380 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 
the latter long, of good shape, and bearing moderate bloom. Mr. 
Buchanan, gardener to Dr. Siemans, Sherwood, Tunbridge Wells, ex¬ 
hibited a fruit of Wm. Tillery Melon grown under the influence of the 
electric light. It was firm and of good flavour, a cultural commen¬ 
dation being awarded for it. Some Wheat was also shown which had 
been sown on December the 7th and subsequently grown in the electric 
light, and it was then over 2 feet high. A vote of thanks was ac¬ 
corded to Mr. Z. Stevens of The Gardens, Trentham, for a bunch of 
Black Hamburgh Grapes. A collection of Apple flowers of several 
varieties was sent from the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens, 
Chiswick ; and Mr. R. T. Veitch, Exeter, sent fine examples of his 
late white Broccoli Exeter Market. 
Floral Committee. —W. B. Kellock, Esq., in the chair. Messrs. 
Yeitch & Son exhibited a group of new plants, of which several were 
certificated and are described below ; but in addition to these the 
following were noteworthy. A Primula from Tchang, said to be 
hardy, with loose umbels of pale purplish white flowers something 
like the light-coloured varieties of P. cortusoides. The leaves were 
bright green, roundish or heart-shaped, with stalks 3 or 4 inches long. 
The Committee desired to see it again from out of doors. Indigofera 
decora alba had racemes of white Pea-shaped flowers and light green 
pinnate leaves—a pretty variety of a well-known plant. Chionographis 
japonica, which was exhibited and certificated last year, was again 
shown in good condition with two spikes of its curious flowers, the 
linear irregular petals of which impart a very distinct appearance to 
the plant. A basket of an excellent dark red Japanese Maple named 
Acer polymorphum latifolium atropurpureum was also contributed, 
with specimens of Alpinia albo-vittata variegata very freely streaked 
with white. Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., sent a plant of Cypripedium 
Wallisi and flowers of C. caudatum for comparison, both having very 
long narrow petals, greenish flowers, and a large white blotch inside 
the lip ; but in C. caudatum the lip is tinged with brown, while in the 
former species it is light green. A plant was also staged as Cattleya 
Reineckiana, but the accuracy of the name was questioned by some 
members of the Committee. The flowers were fine, with broad white 
petals and sepals, a large lip with a crisped white margin, crimson 
centre, and yellow base. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. W. 
Fyfe, gardener to W. F. Dick, Esq., Thames Ditton House, Surrey, 
for a stand of excellent Marshal Niel Roses. 
Messrs. Laing & Co., Forest Hill, contributed a group of Caladiums 
and Tuberous Begonias. Among the former Alfred Bleu, Mithridates, 
and Princess Teck were especially remarkable for the size and bright 
colour of the leaves, but the Committee wished to see the varieties 
again, as they were scarcely developed enough to judge of their re¬ 
spective merits. Three beautiful Begonias were exhibited, all scarlet— 
one named Scarlet Gem ; another, Mr. Alfred Brassey, with broad 
petals of a very bright tint and neat habit; and the third Begonia 
Davisi flore-pleno superba, which was deservedly certificated and is 
referred to elsewhere. A Coleus named Mrs. Baxter with crimson 
leaves margined with green was shown by the same firm. Colonel 
Trevor Clarke, Welton Place, Daventry, showed a hybrid Elisena 
bearing two white Pancratium-like flowers on a scape 2^ feet high. 
It wa3 referred to the Scientific Committee. Mr. Croucher, gardener 
to J. T. Peacock, Esq., Sudbury House, Hammersmith, sent a plant 
of Masdevallia Harryana, a very fine variety, the flowers about 
2 inches in diameter and rich in colour. Messrs. James Carter & Co., 
High Holborn, sent a pretty double Primrose, and plants of what 
they termed “ a new hybrid Marguerite Chrysanthemum Prince 
Rudolph’s Bride,” with white flowers, very like C. frutescens, but 
apparently rather more compact in habit and bearing light green 
pinnatifid foliage. Mr. R. Dean exhibited specimens of his new 
dwarf Red Wallflower, very dark in colour and excellent in habit. 
The strain was commended. A dwarf double yellow variety with 
small bright-coloured but full flowers was also noticeable. Mr. G. 
Bethell, Sudbourn Hall, Wickham Market, staged plants of a white 
variegated Spiderwort named Tradescantia argentea, and some seed¬ 
ling Coleuses ; one, Mrs. Baines, neat, mottled with crimson green and 
yellow, and Mrs. Bethell with a rosy centre and green and yellow 
margin. Mr. Harrison Weir, Weirleigh, Brenchley, Kent, sent 
pretty dark-ground gold-laced Polyanthuses, named respectively 
Heart’s Delight, Triumph, and Goldfinch. Mr. James Kelman, 
Chingford, Essex, exhibited plants of a dwarf Musk with yellow 
crimson-spotted flowers. Mr. Edward Bland, Cranbourn Court, Wink- 
field, Berks, staged a plant of a seedling Anthurium Schertzerianum 
with brightly coloured spathes 4 or 5 inches long. Mr. J. Copley Far, 
Headingley near Leeds, was accorded a vote of thanks for a Tropaeo- 
lum, said to be a seedling from Ball of Fire, which it greatly re¬ 
sembled, but the flowers were perhaps a lictle larger. Messrs. River3 
and Son of Sawbridgeworth contributed trusses of two seedling 
Zonal Pelargoniums, both with shades of pink with full double 
flowers ; and the Royal Horticultural Society exhibited specimens of 
the pretty purplish blue Tropseolum azuieum, and the elegant Ony- 
chium auratum from the gardens at Chiswick. 
In the conservatory the principal group was from Mr. B. S. Wil¬ 
liams, Upper Holloway, which comprised an abundance of choice 
Orchids and other plants, and well merited the silver Flora medal 
awarded for it. Several Dendrobes were especially notable. D. Grif- 
fithianum having nine fine trusses of bright yellow flowers ; D. 
fimbriatum oculatum, also fine; D. Dalhousianum with pendulous 
racemes of large flowers ; D. rhodopterygium,pale mauve or pinkish ; 
and the well-known D. Pierardi were all admirably represented. 
Aspasia lunata was bearing several flowers ; the imposing Oncidium 
Marshalli and the distinct Epidendrum paniculatum, with several 
fine Masdevallias, as other beautiful plants, rendered the group 
highly attractive. 
Messrs. Osborn & Son, Fulham, were awarded a silver Banksian 
medal for a pretty group of stove, greenhouse, and hardy plants. 
In the centre was a large basket of Gentiana acaulis with abundance 
of brilliant blue flowers, forming by far the most important feature 
in the collection. Mr. Aldous, South Kensington, staged a miscel¬ 
laneous collection of decorative plants ; and Messrs. Barr & Sugden, 
Covent Garden, were accorded a silver Banksian medal for their ex¬ 
tensive and beautiful collection of Narcissus flowers. Mr. Turner, 
Slough, sent baskets of the richly coloured Tricolor Pelargonium 
Mr. Henry Cox, and a fine double white Azalea named Madeleine. 
The latter was extremely fine, some of the flowers exceeding 4 inches 
in diameter, very full, of good substance, and pure white. Several 
tastefully arranged groups were also contributed from the Society’s 
gardens, the Azaleas and varieties of Primula cortusoides being 
particularly fine. 
The following first-class certificates were awarded :— 
Arabia Chabrieri (Yeitch).—A very elegant plant with linear 
leaves 6 to 8 inches long, dark green, the midrib being dark red. 
They are arranged in a pinnate manner on the slender branches ; and 
the plant, being compact in habit, has a very neat and pleasing 
appearance. 
Gloxinia Radiance (Yeitch).—An erect-flowered variety, the flowers 
of medium size, very smooth, and symmetrical in form ; the corolla 
rich crimson, the tint extending nearly to the base of the tube inside, 
the outer part very pale pink. It was very free and compact in habit, 
the leaves 8 inches long by 5 broad, bright green. 
Primrose Cloth of Gold (Messrs. James Carter & Co.).—An excel¬ 
lent double Primrose of dwarf habit, and bearing numerous large pale 
yellow flowers. The plants shown were from the open ground, and 
proved how well adapted the plant is for growing as an edging to 
borders. 
Begonia Davisi flore-pleno superba (Laing). — Probably the finest 
double scarlet Tuberous Begonia yet in commerce. The flowers 
exceed 3 inches in diameter, very full of petals, and of a most intense 
scarlet tint. It is dwarf in habit, and has the small dark green leaves 
characterising the species. 
Ribes pumilum aureum (Osborn).—A dwarf Ribes only a few inches 
high, and well suited for pegging down as an edging to beds. The 
leaves are very small, and possess a well-marked yellow tint. 
ORCHIDS AT KE\V. 
In a collection of Orchids similar to that at Kew we always 
find a few varieties either of botanical interest or horticultural 
value. The Kew collection, as a matter of course, is composed of 
almost all kinds, some being of striking beauty, whilst others 
when in flower are small and inconspicuous. 
Amongst the most showy forms that are in flower, the first to 
arrest the attention of the visitor are some very fine varieties of 
Vanda suavis. The plants are healthy and clothed to the pot 
rims with thick dark green foliage. In the same house may now 
be seen in grand condition several remarkably fine specimens of 
Epidendrum bicornutum. These plants are worth going a long 
way to see, for it is seldom we have an opportunity of seeing this 
Orchid in flower. There are several good Dendrobiums in flower. 
The first to be mentioned is D. Dalhousianum : this species, being 
so well known, needs little said in its favour. D. fimbriatum var. 
oculatum is a good old kind, and will always be appreciated. The 
flowers in the variety under notice are of great size and substance. 
D. barbatulum is another species now in flower. This is ap¬ 
parently rather scarce. It is supposed by many to be difficult to 
grow, but it seems to be flourishing and flowering freely at Kew 
in a shallow pan suspended from the roof. The flowers are pure 
white and thickly set on a drooping raceme, and would be ad¬ 
mirably adapted for cutting. D. lituiflorum is flowering in a 
basket. I do not remember seeing a finer form. D. mesachlorum 
is by no means a popular plant in Orchid collections, but anyone 
seeing the plant of the above-named species in flower at Kew 
could not fail to appreciate it. It is much in the way of D. 
Pierardi in shape, colour, and size of the pseudo-bulbs, but the 
flowers are much whiter, the sepals and petals are pure white 
tipped with purple, with a most delicious Violet perfume. 
There are several Oncidiums in flower. The first on the list 
in this genus is 0. Krameri ■, a very quaintly formed flower. 
0. pumilum is flowering on a piece of cork suspended from the 
roof, and evidently enjoys the treatment it receives. It ap¬ 
parently belongs to the luridum section, for the leaves are 
very similar but much smaller. There are several racemes ; the 
flowers are hooded, and packed almost as thickly on the raceme 
as they can stick. Sobralia macrantha is doing well and pro¬ 
ducing numbers of its Cattleya-like flowers; the individual 
flowers last but a short time in perfection, but as the old flowers 
decay they are succeeded by others which spring from the top 
