122 



JOUENAL OF HOETIGULTUKH AND COTTAGE GAEDEXEE. 



[ February 16, 1S71. 



First-class certificates ■n'ere awarded to ilr. Green for Agave Bes- 

 sereriana amcena ; to Mr. Tomtins for Primala Princess Louise ; to 

 Mr. Denning for PUumna fragrans ; and to Mr. Bnll for Gastronema 

 flammea. 



Special certificates were airarded to the following — viz., to Mr. "W. 

 Paul for Camellias in pots, also for cut blooms ; to Messrs. Eollisson 

 for a gronp of plants ; to Mr. Denning for a collection of Orchids ; to 

 Mr. "\^'a^e for Succnlents and spring flowers ; to Mr. Edmonds for 

 Cyclamens ; to Messrs. Cnttnsh for a miscellaneons gronp ; to Mr. 

 Denning for Dendrochilnm glumaceam, also for Cceiogyne cristata and 

 Pilnmna fragrans ; to Messrs. Yeitch for twenty -fonr Primala sinensis 

 and for Cyclamens ; to Mr. Day for specimen Cyclamens ; to Mr. 

 Stevens for Lachenalia tricolor ; to Mr. Bnll for Orchids, also for his 

 collection of Palms, Sec. ; to Mr. Goddard for Cyclamens ; to Mr. 

 Baxter for cut Camellias ; to Mr. TViUiams for a group of plants, also 

 for a coDection of Orchids ; to Messrs. Yeitch for their miscellaneons 

 group of plants ; and to Mr. Kinghom for his berried Aucnba. A special 

 certificate was also given for the gronp from the Society's garden. 



Prizes were offered for the best sis Primulas. The first prize was 

 awarded to Mr. G. Goddard, gardener to H. Little, Esq., Twickenham, 

 who had finely-bloomed plants of white and crimson varieties. Mr. 

 Edmonds, Hayes Nursery, was second, having two pretty little double 

 varieties. 



The first prize for the best three Dielytras was awarded to Mr. Bnll 

 for specimens by no means remarkable. No second prize was given. 



Prizes were also offered for six Lycastes. Mr. Denning, gardener 

 to Lord Londesborough, had the first prize for three remarkably fine 

 specimens, and three of less size, Lycast* Stinneri being the only 

 Innd shown. 



A letter from the Eev. Joshna Dix, the Chairman of the Committee, 

 was read, tendering his resignation of that office in consequence of 

 illness, but the Committee expressed a strong feeling against the 

 acceptance of the rev. gentleman's resignation, and requested he would 

 continue with them at least till the end of the year. 



Gekeeai Meetisg. — J. Bateman, Esq., F.B.S., in the chair. 

 Thirty-one new Fellows having been elected, and the Committee 

 awards announced, the Eev. M. J. Berkeley, in remarking on the objects 

 exhibited, particularly directed p.ttention to TiUandsia Lindeni, which, 

 he said, was most exquisite, and promised, in the case of Mr. "Williams's 

 plant, to produce a long succession of its azure flowers, a colour than 

 which none probably was more wanted in our collections- Mr. Ball's 

 Gastronema, at first thought to be a Vallota, was next referred to as 

 being a brilliant Amaryllid, a true Gastronema, and entirely distinct 

 from G. sangninenm. Scolopendrium vnlgare proteoides, from Mr. 

 Lowe, was then noticed as being a great curiosity, producing on one 

 root Parsley -like, forked, and pinnated foliage, and on this a number of 

 J^ulbils, by which it could be propagated. Mr. Robinson had brought a 

 beautiful golden Lichen from California, of which a specimen was 

 before the meeting. It was the same as Borreraflavicans, which grows 

 on trees in Devonshire and in Madeira. The tnberiform bodies 

 which are found on the roots of Peas, Beans, and other Leguminosee 

 had recently occupied some attention, and they had by some persons 

 been considered to be galls produced by insects, by others as being 

 connected with the nutrition of the plant. Similar bodies had been 

 noticed on Conifers and the Alder. ■ At present nothing certain was 

 known respecting their nature, but he had sown a quantity of Bean 

 seed in order to endeavour to arrive at some satisfactory conclusion. 



Mr. Bateman said he had never seen a richer gathering of Orchids 

 than that exhibited, and expressed his gratification at seeing the 

 nurserymen putting forth their strength. In connection with the 

 beautiful Phaianopsis from Lord Londesborough, Mr. Bateman re- 

 marked that there was a prospect of new species of Phalasnopsis and 

 otheo Orchids from a Scotch gentleman in New Guinea. That vast 

 island was the most perfect t^rra incognita he knew of, for, except that 

 "W allace had given an account of his travels on its western side, he 

 was aware of no other white man who had visited it. He had been 

 authorised by the Society to secure the assistance of the gentleman 

 referred to in collecting plants. Messrs. Teitch's Dendrobium hetero- 

 carpum was noticed on account of its delicious scent of Yiolets ; also 

 Pilnmna fragrans from Lord Londesborough. and which should now be 

 called Trichopilia fragrans. It, together with dslogyne cristata, some 

 of the Cattleyas, and Odontoglossum Aleiandrte were what he called 

 bridal Orchids, from their colours being white and gold. After refer- 

 ring to some other Orchids exhibited, Mr. Bateman said the golden 

 Lichen would be an admirable substitute for what was known as French 

 MosB, so much used in dinner-table decoration, and which lately it had 

 not been possible to obtain. He thought it would well repay anyone 

 who would get the urchins in Devonshire to collect it, in order to send 

 it to the London market. 



Mr. ■RiUiam Paul then read a paper on the Camellia, which we 

 Ehall publish next week. 



Mr. Marshall said there appeared to be some misapprehensions 

 with regard to the conditions of competition for the challenge cup 

 [These were stated at page -19.^, and again explained them. He 

 Inrther remarked that the challenge cup of the value of £50, to be 

 given to anyone winning it three times had been withdrawn, and a 

 cup, value .£25, to be given yearly, was to be substituted. 



EOTAL HOEIICULIUEAL SOCIETY'S PBIZES FOE PkIHEOSES.— 



■We are reaueated to state that the competition for prizes 



cfi'ered for Primroses by the E^.yal Hortionltuxal Soeiety will 

 take place on April 5ih instead of on May 3rd. 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S PRIZE 

 FOR HYACINTHS. 



The prize for vrhite Hyacinths -was intended as a special 

 premium for a definite purpose. 'VThat this was I will try to 

 explain, by taking the case of an intending amateur purchaser 

 of a few good Hyacinths for the ornament of his house or 

 houses. The first thing he does is to consult his nurseryman's 

 bulb catalogue, where he finds from twenty to forly sorts of 

 each colour, single and double respectively. From these lists 

 he has to make his choice on very inadequate data. Price is 

 scarcely a criterion, for many of the finest sorts are com- 

 paratively cheap ; often, too, the difference in quality between 

 these and some higher-priced novelties is not very striking. 

 Many varieties so nearly resemble each other, that none but a 

 Dutch grower or other expert could distinguish them, much 

 less the ordinary lady or gentleman amateur. By the proposed 

 method of exhibition, a good number of varieties of one de- 

 Ecription of flower, as to colour, will be, as it were, paraded for 

 inspection by the public, who may thus gain such a knowledge 

 of the respective merits of varieties as could be obtained m no 

 other way. The white form was selected as best suited for a 

 trial of the merits of the system, to be followed by like pre- 

 miums for other colours. Your correspondent would have tio 

 difficulty in purchasing two additional whites in the trade tc 

 make up his collection. 



I hope the Eev. H. Dombrain, whose opinion in such matters 

 is entitled to respect, wiD see that the premium in question 

 was not a mere random or meaningless experiment.— C. 



CIRCULAR FLO^^"ER BEDS. 

 Of the various geometrical forms introduced into flower- 

 garden designs there is none so useful as the circle ; the ease 

 with which it may be adapted to any position, its graceful out- 

 line, and the great scope which it afiords for producing skilful 

 combinations of colour, all tend to make it very desirable for 

 this purpose. Seen in contrast with angular beds circles are 

 quite certain to be viewed favourably ; the soft outlines meeting 

 the eye from every point of view convey an impression of grace 

 and refinement such as the most skilful planting fails to impart 

 to the stiff formality of an angle. Another advantage is, that 

 a number of circles of ihe same size may be arranged m groups 

 of three or more, or a large circle may be surrounded by a ring 

 of smaller ones. 



Fig. 1. 



In planting such beds due regard must be paid to their size. 

 Tho«e measuring from 3 to 6 feet in diameter appear best when 

 filled with one colour only, while in larger circles two or more 

 colours may be introduced with an equally pleasing eflect. In 

 the latter case it is of much importance that the subdivisions 

 should be 80 arranged as to be sufficiently clear of each other, 

 in order to present the design to the eye free from dl confusion. 

 To do this it is best to mark the outUne of any figure whioh 



