July 29, 1880. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 
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prize was awarded in contravention of the schedule. We have 
referred one of the letters to one of the Honorary Secretaries of 
the National Eose Society, and are assured by him that the award 
in question has not escaped notice, and will be referred to the 
Committee at the next meeting. It was purely an oversight on 
the part of the Judges, who had overlooked the conditions when 
making their awards. 
-The Exhibition of Table Decorations at the Alex¬ 
andra Palace is to be held on the 14th of August, and not the 
7th, as announced last week, the entries closing on the latter date. 
- In a recent issue of Nature appear some interesting notes 
by Professor Baillon upon Peperomia arifolia, an ornamental 
plant that is cultivated in the stoves of this country, the variety 
argyreia being an especial favourite. The leaves are peltate, and 
sometimes so much hollowed that they contain a quantity of 
water from sprinkling the plants or condensation. Small insects 
frequently fall into these little pools and are drowned. In 
referring to this Professor Baillon states that “ Last year when 
the season was warm, and when the windows of the house were 
often open, the number of insects was very considerable, and 
these soaking in the water gradually decayed, and it was remark¬ 
able that during this there was not the least sign of any putres¬ 
cent odour. Those who believe in the doctrine of insect-eating 
plants may perhaps in this be led to find an argument favourable 
to such a theory. They will add that the variety of colours so 
strikingly seen in these leaves constitutes the agent of attraction 
for the insects to come and be devoured.” 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
July 27th. 
The Society’s meeting was on the occasion rendered doubly attrac¬ 
tive and interesting by the exhibitions of Carnations and Picotees, 
and the British Bee-keepers’ Association’s Exhibition, which were 
held on the same day ; but in addition to those attractions numerous 
plants and groups were submitted to the attention of the Committees. 
Not only was the Council-room occupied, but a large portion of the 
east quadrant was also filled with collections of plants notable either 
for their rarity, beauty, or fine healthy condition. 
Fruit Committee. —John Lee, Esq., in the chair. Mr. Gilbert of 
Burghley Gardens, Stamford, sent a dish of Peas called Reading 
Nonesuch, which was recommended to be sent to Chiswick for trial. 
Mr. G. Weedon of Ealing, sent some fruit of a Cucumber called Best 
of All, which has a strong resemblance to Tender and True. Mr. 
Sidney Ford, The Gardens, Leonardslee, Horsham, sent a Melon called 
Bellamore Hybrid, an oval green fruit, the flesh of which was tender 
and most delicious. It w r as awarded a first-class certificate. Mr. 
W. Kimpton, The Gardens, Smeeth Paddock, near Ashford, Kent, 
sent samples of a seedling Potato, which was recommended to be sent 
to Chiswick for trial. Messrs. James Carter & Co. sent fruit of their 
Cucumber Model, which is a useful variety, but was not considered 
superior to others in cultivation. Mr. John Maher, gardener to 
C. Allhausen, Esq., Stoke Court, Slough, sent a variety of Pea called 
The Queen, and a box of fine Violette Hative Peaches. To the latter 
a letter of thanks was awarded. 
Mr. J. Wilson, Home Cottage, Enfield Highway, sent a seedling 
Currant raised from Raby Castle, to which it bears so close a resem¬ 
blance that no difference could be distinguished between them. Mr. 
Pearson, Water Lane, Brixton, again exhibited his seedling Straw¬ 
berry, but the flavour was so inferior that the Committee could not 
make any award to it. Messrs. Hooper Co., Covent Garden, sent a 
Melon called Sirdar, which was not of sufficient merit. 
Messrs. C. Lee & Son, Hammersmith, sent a basket of Henson’s 
Seedling Gooseberry. This variety received a first-class certificate a 
few years ago, and still maintains the high opinion then formed of it. 
A letter of thanks was awarded. Mr. E. P. Dixon of Hull sent fruit 
of a new Raspberry derived from the Northumberland Fillbasket. 
It is a large handsome fruit, but not superior in flavour to other 
varieties in cultivation. 
Messrs. Rivers & Son of Sawbridgeworth sent nine varieties of 
Cherries grown on pot trees in an orchard house ; the finest of all was 
Early Rivers, a variety certificated by the Committee some years ago. 
Grosse Guigne Noire Luisante was also very fine. A letter of thanks 
was awarded for the collection. Messrs. Rivers also exhibited eighteen 
fruit trees in pats, which were so much admired for the excellence of 
their cultivation that a silver gilt Knightian medal was awarded. 
Mr. Stephen Castle, The Yineyard, King’s Lynn, sent a collection of 
Tomatoes, to which a cultural commendation was awarded. Mr. 
Sidney Ford sent a collection of Potatoes consisting of forty-three 
varieties, to which a bronze medal was awarded. 
Floral Committee. —Dr. Denny in the chair. The following were 
the most notable exhibits in the Council-room. Messrs. John Laing 
and Co., Forest Hill, sent a fine collection of Hollyhock blooms, in¬ 
cluding some remarkably handsome varieties ; the blooms were of 
great size, full, and of good form. Mr. J. Chambers, Westlake 
Nursery, Isleworth, sent a collection of Lobelias and Ferns, young 
specimens of Asplenium viviparum being particularly attractive with 
their finely divided fronds bearing diminutive plants. Mr. G. Weedon, 
Ealing, staged a basket of a bedding Lobelia named Gem of the 
Season, dwarf and free, the colour of the flowers being a very bright 
blue. Mr. R. Dean, Ranelagh Road, Ealing, exhibited flowers of a 
double Stock named Mauve Beauty, very profusely flowered; also 
specimens of the double Mayweed, Matricaria inodora fl.-pl., and 
samples of two seedling Potatoes, The Alderman and Lord Mayor, 
both crosses obtained between Extra Early Yermont and Early Market. 
Messrs. Yeitch, Chelsea, sent several new and beautiful plants, 
including a very attractive dwarf Tuberous Begonia with pendulous 
rich scarlet flowers ; a white-flowered variety named Mrs. Sheppard, 
of considerable beauty; a variegated form of Lilium longifiorum ; a 
plant each of Oncidium dasytyle ; and a variety named aureum with 
bright yellow labellums. Messrs. William Paul & Son, Waltham 
Cross, sent a box of seedling Roses. Messrs. J. Carter & Co., High 
Holborn, exhibited plants of Tropseolum Chameleon, a dwarf compact 
variety with neat flowers marked with crimson and yellow, and several 
good Balsams. Mr. J. Smith, Tollington Nursery, Hornsey Road, 
sent two Fuchsias named President and Magnum Bonum,both having 
large flowers with purple corollas and scarlet calyxes. Messrs. Stan- 
dish & Co., Royal Nursery, Ascot, staged specimens of a Phlox named 
Standish’s Perfection, a fine variety with large white flowers in com¬ 
pact trusses. Mr. B. S. Williams sent several new plants, Cattleya 
Eldorado virginalis being particularly attractive. Mr. Stephen Brown, 
Weston-super-Mare, sent a collection of Coleuses ; and cut flowers of 
Pentstemons were exhibited from the Society’s garden at Chiswick. 
Messrs. T. Rivers & Son, Sawbridgeworth, sent about twenty fruit 
trees in pots, comprising Pears, Cherries, and Apples. One tree of 
Bigarreau Napoleon was remarkable for the fine crop it was bearing. 
A vote of thanks was accorded to W. A. Wallington, Esq., Trow¬ 
bridge, for cut blooms of Carnations. 
In the east quadrant, however, the principal collections of plants 
were staged, and by far the largest and most remarkable of all was 
that from Captain Patton of Abbey Road, which is referred to in 
another column under the report of the Royal Horticultural Society’s 
Evening Fete. We were glad to notice that it had been partly 
re-arranged so as to avoid that crowded appearance which was notice¬ 
able previously. The plants composing the group having being noted 
in the report referred to, it is needless to repeat them here, but the 
merit of the collection was justly recognised by the award, of a large 
gold medal. We understand that the group will remain on view 
until the Popular Show on August 2nd. 
Messrs. James Carter & Co., High Holborn, exhibited a large collec¬ 
tion of their Challenge Prize Balsams, which well indicated the excel¬ 
lence of the strain they possess. The majority of the plants were in 
48-size pots, were a foot to 18 inches in height, and bearing a profu¬ 
sion of large blooms of good form and substance. The lilac, mauve, 
and purple shades were particularly well represented ; white, flesh, 
pink, and scarlet were also remarkably fine. A silver Banksian medal 
was awarded. Messrs. Osborn & Son, Fulham, sent a neat collection 
of fine-foliaged plants in fresh healthy condition. The central plant 
was a vigorous specimen of Acalypha musaica, the foliage large and 
well coloured. In addition to such well-known elegant Palms as 
Areca Baueri, Kentia australis, K. Wendlandia, K. Canterburyana, 
and Cocos Weddelliana, small specimens of the dwarf and pretty 
Pandanus ornatus, Aralia Yeitchii, and A. filicifolia were shown. _ 
Messrs. Charles Lee & Son, Hammersmith, were awarded a silver 
Flora medal for a large and beautiful collection of ornamental shrubs 
and Conifers in pots. The specimens staged were mostly small, but 
well showed the distinctive habit and colouring of the different species 
and varieties. Some of the most noteworthy forms exhibited were 
the following:—Platanus californica, a very distinct species with 
enormous leaves more than a foot in diameter ; Populus canadensis 
aurea, an elegant Poplar with neat golden-yellow leaves ;. Ulmus 
campestris variegata, a beautifully variegated Elm, the markings on 
the leaves somewhat resembling those in Ficus Parcelli; Castanea 
vesca alba marginata, an elegant variety of the English Chestnut 
with narrow leaves edged with an irregular band of v'hite ; Sambucus 
racemosus, remarkable for its large corymbs of small scarlet berries ; 
Quercus atro-purpurea, a form with very dark purple flowers ; Quercus 
Cerris elegantissima, a variety of the Turkey Oak with neatly varie¬ 
gated foliage ; Acer campestris variegata, a charmmg little Maple 
with small leaves freckled with white; Quercus filicifolia,_a peculiar 
form with deeply divided leaves, the segments being irregularly 
linear ; ASsculus laciniata was also remarkable for the narrow dark 
green peculiarly cut segments of the leaves; Quercus.puipurascens 
had rich purple foliage, and many other beautiful forms were 
reDresented 
Mr. H. Cannell, Swanley, Kent, exhibited a beautiful collection of 
single Petunias, fine in form, and particularly rich in colour, lhe 
blooms, as seen in contrast with a carpeting of Fern fronds, appealed 
remarkably well. The collection was flanked by four plants ot 
Achimenes longiflora major, with uncommonly large flowers; also a 
collection of African Marigolds. This little group was generally 
