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THE GARDENERS 1 CHRONICLE. 



[April 6, 1912. 



ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 



March 18. — The tenth ordinary meeting of the 

 ttoyal Society for the present session took place 

 ia Edinburgh on this date, Dr. James Burgess, 

 C.I.E., vice-president, in the chair. 



A communication, prepared by Dr. W. T. 

 Gordon, Edinburgh, was read by Professor 

 James Geikie on " Rhetinangium Arberi, a New 

 Fossil Stem from Petty cur. The newly-dis- 

 covered fossil plant described under this name 

 has several features which render the type im- 

 portant from an evolutionary standpoint. The 

 specimens, of which three have so far been ob- 

 tained, were derived from rocks of Lower Car- 

 boniferous age at Pettycur, Fife, and Edrom, 

 Berwickshire. The Pettycur specimens are better 

 preserved, and the anatomical description was 

 therefore based on the stems and petioles from 

 that locality. One important feature was the 

 occurrence of resin ducts and sacs in practically 

 every tissue in the stem — wood, inner cortex, and 

 outer cortex — and the first part of the generic 

 name denotes this characteristic. At the same 

 time the monostelic axis and the general anatomy 

 of that axis are distinctly of the Heterangium 

 type. The generic name therefore represented 

 two well-marked features of the stem. The 

 specific name was given in honour of Dr. E. A. 

 Newell Arber, who supervised the work of the 

 author when in Cambridge. The affinities of this 

 new plant were interesting, for, while it resem- 

 bled Heterangium in many points, there were 

 several characteristics which seemed to indicate 

 some relation with Sutcliffia and the other coal 

 measure Pteridosperms. But there was no genus 

 with which it seemed more closely allied than Dr. 

 Kidston's new genus, Stenomyclon. Indeed, 

 Rhetinangium was a possible phyllogenetic link 

 between the lower Pteridosperms as represented 

 by Heterangium and the higher members of that 

 group. If one m ht hazard a guess at one pos- 

 sible line of descent in that group, it would be 

 Heterangium-Rhetinangium - SUnomyclon - Sut- 



cliffia-Medullosa. 



A communication on " The Sun as a Fog Pro- 

 ducer M was made by Mr. A. Watt, of the Scot- 

 tish Met* ro logical Society, on behalf of Dr. 

 John Aitken, F.R.S., who was unable to be 

 present. 



LIVERPOOL HORTICULTURAL. 



March 27, 28. — The spring exhibition of the 

 above association was held on these dates. The 

 exhibits were varied and beautiful, the principal 

 subjects being hardy forced plants, Roses, Aza- 

 leas, Rhododendrons, Clematises. Lilacs, Liliums, 

 and other bulbous plants. Banks of flowers ar- 

 ranged on either side of the secretary's office were 

 greatly admired. 



O. O. Wrigley, Esq., Bury (gr. Mr. E. Rogers), 

 staged eome 60 plants of Olivias in 9-inch pots, 

 the plants having large heads of fine flowers in 

 superb varieties. 



Very fine specimen plants and a number of seed- 

 ling Dendrobiums were shown by C. W. Carver, 

 Esq., West Derby (gr. Mr. W. Hignett) : plants 

 of D. Ainsworthii and D. nobile were 5 feet in 

 diameter. 



Messrs. Bees, Ltd., Liverpool, arranged a 

 chaiming rock-garden exhibit, which was sur- 

 mounted by lirge floral designs. 



Messrs. Mansell & Hatcher, Rawdon, Leeds, 

 and Messrs. Charlesworth & Co., Hay wards 

 Heath, showed exhibits of Orchids, whilst Alpines 

 were well represented from Messrs. Baker's, 

 "Wolverhampton, Conway's, Halifax, and Mr. G. 

 RsUTHE, Keston. 



On this occasion a deputation of the North of 

 England Horticultural Society conferred that 

 society's awards on the more noteworthy exhibits. 



In the class for six pots or pans of hardy 

 herbaceous plants, distinct, the 1st prize was 

 won by W. J. Lockett, Esq. (gr. Mr. E. R. 

 Finch), who showed choice Daffodils, Spiraeas, 

 Solomon's Seal, and other subjects. 



The most tastefully-arranged dinner table was 

 exhibited by Mrs. T. A. Vlasto (gr. Mr. J. 

 Armistead). 



For 12 Hyacinths, A. Earle, Esq. (gr. Mr. 

 Thomas Hitchman), secured the 1st award. This 

 exhibitor also led for six pots of Hyacinths. 



Mr. E. R. Finch was successful in the class 

 for six pots of Hyacinths, thsee bulbs in each 

 pot ; and for three pans of Hyacinths, ten bulbs 

 in each pan, Drs. Tisdale and Ingaix (gr. Mr. G. 

 Osborne) won the 1st prize. 



In the class for six pots of Daffodils T. W. 

 Wright, Esq. (gr. Mr. F. Atkin), excelled with 

 excellent specimens; this exhibitor also had the 

 winning dozen pots of single Tulips and the best 

 six pots of double Tulips. Mr. E. R. Finch was 

 placed 1st for six pots of single Tulips. 



For six hybrid Amaryllis Miss McKean (gr. 

 Mr. T. Rigg) was successful. 



Mr. E. R. Finch proved the winner in the 

 class for three greenhouse Azaleas, also for one 

 stove plant in bloom with a good Anthurium. 



For one greenhouse plant in bloom W. Tod, 

 Esq. (gr. Mr. G. Eaton), won the 1st prize with 

 a plant of Clivia. 



In the class for two Orchids Mr. W. Hignett 

 was placed 1st with fine specimens of Dendro- 

 biums, and he excelled in the class for one Orchid 

 with D. Ainsworthii ; the 2nd award in this class 

 was secured by Aid. W. H. Watts (gr. Mr. 

 Frank Gilbert) with a fine plant of Angrsecum 

 sesquipedale having 16 flowers, which required a 

 few more days to be at their best. 



Mr. T. Hitchman led in the class for three 

 Roses in pots, showing well-flowered Ramblers. 



For three exotic Ferns J. W. Hughes, Esq. 

 (gr. Mr. J. McColl), was awarded the 1st prize, 

 having good plants of Poly podium subauriculatum 

 and Nephrolepis Amerpolii. 



Mr. T. Hitchman secured the 1st prize for 

 three Azaleas, distinct. This exhibitor was also 

 successful in the class for a specimen Azalea. 



For three hardy Rhododendrons Mr. G. Eaton 

 won with plants 7 feet in diameter, and Mr. T. 

 Hitchman was 1st for the single specimen, hav- 

 ing the variety Pink Pearl. 



Mr. E. R. Finch was successful for four hardy 

 forced plants, exhibiting fine specimens. 



For two Palms or Cycads Mr. G. Osborne was 

 1st. This exhibitor was also successful for three 

 Palms growing in 8-inch pots. For the best 

 specimen Palm Mr. F. Atkin secured 1st honours 

 with a fine Kentia. 



Gold Medals were awarded by the association 

 to C. W. Carver, Esq., who exhibited a choice 

 selection of Dendrobiums ; Mr. G. Reuthe, Kes- 

 ton, for a collection of Alpine plants and cut 

 Camellias; Messrs. Charlesworth & Co., Hay- 

 wards Heath, who staged Orchids; 0. 0. Wrig- 

 ley, Esq. (gr. Mr. E. Rogers), for Clivias; Messrs. 

 Mansell and Hatcher, Rawdon, for Orchids ; 

 Messrs. R. P. Ker & Sons, Liverpool, for Ama- 

 ryllis ; Messrs Bees. Ltd., Liverpool, who staged 

 a rockery and floral design ; and Messrs. Young 



& Co., Cheltenham, for Carnations. 



Silver Medals to Mr. W. Rowlands for early- 

 flowering Tulips ; Messrs. Baker's, Wolverhamp- 

 ton, for Alpine plants ; Messrs. H. B. May & 

 Sons, Edmonton, for Ferns and Clematis, and 

 Messrs. C. A. Young, Hatherley, for Carnations. 



The North of England Horticultural Society 

 made awards as follow :- — 



Gold Medals to 0. 0. Wrigley, Esq., for 

 Clivias ; Messrs. Mansell & Hatcher, Rawdon, 

 Leeds, for Orchids; and C. W. Carver, Esq., for 

 Dendrobiums. Silver-gilt Medals to Messrs. 

 R. P. Ker & Sons for Amaryllis; Messrs. Young 

 & Co. for Carnations ; Messrs. Charlesworth & 

 Co. for Orchids ; and Mr. G. Reuthe for Alpines. 

 Silver Medals. — Mr. Thomson, for Daffodils ; 

 Messrs. Baker for Alpines ; and Messrs. H. B. 

 May & Sons, Edmonton, for Ferns. 



An Award of Merit was granted to the Liver- 

 pool Corporation for Giant Buttercups ; and Cul- 

 tural Certificates were awarded to Mr. F. Gilbert 

 for Angrsecum sesquipedale, and Mr. W. Hignett 

 for Dendrobiums. 



ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL. 



March 20. — The monthly meeting of the above 

 society was held on this date at the Institution of 

 Civil Engineers, Great George Street, Westmin- 

 ster, S.W. Tbe president, Dr. H. N. Dickson, 

 occupied the chair. 



Professor Otto Pettersson delivered a lecture on 

 " The Connection between Hydrographical and 

 Meteorological Phenomena." He began by say- 

 ing that the Mediaeval age was characterised by 

 frequent violent climatic changes which seem 

 to have culminated in the 13th and 14th cen- 

 turies, when hot summers accompanied by 

 droughts (which nearly dried up the rivers of 

 Europe) alternated with cold summers and ex- 

 cessive rainfall. In winter violent storm floods 

 occurred which entirely remoulded the coasts of 

 the North Sea; or frost set in so severely that 

 the entire Baltic and sometimes even the Katte- 



gat and the Skagerak were frozen. The lec- 

 turer showed that such phenomena may be 

 ascribed to alterations in the oceanic circulation 

 caused by the influence of the moon and the sun. 

 Experiments carried on during the last four 

 years at Bornoe in Sweden have shown that the 

 inflow of the undercurrent from the North Sea 

 into the Kattegat — which brings the herring 

 shoals in winter to the Swedish coast — is osci£ 

 latory, the boundary surface of the deep water 

 rising and sinking from 50 to 80 feet about twice 

 a month. The phenomenon is governed by the 

 moon's declination and proximity to the earth. 

 From astronomical data, Prof. Pettersson con- 

 cludes that the influence both of the sun and of 

 the moon upon the waters of the ocean in winter 

 about the time of the solstice, must have been 

 greater 600 to 700 years ago than at the present 

 time. 



March 28. — This association's 

 was held on this date in the 



TORQUAY DISTRICT GARDENERS'. 



spring show 

 in tne Torquay Bath 

 Saloons more than a fortnight before the Corn- 

 wall Daffodil and Spring Flower Society's show 

 at Truro, nevertheless it was the general comment 

 that the exhibition was the best on record. So 

 many entries were received that the large saloon 

 was not extensive enough to contain them all, 

 and another room had to be requisitioned. There 

 was keen competition in all the classes. In ad- 

 dition to the individual exhibits there were many 

 noteworthy collections, which made an array such 

 as is rarely seen even in the favoured town of 

 Torquay. Many of the sections of plants bore 

 evidence of the most careful cultivation, Cycla- 

 men being especially fine. A group of these 

 plants shown, not for competition, by Mr. H. 

 Greswolde- Williams was given an Award of 

 Merit. Undoubtedly Hippeastrums (Amaryllis) 

 were the feature of the show, two large groups 

 6 feet by 3 feet being of surpassing excellence. 

 There were two fine exhibits in the class for a 

 group of greenhouse and stove plants, Mrs. 

 Tottenham winning 1st prize, including the 

 Silver Challenge Cup, with a beautiful selection 

 of Hippeastrums (Amaryllis), Cinerarias, Schizan- 

 thuses, Crotons, Zonal Pelargoniums, Spiraeas and 

 Deutzias. Col. Cary, who won the 2nd prize, 

 had a group but little inferior, in which pink 

 Spiraeas were included. Three groups of Palms 

 and Ferns were shown, Col. Cary winning the 

 1st prize with a beautiful exhibit. An excep- 

 tionally large and well-grown Azalea shown by 

 Col. Gary in the class for a specimen plant 

 was awarded the 1st prize, and the same ex 

 hibitor won the 1st prize for three specimens 

 of Rhododendron indicum (Azalea indica) with 

 excellent plants. In the class for 18 varieties ot 

 flowering shrubs, the 1st prize was won by tne 

 Hon. Helen Cubitt. The silver challenge cup 

 offered for the best group of Hippeastrums was 

 won by Mrs. J. Lyon with remarkably fine plants, 

 the blooms being large and brilliant W colour. 

 The Hon. Helen Cubitt won the silver cup 

 presented by Messrs. Barr & Sons for the best 



group of Daffodil blooms. . - 



The exhibits of Cinerarias were especially nne, 

 the 1st prize collection was shown by M» 

 Hassall, the plants being excellently grow 

 with, very large flowers. Plants of ^ inen \* 

 ria stellata, with which Col. Cary won the is* 

 prize in a class for three plants, were also ex 

 ceptionallv fine. Mrs. Gordon-Cttmming won tne 

 1st prize * for six pots of Freesias with P. elI f" 



prize tor six pots 

 examples in profuse flower. 



The 1st pn»3 m 



the 



classes for six table plants was won by Ool. l»a» 

 in a keen competition. Col. Cary also won i" 

 1st prize for a collection of vegetables. lh * P™7 

 for 12 cut Roses was awarded to Mrs. U»*£ 

 Exhibits of Narcissi were good, the 1st prizes i 

 six pots of Narcissi and six pots °{ F °L V a jC E8 . 

 Narcissus respectively were won by Mr. . r- 

 hoo-se. There were ako classes for Hyacinm. 

 Tulips, Orchids, Primulas, Spiraeas, Deutzu », 

 Lily of the Valley, Mignonette. P°ljanth >. 

 Schizanthuses, Dielytra spectabihs, and ww 

 tions. 



NoN -COMPETITIVE EXHIBITS. 



The Devon Rosery, Torquay, staged a ferge 



collection of pot Roses in full bloom ' 4r f tot is 

 lusitanica, Deutzias, Cytisus prsecox, ^ ohT> 

 aureola, Lopezia miniata, Manettia -^ n . 

 double white Clematis Fortunei, Sp*«a ■ La k 

 bergii, S. prunifolia, and a collection 01 *> 

 plants. 



