March 30, 1882. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 263 
Andromeda, japonica (A. Waterer).—A neat shrubby species, with 
narrow dark green leaves 2 inches long and about half an inch broad. 
The flowers are bell-shaped, small, white, and are borne in long 
pendulous panicles. 
Coryanthes macrantha (Sir Trevor Lawrence).—A most remarkable 
Orchid with strangely formed flowers, the lip being shaped like a 
bucket. The fertilisation of this Orchid engaged the attention of 
Mr. Darwin some years ago, and other observers have also noticed 
its peculiar construction. The sepals and petals orange yellow 
spotted with reddish purple, the lip being a dull red. 
Rose Her Majesty (Bennett).—One of the pedigree varieties with 
large but somewhat loose flowers ; the petals thin, of a very delicate 
pale pink hue. The delicacy of the colour is very pleasing, but in 
other respects many good judges considered that the bright crimson 
variety Earl of Pembroke surpassed it. 
Adiantum Victoria; (General Horticultural Company).—One of the 
numerous seedling varieties or hybrids raised by Mr. Bause at the 
Melbourne Nursery, Anerley. It is remarkable for the compact 
dwarf habit of the plant, which will render it a great favourite for 
decorative purposes. The pinnules are broad, rounded, and bright 
green. In 60-size pots the specimen shown appeared to excellent 
advantage. 
Scientific Committee. —Sir J. D. Hooker in the chair. 
Diseased Plants. —Mr. W. G. Smith reported on the diseased leaves 
of various plants received from Earl of Romney,and found they were 
attacked by various organisms— e.g., Primrose leaves by Hlcidium 
Primulas ; Carnation leaves by Tyleuchus, a nematoid worm, as also 
by Puccinia Lychnidearum ; the Ranunculus leaves by a leaf-mining 
larva. 
Saragus Jloccosus. —Mr. Pascoe exhibited specimens of this beetle 
from Queensland, attacked apparently by a species of Isaria while 
living. 
Plant Labels. —Mr. G. F. Wilson exhibited specimens of boxwood 
labels steeped in hot paraffin ; when unprepared, box labels perish 
rapidly. Sir J. D. Hooker observed that the paraffin soon becomes 
decomposed under exposure to sunlight. Mr. Lynch also showed 
some labels made of zinc cleaned by sulphuric acid, also some painted 
pitch pine labels. The question was raised as to what pitch pine is, 
as it apparently refers to any very resinous kind. 
Plants Exhibited. —Rhododendrons.—Mr. Mangles exhibited several 
hybrids—viz., R. ciliatum (female) crossed by R. Dalhousiese (male), 
a pink hybrid called Countess of Haddington. He remarked that it 
is impossible to cioss them the reverse way. It. formosum from 
Cachar, and R. Yeitchianum from near Moulmein, these cross freely. 
This last was received, as also R. campylocarpum, from Mr. Herman 
Rucker. R. Thomsoni (male) crossed with R.Fortunei (female). Mr. 
Mangles observed that the prepotence of R. Thomsoni is seen in the 
crimson colour, the flowers being much enlarged and more numerous. 
R. jasminiflorum.—It is remaikable that this and other Malay species 
will not cross with the Himalayan. Various interesting hybrids w r ere 
sent by Messrs. Downie & Laird. Flowers, including Mesembry- 
antbemum aciniformis, also were sent by Miss C. Mangles from 
Cannes. Another collection of Rhododendrons came from the Hon. 
and Rev. Mr. Boscawen. One of considerable beauty with white 
unspotted flowers and named Mrs. Townshend Boscawen, of the 
arboreum type, had a fine truss, but the foliage was rather poor. 
Tulips, jo. —Rev. H. H. Crewe exhibited several Tulips—T. Celsiana, 
T. oculus-solis var. praecox, T. platystigma, and T. Lautelii, pro¬ 
bably a var. of T. oculus-solis, having narrow' edges and a crimson 
eye-spot. 
Doryanthes Palmeri. —Sir J. D. Hooker exhibited a leaf some 5 feet 
long, and a cluster of flowers from a spike 12 feet in length bearing a 
panicle of flowers 18 inches in length. 
Coryanthes macrantha, exhibited by Sir T. Lawrence, described in 
the lecture. Mr. Lynch exhibited two fine branches of Begonia 
Roezlii from N.W. America ; Primula carpatica, having a peculiar 
odour, and resembling the true (Barfield) Oxlip ; Asarum caudatum 
from California ; Cheiranthus mutabilis from Madeira and Teneriffe ; 
the original w r ild form of Cheiranthus Cheiri (Wallflower); Hibbertia 
Rheedi from N. Holland; Candollea tetrandra and Arctotis aspera 
var. arborescens from the Cape. 
Lecture. —The Rev. G. Henslow commenced his lecture by calling 
attention to the differences between the two families Liliacere and 
Amaryllidacese, the magnificent series of Hyacinths and Tulips, 
Squills, A t c., illustrating the former ; while Messrs. Barr & Sugden’s 
series of Narcissus of many kinds, Amaryllis of Messrs. Veitch, and 
the specimen of Doryanthes from Kew illustrated the latter, w’hich 
is easily recognised by the ovary being below the flower in the Ama- 
ryllideas, but free and within the tube in the Liliaceae. Dicentra 
spectabilis, through misspelling the name, has been changed to Dicly- 
tra and Dielytra ; but Dicentra, meaning two spurs, is the correct 
name. Mr. Henslow explained how it is fertilised by bees, which 
remove the little clapper-like petals, and so expose the stamens and 
pistil on entering the flower for honey. 
The most remarkable instance of insect-fertilisation, however, was 
furnished by the curious Orchid exhibited by Sir T. Lawrence, called 
Coryanthes macrantha, from the West Indies. In this the labellum 
is shaped like a boat, but attached at the stern end by a stout bent 
support, thus forming a powerful spring. The column which bears 
the stigma and anthers projects over the boat, so that their tw r o ends 
are in contact. Two horn-like processes projecting from the column 
continually secrete water, which is caught by the boat. Insects, such 
as large bees, are attracted by sweet ridges or a wing-like expansion 
at the basal end of the labellum. The food thus obtained appears to 
be stupefying or intoxicating. The result is that the bees push one 
another down into the boat; their wings become wetted so they 
cannot fly out, but can only escape by crawling along the bottom of 
the boat and squeezing themselves between the “ bows ” and the end 
of the column. The first insect which escapes invariably carries off 
the pollen-masses. But in order to fertilise a flower it must repeat 
the process, take a second bath and escape as before ; but this time 
it smears the pollen upon the stigma. The lecturer next called at¬ 
tention to some new hybrid Rhododendrons, Messrs. Veitch having 
obtained first-class certificates for new sorts. He observed how in 
this flower, as in Pelargoniums and Gloxinias, which are irregular 
flowers in the wild state, are becoming regular under cultivation ; the 
stamens, instead of being declinate, spread symmetrically round the 
flower, while the petals are likewise symmetrically arranged. 
SPRING SHOW. 
The conservatory presented an extremely gay appearance owing to 
the abundance of Hyacinths, several hundreds of fine plants being 
staged, and, combined with the Ghent Azaleas, produced a brilliant 
display of colour. Tulips were not largely shown, nor were they of 
remarkable quality in most of the collections, but the Hyacinths were 
generally good, and in some instances as fine as could be desired. 
Two tables extending from end to end of the conservatory were 
completely filled with groups, bulbs, and miscellaneous collections. 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons had a magnificent display of Hyacinths, 
comprising about three hundred remarkably well-grown plants ; the 
spikes being very massive, the bells large, and the colours very clear 
and rich. The extraordinary quality of the plants attracted much 
admiration from the visitors. The varieties were very numerous, in¬ 
cluding all the best in commerce, but amongst the single varieties 
the following were particularly fine—La Grandesse, large bells, white, 
handsome; Madame Van der Hoop, white, massive spike; General 
Havelock, deep purple, handsome compact spike ; King of Yellows, 
the best yellow variety ; Duke of Connaught, deep rich blue, compact 
spike ; Lord Derby, pale blue, large bells and spike, handsome ; 
Masterpiece, blue-black, one of the darkest, fine spike ; King of the 
Reds, rich rosy crimson, neat spike ; Grand Bleu, light blue, handsome 
compact even spike ; Lady Palmerston, bright rose pink, fine spike ; 
Triple Crown, light blue, very beautiful bells and spike ; Grandeur 
k Merveille, creamy white, fine ; Leopold II., very light blue, good 
bells, reflexed petals ; De Candolle, mauve, large spike : Crinoline, 
bluish white, fine bells ; Sunrise, rich red ; and Progress, deep blue. 
Of the double varieties the following were noteworthy—Leo, cream- 
coloured, large bells ; Magnificent, light blue, fine bells ; Charles 
Dickens, light purplish blue ; Sparkler, bright blue, light in centre ; 
Noble par Merite, pink, fine ; Koh-i-Noor, light rose : and Etna, rich 
rosy crimson, large bells and spike. A silver-gilt Flora medal was 
deservedly awarded for this handsome collection. 
Messrs. Osborn & Sons, Fulham, also had a fine collection, including 
a few less plants than the preceding, and they were not quite so 
even in size and quality as the preceding, but were otherwise very 
creditable. The colours were particularly rich, all the best varieties 
in commerce being represented. Among the best were Vuurbaak, 
Von Schiller, Jonquillen, Lady Palmerston, Mont Blanc, Baron Von 
Tuyll, Triple Crown, Prima Donna, King of the Blues. Grand Lilas, 
Masterpiece, Lord Derby, Reine des Jacinths, and Decandolle. 
Tulips and Polyanthus Narcissi were also well represented by a 
group of Ghent Azaleas completing the collection. A silver-gilt 
Flora medal was awarded for these fine groups. Of the Tulips the 
best varieties were Vermilion Brillant, Iveizers Kroon, Joost lan 
Vondel, Proserpine, Rose Luisante, Queen of Violets, and Adeline. 
Messrs. Wm. Cutbush & Son, Highgate, contributed a handsome and 
extensive group of Hyacinths and Tulips, some spikes of the former 
being extremely large. Many of the best varieties were represented, 
including nearly all those already enumerated. Six boxes of fine 
Camellia blooms were also staged. A collection of Indian Azaleas 
was included, comprising a dozen distinct and handsome varieties. 
Madame Van der Cruyssen, double rosy crimson, very fine ; Reine 
du Pays Bas, white with rose spots ; and Sigismund Rucker, semi¬ 
double, rose and white, were the best. A silver Flora medal was 
awarded. In addition to the Tulips that have already been men¬ 
tioned, Messrs. Cutbush had good examples of Wouverman, Roi 
Pepin. Van der Neer, Yellow Pottebakker, and Rose Gris de Lin. 
Mr. B. S. Williams staged a large and beautiful group of Ama¬ 
ryllises, comprising a large number of handsome and brilliantly 
coloured varieties. Some of the most noteworthy were the following 
—Orange Gem, flowers of moderate size but very bright scarlet; 
Leeana, neat flower, rich scarlet, the colour extending quite to the 
centre ; Dr. Masters, fine dark scarlet well-formed flower; Fascina¬ 
tion, long tube, white streaked with crimson ; and Loveliness, white 
streaked with rose, very pretty. A specimen of the handsome 
Imantophyllum miniatum Martha Reimers, with its fine orange 
scarlet flowers in large trusses, was also shown. Several choice 
. varieties of Orchids were staged, a remarkable form of Dendrobium 
Wardianum with large flowers of good form being especially note¬ 
worthy. A silver-gilt Flora medal was awarded. Messrs. Barr and 
Sugden, Covent Garden, obtained a similar award for a fine col¬ 
lection of Daffodils, comprising about one hundred varieties ; 
