i88i.] ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 187 



V ALL OTA PURPUREA. 



Ix the 'Gardener' I find that one of your correspondents wonders why Vallota 

 is called purpurea, as it has no purple about it — but purpurea is really scarlet. 

 The Tyrian purple was a scarlet dye, and to be born in the purple indicates 

 that scarlet is the regal colour. D. 



VANDA SPIKES 



Open and opening at Chatsworth, 14th March. 



No. 

 Vanda suavis, ...... 12S 



II tricolor formosa, ..... 9 



II insignis, . . . . ... 16 



Largest number on one plant, . . . . 35. 



There are about as many more spikes in later stages. 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



March 8th. 



The advancing season was well shown at Kensington on Tuesday, for the 

 exhibits had so far increased in numbers that, besides several small groujis 

 in the Council-room, an unusually fine display of Cyclamens, Amaryllises, 

 Orchids, and miscellaneous plants was provided in the conservatory, the attrac- 

 tions being still further increased by a lecture from the Eev. G. Henslow, and 

 a selection of music by a military band. There was a remarkably large attend- 

 ance of the members of the Floral Committee, and the Fruit Committee was 

 also well represented, the meeting altogether proving eminently satisfactory, 

 and notwithstanding the showery weather, visitors were fairly numerous. 



Fruit Committee. — H. J. Veitch, Esq., in the chair. Mr Sidney Ford 

 sent a dish of a seedling Apple, Margaret Henrietta — a pretty Apple, but with- 

 out flavour. Mr M'Indoe, The Gardens, Hutton Hall, sent a seedling Cucum- 

 ber, called Verdant Green, but the internal colour was so green as to dis- 

 qualify it. Mr Douglas, Loxford Hall Gardens, sent a seedling Cucumber 

 from Tender and True, which was considered not quite so good as its parent. 

 Messrs Cutbush & Son, Highgate, sent samples of ISTuneham Park Onion of 

 very fine quality, to which a cultural commendation was awarded. Mr 

 Strachan, The Gardens, Bui wick Park, near Wansford, sent specimens of 

 Giant Zittau Onion, a fine brown-skinned Onion, to which a cultural com- 

 mendation was awarded. ]\Ir Sage, gardener to Earl Brownlow, Ashridge, 

 sent a dish of Musa Cavendishii, remarkably well grown. The bunch had 

 235 fruits upon it. A cultural commendation was awarded. Mr Cox of Red- 

 leaf Gardens exhibited fruit of Lemons and Oranges from Cyprus, for which 

 a letter of thanks was awarded. Mr Green, gardener to Sir George Macleay, 

 Pendell Court, Bletchingley, Surrey, sent a branch of CofTea arabica, var, 

 angustifolia, laden with fruit, and showing great luxuriance of growth and 

 superior cultivation. A cultural commendation was awarded. 



Floral Committee. — Dr Denny in the chair. In the Council-room, Mr B. 

 S. Williams, Upper Holloway, exhibited a group of new plants, very notice- 



