October 27, 1888.] 



TEE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



485 



corolla. They also had a plant of Alocasia 

 Chantrierei, which has leaves about 12 inches long by 

 6 inches broad, with a wavy outline, dark green, with 

 metallic white stripes running along the chief 

 nerves. 



A remarkable hybrid Orchid came from the gar- 

 dens of Baron Schroder, The Dell, Egham (gr. Mr. 

 Ballantine). It is the result of crossing Cattleya 

 citrinaand C. intermedia. The plant shows its hybrid 

 origin in all its particulars ; the pseudobulb is covered 

 with a white skin as in citrina, but is longer and 

 narrower than in that species. The habit and leaves 

 are quite intermediate, and the flowers are drooping, 

 but in colour are rosy-white, the lip being pale rose 

 on the centre lobe, and possesses an aroma of Roses. 

 The form of C. intermedia is discernible here, but 

 the segments are closed inwards. The plant bore 

 two flowers and is called Lamberhurst hybrid. 

 C. Harrisii, a cross between C. Mandelli and C. Leo- 

 poldi, was also shown ; the segments are lilac slightly 

 veined, the lip white externally and folding over the 

 column, the median lobe is of an intermediate form, 

 fringed slightly, large for the flower and deep bright 

 purple, and the side lobes are of the same colour. 

 The bloom is of fair size and open. 



From the Royal Gardens, Kew, there were fruits 

 of the Snake Gourd (Trichosanthes anguina), a 

 Chinese plant, and of the Tree Tomato (Cypho- 

 mandra betacea), illustrated by us in a former issue. 



First-class Certificates. 



Chrysanthemum Lincoln's Inn, from Mr. W. 

 Holmes. 



Chrysanthemum Sunflower, from Mr. W. Holmes. 



Chrysanthemum Lincoln's Inn, from Mr. Owen. 



Chrysanthemum Magicienne, from Mr. Owen. 



Chrysanthemum Edwin Molyneux, from Mr. G. 

 Stevens. 



Chrysanthemum Capucine (as an early-flowering 

 decorative variety), from Messrs. J. R. Pearson & 

 Sons. 



Cattleya Harrisi, from Baron Schroder. 



Cattleya Lamberhurst Hybrid, from Baron 

 Schroder. 



Oncidium Mantinii, from Mr. E. Crook. 



Oncidium Mantinii, from Messrs. J. Veitch & 

 Sons. 



Rhododendron Yellow Perfection, from Messrs. J. 

 Veitch & Sons. 



Fruit Committee. 



Present : H. Veitch, Esq., in the chair ; and 

 Messrs. P. Crowley, G. W. Cummins, R. D. Black- 

 more, J. Willard, J. Smith, W. Denning, J. Cheal, 

 P. Barr, and W. Marshall. 



Mr. Cook, Farnborough Grange Gardens, Herts, 

 staged a small collection of fruit in fair samples, the 

 most noticeable being Blenheim Orange, Barker's Seed- 

 ling, Cox's Pomona and Alfriston, Apples ; Doyenne 

 du Cornice, Conseiller de la Cour, Pitmaston 

 Duchess, and Beurre Diel, Pears ; and Coe's Golden 

 Drop Plum. A dish of very finely-coloured 

 Duchess Favourite Apple was shown by Captain 

 Terry, Shrubland, Walton-on-Thames ; and four 

 varieties of Damsons came from Mr. J. Smith, 

 Mentmore Gardens, Leighton Buzzard ; they were 

 Farleigh and Shropshire (small fruits), and Worces- 

 tershire and Prune (large fruits). 



Mr. Smyth, Basing Park Gardens, Alton, sent 

 seedling Grapes ; and Messrs. J. Carter & Co., High 

 Holborn, had tubers of Stachys tuberifera, to which 

 attention is called elsewhere. 



PotatoB were shown by Mr. W. Ellington, West 

 Row Gardens, Mildenhall, and by Mr. A. Selby, 

 Radcliffe-on-Trent, Notts — the latter staging very 

 large and clean tubers of Reading Giant, Sutton's 

 Abundance, and Satisfaction ; while Mr. Ellington 

 had a cross between Vicar of Laleham and School- 

 master, which was named Market Favourite ; it is 

 wedge-shaped, and has a yellow skin, spotted and 

 blotched with purple. 



BIRMINGHAM GARDENERS' MUTUAL 

 IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION. 



At a largely-attended meeting of this Society, held 

 at the Midland Institute on Tuesday evening. October 

 16, Mr. W. B, Latham, Curator of the Botanical 

 Gardens, Edgbaston, occupying the chair. 



Mr. G. Barnes, Orchid grower to C. Winn, Esq., 

 The Uplands, Selby Oak, read a very instructive 

 paper on the cultivation of the Odontoglossum and 

 Miltonia. In building a house for the purpose of 

 growing these lovely flowers, he specially recom- 



mended the choice of a south aspect, with plenty 

 of top and bottom ventilation and light which can be 

 removed in the summer months. Abundance of 

 piping is another essential point to be observed, so 

 that the temperature can be maintained in severe 

 weather without creating that dry choking atmo- 

 sphere, so often the result of over-heated pipes. 

 Apply a light shading and keep a moist atmosphere 

 in the summer months, and by no means a dry 

 one in the winter, but in watering care must be 

 taken not to wet the young growths, likewise to give a 

 little air at all times even in the severest of weather. 

 Potting operations he recommended to be done at 

 the end of the summer just as they are commencing 

 to grow — August and beginning of September being 

 the most suitabletime, but it should not be dune on hot 

 dry days, rather choosing dull moist weather, and so 

 avoid that drying of the roots which so often proves 

 injurious to this class of plants ; sphagnum cut 

 about 2 inches long, and good sandy peat in equal 

 proportions, being the best material for the purpose ; 

 the pots should be two-thirds filled with crocks, the 

 plants potted firm, and care should be taken to 

 avoid the young growths when watering ; but in 

 all things in connection with the cultivation of 

 the Odontoglots a little variation may be neces- 

 sary according to the varieties to be dealt with, an 

 intimate knowledge of which can be best obtained by 

 the close observation of the cultivator. 



A brief discussion followed the observations of the 

 speaker, being mainly in support of Mr. Barnes' 

 system of cultivation. 



On this occasion Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading, 

 exhibited a very tine collection of their seedling 

 Potatos, these being remarkable for their size, shape, 

 and sm lothness ; and, what is of the greatest im- 

 portance, the majority of them are said to be disease 

 resisting. The most notable amongst those that 

 have been already sent out are — Ringleader, as the 

 best early ; Sutton's Seedling, the best second ; and 

 Abundance, as the best late variety. A newer 

 variety called Satisfaction, is likewise one of great 

 promise. The seedling varieties not yet in commerce 

 were very fine indeed, and showed what can be done 

 by the careful study and observation of the various 

 crosses. 



NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM. 



Floral Committee, October 24. — A meetiug of 

 this body took place at the Royal Aquarium on the 

 above date, Mr. E. Sanderson, in the chair, there 

 being a good attendance of members. 



From Mr. W. Holmes, Frampton Park Nursery, 

 Hackney, came the very fine yellow Japanese Sun- 

 flower, bright deep gold, large, striking, and a great 

 addition to this section (First-class Certificate) ; 

 Nelson, Japanese Anemone, rosy-purple, flushed 

 with magenta, very fine and distinct (First-class 

 Certificate) ; Sabine, Japanese Anemone, pale yel- 

 low guard petals and deep yellow centre — the first 

 yellow flower in this section ; the committee wished 

 to see this again. Also a basket of reflexed large- 

 flowered Martinnaz, pink, tinted with lilac — very 

 pretty and pleasing ; and some others. 



From Mr. Jno. Doughty, gr. to Mrs. M. Tomlin, 

 Angley Park, Cranbrook, came incurved Violet 

 Tomlin, a sport from Princess of Wales, large, 

 full, and of a deep lilac colour, shaded with purple ; 

 and also May Tomlin, a sport from the Japanese 

 Mdlle. Paul Dufour, reddish-cinnamon, shaded 

 with purple (Commended). This will, no doubt, 

 receive a higher award when the sport is ^quite 

 fixed. 



From Mr. W. R. Woodcock, Oakbrook Gardens, 

 Sheffield, came a seedling, incurved, named Mr. 

 Woodcock, creamy- white, with sulphur centre (Com- 

 mended). It will no doubt be seen later in better 

 form. 



From Mr. G. Stevens, St. John's Nursery, Put- 

 ney, came white Japanese Florence Piercey, very 

 pleasing. Awarded a vote of thanks. 



From Mr. R. Owen, Castle Hill Nursery, Maiden- 

 head, came several new varieties, among them 

 Japanese Magicienne, in the way of Criterion, but of 

 a shaded orange colour, very fine and distinct (First- 

 class Certificate) ; Lincoln's Inn, orange-cerise, the 

 reverse gold, a reflexed Japanese, of a promising 

 character (Commended) ; and Pompon Maggie, 

 white, with a slight tint of lilac, in the way of 

 White Trevenna. A Commendation was awarded, 

 the committee desiring to see it again in comparison 

 with White Trevenna. Mr. Owen had several other 

 varieties, and a vote of thanks was awarded. 



From Mr. W. Piercey came incurved Japanese 

 Sam Henshaw, a very promising early variety — 



colour purplish-magenta, with silvery reverse. (Com- 

 mended as an early decorative sort.) 



From Messrs. Davis & Jones, nurserymen, Cam- 

 berwell, came incurved large-flowering H. Shoesmith, 

 a bright golden-bronze sport from Mr. Bunn — a great 

 acquisition. (First-class Certificate.) 



From Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, 

 came Gladys Spaulding, a large Anemone-flowered 

 variety, orange-cinnamon guard florets and primrose 

 centre — a promising flower ; H. A. Gane and The 

 Moor, a bright maroon-crimson reflexed. Awarded 

 a vote of thanks. 



From Messrs. J. Laing & Co., Stanstead Park 

 Nursery, Forest Hill, came Japanese Stanstead 

 Surprise, a large flat petalled variety in the character 

 of Baron Prailly, bright ruby-red — very fine and 

 distinct. (First-class Certificate.) 



From Mr. Boyce, Archway Road, Highgate, came 

 Japanese Anemone Miss Mary, lilac-pink, with 

 sulphur centre. 



It was a meeting full of interest for Chrysanthe- 

 mum growers. 



©ijttuats. 



W. H. Crawford. — It is with great regret 

 that it falls to my lot to record the death of this fine 

 old Irish gentleman, which took place at his resi- 

 dence, Lakelands, near Cork, on the night of Thurs- 

 day the 18th inst. Mr. Crawford was born in 1812, 

 so that he was seventy-six at the time of his death. 

 Born to great wealth, he used it liberally in enriching 

 his native city and her best institutions. To the 

 church of Ireland he was a staunch supporter, while 

 the Queen's College, the schools of art, the cathedral, 

 and other public institutions were recipients of his 

 bounty. He visited the County Club on Thursday, 

 the day of his death, and saw his physician there, 

 who prescribed for him. He returned home and 

 dined as usual, and was last seen alive by his ser- 

 vants as he sat reading in his chair, before they retired 

 to rest. 



On Friday morning he was found dead in his 

 chair, the immediate cause being heart disease. 

 Mr. Crawford was never married. Dignified in 

 manner and of a retiring disposition, he had eyes 

 and ears for all that took place around him, and 

 his loss to his native city will not be readily 

 replaced or forgotten. People of all callings and 

 creeds within hearing of the beautiful " bells of 

 Shandon " will mourn for the loss of a great man, 

 and a benevolent friend. 



Lakelands is a fine old house, richly stored with 

 rare books, pictures, engravings, &c, while the sur- 

 rounding grounds are richly planted with a perfect 

 arboretum of rare shrubs and trees from all tem- 

 perate parts of the world. Here the magnificent 

 Magnolia Campbelli flowered for the first time in the 

 open air, the tree being 30 or 40 feet in height. At 

 the entrance to the mansion stand two large tubs of 

 Philesia buxifolia, enormous masses, each 4 or 5 feet 

 in diameter. Rare trees and shrubs from the Hima- 

 layas or Andes meet one's eyes at every turn, while 

 extensive ranges of hothouses and greenhouses are 

 stored with rich collections of Orchids and other 

 choice exotics. The collection of Browneas here is 

 one of the finest in existence, and there is a large 

 house of rare Himalayan Rhododendrons and other 

 shrubs not often seen in cultivation. Some years 

 ago W. E. Gumbleton, Esq., took me to see Mr. 

 Crawford, and the plants of which he was so fond. 

 It was a cold wintry day, but we were welcomed and 

 shown all over the place by the owner, whose face 

 shone with delight as one after another of his floral 

 treasures drew forth some exclamation of sur- 

 prise. 



But few amateurs have followed gardening pur- 

 suits with the energy and success which rewarded 

 Mr. Crawford — few, indeed, could afford to do so ; 

 and it is to be hoped that his successor at Lakelands 

 will respect the results attained at much trouble and 

 expense in one of the finest climates in the British 

 Islands. IS. 



MRS. EYRE CRABBE — On the 12th inst., at Bel- 

 lagio, Italy, whither she had gone but a short time 

 previously for the benefit of her health, at the age of 



