542 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ December 15, 1861. 
of the leading varieties ; Kale3, Cabbages, and others being similarly 
•well shown. 
Floral Committee.— G-. F. Wilson, Esq., in the chair. Messrs. 
James Veitch it Sons, Chelsea, contributed a beautiful group of new 
plants and Cyclamens. The handsome Jasminum gracillimum certifi¬ 
cated last year was again shown in fine condition, bearing many close 
umbels of its neatly formed, powerfully fragrant, pure white flowers. 
Half a dozen plants of Begonia socotrana were also exhibited, the 
flowers being very bright rosy pink, of good form, and abundant. The 
bright green peltate leaves are alone very attractive, being so distinct 
from most other Begonias. The Cyclamens were distinguished by theii 
vigorous compact habit, large flowers, and purity and brightness of 
the colour, though the bright tints could not be seen to the best 
advantage owing to the dull weather. Several Orchids and other 
plants were certificated and are described below. Mr. W. Baldwin, 
Hassocks Gate, sent a basket of his double Mignonette, with fine 
spikes of flowers, well showing the very distinct character of the 
variety. He also sent very fine flowers of Bouvardia Dazzler, which 
have a light-coloured tube and bright scarlet lobes. Mr. W. Bull, 
Chelsea, exhibited several new plants, but by far the most notable 
was a group of the double white Bouvardia Alfred Neuner. The 
plants were in small CO-size pots, and some were bearing four or five 
compact trusses of flowers, very neatly formed and pure white. 
Among other plants were Cielogyne barbata with spikes of whitish 
flowers with brownish bearded lips; Billbergia formosa, a species 
with brown leaves barred with white, the flowers being purplish and 
the bracts red ; and Odontoglossum polyxanthum pictum is a variety 
with large flowers blotched with chocolate. A vote of thanks was 
accorded to Mr. J. Douglas, Loxford Hall Gardens, Ilford, for a 
plant of Calceolaria Burbidgei, somewhat suggestive of C. Pavonii 
in the form and colour of the flowers and in the form of the leaves, 
though these are smaller than in the species. Mr. C. Turner, Slough, 
had a group of Tree Carnations, including several very handsome 
varieties. Duke of Albany has large dark scarlet flowers of good 
form ; Firefly, smaller but very dark scarlet; Negro, fringed edge, 
maroon • and Brightness, vivid scarlet. 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent, staged a group which 
added largely to the interest of the meeting. Double white and 
blush Primulas were represented by over two dozen handsome plants 
most profusely flowered. A stand of fine single Zonal Pelargoniums, 
the flowers being of remarkable size and substance ; indeed, Mr. 
Cannell has scarcely shown better samples at this time of year. 
Especially fine was Czarina, a variety with white flowers of good form, 
and over 2 inches in diameter. The double Pelargoniums were 
similarly good, including more than a dozen varieties. A stand of 
Salvia Veitchi and S. rutilans flowers was greatly admired, the bright 
red of the latter contrasting well with the rich blue of the former. 
A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Cannell. Mr. Herbst, Kew 
Nurseries, Richmond, exhibited six pots of Lily of the Valley, each 
with about twenty large spikes of flowers. Mr. Anthony White, 
Woking, had a box of Primroses, representing many good varieties. 
Messrs. J. Carter it Co., High Holborn, had a group of their blue 
Piimula Holborn Gem. The flowers were large, of good form, and 
were marked by a blue shade, that unfortunately, owing to the dark¬ 
ness of the morning, could not be seen to the best advantage. In 
habit the plants are very compact. Mr. R. H. Vertegans, Edgbaston, 
Birmingham, exhibited plants of Nicotiana tubiflora, a form with 
long pure white flowers ; Phlox Miss Robertson, a very neat variety 
with round flowers, pure white in close heads : also plants of Sisym¬ 
brium millefolium which was recently certificated at Birmingham, and 
described on page 502. Mr. H. B. Smith, Ealing, Oxon, had plants 
of a fine Cyclamen Prince of Wales, with very large rich deep red 
flowers with broad petals. A very beautiful group of plants was 
contributed from the Society’s Chiswick Gardens ; Poinsettias, 
Primulas, Orchids, and Begonia insignis forming the chief features. 
Mr. John Odell, Goulds Green, Hillingdon, staged a group of healthy 
well-flowered Primulas; Queen Victoria, bright deep red; Alba 
Magnifica, white, large flowers, and Rubra Improved being the 
varieties. 
First-class certificates were awarded for the following plants— 
Calanthe bella (Veitch).—A beautiful hybrid between C. vestita 
and C. Turnerii, with a spike 2£ to 3 feet long. The flowers are 
large, 3 inches or more in diameter, with acute bluish-tinted sepals 
and petals, a broad lip of the same hue, having a rich crimson blotch 
in the centre. 
Masdevallia ignea Massangeana (Veitch). — Similar to the well- 
known type, but the flowers appear slightly darker in colour. 
Cadogyne barbata (Bull).—An attractive and distinct Orchid, having 
the flowers in drooping spikes. The sepals and petals are white, of 
semi-transparent texture ; the petals much narrower than the sepals ; 
the lip has the two lateral lobes white, and the centre brownish and 
deeply fringed. 
Carnation Negro (Turner).—A variety of the Tree section, with 
large full flowers, very deep maroon, the edges neatly fringed. 
Carnation Duke of Albany (Turner).—Another of the same type, 
with very large flowers of good form and deep scarlet in colour. 
Heliotrope White Lady (Cannell).—A beautiful variety with remark¬ 
ably large corymbs of white flowers. The fragrance is very sweet 
and powerful. The leaves also are large and neat in form. 
Phalangium elegantissimum (Williams).—A Liliaceous plant allied to 
the Anthericums, with narrow leaves 9 inches to a foot long, tapering 
to the apex, white central streak, and green margin. Attractive and 
useful for decorative purposes. 
Oncidiam Forbesii Carderi. —A certificate was awarded to Mr. Read, 
The Gardens, Moat Mount, Mill Hill, for a plant of this very hand¬ 
some variety, which, however, some members of the Committee thought 
was inaccurately named. The flowers were very large, 3 to 3£ inches 
in da me ter, deep rich brown in colour, with a crisped narrow yellow 
margin. 
Scientific Committee. — Lilies Attacked by Larva of Brachycerus 
sp. —Mr. McLachlan exhibited larvae received from Mr. G. F. Wilson, 
which cat into the centre of the bulbs of Lilies. 
Cocoa Nut Attacked by Larva of Ilyloccetus sp. —He also showed 
remarkable larvae with indurated joint at the head, which penetrates 
the soft wood of Palms, and observed that the European species 
attacks hardwooded trees, as Firs. 
Proliferous Cone. —Dr. M. T. Masters exhibited a cone of Abies 
Douglasii, in which the bracts were foliaceous, but the seed scale 
partially atrophied, as is usually the case in proliferous cones. He 
contrasted this with a proliferous state of Sciadopitys verticil lata 
(see fig. 4(», Veitch’s “Manual of Coniferse), in which the seed scale 
became foliaceous, the bract remaining normal. The importance of 
this latter specimen in relation to the nature of the so-called leaves 
of Sciadopitys and of the seed scale of Abietinese was commented on. 
Embryo Bud of Oak. —Mr. W. G. Smith exhibited a specimen about 
li inch in diameter. It was removed from beneath the bark. Such 
are very common in Beech trees, in which they vary from the size of 
Peas to that of one’s fist. 
Lecture. —The Rev. G. Henslow took for the subject of his lecture 
the “ Diversity of Means Utilised by Nature to Secure Similar or 
Identically the Same End.” He illustrated it (1), by the process of 
“doubling” flowers; (2), by a peculiar method of securing the 
fertilisation of flowers by means of a lever constructed out of the 
stamens ; and (3), by various methods of colorisation—different 
organs being coloured, but which secure the same object of rendering 
the flower attractive ; (4), methods of entrapping insects to digest 
them. 
The process of doubling varied in different flowers—thus, the 
pistil may remain perfect, but the petals and stamens (converted into 
petals) multiplied, as in Carnations, &c. The pistil may become foli¬ 
aceous, and the rest of the flower all petals as before. Such occurs 
in the double Cherry. The petals alone may be multiplied, the 
stamens and pistil remaining perfect—he had found this in double* 
Stocks; or the whole flower maybe converted into a dense ball of 
more than fifty petals, as in double Wallflowers. Again, a double 
flower may consist of a repetition of calyx and corolla over and over 
again as in Rock Rose. Lastly, double Poinsettias are merely a 
multiplication of bracts, and double Composites a conversion of 
disk florets into ray, as in Chrysanthemum, Daisy, &c. The peculiar 
process of fertilisation described was that of the Salvia, and the 
lecturer showed that Calceolaria Burbidgei (exhibited) illustrated 
the same thing ; while a similar method obtain in a widely different 
family of Gingerworts. 
As illustrations of coloured organs, the lecturer exhibited Poin¬ 
settias and Euphorbia jacquiniasfolia as showing how bracts could 
mimic a true flower. Everlastings were another example. In many 
cases it was the calyx, as in Anemone and Marsh Marigold. 
A Nepenthes illustrated a carnivorous habit, and the lecturer made 
some observations on its structure and the various methods adopted 
by other plants for catching insects, and alluded to Mr. Francis 
Darwin’s experiments on Drosera, which clearly showed that the 
chief benefit lay in the increase of seed. 
LUCULIA GRATISSIMA. 
Seldom is a large plant of the above to be seen in satisfactory 
condition. How to account for this I do not know. Its propa¬ 
gation, I must confess, I cannot yet master after many and varied 
trials. Plants are, however, readily obtained from the trade, and 
therefore its propagation should not prevent its being more gene¬ 
rally planted. I am afraid its beauty and fragrance are not suffi¬ 
ciently known, or it would find a permanency in the majority of 
large conservatories. It rapidly forms a good bush when planted 
out. Its cultivation in pots is rather difficult, as it does not do 
well without abundance of root room. It is a splendid plant for 
covering a wall, and is even better adapted for this than growing 
as a bush ; however, the latter can be accomplished without much 
trouble. When grown as a bush its flowers appear to much 
greater advantage than when grown against a wall. A good 
plant is a most conspicuous object in a conservatory at this season 
of the year ; it not only, when in flower, fills a house with fra¬ 
grance, but quickly arrests the attention of visitors. A plant 
carrying over three hundred trusses open and to open, is a sight 
when once seen not easily forgotten. Small plants planted out 
from 6- : .nch pots are capable of doing this in about six years, thus 
showing the rapidity with which it grows when once established. 
The Luculia will endure close pruning, and can therefore be 
