October 9, 1SG6. ] 



JOUBNAL OF HORTICUIiTUllE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



275 



I have often thought that something useful to gardeners 

 might be made out of our wild Geraniums, and I think so yet ; 

 let others try, they may succeed better than — Rustic Robin. 



I am obliged to Mr. Laxton for replying to my suggestion as 

 to trying to hybridise Geranium pratenso with the garden 

 varieties. I yet hope, however, that something may he made 

 of this British species; the colour is tempting, and one whioh 

 we want to infuse into our bedding varieties. I have not seen 

 the wild species for several years, but it is plentiful enough in 

 somo moist districts. G. Robertiumun has but little to recom- 

 mend it, and cannot well add any qualification to existing 

 kinds ; but other species, as G. sylvaticum and pratense, may, 

 perhaps, be still worth trial, for although they may at first 

 refuse to hybridise with the cultivated kinds, it is possible 

 that improved varieties of them may do so, or, which is 

 equally important, they may without hybridisation become 

 useful garden ornaments. — J. Robson. 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



October 2nd. 

 Floral Com.uittee. — "With the exception of Messrs. Yeitch's col- 

 lection of plants, and that of Messrs. E. G. Henderson, there was 

 very little of interest at this meeting. T. R. Tufnell, Esq., of Spring 

 Grove, sent a plant of Brassavola grandiflora, an old and well-kuowu 

 Orchid ; Mr. Tillery, six seedling Gladioli, of which Attraction, a pale 

 buff, was the only one that was noticed, and that was not equal to 

 others of the same shade of colour. Mr. Stevens, gardener to F. E. 

 Williams, Esq., Malvern Hall, also sent two seedling Gladioli, one 

 named Miss Wigley, a dark rosy purple, but deticient in form, and 

 Annie, scarlet, with a pale lemon centre. Mr. Sherratt, gardener to 

 James Bateman, Esq., Kuypersley, exhibited a superb new Orchid, 

 called Cattleya Dowiana, having two large tlowers with pale yellow 

 sepals and petals, and a large, veined, claret-coloured lip. This was 

 the flower of the meeting, and a first-class certificate was awarded to 

 it ; Mr. Sherratt also brought Aerides dasypogon. Mr. George Bailey, 

 Rngby, sent four seedling Zonale Pelargoniums — viz., Queen of Beau- 

 ties ; Washington, scarlet; Orange Perfection, hybrid Nosegay; aad 

 Salmon King. The last, a deep-shaded salmon, received a second- 

 class certificate. Verbena Tom Brown, rosy purple, with a large white 

 centre, but not in condition, was also shown by the same exhibitor. 

 Mr. Harrison, gardener to F. Wright, Esq., Derby, sent a cut speci- 

 men of Callicai-pa purpurea, an old plant, remarkable for its clusters 

 of small light purple berries at the footstalk of each leaf. Messrs. 

 E. G. Henderson, Wellington Road, exhibited a collection of Tricolor 

 Pelargoniums, to show the manner in which many of them produce 

 their first coloxired zones ; among them was Edwina Fitzpatriek, infe- 

 rior to Mrs. Pollock. From the same firm came also some cut speci- 

 mens of Pompoue Dahlias, a striped Phlox, like Raditslrv, but with 

 a scarlet shade of colour in the stripes, some purple Crocus, &c. Mr. 

 Bawlings again exhibited his dark Dahlia John Sladdeu, which main- 

 tains its good character. Mr. Bull exhibited Lobelia Buby, a soft 

 shade of colour, very pleasing ; it received a first-class certificate ; 

 also a Cypripedinm not often seen. Mr. J. Carr, gardener to P. L. 

 Hinds, Esq., sent Gymnogramma Wetenhalliana, a white-powdered 

 Fern, which received a first-class certificate in 1860. Messrs. Francis, 

 Hertford, brought a seedling variety of Jasminum officinale, with deep 

 golden variegation, which marked the wood as well as foliage. It 

 seems to have been known for many years, and very handsome it is, 

 and not often seen. Mr. Green, gardener to W. Wilson Saunders, 

 Esq., exhibited a collection of very curious plants, more interesting to 

 the scientific botanist than the public generally ; a special certificate 

 was awarded. Mr. Frogget, Holloway, had a seedling Gazania, with a 

 white margin to the foliage ; the plant was not in bloom, nor did there 

 appear to be any improvement on the old species. Mr. Williams, of 

 the Crystal Palace, sent four seedling Pelargoniums, zonale hybrids 

 —viz.. Pink Gem, Lady Belper, Crystal Palace Surprise, and Won- 

 derful. Surprise seemed to be the most promising ; they were all 

 cerise-coloured in varied shades. Messrs. Veitch sent a fine collection 

 of plants, consisting of a group of Cattleyas and other Orchids, a fine 

 specimen of Lapageria rosea, Adiantnm Farleyense, circ, for which a 

 special certificate was awarded. 



Fruit Committee. — Mr. Carr, gardener to P. L. Hinds, Esq., 

 Byfleet, sent fruit of the Papaw (Carica papaya), Granadilla (Passi- 

 rlora quadrangularis), and of another Passiflora, the name of which 

 could not be determined. The fruit of this was about the size of a 

 small Lemon, egg-shaped, and of a clear apricot colour, but the 

 flavour was inferior to that of the Granadilla. The only other fruit 

 shown was a small collection of Pears, from the Society's garden at 

 Chiswick, among which were Suffolk Thorn and Gausel's Bergamot, 

 two varieties veiy similar in llavour; Hepworth, or Welbeck Berga- 

 mot, which although usually of a very inferior quality, proved tole- 

 rably good; Retour de Rome, good ; LVlices de Jodoigne, Colmar de 

 Maestrc, Mignonne d'Hiver, and Beurre Ktining. Messrs. Cutbnsh, of 

 Highgate, again exhibited large specimens of the Nuneham Park 

 Onion ; and Mr. Whiting, of the Deepdene, Dorking, remarkably fine 



examples of the White Spanish, which wore larger than those shown 

 under the name of Nam ham Park Onion, but so strikingly similar in 

 all othor respects, as to confirm the Committee in the decision at 

 which they had previously arrived as to tho identity of the two 

 varieties. Mr. Drewitt, gardener to Mrs. Cubitt, the Pennies, Dorking, 

 and Mr. Serymger, gardener to R. Palmer, Eucp, Ilulim; Park, Read- 

 ing, likewise exhibited the Nuneham Park Onion, and from the latter 

 came also the Heading, which, though .mi -n|. u .] i., lie the same as, or 

 but little different from, tho White Spanish, is said to keep better. 

 From tho garden at Chiswick there was likewise a small collection of 

 Onions; and from Mr. R. Dean, Ealing, came some of the finest 

 examples of the Danvera Onion which we have seen. Messrs. Veitch 

 contributed large and linely-blanched exumples of Endive, consisting 

 of tho White Curled. Moss Curled, Green Cmled, and the Digswell 

 Prize, very similar to the last ; also, the Broad-leaved Batavian, and 

 Fraser's Improved Broad-leaved. Messrs. Stuart & Meiu, Kelso, 

 sent bottles of the pickled pods of the Rat-tailed and Madras Radish, 

 and the Committee considered that tho latter had tho bettor appear- 

 ance of the two. 



Fortnightly Meeting.— G. F. Wilson, Esq., F.R.S., in the chair. 

 After the election of two Fellows the Rev. Joshua Dix, Chairman of 

 the Floral Committee, reported the awards of that body, and in the 

 absence of the Rev. M. J. Berkeley pointed out some of the more 

 remarkable subjects exhibited, and among others the variegated Jas- 

 mine from Messrs. Francis, of Hertford (noticed at page 266) ; this, 

 it was stated, would have received an award had the Committee been 

 certain that it was new, but some of its members believed they had 

 seen it years ago. 



Mr. Wooster said that he had seen the same Jasmine, or one very 

 like it. twenty years ago in the garden of Mr. Loudon, at Bayswater. 

 It had been budded on the common Jasmine, but although the bud 

 did not take, the variegation remained in the stock — a result which he 

 ascribed to the inoculation of the sap. He had also seen the same 

 variegation three or four years ago in a plant at Naworth Castle, the 

 seat of the Earl of Carlisle. 



Mr. Wilson having made a few remarks on the subjects before the 

 Fruit Committee, the proceedings closed. 



Weekly Show, October Cth. — For a collection of six miscellaneous 

 plants a first prize was awarded to Mr. Young, gardener to R. Barclay, 

 Esq., Highgate ; and Mr. Bartlett, Hammersmith, had a second prize 

 for a well-grown collection of Ferns. Collections of fruit came from 

 Mi-. Young and Mr. Marcham, gardener to E. Oates, Esq., Hanwell, 

 to the former of whom a first prize was awarded ; mu\ Mr. Young also 

 sent a collection of Apples and Pears. Mr. J. Perldns, gardener to 

 Lord Henniker, Thornham Hall, Eye, had also a prize for a good 

 Hybrid Cashmere Melon. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY'S MEETING. 



The September meeting of this Society was held on the 3rd nit., 

 the chair being taken by Sir John Lubbock. F.K.S., President, to 

 whom a special vote of thanks was passed in aclmowledgment of the 

 hospitable reception given to the members of the Society at his re- 

 sidence, High Elms, Kent, on tho 11th of August. Among the do- 

 nations to the Society's library received since the last meeting were 

 tho publications of the Zoological Society of London, the Royal 

 Academy of Brussels, the Lyceum of New York, and the Society of 

 Natural History of Boston, U.S. Several valuable works purchased 

 by the Society, were also upon the table. 



Mr. Ei Bond exhibited some very fine specimens of the new Silk 

 Moth (Bonibyx cvnthia). vaiyiug scatty in size, reared by Mr. Wallace. 

 The largest male's hitherto obtained measure 6J inches in expanse, and 

 the smallest about 3 inches. 



A letter from Dr. Wallace on the unfavourable results produced by 

 the long-continued inclement weather on his Ailanthus caterpillars was 

 read. 



Mi-. S. Stevens stated that he had recently visited Lady Dorothy 

 Nevill's Ailnnthus farm, where several acres are occupied in the 

 growth of this tree, and the rearing of the Silkworms thereon. Birds 

 were rarely found to attack the caterpillars, but it was necessary to 

 employ a man or boy to pick up and replace them when dislodged by 

 the wind. 



Professor Westwood stated that somo of his caterpillars in a very 

 yonug state had been carried off by Wasps. He also stated, as showing 

 the instinct of the species, in favour of the Ailanthus, that a lady at 

 Oxford, who had reared some of the Moths in confinement, of which a 

 pair had escaped oat of the house, had subsequently found them upon 

 the oulv Ailanthus tree in her garden. 



Mr. Bond stated that the female Moth possessed the power of 

 " assembling " the males, which is possessed by some other species of 

 Bombycidfle. 



Mr.'Pascoe directed attention to an account given by Mr. Consul 

 Meadows, of a Chinese Silkworm, the pupa of which is eaten as an 

 article of food ; and Professor Brayley communicated an extract from 

 a report by Mr. Vice-Consul Lav", on the trade of Chee Foo, North 

 China, in which it is stated that 12,000 bales of brown silk produced 

 by the wild Silkworms in the mountain forests of that district could 



