croydon. This exceptional
temperature was independently confirmed. The Aucuba is among
the hardiest evergreens. ‘The variegated leaves appear to suffer
most from frost.

Abnormal Development of Bulbs.—Dr. Masters showed bulbs,

a — |

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. elxxili

probably of Freesia, which had sent up a premature develop-
ment of the shoots in an upward direction, bearing secondary
bulbs on its sides. It appeared to be a converse phenomenon
to what occurs in the case of bulbs, which send down ‘‘ droppers,’’
_ and may possibly be due to too deep planting.

Banksian Rose in Fruit.—Dr. Masters alsoshowed a Banksian
Rose which had been cross-fertilised by another species. The
carpels were developed, but not the hypanthus (the “ hip”’), so
that the same condition was found as in the carpels of Potentilla
or Geum. This species has not been previously known to fruit
in this country.

Hybrid Orchids.—Dr. Masters showed two hybrids between
Cypripedium Chantini and C. Spicerianum, whose parents were
of inverse sex.

Study of Plant Pathology.—Dyr. Masters read a letter he had
received from Dr. Sorauer of Vienna, inviting him to join the
Internationale Phyto-Pathologische Commission for the study of
plant diseases. This Commission has arisen out of the recent
Exhibition of Forestry in Vienna. He thought that the invita-
tion might fitly be extended to other investigators of such
matters. After some discussion, Mr. Michael moved, ‘‘ That it
be suggested to Dr. Sorauer that the Internationale Phyto-
Pathologische Commission place itself in communication with
the Chairman of the Scientific Committee of the Royal Horticul-
tural Society with a view to an arrangement for the exchange
of information and assistance between the two Societies.’”’ This
was seconded by Professor Church, and carried.

Fog Investigation.—Dr. Oliver proposed to present an
interim report at Easter. This was agreed to.

elxxiv PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Books &e. received for the Library of the Royal Horticultural
Society from February 1 to December 31, 1890.

** Acta Horti Petropolitani,’? Tom. XI., i. ‘‘ Amaryllidex,’’ J. G. Baker.
‘“‘ Aepfel und Birnen des Wiener Marktes.’’ ‘“ Annual Report of the Secretary
for Agriculture for Nova Scotia.’’ ‘Annual Report of the Bureau of
Ethnology,” 2 vols. (1883-1885). ‘Bibliography of the Muskhogean
Languages.”’ ‘ Bibliography of the Iroquoian Languages,” J. C. Pilling.
‘“‘ Botanical Society, Edinburgh, Transactions and Proceedings.”’ ‘ Bulletin
of the Minnesota Academy of Natural Sciences.’’ ‘Bulletin, Société
d’Hort. de Geneve.’ ‘Cellular, Square, and Octagonal Earthworks of
Ohio,’’ C. Thomas. ‘Choice British Ferns,’’ C. T. Druery, F.L.S. ‘ Con-
tributions to American Botany,’’ Vol. XVII. ‘ Daffodil Catalogue,” G. B.
Hartland. “ Der gegenwiirtige Stand des Obstbaues in der Provinz Branden-
burg.’”’ ‘“ Extra-tropical Plants,’? Baron Sir Ferd. v. Mueller. ‘Flora
Batava,’’ Nos. 289-90. ‘Fruit Farming,’’ Cecil H. Hooper. ‘ Heating by
Hot-water Pipes,’’ W. Jones. ‘ Hints on Vegetable and Fruit Farming.”’’
“Tilustrirte Gartenzeitung.”’ ‘“Icones Plantarum,’’ Vols. XI.-XIX.
‘“‘ Journal of Botany.’”’ “ Journal of the Geological Society.’’ ‘ Journal of
the Linnean Society.’’ ‘ Lydie, Lycie, Carie,’’ Etudes Botaniques revues
par Wm. Barber. ‘“ Manual of the Botany of the United States,”
A. Gray, 6th edition. ‘ Massachusetts Horticultural Society, Transactions,”’
1888. ‘Our Hardy Fruits,’ C. Wynne. ‘Papers and Proceedings of the
Royal Society of Tasmania,’’ 1889. ‘Practical Papers on Gardening.”
‘“Problem of the Ohio Mounds,’’ Cyrus Thomas: “Proceedings of the
American Philosophical Society,’’? Vol. XXVI., No. 130. ‘Proceedings of
the American Academy,’’ 1888-89 (3 vols.). ‘ Proceedings of the Boston
Society of Natural History,’’ Vol. XIV., Parts 1, 2. “‘ Proceedings of the
Royal Society of Edinburgh,”’ Vols. XV., XVI. ‘Proceedings of the Royal
Society.”’ ‘Report on the Botanic Gardens, Adelaide,’’ Sir R. Schomburgk.
‘Report of the Conference of Fruit Growers and Vine Growers of New
South Wales.’’ ‘Second Systematic Census of Australian Plants.”’
‘‘ Smithsonian Report,’’? 1887. ‘Smithsonian Report of the United States
Nat. Museum,’’ 1887. ‘Smithsonian Report of the United States Nat.
Museum,”’ 1886, Part 2. “Société Nationale d’Hort.de France, Journal.’’
‘“ Sociedade Broteriana.’’ “Statistics of Fruit Planting and Cultivation in
West Kent,’? 1890. ‘‘Textile Fabrics of Ancient Peru,’’ W. H. Holmes.
‘‘ Transactions of the American Philosophical Society,’’ Vol. XVI., New
Series, Part 3. ‘Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh,”’ Vol.
XXXYV., Parts 1-4. ‘ Transactions of the Massachusetts Horticultural
Society,’’ 1881, Part 2.

Plants, Seeds, &e., presented to the Gardens, 1890.

Allan (W.), Gunton Park, Norwich.—Grape Vine; Iris reticulata.

Aplin (J.), Hasfield Court, Gloucester.—Seedling Potatoes.

Barr & Son, 12 King Street, Covent Garden.—Collection of Flower and
Vegetable Seeds ; 108 vars. Double Chinese Peeonies ; 26 vars. Helian-
thus; 62 vars. Asters.

Barrows (W.), Lutterworth, Leicestershire.—Seedling Potatoes.

Berry (Mrs. E.), The Palace, Much Hadham.—Mina lobata (seed).

Blair (W. H.), 73 Patrick Street, Cork.—Broccoli, Blair’s April (seed).

Bunyard & Co. (G.), Old Nurseries, Maidstone.— Vegetable Seeds ; Carnation
Lorna Doone.

Cannell & Sons (H.), Swanley.—25 vars. Asters; 7 vars. Helianthus.

Carter & Co. (James), 237-8 High Holborn.—Vegetable Seeds.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. celxxv

Christie (D.), Summerhill House, Enfield, co. Meath.—Brussels Sprouts
‘“‘ Christie ’’ (seed).

Clarke (Col. Trevor), Welton Place, Daventry.—Flower Seeds.

Coppin & Sons (G.), Addington, Surrey.— Patent Tree Pruner.

Daniels Brothers.—2 vars. Godetias.

Dean (R.), Ranelagh Road, Ealing.—Flower and Vegetable Sceds; 3 vars.
Carnations.

Deverill (H.), Banbury.—Leek, Oxonian (seed).

Dicksons (Limited), The Nurseries, Chester.—56 vars. Asters.

Dobbie & Co., The Nurseries, Rothesay, N.B.—4 vars. Leeks (seed) ; 50
vars. Pansies (plants).

Dod (Rev. C. W.), Edge Hall, Malpas.—43 vars. Asters ; 11 vars. Helianthus ;
2 vars. Rudbeckias.

Kckford (H.), Wem, Salop.—Flower and Vegetable Seeds.

Ellington (W.), West Row, Mildenhall, Suffolk.—Seedling Potatoes.

Fidler (C.), Friar Street, Reading.—2 vars. Broad Beans (seed).

Foster (J.), Horse Market, Kettering.—Seedling Potatoes.

Ganony (W.F.), Botanic Garden, Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A.—33 vars. Asters.

Graaf (S. A. de), Leyden.—70 vars. Bulbs.

Guilfoyle (W. R.), Botanic Gardens, Melbourne. —51 vars. Australian Seeds.

Hallock & Son (V. H.), Queens, New York.—Vegetable Seeds; Collection of
Bulbs (Gladioli, Liliums, &c.)

Harding (A.), The Gardens, Orton Hall, Peterborcugh.—Brussels Sprouts
“‘ The Orton ’’ (seed).

Harrison & Sons, The Nurseries, Leicester.—Leek Harrison’s Improved
Musselburgh (seed).

Hartland (W. B.), 24 Patrick Street, Cork.—Broccoli April Queen (seed).

Hibberd (S.), Kew.—66 vars. Ivies (cuttings).

Hobby (D.), Brympton House, Yeovil.—Seedling Peas.

Hughes (J.), The Gardens, Eydon Hall, Northampton.—Seedling Potatoes.

Keynes, Williams & Co., The Nurseries, Salisbury.—28 vars. Pompon
Dahlias ; 13 vars. Cactus Dahlias.

King (G. R.), 45 Roden Street, Holloway.—Patent Watering Pot.

Krelage & Son (KE. H)., Holland.—Montbretia imperialis (bulbs),

Laxton (T.), Bedford. — Vegetable Seeds.

Lee (G.), Clevedon.—2 vars. Rhubarb.

Lye (J.), Clyffe Hall, Market Lavington.—Seedling Potatoes.

Maher (R.), Yattendon Court, Newbury.—Seedling Potatoes.

Mellish (Miss), Hodsock Priory, Worksop. —Harpalium rigidum.

Melville (D.), Dunrobin Gardens, Golspie, Sutherland, “N.B.—-Fuchsia
Riccartoni «lwarf) ; Myosotis.

Morris (R.), Nirvana, Ivybridge.—Gratts of Apple Fameuse.

Morton (J.), Great Western Street, Aylesbury. —Seedling Peas.

Murdoch (G.), Rothiemay, Huntly, N.B.—Seedling Potatoes.

Oakshott & Millard, Reading.—Pea Duke of Fife.

Oldham (T.), Stoughton Grange, Leicester.—2 vars. Tomatoes (seed).

Owen (R.), The Nursery, Maidenhead.—Chrysanthemum Sarah Owen.

Paul & Son, Old Nurseries, Cheshunt.—22 vars. Asters ; 10 vars. Helianthus.

Pettigrew (J.), Castle Gardens, Cardiff.—Tomato Cardiff Castle (seed).

Pitcher & Manda, The Nurseries, Hextable, Swanley.—17 vars. Chrysan-
themums.

Prevost (G. W.), The Poplars, Tamworth.— Onion Seed from Bombay.

Putz & Roes, Nurserymen, Erfurt.—30 vars. Flower Seeds.

Roemer (F.), Quedlinburg, Germany.—4 vars. Viola tricolor maxima (seed).

Ross (C.), Welford Park, Newbury.—Seedling Potatoes.

Royal Gardens, Kew.—Seeds of Chinese White and Chinese Green Cabbages,
and Melon from the Grand Chaco, Argentine Republic.

Ryder & Son, The Nurseries, Sale, Manchester.—Rhubarb Ryder’s Per-
fection.

clxxvi PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Smale (W. B.), Nurseryman, &c., Torquay.—13 vars. Asters; 3 vars. Heli-
anthus.

Steel (G.), Heatherslaw, Cornhill-on-Tweed.—18 vars. Violas (plants).

Storrie & Storrie, Dundee.—5 vars. Carnations.

Stuart & Mein, The Nurseries, Kelso, N.B.—2 vars. Leeks (seed).

Turner (C.), Royal Nursery, Slough.—15 vars. Pinks; 4 vars. Carnations;
15 vars. Asters ; 4 vars. Helianthus ; Strawberry Jewel (runners).

Tyler (Sir J.), Pine House, Holloway.—Hemanthus sp. (plant).

Veitch & Sons (James), Chelsea.—Collection of Flower and Vegetable Seeds ;
7 vars. Carnations.

Veitch & Son (R.), The Nurseries, Exeter.—Flower and Vegetable Seeds.

Vilmorin, Andrieux & Co., 4 Quai de la Megisserie, Paris.— Collection of
Flower and Vegetable Seeds.

Walshaw & Son, Nurserymen, Scarborough.—Calla sp. (plant).

Wiles (E. S.), Edgcote Gardens, Banbury.— Vegetable Seeds. J

Wilks (Rev. W.), Shirley Vicarage, Croydon. —‘‘ Tree Tomato ”’ (plant).

Wrench & Sons, London Bridge.—Vegetable Seeds.

Wright (J.), 36 Alma Road, Wandsworth.—2 vars. Tomatoes (seed).

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. elxxvil

AWARDS MADE

On the recommendation of the Floral and Orchid
Committees.

From January 1 to D&EcEmBER 31, 1890.

F.C., First-class Certificate ; A.M., Award of Merit; B.C., Botanical Certificate
C., Commended.

Acer Prince Hendjery (Paul & Son), May13. F.C.
Achillea mongolica (Paul & Son), June 10. A.M.
Amaryllis Grand Monarch (Veitch), April 9. A.M.

» The Champion (Veitch), March 11. F.C.
Angrecum Kimballiana (Vanner), October 14. F.C.

7 species (Low & Co.), March 11. B.C.
Anthurium album maximum (Sander), May 28. A.M.
Aster alpinus speciosus (Barr, Ware), May 28. F.C.
Babiana rubro-cyanea (De Graaf), July 8. F.C.

Begonia Black Douglas (Laing), June 10. A.M.

» Mnchantress (Laing), May 28. A.M.

be Golden Queen (Cannell), June 10. A.M.

» Henshaw Russell (Laing), May 28. A.M.

_ H. M. Stanley (Cannell), July 22. A.M.

» Lafayette (Cannell), July 22. A.M.

, Mme. Pfitzer (Laing), June 10. A.M.

a2 Miss Eastwood (Cannell), June 24. A.M.

is Negro Boy (Laing), May 28. A.M.

» Rey. W. Wilks (Cannell), May 28. A.M.
Berberis Thunbergi (W. Paul & Son), October 28. F.C.
Bertolonia Souvenir de Gand (Williams), June 10. F.C.
Blandfordia nobilis imperialis (Sander), May 13. F.C.
Bouvardia Purity (May), October 14. A.M.
Bulbophyllum amplum (Lawrence), October 14. B.C.
Calla Elliottiana (Knight), May 13. F.C.

Campanula persicifolia alba grandiflora (Paul & Son), June 24. A.M.
Canna Madame Crozy (Paul & Son), May 28. a.m.

Canterbury Bells (Dean), July 8. Strain Commended.

Carex species (Robson), October 14. A.M.

Carnation Mrs. Sanders (Jones), July 8. A.M.

55 Pride of Great Britain (Fry), June 24. A.M.

$3 Rosalind (Dean), July 22. A.M.

5 Rowena (Dean), July 22. A.M.

Catasetum Burgerothi, var. Randi (Linden), October 14. A.M.
Cattleya aurea Buyssoniana (Linden), October 14. A.M.

: », Amschootiana (Schréder), October 14. F.C.
- » Lindeni (Linden), October 14. A.M.
‘4 » Statteriana (Statter), September 19. F.C.

ss Gaskellina, Cooke’s var. (Cooke), June 24. F.C.
‘ Hardyana, Wilson’s var. (Wilson), August 26. A.M.
e intermedia Parthenia (Lawrence), June 10. F.C.
- Lawrenceana delicata (Schréder), May 28. A.M.
4, Vinckii (Schréder), April 22. F.C.
», Lindeni (Linden), October 28. A.M.
-: Massaiana (Wrigley), August 26. F.C.
Ff Mendelii, Alfred Smee (Smee), June 10. A.M.
3 fe Prince of Wales (Sander), May 28. F.C. ;
» Mossie x Dowiana, Empress Frederick (Schréder), July 8. F.C.

clxxvill PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Cattleya O’Brieniana (Sander), December 9. A.M.
Triane, var. fulgens (Mildmay), March 11. A.M.
marginata (Laing), March 11. A.M.
4 +5 » Lautzianum (Tautz), March 25. A.M.
Warocqueana amethystina (Linden), October 14. F.C.
flammea (Linden), October 14. F.C.
Chrysanthemum A. Wood (Cannell), November 11. A.M.
Duchess of Westminster (Owen), October 28. A.M.
Mdlle. Marie Hoste (Laing), October 28. A.M.
Miss Haggas (Laing), October 28. A.M.
Miss L. Stevens (Reid & Bornemann), September 23. A.M.
Miss V. Tomlin (Laing), October 28. A.M.
Pink Lacroix (Ware, Jones, Owen), October 28. A.M.
Wm. Tricker (Cannell), October 28. A.M.
a Viviand Morel (Laing), October.28. A.M.
Cinerarias, strain (Cannell), March 11. A.M.
Clematis erecta fl. pl. (Paul & Son), July 22. F.C.
Ccelogyne tomentosa (Measures), May 13. A.M.
Crinum brachynema (Smith), June 10. F.C.
Cunilla Maryana (Pitcher & Manda), October 14. A.M.
Cydonia japonica Moorlezii (Veitch), May 13. F.C.
Cymbidium Tracyanum (Tracy), December 9. F.C.
Cypripedium Alfred x (Drewett), August 26. A.M.
Antigone x (Veitch), November 11. F.C.
cardinale, Vanner’s var. x (Vanner), February 11. F.C.
Cleola x (Veitch), November 11. A.M
Elliottianum (Pollett), February 11. F.C.
H. Ballantine x (Veitch), August 12. F.C.
hybridum Doris (Cookson), November 11. A.M.
Kyermanianum (Sander), November 11. A.M.
Maynardi (Sander), December 9. A.M.
Pollettianum (Sander), December 9. F.C.
ss ‘i Youngianum (Sander), July 8. A.M.
Lathamianum x (Schroder, Tautz, Veitch, Ingram), February
11. “BC.
Muriel Hollington x (Hollington), November 11. A.M.
niveum x (Hollington), June 10. F.C.
Numa (Veitch), March 11. F.C.
Osbornii x (Osborn), December 9. F.C.
porphyrochlamis x (Tautz), February 11. F.C.
Schomburgkianum (Sander), March 11. B.C.
Volonteanum (Sander), May 28. A.M.
Cytisus scoparius Andreanus (Lawrence, Paul, Veitch), May 13. F.C.
Dahlia Black Prince (Green), September 9. AM.
Canary Bird (Harris), August 26. A.M.
Cannell’s Favourite (Cannell), September 9. A.M.
Crimson Beauty (Ware), September 9. A.M.
Dr. Peters (Cannell), September 9. A.M.
Kclipse (Cheal), August 26. A.M.
laciniata aurea (Cannell), September 9. A.M.
Lorina (Turner), September 9. A.M.
Maid of Kent (Cannell), September 9. A.M.
Maud (Ware), August 26. A.M.
Midget (Turner), September 9. A.M.
Mrs. Douglas (Cannell), August 26. A.M.
Mrs. Stanley (West), August 26. A.M.
Northern Star (Cheal), August 26. A.M.
Robert Maher (Ware), August 12. A.M.
Rouge Chauvriére (Kelway), August 26. A.M.

29

99 29 9

39 99
99 29

99 ”

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. elxxix

Dahlia Rubens (Turner), September 9. A.M.
Delphinium Alfred Kelway (Kelway), June 10. A.M.

9 Autolycus (Kelway), May 28. A.M.
Dendrobium albo-violaceum (Veitch), April 8. B.C.

- Aspasia x (Veitch), March 11. F.C.

‘a Bensoni alba (Cypher), May 28. A.M.

* Falconeri delicata (Cypher), May 28. A.M.

” Juno x (Lawrence), January 14. F.C.

ps lineale (Veitch), June 10. A.M.

‘i Luna x (Lawrence), January 14. F.C.

9 MacCarthiz (Cypher), May 28. F.C.

f Macfarlanei (Veitch), January 14. F.C.

5 nobile, Burford var. (Lawrence), January 14. A.M.
3 signatum (Lawrence), March 11. F.C.

a Smillie (Lawrence), March 11. B.C.
ef Wardianum, Schréder’s var. (Schréder), March 25. F.C.
xanthocentrum x (Lawrence), January 14. F.C.
Deutzia candidissima fi. pl. (Leach), March 25, A.M.
Dianthus Caryophyllus Margarite—for strain (Veitch), September 9. A.M.
Disa sagittalis (Brightwen), April 8. B.C.
,, tripetaloides (Strickland), June 24. A.M.
Dracena Miss Glendinning (Veitch), August 12. F.C.
Enkianthus campanulatus (Veitch), May 13. A.M.
Epiphronitis Veitchii (Veitch), June 24. F.C.
Gaillardia Wendell Holmes (Kelway), August 26. A.M.
Geranium Shirley Blue (Wilks), August 26. F.C.
Gladiolus Baron Schréder (Kelway), August 26. A.M.
7 Empress of Germany (Kelway), August 12. A.M.
K. T. Hallock (Lemoine), September 9. A.M.
- Le Grande Carnot (Lemoine), September 9. A.M.
» Lemoinei Rey. W. Wilks (Lemoine), September 9. A.M.
Leonard Kelway (Kelway), September 9. A.M.
= Louis Thibaut (Lemoine), September 9. A.M.
~ Nuée bleue (Lemoine), September 9. F.C.
Stanley (Kelway), August 12. A.M.
Gloxinia Agnes Cook (Cannell), June 10. A.M.
» Gaiety (Veitch), July 8. A.M.
» Her Majesty (Sutton), May 28. A.M.
a Mrs. J. Donaldson (Veitch), May 28. A.M.
» Mrs. Stanley (Cannell), July 22. A.M.
» New Netted Strain (Sutton), May 28. A.M.
» Prince of Wales (Sutton), May 28. A.M.
Princess of Wales (Sutton), May 28. A.M.
Godetia Duke of Fife (Daniels), September 9. A.M.
Grammatophyllum multiflorum (Sander), July 8. A.M.
Helleborus colchicus coccineus (Paul & Son), February 11. A.M.
Hydrangea Hortensis fl. pl. (Veitch), August 12. A.M.
Hypericum oblongifolium (Paul), August 12. A.M.
Iris Sindjarensis (Barr), March 25.
Juniperus canadensis (Veitch, Paul & Son), May 13. A.M.
Lelia anceps Schréderiana (Schréder), January 14. F.C.
» elegans Turnerii, Stand var. (Statter), September 9. F.C.
» Hyermani (Pitcher & Manda), September 23. A.M.
», Goldiana (Statter), December 9. F.C.
» grandis (Sander), July 8. F.C.
», purpurata Empress (Cypher), May 28. A.M.
Tresederiana x (Statter), December 9. A.M.
Lelio-Cattleya Canhamie x (Veitch), June 24. A.M.
; eximia x (Veitch), June 24. F.C.

elxxx PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Lelio-Cattleya Hippolyta x (Veitch), March 25. F.C.

. Proserpine x (Veitch), August 26. A.M.
Lastrea filix-mas cristata fimbriata (Birkenhead), May 28. F.C.
Lilac Mdme. Kreuter (Paul & Son), May 13. F.C.
Lilium Bolanderi (Ware), July 8. A.M.
Lily-of-the-Valley, Fortin’s var. (Morse), March 25. A.M.
Lobelia Reine Blanche (Witney), June 10. A.M.
Lunaria biennis variegata (Cutbush), May 13. A.M.
Lupinus Foxei (Kelway), May 28. A.M.
Lycaste Skinnerii, Young’s var. (Young), March 11. F.C.
Masdevallia Courtauldiana x (Courtauld) June 24. A.M.

F elephanticeps (Veitch), July 22. B.C.

9 leontoglossa (Smee), February 11. B.C.

55 Lowii (Courtauld), August 12. F.C.

, Schréderiana (Schréder), July 8. F.C.
Mentzelia Bartonioides (Wythes), August 26. A.M.
Mignonette Garaway’s Double White Improved (Garaway), April 22. A.M.
Miltonia Bleui splendens (Sander), May 28. F.C.
Montbretia crocosmeeflora aurea maculata (O’Brien), September 9. A.M.
Narcissus George Engleheart (Engleheart), April 22. A.M.
Nepenthes Burkei excellens (Veitch), August 12. F.C.

» prolifica (Veitch), August 12. A.M.

Nephrolepis exaltata plumosa (May), April 22. A.M. ;
Oak (scarlet) ‘‘ Knap Hill variety’? (Waterer), November 11. F.C.
Odontoglossum Duvivierianum (Linden), November 11. A.M.

As Galeottianum (Statter), June10. A.M.

- maculatum anceps (Atkinson), May 13. F.C.

a Noezlianum (Linden), November 11. B.C.

pe Pescatorei melanocentrum (Tautz), March 11. A.M.

if is var. Mrs. G. W. Palmer (Palmer), April 22. A.M.
m i Tilgate var. (Nix), June 10. A.M.

5 ramosissimum (Smee), February 11. F.C.

5 triumphans aureum (Smee), April 22. F.C.

= vexillarium, Fairy Queen (Sander), May 28. F.C.

Le Doux’s var. (Le Doux), April 22. A.M.
Oncidium Larkinianum (Larkin), March 11. A.M.
es roraimense (Sander), May 28. A.M.
Peonia conchiflora (Paul & Son), May 28. F.C.
Peony Beatrice Kelway (Kelway), May 13. A.M.

» Berlioz (Paul & Son), June 24. A.M.

», Daubenton (Paul & Son), June 24. A.M.

» Duchess of Teck (Kelway), June 10. A.M.

», Princess Mary (Kelway), June 10. A.M.

» Sainfoin (Kelway), June 10. A.M.

Stanley (Kelway), June 10. A.M.
Pansy Eynsford Yellow (Cannell), May 13. A.M.
Pelargonium Midsummer (Pearson), June 24. A.M.

Pe Prince Henry (Perkins), May 28. A.M.

.; Turtle’s Surprise (Cannell), July 8. A.M.
Pentstemon Le Borda (Kelway), August 26. A.M.
Pentstemons, for strain (Dean), October 28. A.M.
Petunia Holborn Blue (Carter & Co.), August 12. A.M.
Phaius Humbloti alba (Schréder), June 10. F.C.

» hybridus Cooksoni (Cookson), March 11. F.C.
Phalenopsis Micholitzii (Sander), August 12. B.C.
Philadelphus inodorus (Leach), March 25. A.M.

ms microphyllus (Paul & Son, Veitch), June 24. F.C.
Phlox Le Soleil (Paul & Son), August 26. A.M.
Phoenix Reebelenii (Sander, O’Brien), March 11. F.C.

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. elxxxi

Picea pungens argentea (Waterer), December 9. F.C.
Picotee Countess of Jersey (Turner), August 12. A.M.
» Mrs. Walford (Turner), August 12. A.M.
Polyanthus Terra Cotta (Dean), April 9. A.M.
Potentilla formosa pallida (Paul & Son), August 26. A.M.
Primrose Qakwood Blue (Wilson), April 8. A.M.

‘3 Red Gauntlet (Wilson), April 22. A.M.
Primula alba magnifica (Ryder), May 13. A.M.

» Bruce Findlay (Ryder), April 22. A.M.

» Distinction (Ryder), April 22. A.M.

» HEynsford Pink (Cannell), January 14. A.M.

» Eynsford Red (Cannell), January 14. A.M.

Her Majesty (Cannell), January 14. A.M.

Pteris serrulata gloriosa (May), January 14. A.M.
Pyrethrum Carl Vogel (Kelway), May 28. A.M.

+ Clemence (Kelway), May 28. A.M.
Pyxidanthera barbulata (Paul & Son), April 8. A.M.
Rhododendron Ajax (Veitch), June 24. F.C.

ss Williamsi (Williams), April 22. A.M.
Richardia xthiopica Little Gem (Elliott), October 14. A.M.
Rodgersia podophylla (Veitch), June 10. F.C.

Rosa (polyantha) The Engineer (Gilbert), July 8. A.M.
Rose Crimson Globe (W. Paul & Son), May 28. F.C.
» d.D. Pawle (Paul & Son), June 24. A.M.
» L’Idéal (Paul & Son), July 22. A.M.
5, Lord Penzance (Penzance), June 10. F.C.
s» Marchioness of Lorne (W. Paul & Son), June 24. A.M.

Mrs. Paul (Paul & Son), June 24. A.M.
Saccolabium Hendersonianum (Mason), August 12. F.C.
Sarcopodium Dearii (Schréder), May 28. A.M.

5 Godseffianum (Sander), June 24. F.C.

* psittacoglossum (Lawrence), July 8. B.C.
Sarracenia Claytonii (Wipf), August 12. A.M.

Sequoia sempervirens alba spica (Veitch), August 12. F.C.
Sobralia macrantha, var. rosea (Cypher), June 10. F.C.
5, Warscewiczi (Veitch), August 12. F.C.
‘Spirea Bumalda variegata (Veitch), July 8. F.C.
Sweet Pea Dorothy Tennant (Kckford), July 8. A.M.
» Stanley (Eckford), July 8. A.M.

Tilia euchlora (Veitch), August 12. F.C.
* Tree Pruner (Coppin), December 9. C.
Trillium discolor atratum (Veitch), March 25. A.M.
Vaccinium pennsylvanicum (Waterer), November 11. F.C.
. Verbena Uranie (Cannell), August 12. A.M.
Xerophyllum asphodeloides (Paul & Son), June 10. A.M.
Zingiber D’Arceyi (Veitch), July 8. A.M.
Zygopetalum crinito-maxillare x (Rothschild), July 8. A.M.

P

clxxxli PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY,

AWARDS MADE

On the recommendation of the Fruit and Vegetable
Committee.

From January 1 to Drcremper 31, 1890.

F.C., First-class Certificate ; A.M., Award of Merit.

FRUITS.

Apple Amorel (Ross), March 25. A.M.

,, Beauty of Stoke (Doe), October 14. F.C.
Fig St. John (Veitch), July 8. F.C.
Grape Lady Hutt (Myles), December 9. F.C.
Melon Barkham’s Seedling (Barkham), July 22. F.C.
Ely’s Seedling (Ely), September 9. A.M.
Highland’s Hybrid (Wilkinson), July 8. A.M.
Syon House Seedling (Wythes), July 8. A.M.
Victoria Cross (Cook), July 8. A.M.
Westley Hall (Bishop), October 14. F.C.
Strawberry Auguste Nicaise (J. Smith), April 8. A.M.
Crescent City (Paul & Son), June 24. A.M.

99

VEGETABLES.

Broccoli Veitch’s Model (Leach), May 13. F.C.
Cucumber Allan’s Favourite (Allan), July 8. A.M.
Express (Mortimer), August 12. F.C.

??

AWARDS MADE

On the recommendation of the Fruit and Vegetable
Committee.

Cuiswick TRIALS, 1890.

x x x Signifies “ Meritorious in the first degree.”
x x Signifies ‘“‘ Meritorious in the second degree.”

Beans (Broad), Exhibition Long-pod (Bunyard, R. Veitch & Son). x x x
Lettuce Early White Self-folding Trianon (Vilmorin). x x x
» (Cos) Prince of Wales (J. Veitch & Sons). x x x
Pea Ambassador (Eckford). x x
», Boston Hero (Bunyard). x x
», Lhe Daisy (Carter & Co.). -x x

_ EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. elxxxili

AWARDS MADE
On the recommendation of the Floral Committee

To PLANTS GROWN FOR TRIAL IN THE GARDENS AT CHISWICK DURING
THE YEAR 1890.

x x x Signifies “* Meritorious in the first degree.”
x x Signifies “ Meritorious in the second degree.”

Carnation Albrecht Duesser (Benary). x x x
a Alfred Gray (Dodwell). x x
. Alice Ayres (Veitch, Ware). x x x
6 Andromeda (Dodwell). x x x
Ps Ariel (Dodwell). x x x
4 Atalanta (Dodwell). x x x
¥ Beatrix (Fisher, Son & Sibray). x x

4 Boadicea (Douglas). x x x

ee Caledonia (Dicksons & Co,). x x x

a2 Canary (Fisher, Son & Sibray). x x x
a Caractacus (Douglas). x x x

Ph Clown (Dodwell). x x x

Ms Comtesse de Paris (Paul & Son). x x x
n Countess of Ellesmere (R.H.8.). x x x
‘ Diana (Dodwell). x x x

a Edith (Fisher, Son & Sibray). x x x
5 Fair Maid (Dean). x x

. Feuerball (Benary). x x x

em Germania (Veitch). x x x

% Gloire de Nancy (Veitch). x x x
Grandiflora (Veitch). x x x

A Guiding Star (Ware). x x x

Horace (Dan). x x x
a Hypatia (Paul). x x
i Juliette (R.H.S.). x x x
i Juno (Paul & Son). x x x
ss Maggie Lawrie (Dicksons & Co.). x x x
By Merlin (Lakin). x x x
is Mirakel Von Zerbst (Benary). x x x
3 Mrs. Frank Watts (Ware). x x x
* Mrs. Reynolds Hole (Veitch). x x x
i Orestes (R.H.8.). x x x
3 Oxonian (Dodwell). x x x
- Penelope (Hooper). x x x
2 Raby Castle (Turner, Veitch). x x x
Rose Celestial (Turner). x x x
- Rowena (Dean). x x x
a Scarlet Premier (Storrie). x x x
+ Snowdrift (Fisher, Son & Sibray). x x x
. The Moor (Dean). x x x
Will Threlfall (Paul). x x x
Picotee Admiration (Veitch). xxx
,, Agnes Chambers (Turner). x x x 7
,» Augusta (Paul & fie x xX
,» . B.J. Bryant (R.H.8.). x x
» Colonial Beauty (Turner). x x x

clxxxiv PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Picotee Dorothy (Turner). x x x
Favourite (Turner). x x x
» Grosteen (Veitch). x x
aoe Pica, (Paul & Son)e- x). x
, Romeo (Paul & Son). x x x
Dahlia (Bedding) Flora Macdonald (Turner). x x x
% ° Marguerite Bruant (Turner). x x x
; ¥3 Yellow Pet (Turner). x x x
(Cactus) Charming Bride (Ware). x x x
Empress of India (Keynes, Turner, Ware). x x x
Henry Patrick (Ware). x x x
Honoria (Keynes). x x x
Juarezii (Keynes, Turner). x x x
Lady Kerrison (Ware). x x x
A. W. Tait (Keynes). x x x
Mrs. Hawkins (Ware). x x x
3 Panthea (Keynes). x x x
cs (Fancy) General Gordon (Turner). x x x
Grand Sultan (Turner). x x x
. x Queen Mab (Turner). x x x
(Pompon) Admiration (Turner). x x x
Brunette (Keynes). x x x
Cupid (Turner). x x x
5 e Darkness (Keynes). x x x
3 a Dove (Turner). x x x
K. F. Junker (Keynes, Turner). x x x
Ernest (Turner). x x x

92

” 9

> D Fairy Tales (Keynes). x x x
+ +) Fanny Weiner (Turner). x x x
» - Fashion (Keynes). x x x

Gem (Keynes, Turner). x x x

Isabel (Keynes, Turner). x x x
Janet (Keynes). x x x

Lady Bianche (Keynes). x x x
Lady Jane (Turner). x x x

Mabel (Keynes). x x x

Millie Wood (Keynes). x x x

Mdme. V. Faconet (Keynes, Turner). x x x
Princess Sophie (Turner). x x x
Red Indian (Keynes), x x x

Rosalie (Keynes). x x x

Rosetta (Keynes). x x x

The Khedive (Keynes). x x x
Whisper (Keynes). x x x

” White Aster (Keynes, Turner). x x x
3) (Show) Condor (Turner). x x x

, 0 Cyprus (furner)s 2x xx

» - Diadem (Turner). x x x

“s George Rawlings (Turner). x x x

* Goldfinder (Turner). x x x

a 7» | Je B. wervice (Turner): xoxox

mM 9 Leah (Turner). x x x

3 » Mrs. Gladstone (Turner). x x x
es os Mrs. Glasscock (Turner). x x x
Ms is Mrs. Harrison (Turner). x x x
3 , Ovid (Turner). x x x

m », Pioneer (Turner). x x x
‘i 5, Primrose Dame (Turner). xx x
i » Royal Queen (Turner). x x «

EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS.

Dahlia (Show) Royalty (Turner).

” 9

” ”

5, (Single) Alfonso (Cheal).

Formosa (Cheal).
Kate (Ware).

Statesman (Turner).
Toison d’Or (Turner).

Cetewayo (Cheal).
Florrie Fisher (Ware).

x xX
x
)

Pri In oe
Lady Monckton (Cheal).
Miss Henshaw (Ware).
Mr. Kennett (Cheal).

x

x

clxxxv

x X X
x X X

x
x

x X
x

Fuchsia Dunrobin Bedder (Melville).

Miss Linaker (Cheal). x x x
Sunningdale White (Cheal). x
The Sport (Cheal). x x x

x xX

Mimulus moschatus compactus (Putz & Roes).

Viola Duchess of Fife (Dobbie).

MX

», Duchess of Sutherland (Dobbie). x x
», Marchioness of Tweedale (Dobbie). x x

», Neptune (Dobbie).
55 The Bride (Dobbie).

x X X
xXx X X

x X

x xX

Pelargonium (Double-flowered Ivy-leaved) Comtesse Horace de Choiseul

”

(Lemoine). x x x

sa ‘a De Quatrefages (Lemoine).
prac d Ihe

is ‘ Galilee No.1(Lemoine). x x x

3 os Galilee No.2(Lemoine). x x x

re 5 Gloire d’Orleans (Le-
moine). x x x

y, ¥5 Le Printemps (Lemoine). x x x

£ " Madame Thibaut (Le-
moine);; x x. x

a 9 Souvenir de Charles Turner
Lemoine). x x x

(Single-flowered Ivy-leaved) Gem (Cannell). x x x

Mrs. H. Cannell(Cannell) x x x

(Zonal) Charles Mason (Pearson).
» Mons. Poirier (Lemoine).

x X X
x REX

Stock (Dwarf. flowering Ten-week), Lilac (Putz & Roes).

» (Large-flowering a

Aurora (Putz

& Roes).

xX xX XK
x X

- Brilliant Rose (Putz & Roes).

“ Purple (Putz

Sulphur Yellow (Putz & Roes).

& Roes).

, White (Putz & Roes).

x xX X

x XX

x

x

x

x

INDEX.

oe a.

Abelia rupestris, cxliv
Aberia Caffra, cxxx
Acacia retinodes, xxviii
» Seyal, stipules, ci
Achillea mongolica, Ixxxii
Adiantum Porteri, xxix
AAichmea glomerata, xxviii
AKcidium on Black Currant leaves, cx
Aéranthes Leonis, xliv
Aérides suavissimum, xliv
African Marigolds, 399
Agapanthus umbellatus
CXxXll
Agaricus melleus, Rhizomorpha of, evii
Akebia quinata, xxii
Alpine or Rock Plants, 285
» Plants, Soil for, clxxii

Althea rosea, 544
Amaryllis, 243, 255

5 culture, 252
Andromeda japonica, xxix
_ Anemone coronaria, lx

Ma hortensis, xlix
Anemones, 275, 279
Angrecum citratum giganteum, xxxvii

malformed,

a Germinyanum, xxxviii
aA Kimballianum, cli
53 new var., XXXi

sesquipedale, xliyv
Annuals, Hardy, 407
Anthurium album maximum, Ixxvi
Antirrhinum majus, Monstrous, clv
* with Virescent Corolla,
XC1V
Apple Amorel, xxxix
» Beauty of Stoke, clii
» Diseased, clxi
,» Translucent, clxvi
» Lrees, Canker in, xxvi
Apples, xxxii, li
» trom Australia, lxxxvi
Arisema proboscideum, lxvi
im speciosum, XXvVili
Aristolochia Goldieana, lili
> ringens, lxvi
Arrowroot Plants, xxviii
Artichokes, Globe, 53, 71
, Jerusalem, 53, 83
Artificial Manures, 24

Asarum Hookeri insignis, Ixvi
Asparagus, 48
4 Chicory, 97

- French culture, 17
a in Autumn, 11
ie on heavy soil, 11

. Aster alpinus speciosus, lxxv

Asters, China, 401
Astrapea Wallichii, xxii
Auriculas in Towns, 381
Awards made, 406
Azalea roseflora, xlvili
Azaleas, Hardy, 421
Babiana rubro-cyanea, xcvi
Banksian Rose in Fruit, clxxiii
Barbe de Capucin, 269
Batemannia Wallisii, lxxxiii
Beans, 53, 76
Beets, 53, 89
» Leaf, 96
Begonia Black Douglas, lxxxii
» Enchantress, lxxy
Re Golden Queen, 1xxxii
», Henshaw Russell, lxxvi
Madame Pfitzer, lxxxii
» Negro Boy, lxxvi
Rev. W. Wilks, lxxvi

| Begonias, clll

Bigener (?)—Dahlia and Helianthus,

clxi
” =

Raspberry and Straw-
berry, xciil
Berberis Thunbergii, clvii
Bertolonia Souvenir de Gand, Ixxxii
Blandfordia nobilis imperialis, lviii
Blight, xciii
Bluebells degenerating, Ixvi
Borecole, 54, 70, 98
Boronia heterophylla, xxix
“9 megastigma, Xxix
Bouvardia Purity, cxlix
Broad Beans, 53
Broccoli, 49, 70, xlvi
# Veitch’s Model, lxiv
Brussels Sprouts, 49, 71
Bud, Endogenous (?), clxv
Bug, Plant, lxiv
Bulbophyllum grandiflorum, xc1x
Bulbs, Abnormal Development of, clxxil

INDEX,

Buphane toxicaria, xxviii
Cabbage, Red, 68
Cabbages, 49, 67
Calceolarias dying off, xciv
Calla Elliottiana, lviii
Camaridium ochroleucum, ¢xxxi
Canker in Apple Trees, xxvi
Canna Madame Crozy, lxxvi
Caprificus, or Wild Fig, xcv
Capsicum Coral Red, xciv
Capsicums, 55, 78
Cardoons, 53, 96

of Spanish, elxxi
Carnation, Best Varieties, 487

5 Botany of, 464
Conference, 461
Exhibition, 471
Germania, x¢evi
rs Hardiness of, 461, 488
in Borders, 488

‘a in Towns, 477

2 Marguerite, cxxv

* Mrs. Frank Watts, xcv
Carnations, cili, civ, exil

3 attacked by Wireworm, ci

3 - Tipula, evil,

Cx1x

Carrots, 50, 91
Catasetum atratum, xci

x Burgerothii Randi, cli
Cattleya aurea Imschootiana, cl

a s, Lindeni, cl
» statteriana, Cxxxi
3 citrina, lxi
5 Du Buyssoniana, cli
Empress Frederick, xeviii
Si Gall on Stem of, xxv
es Gaskelliana alba, cxxxii
te granulosa Russelliana, clix
i Hardyana,

CXXV1

" intermedia Parthenia, Ixxxiii |

55 labiata Warneri, lxxxiv

a », Warocqueana, lxi

as Lawrenceana delicata, lxxvii
$3 5 Vinckii, |

z. Lindeni, elvili

5 Massaiana, Cxxvi

» Mendelii Alfred Smee, lxxxiv |
hackbridgensis,

5 Mendelii
Ixxxv

Prince of Wales,
Ixxvil

33 Mossiz decora, lxxxv

= Nilssoni, cxvii

- O’Brieniana, clxx

a Triane fulgens, xxxi

marginata, xxxi

43 LP bf

9 9

Wilson’s var., |

}
!
)

}
|

elxxxVli

Cattleya labiata Schrédere, xliv
», LrianeSchrédere alba,xxxviii
A » Lautziana, xxxvii
re Warocqueanaamethystina, el
i flammea, cl
Cauliflower, 50, 70
Cedrus atlantica glauca, clxviii
Celeriac, 95
Celery, 50, 94
Cerambyx miles, Ixy, Ixxxvi
Ceratitis citriperda, lxv
Cercis siliquastrum, lx
Cherry Laurel Fruits poisonous to
Peafowl, cviii
Chervil, 56,
Chicory, 55, 262, 268
» Asparagus, 97
an Witloef, 19
Chillies, 78
China Asters, 401
Chionanthus virginica, xlvili
Chives, 56
Christmas Roses, 274
Chrysanthemum, best for various pur-
poses, 195
Centenary, 106
Damping, 218
Dates and Authori-

ties, 169
eo Dwarfing, 172, 218
et for Out-doors, 195
S Grouping, 177

“Hen and Chicken ”*
form, elxvi

¥ History of, 115

5) Judging, 127

2 Market, 179

ot New Varieties of, 122

= Progress, 137

4 Seeds, &c., 150

3 Soil for, 218

¥ Species, 112,

a Statistics, 203

a Summer, 184, 186,
213

“3 the Blue, 143

. Wild Progenitors of,
Leet Le

Citrons, fingered, xli
Clematis erecta fl. pl., ciii
Cleome leptaphylla, elviii
Ceelogyne barbata, clxx

e cristata, xxiii
ss pandurata, xxxvili
—s tomentosa, ]xi

Coleworts, 67
Conference, Carnation, 461
ap ‘ Chrysanthemum, 106

elxxxvill

Conference, Daffodil, 288

es Fern, 495

Fi Vegetable, 1
Corn Salad 19, 56, 263
Cress, Water, xxxix
Crinum brachynema, 1]xxxii

» Powelli album, cxliv
Crocuses, 275
Cucumber Lockie’s Perfection, xxxix
Cucumbers, 52, 74
Cunilla Maryana, exlix
Currant and Gooseberry,
between, xciii

Cydonia japonica Moorlezi, lviii
Cymbidium albuceflorum, ]xii

hybrid

“A chloranthum, li

3 eburneo-Lowianum x,
XXxl

Sa Tracyanum, clxvili

Cynomorium coccineum, ]lxxxvii
Cypripedium Alice x, exxvil

* Antigone x, clxii
55 Apollo x, li

ra Arthur x, exxvii

y, Aylingii x , lxxxiv
A barbatum, 1|xii

A calceolus, Ixii

ms chlorops x , XXXVili
% Cleola x, elxiii

_ Constance x, €xxvii
a Doris x, celxiii

3 Eyermaniana x, clxii

a Fairieanum, cl

mn Germinyanum x, xxii,
Xxili

=F glanduliferum, cxxxii

‘ H. Ballantine x, exvii

a Hookere, 1xii

3 insigne, xxii

7 Lathamianum x, xxil,
XXV1

f Mawoodi x, exxvii

a Maynardii x, clxx

* Muriel Hollington x,
elxiii

z niveum, xlv

a Numa, xxx

- Numa x, Cxxvii

a Osbornei x, elxviii

= Othello x , xxxi

id Pollettianum x , elxviii

i porphyrochlamis x , xxii

* Poyntzianum x , xxxviil

5 prestans, Cxxxii

9 Schomburgkianum, xxx

; superbiens with ab-
normal labellums,

CXxVili, Cxxi

INDEX,

Cypripedium Volonteanum, xxviii
ii Youngianum, xcviii

Cyrtopodium Saintlegerianum, xxxvii
Cytisus Adami x, xlvi

»» scoparius Andreanus, lviii
Daftodil, Best Varieties, 370, 373

» ‘Bicoloured, 303, 358

a Bulbs with Merodon, cxxii

3 Conference, 288

s Culture of, 336, 349, 354

a Doubling of, 292, 333

» Fly, the, 313, 346

f for Market, 346

5 History of, 296

* Hybrid, 306

4 in the Scilly Islands, 312

Naming, 289, 293

sD Polyanthus, 339, 365, 372

By Rot, 337

ss Seedling, 316

ie Species, Culture of, 323

ss Trumpet, 326

~ Varieties of, 357

- White, 295, 302, 360, 371
Dahlia Conference and Exhibition,

CXXXVii

Dahlias, exxiv, cxxix
Dandelion, 56, 266
Datura leaves diseased, xciii
Delphinium Alfred Kelway, ]xxxii

¥ Autolycus, lxxvi

es diseased, lxv

Injured Foliage of, xxxvi
Dendrobium albo-violaceum, xlvii

aqueum, Cxxxi

rY Aspasia x , Xxx

:: Aurora x, XXiVv

r Bensonie album, Ixxvii

- bracteosum, evi

5 (Bulbophyllum) amplum,
cli

Me Faleoneri delicatum,
Ixxvii

fe Galliceanum, lxi

es lineale, lxxxv

x MacCarthie, Ixxvii

“A micans, xxxi

* new sp., xlv

a signatum, xxx

= Smilize, xxx?

Py sulcatum, li

3 Waltoni, xxiv

Re Wardianum, Schrdéder’s

var., XXXVl
Deutzia candidissima, xxxv
Dianthus Caryophyllus Marguerite,
CXxix

| Disa sagittalis, xlv, xlvii

- INDEX.

Disa tripetaloides, lxii, xci
Doronicum plantagineum excelsum,
xlix
Ebony, St. Helena, xl
Kgg Plant, 54
Endive, 19, 53, 93, 262
Endogenous Bud (?), elxv
Enkianthus campanulatus, lviii, Ix
Epidendrum falcatum, ev
P . radiatum fucatum, cli
Epiphronitis Veitchii x, xc
Eschalots, 87
Fern Conference, 495
. y Naming, 495
Ferns, Crossed Varieties, 505
» Hardy, 520
» Hybridisation, 505, 513
»» Morphology of, 496
» Plumose British, 515
5 the Oldest, 496
Fig St. John, Ixxviii
Figs, xl
Fig-tree, Scale on, xlvi
Findlay, Bruce, xlviii
Fingered Citrons, xli
# Orange, xlvi
Florida Pine, xli
“Flower of Good Luck,’’ 344
Flowers, Hardy Herbaceous, 445
i wet uistio€, 457
Ms Experiments on Colours of,
: liv
Fly, the Daffodil, 313, 346
Fog Report, xxxiii, clvi, clx
Fogs, London, xxvi
Foliage with Foliaceous Appendages, cii
French Beans, 49, 77
» Marigolds, 399
Frost, Effects of, elxxii
Fruit Evaporating, 532
Fuchsia triphylla alba carminata,
Garlic, 56, 87
Garrya elliptica in Fruit, clx
Geranium Wallichianum, cxxiv
Gladioli, exxviii
Gladiolus Freebeli, 555
= gandavensis, Culture of, 564
iy Hardy, 549
5s Lemoinei, 555
a nanceianus, 561
is Origin of, 574
s purpureo-auratus, 554

4s Saundersii, 559
= with unsymmetrical flowers,
Cli

Gloxinia Agnes Cook, lxxxii
at Her Majesty, Ixxvi
4 leaves diseased, cxxii

elxxxili

Gloxinia Mrs. J. Donaldson, Ixxvi'
bi New Netted Strain, Ixxvi ’
sf Princess of Wales, lxxvi
Godwinia gigas, xxviii
‘‘ Good Luck, Flower of,’’ 344
Gourds, 72
Grammatophyllum multiflorum, ev
Grape Conference and Exhibition,
CXXX1x
» Lady Hutt, clxxi
e Seedling, exxv
Haastia pulvinus, exxiii
Habenaria militaris, exxxi
Hardy Carnations, 461
» Flower Garden, 445
» Flowers forBorders, List of, 457
» Gladioli, 549
Hedera vars., 387
Hedychium Gardnerianum, cxv
Hellebores, 274
Herbaceous Borders, 445
Herbs for Flavouring, 55, 97
Heterecismal Fungi, cix
Hibberd, the late Mr. Shirley, clxvii
Himalayan Primroses, 378
Hippeastrum, 243, 255
2 (Amaryllis) Champion,
XXVili
Grand Monarch, xliii
Hollyhocks, 544
Diseases of, 547
Horseradish, 54
Hybridisation of Peas, 34
Hydrangea hortensis fl. pl., exiv
Hypericum Coris, xcv
oblongifolium, CXV
Indian Corn, 54, 99
Iris levigata, XCV
White Banner, xciv
» Princess Beatrice, xciii
» reticulata, xciil
,, Sindjarensis, xxxvi, xl
» Spanish, with supernumerary
parts, xcili
Ivy, Varieties of, 387
Jeffersonia diphylla, Fruit of, cxxii
Juniperus canadensis aureus, lx
Kale, 54, 70, 98
Kei Apple, cxxx
Kidney Beans, 77
Kohl Rabi, 54, 89
Laburnum as a Poison, eviii
Lelia elegans, Stand var., cxxxi
» Hyermaniana, cxliv
,, Gouldiana, clxx
» grandis, xcvili
»» monophylla, exxxii
»» purpurata Brysiana, lxii

elxl

Lelia purpurata Empress, Ixxvii

ee oy Studdii, Ixi

» LTresederiana x, clxx

», Lwo-lipped, xciv
Lelio-Cattleya Canhamia, xci
eximiea x, XC
Hippolyta x, xxxvii

7 ”

9 9

bs Proserpine x , Cxxvi
Lastrea filix-mas cristata fimbriata,
Ixxv
Leeks, 54, 83
» Bulbous, 99

Lemon Seeds germinating, Ixxxvli
Lettuces, 18, 52, 94, 262
Leucadendron argenteum, clxvi
Lilac Madame Kreuter, lviii
Lilium Martagon, Fasciated, ci
Lobelia Reine Blanche, lxxxii
London Fogs, xxvi
Loranthus, Fruit of, xxxiii
Lunaria biennis variegata, lx
Lupinus Foxi, lxxvi
Lycaste Skinneri, Monstrous, elxvi
Lygus pabulinus (Plant Bug), lxiv
Magnolia conspicua, xii
Maize, 54, 99
Manure for Vegetables, 20
Maranta arundinacea, xxviil
i Warscewiczil, xlili
Marigolds, 399
Marrows, Vegetable, 53, 72
Masdevallia Amesiana x, Cxvii
a Arminii, li
a5 Courtauldiana x, xci
3 elephanticeps, cvi
os leontoglossa, xxii
vA Lowli, Cxvi
‘s O’Brieniana, lxi
m Rolfeana, cv
* Schréderiana, xeviii
Stella x, cli
Mealy ‘Bug at Alexandria, XXV
Melampsora on Salix repens, cxi
“ vernalis on Saxifraga
eranulata, cxi
Melon Idsworth Park Beauty, xciv
» Pear, the, 98
» Westley Hall, clii
Merodon equestris, 313, 346
Merulius lachrymans (?), elv
Mignonette, Garaway’s Double White
Improved, xlviii
Miltonia Bleui splendens x, lxxvii
Fe vexillaria Fairy Queen, Ixxvii
o ot Le Doux var., |
Montbretia crocosmieflora aurea
maculata, exxix
- Morphology of Ferns, 496

INDEX,

Mushrooms, 51
Mustard and Cress, 54
Narcissi, Hybrid, li
Narcissus, 288, 323
. History of, 296
‘5 Polyanthus, 339
a Report of Committee, 291
Fs Sport of, xli
Nepenthes Burkei excellens, cxiv
» prolifica, exiv
Nephrolepis exaltata plumosa, xlix
Neviusa alabamensis, lxvi
Notospartium Cariichelir: XCV
Nymphea stellata § zanzibarensis,
lxxxiii
Oak, Scarlet-leaved, clxii
Oak-staves, Perforated, ci, cvii
Ochna multiflora, |
Odontoglossum crispum Bickleyense,

XXili
> Duvivierianum, elxiii
7 excellens, Albert

Edward, Ixii
Mp Galeottianum, lxxxiv

{os Leeanum, xxxviii

ee maculatum anceps, lxi

ue Noezlianum, elxiv

4 Pescatorei, var. me-
lanocentrum, xxxi

i Pescatorei, Tilgate

var., lxxxiv
a Pescatorei, Mrs. G. W.
Palmer, |
+ ramosissimum, xxii
triumphans aureum, |
Oncidium bifolium majus, xxxyviii
ke chrysorhapis, cv
bs Larkinianum, xxxi
69 phymatochilum, li
45 roraimense, Ixxviii
Rs sarcodes, xxxvii
x sphacelatum, Ixxxv
PA tetracopis, xxxi
tetrapelatum, xxxvill
Onions, 52, 84
Orange, Fingered, xlvi
» Pistilody of Stamens in, xciv
Orchid, Bigener, xciv
Orchids, Disease of, xxv
.. Rules for Naming, lv
Oxalis imbricata fl. pl., cxliv
Peonia, the Genus, Classification of,
428
Peonies, Ixxxii
5 Herbaceous, 422, 443, Ixxxill
Peony conchiflora, lxxv
» Tree, Beatrice Kelway, lx
Pansy Eynsford Yellow, lx

INDEX.

Papaver orientale semiplena, cxxix}
Bi Rheeas vars., 397
‘i somniferum, 396
Parsley, 52, 97
Parsnips, 54, 92
Pear, Marguerite Marillat, exxx, exlvi
a) the Melon, 98
Peas, 48, 77, xciv, xcv
3 Hybridisation of, 34
» Improvement in, 29
Pelargonium Prince Henry, Ixxvi
Phaius Cooksoni x, xxx, |xii
» Humblotii albus, Ixxxiii
Phalenopsis Micholitzii, exvii
ss Schilleriano-gloriosa,
XXXVili
Philadelphus inodorus, xxxv
microphyllus, Ixxxviil
Phoonix Reebelinii, xxviii
Phylloxera at Chiswick, cvlil, xix
Picea nobilis, xxvi
»» pungens argentea, clxvil
¥ elauca, elxvili
Picotees, Best Varieties, 488
S for Exhibition, AT1
Pine Apple Queen, cvi
» florida, xli
Pistacia Lentiscus, Galls on; xciv
Plant Diseases, liii
» Pathology, Study of, clxxiii
Plants from Chiswick, Distribution of,
CxIx
Plantain Fruit, elv
Poa annua, Rootgalls on, xlvi
Polyanthus Terra-Cotta, xliii
Poppies, Annual, 396
Potato Disease, cxi, cxx
A Remedy for, liv
Potatoes, 51, 79
ss Field, 81
= Improvement in, 41
a New Varieties, 82
f Select Garden, 80
Preserved Fruit Exhibition, cliti
Primrose Boscawen’s Double Yellow, 1
a Oakwood Blue, xliii
= Purple, xlvi
<9 Red Gauntlet, xlix
hs var., lili
35 with Foliaceous Corolla, lv
Primroses, 279
i Cultivation of, 375
As degenerating, lxvi
Primula ameena vars., xliv
s metamorphosed, lxvi
‘9 Sieboldi, xlviii
“ » alba magnifica, lx
Be species, 376

elxli

Prince of Wales, Address to, lxvii
Puccinia Agrostidis, cix
- Digraphidis, cx
PP Festuce, cix
Puccinia malvacearum, 547
Puya chilensis, lxxv
Pyrethrum Carl Vogel, lxxvi
i Clemence, Ilxxvi
Pyxidanthera barbulata, xliii
Radishes, 54, 96, Ixxviii
Rampion, 55, 263
Red Cabbage, 69
Rhizomorpha of Agaricus melleus,
evii
Rhododendron Williamsii, xlix
Rhubarb, 51
Richardia «thiopica Little Gem, cxlviii
Rock Plants, 285
Rodgersia podophylla, Ixxxii
Rose Conference, National, xciii
» (H. P.) Crimson Globe, lxxv
Royal Gardens, Kew, Exhibits from,
XXvill, xliii, xlix, lx, civ, elviil
Runner Beans, 53, 76
Saccolabium Hendersonianum, cxvii
St. Helena Ebony, xl
St. John Fig, Ixxviii, ¢
Saladings, 260
s Small, 95
Salads in Winter, 18
Salsafy, 54, 93, 263
Sarcopodium Dearei, Ixxvili
Me Godseffianum, xc’
;; psittacoglossum, xcix
Sarracenia Claytonii, exv
Satyrium carneum, Cxxvil
Satyriums, cxvi
Savoys, 54, 69
Saxifrages, 276
Scarlet Runners, 77
Scorzonera, 54, 93
Seakale, 50
Sequoia sempervirens alba spica, cxiv
Shallots, 55, 87
Show in Temple Gardens, Ixvii
Shrubs in pots, 233
» Spring-flowering, 286, 409
Snowdrops, 275
Sobralia macrantha rosea, Ixxxiii
- Warscewiczii, exvii
Solanum Wendlandii, lxxxiii
Sorrel, 55
Spathiphyllum longirostre, ¢lviii
Spinach, 50, 72
Spirea Bumalda variegata, xcvi
Spring Flower Garden, 273
» Flowering Shrubs and Trees,
409

eae es hae
ats ae

~— elxiii
Sprouts, Brussels, 71
oe Hutton Hall, 98
Stachys tubifera, 19, 55, 92
Staphylea colchica, xviii
Stocks, Ten-week, 400
Strawberry Auguste Nicaise, xxviii
Strelitzia Nicolai, xxviii
Stylidium graminifolium, cxxi
Sugar-cane Borer, xxv, xxxiil
i Seedlings of, xxxiii
Sweet Briar Lord Penzance, lxxxii
Tacea artocarpifolia, xxvill
Tcerya Purchasi, lxxxvii
Temple Show, 1890, lxvii
Clematis at, Ixxiii
Ferns at, lxxii
Fruit and Vegetables at,
lxxiv
Hardy Plants, &c., at,
Ixxiii
Medals
lxxix
Orchids at, lxix
be » Roses at, lxxil
Silver Cups
at, lxxix
Soft-wooded Plants at,
Ixxiii
Thompson, David, xlviii
Tilia euchlora, cxiv
Tomatoes, 52, 75
- diseased, cix, cxix
New Varieties, 398
Tree Ivy, 393

awarded at,

awarded

INDEX. - Maries Seg

Tree Pruner, Patent, elxviili >
Trees, Spring-flowering, 409
Trillium discolor atratum, xxxvi
Triosteum pinnatifidum, lxvi
Turnips, Garden, 51, 87
Uromyces maritima, cx
Vaccinium pennsylvanicum, clxii
Vanda alpina, lxvi
» Kimballiana, exxvi
» Sanderiana, exxxii, clxix
Vegetable Conference, |
¢ * Statistics, 67
Marrows, 53, 72
Vegetables, A Year’s Supply of, 47
43 Cultural Notes, 99
a Manures for, 20, 49

_ Veitch Memorial Medal, xlviii

Vine Moth, exlii
Vines, Atrophied Foliage of, cvili,cxx
» Diseased, xlvii
" Treatment of, liii
Watercress, XXXIX
Weaver Bird from Paraguay, Nest of,

cvii
Wildsmith, Mr. W., xxv
Winter Gardening, 233

», Saladings, 18
Wireworm, Carnations attacked by, ci
Witloef, 19, 270
Xerophyllum asphodeloides, lxxxii —
Zingiber D’Arceyi, xevil
Zygopetalum crinito-maxillare x,

x¢evlil