822 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



December i 7> l8 £ 



held at Salisbury, and probably the northern one at Birmingham, but this was 

 not settled ; the metropolitan show would be held at the Crystal Palace as usual. 



On the proposal of the Rev. G. E. Jeans a hearty vote of thanks was accorded 

 the chairman for his services. 



The annual dinner of the society was held later in the evening, under the 

 presidency of R. B. Cater, Esq. The proceedings throughout were of the most 

 enjoyable nature, the dinner being followed by speeches from the Chairman, Rev. 

 H. II. d'Ombrain, Mr. E. Mawley, Mr. G. Bunyard, V.M.H., Mr. G. Paul, 

 V.M.H., Mr. O. G. Orpen, Mr. J. Collingridge, and Mr. George Gordon,V.M.H. 

 The musical arrangements were in the hands of Mr. J. D. Pawle, and gave every 

 satisfaction. 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, December 13. 



There was a very pretty and interesting exhibition on the above date at the 

 Drill Hall, and it formed a fitting conclusion to the splendid series that have 

 marked the progress and popularity of the society during the present year. Orchids 

 and winter-flowering begonias were especially good. 



Floral Committee. 



Mr. W. J. Prewett, gardener to C. A. Pearson, Esq , Frensham Place, Farn- 

 ham, showed a goodly group of heaths and Begonia Gloire de Lorraine associated 

 with Dracaena Sanderiana, D. Godseffiana, and a few cypripediums ; silver 

 Banksian medal. The value of Acalypha hispida (Sanderi) for winter decoration 

 was admirably demonstrated on this occasion by Messrs. F. Sander and Co., St. 

 Albans, who showed a number of good specimens carrying numbers of the long 

 and vivid crimson tails which showed up splendidly in the half light in the Drill 

 Hall ; other introductions of this firm were on view, including Acalypha Godseffi- 

 ana and Licuala Jeanenceyi ; silver Banksian medal. A magnificent exhibit of 

 Begonia Gloire de Lorraine was put up by Mr. H. B. May, Edmonton, who occu- 

 pied half a long table with forty fine specimens in forty-eight's, thirty-two's, and 

 twenty-four-sized pots ; the largest were two and a-half feet through and beautiful 

 plants ; these begonias were associated with adiantum and other ferns, and 

 Asparagus Sprengeri, the combination affording an opportunity of noting how 

 useful is this begonia for winter decoration ; silver-gilt Banksian medal. 



Chrysanthemums in considerable variety were staged in bunches by Mr. W. 

 Wells, Earlswood, Surrey ; this was a bright exhibit, and the varieties staged most 

 freely were Madame P. Rivoire, Mrs. C. Bown, Monsieur Viellard, Julia 

 Scaramanga, Georgina Pitcher, Lucy A. Thomson, soft yellow, a useful late 

 variety, and a sport from Silver Cloud ; Beauty of Sholing, Redhiil Beauty, Mrs. 

 W. Butters, and Sunset ; there was a handsome set of late-flowering kinds ; silver 

 Banksian medal. Messrs. II. Cannell and Sons, Swanley, Kent, had a brilliant 

 exhibit of zonal pelargoniums, cut blooms arranged in big sprays ; some of the 

 most effective and warmly coloured ot these large-bloomed forms were W. E. 

 Cordon, Rudyard Kipling, King of Crimsons, Nicholas II., Lord Reay, A. 

 Tennyson, Lord Farrer, Countess de Morella, The Sirdar, a grand new form with 

 immense deep scarlet flowers ; and Hall Caine ; silver gilt Banksian medal. Mr. H. 

 Eckford, Wem, Salop, sent four varieties of single-flowered primulas, remarkable 

 chiefly for their excessive frilling and fringing and the graduation of the colouring 

 in some forms, notably in Isa Eckford, where the orange-centre shades to the 

 vivid red-rose margin. 



Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons, Chelsea, showed a very bright group of the 

 winter- flowering begonias raised by Mr. Heal at the Chelsea Nursery ; these in- 

 cluded Myra, the very bright and semi double Winter Cheer ; Success, a double 

 pink ; Ensign, semi-double, carmine. All were flowering with the utmost free- 

 dom, canying their flowers on graceful sprays well above the bold green foliage. 

 Silver Flora medal, Mr. Empson, Ampthill House gardens, sent a specimen of 

 the bright-flowered Plumbago rosea, a species not sufficiently grown for winter 

 effect. Mr. Kingsmill, Harrow, showed a flower of Aristolochia ornithocephala. 

 Mr. W. J. Godfrey, Exmouth, showed Christmas Favourite, white, and Queen of 

 Pinks, two late Japanese chrysanthemums ; Winter White was also shown, but 

 unfortunately all the flo wers had had their necks broken in transit. 



Orchid Committee. 



A really fine display of orchids was made on this date, the amateur and trade 

 growers coming out well with tasteful groups. Mr. W. II. White, grower to Sir 

 Trevor Lawrence, Bart., Burford Lodge, Dorking, staged a beautiful lot of 

 calanthes, all representing excellent culture ; the princi 



revertens, C Veitchi, C. V. lactea, C. Burfordiense, vu., , _ 



versicolor, C, amabilis, C. Victoria Regina, and C. Veitchi splendens ; Mr. White 

 also showed fine plants of Cypripedium Leeanum in variety ; silver Flora medal. 

 Messrs. F. Sander and Co., St. Albans, put up a small group of orchids, the 

 sprays of Oncidium varicosum Rogersi brightening up the specimens of Cypri- 

 pedium Leeanum giganteum, C. L. superbum, C. L. magnificum, C. Tityrus, C. 

 Albert Ilye, and others. 



From Messrs, J. Veitch and Sons, Cnelsea, came an interesting collection, in 

 which Cymbidium Traceyanum was most conspicuous and a good form ; Cypri- 

 pedium insigne Sanderse with two tine blooms, C. insigne Chantini, C. Niobe, C. 

 Leeanum, C. Arthurianum pulchellum, Masdevallia Imogen, Oncidium dasystyle, 

 Dendrobium atro-purpureum, D. bracteosum album, Ionopsis paniculata, Epiden- 

 drum Edresio-Waliisi, and Lcelia Novelty were all represented by neat flowering 

 specimens, making together a pretty display that gained a silver Flora medal. 

 Messrs. Hugh Low and Co. contributed a pretty set of orchids, the specimens of 

 Cattleya Dowiana, C. crispa, Cypripedium insigne Laura Kimball, C. Leeanum 

 in variety, Sophronitis granditlora, Cymbidium Tiaceyanum superbum, a finely 

 coloured variety, Oncidium tigrinum, O, crispum, &c, were all well represented 

 and tastefully set up with ferns; silver Banksian medal. 



T , Mr ' **• J" Chapman, orchid grower to R. »L Measures, Esq., Cambridge 

 Lodge, Camberwell, showed a first rate collection of cypripediums, together with 

 a few other interesting orchids, such as Vanda Kimballiana, Sophronitis grandi- 

 ttora, Oncidium cheirophoium, &c. Among the cypripediums we noted good 

 flooring plants of C. Wottoni, C. Allanianum, C. insigne Sander*, C. Leeanum, 

 Chamberlainianum, C. insigne Ernesti, C. Io-grande, and C. Niobe among 

 other notable forms ; silver Flora medal. Mr. A, Howard, gardener to II. Little, 

 £sq., Baronshalt, Twickenham, sent examples of the more popular cypripediums, 



2E£? ™H h n $!55 fl °? ered s P' lke of C Stonei, Laeii* autumnalis, Vanda 



M u Dendroblum fcrmosum giganteum ; bronze Banksian medal. 

 tDedm^n nf rw! S ardener to E. Ash worth, Esq., Wilmslow, staged a fine 

 f e Cl ; e ^t yp / ! ^ d \ um Harefield Hall va?., carrying bold blooms that 



WalL El W an ? ° f lm ^ ense size ' G. Cragg; gardener to W C. 



^^.l^^^^ «* a remarkably weil-flowered Dendrobium 



>tely 



from Captaii 

 badly staged 



such fine blooms and then not stage them tastefully seems to us to blTrT^f ' 



mistake. A silver Banksian medal was awarded. Sir W MarrinT? i?i tort J u r nate 

 sent a fine flower of Cattleya Mendeli crossed C. gigas. iVlarnott > Bedford, 



The Chelsea firm showed several fine hybrid orchids, notably I^lio-cattlev* 

 Frederick Boyle, a hybrid in which Loelia anceps and Cattleya TrianTJ^ y 

 evident ; I^lia Omen, a cross between L. autumnalis and L. purpura, vervd?/ 

 tinct; L. Digbyana-purpurata, a cross between the species noted but oL • 

 which L. Digbyana is not very evident, save in the growth • Lcelio Cattl m 

 Andreana var. Agnes, the result of crossing L. elegans and C. bicolor Mr H a 

 Burberry showed a very pretty and dark-lipped Lselia anceps, named BurSrrv 

 anum ; it is a handsome large-flowered variety. ^ny- 



Fruit and Vegetable Committee. 



Mr. C. Ross, Welfork Park, showed an apple named Paroquet and Mr A 

 Dean sent a dish of brightly-coloured fruits of Hoary Morning. Mr! W Shinrier 

 Melton Constable, sent a seedling grape, the result of a cross between Lady 

 Hastings and Gros Colmar. ' 



many 



SCOTTISH HORTICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 



The last meeting of this year has been held, and there was a good attendance 

 some score of new members being proposed. The president, Mr. Todd, showed 

 a handsome vase, some eighteen inches hig"^, with a base of smilax, furnished 

 with fine chrysanthem urns, produced, as he explained, with few of the luxuries of 

 superior culture, just having such rough and ready treatment as any amateur 

 grower could afford. We noticed the following blooms set off with a grass, 

 something between a big Briza major, and called Elephant Grass: Vivian d 

 Morel, W. H. Lincoln, Yellow La Triomphante, Souvenir de Petite Aimee 

 Mr. Jones sent a box of friends and foes of the chrysanthemum, which most 

 growers seemed shy to open, for fear any of them should make good their escape, 

 and Mr. Cooke showed a nice plant of Lilias with six blooms in a six-inch pot, 

 stating that it was inserted as a cutting at the end of last March, and that 

 sorts could be grown successfully in six-inch pots. 



The secretary, Mr. Robert Laird, then proceeded to read a paper by Mr. A. 

 Wright, Falkland Park, South Norwood, Surrey, on the arrangement of hardy 

 plants in the garden. The author of the paper, to the apparent surprise of the 

 society, dealt with the question under the three hea ds of trees, shrubs, and hardy 

 herbaceous and alpine plants. In each class he reco mmended grouping as the best 

 means of brightening the effect. Plants of the same genera mostly go well 

 together. The grouping of trees was often passed over because of its difficulties, 

 and also owing to the fact that the planter seldom lived to see t he full effects or 

 results of his work. This was doubtless the reason why so little was done to 

 develop to the full the landscape effects of trees. Deciduous trees should not be 

 too near the house, because of the litter of their falling leaves, a gardener's, and 

 not an artist's, reason. Foregrounds of evergreens, including con fers as recom- 

 mended by Mr. Wright, are by no means always best. Tnorns, laburnums, 

 apples, cherries, crabs, chestnuts, green and purple beeches, birches, 

 silver pDplars, golden or other variegated planes, and many other trees 

 often give far greater light and variety to our lawns and gardens, Mr. 

 Wright hastened on to shrubs as more manageable and sooner grown into 

 artistic groups. The great danger here, as among herbaceous plants, was formality 

 of beds and borders. The less of this the better. Such shrubs as rhododendrons, 

 azaleas, berberis seemed made for grouping, and, indeed, the same mi^ht be said 

 of most of our other choice shrubs — deciduous and evergreens. Finally, as to our 

 herbaceous and alpine plants, we had a group worthy of all the attention that 

 could be brought to bear upon it. Year by year they were taking a mere promi- 

 nent place among their best hardy neighbours. Few who knew their great wealth 

 of beauty but would admit that this was a change in the right direction. The 

 place for herbaceous plants, &c, was in front of the shrubbery, a place hardly 

 endorsed by several speakers, who contended that the herbaceous plants 

 and alpines would certainly object to the roots of the trees and shrubs underground, 

 and their shade trees and shrubs overhead. 



After an animated discussion— in which the following took part, Messrs. Long, 

 James Grieve, Comfort, Frazer, Fish, Johnstone, Mackenzie, and the President 

 —the latter proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Wright for his paper, which w*s 

 heartily passed, for though it had elicited considerable variety of opinion all agrees 

 that the paper had provided useful pegs for discussion. One of the most * ntcr( jf 



ing facts elicited by this discussion was stated by Mr. Mackenzie, to the efle;t true 



- \\\ our cniet 



there was nothing new in the grouping of plants for effect 

 gardens are planted on the grouping system, and the great Loudon, wnen 

 in his prime, submitted a plan to the Town Council of Edinburgh to cover 

 Arthur's Seat with groups of trees and flowering shrubs, such as rhododendrons, 

 &C, The treasurer presented an epitome of the takings at the last chrysantnemum 

 show, which showed a balance of ^209 over expenditure. 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL 50CIETY OF ABERDEEN 



At a meeting held the other day of those directors of the above society who 

 were associated with Mr. Duncan M. Smith during his vice-chairmanship 0 m 

 society a resolution was propDsed, and unanimously adopted, that it wouia . _ 

 fitting and courteous thing to recognise in some way Mr. Smith s long M J un I ring 

 services to the society-services so onerous and valuable as to well deserts 

 recognition, not only by the directors who were associated with Mr. snw . 

 also by the members of the soci ety generally. This resolution was ^can 

 Wednesday evening, 7 th inst., when Mr. Smith was 



Imperial Hotel, Aberdeen. There was a large and representative ^ cf ?^V ir . 

 Mr. William Pyper, of Hillhead, president of the society, copied he ch*r 

 fter dinner the loyal toasts were proposed and very heartily responded 10. 



In proposing the toast of " The Guest of the Evening," ^f?£^S^|3 

 were there that night to do honour to a gentleman whom ^ey had kne^ n ^ . rf 

 twenty years, and who had been connected with the Royal Hort c J xty 

 Aberdeen beyond that period. The purpose of their meeting that mOii . , # 

 their indebtedness to Mr. Smith for the services he had '« de ^?^ai 

 Their guest had had a great deal to do with the building up o <W £ ^ 

 getting it into the position it was at the present time. They were so > ^ ^ 

 such an ctricial as Mr. Smith. Although Mr. Smith was not no* J d( . 



1 



he w as 



, auu mm 



*>octy 



vases 



To send 



t bring himself to think that the services he had P-"£ IU haJ w0 a «£ 

 rthy of so great a reward. He was proud indeed ^ Mf . Sfa feh 



inn MhuM ~r *- .1 «~ u» ciu? that evening. 



' & .^u u reward, — „,.^ n j n , T 



respect and esteem of many of the gentlemen he ** w that * cnm » 



