312 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GABDENER, 



[ AprU 28, ] 



2 inches a-tlay nntil they attain 2 feet iu length was specially noticed. 

 To those who did not wish to p-ow a large collection of Orchids, he 

 could recommend this genus, of which there were about twenty species 

 available, and all could be easily grown. One might have eight of 

 these in flower at the present time. A beautiful liower of a Cattleya 

 from Mr. Rucker was then exhibited by Mr. Batemau, but he said 

 that it was only one of many varieties of C. labiata, between which, 

 C. MossiiC, and many so-called species the line could no longer be 

 drawn, and they must therefore be " smashed." As a further instance 

 of the diversity of colours which Cattleyas assume, he exhibited two 

 flowers from plants sent home in the same pot by Mr. "Weir, one being 

 white, the other of various colours. 



Passing to other subjects, Mr. Bateman said he observed that some 

 Disas and Satyriums were to be sold at Stevens's, and he would just 

 warn those who might be the purchasers not to treat them lUie Disa 

 grandiflora. which is almost an agnatic, whilst these are totally dif- 

 ferent, and should be treated liie Cape bulbs. He remembered being 

 told by Dr. Lindley that no Orchids were comparable in colour to 

 these Disas and Satyriums, and that among them were blues, yellows, 

 and many other colours. With regard to the Bateman Challenge 

 Medal for Orchids, he had originally intended to offer it to the most 

 Buccessfnl exhibitor of these in two consecutive years, and had no idea 

 he should have been called npon for a fresh medal so often, but as 

 Mr. Veitch and Mr. Anderson had each carried it oil, he must make a 

 fresh arrangement. At first he thought to handicap these two exhi- 

 ititors heavilv, so as as to afi'ord others a chance, but the arrangement 

 which he should adopt would probably be this ; Nest year before 

 Easter the marks should be for the exhibition of Odontoglossums. and 

 after Easter for that of Cyptripediums ; but the competitors must aUo 

 have gained certificates at the Tuesday Meetings. Another matter which 

 he had to mention was the memorial to the late Mr. Skinner. Last 

 year he had had promises of about -t'KMJ for the purpose, but the sum 

 he had received fell vei-y far short of that amount, and to borrow an 

 expression from the mortuary column of the 7'iiiics, '• Friends will 

 please to take this intimation." He handed the money over to Mr. 

 Wilson Saunders, and as soon as a sufficient amount was received 

 orders would be given for a neat granite memorial fountain to be 

 erected in the garden of the Society. 



Mr. Bateman concluded by observing that at the next meeting on 

 the 5th of May, he intended to call attention to the Loquat, which had 

 been fruited both by himself and at Lord Bagot's, and of which, 

 though the quality of the fruit obtained had been good, the quantity 

 was small. 



Mr. Saunders said that with regard to the memorial to the late 

 Mr. Skinner, the money in hand was about £10, aud he should be 

 glad to receive any subscriptions not paid to Mr. Batemau. 



SALE OF HYBRID COLEUSES. 

 The collection of twelve beautiful hybrid Coleuses, raised in 

 the Royal Horticultural Society's garden at Cbiswick, by Mr. 

 Bause, was Testerday offered for sale by Mr. J. C. Stevens, at 

 his rooms, King Street, Covent Garden. The large room was 

 crowded by leading nurserymen and amateurs, who took a 

 lively interest in the proceedings. Colonel Scott and several 

 members of the Council were present, and among the company 

 vie observed Sir Philip De M. G. Egerton, Bart., and other 

 eminent patrons of horticulture. 



The competition was spirited and rapid, and the following is 

 the result, with the names of the fortunate possessors : — 



Lot 1.— Colcus Berkeley! Messrs. Veitch & Sods 40 guineas. 



„ 2.— C. Marshallii Mr. Wills 25 „ 



S.— C. Saundersii Messrs. Veitch & Sons 26 pounds. 



4.— C. Dixit Messrs. Carter & Co 49 „ 



„ 6.— C. Kuckeri Messrs. Veitch & Sons 40 guineas. 



„ 6.— C. Murray! Mr. Wills 25 



7.— C. Bausel Messrs. Veitch & Sons 69 „ 



„ 8.— C. Scottii „ 36 



„ 9.— C. Clarkii Messrs. Carter & Co 10 „ 



„ 10.— C. Batemanii Messrs. Veitch & Sons 49 „ 



„ 11.— C. Wilsoni Messrs. Carter* Co 14 „ 



„ 12.— C. Reevesii „ 5 „ 



The total sale, therefore amounts to the sum of £393 Ss., 

 and we congratulate the fortunate purchasers on having be- 

 come possessed of those charming plants. 



Not the least gratifying feature iu connection with this sale 

 is that the whole of the amount realised will be retained as a 

 separate fund, and appropriated to the development of further 

 experiments at Chiswick garden. 



THE SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE OF THE ROYAL 

 HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 

 The first meeting of the Scientific Committee of the Royal 

 Horticultural Society was held on Monday last the 20th inst., 

 W. Wilson Saunders, Esq., F.B.S., in the chair. As this was 

 merely an inaugurative meeting, the main business transacted 

 ■was the constitution of the Committee, and the consideration 



of the modes in which its ultimate working will be conducted. 

 The Committee as it at present exists is constituted as follows : 

 Chairman. — The Duke of Buccleuch, K.G. Vice-Oiairmen. — 

 *Warren De la Kue, Ph.D., F.R.S. ; 'W. Wilson Saunders, 

 F.R.S. ; -Thomas Thomson, M.D., F.R.S. Secrcfan/.— *Ee7. 

 M. J. Berkeley. Memhcrs. — 'Abel, Frederick Augustus, F.R.S. ; 

 Baker, J. G. ; Bateman, .Tames, F.R.S. ; Bentham, George, 

 F.R.S., P.L.S. ; Bentley, Professor Robert, F.L.S. ; Blenkins, 

 George E.; 'Clarke, Major Trevor; Darwin, Charles, M.A., 

 F.R.S.; Dix, Rev. Joshua ; 'Fortune, Robert ; Frankland, Pro- 

 fessor Edward ; Gibbs, E. T. Brandreth ; •Gilbert, Dr. J. H. ; 

 Glaisher, James, F.R.S. ; Henry, J. .\nderson, F.L.S. ; 'Hogg, 

 Robert, LL.D., F.L.S. ; Hooker, Dr. Joseph, F.R.S. ; Howard, 

 J. E., F.L.S. ; Johnson, George William ; 'Marshall, William; 

 •Masters, Maxwell T., M.D., F.L.S. ; Miers, John, F.R.S. ; 

 Munby, Giles ; *Murrav, Andrew, F.L.S.; *Moore, Thomas, 

 F.L.S. ; Reeves, J. Rus.sell, F.R.S. ; Rucker, Sigismund, F.L.S. ; 

 •Scott, Lieut.-Col., R.E., F.L.S. ; Spencer, Herbert ; *Voelcker, 

 Dr. ; 'Wilson, George F., F.R.S. ; 'Welwitsch, F., M.D., F.L.S. 

 Of these, those marked with an asterisk were present at the 

 meeting. 



It was proposed that as insects and the study of their habits 

 and economy have very important bearings on the culture, repro- 

 duction, and diseases of plants, the following eminent entomo- 

 logists should be invited to join the Committee — Professor 

 Westwood, F.L.S., Sir John Lubbock, Bart, F.R.S., and H. T. 

 Stainton, Esq., F.L.S. The Rev. M. J. Berkeley, the Secretary, 

 then read the following address :^ 



" As this is the first meeting of the Scientific Committee of the 

 Horticultural Society, itseemsadvisable that the Secretary should offer 

 some observ;\tions on its objects, and the best means of carrying them 

 out effectually. It is above all things necessary that we should 

 perfectly understand the position iu which we are jilaced as a Com- 

 mittee, and the more especially as its members are not necessarily 

 Fellows of the Society. 



"The Society, it must be remembered, is not exactly in the same 

 position as most other learned societies, with the exception perhaps of 

 the Zoological Society. Though the income is large, it is not simply 

 available, as in other scientific bodies, for purely scientific objects. 

 The funds applicable to publication are necessarily limited, aud it is 

 to this cause especially that the discontinuance of the first series of 

 the Journal, and the occasional ajipearance of the new series, are 

 attributable, and not to any lukewarumess or narrowness of views on 

 the part of the Society. If the history of the learned societies were to 

 bo accurately traced, we should find that the appearance of their 

 transactions has for the most part been irregular, and in consequence, 

 the publication of important jiapers has frequently been seriously 

 delayed, aud for this, amongst other reasons, the • Comptes Rendus ' ef 

 the meetings of the French Institute was projected, to enable authors 

 of valuable memoirs to register their discoveries, or in other words 

 'pour jirendre date.' It must not therefore be assumed that our 

 Journal can be pitblishcd of teuer than once or twice a-year, or under the 

 mostfavourable circumstances more frequently than once a-quarter, but 

 as reports will undoubtedly appear in our leading horticultural papers, 

 no unwillingness ou the part of authors to present memoirs at our 

 meetiugs need on this score be aaticipated. 



" The object of our meetings, as stated in the number of the 

 Proceedings just published, is to promote and encourage the application 

 of physiology and botany to puqiosos of practical culture, whether of 

 plants, or trees, or shrubs, and to originate experiments which may 

 assist in the elucidation of such questions. The terms, it is clear, are 

 sufliciently large to include everything which cau come within the 

 scope of a Botanical Committee, aud are by no means to be confined 

 to what may strictly be termed physiology or biology. Morphology as 

 well as vital action will occasionally come before us, questions of 

 correct nomenclature, information of general horticultural or more 

 purely botanical interest, botanical geogiaphy— in short, everything 

 which does not fairly come withiu the compass of the Floral or Fruit 

 Committees. The several horticultural du-ectors will naturally bring 

 before ns any matter of interest which may occur in the fruit or floral 

 departments, or which may suggest itself" at Chiswick. such as have 

 usually been laid before the Society at its Tuesday meetings, doubtful 

 plauts will be presented to us for determination, subjects which require 

 elncidation will be mooted, and occasional papers read in accordance 

 with the especial objects of the Committee. Xot only is it hoped that 

 individual members of the Committee •vriU help us, but the co-operation 

 of the Fellows of the Society iu general, and indeed of men of science, 

 whether members or not, is earnestly invited. 



" As regards purely physiological matters it is highly necessary that 

 we should set out with a distinct understanding. It is easy to suggest 

 experiments, but we must at the same time appreciate the diSicnlties 

 which attend them. Any expectation that the Society itself can at 

 once enter upon a large series of delicate expei-imeuts would only 

 meet with disappointment. We ourselves cannot fail to appreciate at 

 once the difficulties of the subject, but it is uecessai^ also that the 

 members of the Society, and the horticultural world in general, should 

 equally realise the true state of the case. The successful conduct of 



