338 



JOURNAL OF HORTiCULTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ May 7, 1868. 



the pulsations by a stop watoh ; he fonnd them to be between 

 100 and 120 per minnte. On several other occasions the fits 

 were exceedingly violent. On the *Jnd of March last, although 

 the temperature of the hothouse had fallen to T Cent., the 

 plant seemed to be labouring under a fit of ague, so that the 

 very pot containing the plant, and weighing about 22 lbs., 

 shook so that the hand of a man could not steady it. The 

 rhythmical tremor was likewise communicated to a fine leaf of 

 a Strelitzia Nicolai, another of a Philodendron pertusum, and 

 to some fine clusters of flowers of the Begonia manicata. 

 M. Leooq cannot explain the cause of this tremor, but he 

 thinks himself warranted in not attributing it by any means to 

 the temperature ; he suggests the possibility of its being the 

 result of a stoppage in the regular perspiration of the plant. 



KOY.VL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



May 5th. 



Fruit CoMMrrxKE. — Messrs, J. C. Wheeler k SonR, Gloucester, 

 exhibited some very finely-kept examples of Ashniead's Kernel Apple ; 

 tbey were exceedingly fresh, rich, and joioy, and were unanimonaly 

 awarded a special certificate. Mr. Gardiner, f^ardener to Sir George 

 Phillips, Bart., Weston Honse, Shipston-on-Stonr, sent a dish of 

 Hoyal George Peaches ; they were quite rip©, of fair size, but not 

 particularly rich in tlavoar. 



Mr. E, Baxter, gardener to Charles Keiser, Esq., Brosbonme, Herts, 

 exhibited a Cncnmber named Broxboume Rival, which the Committee 

 considered to bo inferior, although very similar, to Telegraph. Jlr. 

 H. Drover, gardener to H. Clark, Esq., Fareham, Hants, exhibited a 

 jbraee of Cucumbers named Drover's Telegraph, bat the variety was of 

 no particular merit. Mr. Woodward, The Gardens, Garbrand Hall, 

 Ewell, Surrey, exhibited some examples of Cattell's Echpse Broccoli, 

 which were very inferior. 



James Bateman, Esq., Biddulph Grange, Conj^leton, exhibited some 

 preserved fruits of the Chinese Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica). The 

 preserve was sweet and pleasant, bnt with no particular flavour. Mr. 

 J. Carr, gardener to P. L. Hinds, Esq., The Lodge-, Bytleet, Surrey, 

 exhibited some ripe frnit of Eugenia jambos, tlieRose Apple, from a 

 seedling tree about four years old grown at Byfieet, where so many of 

 onr fine tropical fruits have been brought to such perfection. The 

 frnit is handsome in appearance, about the size of a Washington 

 Plum, of a pale straw yellow colour ; the llesh rather dry, about a 

 quarter of an inch in thickness, hollow, enclosing two large seeds ; 

 flavour peculiarly pleasant, partaking of that of the Muscat Grape and 

 the Damask Kose, with a Bcent resembling that of the Myrtle. The 

 plant has borne about ten dozen of fruit, and as this is the first time 

 of its having been fruited and exhibited in this country, it was unani- 

 mously awarded a special certificate. 



Floral Comuittee. — One of the best exhibitions ever seen at a 

 Tuesday meeting was brought together on this occasion ; there was a 

 rich supply of valuable plants from the metropolitan exhibitors, and 

 the awards mudo for novelties were very numerous. 



Mr. Moore, gardener to the Earl of Shrewsbury, received a special 

 certificate for a small collection of cut Orchids. Messrs. Veitch cshi- 

 fcitcd young plants of the Society's hybrid Coleuses. which have not been 

 in their possession more than a fortnight — viz., C. Baasei, C. Saun- 

 dersiif C. Berkeleyii, C. Batemanii, and C. Rncterii, each of which 

 Tvas jnstly honoured with a first-class certificate. Aphelandra chry- 

 Eops, with bright yellow flowers, from the same firm, had a first-class 

 certificate, also Scutellaria mocciniaaa, a handsome greenhouse 

 plant with bright scarlet flowers. Begonia Huttoiii had a secoud-cla^s 

 certificate ; it has pale buff flowers with finely-cut foliage. Primula 

 I'ortusoides striata, a seedling from Primula cortuRoides, having a 

 ^vhite stripe in the centre, received a first-class certificate ; Cymbidium 

 Huttoni, a dusky, dingy-spotted Orchid, but beautifully marked, a 

 second-class ceilificate ; Oncidium eucullatum. a small spotted kind, 

 a first-class certificate ; Burlingtonia fragrans major, resembling Can- 

 dida, a first-class certificate ; Epidendrnm paniculatum, vrith an 

 el^ant spike of rosy purple narrow-petalled flowers of promising 

 character, a first-class certificate ; and Laelia grandis, a curious hufif- 

 winged variety, a second-class certificate. A special certificate was 

 awarded Messrs. Veitch for the collection of Orchids, ono for a collec- 

 tion of Amai-yUids, and another special certificate for miscellaneous 

 plants. 



Mr. Turner, Slough, sent a fine collection of Tulips, and received 

 a special certificate ; also a small collection of beautiful Auriculas, 

 selfs and show flowers, for which he likewise was awarded a special 

 certificate. He also received first-class certificates for three seedling 

 Auriculas — viz., Mrs. Mendall, a fine grey-edged flower ; Novelty, a 

 porpUeh violet self ; and Wonderful, self, a larg^3 deep reddish ma- 

 roon. Mr. Turner's Auriculas have been the admu-ation of all who 

 dehght in these spring tiowers; it is to be regretted that the season at 

 "which they are in perfection is so uncertain. liast year they were 

 only at their prime in May ; this year they wer&in perfection in April. 

 How absurd it is to find fault as to the time fixed for exhibition, for 

 BO one can foresee what the season may prove. It is a flower to be 

 exhibited only when the season permits, early or later in the spring. 



Mr. Noble, Sanningdale, sent a large collection of seedling Cle- 

 matises, four of which were selected as superior varieties, but none of* 

 them being named, the Committee could not deal with them. If 

 exhibitors would but consider how much the Committee have to do, 

 and in what a short time it is expected to be done, they would nofc- 

 think of reqj/esting names to be assigned by them. E>xry florists' 

 flower or hybrid garden flower must be named to be recognised. There 

 were decidedly first-class flowers in this collection. Mr. Williams, 

 Paradise Nurserj', sent a specimen of a curious Nidularium, called 

 atrosanguineum. which was awarded a first-class certificate ; Cocoe 

 Weddeliana. an elegant plant, and graceful for table decoration in its 

 young state — first-class certificate ; and Maxillaria lutea alba — second- 

 class. A special certificate was awarded for Mr. Williams's fine col- 

 lection of plants. Messrs. Smith, Dnlwich, received special ceriificates 

 for a collection of plants, consisting of fine specimens of Erica vittata 

 and seedling Azaleas. Azalea Sir Robert Napier was awarded a first- 

 class certificate. The colour is a deep fiery red, distinct from that of 

 any known variety, but the flower was rather too rough in the outline, 

 and small. The plant, however, was out of condition. This seedling 

 will prove a general favourite for its distinct colour. Messrs. Smith" 

 also exhibited a pale rose, smooth-petalled, seedling Azalea, called 

 Oracle, but too small for exhibition purposes. 



Mr. Baxter, gardener to C. Keiser, Esq., Broxbourne, sent two ex- 

 quisitely grown specimens of Dendrobium pulchellum, which was^ 

 awarded a special certificate. Mr. Wimsett, Ashburnham Park Nur- 

 sery, received a first-class certificate for another of the Society's hybrid 

 Coleuses— C. Marshallii, also a second-class certificate for Coleus 

 Telfordii aureus, having pale yellow foUage, with small dark crimson 

 markings in the centre. 



Messrs. E. G. Henderson, Wellington Nurseries, exhibited a small 

 bnt good collection of Orchids, which was awarded a special cortificat«> 

 Mr. Woodward, Ewell, sent a very beautiful specimen of Trichopilia 

 snavis, which received a second-class certificate ; and Messrs. Lee, 

 Hammersmith, had a special certificate for a collection of plants, con- 

 taining many well-grown and ornamental specimens. Mr. Pilcher, 

 gardener to S. Rucker, Esq., had a second-class certificate for Epi- 

 dendrnm inversum, an old and neglected Orchid with a peculiarly fine 

 scent. Mr. Hooper, Bath, gained the Silver Flora medal for twenty- 

 four Pansies, a special certificate for Pansies in pots, and showed 

 several promising seedlings, but not in good condition. Mr. Hooper 

 also sent a seedling Pink adapted for forcing, and a variegated Pansy, 

 which will be useless as a variegated plant. The seedling PAnsies 

 noticed were Mr. Turner, Mr. Bull, and Cheerfulness, a white bedding 

 variety. Mr. J. Jackson, Kidderminster, sent cut specimens of a 

 double Polyanthus ; the same variety has been sent from three other 

 firms, and it would therefore seem to he widely distributed. Mr. 

 Brown, Slough, and Mr. Shenton, Biggleswade, exhibited cnt' 

 Pansies. 



A collection of Mr. Bause's seedling Caladinms was sent from Chis- 

 wick, and they were beautiful from the delicacy of the tints which 

 they exhibited, the ground colour being pale yellow. By some great 

 inadvertency these plants escaped notice. They are of great merit, 

 and will take a position in due time. 



Mr. J. Hodge, gardener to E. Wright, Esq., Gravelly Hill, Bir- 

 miiigham, sent cut specimens of Orchids, but not of the best varie- 

 ties ; Mr. Wimsett, Ashburnham Park Nursery, fine specimens of 

 Bronze Zonal Pelargoniums, Rosalina, Her Majesty, AdmiratioD, 

 Empress Eug-i-nie : and Messrs. E. G. Henderson, seedling Variegated 

 Zonal Pelargoninms. Maid of Judah, Star of Peace. Mr». Gladstone, 

 Mary Hadwin, Mis. Grieve, and E. G. Henderson, a Bronze Zonal. 

 Mr. Tanton, Epsom, contiibuted a variety of Leschenaultia biloba, 

 Polygala Dalmaisiana, Aphelexis macrantha splendida, and Boronia 

 serrulata compacta. C. Leach, Esq., sent cut specimens of Eli- 

 sena longiflora. rarely seen in flower, and La?lia prtestans. From 

 Mr. Rae, Egliuton Castle, came four Cinerarias ; from Messrs. 

 Rollisson, Vauda tricolor meleagris, and Gymnogramma Rollissonii ; 

 and from Mr. Nelson, Bristol, a seedling Lomaria, supposed to bo a 

 hybrid between L. gibba and Blechnum corcovadense. the same variety 

 as that exhibited by Mr. Dean at the last meeting. 



SciENTinc Committee. — The second meeting of this Committee of 

 the Royal Horticultural Society, was held in the Council Room at 

 half-past one, W. Wilson Saundei-s, Esq., F.R.S., in the chair. The 

 following members were present; — Dr. Thomson, The Rev. J. Dix, 

 Mr. Marshall, Mr. Reeve.';, Dr. J. H. Gilbert, Dr. Masters, Mr. Moore, 

 Mr. Bateman, Mr. Blenkins, Mr. Mumby, Dr. Welwitsch, Dr. Voelcker, 

 Mr. A. Murray, Mr. J. Miers, Mr. Wilson, and the Secretai-y, the Kev. 

 M. J. Berkeley. » 



Dr. Masters made a communication to the Committee on the hair- 

 lilce cells he had discovered at the base of the flower of Ancuba 

 japonica, which would entrap the pollen cells, and he considered them 

 as performing an important cflice in the fertilisation of the plant. 

 The epidermal tissue terminating in these haii--like processes he had 

 found to exsist in both sexes. 



The Kev. M. J. Berkeley exhibited a portion of the stem of a Scotch 

 Fir infested by an insect, to which the death of the tree was attributed* 

 The Committee was in doubt whether this was a sufficient cause for 

 the decay of the tree, and it was referred back to the gardener who 

 bad sent it for further information. 



Two communications were read by the Secretary, on the subject of the 

 black spots on Orchids. One was from Mr. Earley, who considered them 



