516 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December IS, ISIS. 
method of storing, and referred to me. Does he mean he absolutely 
never loses a corm ? or, that he never loses one after they are taken up ? ” 
The former assertion would be absurd, though to the best of my judgment 
this year I did not lose one in twenty ; while many of the corms increased 
twofold, and a few threefold. I have so often in your columns detailed 
my method of culture and storing I need not repeat it now; but you must 
allow me a line to express the indebtedness of all your readers and 
lovers of florists’ flowers, to “ D., Deal'' for his always instructive notes 
in your columns.—W. J. Murphy, Clonmel. 
PRIMULA OBCONICA. 
I sowed a packet of seed of this Primrose in April, and grew on the plants 
during the summer, giving the plants their blooming pots (fl inch), late in 
August. The plant is very similar in habit and foliage, but is less in¬ 
dented, altogether more rounded, than P. cortusoides, and is of dwarf com¬ 
pact habit. It commenced to flower early in October, and it is now 
(December) throwing up many umbels from the crowns, which it appears 
to form very rapidly, and by Christmas promise to be a mass of flowers. 
The umbels or trusses of bloom are large, the flowers individually about 
an inch across and quite flat, which are of a pale lilac colour, very pretty— 
charming indeed when associated with the bright-coloured varieties of 
Primula sinensis. It appears to be a continuous flowerer, and the flowers 
are very persistent. Good loam with a little leaf soil or decayed manure 
and a sprinkling of sand seems to suit it. Making a good pot plant and 
flowering in the autumn and winter when raised from seed sown in spring 
it will become as great a favourite as the beautiful Primula cortusoides, 
if not more so, from its earlier and continuous flowering. The treatment 
given to Primula sinensis vars. suits it—namely, an ordinary greenhouse 
position near to the glass after summer, with slight shade in the hot 
season. It is from China, and was collected and distributed by the 
Messrs. Veitch.—G. A. , 
Among the many plants lately introduced by the Messrs. Yeitch 
Primula obconica is by no means least. It was lately figured in the 
“ Botanical Magazine ” as P. poculiformis from its curious cup-shaped 
calyx. The flowers are borne well above the leaves, and although larger, 
much resemble both in colour and general appearance the variety of 
P. involucrata called Munroi. The leaves are caudate, slightly undulated 
at the margins, of a dark green colour, and produced plentifully. This 
promises to be a very useful greenhouse plant, and no doubt when better 
known will take the place of those of less horticultural value. It 
requires to be kept moderately moist during the growing season, and 
with a little judicious management may be bad in flower all the year 
round.—M. S. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
December 11th. 
The last meeting of the year was fairly attended by members of the 
Committees, and the exhibits were sufficiently numerous to fill one table 
the whole length of the conservatory. A number of new plants were 
certificated, Primulas and Cyclamens being shown in excellent condition. 
Fruit Committee. —John Lee, Esq., in the chair. Mr. John Henderson, 
Haffield Gardens, Ledbury, sent a seedling Pear raised from Beurre Diel and 
Beurre Ranee. It is a fruit with coarse and gritty flesh, thin sweet juice, 
and fine rosewater perfume. It was said to be rather past its best, and the 
Committee did not think it of great merit. Messrs. Cranston of Hereford 
sent specimens of Mere de Menage (called Davies’ Red), Golden Spire, 
Parker’s Pearmain, Ashmead’s Kernel, Improved Plum Apple, Horne’s 
Nonesuch, Butter Apple, Spring Pippin, Tyler’s Kernel. Rev. S. M. Laken 
sent a seedling Apple which had been kept too long for the Committee to 
form a favourable opinion of it. Rev. W. Murton, Sutton Vicarage, 
Wansford, sent an Apple of small size, somewhat resembling Court of Wick, 
but very inferior to that variety. Mr. Jas. E. Nelson, Stanwell, Staines, 
sent a seedling Apple called Nugget, raised from Downton Pippin 
fertilised by Emperor Alexander. It is a handsome, deep yellow, conical 
Apple, with a good, though not a rich flavour. Mr. R. Bland of Fordham, 
near Soham, sent a seedling which did not possess any merit. Mr. S. Facer 
of Northampton sent an Apple called Perkins’ Al, raised by Messrs. J. 
Perkins & Son, The Drapery, Northampton. It is a handsome Apple, 
beautifully coloured, with tender flesh and pleasantly subacid. Mr. Perkins 
was asked to send it to the January meeting. Mr. John Parr, Ledbury, 
sent a Pear sold under the name of Knight’s Monarch, but which was 
Downton. Mr. David Thomson of The Gardens, Drumlanrig Castle, sent 
four very large and handsome Smooth Cayenne Pines, their aggregate weight 
being 31 tbs. 2 ozs. They were grown from plants in 11-inch pots, the 
base of the fruit being about 10 to 12 inches from the rim of the pot. 
A silver Banksian medal was awarded. Mr. P. H. Cousens, Bower Street, 
Maidstone, sent specimens of Blackberry Pippin, an Apple popularly 
so called on the Hampshire coast, and which stands the sea breeze without 
the young shoots being killed back. A large collection of varieties of 
Celery were shown from the Society’s Gardens at Chiswick. Several 
varieties were shown, but it was generally considered that they were very 
similar, the red and white being the only strongly marked sections. Mr. 
W. C. Leach, gardener to E. P. Monckton, Esq., Fineshade Abbey, exhibited 
a large collection of vegetables, comprising Onions, Turnips, Brussels Sprouts, 
and Beet. They were tastefully arranged with moss. 
Floral Committee. — G. F. Wilson, Esq., in the chair. A bronze 
Banksian medal was awarded to Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, for 
four stands of magnificent Zonal Pelargonium blooms, single and double’. A 
fine collection of Primulas was also staged with single Chrysanthemum 
blooms, and the pure white double Neapolitan Violet Comte Brazzi. Of the 
single Zonals the finest were Mr. Brunning, scarlet; Mr. Lord, crimson ; Kate 
Greenaway, pink; Snowball, white; Rose, salmon-scarlet; Kate [Farmer, 
salmon; New Guinea, orange; and F. Kauffer, violet-crimson. Of the 
doubles the best were F. Raspai), scarlet; E. Bandouin, pink; Gen. Cam- 
penon, maroon , F. Charbonnier, orange; and La Quintinie, white. In the 
single Chrysanthemums the most noticeable were Yellow Gem, neat and 
bright yellow ; Brunette, deep reddish brown ; Henry Irving, pale rose ; 
Willie Beckwith, rose with a white base; Miss Cannell, white ; and Mrs. 
Langtry, blush white. Col. Clarke, Welton Place, Daventry, sent flowers 
and stems of a Tropseolum for comparison with T. Lobbianum, the former 
being stronger and deeper in colour. A cultural commendation was awarded 
to Mr. J. C. Tallack, Prideaux Place, Cornwall, for a number of fine flowers 
of Helleborus niger altifolius, some of which were nearly 5 inches in 
diameter. 
Mr. B. S. Williams, Upper Holloway, sent three plants of Adiantum 
cuneatum compactum, a very dwarf form with small dark green fronds 
about 4 or 5 inches high. Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, showed several 
new plants, some of which were certificated. Begonia Autumn Rose, a 
hybrid between B. insignis and B. socotrana with small but numerous rich 
pink flowers, was very pretty. A bronze Banksian medal was also awarded 
for a group of about a hundred handsome Cyclamens, bearing large, pure 
white, parti-coloured, purple, or crimson flowers. The substance of the 
blooms and general condition of the plants indicated the most careful 
culture. A bronze Banksian medal was awarded to Mr. Wiggins, gardener 
to W. Clay, Esq., Elm Villa, Grove Road, Kingston, for a large and hand¬ 
some collection of Primulas and Cyclamens extremely well grown and 
profusely flowered. A cultural commendation was awarded to G. F. Wilson, 
Esq., Weybridge, for a plant of Odontoglossum Alexandra with fifty flowers 
on one spike with several long branches. A spike of Eryngium pandani- 
folium was also shown 7 or 8 feet high, for which a vote of thanks was 
awarded. Votes of thanks were awarded to the following :—Mr. C. Turner, 
Slough, for a stand of the neat white Princess Teck Chrysanthemum and a 
stand of good and distinct Japanese varieties, comprising fine blooms of 
Fanny Boucharlat, Madame C. Audiguier, Mons. Lemoine, Ethel, Etoile 
Toulousaine, Cry Kang, and Baronne de Prailly. Mr. G. Spring- 
thorpe, gardener to G. H. Palmer, E-q., Tuddington House, Egham, 
sent a bloom of a sport from Chrysanthemum Parasol, pure bright 
yellow, but similar in petal and bloom to the parent variety. To Mr. A. G. 
Bridgeman, gardener to T. S. Cocks, Esq., Thames Bank, Marlow, for six 
grand clusters of Luculia gratissima flowers. To Mr. J. King, Rousham, 
for single Zonal Pelargonium Rousham Model, the flowers are very large, 
round, and symmetrical, deep scarlet; one of the finest varieties of the 
type. Votes of thanks were also accorded to Mr. Green, The Gardens, 
Pendell Court, Bletchingley, for flowering branches of the bright orange 
Bignonia venusta and Aralia papyrifera. A collection of well-grown 
Primulas, Ferns, Justicia speciosa, Poinsettias, and a good plant of Cypri- 
pedium Maulei with fourteen flowers were sent from the Society’s Garden at 
Chiswick. 
Special Prizes. —Messrs. J. Carter & Co., High Holborn, offered six 
prizes for the best collection of twelve dishes of vegetables, the first prize 
being £5, the second £3, and third £1 10s. Only three collections were 
entered, and after some consideration the premier position was adjudged to 
Mr. Beckett, gardener to J. P. Currie, Esq., Sandown House, Esher; Mr. 
Phillips, gardener to Dr. Baker, The Deodars, Meopham, Kent, being placed 
second ; and Mr. Marriott, The Gardens, Skirbeck Park, Boston, was third. 
Much difference of opinion existed regarding the justness of the two first- 
named awards, but the general verdict was that Mr. Phillips’ collection was 
several points ahead of that awarded chief honours. In Mr. Beckett’s collection 
the majority of the examples were too large and coarse (Carrots, Parsnips, and 
Beet especially so), while one dish of Onions was far from satisfactory. In all 
these Mr. Phillips’ productions were decidedly superior, Cauliflowers, Celery, 
and Sprouts being about equal, while the Kentish collections had an 
excellent dish of Leeks and fairly good Turnips. The varieties shown in 
the first-prize lot were Carentan Leeks, Maltese Parsnips, Magnum Bonum 
Potatoes, Golden Globe, Silver Ball, and Golden Queen Onions, Veitch’s 
Autumn Giant Cauliflower, Leicester Red Celery, Aigburth Brussels Sprouts, 
Snowball Turnip, Long Red Surrey Carrots, and Carter’s Perfection Parsnips. 
First-class certificates were awarded for the following :— 
Cypripedium Schroderianum (Ballantine).—A magnificent Orchid, the- 
flowers very large and richly coloured. The lip is full, over an inch in 
diameter, deep rose, white inside, spotted with rose ; the petals of a similar 
colour, 4 inches long, about half an inch across at the base, with a few 
short hairs, and tapering. The sepals are broad, light in colour, with a 
few rosy and pale green veins. It is a cross between C. caudatum and 
C. Sedeni. 
Cypripedium cardinale (Veitch).—A hybrid between C. Sedeni and C. 
Schlimii album. A charming form, with a globular lip, deep rich rose, 
light in the throat. Petals an inch broad, about inch long, blush white, 
with a few rosy hairs at the base. Sepals white, with a few faint greenish 
veins. Very strong in habit, with bright green leaves. 
Cypripedium calurum (Veitch).—A hybrid between C. longifolium and 
C. Sedeni. A strong form, with three spikes of rosy purple-tinted flowers, 
the sepals and petals greenish, but veined with rose. 
Cyathea microphylla (Veitch).—A graceful Tree Fern, with fronds 4 feet 
in length and 2 feet broad. The ultimate divisions of the frond fine and 
closely set. 
Ilex laurifolia aurea marginal a (A. Waterer, Woking).—A variety with 
neat oval leaves, having few spines, deep green edged with gold. 
Pelargonium Erl King (King, Rowsham).—A double Zonal, with a compact 
neat truss of a salmon-scarlet hue. Habit of plant dwarf and sturdy. 
Primula Swanley Purple (Cannell).—A free compact-growing variety, with 
rich crimson-purple well-formed blooms. Very handsome and useful. 
Primula Queen of the Whites (Cannell).—One of the Fern-leaved type, 
with pure white large blooms, having a deep orange centre. 
Primxda sinensis Julian Lee (C. Lee & Son, Isleworth).—An interesting 
bright crimson variety; flowers of great size and substance, but not very- 
even, and with a deep yellow eye. Dwarf and free. 
Carnation Mrs. Keen (Veitch).—A grand variety of the tree section; 
blooms full, and 3 inches in diameter, of the deepest maroon tint, almost 
black. Very distinct and beautiful. 
