108 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ February 10,1881. 
extremity. The labellum is the chief distinctive feature of the 
flower, it being strangely restricted in the middle. C. rosea is 
another pretty species with shorter and more compact racemes 
than that mentioned above, but it is much more rarely seen. 
C. coccinea, which has pale scarlet tinted flowers, is very attractive 
and free in flowering, particularly handsome specimens being 
occasionally met with.—R. L. 
EARLY TOMATOES. 
Where Tomatoes are held in high esteem—and they are 
annually gaining favour—they, like most other choice vegetables, 
are much valued early in the season. Last year we cut fruit from 
our spring-raised plants in April, and by the end of May we had 
abundance. At that time Mr. Godwin from Messrs. Dickson, 
Chester, and other visitors toid me they had never seen finer crops 
of Tomatoes in pots, and they were sure this system of growing 
them was well worth being generally adopted. The plants which 
were so well in fruit then were raised from seed Mr. Coleman of 
Eastnor very kindly sent me to try, and a finer variety I have 
never seen. It might be described as an extra good variety of 
Trophy, but so much superior to the many “ varieties ” of that 
now out under different names that the public would certainly be 
the gainers were it sent out as an improved variety. 
To have Tomato plants in fruit in April no time should now be 
allowed to pass before sowing the seeds. These are best placed in 
3-inch pots. After filling the desired number of these with any 
rich soil two seeds should be placed on the surface in each and 
slightly covered. If the pots can then be plunged in a gentle 
bottom heat the plants will appear all the quicker, and then they 
should not be placed far from the glass, as drawn spindly plants 
are never so good as short-jointed robust ones, and all depends on 
the position in which they are grown. As soon as the plants are 
2 or 3 inches high the weaker of the two should be drawn out. 
If plants are scarce pot this on, but do not neglect the one left in 
the pot, as it will make the best and earliest fruiting plant. When it 
is from 6 to 8 inches high it should be transferred to the fruiting 
pot. This may be either 8-inch or 10-inch size. For small corners 
the former may be used ; where space is abundant the larger size 
is better. The fruiting pots must be well drained, and the soil 
employed must be good. Loam and cow dung are suitable, and 
these must be used in a rather dry state. The soil must be 
rendered firm, or the roots soon take possession of it, and they 
are liable to receive a check at any time from deficient supplies of 
water. They do not need bottom heat after being placed in the 
fruiting pots, but if they can be arranged on a shelf in an early 
vinery, Pine house, or plant stove where the heat is between 60° 
and 70° they will grow rapidly and soon make fine plants. 
When they are about 1 foot high a stake 3 feet long is placed 
to each, and the stems are tied to this. When the plants are 
grown robustly they will show bloom by the time they are a foot 
high, and clusters of flowers will appear every few inches after 
this. Numbers of fruits will form on each of these, and by the 
time the plants are at the top of the stakes eighteen, twenty, or 
more fruit will be formed on each. This number is a good crop 
to begin with, and the point should be taken from each plant at 
this height, all side shoots removed, and little er no growth be 
allowed to be made until the fruits are swelling. At this time 
plenty of water and liquid manure must be given, and a side 
growth may be allowed to form occasionally to produce a bunch 
of bloom and fruit in succession. 
As they grow quickly and may be trained any way, or cut-in to 
any extent without injury, it is an easy matter to cut all barren 
wood out and only leave that which will bear fruit. When the 
first leading growth has fruited and become exhausted a fresh one 
may be taken up from the bottom and be treated in the same way as 
the first until it comes into bearing, when the old one may be cut 
away. When this is done a good top-dressing should be given to 
assist the young growth. There is no secret in fruiting Tomatoes 
early, nor does it require a great amount of skill, if they are only 
grown in pots in a warm position near the glass and never allowed 
to carry more wood than what is bearing the fruit.—J. Muik. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The annual general meeting of the Society was held in the Council 
Room, South Kensington, at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, the 8th inst., the 
President of the Society, Lord Aberdare, in the chair. The following 
members of the Council were present:—Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., 
Major F. Mason, Sir Charles W. Strickland, Bart., Henry Webb, Esq. 
(Treasurer), Dr. Hogg (Secretary), Rev. Harpur Crewe, Dr. Denny, and 
William Haughton, Esq. There was a moderate attendance of 
members. 
1 The proceedings commenced by Dr. Hogg reading the minutes of 
the last annual general meeting, and he also announced the namea of 
twenty-eight ladies and gentlemen desirous of becoming Fellows of 
the Society, who w r ere formally elected by a show of hands. It was 
announced that there were three retiring members of the Council— 
namely, Sir Henry Scudamore Stanhope, Bart., Lord Sudeley, and 
H. J. Elwes, Esq., and the Fellows recommended to fill the vacancies 
thus caused were J. T. D. Llewellyn, Esq., James McIntosh, Esq., 
and George F. Wilson, Esq.; Mr. John Lee and Mr. James E. West 
being appointed scrutineers of the ballot. 
Lord Aberdare then proceeded to briefly review the position and 
prospects of the Society, commenting on the serious effects unfavour¬ 
able seasons had in recent years produced in the diminution of 
receipts, so that careful thought and attention had been rendered 
necessary to balance their accounts in a satisfactory manner. He 
then referred to the scientific portion of the Society’s work, which he 
said some thought had been neglected, and it was owing to a desire to 
impart additional scientific interest to the fortnightly or monthly 
meetings of the Committees that the Rev.G. Henslow had been engaged 
to deliver a lecture on each occasion concerning the plants exhibited. 
These had given considerable satisfaction, and had been generally well 
attended, the lecturer having conveyed much useful instruction in an 
easy and intelligible manner. The President then stated that to gain an 
adequate idea of the advance made by the Society during the past year 
it would be necessary to compare the financial position of the Society in 
the two previous years with that of 1880. He referred to the chief 
causes which had reduced the receipts—namely, the exhibitions held 
by the Royal Botanic Society and at the Crystal Palace, the former 
internal dissensions of the Society, the falling-off of the Fellows, 
and in some degree the general depression of trade. But there were 
now better prospects, for one very healthy sign was the great in¬ 
crease in the number of Fellows. In 1878 £G101 were expended, and 
the receipts fell short of this by £162. In 1879 the expenditure was 
increased, on the theory that if you do not sow you cannot expect to 
reap; but the result was not encouraging, for while the expenditure 
amounted to £7198, only £6542 were received. In 1880, however, 
they had felt bound to reduce their expenses in every possible way, 
although it was admitted that the exhibitions and meetings had been 
even finer than usual, notwithstanding the unfavourable weather. 
The income for the past year was £6820, and the expenses £6943, 
being a balance against the Society of £123, which was due to legal 
expenses incurred in the Chancery suit. This he considered a steady 
advance, as was apparent from the facts he had already stated. In 
commenting upon the prospects of the case in Chancery, he remarked 
that the debenture holders were now admitted as defendants ; and 
though there was still considerable uncertainty as to when it would 
be settled, he trusted that the decision would prove fair and satis¬ 
factory to all concerned. He considered the outlook of the Society 
encouraging, and although some considered the Society doomed, he 
thought it might be safely described as— 
“ Oft doomed to death, hut fated not to die.” 
He then moved the adoption of the report, which was seconded by 
Mr. John Lee, and carried unanimously. 
On the motion of Mr. William Haughton, duly seconded and 
carried unanimously, a Fellow of the Society sentenced to five years’ 
penal servitude in 1876, and now at liberty, was expelled the Society, 
he having refused to retire. It was then stated that the officers and 
proposed members of the Council had been elected, and the meeting 
concluded with a unanimous vote of thanks to Lord Aberdare. 
Report op the Council to the Annual General Meeting 
op February the 8th, 1881. 
The Council congratulate the Fellows on the steady improvement 
of the Society during the past year. The number of Fellows and the 
receipts from all sources have increased. 
The efficiency of the Chiswick Garden has been maintained during 
the past year, and an increasing interest is taken by the Fellows and 
visitors in the work that is carried on there. 
Under the direction of the Fruit and Floral Committees the experi¬ 
ments in the garden at Chiswick have been conducted with favour¬ 
able results, which have been received by horticulturists both at home 
and abroad with the interest and approval which attach to the 
scientific operations of the Society. In the vegetable department 
collections of Aubergines, Capsicums, Brussels Sprouts, and Parsnips 
have been grown, and the examination of them enabled the Com¬ 
mittees to correct erroneous nomenclature and to discard any varie¬ 
ties that are worthless, while those of superior merit have been 
brought into prominence. Collections of Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, 
Gloxinias, Begonias, Pompon Dahlias, and a number of miscellaneous 
plants have also been examined. For some time past special atten¬ 
tion has been given to the varieties of tuberous-rooted Begonias as 
decorative plants ; and Mr. Barron, the Garden Superintendent, has 
succeeded in producing a number of varieties, which have created 
much interest and been greatly admired. Ten of the seedlings raised 
by him have received first-class certificates. 
The Society now possesses, perhaps, the most extensive and com¬ 
plete collection of the species and hybrid forms of the genu3 Pelar¬ 
gonium that is to be found in this country, and these interesting 
plants have been objects of admiration and curiosity to a large num¬ 
ber of visitors to the garden and the exhibitions. 
