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JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ July 23, 1875. 



of the Committee. Mr. J. Maher, Stoke Court, Slongh, sent a 

 brace of Cucumbers called Sultan, which though fine fruit, were 

 not (liatinct or superior to others in cultivation. Mr. E. Bennett, 

 Rabley Nurseries, Shenley, sent a Cucumber called Rabley Hero. 

 He also exhibited a fasciated branch of Duke of Edioburgh 

 Cucumber ; the fasciation, which was 3} to 4 inches wide, was like 

 a broad band with the leaves and Cucumbers stitched on it. 



Mr. Charles Turner, SlouRh, sent a quantity of his new Pea 

 Dr. Maclean, a fine larpe full-podded Pea containing eleven 

 Peas. It was much admired, but before making any award on 

 its merits it was decided to have it grown at Chiswick. Mr. 

 Woodbridge, the Gardens, Syon House, Isleworth, sent a branch 

 of Bigarreau Napoleon Cherry, studded with fine large highly- 

 coloured fruit. A vote of thanks was awarded to Mr. Wood- 

 bridge. G. F. Wilson, Esq., Heatherbank, Weybridge, sent a 

 ■dish of Beurre Giffard Pear from a tree grown in a pot, the fruit 

 set in an orchard house and ripened out of doors. They were 

 ■qnite ripe and of excellent flavour. Mr. Tillery of Welbeck 

 sent a dish of very fine Galande Peaches and Violette H.-Uive 

 Nectarines, which received ft cultural commendation. 



Mr. Jones of the Royal Gardens, Frogmore, sent a seedling 

 Apricot called Frogmore Early, a small Apricot the size of 

 Breda, quite ripe, and was grown against a wall in the open air. 

 Mr. Jones stated that he had been gathering the fruit since the 

 12th of July (nine days ago). In consideration of its high merit 

 and earliness in a season which is proverbially a late one, the 

 Committee awarded it a first class certificate. Mr. Stevens, 

 ftardener to G. Simpson, Esq., Wray Park, Reigate, sent a seed- 

 ling Melon, Stevens's Seediing Green-flesh, but it was not in 

 condition. Mr. Wildsmith, gardener to Viscount Bversley, 

 Heckfield, sent a seedling Melon, but it had not much flavour, 

 but it was BO thin in the skin and so promising the Committee 

 expressed a wish to see it agnin. Mr. Raynham, Stradeshall 

 Place, Newmarket, sent a seedling scarlet-flesh Melon of very 

 promising character, which the Committee asked to see again. 

 It is to be remarked in justice to the reputation of these new 

 Melons, that the late heavy and continuous rains and sunless 

 skies have operated very much against their successful culti- 

 vation. 



Floual CoMJnTTEE. — B. S. Williams, Esq., in the chair. Mr. 

 Robert Fleming, gardener to R. Houghton, Esq., Sandheye, 

 Liverpool, sent a very fine form of Adiantum coicinnum var. 

 Flemiugii. It is far superior to A. c. latum. The fronds are 

 finely divided, and arch over more gracefully. This had a first- 

 class certificate. Polystichum angulare var. graudidens pumilum 

 from Messrs. Tvery tt Sons, Dorking, also received a first-class 

 certificate. The fronds are narrow and sword-shaped. Other 

 fine forms of the species were sent by the same exhibitors. 

 They had also a very fine form of the Lady P'ern, Atbyriam 

 Filix-foemina cristata Iveryana, and another A. F.-f. Vernonia? 

 criepa, and Scolopendrium vulgare Droveri, 



A group of single am} double Zonal Pelargoniums were sent 

 by Mr. W. Paul of Waltham CroES. They were mostly conti- 

 nental seedlings, and comprised some very distinct flowers. 

 Talabot, a purplish crimson double, is very distinct, and had a 

 second-class certificate. Ernest Faivre, white, salmon centre, 

 is very dwarf and distinct ; and Madame Thibaut, bright rose, 

 very distinct, double, of good habit. Mr. G. Smith. ToUington 

 "Nursery, Hornsey Road, Islington, sent a very fine Zonal, white 

 with salmon centre, named Evening Star; and Challenger, a 

 variety of the Nosegay type with an immense truss of crimson 

 flowers ; also abasket of a remarkable double Zonal Pelargonium, 

 a sport from Vesuvius. The flowers are semi-double, and the 

 petals have the quality of hanging to the trusses more firmly 

 than in any other sort. It deservedly received a first-class cer- 

 tificate. It will doubtless be a fine bedding plant. Messrs. E. 

 G. Henderson & Son of St. John's Wood sent a very fine group 

 of new plants, comprising Sonerilas, of which S. Hendersonii 

 flrgenteaand S. Hendersonii marmorata are very fine. Begonias 

 Prince of Wales and Princess of Wales of the linear-leaved 

 group are quite distinct in character. Pelltea Bridgesii, a neat 

 Fern with glaucous fronds, had a second-class certificate. They 

 also pent a collection of Begonias of the B. Veitchii type. Mr. 

 C. Green, Botanical Nursery, Holmesdale Road, Reigate, sent 

 a new Aloe mottled like the old partridge-breasted species, with 

 elongated spiny-curved leaves. It received a first-claas certifi- 

 cate. 



From the gardens of Sir G. Macleay, Pendell Court, Bletch- 

 ingly, were sent cut flowers of Begonia Vesuvius from the open 

 ground. Its large bright vermilion flowers were splendid. A 

 new Rose with the foliage splashed conspicuously with yellow 

 was sent by Mr. J. Perkins of Thornham Hall, Eye, Suffolk. 

 The flowers are not of very good quality. 



A collection of cut leaves with pitchers of six different species 

 of Nepenthes sent by Mr. D. Thomson of Drumlanrig Castle 

 Gardens, Damfriea were much admired for their extreme beauty. 

 N. distillatoria was represented by a growth with seven very 

 large pitchers. N. Rafflesiana was also very grand. 



A basket of a good type of Zonal and seedling Pelargoniums 

 was sent by Mr. Young, gardener to H. Webb, Esq., of EedhiU. 



Mr. W. Bull of King's Road, Chelsea, also received first-class 

 certificates for Draciena triumphana, a species with bronzy 

 metallic linear recurved foliage ; KentiaMoorei, a splendid Palm 

 with noble foliage like K. Fosteriana ; Disa Barelii, a very fine 

 species, which might be designated a major form of D. grandi- 

 flora, but much superior to any of the forms of that fine species ; 

 Lomaria dobrodyensis and Martinezia nobilis, a very fine 

 decorative Palm. Mr. Bull also exhibited a large number of new 

 Palms, Ferns, and other plants. 



Messrs. J. it C. Lee sent Juniperus virginiana, " Triomphe 

 d'Angers," which received a first-class certificate ; Taxodium 

 sempervirens alba spica, and other coniferous trees and shrubs. 

 A first-class award was voted to the Juniper. Rev. J. B. Nor- 

 man, Whitchurch Rectory, Edgeware, had botanical certificates 

 for Masdevallia species, supposed to be elephanticeps, of a bright 

 greenish yellow externally, the lip a purplish brown — a curious 

 and interesting species; and M. Normanii, the back of the 

 flower a reddish purple, and internally a greenish ivory white 

 with yellow tails — a very pretty species. Other plants may be 

 omitted owing to their removal from the Council-room before 

 our notes were completed. 



THE EOYAL NURSERIES, SLOUGH. 



Onn main object in visiting these nurseries was to see tbe 

 Pea° now growing in the grounds, and especially to note the 

 condition of a new variety bearing an honourable name — Dr. 

 Maclean. It is very easy and very eommon, also natural, on 

 seeing an exhibition of plants, fruits, or vegetables, to fancy 

 that we have examples as good or better at home. Such 

 opinions are frequently and honestly formed, but in nine cases 

 out of ten if that which in the solitude of home looks bo 

 meritorious is placed in position with the best products of 

 others, our idol is robbed of a portion of its glory, and it is 

 only then that we really and accurately obtain a just measure 

 of its merit. No one is more alive to this fact than Mr. Turner, 

 and no one could less afford to attach his name to a commodity 

 of doubtful merit or fictitious fame ; hence his new Pea must 

 undergo the test of a fall and fair trial with the first and best 

 varieties of the day, and must stand or fall on its merits in 

 comparison with those of its peers. 



This parliament of Peas now in session at Slough consists 

 of twenty-five representatives of the great Pea constituency. 

 All the famous Peas are here, from AJpha to Omega. There 

 are fat and full G. F. Wilsons, dwarf and sturdy Uniques, 

 gigantic Superlatives, and all sorts of big marrows. Best of 

 All is in ruddy garb, and James's Prolific is heavily laden. 

 There is a row each of Quality and Quantity, tbe tempting 

 Connoisseur, the new and good Supplanter, and of course the 

 Premier. Such are a sample of the varieties which have 

 proved their worth and calibre ; and fine as these rows are, 

 and worthily as they have won their fame, yet we say it — 

 because we cannot by seeking find a shade of doubt on the 

 point — that if the new member had been named Alpha or 

 Omega, Best of AU, or Premier, or any other title which fit 

 the others so well, that it were worthy of that title, for it 

 is the first in appearance — a veritable " Alpha," tbe last in 

 age — an " Omega," and a splendid finish ; it is the " Best of 

 AU" the gathering, and a veritable "Premier" amongst its 

 peers. 



We are aware that is saying a great deal, but we have not a 

 word of qualification to append. We say it because it would 

 not be justice to say anything less, and because we have no 

 fear of our verdict being challenged by other competent judges. 

 The rows of Dr. Maclean are nothing short of a grand sight. 

 Not in one point alone does this Pea excel, but in every quality 

 its merits are apparent. In productiveness it is unequalled, 

 iu size of pod unsurpassed by any save Superlative, in fulness 

 it is replete, in colour all that can be wished, and iu sturdi- 

 ness and vigour it satisfies an exacting criticism. We have 

 only to add that it is 3 feet iu height, and is — for on this point 

 we have tested it — of high table quality. 



Mr. Turner has sent from his nursery many things of which 

 he may be proud, but nothing in either plant, fruit, or vege- 

 table for which he is responsible will better uphold his reputa- 

 tion than Dr. Maclean Pea. We almost venture to hope that 

 with his success he will be generous, and enable all Pea lovers 

 to afford to possess a supply of this fine variety ; and if it 

 flourishes equal to its present doings at Slough, they will have 

 an acquisition in the shape of Peas which will enrich their 

 vegetable collections, rich as they may have been before. 

 We take leave of this Pea by saying it is the finest variety 

 we have ever seen growing, and iu quality we cannot name a 

 better sort. 



