336 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
exhibited several new plants, including two pretty Caladiums ; one 
named Pyrrhus with large red and green leaves, and the other 
Princess Beatrice with yellowish green leaves and pink centre. 
Croton sinitzinianus had long narrow pendulous leaves regularly 
marked with green and yellow. Many other attractive plants were 
also shown and certificated. Mr. H. Cannell, Svvanley, Kent, exhi¬ 
bited a collection of Laced Polyanthus from his own strain of seed, 
the flowers being generally of good form, and of dark ground colour 
with neat bright yellow lacing. A variety named Queen of Hose-in- 
Hose was shown with pretty hose-in-hose flowers. Plants of Chrys¬ 
anthemum frutescens grandiflora were sent bearing a profusion of 
their large white flowers. Flowers of the deep scarlet Zonal Pelar¬ 
gonium Henry Jacoby, and a Tropreolum named T. canariense Im¬ 
proved, were also noteworthy. Messrs. Fisher, Son, & Sibray, 
Handswcrth Nursery, Sheffield, exhibited a specimen of Rhodo¬ 
dendron Lady Alice Fitzwilliam, with plants of R. magnificum, R. 
Princess Alice, R. Fragrantissimum, and R. Sesterianum for com¬ 
parison. The first-named was in excellent condition, and was ac¬ 
corded a certificate. Mr. R. T. Yeitch of Exeter sent a very hand¬ 
some specimen of Rhododendron exoniensis about 4 feet across, 
and bearing a profusion of white fragrant flowers. Messrs. H. 
Lane & Son, Great Berkhampstead, sent plants of Deutzia gracilis 
variagata, distinguished by its small leaves being variegated with 
white. A vote of thanks was accorded to Messrs. J. Carter &, Co., 
High Holborn, for a branch of Clianthus Dampieri bearing four ex¬ 
tremely fine trusses of flowers. It was stated to have been cut from 
a plant with over one hundred trusses of blooms. The same firm 
sent a pan of a neat double red Daisy named Rob Roy, and a 
basket of the pretty variegated Forget-me-not, Myosotis elegantis- 
sima. Mr. R. Dean, Ranelagh Road, Ealing, exhibited a collection of 
Polyanthuses and Auriculas, including several for which certificates 
were awarded. Specimens of the pretty herbaceous plant Epime- 
dium rubrum were sent from the Society’s garden at Chiswick, and 
Messrs. Heath & Son of Cheltenham sent a plant of a yellow Tree 
Carnation named Dr. Abercrombie, with flowers of good size and 
freely produced. 
In the conservatory was a very handsome display, Roses predomi¬ 
nating ; the Rhododendrons and miscellaneous groups also contri¬ 
buting much to the general effect. Messrs. James Yeitch & Sons 
exhibited extremely beautiful groups of standard Roses, with a 
margin of Acer polymorphum laciniatum, and flanked on each side 
by dwarf well-flowered specimens of Clematises, producing a charm¬ 
ing effect. The Roses were in excellent condition, some in 10-inch 
pots bearing over two dozen flowers and buds. A gold medal was 
awarded. Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, obtained a similar award 
for a collection of about a dozen large specimen Roses, with a num¬ 
ber of smaller ones, all in excellent condition. Among those parti- 
ticularly fine were Cheshunt Hybrid, Madame Victor Verdier, Beauty 
of Waltham, and Annie Laxton. In front of the stage were four 
baskets of Marechal Niel Rose blooms, uncommonly large and of 
great substance. Messrs. Lane & Son, Great Berkhampstead, also 
secured a gold medal for two fine groups of Rhododendrons at one 
end of the conservatory, comprising over fifty large plants flowering 
very profusely, and representing numerous good varieties. From the 
same firm a group of Roses in pots was contributed, most of the 
specimens being fresh, healthy, and bearing good flowers. 
Messrs. Osborn & Sons, Fulham, exhibited a pretty group of choice 
hai'dy and herbaceous plants, among which a basket of the variegated 
Heracleum Frederici was noticeable for its large deeply divided white- 
streaked leaves. Muscari Szovitzianum had neat spikes of dark blue 
flowers, and a pan of Trillium grandiflorum was also noteworthy, the 
pure white flowers being of great size. Messrs. Barr & Sugden had 
their handsome collection of Narcissi flowers. Mr. J. Aldous, 
Gloucester Road, staged a tasteful group of plants, chiefly comprising 
dark blue Cinerarias, Spiraeas, white Azaleas, Lilies of the Valley, 
Chrysanthemum frutescens, Deutzias, Palms, Ferns, and variegated 
Maple, for which a silver Banksian medal was awarded, and a fine 
group of Cinerarias, Azaleas, and Wallflowers was contributed from 
the Society’s garden. 
First-class certificates were awarded to the following plants :— 
Davallia elegans polydactylon (Yeitch).—A distinct and handsome 
species, with bipinnate fronds about 2 feet long and a foot broad at 
the base; the pinnules are regularly cut at the margin, and bright 
deep glossy green ; the apex of the frond being slightly crested. 
Asparagus tenuissinius (Veitch).—A charmingly elegant species 
with extremely fine hair-like divisions of the leaves, similar to several 
other forms of Asparagus. 
Aralia Kerchoveana (Veitch).—A very fine and distinct species, 
with palmate leaves, the largest of the divisions about 5 inches in 
length and the shortest 2 inches, lanceolate in form, deeply and 
coarsely serrated at the margin. 
Goniophlebium lachnopus (Veitch).—Fronds 1 to 1J foot in length, 
pinnate, and suggestive of a Nephrolepis; the pinnae 1^ inch long, 
narrow, and with a slight glaucous tint. 
Rhododendron Lady Alice Fitzwilliam (Fisher, Son, & Sibray).—One 
of the Princess Alice type, with dark green elliptical leaves 2 inches 
long and 1 broad ; the flowers 4 inches across, white with a few pink 
streaks, very fragrant, and borne in terminal heads of three or four. 
A very beautiful variety, and apparently free in flowering. 
Kerria japonica major. —A first-class certificate was awarded to J. 
McIntosh, Esq., Duneevan, Oatlands Park, Weybridge, for this plant, 
of which flowering sprays were exhibited. The flowers were very 
full, bright yellow, and more than 2£ inches in diameter. The finest 
double form of this well-known plant that we have seen. 
Megasea cordifolia purpurea. —Mr. R. Parker of Tooting obtained a 
first-class certificate for a fine specimen of this plant with large 
cymes of soft rosy purple flowers of good shape. The leaves are 
thick and rounded in form. It is well suited for culture in borders 
or pots. 
Erythronium giganteum. —G. F. Wilson, Esq., Weybridge, sent 
flowers of this plant, which he stated in a note appended to be 
“ distinct from E. grandiflorum, having only one flower to the stem, 
the flower being also of different shape, colour, and marking.” The 
flowers were about 2i inches in diameter, with narrow white petals 
and a central ring of yellow and red at the base. 
Cineraria Marched Past (Cannell).—Flowers of great size and sub¬ 
stance, exceeding 2 inches in diameter, rich crimson, with a narrow 
band of white near the centre. It appeared to be compact in habit, 
and is certainly a fine variety. 
Polyanthus Queen of IIose-in-Hose (Cannell).—A second-class certi¬ 
ficate was awarded for this variety as a border plant. It is very 
free in habit, and no doubt would prove very useful for the purpose 
named. The ground colour is deep red. 
Odontoglossum Alexandres Regime (Heims).—A beautiful variety 
with large flowers, the sepals and petals marked with large reddish- 
brown spots. 
Odontoglossum RucJcerianum (Heims).—Also a fine Orchid, the white 
sepals and petals tinged with purple, and thickly dotted with small 
reddish spots. 
Auricula purpurea (Dean).—A large double purple self of good 
form. This and the two following were certificated as decorative 
varieties. 
A uricula Splendour (Dean).—A pretty deep crimson self with large 
flowers. 
Auricula Mrs. Moore (Dean).—A laced Alpine variety with a pale 
yellow eye, deep purple body colour shading to a nearly white edge. 
Miles' Hybrid Spiral Mignonette (Lyon).—Several pots of this ex¬ 
cellent variety were shown by Mr. Lyon of Sundridge Park. The 
plants w'ere extremely vigorous yet compact, with spikes of closely 
packed flowers 4 to G inches long. This variety has been frequently 
exhibited by the raiser in even better condition than on this occasion, 
notably in 1878 ; and it is curious that it was not certificated before. 
Scientific Committee. — Potato Disease. —Dr. Masters read ex¬ 
tracts from a manuscript on this subject (the author’s name being with¬ 
held). The chief point being that the writer imagines Bacterea or 
Euglsena to give rise to the fungus Phytophthora infestans. He 
placed on a patch of cooked Potatoes some fluid containing Euglrena, 
and after keeping it at a temperature of 60° to 70° Fahr. some fungus 
appeared in seven days, and after a fortnight the Phytophthora was 
developed. 
Sarracenla. —Mr. W. G. Smith observed that the petals are usually 
pendulous ; but on placing cut blossoms in a saturated atmosphere 
they became spreading and saucer-like. It was suggested that this 
was due to turgidity after having absorbed moisture. 
Rhododendrons. —The Hon. Mr. Boscawen exhibited several trusses 
of seedlings, as also cut blossoms from R. Thompsoni and R. campy- 
locarpum which had withstood 9° of frost. He also exhibited a 
branch of Andromeda formosa which was perfectly hardy, and which 
rabbits refused to eat, while it was poisonous to goats. He also 
exhibited a double wild Primrose. 
Scilla italica. —Mr. Harpur Crewe exhibited a white variety of this 
flower from Mentone. 
Clianthus Dampieri. —Messrs. James Carter & Co. forwarded a fine 
spray of this beautiful Australian Leguminous plant, for which a vote 
of thanks had been accorded by the Floral Committee. 
Violet Diseased by Puccinia Violas. —Specimens were forwarded by 
Mr. C. M. Owen from Gorey, Ireland. The fungus was in a very 
incipient stage. 
Books presented to the Lindley library : “ Epitome of Gardening,” 
by Moore and .Masters ; “ Guide to the Literature of Botany,” hy 
B. D. Jackson. 
Lecture. — A propos of a group of Maples from Japan exhibited 
by Messrs. Veitch, the Rev. G. Henslow made some remarks upon 
the affinities of the existing Japanese and South United States floras 
with that of the ancient Miocene period in Europe. He observed 
that of the extinct Swiss tertiary flora and of the existing Japanese 
flora there are seventy-one natural orders or families in common. 
Fifty-one are represented by identical genera , but probably no species 
is now extant of that early period. The following orders and genera 
are characteristic of both the Swiss Miocene and modern Japan. 
Coniferre, Leguminosae, Lauracese, Aceracere, Rhamnacese,'Jugland- 
acere, Morere, Proteacese, and Palmaa ; Qaercus, Salix, Ficus, Liquid- 
ambar, Myrica, and Ulmus. With the existing North American flora 
the old Swiss Miocene had even more in common than the Japanese. 
There are eighty-eight genera of seventy-three orders, -which are 
represented both in Switzerland and the S.U.S. floras. The groups 
which especially characterise the U.S. forest vegetation are Taxo- 
dium, Magnolia, Liriodendron, Hickories, Walnuts, Planera, Maples 
Negundo, and Oaks. About three hunched genera are common to 
the S. States and Japan, while the eastern side more nearly cor¬ 
responds to the old world vegetation than the western side of 
N. America. A similar flora formerly extended throughout the Arctic 
