194 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. t March 10 , mi. 
occupied with large and beautiful groups of plants. The most notice¬ 
able were those from Messrs. Yeitch, the Orchids and Amaryllises 
being particularly attractive. Among the former were several speci¬ 
mens of the fragrant Dendrochilum glumaceum with numerous spikes 
of its diminutive flowers. The charming Angracum citratum, recently 
figured and described in these pages, was represented by a specimen 
flowering very freely in a shallow pan. The pretty Dendrobium 
Ainsworthi was in good condition, its rich purple-lipped flowers being 
numerous. One specimen of D. crassinode had a growth about 3 feet 
long bearing twenty fine flowers. Many other handsome Orchids 
were also observable, among them being several good varieties of 
Cattleya Trianre and Epidendrum macrochilum album.' A speci¬ 
men of Rhododendron Veitchii was shown with abundance of its 
beautiful large white crisped flowers. R. Taylori was also exhibited 
in good condition, and near them was a group of Rhododendron Early 
Gem, a dwarf form, with oval dark green leaves and purplish-lilac- 
coloured flowers of medium size, but produced very freely. It appears 
a useful plant for decorative purposes owing to its dwarfness and 
floriferousness. Plants of Guelder Rose 2 feet high in 32-size pots 
had a profusion of their balls of white flowers. The double purple 
Cineraria Mrs. Thomas Lloyd was in similarly good condition. 
Cyclamens were contributed in vigorous health, but the Amaryllises 
were the chief feature of the groups, a large number being exhibited 
of various shades of colours, some very rich, and the flowers generally 
of excellent form. A gold medal was deservedly awarded for these 
fine collections. 
Mr. B. S. Williams also obtained a gold medal for a large and hand¬ 
some group of Orchids, including some fine specimens of Cypripedium 
villosum, one central plant about a yard in diameter having more than 
three dozen flowers, while several others of less size had from twelve 
to twenty. Dendrobium Freemani had two growths, each bearing 
twenty of its warm purple-tinted flowers. Two large healthy speci¬ 
mens of Phaius grandifolius had a dozen spikes each. A plant of 
Masdevallia ignea had more than thirty flowers, but rather small, 
owing to a check the plant had received, as the variety is really a very 
good one both in depth of colour and size of flower when in good 
condition. Cymbidium eburneum was well shown, also the pretty 
Odontoglossum Rossii majus, and many others which cannot now be 
particularised. 
The General Horticultural Company contributed an attractive and 
elegant group of fine-foliaged and other plants. Yery noticeable 
were specimens of .ZEchmea (Chevalliera) Yeitchii and Tillandsia 
Saundersoniana. The former has been in flower for a long period, 
the spike of closely imbricated crimson bracts with their serrated 
margins being very distinct. The latter has recurved glaucous green 
leaves with reddish spots, and a large spreading inflorescence of 
flowers which were not open, but the pale yellow bracts rendered it 
attractive. Small plants of Dracrena bella occupied the centre of the 
group. This is a charming dwarf variety with narrow crimson leaves, 
and admirably suited for table decoration, as it colours well in a 
young state. The elegant Adiantum Bausei was in good form ; 
several good specimens of Nephrolepis Duffii being also exhibited, 
with Aralias, Palms, <fcc. A silver Flora medal was awarded. 
Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart, Burford Lodge, Dorking (Orchid grower, 
Mr. C. Spyers), exhibited a very beautiful collection of Orchids, 
chiefly Odontoglossums, some of which had, however, been lent by 
Messrs. Yeitch and Williams to permit the representation of a larger 
number of species and varieties. More than twenty forms of Odon¬ 
toglossum were shown, some in extremely fine condition ; one specimen 
of 0. Alexandra having a long spike with sixteen flowers. The 
pretty 0. roseum had seven spikes of its rich rose-coloured flowers. 
O. Rossii majus had five spikes of its large flowers ; while the peculiar 
and distinct 0. Uro-Skinneri had a long spike of blooms, of which the 
purple marbled lip is so striking. Among other Orchids was a good 
example of Miltonia cuneata with about a dozen spikes, some bearing 
ten flowers, Cymbidium eburneum being also well represented. A 
silver-gilt Flora medal was awarded. 
Cyclamens occupied a considerable space, three good collections 
being staged—namely, from Mr. H. B. Smith, Ealing Dean ; Mr. 
R. Clarke, Twickenham; and Mr. Charles Edmonds, Uxbridge; 
to each of whom a silver Banksian medal was awarded. All the 
plants were in excellent condition and flowering very profusely, the 
collections differing chiefly in compactness of habit and height of 
the flowerstalks. Messrs. Osborn & Sons, Fulham, were awarded a 
silver Banksian medal for a bright group of decorative plants, com¬ 
prising Azaleas, Cytisuses, Spiraas, Ericas, Hyacinths, Cinerarias, 
Richardias, <fcc., tastefully arranged. A bronze medal was also ac¬ 
corded to Mr. Aldous, Gloucester Road, for a similar group. Messrs. 
W. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross, exhibited ten boxes of fine Camellia 
blooms, Alba plena being particularly fine, and other good varieties 
were L’Avenir, excellent form, clear pink ; Countess of Derby, 
similar but larger ; Reine des Fleurs, fine crimson, very useful variety ; 
Ninfa Egeria, white, good substance and excellent form ; Fimbriata, 
white, very symmetrical; and Mathotiana, a large flower, rich crimson 
colour. A silver Banksian medal was awarded. Mr. R. Dean, Ealing, 
sent some pretty Primroses ; and a group of plants was contributed 
from Chiswick, containing a good assortment of useful decorative 
plants, the fine specimens of Pteris serrulata cristata major being 
especially noticeable. 
Mr. S. Ford, The Gardens, Leonardslee, Horsham, staged a very 
fine collection of Apples and Pears in excellent condition. The 
Apples were the most numerous, and were greatly admired for their 
plump fresh appearance. About sixty dishes were shown, and the 
silver Banksian medal awarded was well deserved. 
First-class certificates were awarded for the following plants :— 
Cineraria Mr. II. Little (James).—A very distinct and striking 
variety, quite a new break in Cinerarias. It might be appropriately 
called tricolor, for the flowers have three clearly marked con¬ 
centric bands of colour, the marginal one about a quarter of an inch 
wide, deep maroon, the next crimson, and the centre white. The 
flowers are of good form, about 1£ inch in diameter. 
Primula The Queen. —Mr. J. Tomkins, Showell Green Nurseries, 
Birmingham, obtained a certificate for this variety, the flowers of 
which were fully 2£ inches in diameter, of fine substance and good 
outline, but not so flat as might be desired. It is one of the Fern¬ 
leaved type, of neat habit, the colour of the flowers being white with 
a slight pink tinge and a yellow eye. 
Phaius tuberculosus (Sir Trevor Lawrence).—A remarkable and 
pretty Orchid from Madagascar. The leaves were similar to those 
marking the genus, but not so large as in the majority of species. 
The flowers were 2 inches across, in spikes about 9 inches high ; the 
sepals and petals ovate acute and white, the upper slightly arching ; 
the lip was about li inch long and 1 inch broad, constricted in the 
middle ; the base and sides were yellow thickly dotted with a reddish 
tint, with a tuft of yellow hairs at the base, and the three bright 
yellow ridges in the centre ; the apex was white and pink, with a 
crisped margin. Four to six flowers were borne in a spike. 
Cyclamen persicum vars. Lilian Cox and Charming Bride (Edmonds). 
—These were two good white varieties, very similar in appearance, 
but differing slightly in the breadth of the petals, which in both were 
of good width and substance. The habit was compact, and the flowers 
numerous. 
Amaryllis John Heal (Yeitch).—Flowers of excellent form; divi¬ 
sion broad, white at the tip with a band down the centre, deep scarlet 
at the sides, greenish in the centre. Certainly one of the finest formed 
Amaryllises that have been obtained ; the broad and rounded petals 
and good general outline rendering it unsurpassed in that respect. 
Amaryllis Royal Standard (Yeitch).—Flowers neat in form and size, 
similar to the last in colour, but richer and with less green in the 
centre. 
Amaryllis Miss Alice Gair (Yeitch).—Large flower ; broad divisions 
of a very rich vermilion colour. An excellent variety, and scarcely 
equalled in brilliancy of tint. 
Asplenium Baplistii (Williams).—A very distinct species -with bi- 
pinnate fronds 1 foot to 18 inches long ; the pinnae narrow, serrated, 
dark green, half an inch broad, and 3 to 5 inches long. The plant is 
a native of the South Sea Islands, and was introduced about two 
years ago. It was certificated by the Royal Botanic Society last year. 
Imantophyllum miniatum Martha Reimers (Williams).—A noble 
variety of Imantophyllum obtained by Mr. Williams from the 
Continent. The plant shown had fine rich green leaves 2 feet or 
more in length ; two umbels of flowers, one on a peduncle 2 feet in 
height and comprising nearly thirty large blooms. The corollas are 
3 to 4 inches long, brilliant orange scarlet, with a lighter centre. We 
give the name as rendered by Mr. Williams, but we presume the 
variety is the same as that figured in the “ Flore des Serres ” last 
year as Marie Reimers, and which was one of several in Yan Houtte’s 
nursery, raised by M. Theodore Reimers, gardener to Madame 
Donner, near Hamburg. 
Scientific Committee. —Mr. Schofield gave some account of an 
experiment of M. Alfred Dumesnil, who grew in baskets for orna¬ 
mental purposes a number of plants without earth, but surrounded 
with moss and apparently in some nutritious matrix. They were 
exhibited in The Square, Solferino, at Rouen. Mr. W. G. Smith exhi¬ 
bited cut blossoms of Narcissus Tazetta var. floribundus growing 
wild (naturalised) at St. Michael’s Mount, Cornwall, flowering three 
months earlier than near London. He also exhibited “ Jew’s Ears,” 
Hirneola Auricula-Judae, gathered from semi-decayed Elder branches 
at Ely. Mr. Maclachlan reported on the Wheat culms attacked by 
some insect, and considered peculiar that it should be a Chalsis—a 
parasite, there being no evidence of the usual host—a dipterous 
insect—having previously attacked the Wheat. Rev. H. Crewe exhi¬ 
bited Galanthus Redoutii, Shaylockii, spirescens, and a small species 
with a yellow ovary, probably reflexus (?). Mr. Pascoe exhibited 
twigs attacked by a Thelephora from Pava, Brazil. Dr. Masters 
exhibited a specimen of Hazel with an enormous protuberance caused 
by hypertrophy, possibly due to overpruning. He also showed galls 
on Picea polita,the Japanese Spruce; also a remarkable malformation 
on the calyx of Eucalyptus, in which the five lobes had become sepa¬ 
rated. It was forwarded by Baron von Muller. Proliferous flower 
of Foxglove, from Dr.'G. Bennett of Sydney, with the corolla regular, 
from the centre of which the shoot proceeded. Mr. Boscawen for¬ 
warded Narcissus triandrus and a leaf of Paris Daisy undermined by 
the larva of a moth. 
Lecture. — The Rev. G. Henslow first alluded to a fine group of 
Amaryllises exhibited by Mr. Veitch, and made some remarks upon the 
order Amaryllideee to which it belongs. He spoke of the uses, to 
which Agave americana is put, as for fibre and an intoxicating 
drink, &c., while Hasmanthus toxicarius supplies a poison to the 
Hottentots. The common Daffodil is also sai i to be extremely 
poisonous. He next entered on a description of the principles and 
methods of fertilisation of flowers, describing the structure of stamens 
