November io, 1881 . ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 427 
The chief class was that for twelve distinct kinds of vegetables, in 
which eleven competitors appeared. Mr. J. Austin, Ashton Court 
Gardens, Bristol, was first with a clean, even, handsome collection 
including Suttons’ Superb Brussels Sprouts very fine. Hollow-crowned 
Parsnips, Improved Reading Onions, Suttons’ King Cauliflower, 
Leicester Red Celery, Hathaway’s Excelsior Tomato, Sir Joseph 
Paxton French Beans, Scarlet Intermediate Carrots, Suttons’ Snow¬ 
ball Turnip, St. Patrick Potatoes, and Nutting’s Dwarf Red Beet. 
Mr. R. Phillips, gardener to Capt. Jackson, The Deodars, Meopham, 
Kent, was a very close second with good Trophy Tomatoes, King of 
Cauliflowers, Student Parsnip, Sulham Prize Pink Celery, Suttons’ 
Matchless Brussels Sprouts, Ne Plus Ultra Peas, and Early Snowball 
Turnips among others. Mr. Meads, The Gardens, Beckett Park, 
Shrivenham, was third with good samples, especially of Celery, Beet, 
Carrots, and Cauliflowers. Mr. W. Wildsmith, gardener to Viscount 
Eversley, Heckfield Place, Winchfield, was fourth ; and Mr. Lloyd, 
The Gardens, Brockwood Asylum, Woking, fifth. 
For twelve Suttons’ Improved Reading Onions there were ten 
entries. Messrs. Wildsmith ; C. Howard, Bridge, Canterbury ; T. 
Haines, gardener to Earl Radnor, Coleshill House, Highworth ; and C. 
Ross taking the prizes in that order. For twelve tubers of Suttons’ 
Magnum Bonum Potatoes Messrs. Meads ; H. Millen, gardener to the 
Marquis of Donegal, Hamstead Park, Newbury ; C. W. Howard, and 
C. Herrin were the successful exhibitors, all showing good samples. 
For twelve tubers of Suttons’ Reading Abbey Potatoes there were 
nine competitors; Messrs G. Donaldson, The Gardens, Keith Hall, 
Inverrurie, N.B., W. Meads, R. Lloyd, and T. Haines securing the 
prizes. In the two other classes for Reading Hero and Woodstock 
Kidney there were collectively seventeen entries ; Messrs. Howard, 
Mead, Millen, Phillips, Emson,and Haines being the chief exhibitors. 
Floral Committee —W. B. Kellock, Esq., in the chair. Mr. J. 
Woodbridge, The Gardens, Syon House, was accorded a vote of thanks 
for a dozen vigorous Bouvardias in i2-inch pots. The specimens were 
in some cases a yard in diameter, and flowering very freely. Messrs. 
James Dickson '& Sons, Newton Nurseries, Chester, sent plants of a 
sport from the variegated Euonymus radicans. They were more 
erect in growth with much larger leaves than is usual in the common 
form. Mr. H. James, Castle Nursery, Lower Norwood, contributed 
a pretty group of Orchids, including good specimens of the bright 
yellow-flowered Oncidium varicosum, the brownish O. pnetextum, the 
deep red-striped Odontoglossum Insleayi leopardinum, and the bright 
brown Oncidium Forbesi. Small plants of Adiantum cuneatum were 
arranged with the Orchids, and served to enhance the effect. A vote 
of thanks were accorded. Mr. C. Turner, Slough, exhibited a number 
of Tree Carnations, some of which were very handsome. Scarlet 
Nonpareil (Turner) was particularly fine with full rich scarlet flowers, 
and very freely produced. Brightness (Turner), bright scarlet, was 
also very attractive. 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent, had a large group of 
Primulas, including Swanley Carminata ; Swanley Purple, very rich 
crimson ; Lilacina Rubra Improved, very large flowers, deep crimson ; 
Delicata, light pink ; Swanley Red, deep and rich in colour ; and 
Swanley White, flower very large, of good form and pure white. 
These Primulas were greatly admired for their excellent condition, 
the richness of the colours in the red varieties being surprising. A 
cultural commendation was accorded, but some members of the Com¬ 
mittee thought the award of a medal would have better signified their 
appreciation of the plants. Mr. Hudson, The Gardens, Gunnersbury 
House, Acton, was awarded a vote of thanks for a specimen of 
Chammdorea glaucifolia, 10 feet high, in a 32-sized pot, in fine health 
and bearing three panicles of flowers. Messrs. S. Mahood & Son, 
Windsor Nurseries, Putney, sent several seedling Chrysanthemums, 
the most noticeable being a bronze-flowered Japanese named Mrs. 
Townsend. Mr. Wiggins, gardener to Henry Little, Esq., Hillingdon 
Place, Uxbridge, was awarded a vote of thanks for a group of Pompon 
Chrysanthemum Soeur Melanie, a floriferous and beautiful variety 
with pure white neatly formed flowers. Several handsome seedling 
Primulas were also shown. Messrs. Smith & Larke, Kensington, 
exhibited a pretty bouquet and wreath of yellow and white Chrys¬ 
anthemums. 
Messrs. James Veitch it Sons, Chelsea, exhibited a group of Chrys¬ 
anthemums raised by the late Mr. Alfred Salter. They included Bru¬ 
nette, a neat bronze Pompon ; Purple Pompon, with purplish pink 
shell-like florets ; Mary Major, a white Japanese ; Lord Beaconsfield, 
a peculiar Japanese variety, the florets red on the upper surface and 
yellow below ; and Marquis of Lome, something of the reflexed type, 
deep red tipped with yellow. Mr. J. Roberts, The Gardens, Gunners¬ 
bury Park, Acton, sent a group of dwarf Scabious, the plants being 
in 32-size pots, and flowering freely. Mr. H. B. Smith, Ealing Dean 
Nursery, was accorded a vote of thanks for a group of fine Cyclamens, 
flowering extremely well. Mr. H. Bennett, Shepperton, Middlesex, 
sent a large specimen of the Tea Rose Madame de St. Joseph bearing 
a large crop of fruits, which was said to be “ the second crop this 
season produced by manual fecundation.” Mr. R. Clarke, Twicken¬ 
ham, exhibited a fine group of Cyclamens, the flowers being large, the 
habit compact, and the foliage vigorous. A cultural commendation 
was awarded. A vote of thanks was accorded to Messrs. Heath and 
Son for blooms of their double Lapageria rosea, each with from 
eight to ten petals. From the Society’s Garden, Chiswick, a group 
of Primulas was shown, and cut blooms of the scarlet Salvia Bruantii, 
the bright blue S. Pitcheri, and the deep pink S. Betheli. A pan of 
six plants of S. Pitcheri bearing some dozens of spikes was very 
handsome. 
First-class certificates were awarded for the following plants :— 
Begonia socotrana (Yeitch).—A handsome and distinct species of 
Begonia from the island of Socotra, where it was found by Professor 
Balfour and introduced to Kew. The leaves are peltate, about 
G inches in diameter, and the flowers are bright rose, even in form, 
and borne in loose panicles. 
Chrysanthemum Rex Rubrorum (Yeitch).—AprettyJapane.se variety, 
with blooms of moderate size, full, and even in form, deep maroon 
in colour, with narrow twisted florets. 
Chrysanthemum Lady Selborne (Salter).— The white sport from 
James Salter which has been frequently noticed in this Journal. Six 
blooms of the sport were shown with the same number of the parent, 
and a certificate was awarded for it almost unanimously. 
Coleus Columbine (King).—A peculiar and striking variety, with 
leaves 3 to 4 inches long, ovate, crenate margin, and irregularly 
dashed and streaked with crimson, maroon, green, and white. 
Heliconia aureo-striata (Bull).—A Musaceous plant,with ovate leaves 
8 inches long and 5 broad at the base, tapering, green veined with 
yellow. The under side of the leaves has a reddish tinge. 
Draccena Lindeni (Bull).—An attractive plant, with leaves a foot 
to 15 inches long, tapering, about 3 inches broad in the widest 
portion. A band of dark green with a few greyish streaks extends 
down the centre, the margins being yellowish white. The leaves are 
slightly recurved. It was shown with D. fragrans variegata for 
comparison, the latter having a light band in the centre of the leaves.. 
Davallia Jijiensis plumosa (Bull).—A graceful Fern, with leaves a 
foot long and about the same across the base ; slightly triangular in 
form, drooping towards the apex, which is tapering. The fronds are 
finely divided into linear dark green segments, imparting a feathery 
appearance to them. 
Masdeva.Uia cliimaira (Bull).— This was certificated as the true 
M. chimaera, described by Prof. Reichenbach. It has erect scapes, 
bearing one or two flowers with long-tailed sepals spotted with deep 
red. The labellum is small, white, and shell-like. 
Primula sinensis variegata. —Mr. C. Herrin, The Gardens, Chalfont 
Park, Gerrard’s Cross, was accorded a certificate for this plant, 
a clearly and distinctly variegated form of the common Chinese 
Primrose. 
Croton Laingii (Laing).—A distinct and pretty Croton, with long 
narrow drooping leaves slightly twisted, dark green for about half 
their length from the apex, the remaining portion being bright 
yellow, the stem having a tinge of red. It is very graceful in habit. 
Scientific Committee. —Sir J. D. Hooker, K.C.S.I., in the chair. 
Gravel. —Mr. Pascoe exhibited a specimen of disintegrated granite 
from Roche, Cornwall, resulting from the washing of china clay, 
and recommended it as a gravel for gardens. The Chairman re¬ 
marked that it had been previously suggested to be utilised for that 
purpose, but its white colour was objectionable, as also was its want 
of binding power unless clay be mixed with it. 
Ekret’s Paintings. —A series of beautifully painted plants 130 years 
old with well-preserved colours, and done on vellum by Ehret, were 
exhibited by Mr. Scofield. 
Mycelium of Polyporus Squamosus. —Mr. W. G. Smith showed speci¬ 
mens of this found beneath the bark of Elm trees about London, to 
which it does much damage. It appears to follow the tracks of the 
beetle Scolytus destructor, so common in Elms. 
Pears Malformed. —Dr. Masters showed Pear stalks swollen, but 
without any real fruit within, received from Mr. Burbidge of Dublin 
Botanic Gardens. It was said to have more flavour and sugar than 
the Pear itself. 
Monstrous Cyclamen. —Mr. Boscawen forwarded a flower with leafy 
sepals, a not uncommon state. 
Cycas revoluta. —A number of seed-bearing abortive leaves in fine 
condition was sent by Mr. Hudson of Gunnersbury. 
Laurustinus .—The Rev. G. Henslow showed branches and roots to 
illustrate a common condition of many Rosace®. The leaves grow 
pale, curl, and the epidermis separates easily from the subjacent 
tissue. The stems die and are then overladen by a fungus (Corticum 
sp.), the roots being brown and dead. The cause appeared to be in this 
instance want of nutrition, as the roots penetrated a dry gravelly sub¬ 
soil. Mr. Scofield remarked he had experienced the same thing with 
Laurustinus on the London clay, and attributed the death to similar 
cause of want of nourishment. Sir Joseph D. Hooker remarked on 
the frequent want of power to ripen its wood in this country. 
Lecture. —The first group of plants referred to by Rev. G. Hens¬ 
low was a series of Bouvardias of Mexican origin. He called at¬ 
tention to the fact that they belong to the same family as the Coffee, 
Cinchona, Madder, and our humble English Galiums, which, though 
so different in appearance, had their flowers constructed on the same 
plan. The little burr-like fruit of Galium Aparine, or Cleavers, is 
said to have the same flavour as Coffee when roasted. 
As illustrative of methods of fertilisation the lecturer took Salvia, 
showing the peculiar oscillating motion of the stamens, which is 
adapted to insects, so as to convey pollen from one flower to another. 
Certain species with long-tubed corollas have apparently “ degene¬ 
rated” from the forms which best illustrate that process, as the 
stamens have become straight and rigid, so that they cannot oscillate 
at all. He also showed the method of fertilisation in Primroses 
