190 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. c August 26 , isso. 
- We learn that the Royal Horticultural Society of 
Ireland will hold its autumn Show on September the 2nd. 
- In the tank devoted to hardy aquatic plants at Kew that 
lovely little Pondweed, Aponogeton spathaceum var. jun- 
ceum, is now flowering. It has small round rush-like leaves, 6 or 
7 inches high, and produces a scape of about the same length, 
divided at the apex similarly to the well-known Aponogeton dis- 
tachyon, but considerably smaller. The flowers and bracts are white 
with a purplish tinge. The plant succeeds well outside during the 
summer, but is safer in a frame or other cool place during winter. 
- Relative to the scarcity of Potatoes in the spring, 
we learn that during the first six months of the year there was a 
deficiency in their carriage to London by the Great Northern 
Railway alone of 21,237 tons. 
-A correspondent states, “ that in the Winter Garden 
of the Sunderland Park, specimens of Pandanus Yeitchii 
and Dracaena congesta are producing vigorous spikes of flowers. 
Cobaea scandens and Tropaeolum Lobbianum cover the roof and 
produce a beautiful display of flowers.” 
-It having been agreed that a testimonial of respect should 
be given to Mr. Peter Grieve, for thirty-one years head gar¬ 
dener to the Rev. E. R. Benyon, of Culford in the county of 
Suffolk, a Committee has been formed for carrying out the object, 
and the horticultural public is requested to join in honouring the 
“ father of the tricolor Pelargonium.” Donations can be for¬ 
warded to Mr. Joseph Harrison, Treasurer and Secretary, Bury 
St. Edmunds. 
- “ B.” writing from Uxbridge says—“ I find the Alpine 
Enchanter’s Nightshade, Circlka alpina, very ornamental among 
other herbaceous plants at this time of year. I have a fine tuft 
of it more than a yard in diameter, in a somewhat sheltered 
part of the border ; and although the individual flowers are very 
diminutive, the short racemes on which they are borne are pro¬ 
duced in such great numbers that the foliage can scarcely be seen. 
The white corollas, too, are relieved by the reddish calyxes and 
peduncles. A moderately sheltered position that is-not too damp 
suits it admirably.” 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
August 24th. 
The chief features of this meeting were the Dahlias and Gladioluses, 
which alone constituted a brilliant display. Several other collections 
of plants were also exhibited, all more or less interesting, and the 
display was both bright and attractive. 
Pruit Committee.— Henry Webb, Esq., in the chair. Mr. W. 
Elphinston, gardener to E. M. Mundy, Esq., Shipley Hall, Derby, was 
awarded a cultural commendation for three bunches of Golden Queen 
Grape weighing 12 lbs., and fairly ripened. From the Society’s 
Garden at Chiswick fruits of Bergamotte Auguste Jurie Pear were 
sent, for which a first-class certificate was awarded as an early variety. 
Mr. G. Williams, gardener to C. Liddell, Esq., Pensmarsh Place, Sussex, 
sent six plants of Black Hamburgh Grapes in pots for table decora¬ 
tion. Each plant was bearing a bunch of well-coloured Grapes, one 
bunch being of great size. They were in 32-size pots. A cultural 
commendation was awarded. Mr. D. McLaurin, The Garden, Farnbro’ 
Hill, sent samples of Hyde’s Seedling Melon, which was characterised 
by the Committee as not so good as many in cultivation. Mr. W. 
Hinds, The Gardens, Canford Manor, Wimborne, sent a box of 
Improved Trophy Tomatoes, fine in form and colour. A Plum named 
John Powell from Mr. C. Turner of Slough was not considered 
superior to others in cultivation. Messrs. Thomas Rivers & Son, 
Sawbridgeworth, sent fruits of Dryden Nectarine, which were found 
rather tart in flavour. Mr. W. Iggulden, The Gardens, Orsett Hall, 
Romford, sent fruits of Tomato Trophy grown without fire heat. 
The fruits were of great size, excellently ripened, and well coloured. 
Herr Ernst Benary, Erfurt, sent a dish of white Tomatoes. Mr. J. 
Woodbridge, The Gardens, Sion House, sent Alnwick Seedling Grapes, 
for which a letter of thanks was accorded. Mr. Elphinstone, Shipley 
Hall Gardens, sent fruits of the Melon “ Luscious and Melting.” 
A collection of fruits of the Egg-plant was sent from Chiswick 
comprising thirteen varieties, white, purple, yellow, and scarlet. A 
collection of about one hundred Capsicums was also sent from Chis¬ 
wick. A first-class certificate was awarded for a variety named 
Yellow of Nocerd, a peculiar three-lobed fruit. 
Special prizes were offered by Messrs. Freeman & Freeman of 
Norwich for their Melon “ Luscious and Melting,” and their “ Cham¬ 
pion ” Cucumber. In the former class Mr. J. Coomber, gardener 
to J. A. Rolls, Esq., M.P., Hendre Park, Monmouth, was awarded the 
prize for a handsome well-ripened fruit. There were four entries in 
the class for Cucumbers, the successful exhibitor being Mr. C. Howe, 
Benham Park, Newbury, with two fruits, one 22 inches and the other 
24 inches long, of admirable form and having fine bloom. 
Messrs. Smith & Larke, florists, High Street, Kensington, sent a 
sample of Oats grown on a piece of very poor land to which a dress¬ 
ing of Clay’s fertiliser had been applied at the rate of 3 cwt. per acre, 
no other manure having been put on the land for some years. The 
sample was of.great weight, and a vote of thanks was accorded. 
Floral Committee. —Dr. Denny in the chair. Messrs. Kelway 
and Sons’ (of Langport) collection of Gladioluses formed the chief 
feature of the meeting. About eighty spikes were staged, comprising 
a very large number of excellent varieties. A great diversity of 
colours were shown from pure white to the richest scarlet. The 
flowers were of great size and closely placed in the spikes. Some of 
the best varieties were the following:—Anthony Waterer, crimson, 
white streak ; Dr. Woodman, pale salmon, purple tinge in lower petal; 
Antisthenes, fine scarlet; Opiter, crimson streaked margin, light 
centre ; Ball of Fire, glowing scarlet; Queen Mary, white, fine, purple 
streak in lower petal; Calliophon, fine rosy pink streaks ; and Mr. 
Derry, pale purple. They also exhibited seedling Dahlias and Asters. 
The Asters were represented by a number of large blooms, white, 
crimson, and purple being especially fine. A gilt Flora medal was 
awarded for the Gladiolus. 
Messrs. Yeitch it; Son, Chelsea, sent a collection of Orchids and 
rare plants. The most noticeable were Aristolochia ringens, a species 
with neat, small, reniform leaves, and medium-sized flowers thickly 
veined and marked with dark maroon. Sigmatostalix radicans was a 
pretty dwarf Orchid with narrow grass-like leaves, and racemes of 
small flowers with pale green sepals and petals and white labellum. 
Oncidium ornithorhynchum album had panicles of white flowers with 
comparatively large yellow crests on the labellum. Dendrobium 
bigibbum superbum had neat flowers, pale purple, purplish crimson 
labellum. Zygopetalum Wendlandi, a species from Costa Rica, had a 
single flower with pale green sepals and petals, and a purplish la¬ 
bellum. Messrs. Yeitch also sent about thirty immense trusses of 
Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora, which were especially remarkable 
for the large number of medium-sized white flowers crowded in the 
panicles. Some of the latter were about 10 inches in height and the 
same in diameter. Mr. B. S. Williams, Upper Holloway, sent a col¬ 
lection of new plants. Among these were a specimen of Mormodes 
pardina, with yellow flowers, the incurved petals and sepals being 
spotted with claret. The flowers are borne in a short raceme, and 
possess a peculiar drug-like odour. Laelia elegans prasiata was note¬ 
worthy for the rich purplish crimson of the lip, and the dull purple 
sepals and petals. Zygopetalum Gauteri had pretty flowers some¬ 
what resembling Z. Mackayi. 
Messrs. James Carter it Co., High Holborn, sent specimens of the 
Empress Cockcomb, with extremely large heads of a deep rich crimson 
colour. A vote of thanks was accorded for these plants, which we 
learn were grown by Mr. Bridgeman, gardener to T. Somers Cocks, Esq., 
Great Marlow. Messrs. Rawlings Bros., Romford, sent several new 
Dahlias, Sir Stafford Northcote being noticeable for its fine form, great 
depth, and regularity, the colour being bright Fcarlet. C. Harris was 
of excellent form, deep crimson maroon ; and Shirley Hibberd similar, 
but darker in colour and rather rough. C. Sh Afield was a neat flower, 
purple and white. Messrs. Keynes & Co., Salisbury, exhibited seme 
very handsome Dahlias, of which James Yick, deep purple ; Walter 
William, bright scarlet; Lady Wimborne, bright pink; Mr. Comp¬ 
ton, purplish maroon ; and Mrs. Dodds, pale purple with lighter 
centre, were the best. Mr. Cullingford staged a collection of single 
Dahlias grown at Kensington, comprising many handsome scarlet, 
yellow, and maroon varieties. Mr. H. Cannell, Swanley, Kent, 
exhibited cut flowers of Pyretbrums from plants that had previously 
flowered early in the season ; Petunia •. Zinnias, Tigridias, and a single 
specimen of the fine Cactus Dahlia (D Juarezii), all of which were 
in the fine condition that usua ly cha -acterises the products from 
Swanley. Mr. A. Waterer, Knap Hill, W 'king, sent flowers of Lilium 
Parkmanni, a handsome form with crim-ion spotted flewers. Mr. 
Goodacre, gardener to the Earl of Harrington, Elvaston Castle, Derby, 
sent a plant of Stephanotis floribunda of the Elvaston variety, which 
was very profusely flowered. The strain was commended. 
Mr. Charles Turner, Slough, exhibited a number of handsome 
Dahlias, of which several were honoured with first-class certificates. 
Show, fancy, and Pompon varieties were well represented. A fine 
collection of Pompon Dahlias was sent from the Society’s garden at 
Chiswick, a large number of handsome varieties being represented. 
A vote of thanks and a bronze Banksian medal were awarded to Mr. 
H. Boiler, Kensal New Town, for a collection of Mamillanas and 
Echinocactuses, Echinocactus scopa being fine. Messrs. Sutton 
and Sons, Reading, sent a collection of their new Hybrid Tuberous 
Begonias referred to in another column. A vote of thanks was 
accorded, and the strain was commended. 
First-class certificates were awarded for the following plants :— 
Gladiolus Opiter (Keynes). — A very handsome variety. Large 
flowers, the tips and margins of the perianth division being streaked 
with crimson, the centre being lighter. Aquinus. —Rosy crimson, 
