JOURNAIi OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ Jii!y 2, 1868. 



baskets, to be filled with flowers. The effect of these is excellent. 

 Bordering the table were japanned zinc troughs, of course very shallow, 

 with semicircular projections. Flower glasses being attached to these, 

 both at the outside of the pai-ts farthest advanced, and on the inside 

 elsewhere, a double row of flowers or other ornaments ia obtained 

 round the table. 



Floral Committee. — The Committee was summoned to meet at 

 Chiswick on the '29th to examine the Fuchsias and annuals, at least 

 those of the latter which have survived the long-coutinned drought. 



Among the Fuchsias, which were fine young healthy specimens, the 

 following received awards. Many of the newer kinds were not in 

 flower, and will be inspected on another occasion. Elyste d'Amour, 

 three marks, a rich highly coloured corolla with bright scarlet sepals ; 

 Vainqueur de Paebla, a fine double white corolla, two marks ; Light 

 Heart, vei-y dark corolla, tine form, three marks ; Rhoderick Dhu, fine 

 flower, but rather lax in habit, two marks ; Constellation, fine dark 

 corolla, three marks : Bland's Floribunda, one mark. This is not a 

 pot plant; to judge of its merits it must be planted out ; and then for 

 its compact and neat habit, its conspicuous though small flowers, 

 scarlet tube and sepals, with white corolla, it is most useful and orna- 

 mental. Enoch Arden, with a large, dark, expanded corolla, and bright 

 crimson sepals, is a flower of gi*eat merit — three marks were assigned 

 it. Father Ignatius was not so flue as last year. Two marks were 

 given, but the plants were not in condition. . This is one of the best 

 varieties when well grown. 



Double Petunias were also examined. Elise de Fontadier, which 

 received three marks, is a fine rose-coloured variety ; La Coquette, 

 three marks, a neat but small-flowering plant, with beaulifully veined 

 flowers — this is a very desirable variety. 



Among the seedling Petunias there were many good as seedlings. 

 Fanty, one of Mr. Bull's, was superb ; a veined gi'ey flower with in- 

 tensely dark stripes, nearly circular in form, of fli-st-rate habit. It 

 received three marks. 



Among the annuals, which have nearly all come to grief from lack 

 of rain, Trop.-eolum Tom Thumb Cairuleum roseum received three 

 marks. This is novel in colour, a dull rosy red shade, its chief recom- 

 mendation being novelty in colour. Troparolum King of Tom Thumbs, 

 with viHd flowers and dai-k foliage, received three marks. This plant 

 seemed to be of close and compact habit. Sweet Pea Invincible main- 

 tains its good character, and is now duly appreciated by the public as 

 a distinct and beautiful variety — three marks. Sweet Pea Invincible 

 Black is another distinct and good flower, the darkest yet seen. Three 

 marks were given it. This is worthy of cultivation as the best dark 

 variety. Gilia laciniata, a dwarf kind, of a dark leaden blue, was 

 approved of as a useful plant as an annual. Three marks were given 

 it. 



The bedding Lobelias of the Erinns family were examined. Beauty 

 of Ravensbourne, a pinkish red variety, very dwarf and compact, re- 

 ceived three marks. Trentham Blue, which has been sent out by the 

 Messrs. Veitch, was much admired for its freedom of flowering and its 

 robust habit and dark blue flowers : this will prove a most useful 

 plant for bedding or edging purjioses. Three marks were given it. 

 Little Gem Lobelia, a neat, dwarf, compact, light blue and white 

 variety of the Paxtouian strain, was awarded three marks. 



The Pelargoniums were passed through, but at present are not fit 

 for adjudication. The specimens planted out are in fine condition, 

 fihovring much flower, and many of the new varieties promise to be 

 of first-rate quality. These will he examined at the end of July, or 

 when in condition. 



It is very satisfactory to see what has been done in the Zonal 

 section of Pelargoniums. No plant has ever been brought to such a 

 state of perfection, whether we consider the beautiful, highly coloured, 

 and varied foliage, or the perfection of the form, or the truss of 

 flowers. As bedding as well as greenhouse plants, the Zonals have 

 arrived at their meriilian ; and now it will be well for horticulturists 

 and florists to give a little attention to a plant which is always a 

 pleasing comiiauion to the Zonal Pelargoniums in the autumn months 

 — we mean the Fuchsia. It is most desirable that attention should be 

 given to this plant, for it is quite as capable of improvement as the 

 Zonal Pelargonium was, A simple rule as to perfection is all that is 

 required; old and worthless kinds will then be discarded, and the 

 standard of perfection sought after. We have many Fuchsia raisers ; 

 jierhaps among them Mr. Banks, of Sholden, in Kent, stands pre- 

 eminent. Many of his flowers have been introduced to the public by 

 the Messrs. Henderson, of Wellington Road, but we have not yet seen 

 any well-gi'ouTi specimens of the newer kinds. We may hope that 

 Mr. G. Smith, of Hornsey, one of the best and most successful raisers 

 of Fuchsias, will direct anew his energies to improve this flower ; and 

 vei-y much may be esx>ected from Mr. Cannell, of the Fuchsia Nursery, 

 Woolwich, in tho same direction, Mr. Cannell being at present the 

 largest cultivator of the Fuchsia. We hope, then, soon to see the 

 cause of this most graceful and useful flower warmly advocated ; when 

 once set in motion, there will be many ardent admirers and cultivators 

 to give an additional impetus. May a Fuchsia mania soon show 

 itself among us. 



Paxton Mehoeial. — A few days since an address was pre- 

 sented to Lord Charles Russell \>y the "Working Men's Mutual 



Improvement Society of Leighton Buzzard, sustaining his 

 Lordship's suggestion that a memorial of Sir Joseph Paxton 

 should be erected. We hope to give full particulars next -week. 



ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY'S SHOW. 



The last Show of this Society for tho season opened yesterday, and 

 will be continued to-day. In addition to a fine display of flowering 

 stove and gi-eeuhouse plants furnished by Mr. Peed, Mr. Williams, 

 Mrs. Cole & Sons, Mrs. Glcndinning & Sons, Mr. Tanton, Mr. Donald, 

 and other exhibitors, there are in the collections of omamental- 

 foliflgcd plants from Mr. Fairbairn, gardener to the Duke of North- 

 umberland ; Mr. Smith, gardener to T. Nixon, Esq. ; Mr. Williams, 

 and Mr. Baines, gardener to H. MichoUs. Es(|., some remarkably fine 

 specimens. The Sarraceuias from Mr. Baines form masses such as 

 have only been exhibited by himself. Heaths are again numerously 

 shown ; and of Pelargoniums, Show, Fancy, and Zonal, excellent 

 collections are furnished by Messrs. Eraser, Ward, Catlin, Weston, 

 Stevens, Watson, and others. Mr. Penny and Mr. Wilson, gardener 

 to W. Mar?ha]l, Esq.. send fine Orchids, and hardy Ferns are largely 

 exhibited by Messrs. Ivery & Sou. 



Messrs. Veitch have a very extensive and interesting collection of new 

 and rare plants, one of which, a species of Puya, has bluish flowers with 

 a metallic appearance and lustre, and prominent yellow stamens, alto- 

 gether a very remarkable plant. Ampelopsis Veitchii, a very orna- 

 mental hardy climber, the new Coleuses, Gloxinias, and a large number 

 of other novelties are includ'^'l in this collection. Mr. Williams also 

 sends several new plants in addition to his fine contributions of older 

 plants, and Messrs. E. G. Henderson have a large grouj) of bedding 

 plants beautifully arranged. 



The fruit, however, confltitutes the gi-eat feature of the Show. 

 Among collections, a very fine one comes from Mr. Miller, gardener 

 to Lord Craven, Combe Abbey ; in it the Black Hamljurgh and Foster's 

 White Seedling Grapes, and the Violette Hutive Peaches are especially 

 worthy of remark, Mr. Bannerman, gardener to Lord Bagot, Bnge- 

 ley, and Mr. Johnson, gardener to the Marquis of Ailesbury, Saver- 

 nake, have also excellent collections. Of Pines there are several very 

 fine specimens from Mr. Barnes, of Bicton, who has Black Prince, 

 weighing 10;^ and 12 lbs., Queens of nearly lbs.. Charlotte Roths- 

 child of 5} lbs. Mr. Young sends remarkably fine heavy Queensland 

 Smooth-leaved Cayenne, and Mr. Davies and Mr. Kemp beautifully 

 ripened Queens, whilst Mr. Hannen, Cyfarthfa, has large fruit of the 

 Providence. 



Of Grapes Mr. Hill, Keele Hall, Mr. Meredith, and Mr. Henderson, 

 Cole Orton. send baskets of Black Hamburgh ; and very fine dishes of 

 the same variety come from Mr. Meredith, Mr, Meads, Mr. Henderson, 

 Mr. Miller, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Squires, and some others. BacMamd 

 Sweetwater is shown in fine condition by Mr. Meredith ; and of Royal 

 Vineyard very large bunches come from Mr. Kettlewell. Mr. Meads has 

 excellent Black Prince, and Messrs. Standish finely ripened Muscats. 

 Other exhibitors show large bunches of these, but not exhibiting the 

 beautiful golden tinge of perfect ripeness. Messrs. Standish & Co. 

 again exhibit their excellent Royal Ascot Grape, and bunches of Ascot 

 Citronelle, a delightfully flavoured white Grape, which promises also 

 to form good-sized bunches. 



Of Peaches Mr. Miller has splendid fruit of Royal George and 

 Violette Hative ; and Mr. Bailey, Shardeloes. has several fine dishes 

 of Strawberries. 



Mr. Barnes, of Bicton, has quite a novelty at exhibitions — the im- 

 mense cone of Araucaria imbricata weighing 5 lbs., also male catkins 

 of the same plant, cones of Picea nobilis weighing 2 lbs., and tJiose 

 of other Coniiers. 



GARDENERS' ROYAL BENEVOLENT 

 INSTITUTION. 



The twenty-fifth Anniversary Meeting of this lustitutiou was held at 

 the London Tavern on the *2-lth of June, M. T.Bass, Esq.,M.P. in the 

 chair. The company was more than usually numerous, and the room 

 in which the dinner took place was even gaj-erthan usual with flowers 

 and fruits from Sandringham and other gardens. Behind the Chair- 

 man was a fine display of flowering plants, with large tree Ferns on 

 each side, and other parts of the room as well as the staircases leading 

 to it were studded with fine-foliaged plants, the whole being the con- 

 tributions of Messrs. Veitch, Lee, Williams, Turner, and Eraser. 



The usual loyal toasts having been di-unk, the Chairman in propos- 

 ing the toast of the evening, " Success and Prosperity^ to the Institu- 

 tion " urged its claims to support, and expressed a confidence that that 

 support would not be wanting, for, said he, '' show me a man who takes 

 pleasure in his garden, and I will show you a kindly fellow. Show me 

 a lady who is fond of her garden, and she will be found to be possessed 

 of the most elevated tastes and acquirements. It is the ladies who 

 lead the way in gardening, it is the ladies I wish to enhst in the cause 

 of the Institution, and wherever the ladies lead, the menmust follow." 



Sir Robert Peel, Bart., M.P. in proposing the health of the Chair- 

 man expressed gratification at seeing around many who had supported 

 himself at the last Aaniversary, but there was one whom he missed, 

 ill-. Veitch, who, Le r.^gi-ctted to learn, was absent from illness. It 



