January 13, 1912.] 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



29 



or otherwise. How seldom do we see highly- 

 coloured fruit from trees grown near to towns 

 such as Birmingham, Sheffield, Leeds, or Hull? 

 Generally the fruit from those localities is 

 green ; th# only tint of colour of many sorts is 

 the yellow the fruit assumes with age. No 

 varieties will display this lack of colour, more 

 decisively from trees near towns, w T here they 

 obtain less sun than in the open country, than 

 Cox's Orange Pippin, Worcester Pearmain, 

 Lane's Prince Albert, and Bramley's Seedling. 

 Again, if the colour comes from within, and the 

 sun and root moisture have little to do with 

 colour, how is it that abroad, where the sun is 

 brilliant and irrigation is largely practised, 

 we get the most intensely-coloured fruit ? I 

 do not think anyone will say that pale-coloured 

 fruit is equal in point of flavour to that which is 

 brilliantly coloured. No Apples will prove, this 

 more conclusively than Cox's Orange Pippin or 

 Blenheim Pippin. E. Molyneux. 



The Mild Winter. — I am enclosing examples 



of shrubsi and other plants in flower on New 

 Year's Day in a garden two miles from the city 

 cf Birmingham. Some, such as the Veronicas 

 and Arbutus, have been flowering for some time 

 past ; Primroses and Hepaticas are just throwing 

 up their blooms. All varieties of Berberis, be- 

 sides the two enclosed, are forward in showing 

 their blossom, and I fear there will be a poor dis- 

 play at the proper season. Jasminum nudiflorum 

 is flowering profusely in this district. C. D. A., 

 Birmingham, [The specimens sent 

 beris Darwinii, B. japonica Bealii, 

 langleyensis, Menziesia purpurea, 

 niger, H. atrorubens, Veronica speciosa, V. sali- 

 cifolia, Jasminum nudiflorum, Cassinia lepto- 

 phylla, Arbutus Unedo, Viburnum Tinus 

 (Laurestinus), Arabis albida fl. pi., and 

 Hepatica triloba ccerulea. — Eds.] 



were Ber- 



Escallonia 



Belleborus 



BEGONIA LUXURIANS. 



Begonia luxurians is a native of Chili. It is 

 not a showy species, but is worth cultivating on 

 account of its distinct foliage. At the Edinburgh 

 Botanic Gardens this Begonia is used for cover- 

 ing a back wall, and on account of its strong 

 growth is well suited for this purpose. When 

 grown as a pot plant it requires to be stopped fre- 

 quently, otherwise the plant soon becomes bare 



at the base. An intermediate temperature is 

 suited to its requirements. 



The deep green leaves are serrated, about 3 

 inches to 6 inches long by nearly an inch broad ; 

 the under surface is quite glabrous, but stiff, 

 short hairs are scattered over the upper surface, 

 and both stem and leaf stalk are freely covered 

 with hairs. The leaf stalks have a reddish tint 

 and pointed membraneous stipules are found at 

 the younger nodes. The flowers are small, of a 

 creamy colour, freely produced on a branched in- 

 florescence. C. F. *liaU. 



SOCIETIE 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL. 



January 9.— The first meeting of 1912 was 

 held on Tuesday last in the Society's Hall at 

 Westminster. The exhibition was a* small one, 

 but two Gold Medals were awarded, these being 

 given to exhibits of fruit. The Fruit and Vege- 

 table Committee also granted an Award of 

 Merit to ar new Pear raised by Messrs. Jas. 

 Veitch & Sons. 



The exhibits of Orchids were again excellent, 

 and the Orchid Committee recommended one 

 First-class Certificate and eight Awards of Merit 

 to novelties. 



The principal exhibits before the Floral Com- 

 mittee were Carnations, Camellias, and other 

 greenhouse plants, including Ferns and Pelar- 

 goniums. The Floral Committee granted an 

 Award of Merit to a variety of Carnation. 

 There was no lecture on this occasion. 



Floral Committee. 



Present: Messrs. W. Marshall and Henry B. 

 May (Chairmen) ; and Messrs. Jno. Green, H. J. 

 Jones, Chas. Dixon, W. Bain, J. F. McLeod, J. 

 Dickson, A. Turner, Herbert J. Cutbush, Charles 

 E. Shea, Chas. E. Pearson, W. P. Thomson, E. 



H. Jenkins, W. J. James, G. Reuthe, C. Blick, 

 J. Jennings, W. J. Bean, J. T. Bennett-Poe, 

 Chas. T. Druery, E. A. Bowles, W. B. Craw- 

 field, Walter T. Ware, Rev. F. Page-Roberts, 

 W. G. Baker, James Hudson, and R. Hooper 

 Pearson. 



Messrs. Wii, Paul & Son. Waltham Cross, 

 Hertfordshire, filled a corner of the hall with a 

 group of Camellias in pots. The plants made a 

 fine show and attracted much attention. In addi- 

 tion to such well-known sorts as alba plena, 

 Donckelaari elegans, Eugene Massina, Lady 

 Hume's Blush, fimbriata. and Apollo, there were 

 several seedlings, principally with semi-double 

 flowers. One of the finest of these was named 

 Snowflake, but the neatest white single was 

 Kotope. (Silver-gilt Banksian Medal.) 



Messrs. Wm. Cutbush & Son, Highgate, Lon- 

 don, filled a table with greenhouse flowering 

 plants and Carnations. There were bright 

 batches of Liliums, Ericas, Manettia bicolor, Be- 

 gonias and Rhododendron praecox in a setting of 

 Palms and Ferns, and a background of Orange 

 trees in fruit. Next to these was a small rockery, 

 on which we noticed the striking yellow Iris Dan- 

 fordise shown splendidly. The Carnations were 

 exhibited in large sheaves ai ranged in tall vases, 

 the more noticeable varieties being Lord Roth- 

 schild (vinous-red). Mrs. Drummond Astor (a yel- 

 low-ground fancy flaked with deep rose) and 

 Mrs. Lucy MacKinnon (a sweetly -scented flower 

 of very large size). (Silver-gilt Banksian Medal.) 



Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, Ltd., King's 

 Road, Chelsea, showed a splendid assortment of 

 greenhouse flowering plants, the various subjects 

 being mingled to produce the best colour effects. 

 For instance, a charming combination was seen 

 in a batch of the white Moschosma riparium set 

 off with the rich blue-flowered Coleus thyrsoideus. 

 Freesias in pale shades of yellow and cream 

 blended well with the rich-red Begonia Winter 

 Cheer, whilst Exacum macranthum (dark blue) 

 associated well with Camellias. Besides those 

 named, there were Azaleas, Daphne odora (indica) 

 rubra. Manettia bicolor, Primula malacoides, and 

 Rhododendrons of the javanico-jasminiflorum 

 type. (Silver Flora Medal.) 



Messrs. Stuart Low & Co., Bush Hill Park, 

 Enfield, showed large pans of Cyclamen in dis- 

 tinct sorts, including Rose Queen, Salmon King, 

 Giant White and Eileen Low (purplish -rose with 

 white tipped cresting). Intermingled amongst 

 the Cyclamen were similar pans filled with 

 Daphne odora (indica) rubra. Next to these were 

 vases of Carnations, a prominent place being 

 afforded the beautiful pink variety named Baro- 

 nesse de Brienen. Other choice sorts were Scar- 

 let Glow, Beacon, White Wonder, R. F. Felton, 

 Mav Day, and Lady Alington. (Silver Flora 

 Medal.) 



Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent, 

 show T ed Zonal-leaved Pelargoniums better than 

 ever. The exhibit was a very extensive one, and 

 embraced all the finer varieties in cultivation. 

 (Silver Flora Medal.) 



Messrs. H. B. May & Sons. The Nurseries, 

 Upper Edmonton, showed exotic Ferns and a 

 comprehensive collection of crested and plumose 

 forms of hardy Polypodiums. Amongst these 

 latter we noticed such choice varieties as P. vul- 

 gare cambrieum, P. v. Preston ii, P. v. Barrowii, 

 P. grandiceps Foxas, P. g. Forsteri, P. g. Par- 

 keri, P. multifidum, P. glomeratum, and P. 

 trichomanoides. (Silver Flora Medal.) 



Mr. L. R. Rxtssell, Richmond, displayed re- 

 markably well-grown plants of Hamamelis (Witch 

 Hazel) and Garrya elliptica. This exhibitor also 

 had splendidly-bloomed Azaleas and a large 

 batch of the pretty Primula malacoides. (Silver 

 Banksian Medal.) 



Messrs. Allwood Bros., Wivelsfield, Hay- 

 wards Heath, staged numerous fine Carnations, 

 including Wivelsfield Wonder, which received 

 an Award of Merit. Others of special merit were 

 La Rayonnante (a splendid yellow variety of 

 French origin), Fair Mount (heliotrope), White 

 Wonder, Gloriosa, and Messrs. Fairbairn & 

 Son's novelty, Geisha (a pretty flower of helio- 

 trope shade). (Bronze Flora Medal.) 



Mr. H. Burnett, Guernsey, put up a splendid 

 collection of Carnations of the perpetual-bloom- 

 ing type, flowers which he exhibits consistently 

 well at all seasons. (Silver Flora Medal.) 



Mr. C. Enget.mann, Saffron Walden, showed 

 a large group of the pretty pink Carnation named 

 after Lady Northcliffe, the flowers being set off 

 with Asparagus plumosus and A. Sprengeri. 



Other exhibitors of Carnations were Messrs. 

 W. Wells & Co., Merstham, Surrey, who had 

 White Wonder, White House, Merstham Beauty, 

 Mrs. C. W. Ward, and others; Messrs. Young 

 & Co., Hatherley, Cheltenham, who showed a 

 general collection; and Mr. E. Guile, Newport, 

 Essex, this exhibitor having a seedling named 

 Lady Meyer, an addition to the already numerous 

 pink varieties. (Bronze Banksian Medal.) 



Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading, exhibited 

 Lachenalia pendula exceedingly well, the fine 

 quality of the flowers being recognised by the 

 award of a Cultural Commendation. 



Messrs. Barr & Sons, King Street, Covent 

 Garden, showed early bulbs in flower and a selec- 

 tion of Alpines in bloom. 



Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons, Crawley, Sussex, 

 showed a small rock garden exhibit and models 

 of garden seats, summer-houses, trellising, and 

 garden gates. 



The Misses. Hopkins, Mere Gardens, Shepper- 

 ton-on-Thames, showed a small rock-garden ex- 

 hibit in which the sweet-smelling Petasites 

 fragrans and the less pleasant Helleborus foetidis- 

 sima were conspicuous. 



Messrs. John Peed & Sons, West Norwood, 

 exhibited a large number of Alpines in pots, and 

 a similar exhibit was made by Mr. G. Reuthe, 

 Keston, Kent. 



Award of Merit. 



Carnation Wivelsfield Wonder. — An Award 

 or Merit was voted to this perpetual-flowering 

 variety, which was figured in Gardeners 9 

 Chronicle, December 9, 1911, p. 424. The 

 flowers are white with bright rose-coloured mark- 

 ings on the edges of the petals.. Shown by Messrs. 



Allwood Bros. 



Orchid Committee. 



Present: J. Gurney Fowler, Esq. (in the 

 Chair); and Messrs. Jas. O'Brien (hon. sec), 

 Harry J. Veitch, Gurney Wilson, J. Wilson 



Potter, R. Brooman-White, de B. Crawshay, 

 W. H. White, A. Dve, H. G. Alexander, J. E. 

 Shill, W. H. Hatcher, J. Cypher, W. P. Bound, 

 Walter Cobb, J. Charlesworth, A. A. McBean, 

 T. Armstrong, F. J. II anbury, C. H. Curtis, 

 J. S. Moss, Stuart Low, Harry J. Veitch, and 

 Sir Jeremiah Colman, Bart. 



Francis Wellesley, Esq., Westfield, Woking 

 (gr. Mr. W. Hopkins), snowed an admirable 

 selection of new hybrid Cypripediums, including 

 C. Little Gem, a model in form and good in 

 colour; C. Memoria Mostynii, a fine yellow flower 

 with white upper half to the dorsal sepal ; C. 

 Miss A. Willan, C. W. J., Mills, C. Duke of 

 Argyll, all very good flowers ; C. San-Acteeus 

 " Westfield M variety, and the very beautiful 

 Lselio-Cattleya Mrs. W. Hopkins. 



Sir Jeremiah Colman, Bart. (gr. Mr. Collier), 

 was awarded a Silver Banksian Medal for a 

 group in which the fine Gatton Park forms of 

 Lselio-Cattleya Epicasta were well represented. 

 With them was a noble specimen of Dendrobium 

 speciosum nitidum with many spikes, and which 

 secured for Mr. Collier a Cultural Commenda- 

 tion; also Phaio-Calanthe Colmanae rosea; Den- 

 drobium superbiens violaceum, and others. 



Messrs. Sander & Sons, St. Albans, were 

 awarded a Silver Flora Medal for a repre- 

 sentative group containing some new hybrids 

 and many rare species. Among the Cypri- 

 pediums the most remarkable were the new 

 C. Golden Oriole (insigne X Sanderianum X 

 Dreadnought), which has all the fine size and 

 shape of C. Dreadnought, but in colour is of a 

 clear greenish-yellow with pure white upper half 

 of the dorsal sepal, and a few faint purple 

 lines up the middle ; and the very attractive C. 

 Jucundum (see Awards). In the centre of the 

 group was an arrangement of the yellow and 

 crimson Laelio-Cattleya Cappei with good forms 

 of Laelia anceps and white Phalsenopsis on each 

 side ; Phalaenopsis Stuartiana, Odontoglossums, 

 including a finely-blotched form of O. crispum 

 Bonnyanum, and some good hybrids. Specially 

 noteworthy among the species were Cypripedium 

 caudatum Sanderse, a yellow-tinted form of 

 the C. caudatum Wallisii section, and with very 

 long drooping petals; Cymbidium Ballianum ?, a 

 form of C. eburneum with purple callus to the lip, 

 said to be imported from Annam ; the rare Sieve- 

 kingia sauvis, Mormodes Lawrenceanum, Poly- 

 stachya campyloglossa, Cymbidium Holfordia- 

 num ; a very singular natural hybrid, apparently 

 between Laelia anceps and a Barkeria ; and 

 several unknown species from Peru. ^> 



