JOURNAIi OF HOBTIOULTURE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



I Aognst 6, 1868. 



lancholy boughs, as dank as a mausolenm ; and the dear 

 little bed opposite the boudoir never sees the sun until mid- 

 day, when it is grilled for three mortal hoars, and then given 

 back to gloom. So there the poor Rose trees stand — through 

 the winter, ludibHum ventis, or without any air at all, and in 

 the spring a rialto, rendezvous, common room, and tap for all 

 the riff-raff of the insect world — an infirmary for all the dis- 

 eases which the neglected Rose is heir to. Some few, perhaps, 

 may brave all, and bloom, but they no more resemble the 

 glorious flowers which my lady saw at Kensington or the Crystal 

 Palace, than my little boy's toy railway train resembles the 

 Scotch express. 



In my next chapter I will tell what may be done in a very 

 small garden, by a very poor man, who really loves the Rose.— 

 S. Eeykolds Hole (in The Gardener). 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



August 4th. 

 Fbiht Combhttee.— G. F. Wilson, Esq.. F.R.S., in the chnir. 

 MeaarH. Barr & Sugden exhibited a sDecimen of Lettuce called BossiD, 

 a variety received from France. It is a Cabbage Lettuce with fiin;»ed 

 leaves, and \vitb a tinj^e of brown. Mr. Barr stated that it was a 

 variety that resisted the very dry weather, and was one of very few ja 

 his collection which were slow to run to seed. Mr. Cooling, of Bath, 

 Bent fipecimens of a seedling Apple called Brailbronk Seedling, which 

 possessed considerable merit as an early variety. He also sent tabers 

 of a handsoDie Kidney Potato called Shiners. Some were cooked, and 

 received the high approval of the Committee ; and it was proposed 

 that it should be sent to Chiswick to be grown and compared with 

 other varieties. 



Mr. Fenn, the Rectory, Woodstock, sent dishes of six varieties of 

 Gooseberries, all of which were of large size, and of the sorts known 

 ae Lancashire Prize. They consisted of Rifleman. Leveller, Yoaufj 

 Wonderful, London, Stockwell. and Leader, and from the lateness of 

 Ihe season and high condition in which they were exhibited gained the 

 commendation of the Committee. Mr. John Heamen, gardener to 

 J. Coutts Antrobus, Esq., P^aton Hall, Congleton, sent fruit of a Peach 

 unnamed, which appeared to be Royal George. He also sent fruit of 

 a Pear, which proved to be the Peach Pear. Mr. Whiting, The Deep- 

 dene, sent fruit of the July Green Gage Plum grown against a uorth 

 wall, and notwithstanding the disadvantages of position, they were 

 perfectly ripe and of delicious flavour. Mr. Eckford, gardener to Lord 

 Radnor, CoIeshiU, Wilts, sent a bunch of a firm hard-fleshed Grape, 

 of an oval shape and yellowish white colour, but without any flavour. 

 Mr. M. Henderson, gardener to Sir George Beaumont, Coleorton Hall, 

 Bent a large bunch of a Grape received from Australia. It is of the 

 race called Olivette Noir. a long oval beiTy, which coloars at the point 

 vhile the lower part of the berry is green, in the same way as Black 

 Morocco does. The flesh is rather firm and the flavour sweet, but the 

 raiiety was not considered to bo of any great merit. 



Floral CoMMrrxEE. — Although the hot weather and lateness of the 

 London season might have reduced the number of the attendants at 

 this meeting, the exhibition of plants by no means fell short, and 

 many new and interesting subjects were exhibited. Mr. Salter, of 

 Hammersmith, introduced a new Campanula called floribunda. a 

 useful plant for rockery decoration. It received a second-class certifi- 

 cate. G. T. Davy, Esq., Colston Hall, Bingham, Notts, sent a bulbous 

 plant without any name ; the flowers were of the form of a small 

 Crocna bloom. A second-class certiticate was awarded it. and a name 

 was requested to be given. The Rev. E. Hawke, Willingham Rectory. 

 sent two seedlins Hollyhocks of great merit — Ida, rosy salmon, and 

 Willingham Rival, pale sulphur-coloured. A first-class "certificate was 

 given to each. Mr. Bull received a first-class certificate for Allamanda 

 nobilis, a fine flower highly scented ; also for Hemerocallis picta, a 

 plant cnriously marked just above the surface of the soil. W. Sladden, 

 Esq., Ash, Kent, sent twelve seedling Gladioli, which were awarded a 

 special certificate. There were some very nice flowers among them, 

 int they were not equal to the standard, being deficient in form. In 

 a collection of plants sent from the Society's garden at Chiswick, 

 CyanophjUiim Bowmani was awarded a second-class certificate as a 

 fine ornamental- foliage d plant. 



Messrs. Standish & Co., Ascot, exhibited a very fine seedling Ixora 

 — Disiana, one of the finest yet seen, having pale orange and red 

 tmsses of flowers, with excellent dark green foliage. A first-class 

 certificate was awarded it. G. F. Wilson, Esq., sent an interesting 



E'onp of Liliums, arranged in a stone vase. Among them were 

 ilium tigriuum Fortnuei, distinguished from the ordinary Tiger Lily 

 by the white down clotbiug the stem; Liiium lancifolium rubrum, 

 L. lancifolium punctatum, L. lanr^ifolium album, and atro-purpureum, 

 a dark variety of rubrum, Liiium Wihoni, and L. longiflornm. A 

 Special certificate was awarded the collection. 



Mr. Green, gardener to W. Wilson Saunders, Esq., received a 

 second-class certificate for Yucca de Smetiana. and a special certificate 

 for hiB collection of curious plants. Mr. Green also brought a cut 

 specimen of a Myrsiphyllum ; this was very beantifol ; the nomeroofi 



small white flowers gave it a light and pleasing character. As a climb- 

 ing plant it will be most useful. Messrs. Rollisson, Tooting, received 

 a second-class certificate for C ladium Meyerbeer, and a special certi- 

 ficate for a collection of Orchids and other plants. Messrs. Veitch 

 sent a fine collection of plants. Darlingtonia califoruica, one of the 

 North American Pitcher-plants, received a first-class certificate ; 

 Caladium Reino Victoria was likewise awarded a first-class certi- 

 ficate, and Caladium Alfred Bleu had a second-class certificate ; 

 Cyathoa Hookeri, a beautiful Fera, was awarded a tirst-class certi- 

 ficate ; and Odontogiossum Ivrameri, a very neat and delicate Orchid, 

 distinct, a first-class certificate ; Atirides Huttoni, a beautiful Orchid, 

 was also awarded a first-class certificate, and a special certificate was 

 given for the gi-oupol' plants. Among them were Nepenthes hybrida 

 maculata, Miltonia virginalis, Lailia clegans Wolsteuholmiana, and 

 several new Caladiums. 



Mr. Parfeer, Tooting, wa? awarded a first-class certificate for Primula 

 sinensis filicifolia with double white flowers. Messrs. Downie, Laird, 

 and Laing sent several new continental varieties of Caladium. Cala- 

 dium Dr. Lindley received a first-class certificate ; Caladium Louie 

 Porrier a second-class certificate. The same firm sent three seedling 

 Phloxes — Mrs. Laing, R. B. Laird, and Venus, cood flowers, but not 

 superior to many varieties in cultivation; also Phlox Madame Atger, 

 a continental vai'iety of a vdy distii-ct colour, rosy red ; Pentstemon 

 Mrs. Arthur Storey; pale 1 ^> ui cr-striped Verbena Lady Dixie, and 

 Sedum atro-purpureum, a di'k ^arietyof S. telepbinm. Mr. Hodge, 

 gardener to E. Wright, Esq., Birmingham, was awarded a special cer- 

 tificate for a cut specimen of Catasetum barbatum, a very cnrione 

 fringed or bearded Orchid. 



Mr. Cooper, Reigate, exhibited a very interesting collection of 

 Mammillarias and Echinocacti, which were awarded a special certificate. 

 Mr. Eckford sent a stand of seedling Verbenas. One, a white variety 

 named Pearl, was awarded a second-class certificate ; it is a fine 

 flower, but with too green a centre. The rest were rough and deficient 

 in form. Mr. Frost, gai'dener to C. Forteacue, Esq., Dropmore, sent 

 two flowers of a beautiful Passiflora, which was named cincinnata, from 

 its cnrly purple thread-like filaments ; it is a beautiful greenhouse 

 plant ; a first-class certificate wag awarded it. Messrs E. G. Hender- 

 son exhibited a small collection of fine bedding plants, which was 

 awarded a special certificate. Among them ware a new Fuchsia called 

 Golden Treasure ; GnaphaliumtomeutoBum, a very usefnl plant; Dac- 

 tylis elegautissima, Salvia oflicinalis anrea, Ceutaurea ragusiua, and 

 Centaurearagusina compacta, Polemouinm caaruleum vaiiegatum, Py- 

 rethrum Golden Feather, and Fuchsia Golden Fleece. Mr. G. Smith, 

 Walworth, sent a small promising plant of his variegated Liliom 

 eximium Smithii. Mr. Tunton, of Epsom, had a fine specimen of 

 Allamanda Wax-dleana, which was considered to be Allamanda Schottii 

 of Henderson, a fine kind, but well known as a plant of some years' 

 standing. We may probably hear more of this plant, as a diversity 

 of opinion was expressed as to its merits, and especially as to its not 

 possessing the climbing habit of its congeners. As a proof of its 

 freedom in producing an abundance of flowers, even when the plants 

 are small, some cuttings in pots only recently struck were very 

 lemarkublc. 



General Meeting. — G. F. Wilson. Esq., F^R.S., in the chaii- 

 The following new Fellows were elected — viz., Lord Courtown, John 

 Buck, Esq., W. Penn Cox, Esq., and T. Churlesworth, Esq. The 

 last three were elected forty-guinea Life Fellows, in recognition 

 of the services rendered by them in connection with the Society's 

 Leicester Show. M. Louis Van Houtte, and Mr. Thomas Ingram, of 

 Frogmore, were elected Corresponding Members. A list of donations 

 having been read, and a vote of thanks accorded to the donors, the 

 Chairmen of the Fruit and Floral Committees announced the awards 

 of these bodies, and in doing bo the Rev. Joshua Dis directed attention 

 to the Gladiolus competition which will take place at the meeting 

 to be held on the 16th inst. 



SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE. 



Report of Chemicai, Sdb-Committee, drawn op by Dr. Auoubtup 



voelcker. 



At the meeting of the Scientific Committee of the Royal Horticul- 

 tural Society, held Juno 2nd, 1868, Dr. Gilbert brought forward the 

 subject of "■ The characters of growth by virtue of which one plant 

 dominates over another in mixed herbage, under the influence of dif- 

 ferent manures, &c." 



This subject, having excited considerable interest and discussion, 

 was referred to the Chemical Sub-Committee, with the request to 

 report whether the Sub-Committee deem it desirable to recommend 

 experiments to be tried as likely to throw further light on various 

 questions relating to vegetable growth and the specific action of certain 

 fertilising elements, such as potash, phosphate of lime, nitrogenous 

 miitters, &c. 



It will he remembered that Dr. Gilbert, at the June meeting, re- 

 ferred to some very striking experiments conducted for many years at 

 Rotbamstead Park, by Mr. Lawes and himself, on permanent pasture, 

 which has been under grass probably for centuries. 



Under ordinary management this herbage yielded about fifty species 

 of graminaceous, leguminous, and other plants usually found in per- 

 manent meadows. 



