86 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 28, 1881. 
red in colour, globular in form, very even without any corrugations, 
and attains a good size. The plant also appears to be prolific, for a 
small specimen was bearing over a dozen large and handsome fruits. 
The collection was deservedly awarded a silver medal. 
Another exhibit of some interest was a collection of about forty 
varieties of Gooseberries from Mr. J. Walker of Thame, Oxon. 
Numerous very distinct forms were shown both of the yellow and 
red types, among the latter the small dark-coloured form known as 
Ironmonger being noteworthy ; it is a variety of good flavour, but 
not equal to Red Champagne. A vote of thanks was accorded for 
the collection. Mr. Hutchings, Rickmansworth Nursery, sent some 
examples of a Pea called Challenge the World, which was charac¬ 
terised by the Committee as a good stock of Ne Plus Ultra. Mr. J. 
Salter, gardener to J. Southgate, Esq., Leigham Court Road, Streat- 
ham, contributed a new scarlet-fleshed Melon named Champion. It 
was stated to be the result of crossing Read’s Scarlet-flesh with 
Eastnor Castle, and it resembled the latter parent in size. The fruit 
was, however, deficient in flavour, though the flesh was solid and of 
good depth. 
Flokai, Committee. —James McIntosh, Esq., in the chair. Messrs. 
J. Veitch & Sons’ group of new and rare plants constituted the chief 
attraction in the Council-room, and were much admired both by the 
horticultural and other visitors. A pretty little collection of the 
small-flowered Phalaenopsis violacea was shown, ten plants in pots 
being staged, all flowering and in excellent health. We understand 
that Messrs. Yeitch have secured a large stock of this attractive 
species, which, though not entitled to rank among the finest forms of 
the genus, yet possesses a quiet beauty that is very pleasing. The 
leaves are bright glossy green, and the flowers small, scarcely 2 inches 
in diameter, the upper petals and sepals being greenish white, and 
the lower with the centre of the flower bright rosy purple or crimson. 
A handsome vigorous specimen of the well-known climbing Liliaceous 
plant Gloriosa superba was also shown trained over a fiat trellis 3 or 
4 feet high. It was bearing several of the characteristic orange- 
coloured flowers with curiously twisted petals. The charming varie¬ 
gated plant Phyllanthus roseo-pictus was represented by a well- 
coloured specimen, the oval leaves being very clearly mottled with 
bright rose, white, and green. A small group of Liliums, and several 
plants which were certificated and are described below, completed 
the collection. The Lilies were L. auratum and its beautiful varie¬ 
ties virginale and platyphyllum, which were certificated last year. 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, contributed a fine stand of 
Verbena blooms, comprising some dozens of distinct varieties—light 
and dark purple, lilac, mauve, pink, scarlet, and crimson, some 
being striped. Very large and handsome African Marigold blooms 
were also shown, some 4 inches in diameter, globular, and even in 
form and brightly coloured. Mr. B. S. Williams, Upper Holloway, 
sent a new Maranta named M. Leitzei, the leaves being elliptical in 
form, purple on the under surface, and striped with light and dark 
green on the upper surface. Mr. H. Eckford, The Gardens, Sandy well 
Park, Cheltenham, exhibited several seedling Begonias, Coleuses, and 
Pelargoniums, among the latter the best being Apelles, a deep scarlet 
form with a very large truss. Messrs. Hooper & Co., Covent Garden, 
sent a plant of the double pink-flowered Ivy-leaved Pelargonium 
Madame Crousse, and a rich scarlet Canna named Nardv. Mr. 
Hodges, gardener to Edwin Wright, Esq., Gravelly Hill, Birmingham, 
was accorded a vote of thanks for a flower spike of Oncidium Lance- 
anum, the blooms being of great size, and the contrast between the 
lilac-purple lip and dark chocolate sepals and petals strongly marked. 
Mr. J. Cloke, gardener to J. Tinne, Esq., Briarley, Aigburth, Liver¬ 
pool, was accorded a similar recognition for a new Croton, the result 
of a cross between C. Weismanni and C. Disraeli, the leaves resem¬ 
bling the latter in form, but possessing more of the colour of the 
former. Mr. A. Rundell, 70, Fortress Road, Kentish Town, sent 
some seedling Fuchsias ; several pretty groups being also contributed 
from Chiswick. The Tuberous Begonias were especially fine, and the 
cultural commendation awarded for them was well merited. Torenias 
were also shown in good condition. Some plants of Cassia corymbosa 
were noteworthy, and it is surprising that this showy species is not 
more frequently seen. The leaves are pinnate, bright green, and the 
flowers are dark yellow very freely produced. It seems to succeed 
very well at Chiswick planted out during the summer, and in one of 
the beds there now some specimens are not only healthy but flowering 
freely. 
First-class certificates were awarded for the following plants :— 
Montbretia crocosmceflora. —This was exhibited from the Society’s 
Garden, but it is one of Mr. Victor Lemoine’s novelties. It has 
narrow tapering grass-like leaves 2| feet high, and bears racemes of 
bright orange-coloured flowers. It is very free and attractive. 
Tachiademis carinatus (Veitch).—An evergreen plant from Mada¬ 
gascar, introduced in 1858. It is an ally of the Gentians, and is 
sometimes seen under the name Lasianthus carinatus. The flowers 
are tubular with a spreading limb, or what is termed salver-shaped, 
the lobes being ovate in form and lilac purple in colour. They are 
borne two or three together on the top of the stem, and are not 
unlike some of the Vincas. The leaves are oval, an inch long, glossy 
green, and opposite. The plants shown did not exceed 8 inches in 
height. Messrs. Veitch also received certificates for Rhododendron 
Duchess of Connaught, one of the greenhouse forms, said to be a 
hybrid between R. Lobbi, R. javanicum, and R. jasminiflorum, and 
for Ixora Burbidgei, both of which had been removed from the 
Council-room before our reporter arrived there. 
Scientific Committee. —Rev. H. H. Crewe in the chair. Mr. 
W. G. Smith exhibited specimens of Pea leaves attacked with Erysiphe 
Marshii, showing the black conceptacles. He observed that it was 
particularly fatal to late Peas, which could not consequently be 
grown easily about London. Puccinia Menthce. —He also showed 
specimens of this fungus. 
Effects of Late Frost in Belgium. —Mr. McLachlan described the 
great destruction amongst Conifers, Yews, Box, and fruit trees which 
he had seen in that country. A report was about to be drawn up on 
the subject. 
Lilium speciosum rubrum. —Mr. G. F. Wilson showed leaves decay¬ 
ing apparently from wet, chilled, followed by heat of the sun. He 
also showed a fine spike of Gladiolus Lemoinei, a hybrid between 
G. gandavensis and purpureo-auratus. 
Pear Fruit and Leaves Diseased. —The Rev. G. Henslow exhibited 
a Pear in which hypertrophy of the grit had occurred, and which 
appeared as an efflorescence at certain spots. 
Plants exhibited from Messrs. Veitch. — Ixora Burbidgei, with 
splendid trusses of scarlet flowers with the peculiarity of blossoming 
a long way down the stem—for about 8 inches—thereby producing a 
very large mass of flowers ; Lindenia nivalis ; Crinum Verschaffelti- 
anum, a large handsome plant with spreading leaves striped with 
white ; Rhododendron Duchess of Connaught, a fine new hybrid form 
of jasminiflorum section involving three parentages. 
Proliferous Mignonette. —Mr. W. Balchin of Hassock’s Gate for¬ 
warded two fine spikes of his Reseda odorata prolifera alba, which 
received a first-class certificate a short time ago. The spikes had 
emitted lateral branches, all of which were profusely covered with 
flowers, these lateral branches all issuing from the middle of flowers 
and occupying the place of the pistil. The scent was very powerful, 
and much resembled that of Peach or Apricot. 
ABOUT PINKS. 
Pinks are now in flower, and this is also the time to think 
about propagating stock for another season’s bloom. Considering 
the sweetness of Pinks it is somewhat remarkable we see so few 
of them in gardens. Nothing can excel the flowers for filling 
small glasses, their quiet beauty being only surpassed by the 
delicacy of their perfume. It would hardly be safe to say that 
Pinks are difficult to cultivate, for in a sense they are not, but 
in our garden we have great losses amongst them. Neither 
Picotees, Carnations, nor Pinks, succeed well unless they are the 
very strongest-growing sorts. The beautiful Mule Pinxs, both 
the coloured and the white variety, do not thrive well. Any 
kind reader who has a few of the above white Mule Pinks to spare 
would confer a great favour by sending me a few cuttings or 
small plants. 
As to propagation. Laced Pinks are propagated just now from 
pipings. A piping is simply a growth pulled out of a joint in¬ 
stead of being cut through with a knife. These strike root freely 
out of doors if inserted in a corner where they can be kept quite 
cool; or they may be dibbled into a cold frame, either in soil 
placed in the frame or into boxes. It is hardly possible to fix them 
in the soil too firmly. It must be remembered to shade them 
closely from sunshine. When the pipings are well rooted they 
should be planted where they are wanted to flower. Anne Boleyn, 
which we grow extensively for the sake of its flowers for cutting, 
blooms later than the laced sorts, and I propagate it along with 
Carnations by layering in August. One of the brightest flowers 
just now is Napoleon III., which is very closely allied to the Mule 
Pinks, and like them not easily kept. Then there are the cutting 
Pinks, of which Ascot may be taken as a type—a very useful class 
for supplying cut flowers, and which are best propagated from 
pipings inserted at the present time. The double forms of 
Dianthus plumarius, white and pink, are extremely useful, and 
come into bloom before any of the others. 
Of the white there are two forms, one perfectly pure, the other 
a soft grey when seen in a mass, or when the flowers are cut and 
tied in bunches. The pure white is the best variety to grow. 
The simplest method of increasing these is to pull the old plants 
to pieces in September, at which time the stems are covered with 
growing roots, and plant them either in nursery lines until spring, 
or, if convenient, in the places where they are to flower. They 
make capital edging plants in some positions, either of one colour, 
or white and pink mixed. We have two rows very beautiful just 
now, each about 350 feet in length. 
Messrs. Dicksons & Co. of Edinburgh have what they term a 
collection of “cutting” Pinks. We have some of them in flower, 
the best being these—Spicata, a fimbriated white with reddish 
centre ; Odorata, fimbriated pink ; Robusta, a very fine variety, 
fimbriated pink; Beauty, a miniature Anne Boleyn, grows about 
