472 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



{ Jano 26, 1866. 



is no risk of destroying game, or infringing tho Act of Parlia- 

 ment against the use of any poisonous preparation for this 

 purpose. Much, too. is thus gained by liberating children 

 from the miserable work of bird-watching, and thus doing away 

 with this common pretext for keeping them away from school. 

 — W. 



ROYAL HOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 

 June 1i>th. 

 Floral Comhtttee. — Messrs. Veitch exhibited a large collection 



of beautiful and iuturestiuf^ plauts. First-class certilicatea were 

 awarded to Adiantnm sp. nova, with tho younger fronds of a dark 

 rosy hue ; Verscbaffeltia sjilendida ; Areca Baucri, a graceful Palm ; 

 and Gloxinia Prince Teck, a very beautiful wbite and pale pm-jdo 

 flower. Special certificates were awarded for Droscra capensis and a 

 very fine specimen of D. dichotoma, curious plants which attracted 

 much attention ; also for cut specimens of the beautiful Fremontia 

 califomiL-a, a hardy tlowering shrub. A special certificate was likewise 

 awarded for Messrs. Veitch's general collection, in which were Drosera 

 Bpaihulata ; Herrania pahnata, which received a first-class certificate 

 early this year ; Jussi^asp. ; Palava fiexuosa ; Maraut.aLindenii,a very 

 beautiful plant, which it was requested should be sent again ; Alter- 

 nanthera versicolor, sputhulata, and ama^na sessilis, new plants to be 

 used for bedding-purposes on account of their briUiant dark red varie- 

 gated foliage ; Nepenthes sp. from Ceylon, Aerides maculosum speci- 

 osum, and Aerides atllne. Mr. Bull received a tirst-class certificate 

 for Verschaffeltia splendida, and one of the second-class for Athyrinm 

 costale dissectum, also for Ophiopogon spicatus foliis argenteo-varie- 

 gatis. A special certificate was awarded for his two collections of Pelar- 

 goniums, representiu{^ the Zonale and Show sections. Among the 

 Zonales were some exquisite flowers, the mass of varied colours had 

 a brilliant effect, and although grown in very small pots there were 

 some fine trusses. Some new seedlings were among them, but were 

 not entered for special examination. Mr. Bull also sent Maranta 

 Lindenii, which it was asked should be sent again ; Asplenium lepto- 

 phyllam, closely resembhng mouanthemum, Nephrodium molle cris- 

 pum, and Nephrodium molle graudiceps. 



Messrs. Smith, Dalwich, received second-class certificates for seed- 

 ling Zonale Pelargonium Vandyke, with fohage much like that of 

 Beauty of Oultou, and pale sahuon-coloured flowers, a very distinct 

 variety ; and for Zonale Pelargonium Glorious, a well-formed, ex- 

 tremely ^'i^-id scarlet flower. A commendation was given for Zonale 

 Pelargonium Lncy, one of the marbled section, of which Sheen Rival 

 is a tj-pe. It is of dwai-f habit, has deep- zoned foliage, and bright scarlet 

 trusses, and is a very effective plant for bedding-pui-poses. There 

 were several other seedlings of considerable merit from the same firm, 

 but not sufficiently distinct from others ; also, Petunia Juno, a striped 

 variety : Petunia Minnie, a lihputian form ; and Pelargonium Sultan, 

 one of the Show varieties. 



Messi-s. E. G. Henderson, Wellington Road, exhibited several nice 

 plants. First-class certificates were awarded for Pelargonium Pink 

 Nosegay, and Gloire de Nancy, a continental double variety, of 

 which mention was made in our last report. From the same firm 

 came also four seedliufi varieties of Clianthus Damj ieri ; one of them 

 producing partially white flowers, the keel being quite white, was 

 awarded a tirst-class certificate. Jasminum var. aurea, and a seed- 

 ling Zonale Pelargonium, Christine Nosegay, were also shown by 

 Messrs. Henderson. 



Mr. Pilcher, gardener to S. Rncter, Esq., exhibited some splendid 

 Orchids. First-class certificates were awarded for Cattleya "W'ameri, 

 C. Ructeri, C. Pilchcri, three most superb varieties of C. labiata, and 

 a .sj)ecial certificate was awarded for a very handsome specimen of 

 Laelia purpurata. Messrs. Osbom, Falham, received a first-class cer- 

 tificate for an Enghsh Orchis, a variety of Orchis maculata, called 

 Orchis maculata snperba ; this beautiful and interesting variety was 

 found in Ayi-shire, and is distinct from the ordinary form, the foliage 

 not being so long or pointed, and it is covered with minute spots. A 

 special certificate was awarded to the same firm for a fine specimen of 

 Osmunda rcgalis cristata. Messrs. Osborn also exhibited a specimen 

 of an old plant, Cvrtauthus angustifolius, and Cochlearia acauUs, a 

 dwarf annual for bedding-purposes. 



Mr. Salter, Hammei-smith, exhibited a beautiful collection of Pyre- 

 thrums, which was awarded a special certificate ; also, two Zonale 

 Pelargoniums, Madame Werle, a white ground, with pale pink centre. 

 and Imperial, the most perfect in form, and in every respect the best 

 Zonale yet seen, bright orange scarlwt flowere, well defined zonate 

 foliage, and good haLit. This is a continental variety, and has cer- 

 tainly echpsed The Clipper, and all its class. A first-class certificate 

 was given to each of these plants. 



From Messrs. Backhouse came a specimen of Odontoglossum hns- 

 tatum, and from Mr. Williams, Holloway, several fine specimens. 

 First-class certificates were awarded to him for Orchis maculata 

 snperba, Calamus Imperulrice Marie, and a tasselled Adinutum. In 

 Mr. Williams's collection were also Dieffenbachia gigantea, Tehanthera 

 ficoidea, and the three Altemantheras exhibited in Messrs. Veitch's 

 collection. 



Mr. Turner, Slough, sent some very magnificent seedling Pelargo- 

 niams of the Show varieties ; these were selected from the seedlings of 



the oniinent raisers Mr. Hoylo and Mr. Nye. First-class ccrtificfttM 

 were awarded for Perfection, Archbishop, and Milton, tbrt-e very 

 escelleut flowers ; one of tho second-class for Beauty uf Windsor ; and 

 n commendation for Negress, with pnre white centre, the darkest Pelar- 

 gonium yet raised. Had the petals been smooth and firm it would 

 have been a first-class plant. It will form a most useful flower for a 

 contrast. A first-class was also awarded to Mr. Turner for a seedling 

 J*ink i'rincess of Wales, and he likewise exhibited two seedling fancy 

 Pelar^'oniums, Emily Spiller and Liberty. We must not omit to no- 

 tice tho superb and well-grown specimen exhibited l>y Mr. Tomer of 

 Nosegay Pehirgonium, Bnchess of Sntheriand, which was awarded a 

 first-class certificate last year. We should like very much to see all 

 Zonale specimens shown in the same stylo. Without doubt Mr. 

 Turner can make as much of the Zonale section as exhibition speci- 

 mens as ho can of the ordinary flowers with which the horiicoltaral 

 world are so well acquainted. 



Mr. Gcorj^o Smith, Homsey, sent a very pretty seedling Zonalo 

 Pelargonium with broad white variegation, a very conspicuous variety. 

 Only one plant was shown ; its effect could not bo properly estimated. 

 James Batcman, Esq., exhibited several cut specimens of Orchids, and 

 a first-class certificate was awarded for Aerides testaceum as a novelty. 

 A fine collection of well-RroftTi Zonale PelarKoninms came from the 

 Society's gardens at Chiswick, also some fine plants of the new 

 variegated Maize or Indian Com, to which was awarded a first-class 

 certificate. 



Fruit CoiisnTTEE. — The only subjects exhibited on this occasion 

 were fruit of a Granadilla from the pro\'ince of Antiotjuia, New Gre- 

 nada, sent by J. Peake, Esq.. Newcastle-uuder-Ljue, and of Zizyphos 

 vulgaris, shown by J. Bateman, Esq., of Biddolph Grange^ wnoM 

 remarks on both will be found further on. 



FoBTKiGHTLY MEETING. — S. Ruckcr, Esq., F.L.S., in the chair. 

 After the election of five new Fellows, and the admission of tho Bnck- 

 inghamshire Floricultnral and Horticultural Society into union, the 

 awards of the Floral Committee were reported by the Rtjv. Joshua Dix. 



The Rev. M. J. Berkeley then remarked, in connection with a variety 

 of Poi-tugal Laurel shown at the previous meeting, that Prunus Insi- 

 tanica is far more luxuriant in the Azores, Canary Islands, and Ma- 

 deira than here. At the same meeting there was also a .si>ecie3 of 

 Cotoueaster, which had proved on examination to be a form of C. ro- 

 tundifolia, which is even more hardy than C. microphylla. A species 

 of Dieffeubacbia had also been brought from the Society's garden, and 

 it had since been shown under the name of Dieffenbachia Weirii. On 

 opening the spathe he had found within it a number of other epathes ; 

 but it was rather a work of danger to examine Dieffenbachias, and ho 

 would recommend those making the attempt to be careful. Tho Dumb 

 Cane (D. seguinn). for instance, received its name in consequence of 

 its stems when bitten causing the mouth to swell, and producing tem- 

 porary loss of speech ; and I). Weirii was also a dangerous plant. Of 

 the variegated Maize it was stated that only a certain proportion 

 of the seedliu<;s came variegated. Ophiopogon spicatus and Erio- 

 gonum nmbellatum were then adverted to, aiter which an unnamed 

 Sundew was said to be Drosera spathulata. The Droseras, of which 

 there were three British and numerous foreign species, were stated to be 

 full of interest ; and one in particular, D. gigantea, may prove of value 

 as a dye, from its staining the paper between which it is dried a bright 

 magenta colour, which on being treated with ammonia affords a clear 

 vellow. lonopsidium acanle was then noticed as being extreraelj 

 useful for covering ground about plants out of doors, just as the Sela- 

 ginellas are employed tinder glass. Fremontia califomica, a flowering 

 branch of which was placed before the meeting by the Messrs. Yeitch» 

 next occupied attention, and its principal botanical characters, as well 

 as those of the order Stercnliacefo, to which it belongs, were briefly 

 stated. Some doubt was expressed as to whether a plant with very 

 ornamental foliage, exhibited by Mr. Bull under the name of Samyda 

 nobilis, was really a Samyda, one of the leading characteristics of that 

 genus beinfx alteiiiate loaves, generally marked with pellucid dots, and 

 it was thought to be more nearly allied to Theobroma. The pretty 

 Asplenium leptophyllum was likewise said to be closely allied to Asple- 

 nium trichomanes," but to display a great difference in the fructi- 

 fication. Regarding the beautiful Pyrethrums shown by Mr. Salter, 

 it was remarked that horticulturists possessed one advantage, that^ of 

 kno^ving their whole history from the beginning, and this beginning 

 was a slight change in the number of ray florets observed some years 

 ago bv a Paris nurservman. Now, as an eai-ly autumnal flower, the 

 varieties which have since been obtained are equal in beauty to the 

 China Aster, but they have a drawback in being of a more straggling 

 habit of growth, and it would be desirable, if possible, to raise 

 Pompon varieties. 



Mr. Bateman in commencing hi3 remarks on Fremontia califomica, 

 said he must first draw attention to the very limited number of hardy 

 shnibs and trees with yellow flowers, which wo at present possess. 

 With the exception of the old Corchorns japouicus, the common La- 

 burnum, and Jasminum Wallichianum, he really could not recollect 

 any such flowering at this time of year. To such, then, the Fremontia 

 would be a valuable addition ; it was not, however, absolutely new, 

 one plant of it having been imported into this country about fifteen 

 vears aco, and that plant was in the possession of the Horticultural 

 Society" but it obstinately refused to be propagated by layers, cut- 

 tings, roet-division, or any other means, and this was all the more 



