6 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January 6, 1881. 
shall be applicable to all redemptions authorised and effected under 
this Act. 
“ 5. Short Title .—The Act may be cited as the Tithe (Extraordinary 
Charge) Act, 1881.” 
PLANTS CERTIFICATED IN 1880. 
That a great demand exists for novelties in the plant world is 
well shown by the number the principal florists and nurserymen 
send out annually, for it is evident that a desire to improve the 
various races of florists’ flowers or to add to the species of plants 
in cultivation would not alone induce the expenditure and labour 
requisite to effect either of these purposes. There must be a suffi¬ 
cient number among the wealthy who are willing to pay long 
prices for distinct and handsome novelties, and to this encourage¬ 
ment we owe the additions made every year to our gardens. 
To many who were not in the secret it would appear strange 
that a commercial body of men should send experienced travellers 
into various parts of the world seeking plants of which compara¬ 
tively few usually arrive in this country alive, and of those few it 
is often a matter of chance if there be any of sufficient merit to 
become of real value ; or, on the other hand, that there would be 
any approximate compensation for the time occupied in obtaining 
distinct and attractive crosses between plants already in commerce, 
or in endeavouring to improve existing varieties, in which the 
failures must necessarily be more numerous than the successes. 
When it is further considered that immediately a firm sends out 
a new plant it loses its exclusive right in it, and those that are 
readily increased soon become so numerous as to reduce the price 
considerably, it is not surprising the prices at which they are first 
issued are somewhat high, though certainly not out of proportion 
to the risks and expenditure incurred in their production : conse¬ 
quently before a plant is distributed as large a stock as possible 
is raised, and in some eases several years are needed to obtain 
sufficient for placing in commerce. When, however, that has 
been accomplished a passport is required to the favour of the 
horticultural world, and this is furnished by the certificates 
bestowed upon new plants that are considered to merit them at 
the chief horticultural exhibitions. 
As the gentlemen who officiate as judges on such occasions have 
usually had the advantage of lengthened experience, it may be 
fairly expected that those plants they select for these marks of 
distinction are entitled to them from the beauty of their foliage 
or flowers, and their distinctness from others already grown. In 
the majority of cases considerable care and judgment are exercised 
in making the selection from the large number usually submitted 
for the honour, and as a result the award of a certificate is a good 
indication to the public of the value of a plant. Doubts are, how¬ 
ever, sometimes expressed as to the taste and knowledge evidenced 
in certificating certain plants ; but as a rule it will be found that 
those who entertain these doubts have formed their judgment 
after rapid propagation has deteriorated the quality, for it must 
be remembered that when exhibited the plants arc in the best con¬ 
dition, and they have frequently to be shown several times before 
the coveted award is gained. 
What may be termed the head quarters for exhibitions of new 
plants are the Royal Horticultural Society’s Shows and Committee 
meetings, and the Royal Botanic Society’s Exhibitions at Regent’s 
Park, where some hundreds are annually submitted to the attention 
of the Judges. During the past year at the two places named no 
less than 303 certificates were awarded; and as nineteen plants 
were similarly honoured at both, there was a total of 284 pre¬ 
sumably good additions to our list. Of these awards 186 were 
obtained at Kensington, and 117 at Regent’s Park. As usual the 
three chief metropolitan nurserymen, Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons, 
Mr. W. Bull, and Mr. B. S. Williams, secured by far the greatest 
number—namely, a collective total of 130. Messrs. Yeitch had 
eighty-one plants certificated, Mr. Bull twenty-eight, and Mr. 
Williams twenty-one ; fifty-five of the first-named being obtained 
at Kensington, and of the others five and eight each respectively. 
Further, Messrs. Veitch had nine of their plants honoured by both 
Societies, Mr. Bull two, and Mr. Williams five. It will be seen 
how large a proportion these numbers represent when it is stated 
that, exclusive of the three firms named, there were fifty-five 
exhibitors, among whom the remaining 173 certificates were 
divided, few obtaining more than five each. The numbers given 
above include the certificates awarded by the National Auricula, 
Carnation and Picotee, Societies at Kensington, as well as those 
given by the Societies already mentioned. 
All the plants were not, however, recent introductions, although 
the majority were ; but in some cases they have been known in 
this country for several years, and having been neglected or 
become scarce are novelties to most growers. Indeed it is a 
question whether it be more meritorious to introduce a new plant, 
or to rescue from obscurity a comparatively old one of real 
cultural value. Many beautiful plants have this year been brought 
into notice, aud others have had their claims to attention con¬ 
firmed or duly recognised. Most of these have been fully described 
in the Journal of Uoi'ticulture, and all have been referred to at 
one time or another, but perhaps a brief review of them may be 
acceptable to some readers. Excluding for the present those 
known as florists’ flowers, the first to be noted are the 
Orchids. —These have been numerously and well represented, 
about thirty having been certificated, all meriting the honour, and 
their most marked characters are indicated in the following cur¬ 
sory descriptions :— Angrcecum Kotschyi (Veitch).—A pretty and 
interesting species from Zanzibar, with deep green foliage and 
spikes of pure white wax-like flowers, each with twisted spur about 
8 inches in length. A very desirable Orchid. Barlteria cyclotella 
(Bull).—A very charmiDg Orchid from Mexico, with small flowers, 
the sepals and petals pale rosy pink and a heavy blotch of purplish 
crimson in the lip. Bolboplnyllnm Beccarii (Henderson).—Very 
peculiar, and of more botanical interest than cultural value. 
Leaves of great size, 2 feet long and proportionately broad, with 
small rather dull flowers possessing a most offensive odour. 
Calanthc tricarinata (Yeitch).—A Japanese terrestrial species, 
with inconspicuous greenish yellow flowers in loose spikes, the 
lip chocolate-coloured and ridged. It is chiefly remarkable for 
having proved hardy at Chelsea. One of Mr. Maries’ introductions. 
C. Marstcrsonice (Yeitch).—A pretty hybrid between C. labiata and 
C. Loddigesi, possessing several characters of both parents. The 
flowers are about 4 inches in diameter, with rosy sepals and a 
crisped lip. Cadogyne ocellata maxima (Williams).—An excellent 
form of the species, with larger flowers, more distinctly marked, 
and borne in larger racemes. Cypripedimn Fairieanum (Veitch). 
—A somewhat rare species, bearing a resemblance to C. bar- 
batum, with flowers of medium size and pretty but not imposing. 
C. marmoropb y Hu m (Yeitch).—The result of a cross between 
C. Hookerm and C. barbatum, and intermediate in character, pos¬ 
sessing the handsome marbled foliage of the former and the 
flowers of the latter, but darker in colour. C. Morganianum 
(Veitch).—Another hybrid obtained by Mr. Seden, the parents 
being C. Stonei and C. Yeitchi, both of which it resembles in some 
points. Bendrobium splendid issimnm (Veitch). — A beautiful 
hybrid ; still another of Mr. Seden’s productions, obtained by 
crossing D. macropbyllum Huttoni and the fragrant D. betero- 
carpum. It partakes of the habit of both, but is near the last- 
named in the size and form of flowers. The white sepals are 
tipped with purple, and the lip has a large maroon spot. Hunt- 
ley ameleagris (Yeitch).—Not anew introduction, as it has been 
known in English gardens since 1836. It is, however, peculiar 
and striking, being suggestive of Bollea coelestis ; the white mar¬ 
bled brownish flowers are produced from the base of the stem. 
A South American species. Balia 'degains prasiata (Williams).—• 
An excellent form of this beautiful Orchid, the colours being 
much brighter. L. Bhilhricliana (Yeitch).—A hybrid between 
Cattleya Acklsndiae and Lmlia elegans. It is a handsome form, and 
quite intermediate between the parents. 
Masdevallia bella (Bull).—One of the Chimara section, with 
the peculiar characteristic tails to the chocolate-coloured sepals, 
and with a small white lip. M. tovarensis (Veitch).—A well- 
known species from Columbia that has been some years in culti¬ 
vation. The specimen for which the certificate was obtained 
was extremely fine, bearing over sixty of its pure white flowers. 
M. Wallisi (Bull).—Like the one mentioned above also related 
to M. Chinnera, the sepals prolonged into tails and closely covered 
with hairs ; lip white. Microstylis calcphylla (Bull).—A terres¬ 
trial Orchid of dwarf habit with pretty foliage, the colour being 
a bronzy tint, margined with a lighter hue and veined. M. met al¬ 
ii ea (Yeitch).—Also of dwarf habit, with dark leaves of a metallic 
appearance, and spikes of purple flowers. Both species are suited 
for culture in pans. Mormodes Wendlandi (Veitch).—A remark¬ 
able species at the last meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society. 
It has long spikes of pale yellow flowers that are well known to 
have an extremely peculiar structure as regards their adaptation 
for cross-fertilisation. It is a South American plant, and has not 
been long introduced. Odontoglossum anceps (Veitch).—This 
may be regarded in colour and appearance as an improvement on 
O. maculatum, which it slightly resembles. The sepals are reddish 
chocolate colour; the yellowish flowers are spotted with bright 
chocolate. O. blandvm (Veitch).—A dwarf and pretty species, 
about 9 inches high, with neat small flowers spotted with choco¬ 
late or a brownish tint. The lip is white and spotted with purplish 
violet. A rare Orchid, and rather suggestive of O. nsevium. 
0. ftystrix serration (Lawrence).—A beautiful variety, easily dis¬ 
tinguished by the larger flowers, brighter and well-defined mark¬ 
ings, and the serrate or indented lip. 0. Boezli svpei'bum (Low). 
