December 1, 1888.] 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



637 



National Chrysanthemum Society: Nov. 



21. — A meeting of the Floral Committee was held at 

 the Royal Aquarium on this day. Mr. E. Sanderson 

 in the chair, there being a good attendance of mem- 

 bers. At the outset of the proceedings the following 

 resolution was unanimously passed : — " That a pro- 

 test be entered against a system that has been, and 

 is still adopted by certain exhibitors, of sending up 

 for adjudication flowers that have been re-named 

 since imported." First-class Certificates of Merit 

 were awarded to Miss M. A. Haggas ; a golden 

 sport from Mrs. Heale, an incurved flower of the 

 finest quality that promises to take a high place as 

 an exhibition variety, shown by Messrs. Davis & 

 Jones of Camberwell, but obtained by Mr. T. E. 

 Haqgas, of Keighley, Yorkshire. To L'Automne, 

 an incurved variety, said to be raised by a French 

 amateur cultivator, the colour a charming shade 

 of buff, with broad florets well arranged, and 

 forming a full and handsome symmetrical flower. 

 Shown by Mr. G. S. Addison, of Thornton Heath. 

 To Alcion (reflexed Japanese), rosy-carmine, with a 

 bright silvery reverse — a good sized fall flower, of 

 decided promise; from Messrs. H. Cannell & Soxs, 

 Swanley. To Miss Wheeler, a Japanese variety of 

 American origin, in the way of Edwin Molyneux, 

 but not so good, though of much distinctness of 

 character ; the florets crimson, with a golden reverse ; 

 from Mr. T. Bettesworth, Burton Grange, Cheshunt. 

 From Mr. Ridoct, gr. to T. B. Haywood, Esq., Wood- 

 hatch, Reigate, came large Anemone-flowered La 

 Margaret, dull purple — a distinct and symmetrical 

 variety. From Messrs. James Veitch & Sox, Royal 

 Exotic Nurseries, Chelsea, came several new Japanese 

 varieties, mainly raised by Mr. Alfred Salter, 

 William Elliott, Mrs. II. Thompson, and Europe 

 being the most promising. Messrs. Drover, nur- 

 serymen, Fareham, had large Anemone-flowered 

 Nilson, bright rosy-crimson, new in colour, and a 

 very strong grower. Messrs. XIannell & Soxs had 

 several new Japanese varieties, such as Unko and 

 Mons. Baco, which the committee desired to see 

 again. A stand of blooms of the useful white 

 Japanese Florence Piercy came from Mr. Hookings, 

 gr. to Sir W. Thompsox, West Moulsey ; it promises to 

 make a very acceptable mid-season variety. A sport 

 from Ralph Brocklebank, a pale yellow Japanese 

 variety, named Mrs. Bevan Edwards, came from Mr. 

 Brockbaxk, gr. to R. Brocklebank, Esq., Childwall 

 Hall, Liverpool; it is of a rather deeper shade than 

 the variety from which it is sported ; the latter is 

 itself a sport from the white Meg Merrilies. The 

 Japanese, like the incurved varieties, are being 

 somewhat largely added to by means of sports. 



ROTHAMSTED AND ITS WORK. —The Pall 

 Mall Gazette, under date November 22, has a portrait 

 of Sir J. B. Lawes, Bart., and gives a short reaimt 

 of the work that is being carried on at Rothamsted, 

 and says : — " Whoever seeks to learn of the mar- 

 vellous workings of plant-life in all its forms must 

 look for inspiration and guidance to the world-famous 

 laboratory at the little Hertfordshire town " (Har- 

 penden). 



"The Native Flowers of New Zealand." 



— We have already had occasion to mention this work, 

 and have now to announce its completion with the 

 third part. The portraits are faithful representa- 

 tions, well drawn and not exaggerated as to colour, 

 but the absence of botanical detail either in the 

 plates or in the text detracts very materially from 

 their value. New Zealand plants have a fades or 

 appearance of their own recognisable even in dried 

 specimens, but which cannot be reproduced by the 

 brush of the artist, still less described in words. 

 The only means of appreciating this is to cultivate 

 the plants, and fortunately many New Zealand plants, 

 such as Veronica Traversii, V. Hulkeana, Olearias, 

 and many others are hardy in ordinary winters 

 in most parts of England, while in the south- 

 west and in the corresponding districts of Ireland 

 the greater part of the New Zealand flora might be 

 grown. The present work will, we hope, stimulate 

 many of our plant lovers to grow many of the beau- 



tiful representatives of the New Zealand flora. Mrs. 

 IIftify's drawings have been reproduced in chromo- 

 lithograph} - by Messrs. Leightox ; and her book, 

 which is dedicated to the Queen, is published by 

 Sampson Low & Co. We trust that the authoress 

 may achieve such a measure of success as will induce 

 her to continue her useful labour, for Sir Joseph 

 Hooker's Kcio Zealand Flora is, we believe, not to 

 be had except fortuitously, and must in any case be 

 costly. With Sir Joseph Hooker's smaller handbook 

 and a good series of plates a very complete idea of 

 the New Zealand flora might be obtained. 



Paris Exhibition, 1889. — One of the horti- 

 cultural attractions at this will be the exhibit of 

 Brazil. A pavilion is to be erected, and to be kept 

 furnished during the exhibition with Brazilian 

 Orchids in flower, among which are several of the 

 most beautiful. The contract for the plants has 

 been given to The Horticulture International!' 

 (Messrs. Linden) of Brussels. 



Penzance Chrysanthemum.— The first show 

 of this Society was held on the 21st ult. Compe- 

 tition was slack in several classes, and the 1st with- 

 held. Groups, &c, were good, Mrs. Harvey generally 

 leading, and Mr. W. Thomas was also successful, the 

 latter having the best cut blooms. Messrs. Simpson 

 and Poppin were the chief amateurs. Vases, table 

 decorations, &c. (ladies only ) were keenly contested, 

 and fruit was shown by Messrs. T. S. Boletho and 

 E. Boletho. 



Stock-taking : October.— The following is 



extracted from the tabulated summary of imports 

 from foreign countries and British possessions for 

 the month of October, published in the " Trade and 

 Navigation Returns " by the Board of Trade : — 





1887. 



1888. 



Difference. 



$11.— (A.) Articles of 



food and drink — 

 duty free 



£. 



9,536 018 



£. 

 13,359,623 



£. 

 +2,823,604 



(B.) — do., dutiable 



3,263,676 



3,605,500 



—457,176 



iVI.-Kaw materials 

 for textile manufac- 

 tures (including 

 Flax, Hemp, and 

 .lute) 



1,956,48] 



4,883,044 



—73,437 



JVII.— Raw materials 

 for sundry industries 

 and manufactures 

 (including wood and 

 timber, hewn. sawn, 

 split, dressed ; vege- 

 table materials, for 

 paper-making, &c.) 





4,157,309 



919,811 



\ IX. — Miscellaneous 

 articles (including 

 Clover, Grass, Flax, 

 Rape, Linseed) 



1,180,440 



1,119,560 



—60,880 



Total value of imports 



30,550,307 



35,022,135 



+4,471,828 



The following are a few excerpts from the immense 

 mass of figures covered by the summary : — 



j II. Fruit :— 

 Apples, raw 





1887. 



1888. 



Difference 



... bush. 



353.614 



779.572 



+ 125,958 



Unenumerated, r 





661,380 



709,549 



+ 48,169 



Onions 





112,931 



586,331 



+ 143,400 



Potato* 



... cwt. 



76,633 



61.311 



—15.321 



Vegetables, raw, 

 ated 



unenumer- 

 ... Value 



£40,773 



£51,166 



+£10,393 



The above figures, it is apparent, supply their own 

 commentary to the appreciative reader. 



The New Palm-Stove in the Jardin des 



PlanTES. PARIS. — There are, it appears, some 

 matters which they do not " order better in France." 

 The Jardin has a severe criticism on the new house, 

 which, it appears, has been seven years in construc- 

 tion, and is, according to competent critics, a costly 

 failure quite unsuited for its purpose of growing 

 plants. A similar misfortune is of not infrequent 

 occurrence where the construction of a conservatory 

 is entrusted to the architect. The new building is 



very massive, built upon arches, upon which the soil 

 is to be placed. Regulation of heat, light, ventila- 

 tion, and moisture — points of cardinal importance iu 

 the cultivation of plants — seem to have received very 

 inadequate consideration, and the remonstrances of 

 three successive Directors, prv/esseurs dc culture, un- 

 heeded. 



" L'ORCHiDIENNE. "— The second meeting of this 

 Society was held on November 11, at Brussels. 

 There were fifty-five plants contributed on this occa- 

 sion. Messrs. Mocus, Massange de Louvreux, 

 Miteau, Wallaert (Secretary), and J. Linden (Chair- 

 man), with others, formed the Jury, and the awards 

 were : — First-class Certificates to Cypripedinm Har- 

 risianum polychromum, from Dr. Carnus ; to An- 

 sellia africana aurea, from Madame Gibez ; to On- 

 cidium Forbesii maximum, from the Count of 

 Bousies ; to Vanda ccerulea and Cypripedium callo- 

 sum, from Madame de Cannart d'Hamale ; and to 

 Cypripedium nitens superbum, from Mr. Peeters. 

 Second-class Certificates to Zygopetalum crinitum 

 carulescens, from Madame Gibez ; to Oncidium 

 Marshallianum and Odontoglossum grande fastuo- 

 snm, from Mr. Linden; to Cypripedium Chantini 

 and Epidendrum sceptrum, from Madame de Can- 

 nart d'Hamale ; to Cypripedium tessellatum porphy- 

 reum, from Mr. Peeters ; to Oncidium cheirophorum, 

 from Mr. Miteau ; and to Cypripedium Chantini 

 stratum, from Ms. Wallaert. First-class Cultural 

 Certificates to Cypripedium Harrisianum, from Mr. 

 Moens ; and to C. Harrisianum, from Mr. Peeters. 



Linnean Society.— On Thursday, December 6, 

 the following papers will be read: — 1. Dr. J. C. 

 Costerus on "Malformations in Fuchsia globosa." 

 2. Mr. B. T. Lowne on " The Development of the 

 Egg and Blastoderm of the Blow-fly." 3. Mr. G. A. 

 Boulenger on " The Reptiles and Fishes of Fer- 

 nando Noronha." 



Bolton Chrysanthemum Show. — The 



second show in connection with the Bolton and 

 District Chrysanthemum Society was held in the 

 Bolton Town Hall, on Friday and Saturday, Novem- 

 ber 23 and 24. The exhibition, taken generally, was 

 equal to the inaugural one, twelve months ago. 

 There was a slight inferiority in the display of 

 cut bloom as compared with last year, but this was 

 counterbalanced by an increased entry in the larger 

 classes of Chrysanthemums. A notable feature in 

 the general collection was the abundance of fine 

 specimens of horticulture and floriculture other than 

 Chrysanthemums, these including a splendid Tree 

 Fern, exhibited by Mrs. Haslam, of Ravenswood ; a 

 Croton Weismanni, as a single specimen ; a Croton 

 Hendersoni, a Cycas revoluta, Dracaenas, Palms, 

 Ericas, and Cyclamen persicum. Messrs. Dickson, 

 Brown & Tait, of Manchester, exhibited a fine col- 

 lection of similar plants, as well as Ferns, &c. ; and 

 Mr. J. Watkixs, of Withington, Herefordshire, ex- 

 hibited a fine collection of Apples, consisting of 

 seventy-five varieties. Messrs. W. Clibran & Sons, 

 of Altrincham and Manchester, offered for inspection 

 a splendid collection of Chrysanthemum cut bloom 

 in all varieties. 



Chorley Chrysanthemum Show: Nov. 2-'J 

 and 24.— The fifth exhibition was held in the As- 

 sembly-room of the Town Hall. Groups/vere very 

 pretty ; one of these was from Mr. G. Parks, gr. to 

 Lieut.-Colonel Ffarington, of Wigan, who has carried 

 off the prizes for this class at every exhibition the 

 Society has held. The collection comprised fine 

 Crotons and Azaleas. Mr. J. Rose, gr. to W. Simp- 

 son, Esq., Wigan, had a fine gronp of Chrysanthe- 

 mums in variety. The cut blooms on the stands 

 were of a superior order, and came in for much 

 admiration, Mr. Kirkman, gr. to J. Stanning, Esq., 

 Broadfield. Leyland, sending the best eighteen. The 

 Orchids comprised some excellent plants, those 

 shown by Mr. J. Eckersley being fine. F'ruit 

 was not numerous, but some black and white 

 Grapes, shown by Mr. Middleton, gr. to R. Pilking- 

 ton, Esq., Rainford Hall, were remarkably fine. 



