December 17, 1868. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GABDjSNEB. 



461 



expand and resemble natural flowers, like which they are varionsly 

 scented. 



The Rev. JI. J. Berkeley then addressed the moctinR, remarkinR 

 that by far the most interesting part of the plants exhibited consisted 

 of Orchids, bnt these, as Mr. Bateman was present, ho wonld pass 

 over. With reference to Dahlia imporialis, a small portion of a plant 

 of which was exhibited by Mr. Oaman, pardoner to K. Holland, Esq., 

 of Stanmore Hall, he might mention that the tubers which Mr. Bate- 

 man had communicated to the Society last year had porrainated 

 beantifnlly, but the bads did not como to poi-fection owing to the 

 infloflicient amount of heat given. Next year, however, moi'o heat 

 would be afforded, and the snccesflful flowering of the plant might 

 consequently be expected. The Ha^mantbus exhibited by Mr. Mar- 

 shall was next referred to, and Mr. Berkeley said ho had no doubt that 

 it was the true Hn^mauthns tenniflorns, a variety of which was figured 

 many years ago in the '* Botanical Magazine." Steuocarpns Cuuning- 

 hamii was then noticed, and it was remarked that in the tertiary 

 deposits leaves had been found very closely resembling those of the 

 Stenocarpus, and therefore the notion had been mooted that the 

 vegetation of the south of Europe at the period of the tertiary for- 

 ination was similar to that of A ustralia at the present day. Ilichardia 

 melanoleuca was the next plant to which attention was directed, and 

 it was remarked that it was drawn up, probably, from having received 

 more heat tlinn it required, and that, prown in a cooler temperature, 

 ii would most likely have a very fine appearance. The large collection 

 of Gourds exhibited by Messrs. Barr & Sugden at the last meeting, 

 and which still remained in the room, was the next subject to which 

 attention was drawn, Mr. Berkeley remarking that all the varying 

 forms were referable to two types — namely, the varieties with the 

 angnlar, deeply grooved stems to Cucnrbita Pepo, and the large kinds 

 to Cncnrbita maxima. In addition to these two species there were 

 two others, though not exhibited — namely, the Portemauteau Gourd, 

 C. moschata, which, if our climate were warm enough, would com- 

 pletely supersede the Vegetable Marrow ; and C. melauosperma, with 

 black seeds. Cissns discolor, of which some flowering shoots came from 

 ihe Society's Garden at Chiswick, was next noticed ; and Mr. Berkeley 

 observed that a whole houseful of it was there in flower, the inflores- 

 cdnce having a delicate fragrance. The reason it did not produce its 

 inflorescence generally in this[conntry was, probably, that it was treated 

 too much as a greenhouse plant. An extremely curious Fungus, from 

 Mr. Beech, gardener at Castle Ashby, Mr. Berkeley considered to be 

 an entirely new species ; and in connection with this subject ho men- 

 tioned that he had received a communication from the Cape of Good 

 Hope relative to a Fungus which had attacked the Pelargoniums there, 

 and it was feared their cultivation would have to bo given np. Now, 

 though the common wild Geraniums were attacked in this country by 

 JTist or Uredo, he had never heard of Pelargoniums being affected by 

 it ; but the matter was of great importance, for it had been proposed 

 to employ the Cape species for the purpose of hybridising and obtaining 

 new varieties, and it would be a great misfortune — indeed, one of tho 

 greatest he could conceive — to gardeners, were such a result as that 

 apprehended at the Cape to occur in this country. He therefore 

 strongly advised that the imported plants should be watched, and if 

 any showed signs of the disease they ought to be committed to the 

 flames. The OiJium of the Vine and the Potato mould were, in all 

 probability, introduced into this country from abroad, and everyone 

 knew with what disastrous results. He had likewise received from 

 Dr. Anderson, of the Calcutta Botanic Garden, a sample of Assam Tea 

 said to be attacked by a parasitic growth, but he (Mr. Berkeley) could 

 detect none. Still, it was known that in many cases Fungi were not 

 fully developed till the leaves had fallen from the tree. At any rate, 

 the tea made from the leaves was very bad-tasted, much worse than 

 Mr. Bateman's Orchid Tea. Another sample of Tea leaves which he 

 had received along with that just noticed appeared to be merely covered 

 with smut consequent on the saccharine depositions of an aphis. He 

 might mention, while on this subject, a disease of great consequence in 

 Australia, known there as the " red rust." This was the infant state 

 of the common Wheat mildew. There was yet another disease, known 

 as "take all," but he had not sufficient evidence to say what it is. 

 Those, however, who are acquainted with Australia had informed him 

 that the rotation of crops was not practised, and that year after year 

 Wheat was gi-own on tho same land without intermission, and even- 

 tually the sGil became exhausted, little but silica being left. Failure 

 nnder such circumstances could not be wondered at. 



Mr. Bateman observed, that before proceeding to notice the Orchids 

 he would refer to the magniflcent Oranges exhibited by Mr. Rivers 

 who, not content with growing Apples, Pears, and similar fruits in the 

 orchard house, had started the idea of a tropical orchard house. He 

 (Mr. Bateman), had determined to attempt this mode of cultivation, 

 and had fitted up a compartment of a house, and, though he had had 

 beautiful Tangierine Oranges, be fortunately failed. He said fortu- 

 nately, for he had found out that this division exactly suited the Mexi- 

 can Orchids, which require to be kept cooler and drier than those 

 from the East Indies. Till this important point in Orchid cultivation 

 was discovered he had never had the pleasure of introducing to an 

 Knglisb audience such a plant of Lalia automnalis as that from Mr. 

 Rucker's gardener. Two or three flowers were all that could be pro- 

 duced. He found the plant growing at Mr. Rucker's in a large, airy, 

 ' warm greenhouse. It was called in Mexico Flor de los Santos, and is 

 much used in tha decoration of the chotches at festival times. He 



also found at Mr. Rucker's the F.pidendrum Titellinum, which accom- 

 panied his magnificent Linlia. He {Mr. Bateman) had felt some doubt 

 as to whether there was or was not a major variety of that plant, buti t 

 was now set at rest, for large as tho flowers were in Mr, Rucker's 

 specimen they were not so large as in some plants introduced by Messrs. 

 Low. In the last number of the " Botanical Magazine " was figure* 

 what was supposed to be tho largestUowered of all the Oncidiums, 

 O. macranthnm, but it would aeem as if there were a fate that as soonas 

 wo had named one thing on account of its superior size, there was sura 

 to bo something to beat it. It was thought that Oncidium macranthnm, 

 which was exhibited at one of the Society's meetings by Lord Londes- 

 borough's gardener, Mr. Richards, was tho largest in existence, bnt 

 now, on the last day of the season, he (Mr. Bateman) had the pleasure 

 of introducing ono very much larger, in the new species worthily 

 named after Dr. Rogers. It came from a very high and very cool 

 part of Brazil, and would, no doubt, take its station among the Mexi- 

 can Orchids. Whether, however, it were a variety of Oncidium bifo- 

 lium, bearing the relation of Ching to Chang, remained to be seen. 

 Specimens of Cypripedium caudatum and Angrajcum eesquipedale, 

 were next pointed out as good, but of the latter the tail-like appendage 

 was not so long as was sometimes seen. This plant, it was also 

 remarked, should have the warmest position in the Orchid house. 



Mr. Bateman then observed, with reference to Dahlia imperialis, 

 that he had seen it in Mr. Woolfield's garden at Cannes last year, and 

 had had the honour of introducing it to the notice of a meeting of tha 

 Society, exhibiting, at the same time, dried specimens of the flowers, 

 which he again produced ; but now they had the fresh flowers, though 

 he was sorry to say, the Society's tubers had only produced buds. 

 He would now leave the living flowers, and turn to flowers of another 

 description— tho artificial ones for Christmas decoration sent by Sir. 

 Goodman, who had had tho good fortune to secure the favourable notice 

 of two of the leading church papers of opposite views— the only 

 instance he ever knew of their agreeing. No one could faU to admire 

 the Variegated Holly and some other things, but, on the other hand, 

 there were productions which resembled nothing iu nature, and he 

 would recommend her as a copy for Mr. Goodman's future efforts. 

 Livin", said Mr. Bateman, 150 miles from London, he always received 

 numerous applications for evergreens at Christmas for the decoration 

 of churches, &c. ; but about London, the demand was so great and tha 

 supply so small, that many persons had to put a guard over their ever- 

 greens lest they should be stolen. He thought, then, that these arti- 

 ficial decorations of flowers and foliage would be something in the 

 interests of horticulture, or rather arboriculture. 



Mr. Bateman, in his concluding remarks, said that he only hoped 

 that in the coming year as much interest wonld bo taken, and as much 

 progress made, in horticulture as in that now passing away ; and ha 

 was agreeably surprised to find that the meetings were so well attended 

 at this dull season. He only wished that during the year more new 

 Orchids had been introduced, but this was partly owing to two grievous 

 losses— that of Mr. Wilson Saunders's collector, Mr. Bowman, who 

 died when about to come home with a valuable collection ; the other 

 loss being that of Mr. Pearce. These were great drawbacks, but the 

 Orchid mania must be fed with fresh fuel, and of such there was 

 plenty waiting only to be conquered by the indomitable spirit and 

 pluck of collectors. In accordance with an old Regent Street custom, 

 which had been revived, he had to announce for distribution among 

 those present the flowers of Chimonanthus grandiSorus from Chiawict, 

 and, he would venture to add, Mr. Rivers's Oranges. 



The next meeting wUl take place on the 19th of January. 



A FEW WORDS TO GARDENERS ON 

 EMIGRATION. 



I, FOR one, hailed with exceedingly great pleasure the brief 

 article in the Journal entitled " Gardening in the Far West," 

 and also look forward with feelings of anticipated pleasure to 

 the others promised by your correspondent " Pennsylvania." 

 I myself, after years of intimate knowledge of gardeners anJ 

 gardening, have often thought that if gardeners could be in- 

 duced to emigrate to some such land as Canada or the Western 

 States of America, a substantial future in most cases would ba 

 in store for them. I know it would require a strong effort o£ 

 determination on their parts, also great sell-denial for some 

 years in a new and strange land ; but, in the majority of cases, 

 the reward would amply repay any temporary inconvenienca 

 that would have to be endured by the energetic, intelligent, 

 and mostly highly educated men before whom I desire, by your 

 help, to lay these few and feeble words. 



In the first place, I have a sad knowledge, a knowledge that 

 has come close home to myself, that gardeners are far too 

 numerous, and, at a modest but rough estimate, there are always 

 from 800 to 1000 really good, capable, and able gardeners 

 out of situations — men of unblemished characters, of high 

 professional reputation, and capable, by their acquirements, 

 of conducting the largest places in the kingdom in a proper 

 and scientific manner. Anyone, too, who knows anything 

 at all about the matter, knows that (yearly a vast number oJ 



