532 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
[ June 25> 1885. 
gardener to Col. W. P. Talbot, Glenhurst, Esher, wlio was first with Sutton’s 
S-uperb Green and Green Co3, Veitch’s Exhibition White Cos, Victoria White 
Cos, and Hardy White Dutch Cabbage. These Lettuces were not only solid 
good specimens, but they were set up to much better advantage than the 
others. Mr. W. Meads, The Gardens, Beckett Park, Shrivenham, and 
Mr. Richards, Somerley Park Gardens, Ringwood, Hants, were second and 
third respectively. 
Fruit Committee.— H. J. Yeitch, Esq., in the chair. There were 
several seedling Melons exhibited for certificates, but none of them was of 
sufficient merit to secure an award. Mr. George Taylor, gardener to Sir 
Charles Isham, Lamport Hall, sent a small red-fleshed variety called Sir 
Charles, of good quality, but not good enough. Mr. A. R. Bailey, Wilton 
Vale House, Frome, sent Blenheim Orange, well grown, but not ripe. It 
was awarded a letter of thanks. Mr. William Iggulden, Marston Gardens, 
Frome, sent a Melon called Marston House, which was not ripe. Messrs. 
Rivers & Son of Sawbridgeworth sent fruit of Lord Napier Nectarine, 
remarkably well grown, large, and of delicious flavour. A cultural com¬ 
mendation was awarded. Mr. George Paul exhibited a plant of Pauline 
Strawberry, which was described and figured in this Journal, and a first- 
class certificate was awarded. Mr. T. Laxton sent a dish of “ The Captain ” 
Strawberry, well grown and quite ripe, from the open ground, but it was 
passed as being deficient in flavour. A recommendation was sent to the 
Council proposing that a Pear Congress be held at Chiswick on the 21st of 
October, and the following Committee was appointed in advance :—G. Bun- 
yard, Dr. Hogg, J. Lee, J. Roberts, J. Woodbridge, H. Veitch, and A. F. 
Barron, Secretary. 
Floral Committee. —Present, Mr. John Fraser in the chair, and Messrs. 
J. Douglas, James O’Brien, H. M. Pollett, Harry Turner, J. Dominy, Charles 
Noble, Thomas Baines, W. Wilks, H. Herbst, W. Bealby, H. Bennett, 
H. Cannell, Dr. Maxwell T. Masters, H. Ballantine, W. B. Kellock, J. Child, 
J. Walker, Amos Perry, F. R. Kinghorn, and J. James. 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, exhibited several new plants, which 
were certificated, and are described at the end of this report; two others, 
not so honoured but very notable, were Euonymus japonicus Silver Gem, 
which has neat leaves, with a broad distinctly defined margin of silvery 
white ; and Fagus sylvatica tricolor, the leaves of which are edged with 
bright rose. Messrs. Sander & Co., St. Albans, had some very pretty and 
varied forms of Odontoglossum, several of which were certificated. Mr. 
Chadwick, Ealing, showed a plant of Stanhopea tigrina, with two large 
richly coloured flowers, strangely mottled. Mr. Little sent a variety of 
Cattleya Mendeli, named rosea superba, finely coloured ; and Mr. Clay also 
had a variety of the same species, named superba, but much lighter in 
colour. The New Plant and Bulb Company, Colchester, showed a variety of 
this Cattleya named delicatissima, the flowers of which are nearly white, 
having a slight yellow tinge in the lip. Spikes of the white Veronica 
salicifolia and several hardy plants were also shown by the same firm. 
Colonel Taylor, The Coppins, showed some handsome Poeonies, varied in 
colour and extremely full. H. Buchan, Esq., Southampton, sene a spike of 
Odontoglossum velleum, the flowers bright yellow barred with brown, neat 
and pretty. Mr. C. Turner had a small group of Show and Fancy Pelar¬ 
goniums, comprising the following :—Show Varieties—Comet, scarlet and 
maroon ; Cygnet, rose lower petals, blush upper petals ; Lily, similar, but 
with the colouring reversed. Fancy Varieties—Mrs. Langtry, lower petals 
white, the upper rose ; Mars, white centre, rose-purple margin ; and Pene¬ 
lope, white centre, bright purplish pink in colour. Mr. W. Rumsey had 
plants of Pelargonium candidissimum plenum, double, white and pure. Mr. 
W. Stacey, Dunmow, showed a stand of his new Verbena Hamlet, deep 
red, very fine flower, and rich in colour. 
CERTIFICATED PLANTS. 
Anguloa Ruckeri (Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart.).—A handsome specimen 
with twelve large flowers, the dark red spots upon the inner or upper sur¬ 
face of the sepals and petals being very numerous, and having a curious 
appearance on the yellowish ground tint. 
Cymbidium Parishi (Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart.).—A charming neat- 
flowered form, the sepals and petals pure white, wax-like in substance, the 
lip stained with yellow in the centre. 
Thunia Veitchi (Veitch).—A hybrid between T. Marshalli and T. Ben- 
sonise, the seed of which were sown in April, 1881. The sepals and petals 
are pure white, the lip being veined with mauve and tinged with yellow. 
It is extremely pretty, and will become a favourite. 
Masdevallia Gairiana (Veitch).—A hybrid between M. Veitchiana and 
M. Davisi, and showing the characters of the two parents in a remarkable 
degree, the flowers being yellow tinted with red. 
Styrax japonicus (Veitch).—An attractive Japanese shrub with white 
drooping flowers of five oval petals. They are produced freely from the 
axils of the ovate-lanceolate leaves, and have a pretty appearance. 
Olearia macrodonta (Veitch).—A New Zealand shrub, with lanceolate 
■coarsely serrated leaves 1^ to 2 inches long, and white on the under surface. 
The flowers are white, Aster-like inform, quarter of an inch in diameter, and 
produced in dense corymbs. 
Eremurus aurantiacus (New Plant and Bulb Company).—A very hand¬ 
some plant, with dense cylindrical spikes of small bright yellow flowers and 
long stamens. The spike was over 12 inches long and crowded with flowers 
the whole length, but as they open from the bottom upwards it appears that 
only about half the flowers are expanded at one time. 
Odontoglossum Mulus Germinyanum (Sander).—A pretty variety, pale 
yellow with dark chocolate blotches and bars. 
Odontoglossum Alexandra Johnsonianum (Sander).—White and purple 
ground with numerous brown spots. 
Odontoglossum elegans Alicia (Sander).—Sepals and petals narrow, white, 
with rich brown spots and dots. 
Odontoglossum Brymerianum .—A handsome variety of fine form, white 
and uurple ground with brown spots and blotches. 
Candytuft Empress (R. Dean).—A superb variety with large pure white 
flowers in long dense spikes. 
Bose Princess Beatrice (H. Bennett).—A pedigree seedling variety with 
neatly flowered bloom of good substance, delicately tinted with yellow, in a 
young state slightly tinged with pale rose, the petals revolute. Very fragrant. 
A pretty addition to Mr, Bennett’s charming Roses. 
Pelargonium Tliisby (Wiggins).—A show decorative variety of the 
Eastern Emperior style, but superior to that, the white lower petals being 
clearer, and the upper purple-tinted ones richer. 
Scientific Committee. —Sir J. D. Hooker in the chair. 
David Douglas. —Sir Joseph Hooker showed a portrait of the famous 
botanical explorer, to whom our gardens are indebted for bo many fine 
hardy plants. 
Honey Glands in Cattleya. —Dr. Masters read a communication from Mr. 
Burbidge relating to the presence of honey glands on the sepals of Cattleya 
Mendelli—a circumstance not commonly known. 
Arthrotaxis selaginoides. —Dr. Masters showed, on the part of Mr. Noble, 
branches of this plant provided with cones. 
Tea from Jamaica. —Sir J. D. Hooker alluded to a consignment of Tea 
which he had received from Jamaica, the first received from that island, 
and the produce of seed sent from Hew to Jamaica some twenty years 
since. The quality was reported as very good. 
Action of Frost. —Specimens of espalier Apples from Rev. H. H. 
D’Ombrain were shown, in which the young growths were browned and 
withered. Dr. Masters stated that he had recently received numerous 
specimens of various trees similarly affected. In the absence of other visible 
cause, he attributed the effect to the action of frost on the young growing 
shoots. 
HZranthusleonis. —Mr. W. G. Smith sent a sketch of the flower of the new 
ZEranthuB (Angrascum) leonis,and called attention to the long and remarkable 
spur, which is abruptly twisted and the end upturned. “ In Angrascum 
sesquipedale a moth was found with a proboscis long enough to reach the 
nectar at the bottom of the straight or only slightly curved spur. How 
could a moth gets its proboscis to the base of a spur like the one of which 
I send a sketch ? It could only be done with inconvenience to the moth, 
and might lead to a damage of the delicate proboscis. If I may be allowed 
to say so, the flower appears to me to be twisting its spur at the moth in a 
most defiant and irritating manner. All the spurs are curved in the same 
style.” 
It was pointed out that the twisted state of the spur might he advan¬ 
tageous rather than otherwise, as affording leverage to the moth. 
Corn Mildew. —Mr. Smith sent a drawing of the fungus of corn mildew, 
Puccinia graminis, Pers., growing in company with the fungus of smut 
Ustilago carbo, Tul., within the membranes of the fruit or grain of Oats. 
He says, “ The fungus was detected as drawn in the very young fruit, and the 
fungus did not gain access to the fruit from the exterior, but from the 
interior of the host plant in company with the smut fungus. I have the 
original materials and a microscopic slide with the fungi in situ. 
“ The meaning will be quite obvious to all botanists, and proves that corn 
mildew can be (and, as I say, is) hereditary in corn. By hereditary, I mean 
that the germs of the disease can be transmitted in the fruits or grains. 
“ The district in which I write (Dunstable) is purely agricultural. Corn 
is one of the chief products, and corn fields are spread over thousands of 
acres. The corn is now much rusted. This rust, or Uredo, the early state 
of Puccinia, appeared on the first leaves of this corn in spring and early 
summer. The amount of Uredo is perfectly inconceivable. 
“ As for Barberry bushes and Barberry blight, although I have known 
this district well all my life and studied its botany, I have never once seen 
a wild Barberry bush in the whole county. Abbot only gives two localities 
in the county of Beds, and Saunders only one. Mildew is always in its 
worst form near hedges and trees, and had patches are always seen where 
the ground has been manured with mildewed straw from stables. 
“ One of the reasons why mildew is so bad here is found in the fact that 
all the best unmildewed straw is very carefully selected for the manufac¬ 
ture of hats and bonnets, and all the mildewed material finds its way to 
the fields, where it reproduces the disease. 
“ I do not say, and never have said, that it ia impossible for the fungus 
of Barberry blight to infect corn with Uredo ; all I say is that nothing 
like proof has yet been adduced of a genetic connection between HScidium 
Berberidis and Puccinia graminis. 
“ The corn fields in this district conclusively show that Barberry hushes 
are unnecessary for the production of Uredo and Puccinia, as such bushes 
are virtually unknown.” 
SCENTED-LEAVED PELARGONIUMS. 
We do not hear much of these, but they deserve general attention and 
culture for many reasons. There is no other class of plants with which I 
am acquainted which bear leaves so delightfully fragrant as these. They 
are evergreen and highly pleasing at all times. Some are variegated and 
others have their leaves beautifully cut, assuming the appearance of Ferns. 
They mostly produce small flowers, very pretty, but not showy. They are 
especially worth growing for their leaves to take the place of Fern fronds 
and other green foliage amongst cut flowers. Nothing can equal them in 
all arrangements where elegant green and sweet-scented leaves are 
desired. A fresh green and a rich fragrance are desirable accompani¬ 
ments in the majority of vase-filling for rooms and cut-flower arrange¬ 
ments everywhere ; and while these Pelargoniums supply this to an 
uncommon extent they possess another quality of great value, and that is 
the unusually long time they remain fresh after being cut. We have 
often kept the leaves and sprays in rooms for eight days without their 
showing signs of decay ; and hot dry atmospheres or draughty positions 
in which cut flowers are often situated, and in which Fern fronds wither 
in a few hours, have no influence on these Pelargoniums. They are 
valuable for cutting in summer, but they aie doubly so in winter, when 
choice greenery is often scarce, and it is difficult to deal with tender 
plants. A dozen or two good plants will keep up a supply all the year 
round. 
The old Pheasant’s-foot is one of the best known varieties. P. radula 
and P. radula major are two very fine forms. P. denticulatum majus and 
P. filicifolium odoratum are very graceful. P. quercifolium is the Oak¬ 
leaved variety, and is not so useful as some. Duchess of Devonshire is 
