THE FLORAL MAGAZINE. 



NEW SERIES.] JANUARY, 1881. 



HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 



If the weather was cold, damp and lowering outside, 

 on the 14th ult., the Council Chamber of the Royal 

 Horticultural Society afforded a remarkable contrast, 

 as it was aglow with floral life, and many fine and warm 

 tints of colour gave a very pleasant aspect to the 

 chamber. 



In December and January one does not look for a 

 great deal of novelty, and though there was not a 

 great deal present on this occasion, yet a few things of 

 unusual good character much interested plant culti- 

 vators. First-class Certificates of Merit were awarded 

 to the following novelties : — Jasminum gracillimura, a 

 remarkably handsome plant of free growth, with long, 

 slender branches, bearing large terminal and axillary 

 heads of pure white flowers. The individual flowers 

 are an inch in diameter with seven to nine lobes. The 

 fragrance is very powerful, and to some persons very 

 agreeable. The leaves are rather small, and bright 

 green in colour. We are informed on authority that 

 " The plant is altogether a great acquisition, and quite 

 distinct from J. pubescens, under which name it was 

 exhibited on the authority of the Kew officials ; but 

 Sir J. D. Hooker, upon subsequent examination, has 

 determined that it may be distinguished from that 

 species by the number of the corolla lobes and the 

 gracefulness of the habit, which character has led to 

 the adoption of the name given above." It is said to 

 be one of the plants introduced by Mr. F. W. 

 Burbidge, when travelling in the tropics for the 

 Chelsea firm. This plant, which is certain to become 

 popular, was deservedly awarded a First-class Certi- 

 ficate of Merit. It was shown by Messrs. James 

 Veitch and Sons, who received the sam*e reward for 

 Mormodes Wendlandii, a peculiar orchid, exhibiting 

 much character in the structure of the flower, the tip 

 being especially noticeable, the flowers are pale yellow 

 in colour, and produced on the summit of a spike two 

 or three feet in length : it was introduced from South 

 America a year ago ; for Odontoglossum blandum, 

 a dwarf and pretty orchid, with spikes of nine or 

 ten small flowers, the ground colour creamy-white, 

 spotted with purple : though not absolutely new, this 

 orchid has hitherto been extremely rare, but will 

 doubtless be once more plentiful in course of a short 

 time ; for Odontoglossum anceps, a distinct orchid, 



[No. 109. 



somewhat resembling O. maculatum in the form, size 

 and colour of the flowers, but with the colours more 

 pronounced : the sepals are narrow, and of a reddish- 

 chocolate colour, the petals being a pale greenish 

 tint, spotted and barred with chocolate; for Croton 

 Cronstadti, a very pretty and distinct form, with 

 narrow pendulous, spirally-twisted leaves, very deep 

 bright yellow near the base, and becoming dark 

 green, with streaks of crimson towards the tip : the 

 pendulous character of the foliage and the bright 

 colours rendered the plant very attractive ; and for 

 Croton Hawkeri, a highly ornamental variety, with 

 lance-shaped leaves about six inches long. The varie- 

 gation consists of a pale lemon-yellow in the lower two- 

 thirds of the leaf, the remaining portion being deep 

 green. The compact, bushy habit of growth in this 

 variety is its chief characteristic, a property possessed 

 only by a few of the newer kinds. It promises to take 

 high rank as an effective decorative plant. 



Primula sinensis fimbriata was well represented on 

 this occasion, and First-class Certificates of Merit were 

 awarded as follows : — to Primula sinensis Swanley Red, 

 a line variety, compact in growth, robust, and having 

 large symmetrical flowers, with finely fringed margins : 

 the colour is an intensely rich carmine shaded with 

 purple : this came from Mr. Henry Cannell, Nurseryman, 

 Swanley; for Primula Annie Hillier, a fine double 

 variety with large flowers, very full, of good form, 

 slightly fringed : colour white, suffused with pink : the 

 trusses of good size and freely produced : from Mr. 

 Hillier, The Nurseries, Winchester; and for Primula 

 Purple Gem, also a very fine form, the flowers large, 

 finely fringed, and of a remarkably rich velvety crimson 

 colour, contrasting well with the bright yellow centre : 

 the trusses of flowers are borne well above the foliage 

 on stout stalks : this came from Henry Little, Esq., 

 Hillingdon. 



Among the newer orchids shown in this were Chysis 

 Chelsoni, a handsome hybrid between C. bractescens 

 and C. aurea, Oncidium Cheirophorum, a species with 

 congested spikes of yellow wax-like blossoms on slender 

 stalks; Tricopilia rostrata, a rare species with white 

 flowers, having singularly twisted sepals, and shell-like, 

 with orange-yellow throat; Cattleya Mastersonioe, a 

 hybrid variety, with delicately-tinted sepals and 

 amethyst lip, &c. These came from Messrs. Veitch 

 and Sons, Chelsea. 



