JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
May 26, 1881. ] 
at Chelsea. The display not only includes a rich assort¬ 
ment of the two genera indicated, but numerous examples of 
other Orchids, and these, arranged with great taste with orna- 
mental-foliaged plants, form an exhibition of remarkable diver¬ 
sity and unquestionable attractiveness. The grand avenue of 
Cycadaceous plants and Tree Ferns in the winter garden forms 
a fitting approach to the brighter house beyond, in the centre of 
which are large specimens of the imposing Anthuriums Veitchi, 
Warroqueana, hybrida, and insigne, and a fine plant of the stately 
Aralia conciuna. Around these and on the side stages intermixed 
with Asparagus plumosus, small Palms, and Sarracenias, are the 
Orchids. These include upwards of thirty forms of Odontoglossums, 
many of the varieties of 0. Alexandras being of great merit, and 
0. Pescatoria grandiflora of striking excellence, as also are many 
of the varieties of 0. vexillarium, of which the number of plants 
is very great. Thirty forms of Masdevallias represented by nume¬ 
rous plants are also flowering, an example of M. Russellianum 
having 130 flowers. The others consist of the choicest kinds in 
cultivation. Cattleya labiata Warneri and C. Mendelli elegans 
are most beautiful, and C. Mossise aurantiacum and the finely 
frilled C. Lawrencianum are extremely rich. The varieties of 
Lielia purpurata, Brysiana and rosea, also command attention. 
Epidendrums are represented by bicornutum, vitellinum majus 
prismatocarpum, fine, and Parkinsonianum, all of which are in ex¬ 
cellent condition, and the curious Nanodes Medusae is suspended 
from the roof. This is a brief outline of an extensive and beautiful 
display, which is not likely to disappoint visitors who are enabled 
to inspect it. The exhibition, for exhibition it is, remains open 
throughout the present week. 
-We are informed that the Reigate Rose Association 
will hold their annual Show on July the 5th in the grounds of 
the Priory, Reigate, the residence of Lady H. Somerset. 
- Messes. Sutton & Sons have now a beautiful display of 
Calceolaeias at Reading, one of the houses in their nursery 
being entirely devoted to those plants, which are excellent in 
every respect—dwarf, compact, robust, with fine heads of flowers 
and healthy foliage. The colours are surprisingly diversified. All 
the brightest and most delicate shades characteristic of the Cal¬ 
ceolaria are represented, with several very distinct and attractive 
tints—one, a soft rosy purple, being especially noteworthy. The 
markings on the corollas are also greatly varied, some being 
heavily blotched with colour and others delicately laced or netted. 
In symmetry of form, size, and substance of flowers there is little 
left to desire, and still further improvements are now being 
effected in the habit and colours; and, owing to the careful atten¬ 
tion bestowed upon selection of seed-bearing plants, 6ome advance 
is notable every season. 
■- The usual monthly meeting of the Meteoeological 
Society was held on Wednesday, the 18th inst., at the Institution 
of Civil Engineers, Mr. G. J. Symons, F.R.S., President, in the 
chair. D. W. Barker, B. Jumeaux, W. Oelrichs, H. Porter, 
W. Roper, and Rev. G. R. Wynne were ballotted for and elected 
Fellows of the Society. The following papers were read—“Com¬ 
parison of Robinson’s and Osier’s Anemometers, with Remarks on 
Anemometry in General,” by Richard H. Curtis, F.M.S. The 
author in this paper gives a very clear statement of the present 
state of anemometry, and points out the defects in Osier’s and 
Robinson’s Anemometers, which are the chief forms of recording 
instruments used in this country. “ Notes on Waterspouts Ob¬ 
served at Cannes in January or February, 1872,” by the Hon. 
F. A. Rollo Russell, M.A., F.M.S. “ On some Swedish Meteoro¬ 
logical Observations in Connection with the Return of the Seasons,” 
by Alexander Beazeley, M.Inst.C.E. 
- The lessees of the Alexandra Palace announce the fol- 
421 
lowing Horticultural Exhibitions to be held during the present 
season :—June 10th and 11th, Floral Decorations and Pelargo¬ 
niums ; June 17th and 18th, Strawberries and Cherries ; July 
2nd, Rose Fair and Gooseberries ; July 8th and 9th, Rose Show. 
EOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
May 24th. 
Notwithstanding the near approach to the Great Show, there 
was by no means any falling-off in the number of exhibits at this 
meeting; on the contrary, not only was the Council-room well filled, 
but the conservatory also contained several large and handsome 
groups. 
Fruit Committee. —H. J. Veitch, Esq., in the chair. W. W. F. 
Dick, Esq., Thames Ditton House, Surrey, sent a twin fruit of 
Rollisson’s Telegraph Cucumber, for which a letter of thanks was 
awarded. Mr. W. Wells, Earlswood Nurseries, Redhill, sent Wells’ 
Improved Cucumber, a cross between Telegraph and Blue Gown. It 
is a handsome Cucumber, and said to be very prolific, but the Com¬ 
mittee did not consider it a novelty and superior to others in cul¬ 
tivation. Mr. G. Bethell, gardener to Sir Richard Wallace, Sudborn 
Hall, sent a seedling Melon called Bethell’s Conqueror, a pink-fleshed, 
yellow-skinned, and finely-netted fruit, but the flavour was not of 
superior quality. Mr. Bethell also sent a Tomato called Sudborn 
Hall Perfection, which was considered very similar to Hathaway’s 
Excelsior. Mr. Henderson, The Gardens, Thoresby, sent a dish of a 
Fig called Adam, a large and handsome green Fig, but as the Com¬ 
mittee were not allowed to taste it they could give no opinion upon 
it. A cultural commendation was awarded. Mr. Miller, The Gardens, 
Clumber, sent a dish of James Yeitch Strawberry of fine quality. 
Mr. Z. Stevens, The Gardens, Trentham, sent a Tomato in a pot 
called Trentham Early Fillbasket. It was found to be inferior in 
flavour, but as it was stated by Mr. Stevens to be a good bearer it 
may be useful for market cultivation. Mr. H. J. Clayton, The Gar¬ 
dens, Grimston Park, Tadcaster, sent a dish of Tomatoes. The 
variety was selected from Kaye’s Early Prolific. The dish of six fruit 
weighed 3f lbs., and the flavour was good. It was very much corru¬ 
gated and coarse in shape. A cultural commendation was awarded. 
Floral Committee. —J. McIntosh, Esq., in the chair. Messrs. 
J. Yeitch & Son, Chelsea, exhibited a group of new plants, contain¬ 
ing the following in addition to the Gloxinias, which were certifi¬ 
cated and described below :—Serissa foetida flore-pleno, a dwarf 
plant with small bright green leaves, and double white tubular 
flowers about half an inch in diameter ; Pleopeltis albida squamata, 
a dwarf Fern with pinnate or trifoliate dark green fronds, bear¬ 
ing small whitish scales; Croton recurvifolius, with short recurved 
leaves, dark green, veined with red and yellow ; and Astilbe Thun- 
bergi, which was certificated, and is described below. Mr. H. Cannell, 
Swanley, Kent, exhibited a plant of the fine double scarlet Tropaeolum 
Hermine Grasshoff, and flowers of Tropmolum canariense “ improved,” 
a very pretty variety with regular bright yellow flowers, each of the 
petals being blotched in the centre with maroon. The useful double 
white Campanula persicifolia alba flore-pleno was also represented by 
flowers and plants. A vote ef thanks was accorded to Mr. Canneil 
for the Campanulas. Messrs. Rivers & Son, Sawbridgeworth, sent 
several seedling semi-double Zonal Pelargoniums. 
The General Horticultural Company sent several new plants, 
among which were the following :—Rhodea japonica aurea variegata, 
a distinct variegated plant, certificated at the second spring Show of 
the Royal Botanic Society, and described on page 375 ; Pteris serru- 
lata cristata compacta, a dwarf and neat form of this well-known 
Fern ; Rivina humilis variegata, with racemes of bright crimson 
berries, small white flower, and variegated foliage. It was more like 
a form of R. laevis. Philodendron Wallisi, very pretty, already 
described; and Pteris tremula var. crispa, which is distinct from the 
ordinary form of P. tremula, the fronds being slightly waved. 
Messrs. J. Laing & Co., Forest Hill, sent a plant of a Tuberous 
Begonia named Thomas Moore ; the flowers were of a great size, 
the larger petals being 2 inches in diameter, of a scarlet tint. 
A vote of thanks was accorded Messrs. James Carter & Co., High 
Holborn, for a basket of Carters’ Queen’s Prize Mimulus with very 
large flowers, the corolla bordered with rich crimson and maroon. 
Messrs. C. Lee & Son, The Yineyard Nursery, Hammersmith, exhi¬ 
bited three specimens of Yucca elegans, a neat and graceful form 
with narrow dark shining green leaves, rather more than 2 feet long 
and gracefully curved. Messrs. Barr & Sugden, Covent Garden, con¬ 
tributed a pretty collection of Daffodil and Iris flowers. The double 
white form of Narcissus poeticus was largely represented, and many 
other choice varieties. The charming little Hyacinthus amethystinus 
and its white variety were very attractive, resembling diminutive 
Scillas. Mr. W. Brown, Hendon, exhibited four varieties of decora¬ 
tive Pelargoniums, named Harry Buck, very large soft cerise, dark 
blotch in upper petals ; Robert Green, very neatly formed flowers, 
brilliant colour with a tinge of scarlet; Enchanter, rather rough form 
but bright scarlet tint; and Stentor, with upper petals heavily 
blotched with black. The plants were all in vigorous health, and a 
cultural certificate was awarded. The Rev. H. Harpur Crewe, Dray¬ 
ton Beauchamp. Tring, sent a flower spike of an Eremurus, a native 
of Cashmere ; the floral portion was about 8 or 9 inches in length, 
