November 27, 1866. ] JOURNAL 01-' HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



405 



ago most beautiful, and would, I have no doubt, have remained 

 in the same condition until Christmas had it not been for the 

 voracity of tho greenfinches, which are remarkably fond of the 

 berries. As soon as these were ripe the depredators commenced 

 operations, and did not cease until they had left every berry 

 minus the seeds, thus destroying the beautiful appearance of 

 the plant. I find that they are also remarkably fond of the 

 fruit of Cotoneaster miorophylla, which here soon shares the 

 same fate. — John Eolington, Wrotham Purk, Burnet. 



ORCHARD PLUMS AND ORCHARD APPLES. 



I iieo to thank Messrs. Bunyard for their supplementary 

 list of orchard Plums, ns well as for correcting my imperfect 

 nomenclature of one of the kinds mentioned. Might I further 

 ask them, or some other well versed in orchard matters, to 

 give us a list of tho most popular Apples grown for market? 

 Such a list, I am well aware, will be much longer than that of 

 Plums, since in each district there are varieties which have 

 either been proved by experience to bo the best for that locality, 

 or are grown merely because a want of knowledge and enter- 

 prise has prevented others being tried. However, there is a 

 multitude of names ; and it would confer a benefit on the com- 

 munity if some one would endeavour to classify them, and 

 state what peculiar soils or situations suit particular kinds. 

 From their exteusive dealings I should think that Messrs. 

 Bunyard would be able to do this, and I for one look with 

 great interest on such information. — J. Rodson. 



VIOLA CORN IF A 



I fear from the manner in which Mr. Bennett (page 368) 

 lias referred to my remarks about this plant that he has mis- 

 apprehended the object I had in view. Perhaps I was not 

 explicit enough. It was not in the least to question Mr. Ben- 

 nett's botanical accuracy, nor the truth of what he stated when 

 he said " that he never met with more than one variety of the 

 true Viola cornuta." My object was, and is so still, in thus 

 returning to the subject, not controversy, but to try and assist 

 in clearing away the confusion that exists about this very use- 

 ful plant. One thing is perfectly certain — that the trado have 

 supplied either another species of Viola, or a very inferior 

 variety of Viola cornuta, for that which is acknowledged as a 

 most excellent bedding plant. I am not by any means solitary 

 in this experience ; and this is of more importance to intend- 

 ing purchasers than any otherminor point of difference between 

 a few individuals. 



The question arises, Does Viola cornuta (the Horned Violet) 

 vary when raised from seed, or is there another species of 

 Viola closely resembling cornuta differing from it only in 

 habit and profusion of bloom ? Mr. Bennett says that Viola 

 cornuta has been in this country for nearly a century, and that 

 it is propagated from cuttings. I presume he has not had ex- 

 perience in seedlings, or he would have, perhaps, supplied the 

 information which I wished to cail forth about its coming 

 perfectly true from seed — a point of no small importance now 

 that the trade are offering for sale seeds of a plant for which 

 there is, and will be, a great demand. 



The two Violas which I have here are alike in stem, leaf, 

 colour, and shape of flower ; both are horned Violets. They 

 differ in the one being more procumbent in growth and shy in 

 blooming, while the fine one is a comparatively upright-growing 

 plant, and flowers most profusely. They were planted alter- 

 nately in the same line, so that the difference is not the result 

 of soil or climate. Can none of your readers tell whether there 

 are two species of Viola which so closely resemble each other, 

 or whether V. cornuta does or does not vary when raised from 

 seed ? Many, I am sure, will be glad if any one can decide 

 this. The term cornuta is quite as applicable to both as to 

 one of the sorts I have grown, if it has been suggested by the 

 shape of the flower, which I presume is the case. — D. Thomson, 

 Archcrficld. 



[We shall be obliged, and so will all gardeners, by information 

 in reply to the inquiry made by Mr. Thomson. There is a por- 

 trait of the botanist's Viola cornuta in the ninth volume of the 

 " Botanical Magazine," f. 791. It is there represented with an 

 elongated, adscending stem ; leaves oblong-ovate, nearly heart- 

 shaped in fact, with crenate edges]; nectary, or horn, awl-shaped 

 and longer than the corolla ; flowers bluish-purple, with Btreaks 

 of dark purple. Curtis says, that when he wrote (1804), it had 



become very common in gardens, being easily propagated by 

 its creeping roots. Ho adds that, " besides tho length of tho 

 spur, which equals the petals, thoro is another character that 

 might havo given rise to the namo of cornuta, or horned, but 

 as it does not appear to have been noticed, it is most probable 

 that this namo was applied on account of the length of the spur 

 or nectarium only. We allude to the remarkable length of the 

 segments of the calyx, which appear between the petals some- 

 what like a pair of cow's horns, particularly the two lowermost 

 segments, which are bent a little upwards— that is, with respect 

 to the observer, for with respect to the flower they point down- 

 wards, this being resupinate or inverted." 



Tournefort first mentioned it, and called it Viola pyrenaica, 

 it being a native of the Pyrenees, but it was also found on 

 Mount Atlas in Algiers. It was introduced to the Kew Gardens 

 in 1776 by Dr. Ortega.] 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



NoVEMBKtt 20th. 



Floral Committee. — The subjects for examination were very few, 

 as might be expected from the lateness of tho season. A second-class 

 certificate was awarded to Ruscus aculeatns with yellow berries, which 

 was exhibited on a previous occasion by Mr. Shortt, gardener to 

 Viscount Eversley, at Heckfield; Mr. Shortt having informed the 

 Committee that several plants had been found in tbe same locality. 

 The plant is of much interest as a new form of Ruscus, also as a 

 new variety of a British plant. Mr. Laurence, gardener to the 

 Bishop of Winchester, Farnham Castle, brought a beautiful speci- 

 men of Coccocypseluni reflexum, producing very pretty bluish puqde 

 berries. This is a trailing stove plant, and much admired for the 

 peculiar colour of its berries. Mr. W. Earley, gardener to Felix 

 Piyor, Esq., Digswell, brought cut specimens of seedling Begonias ; 

 one of them, B. pendnla, seemed a desirable variety, but there wa3 too 

 much similarity. They are useful plants at this time of the year. 

 From the same exhibitor came also two Iponneas— one, probably a 

 form of I. quamodit, with small crimson flowers, the other of a light 

 azure blue, both well-known plants. Messrs. Backhouse, York, sent 

 Mesiiiopsidium [?] sanguinenm, a small rose-coloured Orchid from 

 Ecuador ; and from Mr. Salter, Hammersmith, came three seedling 

 Chrysanthemums, each of which was awarded a first-class certificate. 

 They were Countess of Warwick, a fine full white flower ; Lady Tal- 

 fourd, a beautifully formed flower with pale silvery rose incurved 

 " petals," one of tile most perfect varieties yet raised ; and Faust, a 

 broad-petalled bronzy chestnut-coloured flower of excellent form.^ Mr. 

 Salter also exhibited a dark rose-coloured sport of Pompon Cedo Nulli ; 

 the plant had been badly cultivated — should it prove to be, as it doubt- 

 less will, as well-formed a flower as its original parent — the white, or 

 tho golden and brown varieties, it will be a great acquisition. J. 

 Bateman, Esq., sent cut specimens of Odontoglossum Hallii, but 

 it seemed to be the opinion of the Committee that that flower was 

 cither 0. triumphaus or O. gloriosum. A. D. Berringtou, Esq., sent 

 a cut branched spike of Burlingtonia decora picta. Mr Richards, 

 gardener to Lord Londcsborough, exhibited a small plant of a Lycaste 

 of the flava section, much resembling the specimen sent by R. Warner, 

 Esq., to the last meeting. From Major R. Trevor Clarke came a fine 

 mass of Hvmenocallis iittoralis grown in a tank among Water Lilies. 



Fruit Committee. — To Mr. Rnffett, gardener to Viscountess Palmer- 

 stou, Brocket! Hall, a special certificate was awarded for eleven dishes 

 of Apples, among which were very good examples of Cox's Orange 

 Pippin, Fearn's Pippin, Court of Wick, Margil, Braddiek's Nonpareil, 

 and Sam Young. From the same exhibitor came also good Chau- 

 moutel Pears. Mr. Earley, gardener to F. Pryor, K i , Digswell, sent 

 four dishes of Apples; arid Mr. Cox, Redleaf, Walthara Abbey Seed- 

 ling and Golden Noble, two excellent kitchen Apples ; likewise very 

 good Winter Nelis and Chaumoutel Pears. For very straight and 

 well-grown Salsafy and Scorzonerft, Mr. Earley received a special cer- 

 tificate, and a similar award was mailo to him for Earley's Selected 

 Prize Brussels Sprouts, a very productive stock with stems about 4 feet 

 in length, and closely set with sprouts. Messrs. Veitch contributed 

 a most useful exhibition— viz., ten sorts of Celery. These were In- 

 comparable White, Veitch's Silver White, Paris Dwarf White, Sey- 

 mour's White, Cole's Crystal White, Solid Red, Hood's Dwarf Red, 

 New Red, Cole's Defiance Red, and Ivery's Nonsuch Pink. The first 

 two and the last two were decided to be the best of their respective 

 colours. Mr. Stewart, gardener to the Rev. W. Vernon Harcourt, 

 Nnneham Park, sent three kinds of Onions, among which was that 

 called the Nuneham Park. 



Fortnightlt Meetinc— G. F. Wilson, Esq., F.R.S., in the chair. 

 After the election of three new members and the admission of the 

 Enniskillen and the Undercliff Horticultural Societies into union, the 

 Rev. Joshua Dix reported the awards of the Floral Committee, and 

 made some remarks on the objects exhibited. Mr. WUson performed 

 a similar task as regards the subjects brought before the Fruit Com- 

 mittee. He likewise directed attention to a Strawberry-pan sent by 



