136 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



[August 4, 1888. 



continued biological investigations will have to be 

 made for the hasty grouping together of the various 

 forms, because they occur on allied host plants, is as 

 liable to error as the opposite plan of making every 

 form a species because it occurs on a different host 

 plant." 



Malformed Cypripedimns. — Dr. Masters exhibited 

 drawings and made comments on several malformed 

 Cypripediums which had been referred to him at a 

 previous meeting. The principal peculiarities, in 

 different flowers, were the following : — imperfect deve- 

 lopment of the lip; adhesion of the lateral petals to 

 the sides of the column, and consequent displace- 

 ment ; disjunction of the lateral sepals, and presence of 

 two lips in one flower. The adventitious lip might 

 be the result (a) of additional development, (b) of 

 subdivisions of the primary lip, (e) of the presence 

 in the guise of a lip of one of the outer stamens 

 (a 2), which is usually suppressed. Another flower 

 had three staminodes, one corresponding to a 1, and 

 two lateral ones as usual, the stigma being distinctly 

 three-lobed. From Mr. Kimball came a drawing of 

 C. Lawrenceanum, in which the parts of the flower 

 were arranged in crossed pairs. The most peculiar 

 flower was one of C. barbatum exhibited by Mr. 

 O'Brien. In this the general form was triangular, 

 the upper sepal was wanting, the two lateral ones 

 were present, the two lateral petals were also pre- 

 sent, but in the shape of broadly ovate segments, 

 more like sepals in shape, but having the position of 

 petals, as well as the little tufts of hairs on the 

 margins, characteristic of the petals in this species. 

 The columnjwas erect with two lateral shields conceal- 

 ing the anthers, while the ordinary median staminode 

 was absent. The style was erect, cylindric, scarcely 

 Zobed at the top, and the ovary entirely absent. 



Passiflora kcwensis. x — Dr. Masters showed draw- 

 ings of this hybrid, as also of P. bybrida floribunda, 

 to show how closely similar they were. P. kewensis X 

 was known to be a hybrid out of P. kermesina by 

 cairulea, and P. hybrida floribunda in all probability 

 had the same origin. 



Movements in the Shoots of Firs. — Dr. Masters 

 showed diagrams representing the movements, not 

 only of the leader shoot of Abies bifida (firma), but 

 also of the lateral shoots, and explained that while the 

 leader shoot gyrates in irregular ellipses, its point 

 being alternately raised or depressed, the lateral shoots 

 not only move from one point of the compass to 

 another, and are elevated or depressed, but are also 

 rotated on their own axis, the leaves likewise being 

 raised or depressed at various angles. These move- 

 ments of shoots and leaves were very complex, and 

 in all probability dependent on different causes. 



Growth of Philadelphia. — Dr. Masters exhibited a 

 drawing of a plant of Philadelphus raised from a 

 cutting in a pot. On shifting the cutting into a 

 larger-sized pot, it was found that a dense leash of 

 roots had proceeded from one single point only of the 

 callused end — not from the entire circumference. 

 One lateral shoot only was, in the first instance, 

 produced from the side of the cutting, and this shoot 

 was on the opposite side to that whence the tufts of 

 roots issued. Not till this one shoot had grown to a 

 large size, and produced three or four pairs of leaves 

 with internodes of considerable length between 

 them, was a second shoot produced. Prcm 

 the base of the original cutting, opposite to the 

 first, a third and a fourth were also produced 

 regularly, first on one side, then on the other side 

 of the plant, and nowhere else. 



Araucaria brasiliensis. — Professor Henriques, of 

 Coimbra, sent a photograph showing two fine trees 

 of this species growing in the open air in the 

 Botanic Gardens of the University of that city. 



The Plymouth Strawberry. — Dr. Masters showed 

 ripe fruits of this curious monstrosity, grown from 

 plants presented to him by Mr. G. P. Wilson. It is 

 an alpine Strawberry, in which all the parts of the 

 flower are more or less represented by leaves. The 

 plant was mentioned by old botanical writers, but 

 afterwards disappeared, or was so completely over- 

 looked that its very existence was assumed to be a 

 myth. Of late years, however, the plant had 

 reappeared in several gardens, and the correctness of 

 the old writers has been vindicated. 



Hybrid Clematis. — From Mr. Noble came specimens 

 of his C. Jackmanni alba. The ordinary Jackman 

 Clematis produces its purple flowers in late summer 

 on the young wood of the year. The white variety, 

 however, produces flowers in the spring on the old 

 wood of the preceding year, and which are more or 

 less irregular in character, and again flowers on the 

 herbaceous shoots later in the summer, thus showing 

 in one and the same plant the characteristics of two 



distinct sections of the genus, and affording evidence 

 of the hybrid origin of the plant in question. 



Stag Beetle. — From Mr. Eoupell came a specimen 

 of Lucanus cervus, stated to be very abundant this 

 season in certain localities. While the perfect 

 insect, in spite of its formidable appearance, is harm- 

 less to plants, its larva is very destructive to the 

 wood of trees. 



Trials at Chiswick. 



A meeting of the Fruit and Vegetable Committee 

 was held at Chiswick on July 26. Present : — Harry 

 J. Veitch, Esq., in the chair; Messrs. Lee, Warren, 

 Pearson, Ross, Rivers, Marshall, Norman, and 

 Denning. 



The collection of Peas growing in the garden was 

 further examined. Dr. Hogg, from Messrs. J. Veitch 

 & Sons, was noted as a very fine stock. Midsummer 

 Green was condemned as worthless. Optimum 

 (Laxton), a tall green Marrow, having large hand- 

 some pods resembling Telegraph, was approved. 

 Prince of Wales was noted for its extraordinary 

 cropping qualities. Pride of Kent (Divers) and 

 Gloria Mundi (Yates) were considered to be Ne 

 Plus Ultra. The Abbot (Hurst & Son), a wrinkled 

 green Marrow resembling Telegraph in appearance, 

 but of superior quality, was greatly approved, and 

 received a First-class Certificate. Reliable (Laxton), 

 a dwarf green wrinkled Marrow of the Scimitar 

 type, was approved for its free cropping qualities and 

 well filled pods. Empress (Eckford), a tall green 

 wrinkled Marrow, was approved as a good cropper 

 and of good quality. Ne Plus Ultra Seedling (Cul- 

 verwell) was considered a good stock of the old 

 variety. 



A collection of autumn-sown Onions was inspected, 

 the various types and selections of White Spanish, 

 autumn-sown, were noted as superior to the Tripoli 

 section this season. Bailey's selected White Spanish 

 (Veitch) was highly commended by the committee, 

 being considered the best selection. 



Tomatos were inspected. Messrs. J. Veitch & 

 Sons submitted examples of Raspberry Superlative, 

 referred from the meeting at Westminster, together 

 with examples of Lord Beaconsfield and Semper 

 Fidelis for comparison. They were considered quite 

 distinct. Superlative, being far superior, was awarded 

 a First-class Certificate. 



Mr. T. F. Rivers submitted examples of a seedling 

 Peach and Nectarine raised from the Nectarine 

 Peach. The Nectarine was remarkable for its enor- 

 mous size, being lOi inches in circumference, and 

 10 oz. in weight. 



NORTHAMPTONSHIRE HORTICUL- 

 TURAL, NORTHAMPTON. 



Northamptom. July 19 and 20. — The above 

 Society's show was held on land adjoining the show- 

 ground of the County Agricultural Association, and 

 was in every respect an excellent all-round exhibition, 

 the liberal prizes judiciously offered in the chief 

 classes being an inducement to exhibitors living at 

 considerable distance from the town to compete. 



For twelve stove or greenhouse plants, six in 

 bloom and six fine-foliage, Mr. Cypher, of Chelten- 

 ham, staged a beautiful lot of plants, notably those 

 in flower, which consisted of Erica depressa, as fresh 

 as in May, and most densely bloomed — probably as 

 fine an example as has ever been staged ; Erica 

 Parmentieri rosea, also in fine condition ; a huge 

 plant of Phccnocoma prolifera Barnesii, in splendid 

 health and profuse bloom ; Ixora salicifolia, now sel- 

 dom seen, was equally well done ; these, with excellent 

 plants of Stephanotis floribunda and Allamada 

 nobilis, were all in Mr. Cypher's best form. The 

 foliage plants consisted of Crotons, Palms, and a fine 

 example of Cordyline indivisa. The 2nd prize 

 went, to twelve capital plants from Mr. Wm. Finch, 

 gr. to Jas. Marriot. Esq., of Coventry, who had a 

 very fine plant of Croton mortfoitainensis splendidly 

 coloured. Groups of plants, 20 feet by 12 each, 

 were a most attractive feature, and were so arranged 

 as to fill the central space of a marquee set apart for 

 them. This is an excellent system of arrange- 

 ment, as it affords scope for variety of arrange- 

 ment. 



Mr. Parker, of Rugby, was to the front with 

 a very light and tasteful group, the central portion 

 of which could hardly be surpassed either in choice 

 of material or design; well-grown plants of Cocos 

 Weddelliana here played a most important part, 

 associated with Eulalia japonica variegata and white 

 Lilies ; flowering plants in season were fully em- 



ployed, without too much reliance being placed on 

 choice exotics. Mr. A. Webb, gr. to J. H. M. 

 Sutton, Esq., Kelham Hall, Newark, was 2nd, his 

 group showing considerable taste in its design — the 

 addition of slightly more colour to enliven it would 

 have given a better finish. Mr. Cypher was 3rd, 

 with a choice lot of plants, prominent among which 

 were several Orchids ; a few more plants of light 

 growth would have added to the effect of this group. 



A similar class for groups, but limited to 

 places within thirty miles of Northampton, was also 

 well filled with exhibits. With the same limitation, 

 Mr. Finch gained the 1st position with ten stove 

 or greenhouse plants showing well-grown specimens 

 of medium size. The same exhibitor also took the 1st 

 in the previously mentioned group class. The 

 classes provided for exotic Ferns were well filled, as 

 were also others for Begonias, zonal Pelargoniums, &c. 



Among cut flowers the dinner-table decorations 

 by Mr. Cypher formed a prominent feature, and 

 which secured for him an easy victory over Mr. 

 Parker, whilst Messrs. Perkins, of Coventry, won the 

 1st prize with a bouquet of tasteful design. Cut 

 flowers of hardy herbaceous plants were shown in 

 fine condition. Mr. Goldsmith, gr. to Sir E. Loder, 

 Bart., Floore House, Weedon, was 1st, with a col- 

 lection which consisted of the best things in bloom, 

 and those staged in an admirable manner. The com- 

 petitors in the classes of stove and greenhouse cut 

 flowers would do well to imitate on a future occasion 

 Mr. Goldsmith's style in arranging their exhibits. 



Messrs. Perkins exhibited Roses in classes for 

 twenty-four and twelve respectively, gaining 1st in 

 each instance. 



The fruit classes were fairly well filled, two strong 

 collections of almost equal merit being staged in the 

 open class provided for eight distinct kinds, and 

 came from Mr. Blair, gr. to the Duke of Westmin- 

 ster, at Trentham ; and Mr. Edmonds, gr. to the 

 Duke of St. Alban's, Bestwood ; the first-named had 

 a fine fruit of Queen Pine, Duke of Buccleuch 

 Grapes, and a good Melon, an extra fine dish of 

 Plums, with Peaches and Nectarines of more than 

 average quality. Mr. Edmonds was strong in black 

 Grapes, Peaches, and Nectarines, showing also a 

 good Melon, but was weak with his Pine-apple. 



Mr. Goldsmith showed well in other fruit classes, 

 taking 1st for Peaches, Nectarines, Cherries, and 

 Strawberries, the latter being very fine fruit of 

 James Veitch. 



Mr. Birch, gr. to the Marquis of Northampton, 

 Castle Ashby, was 1st, with some fine bunches of 

 Black Hamburgh Grapes, and in the class for one 

 Melon. 



Collections of vegetables were staged in admir- 

 able condition by Mr. Robinson, gr. to T. Howard, 

 Esq., Bedford, who was 1st for twelve kinds ; and 

 Mr. Underwood, gr. to J. S. Bouverie, Esq., Delapre 

 Abbey, for eight ; whilst in a special class, the prizes 

 being offered by Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading, 

 Mr. Goldsmith took a similar position. The cottagers' 

 products at the Northampton show are invariablj' 

 good, and this occasion was no exception to the rule. 



Superintendents of flower shows please note. At 

 the recent Northampton show the judges were able 

 to commence their duties at 10 o'clock by a judicious 

 arrangement on the part of the committee, who in- 

 sisted that one tent should be cleared at that hour, 

 and so on with the others in rotation. The work of 

 judging was thus far easier, and was completed well 

 within time. H. 



BISHOP'S WALT HAM HORTICUL- 

 TURAL. 



The annual exhibition of this Society took place 

 on the 2jth ult. in Swaumore Park, the seat of W. 

 H. Myers, Esq., whose gardener, Mr. E. Molyneux, 

 has gained much renown as a Chrysanthemum 

 exhibitor. 



The show, which was unfortunately held on a very 

 rainy day, consisted chiefly of cottagers' exhibits of 

 vegetables, and if Potatos be excepted, all were 

 exceptionally fine for the season. Carrots, Turnips, 

 Onions and Peas were excellent, the varieties 

 shown most largely being the Early Nantes Carrot, 

 Six-week Turnips, Reading Onions, and Duke of 

 Albany Pea. The show was fixed at too early a date 

 for Potatos, and they were poor indeed. Small fruits 

 were of good quality. Many of the dishes of 

 Black Currants approached in size the berries of a 

 West's St. Peter's Grape, and there must be some- 

 ingredient in the soil of the district peculiarly 

 suitable to this fruit. 



As regards flowers, the feature of the show was 



