96 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 31, 1884. 
in July, bnt a month later it throws np only single flowers. The double 
flowers were exhibited on a former occasion. Mr. Noble now sent single 
flowers frorn the same plant. It is of a pale lavender colour. 
Styrax japonica .—A little-known species was exhibited by Mr. Veitch 
with flowers not unlike the common Syringa (Philadelphus). It was figured 
in Siebold’s Flor. Jap.,” tab. 23. 
Black Currant, pnle-f>'uited var. —Mr. Plowright sent a branch of this 
variet}' for information as to its origin. It was referred to Mr. Barron. 
Diseased Pear Trees .—Specimens of branches attacked by some disease 
were received from Mr. F. Forster of Daventry, who observes of it : “ When 
the tree is first struck in a fresh place the bark gradually thickens and looks 
thick a,nd full of sap, then small cracks appear, then a brown spot, and the 
place finally cankers away.” It was referred to Mr. Murray for examination 
and report. 
Primula Rushji (?)—A plant with small lilac flowers was sent by Mr. B. 
Dean of Ealing, received from North America. It received a first-class 
certificate, and vras forwarded to Ivew to ascertain the correct name. 
Begonia. A very^ rich-coloured Begonia, King of Kings, was sent with 
blossoms of Pelargonium Henry Jacoby for comparison by Mr. Cannell. 
Teratology .—The Bev. G. Ilenslow exhibited several specimens illustrative 
of metamorphoses in flowers. Double Purple and White Hyacinths .—In these 
the difference ap23eared to be that in the former the petals are multiplied 
.^definitely, and are then continued into a small green mass of minute leaves 
in the centre, while in the white the transformation is not so complete, open 
carpels being found in the centre. Petaloid Carpels in Hesperis matronalis .— 
On dissecting the flowers of the plant brought by Mr. Loder to the last 
meeting Mr. Henslow found some transitional states well shown of carpels 
partly foliaceous and green and bearing ovules, the other jiart being petaloid. 
Monstrous Begonias .—Several modifications of the flowers of Begonia— c.g., 
antheriferous styles, absence of ovaries, petaloid styles, superior ovaries, 
ovuliferous jietals, or such metamorphoses being peculiarly characteristic of 
Begonias. Fuchsias with petaloid anthers and with foliaceous sepals.—These 
forms are not infrequent in this genus, and have been previously described, 
“^11 j a" Gardeners’’ Chronicle. The petaloid variety of anthers is 
called _ scaramouche ” (Bull, de I’Acad. Belg., xviii., part 2, 505.) Yirescent 
petals in Ehododendrons, received from Mr. Veitch. Strawberry with vires- 
cent carpels, a feature characteristic of the Alpine Strawberry, Foliaceous 
bracts m a Heracleum, Ivy, Aster, and multiplication of spathes in the white 
^riety of Anthurium Schertzerianum. Anemone with petaloid bracts to 
the involucre, and another specimen with a second flower in the axil of a 
bract of the involucre. 
Digitalis .—The Secretary also reported on some hybrids between 
Digitalis lutea and D, purpurea. These have been twice described (by Koel- 
reuter, Acta Acad. Petropol, a.d. 1777, and by the late Prof. Henslow, Trans. 
Oamb. Phil. Soc., 1831). In both cases, as in the present received from Mr. 
A. Ds^, the former was the female parent. The fig. of the corolla given by 
Prof. Henslow is of a darker purple than any of Mr. Dean’s, though he 
earlier blossoms were of that character. There is some varia¬ 
bility in the size of the flowers, some being scarcely larger than normal 
flowers of D. lutea (less than 1 inch), others reaching 1^ inch, but none 
attaining to the average length of D. purpurea—2 inches to 2^ inches. The 
purple spots characteristic of D. purpurea are sparsely scattered or wanting : 
hence the spikes of flowers much more resembled D. lutea than D. purpurea. 
Antirrhinum majus (monstrous).—He also reported on specimens sent to 
the last meeting by Mr. Cannell. There was some slight difference in the 
structure of the two kinds, though both had a very similar double appear¬ 
ance. in one with a yellow colour prevailing the posterior petal was normal 
with a purple apex, but the four usual stamens had petaloid anthers, the 
latter reproducing the orange lips characteristic of the corolla. The posterior 
or fifth stamen was present and similarly constructed ; this was accompanied 
by two additional and narrower filamentous processes, but without anthers, 
one being on either side of the posterior stamen. The carpels of the ovary 
were separate, the apex of one being sometimes petaloid. In place of the 
axile placenta w'as a petaloid structure apparently made of abortive stamens, 
sometimes free, with variously formed yellow appendages in place of anthers, 
and sometimes joined together. This contained a second similar but more 
ludimentary structure within it, and which was succeeded by a third. The 
purpio form was not very dissimilar, having only the filaments free from the 
corolla, the anther lobes being ovate in form, orange below, and dark purple 
above, ihe ovary, as in the previous case, was open, and a corolla protruded 
from the interior. The limb of the latter was approximately regular, with 
orange papillm round the margin. This contained petaloid structures, appa- 
ently representing abortive stamens. 
SEED-GROWING IN ESSEX. 
Essex have long been famous for producing, in any¬ 
thing like favourable seasons, early and heavy crops of grain. Earlier 
they might naturally be expected to be than those grown in the northern 
counties, but their superiority is due quite as much to skilful cultivation 
and good natural soil as to the valuable climatic advantages which 
they enjoy. That the present year is likely to prove a favourable one 
parts of the country we note with great satisfaction, 
and that Essex farmers in particular will probably enjoy a bountiful 
harvest we have gathered from personal observation. With few ex- 
ceptions the crops are heavy and rapidly approaching a ripe condition, 
lhat the fertile Essex soil is capable of producing remarkable crops 
besides those of Wheat, Barley, and Oats, a visit to one of the most 
notable farms in the county—that of Messrs. J. Carter & Co. at St. 
Osyth amply testifies. The famous High Holborn firm possesses land 
m this district to the extent of nearly 1500 acres, and it may be said 
that not a yard of it is wasted, two-thirds of it being in the neighbour- 
hood of Dedham, devoted partly to the growth of annuals, but chiefly to 
the cultivation of seed Wheat and Barley ; and the remainder in and 
flev'^er the latter portion being almost entirely occupied by 
It may readily be imagined that so large an extent of ground, when 
covered by the wealth and variety of flowers which masses of annuals 
produce, presents an appearance not easily forgotten, and affording a. 
striking contrast to the rich fields of tall and waving grain which form, 
as it w’ere, a background to a gigantic floral picture. 'This is indeed the 
case, for flowers are viewed in an aspect which probably affords no 
parallel in any other part of the country, and they are present in such a 
striking diversity of habit, hue, and size that a first view, which at first 
is positively startling in its brilliancy, becomes speedily transformed into 
one of indescribable charm. An acre of flowmrs ! The idea of such a- 
quantity presents a pleasurable prospect to the mind ; but a hundred 
acres of all the brightest and most popular annuals in gorgeous array 
gives an effect which it would be vain to endeavour to describe. 
Our visit to St. Osyth was preceded by a hasty survey of the Hill 
farm at Dedham, where many annuals were flowering brightly in masses 
of moderate extent. Of these the most notable was Godetia Lady Satin 
Rose, which, though comparatively new, is already becoming immensely 
popular ; the rosy-crimson flowers are lighter in colour than those of 
G. Princess of Wales or G. Lady Albemarle, and are of a particularly 
delicate and attractive hue. Though exceedingly profuse in flower, this 
variety is of compact bushy habit, and would thus prove a useful pot 
plant, for which purpose it will doubtless be largely employed when its 
adaptability is fully recognised. Another less known but very pretty 
annual which was in flower near the Godetia was the pink Lavatera- 
trimestris. The flowers are large in size and very showy, the plant 
growing from 2j to 3 feet high ; it is certainly one of the most beautiful 
of annuals, and there is little cause for wonder that both the pink and 
white variety should have been so greatly admired by Lavater, from 
which circumstance they are said to have acquired their generic name. 
The Lupinuses were one of the most striking features at the Hill Farm, 
one of the handsomest varieties being L. hybridus atro-coccineus. This is 
rose and white in colour, and is perhaps the most showy of the annual 
Lupins ; L. hybridus insignis is of somewhat similar hue, but is of a 
slightly darker shade. A fine mass of Tom Thumb yellow Tropseolum, 
and attractive beds of Clarkia integripetala white. Convolvulus minor 
blue. Love-in-a-mist (Nigelladamascena), Saponaria calabrica marginata, 
and Viscaria coeli-rosea were also noteworthy. The only vegetable crop 
was a breadth of about an acre of a Pea known as East Anglian, which is 
described as a “ dwarf Ne Plus Ultra it certainly bore a very heavy 
load of large and well-filled pods, and is of useful dwarf habit, but 
whether the peas are equal in flavour to those of the fine variety 
mentioned is debateable. 
A pleasant drive of twelve or fourteen miles from Dedham to St. 
Osyth enables the visitor to see some of the finest fields of Wheat that 
could be seen in the country, and amongst them several acres of Messrs. 
Carters’ Royal Prize Red were in fine condition, the straw being 
surmounted by ears of immense size. The flower farms, however, are 
reached at last, their vicinity being announced by the rich perfumes 
which the flowers disseminate long before the latter are seen. The sleepy 
little village must be one of the pleasantest of English rustic dwelling- 
places at this period of the year, for it is surrounded by beautiful flowers, 
and the air is loaded with pleasant odours from the occupants of adjacent 
fields. The rich and glowing masses of colour which those occupants 
form when seen stretching away almost as far as the eye can reach proved 
that the brief glance at the flowers on the Hill farm was but the foretaste 
of a crowning pleasure. The annuals are more numerous, in larger 
masses, and they appear even brighter, but brief allusion can only be 
made to the most popular of them. 
The first to attract attention was a large breadth of Tropseolum 
Empress of India, which is one of the many Tom Thumb varieties raised 
at St. Osyth. It was selected from the Scarlet King of Tom Thumbs, 
and is of a distinctly darker shade, the colour being a dark glossy scarlet, 
and the flowers borne in such profusion as to suggest the appearance of a 
sheet of brilliant colour. This was perhaps the most striking bed on the 
farm, and elicited great admiration. Although not in its immediate 
vicinity we will continue our remarks on the other Tropmolums, which 
are grown so largely here. Of these the dark foliage of the King of Tom 
Thumb varieties render them decidedly superior to the older sorts, and 
the selections of scarlet, golden, spotted, ruby, and King Theodore were 
excellent in colour. A beautifully spotted variety named Ladybird is 
very attractive, and the delicate creamy white flowers of Pearl are, 
though small, very charming and free. The latest addition to the Tom 
Thumbs is Beauty of the Border, the colours being a novel combination 
of crimson and yellow, many of the flowers being spotted in a very 
pleasing manner. This is a very distinct variety, and should become 
popular. These annuals are grown in masses of perhaps one to two acres 
in extent, and their remarkable profuseness of bloom and varied and 
showy colours render them brilliant in the extreme. 
The annual Chrysanthemums are grown in very large quantities, as 
might be expected from their rapidly increasing popularity. The three 
well-known varieties. Lord Beaconsfteld, Mr. W. E. Gladstone, and The 
Sultan, were flowering in large and handsome masses, as was the beautiful 
C. tricolor Burridgei. Of the double forms Dunnett’s Double White and 
Double Golden are grand selections, the flowers of the former being almost 
equal to those of the large-flowered perennial Chrysanthemums in size 
and colour. 
Godetias are to be seen in great variety ; in fact, they are grown by 
the acre, all the more popular older sorts being largely represented 
amongst the newer forms. In the former category may be classed the 
many beautiful varieties of the Whitneyi type, the popular and charming 
The Bride, Dunnetti, and the small-flowered and dwarf-growing reptans. 
These, however, are out-classed by the brilliant Lady Albemarle, 
