November 10, 1868. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



38S 



Reiclienbaeluaua, a first-class ccrtificato ; Oncidium Forbsii, a first 

 class certilirato ; and Viiuila ca'ruloa, with tweuty-fivo flowers, a 

 apocial curtificiito. The group of Orchids was awardod a spociul cer- 

 tificate. Dicliorizaiidra mosaica, a beautifully-grouu orimmental- 

 foliaged plant, had likewise a special cevtiticato. Messrs. Vcitch also 

 sent specimyiis of a variegated Cress, and small plants of Kuo to 

 make a contrast with its dark foliago — plants useful for a winter gar- 

 den. Mr. Thomson, gardener to the Duko of IJuccUmch, the President 

 of tho Society, sent extremely fine cut spikes of Vanda can-ulea and 

 Roaauthera coccinoa, which received a special certificate. Mr. Thom- 

 son sent a letter^ which most simply explained his successful mode of 

 eultivatiou. 



From the gardenf?, Chigwiclc, camo a fine collection of seedling va- 

 rieties ol Coleus, diiitiiict and beautiful, much in advance in colour of 

 what have been sent out. First-class certificates were awarded to 

 Coleus Duko of I'^dinbnrgh, rrinccss of Wales, Princess Beatrice, 

 Her Majesty, Friuco Arthur, and Albert Victor. Wo understand these 

 will very shortly bo offered for salo by auction. Mr. Williams, 

 HoUoway, sent a very exeellcnt collection of Orchids, of which 

 Oncidium holochrysum and Oncidium Forbsii, received first-class cer- 

 tificates. Pteris serrulata corymbifcra was likewise awarded a first- 

 class certilicate. A special certiticate was awarded for the collection 

 of Orchids. 



Mr, Salter, Hammersmith, sent seedling Chrysanthemums. Among 

 the Japanese varieties, Dr. Masters was very fine, and received a first- 

 class certificate, as also Hero of Magdala. Princess of Teek, a fiue, 

 compact, pale silvery tiower, one of tlie incurved varieties, and Pink 

 Perfection new in shade of colour, a most promising variety, were 

 awarded first-class certificates. One of tlie Japanese varieties, James 

 Salter, a pale pink or blush flower with very broad " petals," the 

 flowers evidently suffering from change of temperature, was veiy beau- 

 tiful, though not noticed. This is decidedly one of the best of the 

 Japanese race. 



Mr. Wiggins, gardener to W. Beck, Esq., sent a collection of Cycla- 

 xuena and Primulas. A special certificate was awarded the two col- 

 lections. Jlr. J. Mills, gardener to Dr. Pattison, received a special 

 certificate for two Orchids sent by him, Odontoglossum Alexandras and 

 OdontoglosBum trinmphans. Mr. Green, gardener to W. W. Saunders, 

 Esq., was awarded a first-class certificate for Asparagus dccumbens, 

 an elegant plant most useful for table decoration. 



Messrs. E. G. Henderson sent Gymnogramma Laucheaua corym- 

 bifera, first-class certificate ; also small specimens of Lucy Grieve 

 Variegated Zonal Pelargonium, Charming Bride, and Silver Clond. 

 Messrs. Downie, Laii-d, &: Laiug's collection of small Bronze Zonal 

 Pelargoniums was awarded a special certificate. Messrs. Smith, of 

 Dulwich, sent Bronze Pelargonium Sybil. 



A group of Cypripedium insigne from the garden of the Society, 

 with an abundance of flowers, received a special certificate. Tlie 

 silver Flora medal was awarded to Mr. Forsyth, Stoke Newington, for 

 twenty-four cut specimens of Chrysanthemums of great merit. The 

 other competitors for this medal were Mr. Dickens, Chelsea, and Mr. 

 Ounn, Chelsea. Mr. J. Georg9, of Stamford Hill, was awarded a 

 special certificate for twelve cut specimens of Chrysanthemums of 

 first-rate quality. Mr. George also exhibited twelve varieties of tho 

 Aiiemone-floweriug Pompons, and a seedling Tropseolum compactum, 

 which, fcom the lateness of the season, could not display its merits. 



General Meeting. — J. Bateman, Esq., F.E.S., in the chair. 

 After a list of donations of plants, ttc, had been read, the following 

 new Fellows were elected — viz., Lady Lawrence, Miss Blakeley, Mrs. 

 Cousins, and Messrs. A. Henderson, A. Cuthell, and T. Higgs. The 

 awards of the Committee were then reported, after which Mr. Bate- 

 man offered some remarks on the Orchids. 



Mr. Bateman expressed his regret that the Rev. M. J. Berkeley had 

 not recovered sufiieiently to attend the meeting, and that he himself 

 was unable to supply his place as regards the plants exhibited, with 

 the exception of his own special favourites — the Orchids. He could 

 not, however, but congratulate the Fellows present and horticulturists 

 generally, that in the midst of such excitement as that which now 

 prevails in the country, there should be such a fine display. He had 

 frequently found fault with the Floral Committee for the frugality of 

 their awards ; but on this occasion these had been freely bestowed, 

 especially upon Orchids, which, of all the candidates which had sought 

 the Committee's favour, were decidedly at the head of the poll. The 

 first plant he had to notice was Pleione Keichenbachiana, which 

 really might be considered one of the autumn Crocuses of the Him- 

 alayas, and of which the pseudo-bulbs were very singular. Although 

 lie detested hybrid Orchids, he would stQl mention that Messrs. Veitch 

 exhibited several of these, and among them Cattleya esouiensis, a 

 beautiful autumn-blooming Orchid. Another hybrid, also very beau- 

 tiful at this time of year, was Cattleya Dominiana. With refer- 

 ence to Odontoglossum Alexandra), exhibited by Dr. Pattison, of St. 

 John's Wood, he was glad to see it vindicating the choice of the name 

 made for it ; there was also from the same gentleman Odontoglossum 

 trinmphans, which, though well gi-own and flowered, was not equal in 

 point of variety to some others of the same species which he had seen. 



Mr. Bateman then protested against the growing practice among 

 some nurserj-men of tacking on additional names to those of certain 

 plants — a practioo which only led to confusion when there was already 

 a good generic and specific name, and he gave several instances in 

 which such additions were unnecessary. Two of tho most interesting 



subjects before tho meeting were tho spikes of Vanda cajrulea and 

 Uonauthera coccinea, sent by Mr. Thomson, the President's gardener 

 at Dalkeith. Vanda c«?rulea was a most beautiful Orchid from the 

 Ilimalayaa, and as regards this, there had been a very vigorous com- 

 petition between Mr. Thomson's spike and that on McsHrn. Voitch's 

 plant, and whilst tho former was tho finer in colour, it had only 

 twenty flowers, but Messrs. Veitch's, he believed, had as many aa 

 twenty-five. As to tho Heuanthcra, ho (Mr. Bateman), could hardly 

 louk at it without emotion, for without it ho probably never would 

 have been an Orchid-grower. Ho then related tliat when an under- 

 graduate at Oxford he saw it in the nursery of Mr. Fairbaim, who 

 had succeeded in flowering this plant, and he bought a specimen foe 

 a sum which might be considered extravagant for an undcrgraduato. 

 He failed, however, as might bo ex])ected. in making it flower, and 16 

 was only after twenty-five years' cultivation that ho succeeded by ant 

 accident. ThisRenanthcra, Mr. Batemau continued, will never grovi 

 and flower in promiscuous collections, but put it in a vinery, a green- 

 house, in any house where it will have plenty of light and sun — in 

 fact, the conditions of a Chinese climate, and tun to one it will flower. 

 He would in conclusion just direct attention to a beautiful-berriei 

 branch of tho Coffee plant, which had arrived too lato to come before 

 the Committees, and which was sent by ]\Ir. Pickersgill Cunliffe^ of 

 Hooley Ilall, Croydon. (Wo were informed that this plant is S feet 

 high, and has ninety-six berried brauchesK l\Ir. Bateman closed his 

 remarks by announcing that the next meeting would take place on the 

 loth of December, 



JERSEY FOR WINTER. 



As Jersey is as good and pleasant for invalids in winter as 

 tor pleasure-seekers in summer, a few words about it may not 

 be deemed superfluous, now that the glowing warmth o£ 

 summer has given place to the cool breezes of autumn, and 

 that brown and yellow, taking the place of green upon the 

 scantily covered trees, remind us of cold, trying winter soon ta 

 follow. Charming as our little island is during the bright 

 warm weather, it is yet more valuable as a winter residence toi 

 those who suffer from the inclemency of our British climate 

 nearer the parallel of London. Mild in its winters, yet not 

 too enervating, seldom intensely wet for a whole day together, 

 with roads which dry up quickly, genial, health-giving breezes, 

 and the delicious sea air, 1 think there are few places better in 

 all points for the invalid, the convalescent, or those who are 

 troubled with the Johu-BuU-like, not-unoatural horror of 

 chilling fogs, benumbing frosts, and bitter ice and snow. 



Those who visit Jersey at any season, but especiplly late ia 

 the year, would do well to guard against discomfort in travelling 

 by reaching Southampton some hours before the vessel starts. 

 The route via Southampton is the best for most localities, and 

 for all persons who dread a long sea voyage. That by Wey- 

 mouth gives fewer hours upon the water, but the extra hours 

 by the longer route tell little in discomfort, as those which elapse 

 before reaching the Needles in going, or after passing them ia 

 coming back, glide smoothly enough to be pleasant even to the 

 most squeamish. The voyage from London direct is too 

 lengthy to be pleasant to any but very good travellers, so tha 

 journey by way of Southampton is for most persons fittest, and 

 to ensure comfort in that, it is necessary to secure a good berth 

 on board ship. Oh, the wretched discomfort to which ladies 

 are sometimes subjected who comedown by the mail train at 

 night, and go on board just before the ship'^tarts ! Visitors 

 who rush over to Jersey for short holidays between May and 

 October, called in the island from their vivacious enjoyment of 

 their short respite, "the live O's " crowd on board in noisy 

 tumult to the great detriment of quieter persons who are less 

 able to make their way ; then those who have omitted to secure 

 accommodation may have to lie on the cabin floor all night 

 (and be it remembered the had air falls the lo"Svest), or, worse 

 still, to remain on deck all night, subject to the inclemencies 

 of the weather and other discomforts. During the months 

 when most visitors seek the island it is advisable for ladies, 

 especially if they have children with them, to write to the 

 agent or to the stewardess on board and bespeak the required 

 number of berths, and at all times, as stewards and agents are 

 not immutable, to leave London, if London be the starting 

 point, not later than 5 r.u., and go on board at once, secure 

 berths, and pin tickets upon them. Then, with a clear con- 

 science and the hope of a little rest at night, they may go to their 

 hotel, inspect the town, or while away the time as best they 

 can. As Southampton is but a dull place, and visits to hotels 

 generally dull too, perhaps it is about as pleasant as anything 

 to go on board at once, sit down on deck, and quietly watoU 

 the curious bustle of dock activity around, go down into tha 

 cabin and have tea as soon as it is ready, and then lie down 



