January IS, 1677. 1 



JOOBNAL OF HOBTICDLT0BE AND COTTAGE QABDENEB. 



45 



am strongly with Mr. Abbey in desiring to affiliate country 

 societies, i Hear, hear.— G. F. W.] I would make an asso- 

 ciate class at js. per annum, or 10s. &d., of working gardeners 

 or working-class amateurs." — Geobge F. Wilson. 



ROYAL HOETICDLTUBAL SOCIETY. 



Jancaby ITth. 



These useful meetings appear to increase in popularity, and 

 this, the first gathering of the year, was highly successful both 

 as regards the character of the exhibits and the attendance of 

 horticulturists. The tables of the Council-room were nearly 

 filled with plants, and there were also some (iiehes of noteworthy 

 fruit, especially a Pine Apple from Mr. Miles of High Wycombe 

 — the identical fruit that was exhibited before the Committee 

 on December 0th, 1S76; so that altogether quite an attractive 

 exhibition was provided. 



Fruit Committee.— Henry Webb, Esq., V.P., in the chair. 

 Messrs. Lett & Hart, White Hill Nursery, Faversham, sent a 

 seedling Apple for kitchen use, called Hart's Glory ; but the 

 Committee were of opinion that it did not possess merit superior 

 to many other varieties in cultivation. Mr. Fowler, The Gar- 

 dens, Harewood, sent fruit of the Charlesworth Tokay Grape 

 from the old Vine ut Harewood, which this ye.ar has ripened 

 upwards of three hundred bunches. The flavour was delicious, 

 and a letter of thanks was awarded to Mr. Fowler. Mr. Miles, 

 The Gardens, Wycombe Abbey, exhibited bunches of new fruit 

 of Black Hamburgh, being the second crop from the same Vine 

 within twelve months. The colour was excellent, and the Grapes 

 had a fine fresh flavour. A cultural commendation was awarded 

 to Mr. Miles. Mr. Miles also exhibited a fruit of the same Pine 

 which he submitted to the meeting seven weeks ago. Although 

 it was not so sound as the former fruit, still, considering the 

 period of seven weeks since it was cut, it was in excellent con- 

 dition and of fine flavour. Its condition assured the Committee 

 that it is one of the best, if not the best, keeping winter Pines. 

 It was named Lord Carington, and was awarded a first-class 

 certificate. Dishes of Beurre de Jonghe and .Josephine de Ma- 

 Lnes Pears were sent from the garden at Chiswick. The former 

 was in fine condition and of excelk-nt flavour. 



Mr. J. Hepper, gardener to C. O. Ledward, Esq., The Elms, 

 Acton, exhibited three boxes of fine Mushrooms, to which a 

 cultural commendation was awarded. 



The death of Mr. Alfred Smee,F.R.S., who was for some years 

 a member of this Committee, and whose great scientific know- 

 ledge was frequently of much service, was reported to the Com- 

 mittee, and a letter of condolence was agreed upon to be sent to 

 Mrs. Smee and family expressive of the great loss which they 

 and science had sustained by Mr. Smee's death. 



Floral Committee.— W. B. Kellock, Esq., in the chair. Sir 

 Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., Burford Lodge, Dorking, had a 

 first-class cert>Scate for Lffllia Dayii, an intensely rich and 

 beautiful flower with carmine sepals, a rich purple maroon 

 lip and striped throat : second-class certificate for Dendro- 

 biam Lindleyanum, pinkish white sepals and yellow lip ; and a 

 botanical certificate for Schlimia trifida, an Orchid with a leaf 

 resembling that of a Stanhopea, and v.'hite, bell-shaped, wax- 

 like flowers of great substance and delicately perfumed. This 

 distinct and remarkable plant was closely examined and much 

 admired by many visitors. Excellent groups of plants were ex- 

 hibited by Messrs. .James Veitoh & Sons, Royal Exotic Nursery, 

 Chelsea; Mr. B. S. Williams, Victoria Nurseries, Holloway; 

 Messrs. Charles Lee & Son, Royal Vineyard Nursery, Hammer- 

 smith; and Mr. OUerhaad, gardener to Sir Henry W. Peek, 

 Bart., M.P., Wimbledon House. 



Messrs. Veitch'a collection cf plants was composed of Or- 

 chids — medium. 8i::ed plants extremely well flowered of Cattleya 

 Trianae, very gor^^'eoas ; a great display of Lycaste Skinnerii, 

 Odontoglossum Alexandrie, O. Anderaonii, O. triumphans, 

 0. Eossi major, O. pulchellum, O. Hallii, and the strikingly 

 spotted 0. cirrhoaum. There were also Cypripediums Sedeni, 

 vexillarium, villoBum, venustum pardinum ; Sophronites grandi- 

 flora, Fleione humilis, L.'elias albida and anceps ; Masdevalliaa 

 polystictaand ignea, and Co:'logyne cristata. Messrs. Veitch also 

 staged excellent Cyclamens, superior pots of Lily of the Valley, 

 a pan of the intensely brilliant Aphelandra aurantiaca Roezlii, 

 the pure and sweet Toxicophlea spectabilis, and a group of 

 hybrid Amaryllises. A silver-gilt Davis medal was recom- 

 mended to be given for this collection. 



Mr. Williams's group comprised ornamental-foliaged plants, 

 Palms, Dracienas, &c., well-berried SolanQms,aud highly attrac- 

 tive Orchids, including Cypripedium insigne, C. venustum, 

 C. Harrissiannm, and the beautiful C. Dayanum— a splendid 

 plant in splendid condition— Odontoglossums luteo-purpureum, 

 Pescatorei, cordatum, Alexandrie, &c.; Zygopetalum crinitum, 

 Masdevallias, Lielias, and Goodyera discolor. Mr. Williams also 

 staged half a dozen plants of Primula sinensis Queen of Whites, 

 the flowers being very pure, of great substance, well fringed. 



and exceeding 2 inches in diameter. A bronze Davis medal was 

 recommended to be given for this group. 



Messrs. Lee's collection, which was very extensive, comprised 

 many choice Conifers, CupresBuses, Retiuosporas, and Junipers ; 

 also Ligustrums, Euonymuses, Hollies, and a large and varied 

 assortment of stove and greenhouse decorative plants, and a 

 vote of thanks was deservedly awarded. 



Sir Henry Peek's collection was attractively arranged, and the 

 plants were in excellent condition. The groundwork was formed 

 of several small plants of Adiantum farleyense, from which 

 the following Orchids were springing in charming contrast:— 

 CalantheVeitchii, Lycaste Skinnerii, Odontoglossum pulchellum, 

 O. Bictonense, O. Alexandr.-B, O. Roezlii, Cypripedium niveum, 

 C. insigne, C. venustum, C. Sedeni, Oncidium cheirophorum, 

 0. Weltoni, Cattleya Trian;e, Phalasnopsis grandiflora, Cym- 

 bidium ensifolium (sweet-scented), Saocolabium violaoenm, 

 L:elia anceps, L. albida, and Ccelogyne cristata. Mr. Ollerhead 

 also exhibited in a separate group Todea saperba, Cocos Weddel- 

 liana, and Crotons. A bronze Davis medal was recommended 

 for the collection. 



A large and excellent collection of dried Ferns and leaves was 

 exhibited by Mr. Howard, nurseryman, Balham HiU, for which 

 a silver Davis medal was recommended to be given. The 

 colours of the leaves had been exceedingly well preserved, and 

 the Ferns were almost as fresh-looking as if growing, although 

 some of them had been cut in lti75. 



Mr. Dean, Ranelagh Road, i;aling, exhibited a collection of 

 Victoria Eegina and Neapolitan Violets, also seedling Primroses, 

 and a vote of thanks was awarded. 



From the Society's gardens came flowering sprays of Chimo- 

 nanthus grandiflorus, the Glastonbury Thorn, Lonicera Staa- 

 dishii, and L. fragrantissima. 



SOIL FOR VINE BORDERS. 



We recently noticed the superior nature of some Vine shoots 

 which had been sent to us by Mr. Wipf, gardener to N. Clay- 

 ton, Esq., Lincoln. That wood was correctly described as 

 being nearly as hard as oak, and almost destitute of pith. The 

 following is in reply to an inquiry as to the nature of the soil 

 which had assisted in producing that wood, and is one more 

 proof of what may be done in successful Vine culture with 

 good management and proper additions to ordinary soil, with- 

 out the much-coveted rich turfy loam : — 



" The greater portion of the soil was taken from the site of 

 the Vine border— a black adhesive compound destitute of fibre, 

 lying on the limestone ; the rest of the soil I procured from 

 the neighbourhood, which was of a light sandy nattue. I 

 coveted what is termed strong loam, but such could not be 

 procured except from a long distance and at prodigious cost. 



1 therefore made the best I could out of materials on hand, 

 and mixed freely with the soil bones, charcoal, wood ashes, and 

 a little manure. I elevated the border 2 feet above the ground 

 level in spite of light soil and little rainfall, trusting to an un- 

 limited water supply. Twice during the season I mulched 

 the border with some strong slaughter-house manure, which 

 prevented the border from being parched-up, but at the same 

 time warming the soil above the ground level to a mild hotbed 

 temperature. Evening was chosen for watering the border, 

 the water then being much warmer from having been in the 

 pipes all day, the latter laying very close to the surface of the 

 ground. The roots have travelled 5 feet into the outer border, 

 and are within a few inches of the surface ; no manure water 

 was applied. The subsoil of the borders was of a loose rubble 

 limestone formation. I had it all taken out to the depth of 



2 feet and passed through a coarse riddle (3 inches) ; the stones 

 were then replaced, the largest at the bottom and the smaller 

 on the others evenly levelled down. Below that rubble there 

 lies a loose limestone bed to the depth of 8 to 10 feet, ter- 

 minating below with a bed of ironstone full of clefts and 

 crevices, therefore ample and eflicient drainage for 10 feet ol 

 rain per annum is secured. Inside treatment as to moisture 

 and ventilation was carefully attended to, a little air having 

 always been left on both day and night.— Albert Wipf." 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 



The Mr. Sage referred to by Mr. Luckhnrst in his appeal of 

 last week is Mr. Thomas Saoe, who died on the 23rd ult. at 

 Hammersmith at the early age of thirty-three years. He 

 commenced his gardening experience under Mr. Domlny in the 

 nurseries of the Messrs. Veitch at Exeter, and subsequently 

 was foreman at Gopsal Hall (Earl Howe's) and at Gnnners- 

 bary (Baron Rothschild's), eventually becoming gardener to 



