Novembeb 24, 1888.] 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



609 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL. 



Scientific Committee. 



November 13. — Present: Dr. M. T. Masters, in 

 the chair ; Mr. Pascoe, Mr. W. G. Smith, Mr. 

 Michael, Professor Boulger, Professor A. Church, 

 Professor Scott, and Kev. G. Henslow, Hon. Sec. 



A report on the experiments made at Chiswick 

 with reference to high moulding of potatos was read 

 (see ante p. 572). 



Potato Eeversion.—Mr. TV. G. Smith mentioned that 

 eighteen years ago Mr. Penn crossed two long sorts 

 of kidney Potatos, viz., the Early Coldstream and the 

 Early Ashleaf, the result being a variety of a globular 

 form, which he called " TV. G. Smith." After 

 eighteen years, during which this had come true, one 

 plant suddenly reverted to the original type, being 

 5} inches long, the round tuber being only about 

 2} inches in diameter. 



Ivy Blossoms, Malformed.— Hi. Masters exhibited 

 specimens and drawings by Mr. TV. G. Smith of a very 

 unusual condition of Ivy flowers, in which the " disc " 

 on the summit of the ovary had become hypertrophied 

 into a thick ring or cup, the style occupying the depres- 

 sion in the centre, the border of the ring supported 

 about ten anthers, all being supernumerary, as the 

 normal number was present at the outside'of the base 

 of the ring. The specimens were sent bv Mr. Archer 

 Briggs. 



Oak Timber, Defective.— Dr. Masters exhibited for 

 Mr. Burbidge specimens of Oak-wood which was used 

 for spokes of wheels, which was found to break off 

 short. It was referred to Professor Marshall Ward 

 for examination and report. 



PinusLambertiana. — Dr. Masters exhibited a branch 

 of this species, received from Mr. C. Herrin, of Drop- 

 more, Maidenhead, with two cones about 1 foot long. 

 The size when growing naturally in California is said 

 to be double that of the present specimen. 



Cleistogamous Lawn Plants.— Mr. Henslow showed 

 specimens of several species of plants which are 

 propagated by cleistogamous flower-buds. By that 

 means, while retaining a dwarf habit, they are able 

 to multiply very rapidly, and to extend over con- 

 siderable areas in a tennis-lawn. Although none of 

 them are perennials, they remain so rtduced in size 

 that they are not exterminated by the mowing- 

 machine periodically cutting them down. The result 

 is that each species has more or less completely 

 covered certain patches of {-.round, to the almost 

 entire exclusion of everything else. The plants in 

 question areCerastium glomeratum, Montia fontana, 

 Trifolium procumbens, Sagina procumbens, Alche- 

 milla arvensis, Veronica arvensis, and Poa annua. 

 Mr. Henslow added that he had observed many years 

 ago Trifolium subterranean, flourishing in the same 

 way on the close-cut grass in Kew Gardens, on the 

 site of the present rcckery. 



Bumcx crispus, gyno-monacious. — Mr. Henslow 

 exhibited specimens of this plant, which bears her- 

 maphrodite flowers on longer, with female flowers on 

 shorter pedicels, thereby forming whorls along the 

 main peduncle. It does not appear to have been 

 described in any work as being in this condition. 



Cotyledon umbilicus, abnormal, — Mr. Henslow exhi- 

 bited a specimen and leaves of this plant, found 

 growing in a wall at St. Ives, Cornwall, the pecu- 

 liarity being that it bore a flat, expanded, rosulate 

 arrangement of leaves exactly like the House Leek, 

 Echeveria, or several sorts of Saxifrage. The leaves 

 were spathulate and not peltate at all. Some few 

 growing freely were funnel-shaped. 



Saspberry and Blackberry Hybrid. — Mr. Henslow 

 drew attention to the foliage of a supposed hybrid 

 received from Messrs. Viccars, Collyer, of Leicester. 

 The plant blossomed, but bore nofruit this season. 

 The flowers were exactly like that of the Kaspberry, 

 as well as the tomentose under surface of the leaves ; 

 but the method of forming the quinate leaf out of 

 the ternate agreed with that of the Blackberry as 

 follows :— The simplest form of leaf is a single oval 

 leaflet near the flowers. This becomes lobed at the 

 base, and so two leaflets are given off, forming the 

 ternate leaf. Prom the basal pair in the case of 

 the Blackberry two more are given off, and thus 

 form a quinate leaf, the lower four leaflets being 

 nearly " palmate." In the Raspberry, however, 

 the second pair of leaflets are given off from the 

 terminal leaflet, just as were the primary pair. Con- 

 sequently the five leaflets now form a more decidedly 

 pinnate leaf. In the hybrid in question, although 

 in all other features it agrees with the Raspberry, 

 yet in this one particular it resembles the Black- 

 berry. As no fruit was produced a comparison 

 could not be made with them. 



BIRMINGHAM AND MIDLAND COUN- 

 TIES GARDENERS' ASSOCIATION. 



At a largely attended meeting of members at 

 the Midland Institute, on Tuesday, November 13, 

 Mr. TV. B. Grove gave a lecture on" Edible Fungi," 

 illustrated by photographs, in the oxyhydrogen 

 lantern, of the species referred to. These were, first, 

 Agaricus arvensis (the Horse Mushroom), a species 

 which is eaten in many parts of England, and some- 

 times hardly distinguished from A. campestris. It may 

 be known by its larger size, thicker flesh, and yellow 

 juice when wounded. Then the Parasol Mushroom 

 (A. procerus), and the False Parasol (A. rachodes). 

 were described, and the latter one illustrated by 

 a photograph of a group which, afterwards, had 

 been eaten by the photographer ; A. nebularis, the 

 Clouded Mushroom ; A. ostreatus, the Oyster Mush- 

 room ; Coprinus comatus, the Maned Mushroom, or 

 TVig-cap ; the Beefsteak, Fistulina hepatica; the 

 Morell, the Truffle, and the Giant Puff-ball were 

 then illustrated and described ; and, finally, the Fairy 

 Champignon (Marasmius oreades). Two common 

 poisonous fungi, A.semiglobatus and Coprinus mica- 

 ceus, were introduced, in order to warn would-be 

 consumers against them, and a slide, illustrative of 

 the effects of eating poisonous species, brought the 

 lecture to a close. 



Mr. Grove recommended the eating of all the 

 species named, each having its own distinctive 

 flavour ; but it was necessary that the tyro should 

 be shown how to distinguish the species by careful 

 discriminating attention, either from coloured plates 

 or, preferably, by the aid of a better instructed friend. 

 Good cooking was also necessary, if the true flavour 

 was to be obtained. 



TORQUAY CHRYSANTHEMUM. 



Nov. 13. — This was held in the Bath Saloons. 

 The competition in the classes for plants was not so 

 strong as usual, Mr. II. Yelland, gr. to Miss Loch, 

 Villa Como, taking the 1st prize in the open class 

 for twelve plants, distinct, and in the amateur classes 

 for twelve plants, and also in other classes. 



Orchids were shown much better than usual, Mr. 

 Medland, gr. to Moretou Sparks, taking 1st for three 

 distinct. 



The open classes of Chrysanthemums were very good, 

 and there was a fair competition throughout. Mr. Dol- 

 ling, gr.to Mrs.TVild.TVhitehill House, Newton Abbot, 

 took the 1st prize in the principal class for twelve 

 Japanese and twelve incurved, distinct, his Japanese 

 being the better of the two ; and he also led in five 

 other classes. 



Mr. Cocks, gr. to TVyndham Fizherbert, Esq., Kings- 

 near, was a very successful exhibitor, and had the best 

 incurved bloom in the show, in Empress of India. Mr. 

 John Styles, gr. to Miss Fripp, took 1st in the 

 amateur classes for twelve incurved blooms. 



Grapes were excellent, especially those shown by 

 Mr. Marsh, gr. to Sir Thos. Freak, Dartmouth. He 

 was 1st for two bunches black Grapes, with fine ex- 

 amples of Black Alicante and for white Grapes. 

 Muscat of Alexandria large and good. He also took 

 1st for the heaviest bunch, with Gros Colmar, weigh- 

 ing 3 lb. 13 oz. 



Vegetables were excellent, and remarkably clean. 

 Mr. Coles, gr. to TV. B. Fortescue, Acton Hall, taking 

 1st for a choice collection. 



Messrs. Veitch, Messrs. Lucombe & Pince, of 

 Exeter, each arranged stands of decorative plants, 

 Chrysanthemums, &c. 



CLONMEL CHRYSANTHEMUM AND 

 FRUIT SHOW. 



This now annually recurring event was held in 

 the large Assembly-room of the Court-house.Clonmel, 

 on Tuesday, November 13. Notwithstanding the 

 generally unfavourable season, and that almost all 

 the local growers lost some of their finest blooms 

 through premature damping off, the show was an 

 unexpected success. 



Groups. — The requirement for admission into this 

 section was that competitors were each to furnish a 

 sufficient number of plants to occupy a space of 

 60 square feet, and the prize was to be awarded only 

 to that collection which should best illustrate quality 

 and effect. It speaks largely for the extent to which 

 the culture of this flower is carried when we state 

 that no fewer than four local amateurs entered the 

 field as competitors in this section, and their several 

 groups were tastefully displayed ; the prizes going 



to Mrs. Malcomson, Minella, Clonmel (gr., Mr. J 

 Crehan) ; 2nd, Thomas Phelan.Esq., Spring Gardens 

 (Mr. Halpin), and highly commended, Dr. TV. H. 

 Garner (Mr. O'Shea). 



Cut Blooms. — Twenty-four incurved blooms, not 

 less than nine varieties. After close competition 

 the 1st prize went to Mr. Raymond de la Poer, of 

 Kilcronagh, Kilkenny (gr. Mr." Crawford), and 2nd to 

 Mr. Thomas Phelan. Particularly good in the 1st 

 were Cherub, Princess of Wales, Lord Alcester, and 

 John Salter ; and in the 2nd exhibit, Jardin des 

 Plantes, Prince Alfred, and Lord TVolseley. 



For twelve incurved there were five entries, and 

 after careful criticism, Mr. F. Clibborn (Mr. Crow- 

 ley) was placed 1st, Mrs. Malcomson 2nd, and Dr. 

 Garner, highly commended. In the 1st, Joan dArc 

 (almost perfect), Golden Empress, and Blush Queen, 

 were particularly noticeable; and in the 2nd were 

 Novelty, Lord TVolseley, and Blush Queen. Many 

 of the blooms were very fine. 



Next came twenty-four Japanese, and for this the 

 competition was close between Mr. R. de la Poer, 

 Mr. T. Phelan, and Dr. Garner, but ultimately the 

 prizes went in the order named. 



Then came the class for twelve Japanese, 

 and this was the most closely contested at 

 the show, 1st prize ultimately going to Mrs. 

 Malcomson, with grand blooms of Mons. Jarin, 

 Fanny Boucharlet, Dormilion, Val d'Andorre, and 

 Elaine— very fine. Mr. Clibborn was 2nd, with 

 Edwin Molyneux, Ralph Brocklebank, and Gloriosum, 

 among others. Mr. H. S. Boyd was highly com- 

 mended, while two other stands were very little be- 

 hind in point of merit. In the reflexed class, Mr. de 

 la Poer had again the premier position, with some 

 well-done blooms of the golden, white, and pink 

 Christine, Cullingfordi, and King of Crimsons ; Mrs. 

 Malcomson was 2nd, and Mr. Phelan highly com- 

 mended. Grandly shown by Mr. Phelan was the 

 new Amy Furze. In Anemone Japanese, Mr. de la 

 Poer once more was peerless ; while in pompons Mrs. 

 Malcomson and Mr. Boyd divided the honours in the 

 order named. 



In the incurved section the best bloom in the show 

 was adjudged to Raymond de la Poer's Princess of 

 TVales— a perfect bloom— Mrs. Heal almost dis- 

 puting the honour in the stand. In the Japanepe 

 the premier position went by general consent to the 

 new introduction, Ralph Brocklebank, in Mr. Clib- 

 born 's collection, next being the telling new variety 

 Edwin Molyneux, 



The Silver Cup Competition.— Special, value £5, 

 given by Raymond de la Poer, Esq. This was the 

 blue ribbon of the show, and for it entered five 

 stands of twenty-four each, incurved and Japanese, 

 to contain eighteen distinct varieties, bv the donor, 

 Mr. F. Clibborn, Mrs. Malcomson, Dr. 'Garner, and 

 the Hon. Dudley F. Fortescue, Summerville — tbe 

 cup, with 1st prize, and the 2nd and 3rd prizes going 

 in the order named. 



Fruit was shown in some considerable quantity 

 and also miscellaneous exhibits. From " Clonmel 

 Chronicle." 



YORK CHRYSANTHEMUM. 



Nov. 14, 15, and 16.— The annual Chrysanthe- 

 mum show, held under the auspices of the Ancient 

 Society of York Florists, was opened in the York- 

 shire Fine Art and Industrial Institution. Since the 

 Society extended its enterprise to the holding of a 

 show of Chrysanthemums in the autumn, no floral 

 exhibition in the district, always excepting the 

 Yorkshire Gala show, has so quickly achieved popu- 

 larity or so well sustained its position. The Society 

 gave this year upwards of £100 in prizes, and the 

 premiums offered were large enough to attract the 

 best growers of the district. This year the range of 

 competition has been extended, several competitors 

 from beyond the previous area having entered the 

 lists. The entries, therefore, showed a considerable 

 increase on any previous year's total. The nipping 

 frost which occurred on the first night of October 

 played havoc with all the gardens in the locality, 

 and a great many flowers were spoiled. Notwith- 

 standing this accident, the display was quite up to 

 the average. 



The four groups set out for competition for Mr. 

 Alderman Rymer's prize were of a high order of 

 merit, the foliage and blooms being arranged and 

 mingled with good effect. The 1st prize was awarded 

 to Mr. T. M. TVeddall, of Selby ; 2nd, Mr. J. T. 

 Hingston. The smaller groups did not produce so 

 good a competition, but they were very effective. The 

 Chrysanthemums in pots were for the most part well 

 grown, and bore a mass of well formed blooms ; and 



