404 



JOURNAL OP HOBTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ November 9, 1676. 



without roots has just developed a perfect flower from a small 

 bud. 



A beautiful variety of the Strawberry Tree (Arbutus Unedo) 

 is flowering on the lawn between the Cactus house and the old 

 museum. The flowers are nearly twice as large as those of the 

 common form, and moreover en the exposed side have a deep 

 crimson blush, to which chiefly is due the great attractiveness 

 of this variety. The leaves, too, are of greater breadth than 

 in the type, and the stems more decidedly red. It is quite dis- 

 tinct, and deserves to be well known both as an ornamental 

 shrub and as a floral ornament. 



EOYAL HOETICULTUBAL SOCIETY. 



NOVEMBER 8lH. 



Whatever impediments have had to be encountered in en- 

 deavours to extricate the Society from its difficulties and place 

 it on a satisfactory basis, the Council have been encouraged by 

 many expressions of confidence on the part of those immedi- 

 ately connected with horticulture. Ever since the great exhi- 

 bition so spontaneously and gracefully made last year by the 

 principal nnrsenmen, the exhibitions and meetings have been 

 extremely gratifying. The Committee meetings have especially 

 been well attended, and many subjects of great importance have 

 been submitted at these practical and undemonstrative gather- 

 ings. But for respect for the " old Society," and faith in the 

 policy of those by whom it is represented, the meeting of to-day 

 would, have been a comparative blank, for the great show ap- 

 pointed to be held was officially abrogated, and there was left 

 only private enterprise and public zeal to atone for the sacrifice 

 which it was found necessary to make. It is this enterprise and 

 zeal which have made the Exhibition of to-day — another instance 

 that horticulture is neither dead nor dying — another proof that 

 the Royal Horticultural Society enjoys the confidence of many 

 friends. 



The only prizes offered on this occasion were those provided 

 by the firms of Messrs. Carter & Co. of High Holborn and 

 Messrs. Sutton & Sons of Reading. These prizes were liberal, 

 and were responded to with collections worthy of th.9 repute of 

 the Eeedsmen and of the cultural ability of the exhibitors. But 

 besides this competition there were honorary contributions of 

 great merit, extent, and variety. 



Messrs. Veitch were not afraid of bringing from their stoves 

 valuable Orchids on the sharp frosty morning, nor Mr. B. S. 

 ■Williams plants similarly tender. Mr. Wills also staged some 

 of his new Dracaenas; Mr. Ollerhead, gardener to Sir Henry 

 Peek, Orchids ; Mr. Smith, Ealing, and Mr. Lowe, "Oxbridge, 

 Cyclamens; Mr. Turner, Slough, a grand collection of Chry- 

 santhemums ; Messrs. Veitch & Sons also sending a collection 

 with very fine blooms. These with the Grapes from Mr. Wild- 

 smith, the PineB from Mr. Hunter, and the splendid collection 

 of Pears and Apples from Mr. Haycock, gardener to R. Leigb, 

 Esq., Barharn Court; and from Mr. Ford, gardener to W.E. 

 Hubbard, Esq., Leonardslee, Horsham, and numerous other 

 exhibits, quite filled the Council-room and French courts, and 

 made one of the most interesting exhibitions that has been seen 

 for some time. 



Mr. Turner's Chrysanthemums were vigorously-grown well- 

 bloomed plants, the large-flowered varieties occupied the whole 

 length of the long court, with Pompons at the end of the room. 

 Time does not permit an enumeration of the varieties, which 

 embraced all the best in cultivation. Messrs. Veitch's plants were 

 noteworthy for their superior blooms, and the standard Pompons 

 also staged by this firm were extremely effective. Messrs. E. G. 

 Henderson & Sons, Wellington Road Nursery, also exhibited 

 plants in exuberant health and with fine blooms. 



The Grapes exhibited by Mr. Wildsmith comprised Bur- 

 chardt's Prince, Bowood Muscat, Lady Downe's, White Tokay, 

 Gros Colman, White Nice, Gros Guillaume, Calabrian Raisin, 

 Mrs. Pince, Muscat of Alexandria, Alicante, Trebbiano, and 

 Black Hamburgh. Many of them were exceedingly fine, notably 

 Gros Guillaume, GroB Colman, Lady Downe's, and Bowood 

 Muscat. 



The fruit from Mr. Haycock comprised thirty-seven dishes 

 of Apples and twenty dishes of Pears, every variety being in 

 really splendid condition; indeed finer fruit has seldom, if ever, 

 been staged. The Calville Blanche Apples were of enormous 

 size, and really spletdid were Beauty of Kent. Cox's Pomona, 

 Reinette d'Espagne, Reinette du Canada, Ribston Pippin, Em- 

 peror Alexander, &c, were in a perfect state, and particularly 

 attractive was the Lady Apple, Pine Apple Pippin, and other 

 small kinds. The Pears also were of equally high merit, Doy- 

 enne du Cornice, Triomphe de Jodoigne, Beurre' d'Anjou, 

 Easter BenrrG, Winter Nelis, Olivier de Serres, Beurre Bachelier, 

 and some others, being represented by diBhes of unusual excel- 

 lence. This fruit was grown on the French system on horizontal 

 and diagonal cordons, the Apples being on Paradise stocks. Mr. 

 Ford Btaged fifty varieties of Apples and twenty of Pears, most 

 of the dishes being highly creditable. Mr. Earley, The Gardens, 



Valentines, Ilford, staged twenty-four varieties of Apples and 

 Pears, including some good dishes. Mr. Fanning, gardener to 

 Madame Digby, Roehampton, staged thirty-two admirable 

 dishes ; and Mr. Pragnell, gardener to G. D. W. Digby, Esq., 

 Sherborne Castle, Dorset, eighteen disheB of excellent fruit. 



Mr. Osman, South Metropolitan Schools, Sairey, exhibited 

 magnificent heads of Veitch's Giant Cauliflower; Mr. Gilbert, 

 Burghley, Canadian Wonder Beans ; Mr. Parsons, Welwyn, 

 superior examples of Magnum Bonum Onions; Mr. Ross, gar- 

 dener to C. Eyre, E6q., Welford Park, Newbury, a dish of Ross's 

 Criterion Potato, resembling Schoolmaster. Mr. Turner, Slough, 

 exhibited a splendid dish of Schoolmaster, Bailey's Red Beet, 

 Early Jaulin Savoy, very superior, and Bailey's Selected Cab- 

 bage, which is evidently a variety of great merit. Mr. Brown, 

 gardener to F. T. Barry, Esq., Clock House, Beckenham, staged 

 very large Celery— Grove White and Leicester Red; and Mr. 

 Sidgar, Hammersmith, exhibited eighteen excellent beads of 

 Celery in six varieties. A very numerous and superior collection 

 of Potatoes, Onions, Gourds, &c, were exhibited by Messrs. 

 Carter & Co. ; and a similarly large, varied, and excellent con- 

 tribution, including also Succulent plants, came from Mr. R. 

 Dean, Ealing. A cultural commendation was awarded to Mr. 

 Pragnell for an excellent collection of salad vegetables. 



Phizes Offered bt Messrs. James Carter & Co. — For 

 the prizes offered for twelve Pinesfield selected white Spanish 

 Onions fifteen competed, the prizes going to Mr. Cross, gardener 

 to J. Hough, Esq., Peak House, Sidmouth ; Mr. Cave, Pinesfield 

 Farm, Rickmansworth ; and Mr. Neal, gardener to P. Sonthby, 

 Esq., Bampton, Oxon, in the order named. All the bulbs being 

 fine, the first-prize lot being highly superior and decorated with 

 the " blue ribbon." 



In the class for the best ten dishes of vegetables, including 

 Carter's Heartwell Early Marrow Cabbage, ten competed, the 

 fir6t prize going to Mr. Pragnell, gardener to G. W. D. Digby, 

 Esq., Sherborne Castle, Dorset, for a grand collection ; Mr. Miles, 

 gardener to Lord Carington, being second, also with splended 

 produce ; Mr. Baker, Broad Street, Brompton, Farringdon, being 

 placed third ; and Mr. Lumsden, Bloxholme Hall, fourth. The 

 vegetables in this class were of very high quality and won gene- 

 ral admiration. 



In the class for eight dishes of Potatoes, including Carter's 

 Ashtop Fluke, Carter's American Breadfruit, and Porter's 

 " Excelsior," eight competed. Mr. McKinlay, Beckenham, 

 Kent, was placed first; Mr. Miles, Wycombe Abbey, second ; 

 and Mr. Baker, Brompton, Faringdon, third ; the fourth prize- 

 winner we could not ascertain. The tubers were extremely 

 fine throughout these collections. 



In the class for three specimens of Carter's Heartwell 

 Early Marrow Cabbage, twelve competed. Mr. Neal, Bramp- 

 ton, being placed first; Mr. Pink, The Gardens, Lee's Court, 

 Faversham, second ; and Mr. Baker, Brompton, third. All 

 staged superior examples of one of the finest sorts of Cabbage 

 in cultivation. 



Prizes Offered bt Messrs. Sutton & Sons. — For twelve 

 Sutton's Improved Reading Onions. First, Mr. G. Neal, gar- 

 dener to P. Southby, Esq , Bampton, Oxford ; and second, Mr. 

 W. Cross, gardener to J. Hough, Esq., Peak House, Sidmouth. 

 Eight exhibited in this class, and neither Messrs. Sutton nor 

 the public could find fault with the produce. 



In the class for a collection of Potatoes, twelve dishes, dis- 

 tinct kinds, grown by the exhibitor, six dishes round, and Bix 

 dishes kidney. First, Mr. P. McKinlay, Woodbine House, 

 Beckenham, who won the gold medal with Porter's Excelsior, 

 Emperor, RedBkin Flourball, Model, Scotch Blue, Climax, 

 Salmon Kidney, King of Potatoes, Snowflake, Hundredfold 

 Fluke, Purple Ashleaf, and Excelsior Kidney. Second, Mr. J. 

 Pink, The Gardens, Lee's Court, Faversham (silver medal), 

 Third, Mr. Lumsden, gardener to SirR. C. N. Hamilton, Blox- 

 holm Hall, Sleaford (bronze medal). Seven competed. 



A collection of vegetables, twelve distinct kinds, including 

 Sutton's King of the Cauliflowers, Sutton's Improved Reading 

 Onion, Sutton's Student Parsnip, Sutton's Sulham Prize Celery, 

 and Sutton's Improved Dark Red Beet. Mr. Pragnell, Sherborne 

 Castle, won the gold medal ; second Mr. R. Gilbert, gardener 

 to the Marquis of Exeter, Burghley, Stamford (silver medal) ; 

 and third Mr. Lumsden (bronze medal). Eight competitors. 



The several collections staged in competition for all the above 

 prizeB were of highly superior quality, and it was no easy task, 

 for the Judges to decide on the relative merits of the produce 

 of the successful competitors. 



Fruit Coitiiittee. — Henry Webb, Esq., V.P.. in the chair. 

 Mr. Williamson, gardener to C N. HatteD, Esq., Bellair, Dul- 

 wich, sent two Pine Apples, one of which was the variegated 

 variety and the other the Queen, and a letter of thanks was 

 awarded. Mr. Woods, gardener to E. W. Walker, Esq., Bury 

 Hill, Mansfield, sent two Pines which were passed. 



Mr. Newton of Newark-on-Trent sent two bunches of Grapes, 

 one Cbaptal and the other Black Damascus. The latter was of 

 good flavour, but the other was not possessed of any particular 



