250 



JOITRNAL OP HORTICULTURE AWD COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ March 28, 1865. 



Mr. Oeorjje TiUyar^l, fjardener to John Kelt, Esq., of 

 Bentley IMoi-y, esliibited several handsome bunches of 

 Muscat of Alexandria Grapes splenilidly set with fine 

 plump berries, none of which showed any symptoms of 

 shrivelling^. 



Mr. Brown, gardener to Mrs. Alston, of Elmdon Hall, 

 Birmingham, exhibited large, handsome, and beautifully- 

 coloured specimens of Easter Beurre Pears, the flavour of 

 which had almost passed, but of which there was enough 

 left to show that it had been of unusual excellence in that 

 variety. The fruit had been grown against a wall. 



A seedling Apple, of unusual excellence at this season of 

 the year, was exhibited by Mr. House, of Peterboi-ough, and 

 which has been named "Lord Burghley." It is of medium 

 size, roundish, and slightly flattened; is somewhat bluntly 

 JUignlar on the side, and ridged on the apex, this being 

 caused by the prominent termination of the side angles. 

 The skin, on the shaded side, is of a deep golden yellow, 

 and on that next the sun of a deep clear shining crimson. 

 The whole surface is dotted over with large russet specks, 

 like the Golden Eeinette. The eye is somewhat closed, and 

 set in a pretty deep basin, wliicli is uneven in consequence 

 of the angles which terminate there. Stalk half an inch 

 to three-quarters long, frequently a mere knob. Flesh 

 yellowish, very tender, leaving but little mark in the mouth, 

 very .iuicy, sweet, and with a fine pine flavour and rich 

 aroma. This delicious Apple is now in perfection, and has 

 the appearance as if it would keep for two montlis hence. 

 Apart from its excellent quality, it is highly ornamental, 

 and has a tenderness of flesh .and a flavour similar and 

 equal to Cox's Grange Pippin. It was awarded a fii'st-class 

 certificate. 



Mr. E.irley, of Digswell, sent a collection of salads ; and 

 Mr. K. Marcham, gardener to E. Gates, Esq., of Hanwell, 

 sent two specimens of Pihubarb jam ; one made in 1S03, and 

 the other in 1864. Both had kept remarkably well and were 

 considered very good ; the former suggesting the flavour of 

 Guava.ielly. 



A collection of seedling Apples w.as presented by Dr. Hogg, 

 which he had received from M. J. de Jonghe, of Brussels, 

 but there were none among them that attracted particular 

 notice by their flavour. 



The scientific meeting, March 21st, commenced at three 

 o'clock, J. J. Blundy, Esq., in the chaii-. After the Rev. 

 Joshiia Dix, and G. E. Wilson, Esq., had, as chairmen of 

 the Eloral and Fruit Committees, read over and briefly 

 commented on the awards made by tliose bodies, the Rev. 

 M. J. Berkeley proceeded to point out the most interesting 

 of the objects exhibited. Before doing so, howevei', he 

 stated that a gold medal had been aw.arded to Mr. Joshua 

 Clarke, for the discoverj' of a new British j)lant, Erucastrum 

 inodorum, in a railway cutting near Saffron Walden. 



At the last meeting a species of Brassavola, allied to 

 nodosa, and sent home by Mr. Weir, was exhibited. On 

 consulting the "Botanical Magazine," and "Botanical 

 Register," he found that there were two forms of that Bras- 

 savola, but not suflicienlly distinct to be considered species. 

 Mr. Weir's was the same as that figured in the " Botanical 

 Begister." A new .and curious Gourd had also been brought 

 into notice by M. Naudin, it was the same as that exhibited 

 by Messrs. Barr & Sugden, as Prince of Wales, but on 

 account of its unpleas.int odour, he did not think it would 

 ever become useful for ornamental purposes. There were at 

 the preaent meeting two beautiful Dendrobiums from Mr. 

 Batcmaii — namely, i^.luteolum and densiflorum, in addition 

 to which from another exhibitor tliere were two iine Cypri- 

 pediums — viz., hirsutissimum and Lowii. In connection 

 ■with Orchids, he owed to Major Trevor Clarke, two leaves 

 of some species of C'uttley<a, horn Bahia, and which were all 

 spotted. Nothinp was more common than for cultivators of 

 Orchids to complain of this, which was the result of a para- 

 sitic fungus from abroad, and whicli would be figured in the 

 fortlicoming Number of the Society'n Journal. As another 

 instance of a disease iniporlid from aljrond, an eminent 

 nnrserjman submitted to him (Mr. B ) Home Camellia leaves 

 attacked by a fungus belonging to the genus I'uccinia, and 

 on his (Mr. Berkeley's) inquiring if the plant,s had come from 

 Italy, he wasiDformcdthat tffo of them had, and from tbesa 



two the disease had spread over the whole collection. He 

 would direct tha attention of the meeting to a remarkable 

 specimen of Arisa?ma, a genus closely allied to Arum, to the 

 Australian Cephalotus follicularis, a very remarkable plant, 

 and more particuhu-ly to those curious plants, the Sarra- 

 cenias, of which there were some fine specimens exhibited. 

 They were very difBcult to cultivate, the tubes of the leaves 

 going off, and the pl.ants consequently failing to piroduce 

 their flowers, in which they would notice the curious ex- 

 pansion of the stigma. It had been supposed that these 

 plants were peculiar to the bogs of North Carolina, but they 

 had also been found in Guiana. There were one or two 

 plants at the meeting closely allied to Aroidete, one Anthu- 

 riura Scherzerianum was very beautiful. Pie would also call 

 attention to the Dracaenas and Imantophjllum miuiatum, 

 from Mr. Bull, the Latter being a distinct variety in respect 

 to the size of its truss. There was a very curious sort of 

 Gladiolus from Mr. W. Wilson Saunders, and which had 

 formed part of a large collection ii-om the Cape of Good 

 Hope. It was so unlike any Gladiolus known, that doubts 

 at first had been entertained whether it was really so or not, 

 but a botaniral examination proved it to be so. A Dry- 

 monia was exhibited. This genus was closely allied to 

 Gesnera, and a curious fact had been stated in the "Belgian 

 Horticultural Review," that the pollen of Gesnera coccinea 

 would retain its fertilising power for two or three years. 

 This was a fact, which in the hands of cultivators might lead 

 to useful results. In the genus Salix he might remark, the 

 pollen actually retained its fertilising power longer than the 

 seeds their vegetative power. Among the other plants 

 pointed out to tlie meeting, were Lom.aria L'Herminieri, 

 Ncphrodium molle cristatum, a graceful plant allied to 

 PyretJiriim, and called Corona de Regna. the Eheagnuses 

 from Japan, Peperomia, Urceolina aurea, Mr. Veitch's Ly- 

 castes, raised by Mr. Dominy; the Chinese Primulas from 

 Messrs. Windebank & Kingsbury, of Southampton, and in 

 one of the flowers of whi-^h nearly all the parts were changed 

 into new flowers ; Brahea dulcis, a new Palm, and Lomatia 

 clegantissima. 



Mr. Bateman expressed his satisfaction at Mr. Berkeley's 

 having taken in hand the subject of Orchid diseases, as Mr. 

 Berkeley stood at the head of the cryptogamic police, and 

 there was no doubt that justice would be done on the 

 culprits. Mr. Bateman then called attention to the two 

 Dendrobiums which he that day exhibited, as affording a 

 lesson to Orchid growers not to bo discouraged by the ap- 

 pearance of the first flowers of newly-introduced Orchids. 

 When D. luteolum, which was introduced by Messrs. Low a 

 year or two ago, first bloomed, there were only two weak 

 flowers ; those present could see what it was now, it had been 

 in flower six weeks, and had it not been cut it was likely 

 enough to have lasted six more. Almost all our best Orchida 

 when they first flowered appeared hardly worth exhibiting. 

 The Chairman announced that it was intended to have 

 held a discussion on fruit and floral awards, but so niuch 

 time had been taken up by the lecture on the subjects 

 before the meeting that the discussion must be deferred to 

 tliat day fortnight. 



Mr. William Paul then delivered a very interesting and 

 excellent lecture on the cultivation of spring flowers, dividing 

 his subject into two heads— hardy spring flowers blooming 

 from February to May, and hothouse spring flowers, or those 

 requiring the protection of glass to bloom at that season. 

 Mr. Paul's lecture closed witli some remarks on forcing, and 

 a vote of thanks having been passed to bim, the meeting 

 conchided, the Chairman announcing that the next meeting 

 would be held on the 4th of April. 



MB. w. Paul's snow of srniNo n.owKES. 

 Tins is held in a glazed apartment adjoining that 

 devoted to the weekly shows, and a very excellent display 

 there is, consisting of splendid Hyacinths, mostly of the 

 fame kinds as those which obtain. 'd the first pri/.(! at the 

 L'ecent's Park, besides Camellias, I'lpacris, Khododcndrona, 

 flowering Peaches, Eriostemons, Tulips, Narcissus minor, a 

 V, ry good kind for edging, and cut. Roses. These subjects are 

 to bo replaced from time to time with others, so as to main- 

 tain a gay appearance throughout the month, and those who 



