September 25 ( 1SG6. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



239 



As regards " insertions," Mr. Kent objects to Somr des 

 Angus. I have not seen tho blooms of it tbis season ; but last 

 year eighteen plants of it bloomed constantly, producing most 

 perfect and beautiful blooms, which justified M. YerschalTelt's 

 assertion that it would " inspire the poets." 



I have just finished the Herculean task of romoving from 

 Rushton all my open-ground plants, about a thousand, some of 

 which are 8 foot high, and most of them •! feet high. The 

 weather has been capital. I began their removal on the 22nd 

 of August, and finished on the 12th of September. They look 

 well. I observed that 80 per cent, of tho Manotti Roses wore 

 well furnished with own roots. In some cases I have cut 

 tho Manotti roots away. This justifies what I have always 

 said — that tho easiest way to get Roses on their own roots, 

 without loss of time, is to plant Manetti Roses 2 inches over 

 the collar of the bud. I found some of the Roses tripled, and 

 some doubled, which afforded me good interest. I observed 

 further that a Rose's strong own roots deteriorate the deeper 

 roots of the Manetti ; but that where there wore no own roots, 

 the Manetti roots, though planted ten years ago, were strong 

 and good. I have no doubt whatever that Roses generally 

 prefer their own roots to any stock, but the process is long ; 

 and, their roots being so close to the surface, require much 

 winter and summer root protection till they are at least three 

 ■years old. The advantages of Manetti-stocked Roses are, they 

 are quickly established, and bloom abundantly ai once. I have 

 given away my 120 Briar Roses, budded by myself, as souve- 

 nirs, retaining only the yellow Tea-scented Noisettes, which do 

 admirably on their own roots, on the Briar, or on the Manetti. 

 — W. F. Radclyffe. 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 

 September Inth. 



Floral Committee. — The seedling Dahlias constituted the prin- 

 cipal feature of this meeting ; but, as might be expected, first-class 

 novelties were not abundant. Form, colour, and perfection in this 

 flower seem to have arrived at a climax, and some very extraordinary 

 seedling must make its appearance to claim any special notice, so 

 many good flowers are in existence. Mr. G. Rawlings, Romford, again 

 exhibited his very dark maroon seedling John Sladden ; also Aurora, 

 a blight rose, of good form, and medium size, which was awarded 

 a second-class certificate. From Mr. Pope, Chelsea, came a seed- 

 ling Dahlia Mrs. Pope, a light ground, tipped with purple, and 

 Pope's Gem, a very good deep maroon-shaded Fancy, which received 

 a first-class certificate ; and from Mr. Burgess, Chelsea, seedling 

 Dahlia Mrs. Burgess, lilac, edged with purple, which was awarded 

 a second-class certificate. Mr. Bragg, of Slough, sent six seedling 

 Dahlias, of which the Hon. Mrs. Gerald Wellesley, light ground, 

 tipped with purple, received a second-class certificate ; the others — 

 viz., Commodore, Warrior, Fair Lady, Goldbeater, were not noticed. 

 Mr. Crnikshanks, gardener to W. Jones Loyd, Esq., exhibited a 

 lilac-striped Verbena, called Lady of Laugleybuvy, a sport from 

 Pnrple King, and which, having all the good qualities of the original, 

 was awarded a first-class certificate ; Mr. Collier, Bethnal Green, 

 seedling Dahlia Salmon King; and Mr. G. Marsh, gardener to W. 

 S. Shove, Esq., Lewisham, seedling Zonale Pelargoniums Miss 

 Beatrice Shove and Mr. Bass. Mr. Bragg contributed a collection 

 of Dahlias, and Mr. Standish a collection of seedling Aucubas. The 

 la-tter were very interesting to the meeting, for, as Mr. Standish had the 

 honour of exhibiting the first Aucuba in fruit in England, so has he 

 on this occasion exhibited the first interesting collection of seedling 

 Aucubas, and for them a special certificate was awarded. Messrs. 

 Barr & Sugden exhibited a box of Alternanthera spathulata rosea in 

 a dense mass. We are sorry to say we cannot observe any use or 

 merit, either for decoration or other useful qualities, in this plant, 

 although by some it is much appreciated. Mr. G. Ward, gardener to 

 A. D. Barrington, Esq., sent a cut spike of Oncidium cruentum, and 

 from the Society's gardens came a collection of Orchids, consisting 

 chiefly of Odontoglossuni grande ; a special certificate was awarded 

 fortius collection. Mr. Mann. Brentwood, sent several seedling plants, 

 among them Tropieoluin Minimum, but in the state in which it was 

 exhibited it was useless, there being so many better. Mr. Mann also 

 exhibited several seedling Tricolor Pelargoniums, some of them of 

 great promise, but not sntficicntly growu to enable the Committee to 

 judge of their merits. Beauty of Brentwood appeared to" be a first-class 

 plant and very promising ; when shown again it will doubtless take its 

 stand. Amongst the others were Octavia, a plain-leaved Zonale of no 

 merit ; Phidias, another of the tricolor section, with flowers like Harka- 

 way; Ariel, Philemon, Penelope, and Proeea, all similar and not equal 

 to other well-known lands. Mr. Anderson, gardener to T. Dawson, Esq., 

 Meadow Bant, reo ived a special certificate fora superb spike of Odon- 

 togbssum grande, the finest spike of this Orchid ever seen. Had the 

 plant been sent with the spike growing, it would most probably have 

 received the Society's Lindley medal, so highly appreciated was the 

 magnificence of the spike of flowers. Mr. C. Turner had a second-class 



certificate- for seedling Dahlias Flambeau, yellow ground, dark ruby 

 tips ; Valentino, shaded lilac ; and Lord Lyon, dark plum or purple ; 

 he likewise sent Peeress and Starlight. All of these were very good 

 flowers, but showing no progresfl on fl hut we already possess. Mr. Eek- 

 ford, gardener to the Earl of Radnor, Coleshill, exhibited seedling 

 Dahlias Miss Rush, Lady Jane Ellice, and Mr. Bouverie ; also, thrco 

 seedling Verbenas, but not new or distinct — Lady Mary Wilde, a very 

 pretty variety, white ground with rosy circle (nitre. t rood ; Matilda, 

 and Mrs. Laing. Mr. Eckford's specimen of Saccolabium Blumei 

 was justly awarded a special certificate. Mr. Wheeler, Warminster, 

 sent a box of Dahlias, whieh came late and in very bad condition- 

 Vanguard, a deep maroon, large, rather flat flower, was awarded a 

 second-class certificate. The others were much damaged in travelling. 

 Messrs. Stuart & Mein, of Kelso, also sent a collection of seedling 

 Hollyhocks, some of them very fine flowers. John Downie, a dark 

 yet bright rosy carmine flower, was awarded a second-class certificate. 

 Among others we noticed Neatness and Martin Hunter. In a more 

 favourable season these would have been fine specimens. Several 

 plants of Scarlet Pelargoniums and Petunias were sent from Chiswick 

 in good condition. 



Fruit Committee. — Mr. Jones, gardener to Lord Leconfield, Pet- 

 worth, exhibited a seedling Plum grown on a west wall, and which, 

 being of remarkably fine flavour, would have had a first-class certifi- 

 cate had tho Committee been certain that it was perfectly distinct ; 

 but in the absence of fruit for comparison, the award was deferred. 

 Mr. Whiting, gardener to Mrs. Hope, the Deepdene, Dorking, sent 

 Belgian Purple Plum, a valuable land for cooking, and a Peach to 

 name ; and Mr. Sifkiu, Snarcsbrook, a yellow Peach grown on a 

 standard in the open air, and as such of good flavour, but not superior 

 to other yellow kinds. From Mr. Cruikshanks, gardener to W. Jones 

 Loyd, Esq., came a dish of the Basset Apple, a solid kiud for kitchen 

 use, and from the Society's garden at Chiswick, came several dishes of 

 Grapes. Messrs. Cutbush, of Highgate, contributed a number of spe- 

 cimens of the Nuneham Park Onion grown at Nuneham Park, Ox- 

 fordshire; at Trent Park, Barnet ; Aylesford, Kent; Muswell Hill, 

 Hampstead, and Highgate, contrasted with the White Spanish grown 

 at the same places, to disprove the identity of the two varieties ; but 

 although the difference as regards size was very considerable, the 

 Committee did not see sufficient grounds for altering the decision at 

 which they arrived at their last meeting. For the purpose of com- 

 parison, Mr. Whiting promised to send specimens of the White 

 Spanish grown at the Deepdene. Messrs. Wrench & Sons, of London 

 Bridge, also sent several kinds of Onions, of which two called St. 

 Ann and St. George were favourably noticed, also a good stock of 

 the Early York Cabbage. Lastly, from Messrs. Veiteh came three 

 kinds of Savoy — namely, the Yellow Drumhead, a large variety ; 

 Dwarf Green Curled, excellent for general purposes ; and the Early 

 Ulm, a sort still too little known and cultivated, and which, besides 

 being tender and of excellent flavour even when untouched by frost, 

 occupies little room, and is, therefore, well adapted for small gardens. 



Fortnightly Meeting. — S. Rucker, Esq., in the chair. After the 

 usual announcement of awards, the Rev. Joshua Dix said it was his 

 painful duty to announce the loss of one of the best supporters of the 

 Society — J. J. Blandy, Esq., aud asked the members present to pass a 

 vote expressive of their regret. This having been done, Mr. Wilson 

 directed attention to an error in the dates of the October Tuesday- 

 meetings, as given on the cover of the Society's Almanack, but which 

 does not exist in the body, the dates stated — namely, October 2nd and 

 10th, being correct. 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF 

 IRELAND. 



On the 13th inst. tho Finance Committee paid the prizes of the 

 season, amounting to about £600. In additiou to the ordinary prizes, 

 the Society's silver medal was presented to the following competitors : — 

 To Mr. William M'Neill, head gardener to the Chief Secretary (Right 

 Hon. Lord Naas, M.P.), Phoenix Park, he having obtained the greatest 

 number of first prizes in the plant section ; to Messrs. Campbell, 

 Churchill Nurseries, Glasnevin, they having obtained tho greatest 

 number of first prizes for florists' flowers ; to Mr. David James, head 

 gardener to his Grace the Duke of Leinster, Carton, Maynooth, having 

 obtained the greatest number of first prizes for fruits ; and to Mr. 

 James Lane, Sybil Hill Gardens, Raheny, having taken the greatest 

 number for vegetables at the exhibitions of the year. The silver 

 medal was also presented to Gilbert Gallagher, tenant of W. B. Brown- 

 rigg, Esq., Moor Hill, Co. Kildare, he having obtained the greatest 

 number of prizes in the Artisans' and Cottagers' Class ; and the bronze 

 medal to Mr. James Bethell, Rockbrook, Co. Dublin, tenant of Mrs. 

 White, of Killakee, he being the next successful competitor. 



In addition to these, two silver medals were presi aU d to Mr. Roberts, 

 head gardener to the Hon. Major Bury, D.L., Charleville 1 

 Tullamore, for the magnificent examples of first-class Grape-growing 

 exhibited by him at the late autumn Show. The bronze medal was 

 presented to Mr. Mason, gardener to Colonel Taylor, M.P., Ardgillan 

 Castle, Balbriggan, ho having been next in merit for White Grapes on 

 that occasion. 



