December 11, 1884. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
535 
Messrs. J. Veitchifc Sons, Chelsea, showed several new plants, Adiantum 
Collisii being a very graceful Fern-with fine hair-like divisions of the fronds 
and bright green oblique pinnules. Rhododendron Queen of the Roses is a 
pretty variety of the greenhouse hybrid section, the colour of the lobes being 
a delicate shade of pink with white tubes. Flowers of a late-flowering 
Janapese Chrysanthemum named Maid of Athens were also shown by 
Messrs. Veitch & Sons. The florets are pure white and flat or slightly 
twisted. Mr. W. Bennett, Shepperton, showed three plants of Rose Her 
Majesty, which had single stems 9 or 10 feet high, and ■were growing in 
32-size pots. The plants were said to be six months old, and had been 
grown under glass, the stems being nearly half an inch in diameter. Messrs. 
W. Paul Son, Waltham Cross, sent two plants of Abies Douglas! glauca 
for comparison with the ordinary green form, the variety remarkably dis¬ 
tinct in glaucousness and much more ornamental. Messrs. .T. Laing & Co., 
Forest Hill, exhibited a collection of Chrysanthemums, including several 
single varieties. Japanese Anemones, and the useful Pompon Val d’Or, 
which was certificated. 
Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart, M.P., Burford Lodge, Dorking, exhibited 
several Orchids, amongst which the curious reddish brown Houlletia 
odoratissima, with a spike of five flowers, was very notable, and several 
Calanthes, including C. bella, C. tincta delicata, and C. Sandhurstiana, the 
last-named being certificated. F. A. Philbrick, Esq., Oldfield, Bickley, 
sent a plant of Odoutoglossum Andersonianum variety -with flowers 
4 inches in diameter, white finely dotted with chocolate, the spots on the 
petals being much smaller than those on the sepals. W. Lee, Esq., Down¬ 
side, Leatherhead, •was awarded a cultural commendation for a plant of 
Dendrobium Leechianum in a basket G inches square bearing two growths 
with about twenty flowers each. This was considered too much like D. 
Ainsworthii to be certificated. It is, however, a very handsome Orchid, 
the lip being highly coloured and the flowers large. Mr. G. F. Wilson, 
Weybridge (H. Chamberlain, gardener), sent a panicle of Odontoglossum 
Alexandrte with forty-five blooms, mostly small, white with a few brown 
spots. Mr. C. Woodham, gardener to R. Davis, Esq., Earlsfield House, 
Wandsworth Common, sent a seedling Primula named Cloth of Gold, the 
leaves deeply edged with yellow. Mr. W. Allan, Gunton Park Gardens, 
Norwich, exhibited a basket of Comte Brazza’s White Neapolitan Violet, 
for which a cultural commendation was awarded. The flowers were of 
great size, pure white, and very sweet. Baron Schroder, The D 11, Egham, 
showed several Orchid^', including a spike of Vanda Sanderiana with seven 
Hrge blooms, and a spike of Aerides Rohanianum about 18 inches long. 
First class certificates were awarded for the following plants :— 
Cattleya bulbosa grandlflora (Baron Schroder and Mr. H. James).—A 
charming and valuable variety, with large rich crimson purple flowers. 
Calanthe Sandhurstiana (Sir Trevor Laurence, Bart.).—A very beautiful 
form with large flowers, of a rich rosy crimson colour. One is the darkest 
coloured forms of the vestita section. 
Odontoglossum AlexandricB flaveolens (Baron Schroder).—A beautiful 
variety of a distinct yellow shade, with brown spots, the general form of 
the flowers being excellent. 
Cypripedium insigne violaceum punctatum (F. A. Philbrick, Esq., Oldfield, 
Bickley).—A beautiful variety, with a very large dorsal sepal, broadly 
edged with white, and having a dozen or more large purple spots outside 
the green central portion which is spotted with brown. The plant shown 
was a very healthy one, and had eighteen fine blooms. 
Bhododendron Conqueror (Veitch).—Oae of the greenhouse hybrid 
section, with large flowers and rounded lobes, in a loose umbel of fourteen 
reddish scarlet blooms. Very strong and handsome. 
Carnation Grand Monarch (Turner).—Large blooms, dark crimson 
maroon, full and handsome. 
Scientific Committee.— Sir J. D. Hooker in the chair. 
Iloya and Sparmannia Boots Clubbing. —Mr. McLachlan reported upon 
these roots, sent by Mr. Plowright to the last meeting. They appear to be 
due to Rhizoglyphus Robini (?) (gen. of Tyroglyphidm). Mr. Albert Michael 
reports that it has appeared this year in numerous places and is doing much 
damage to bulbs. The individuals are considerably smaller than most, but 
this is notunusuil in Acari. He suggests that they are not so well nourished 
as by bulbs. Mr. McLachlan adds that he could find nothing in the hard 
swellings, but only in those that were softened by incipient decomposition. 
He suggested that inundation at intervals, if practicable, might do good, or 
saturation of the soil with kerosene or bisulphide of carbon, as used for the 
Phylloxera, might be tr'ied at intervals, so as to destroy the eggs as well as 
the developed mites. He further remarked on the Tyroglyphidee, that they 
have been supposed by some to be parasitic on the Phylloxera, but that this 
idea is not entertained by Mr. Michael. They usually attack the Lily bulbs 
between the scales, apparently giving rise to a resinous exudation not 
uncommon on bulbs. Mr. Smith reported on the same roots that he had 
discovered nematoid worms only in the green parts, but not in the 
corroded. 
Floral Monstrosities. —Dr. M. T. Masters exhibited drawings of Vicia 
americana and Cypripedium Sedeni. In the former the calyx had stipular 
processes developed between the lobes ; the petals were simple or variously 
lobed, five to seven in number, with little or no distinction between the 
standard, wings, and keel. The stamens were variable in number, some 
consisting of simple threads devoid of anthers, others bearing at the top 
two to three petal-like lobes ; when three in number the central one bore 
an abortive anther. The pistil was stalked with more or less foliaceous 
carpels, without ovules. The Cypripedium had the three sepals distinct; 
the two lateral petals were arranged diagonally, unequal in size. A lip-like 
petal was slightly calcarate at the tip. The column had the two lateral 
stamens perfect, but no staminode. Each stamen bore a petaloid wing. 
Diospyros Kaki. —Mr. Wilson exhibited five scarlet fruits of this Japanese 
tree of good flavour. 
Odontoglossum Alexandres. —He has also showed a fine spray of this 
Orchid bearing forty-five blossoms. 
Passijlora fcBtida. —Mr. L-j nch showed fruits of this species, remarkable 
for the pectiiiately divided bracts covered with glandular hairs and surround¬ 
ing the globular yellow fruit. 
Malva umbellifera and Abutilon igneum. —Mr. Lynch showed specimens 
of these fine-flowering plants from the Cambridge Botanic Gardens. 
Evergreen Plane. —Sir J. D. Hooker referred to a species described by 
Pliny as growing in Crete, and of W'hich he had just received foliage and 
unripe fiuit. It closely resembled Platanus orientalis. 
Draiving of Egyptian Mummy loith Wreaths in situ. —He also exhibited a 
drawing sent by Dr. Schweinforth, showing the Lotus leaves and wreaths 
in situ on the Egyptian mummies. The wreaths and plants contained in 
them were described in Nature and elsewhere. 
Sclerotia in Potatoes. —Mr. Murray said he had repeated his experiment, 
and still failed entirely to corroborate Mr. Smith’s and Mr. Wilson’s obser¬ 
vations as to the presence of a protoplasmic body within the shell of calcium 
oxalate. It was proposed that they should make a joint examination, and 
report upon the result at the next meeting. 
Viola acuminata. —Mr. Ridley exhibited a germinating specimen in 
which a tuft of flowers were appearing in the place of the plumule, and 
observed that the cotyledons were first of a pinkish hue but became subse¬ 
quently bluish green, the colour not being due apparently to chlorophyll. 
Grapes attacked by Oidivm Balsamii. —Mr. Barron sent specimens in 
■w’hich the peduncles ■were attacked by this fungus, which, however, did not 
appear to affect the fruit. It was described by Mr. Smith in the Gardeners' 
Chronicle for September 6th, 1884. 
Bed-spotted Potatoes. —A communication was read from Yorkshire to 
the effect that '• a large crop, of fully 10 tons to the acre, was badly attacked 
by this disease. It was a first crop after breaking up a common where 
formerly Heather and Fern grew. The soil was light and sandy. The 
worst affected appeared to be from the earliest planted seed. (A similar 
attack has occurred in Potatoes grown in old soil). The land was worked 
well and manured with a dres.«iijg of long dung, and about 6 cwt. per acre 
of a mixture comprising sulphate of potash, muriate of potash, dissolved 
bones, and sulphate of ammonia ; this mixture having proved to be eminently 
suitable in sandy soil.” 
Information was also received from Kent, where the disease has occurred 
since 1879, when it attacked Early Rose, since which year it has appeared 
more or less annually. In 1882 “ Myatt’s Ashleaf was badly spotted, but it 
did not at all affect its growing qualities, for the produce from them was 
entirely free from it. This year the worst is Magnum Bonum, but several 
varieties are more or less attacked. The soil is a light sandy loam on a 
high and dry situation. Different manures appear to have no effect in either 
producing or reducing the spots.” 
Another writer near Clevedon “ has discontinued growing Yictoria on 
account of this particular disease, which is very bad in dry seasons. The 
soil is a sandy one more or less in every place where they were grown. 
Manure appears to have nothing to do with it.” The coincidence of red- 
spotted tubers with a sandy soil, and the agreement that manure has 
nothing to do with it, is thus far noticeable. Further observations or 
experiences are desired, and communications are requested to be sent to 
Rev. G. Henslow, Drayton House, Ealing. 
National Auricul.a (Southern Section), Carnation and Picotee 
Societies. 
A GENERAL meeting of the above Societies was held in the conservatory 
at South Kensington, on Tuesday last, for the consideration of the report of 
the Sub-Committee that had been appointed for the preparation of rules for 
the government of the Societies, and the arrangement of the schedules for 
the exhibitions of the year 1885. There was a considerable attendance of 
members, and it was very apparent that the resolutions passed at the 
meeting appointing the Sub Committee were not by any means to meet with 
general acceptance. Mr. Shirley Hibberd was unanimously elected chairman, 
and it was in a large degree due to his ability and tact that the business was 
transacted so amicably. 
The business of the Societies had hitherto been conducted without any 
rules, Mr. Dodwell having been the Treasurer and senior Secretary ; and he, 
it must be observed, was opposed to the promulgation of any rules at all; 
while Mr. Richard Dean, who through an accident did not receive a notice 
of the October meeting, protested against its validity. Mr. Dodwell made 
various protests more or less irrelevant, but eventually an opportunity was 
provided for the Secretary, Mr. James Douglas, to read the minutes of the 
last meeting, and a vote was taken—the crucial vote of the occasion— 
that those minutes be confirmed. This was carried by a majority of one, 
Mr. Dodwell having succeeded in bringing up a number of members who do 
not usually attend the meetings to support him in his action. The narrow 
defeat was accepted in a manner to which no possible exception could be 
taken, and eventually the meeting was made special for the consideration of 
the rules, Mr. Hibberd being again called upon to preside. Various sugges¬ 
tions of Messrs. Dodwell, Pohlman, Dean, and Dr. Hogg were considered, 
and the chief alterations effected were that four instead of six shall form a 
quorum exclusive of the auditors (see draught rules page 508 last week); 
that persons whose subscriptions are in arrear shall not vote at the general 
meeting, be added to Rule 3 ; that the subscriptions of members be lOx. 
annually, but they may at their discretion increase the amount, be added 
to Rule 5. Rules C and 7 were expunged, and the remaining rules referred 
to the Committee as “ conditions ” for the guidance of exhibitors. It 
was also understood that an annual meeting for discussion be held at the 
close of the exhibitions. The meeting terminated with a cordial vote of 
thanks to chairman, proposed by Mr. Charles Turner. 
TALL LOBELIAS. 
Amongst the many flowering plants now used for bold and effective 
grouping where a rich display of colour is wanted, few, if any, are to be 
compared with these rare and striking denizens of our gardens. The 
group of Lobelias proper, and to which the Cardinal Flower, L. cardinalis, 
L. splendens, L. fulgens, L. syphilitica belong, together with a host of 
varieties obtained from them by intercrossing in recent years, are all 
extremely valuable garden plants ; the more so owing to their readiness 
in adapting themselves to ordinary circumstances in the smallest gardens. 
In positions where the soil is naturally heavy or damp good drainage will 
be the principal requisite, and in dry localities the only serious attention 
required will be occasional waterings. They are exceedingly handsome 
border plantq where, if placed at intervals, they will lighten up and show 
off to advantage flowers of duller hues. They are also very effective ia 
