274 



JOUBNAL OP HOBTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



[ April 22, 1869. 



them a self, Daybreak, was superb. Godfrey, Arthnr, Charley, Marvel, 

 and Stella were much admired. A special certificate was awarded 

 them. Mr. C. Edwards, Sultash, Devon, sent a bright rosy seedling 

 Rhododendron, Miss Coryton ; some doubts were expressed as to its 

 naefolness as a hardy variety. Mr. Hooper, of Bath, exhibited two 

 stands of five dozen Fannies containing some fine varieties ; among 

 them a Fancy criiled Prince of Wales, having a white ground with au 

 immense dark blotch in the centre, was lonch admired ; when seen 

 again it will probably have a certificate. It too much resembles a 

 variety called Princess of Wales, but is a fine bold fiower. Messrs. 

 Barr (S; Sugden exhibited a large collection of Narcissus ; these were 

 sent to ascertain trne namos and species. The special prize offered 

 for these flowers in 1870 will, we hope, bring to light many good kinds 

 which have almost been lost sight of. As they flower at diiierent 

 periods, a succession of exhibitions of various kinds must be carried 

 on to ascertain the finest collection. One day's exhibition could not 

 decide this point. Mr. Elliott, gardener to N. H. Barton, Esq., sent 

 a collection of sis variegated hardy plants not in condition to be dealt 

 with. 



Generai, Meetino, April 20th: — 3. Entenmn, Esq., F.E.S., in the 

 chair. After the election of seventeen new Fellows, Major R. Trevor 

 Clarke, in the absence of the llev. M. J. Berkeley, directed attention 

 to the varieties of Primula cortusoides as exhibiting great diversity, 

 great beauty, and great divergence from the wild form of the plant, 

 and as being interesting from showing tlio great capability of the genus 

 for producing variations. As a further proof of this fact he might 

 also adduce the Auriculas exhibited, differing so widely as they did 

 from the wild plant of the Alps. Major Clarke then bronght before 

 the meeting cut specimens of several flowers from his own garden. 

 among which were Bellevalia romaua, and a double Oxalis, usually con- 

 sidered a double form of O. cernua, but differing from it in being 

 spotted at the base of each leaflet instead of the leaves being spotted 

 ■with black in all directions. Of Lilium Thomsonianum he had brought 

 a plant, differing only from that shown a fortnight previously in the 

 flowers being a little higher coloured; and ho might add that Dr. 

 Thomson, to whom the plant then exhibited had been referred for 

 determination, stated it to be the true Lilium Thomsonianum. 



Mr. fiateman, after a few remarks on Cactus senilis, which was 

 shown in one of Messrs. Veitch's collections, noticed briefly the most 

 remarkable of the Orchids. The successful flowering of the elegant 

 Bnrlingtonia fragi-ans was said to depend on keeping it not too hot, and 

 giving it a season of drought. He had found it succeed well year after 

 year in what is called a Mexican house. Tho collection from Mr. 

 Lorrimer, gardener to E. Salt, Esq., was then referred to, and an 

 Oncidima, said to be 0. concolor, a fine variety of Lycaste Skinneri, 

 and two or three Cypripediums were pointed out as well worthy of 

 attention. In connection with the Cypripediums, Mr. Bateman said 

 he hoped that by-and-by as many as twenty species would be seen at 

 our exhibitions ; and he was happy to be able to state that there was 

 now a remarkably fine one on its way from Costa Hica, the flowers 

 being very large, and produced in great numbers. Masdevallia Veitch- 

 lana, shown by Messrs. Veitch, was next noticed as presenting the 

 most charming mixture of scarlet shot with the most lovely crimson 

 Mr. Bateman had ever seen. This, the richest in colour of all tho 

 red-flowering Orchids, was also that which was found nearest the snow- 

 line, so that no ditficulty was anticipated as to its cultivation becoming 

 general when once the proper way to grow it was found out, and it 

 would then probably be of all Orchids the favourite. 



Mr. Bateman next pointed out the most remarkable of the Orchids 

 composing the lovely bouquets from Mr. Anderson, gardener to W. 

 Dawson, Esq., of Meadow Bank, near Glasgow, making at the same 

 time brief remarks on the culture of some of them ; likewise Messrs. 

 Veitch's Oncidium sessile, a plant seldom exhibited in flower 

 because generally kept too moist instead of the contrary. In noticing 

 the heantiful hybrid Khododendron Countess of Haddington, of which 

 one of the parents was R. Edgworthii. Mr. Bateman said it only gave 

 a notion of what might bo expected when the Sikkim Rhododendrons 

 had been hybridised. 



Mr. Bateman, in calling upon Mr. Anderson to come forward and 

 receive the Bateman Challenge Medal as tho most successful exhibitor 

 of Orchids, expressed some disappointment at the prize not having 

 brought forward more amateur exhibitors, for after Mr". Veitch took it 

 and had to retire from future competition according to the terms on 

 which the medal was offered, Mr. Anderson took his place, and would 

 have to retire in turn. Some other plan must, therefore, be devised. 

 Mr. Bateman next described bia surprise on seeing for the first time 

 the collection at Meadow Bank, to find it so extensive, and in such 

 admirable condition, complimented Mr. Anderson on not keeping his 

 knowledge of cultivation to himself, but giving the public the benefit 

 of it through different horticulturiU periodicals, and concluded by 

 saying that Mr. Anderson could not do the Society a greater service 

 than by sending such specimens of Orchids as he and he alone could 

 grow. He (Mr. Bateman) bad much pleasure in presenting Mr. 

 Anderson with the Challenge Medal, which he hoped would be to Mr. 

 Anderson's children a mark of the recognised skill of their father as 

 the first Orchid-grower of his time. 



Mr. Anderson returned thanks in an appropriate speech, remarking 

 that he considered honours of the kind invaluable, and far before the 

 mere prizes at ordinary exhibitions; at the same time if the great 

 XiOndon growers had come forward he should not have been able to 



have competed with them on account of distance. Challenge medals 

 such as that he had received did much good, and he should like to 

 see them extended to other objects besides Orchids. The cnltore 

 of these was to a great extent a matter of temperature, and more were 

 lost owing to want of attention than by any other cause. The love of 

 Orchids was increasing, and the ambition of those desirous of growing 

 them might bo gratified at small cost. For instance, Ferns and 

 Orchids were capital companions. 



Mr. Bateman having drawn attention to an uuk-nown Orchid sent to 

 Kew from India, and which was the only surviving morsel in Europe, 

 announced that the next meeting would be held May -ith. 



AUCUBA, VARIETIES AKD FERTILISATION. 



" GuLiELjius," in bis instrnctive paper on the Aucnba ja- 

 poDica, does not allude to trifoliate varieties. From two hundred 

 seedlings I have a dozen plants of this furm, which seems to be 

 quite permanent. 



M. C.irriC'.re's difficulty in being nnaWe to explain the cause 

 of his female Aucubas bearing fruit, though the flowers had 

 fallen weeks before those of the male plant had expanded, 

 appears to me to arise from a latent vitality possessed by the 

 female when kept apart from the male. Under this condition, 

 after the fall of the petals, berries are apparently formed pre- 

 cisely the same as if fecundation had been effected, and for 

 weeks they retain a healthy appearance, during which period, I 

 presume, they are susceptible of fertilisation. — A. C. 



SETTING GRAPES. 



In reference to Mr. Nicholls's remarks on this subject (see 

 page 2;>7), allow me to say, that it was the young shoots of the 

 current year that I meant when speaking of tying them in. 

 As I never bend the Vine rods here with the object of making 

 them break evenly, it did not occur to me to speak of the 

 effects of bending the old wood, but I would say, Let the whole 

 Vine lie in as easy and natural a position as possible. 



Mr. Eecord seems to fear that the cure would be worse than 

 the disease, as the shoots, if left untied, would come in con- 

 tact with the glass and be chilled ; but I think I said, " Leave 

 the shoots as far as possitile undisturbed till the setting is 

 over," meaning, of course, that no unnecessary tying need be 

 resorted to till then. I never saw any damage done to the 

 foliage of Vines unless the leaves actually touched the glass, 

 and the tying of the shoots back just far enough to prevent 

 this would not do much harm ; it is the bending and twisting 

 of them into their permanent position on the wires that I 

 object to, and which I am confident has a bad effect. I am 

 certain, also, that when the shoots are left free the bunches 

 manifest no disposition to curl or tnist their footstalks, as 

 they often do in their efforts to turn themselves to the light 

 when the shoots have been moved. 



Mr. Nicholls complains of his Muscats not setting well at 

 the poiuts of the shoulders and the tips of the bunches. This 

 is a very common occurrence, and with due respect for Mr. 

 Nicholis's opinion, I think it is a sign that bad setting is the 

 result of weakness. Muscats always set best about the shoulders, 

 and in the body of the bunches near the main stem. No doabt 

 heat has much to do with it, and a high temperature is necessary 

 when the Vines are in bloom ; but it would seem as if the vital 

 force were expended or weakened before it reached the extre- 

 mities of the bunch, and the result is imperfect fertilisation at 

 these parts, and this is always more or less apparent according 

 to the vigour of the Vines. The same thing is observable 

 among Currants and other plants which fruit in bunches, as, 

 for instance, the Muta Cavendishii, which continues to set its 

 spiral rings of fruit in succession, just in proportion to the 

 vigour of the plant. I agree with Mr. Nicholls, that old Vines, 

 as a rule, set their fruit best, but I have a strong conviction 

 that a vigorous constitution and thorough maturation of the 

 wood, .ire the most essential conditions under any ciionm- 

 stances for insuring a healthy fertilisation. 



VFith ref^ard to the custom of bending the Vine rods down 

 at the points to induce a regular " break," I think if Mr. 

 Nicholls try the experiment he will find that his Vines will 

 break just as well if left in their natural position, if other 

 conditions of temperature and moisture be attended to, and 

 tho ripening the wood, as I have proved again and again ; 

 and I could show at the present moment Vines at various 

 stages upon which from 4 to 6 feet of young wood has been 

 left, which have broken vigorously at every eye, though they 

 have never been moved out of their perpendicular position. 

 Heat and moisture are the principal agents in this matter, 



