454 



JOUKNAI, OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ December 13, 1877. 



The last question on the agenda paper was the appointment j 

 of the Committee. After a short discussion it was unanimocslv ! 

 agreed that the Committee continue as at present constituted t 

 with the addition thereto of the names of Mr. Burnaby Atkins, 

 Mr. Jowitt, Mr. Arkwright, and Messrs. Keynes, Prince, and 

 Corp. It was admitted that while many of the members were 

 necessarily unable to attend the meetings in London they were 

 still able and willing to do the Society good service in the j 

 respective districts. The Secretary suggested that in addition j 

 to the large General Committee a smaller Executive Committee 

 be appointed to transact the routine business of the Society. The 

 suggestion was promptly agreed to, and the following amateurs 

 and nurserymen were duly appointed — namely, Rev. Alan 

 Cheales, Capt. Christy, Mr. Jowitt, Mr. Scott, and Mr. Hawtry, 

 and Messrs. Cant, Cutbush, W. Paul, G. Paul, C. Turner, and 

 the two Secretaries, this Committee to carry out all practical 

 details of management, and to summon a General Committee 

 meeting when they deem it desirable to do so. At a previous 

 meeting Dr. Hogg and Rev. J. T. Boscawen were appointed Vice- 

 Presidents of the Society, but on the minute being submitted 

 for ratification Dr. Hogg pointed out that in consequence of his 

 many and urgent duties he felt it incumbent not to accept any 

 more official positions, however much his sympathies were with 

 the objects with which his name might be proposed. He 

 further, on reference to the rules, observed that only one Vice- 

 President was requisite, " and where," he added, " can you 

 find a better than Mr. Boscawen ? " " Nowhere " was the 

 response, and that gentleman's nomination was unanimously 

 ratified, Rev. Canon Hole, of course, remaining the President. 

 A proposition having been made of the desirability of appoint- 

 ing a Treasurer, Mr. Scott, on being requested to do so, consented 

 to accept the position, expressing his willingness in reply to a 

 question to " do any amount of work within his power to further 

 the interests of the Society ; " Mr. Scott thereupon was duly 

 appointed. 



Mr. Cant towards the close of the meeting expressed some 

 Bound observations on the necessity of suggesting some rules of 

 guidance for judging; a matter so important ought not, he 

 thought, to be left to the various fancies of different men whose 

 tastes on some points varied so extremely. Mr. Cant's remarks 

 met with general acquiescence, and it was freely admitted that 

 " something should be done in the matter" — a hint for the 

 Executive Committee. Mr. Mayo also directed attention to 

 the importance of some suggestions that had appeared in the 

 Journal of Horticulture on the advisability of offering prizes 

 for Roses grown within a short radius from London; also on 

 the importance of publishing the names of the judges previous 

 to the show. Several members concurred in the remarks of 

 Mr. Mayo — another hint to the " executive." Mr. George Paul 

 then gave a broad hint to the members by purchasing a copy of 

 the " RosarianB' Tear Book," for the cost of which Mr. Dorabrain, 

 not the Society, is responsible. The "hint" and several copies 

 were at once " taken." 



A cordial vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated a har- 

 monious and united meeting. 



BRITISH PLANTS WORTHY OP CULTIVATION 

 IN GARDENS. 



Wildings that adorn the dewy meads, deck the moorland in 

 beauty, spangle the swamp, and adorn the water are ever 

 welcome ; each has some peculiar beauty, every geological 

 strata, each change of landscape has its special flowers ; some 

 are curious, otherB quaint, all acceptable. The wildings of 

 Nature combine ornament with use, each plant having some 

 peculiar adaptation. Unlimited luxury is found in the behold- 

 ing of our native gems which are attractive in spring, summer, 

 and autumn by thtir blossoms, foliage, and fruit. The study 

 of plants in Nature not only affords pleasure, but enlarges the 

 ideas, expands the mind. Cultivated plants contribute in a 

 higher degree to the enjoyment and comfort of man, inasmuch 

 as they are made to afford to the fullest extent the necessities 

 as well as luxuries of civilised life. 



Wild flowers, I mean native plants, have to a greater or 

 lesser extent been cultivated from time immemorial. Some in 

 their original, but a greater number in improved form, are at 

 present found in gardens. A majority of cultivated plants are, 

 however, exotic — many very beautiful, but some it must be 

 said pale into insignificance before our native beauties. We 

 ransack every clime of its floral treasures ; while beautiful 

 plants growing at our doors are passed by — neglected. Some of 

 them are common, and a few are rare ; therefore the cultivator 

 of native plants may have equal cause to be proud of his collec- 

 tion as one whose plants are principally exotic. The lover of 

 the curious, choice, and rare has hiB wants catered for in hardy 

 native plants as well as in tender, in exoticB, which I will 

 briefly endeavour to show. 



Orchises. — Som9 of the loveliest of all the plants that adorn 

 our fields and woods are found in the Orchid family, adding in 

 no small degree to the " motley meadows glory and delight." 



Orchis mascula (Male Orchis or Early Purple Orchis) is found 

 in moist meadows and open or only partially shaded spots in 

 woods, in rich moist loam of medium texture, its leaves Bpotted 

 black, its flowers in May bright pinkish purple, lip spotted. 

 The flowers are deeper coloured in the open than in shade, the 

 higher-coloured flowers not unfrequently fragrant. It attains 

 to a height of 9 to 12 inches. This forces well, and is very 

 handsome as a pot plant, quite charming among Hyacinths. 



Orchis morio (Meadow Orchid) is profusely distributed in 

 damp meadows in medium-textured loam. Its flowers in May 

 form a lax spike 8 or 9 inches high, the flowers being purple,, 

 white, and green, lip marked with dark spots. This also forces 

 readily, and is a superb pot plant. It is the commonest of our 

 native Orchises, but is nevertheless very handsome. 



Orchis maculata (Spotted Orchis) has pale purple or flesh- 

 coloured flowers spotted or streaked with darker tint or lilae 

 purple in June, attaining to a height of 18 inches, is one of the 

 finest, thriving in partially-shaded moist ground in rather 

 strong loam, but prefers moist healthy pastures. Does well in 

 pots. 



Orchis latifolia (Marsh OrchiE) is found in moist meadows,, 

 having broad spotted leaves and pinkish flowers, purple-crim- 

 son spotted, in June 12 to 18 inches high. The finest plants I 

 have seen were in dampish partially-shaded ground facing east, 

 soil 1 to 2 inches of vegetable debris overlying strong loam. It 

 is fine for pots. 



Orchis pyramidalis (Pyramidal Orchis) is found in meadows 

 in heavy ioam overlying chalk, but I have found it in heavy 

 loam upon the lias formation. Its fine spikes of rosy purple 

 seen in the grass shine like amethysts set in emerald. It 

 flowers in June and July, and is very handsome. 



Gymnadenia conopsea (Gnat or Fragrant Orchis) is found in 

 meadows on high or hilly ground in July with rose or red 

 spikes of flowers, in heavy loam overlying chalk, but not un- 

 frequently without a limestone Btata. It is very sweetly 

 scented and grows lfoot high, flowering in June and July. 



Gymnadenia viridis (Frog Orchis) has green flowers, and is 

 certainly singular, 9 to 12 inches in height, and is found in 

 meadow pastures in moderately strong loam, usually in com- 

 bination with vegetable debris in June and July. 



Gymnadenia albida is a pretty white-flowered kind and sweet, 

 about 6 inches high, appearing to prefer a soil composed of a 

 peaty loam, flowering in Jane and July. 



Habenaria bifolia (Butterfly Orchis), white, 1 foot high, 

 May and June, flowers sweet, partially Bhaded ground in woods,, 

 in loam, with vegetable debris over the loam or intermingled. 



Listera ovata (Twayblade or Wood Orchis), flowers green, 

 small, in a slender raceme about a foot high in May and June. 

 Heavy loam and moist, covered with vegetable debris. 



Epipactis latifolia, purplish spotted yellow, IS inches high,, 

 wet ground partially shaded. 



Ophrys muscifera (Fly Orchis), lilac purple, May, in heavy 

 loam over chalk, 9 inches. 



Ophrys apifera (Bee Orchis), lilac purple, with a velvety 

 centre (bee), 9 inches, heavy loam, and rich. June and July. 



The preceding all thrive in an ordinary border of rich loam 

 free of stagnant water, for though moisture-loving it is moisture 

 percolating through the soil in their habitats, the rich soil of 

 our borders compensating in a measure by the humus for the 

 apparent greater moisture of the soil where the plants grow 

 naturally ; indeed, the plants are much finer, develope wonder- 

 fully under cultivation. Orchis mascula, 0. morio, O. macu- 

 lata, 0. latifolia, 0. pyramidalis, Gymnadenia conopsea, and 

 Habenaria bifolia are splendid border plants, the first-named 

 three being very much finer under cultivation than wild. 

 Orchis morio, which had spikes not over S inches in length 

 gives them over a foot in length, finer alike in foliage and 

 bloom. My only regret is that I did not in the flowering 

 season "spot" more plants of 0. mascula, 0. morio, and 

 0. maculata, of which there apparently are several forms, some 

 nearly white ; in fact, we collected eight apparently distinct 

 forms of the three species, the woods being Tery profusely 

 sprinkled with these plants. By spotting I mean marking where 

 the plants grow, for I find it does not answer to lift the plants 

 when in flower, that being best deferred until the stems fade, 

 then lift with a ball, going deep enough to secure some soil 

 beneath as well as around the roots. The roots are usually 

 2 to 3 inches beneath the surface, seldom over 4 inches deep. 

 We merely remove the surface soil so as to free it of grass or 



