186 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ February 15, 1883. 
March Past, which has been previously certificated. The flowers of 
this are of wonderful size and substance, rich velvety crimson in 
colour, the florets broad, and white at the base, forming a narrow 
ring. It is very strong in habit, and the plants shown were in first- 
rate condition. Small plants of Cineraria cruenta were shown with 
the above for comparison, and a number of single blooms of variously 
coloured forms were noteworthy. The Primulas were extremely good 
examples of culture, alba plena fimbriata being most profusely 
flowered in 5-inch pots. Some of these bore a dozen to twenty large 
trusses of large double pure white flowers. Of the rose-coloured 
varieties atro-rosea plena and Earl Beaconsfield were the most note¬ 
worthy. Flowers were also sent of several other double Primulas, 
Marchioness of Exeter and Emperor being the best. A silver medal 
was deservedly awarded to Messrs. Cannell for the above-mentioned 
groups. 
Mr. B. S. Williams, Upper Holloway, staged an extensive and hand¬ 
some group of Primulas and Cyclamens, both in admirable condition ; 
but the Cyclamens were very handsome, dwarf, free, and with large 
flowers, the dark varieties very richly coloured. White, purple, and 
red Primulas were the principal varieties, the flowers of good size 
and the plants dwarf. A plant of Cattleya labiata Percivilliana wa3 
also shown. A silver medal was awarded for the Cyclamens and 
Primulas. A vote of thanks was awarded to Mr. George, Putney 
Heath, for blooms of fine seedling Abutilons, comprising Lustrous, 
scarlet ; Emperor, deep purple-crimson ; Premier, rose ; Le Grande, 
deep orange ; King of Roses, bright rose ; and The Bride, blush. A 
cultural commendation was accorded to Mr. Lyon, gardener to Sir 
E. H. Scott, Bart., Sundridge Park, Bromley. Kent, for baskets of 
Hyacinths, Lilacs, Tulips, and Jonquils, the Tulips and Hyacinths 
being exceedingly fine. G. F. Wilson, Esq., Weybridge, sent a plant 
of Odontoglossum Alexandras, which had a spike of twelve flowers 
from one pseudo-bulb. The flowers were of good size; the petals 
broad and of beautiful form, and tinted with mauve. A vote of 
thanks was accorded to Mr. James, Woodside, Farnham Royal, Slough, 
for some very handsome Cyclamen blooms, white, purple, and deep 
crimson. Mr. Todman, gardener to J. Connell, Esq., Bushydown, 
Tooting Common, sent several of his hybrid Azaleas—Duke of Albany, 
dark red ; Miss Nellie Connell, rose ; and Mrs, John Connell, pure 
white. 
A vote of thanks was accorded to Messrs. J. Carter & Co., High 
Holborn, for a handsome group of Primulas, comprising White Queen, 
a very large-flowered variety ; Magenta Queen, Holborn Gem, Hol¬ 
born Carmine, Holborn White, Yermilion Queen, and Mauve Queen, 
together with the Golden-leaved variety and a large basket of Scilla 
siberica. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Heims, gardener to 
F. A. Philbrick, Esq., Oldfield, Bickley, for a fine variety of Cattleya 
Trianae and a dark-spotted Odontoglossum Alexandras. Messrs. J. 
Peed <fr Sons, Roupell Park, sent a plant of Dendrobium Wardianum 
grandiflorum with flowers inches in diameter, the lip deep yellow 
and blotched with maroon. W. Yanner, Esq., Camden Wood, Chisle- 
hurst, showed a plant of Dendrobium heterocarpum album, the 
flowers white, except the yellowish base of the lip. A cultural com¬ 
mendation and vote of thanks were accorded to P. Crowley, Esq., 
Waddon House, Croydon, for a very handsome specimen of Cselogyne 
cristata, about 3 feet in diameter, and bearing some scores of flowers. 
A cultural commendation was accorded to Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., 
Clapton, for a panful of Angrtecum citratum, with about thirty 
spikes of its buff white flowers. Mr. R. Dean, Ealing, sent plants 
and flowers of Primroses and Myosotis dissitiflora alba, and several 
other plants. From the Society’s Garden at Chiswick was contri¬ 
buted a large and beautiful group of well-grown double Primulas, 
representing all the best of the varieties in commerce. Plants of 
Chiswick Red Primulas were also staged in good condition, and a 
group of Lilacs in pots, with a dozen plants of Saxifrag'a ligulata 
flowering well. 
First-class certificates were awarded for the following plants :— • 
Calanthe Regnieri (Yeitch).—A species from Cochin-China, resem¬ 
bling C. vestita in style of flower and form of pseudo-bulbs, and 
bearing a long spike, the flowers being confined near to the apex. 
The lip is three-lobed, the centre lobe being deeply cut, pink, with a 
dash of crimson in the centre ; the sepals and petals are elliptical, 
white, reflexed, the petals having a central faint rosy vein. With 
this was also shown a similar species—C. Stevensiana, also from 
Cochin-China, the flowers being all white except a blotch of crimson 
in the centre of the lip. 
Amaryllis Acis (Yeitch).—A fine variety with large beautifully 
formed flowers ; the petals broad, rounded, deep scarlet tipped with 
white. The symmetrical form of the flower is very noteworthy in 
this variety. 
Amaryllis Achilles (Yeitch).—Remarkable for the great size of the 
flowers, which are 8J inches in diameter, the petals broad and dark 
scarlet. The scape is of moderate height but very strong, and the 
plant shown had two scapes. 
Rhododendron Princess Christian (Yeitch).—Flowers of beautiful 
form, rounded lobes, very pale pink—a most delicate tint, and very 
distinct. The plant had a dozen flowers on one truss. This and the 
following were of the greenhouse hybrid type. 
Rhododendron Baroness Schroder (Yeitch).—Yery handsome ; flower 
deep yellow, with red stamens. Free, and of good habit. Eight to 
ten flowers in a truss. 
Odontoglossum Scottii (Wilson).—A grand variety, with flowers of 
great size, 3\ inches in diameter, the petals irregularly cut, three- 
quarters of an inch broad, the lip slightly fringed. The ground 
colour is pale yellow, with large bold blotches of chocolate. The 
spike had seven flowers. It is one of the finest of this type, being 
suggestive of O. prionopetalum. 
Cineraria Victory (Cannell).—A very fine variety, with exceedingly 
large flowers 2£ inches in diameter, of good form, rounded, broad 
florets, and of a rich warm purplish-crimson colour. Most pleasing 
and distinct. 
Odontoglossum crispum aureum magnificum .—This distinct variety 
was shown by C. Dorman, Esq., Laurie Park Sydenham. It has 
flowers with undulated margins to the petals, which are pale yellow 
spotted with chocolate. The plant bore three spikes, each with a 
dozen flowers. 
Phalcenopsis leucorrhoda alba (Low).—A variety with pure white 
flowers of moderate size, the lip spotted at the base with crimson. 
Scientific Committee. —Sir J. D. Hooker in the chair. 
Melon from under Electric Light .—It appears that the specimen 
sent to the last meeting was done so inadvertently, as no scientific 
data had been taken. Dr. Siemens, however, informed the Society 
that he hopes to test the growth of Melons on a future occasion. 
Self-Registering Thermometers. —Mr. Glaisher remarked on the neces¬ 
sity of observers stating whether minimum temperatures are taken 
by thermometers on the soil or at an elevation above it, and also 
whether they have been properly compared with a standard. With 
reference to the Hon. and Rev. J. T. Boscawen’s observations, he 
remarked that his thermometer registered 10° less than that of Truro. 
This i3 probably due to the fact that the position is in a valley. He 
believes that the Lapageria mentioned at the last meeting was sub¬ 
jected to only 5° of frost, but that the Camellias endured from 1G° 
to 18° of frost, which slightly injured them. 
Graft of Helianthus tuberosus on II. annuus. —Dr. Masters exhibited 
a specimen from Mr. Laxton on which the attempt had been made, 
but the graft showed only a slight adhesion, but had perished 
afterwards. 
Hypertrophy of Nut and Cabbage .—The Secretary, Rev. J. Henslow, 
exhibited a sucker from a Nut bush with a mass of buds arising from 
one spot, and Cabbage leaves with innumerable small foliaceous 
excrescences from the midrib. 
Orobanche (sp.) on Beans .—A specimen was sent from Marsala, 
Sicily, where it appears to be very destructive. 
CARYOTA EXCELSA. 
In a decorative point of view Caryotas are exceedingly orna¬ 
mental, especially if sufficient space can be afforded them to de- 
velope their beauties, and this is not so very difficult; for although 
some of the kinds become trees with stately stems 50 or 60 feet in 
height, there are others that never exceed 18 or 20 feet. In a 
young state Caryotas are admirably adapted for the decoration of 
the dinner table, and also form beautiful objects distributed 
throughout the various apartments during the summer months, 
but during the winter it is not well to keep them in rooms unless 
these are slightly heated. When larger they may be plunged in 
the open air in summer, to assist in giving the pleasure ground a 
tropical appearance. 
The species represented in fig. 42 is one of the best of the 
genus for decorative purposes, and will amply repay any labour 
which may be bestowed upon it. Whether grown in the drawing 
room, or in the stove, or used in the open air ; in all of these 
situations it will produce a fine tropical effect, which is always so 
.highly appreciated by lovers of the beautiful in Nature who live 
in temperate climes. 
As a compost for Caryotas use good rich loam and leaf soil 
in about equal parts, with the addition of a little sharp river sand. 
The pots should be well drained, and during the summer a liberal 
supply of water should be given. If the plants are kept in the 
stove during the winter, still continue to supply them freely with 
water, but this must be given more carefully if the plants are 
kept in a low temperature. As a rule Caryotas are not easily 
propagated except by seeds, but they occasionally produce suckers 
from the base, which should be removed as soon as large enough, 
potted in some sandy loam, in as small-sized pots as possible, and 
plunged in a gentle bottom heat until well established. 
Wallfloweiis and Stocks. —We used to grow those grand old 
double Wallflowers, crimson, brown, and golden yellow, which appear 
to have almost disappeared from cultivation now, and we have had 
the fine German importation of Wallflowers ; but, good as they are, 
they do not stand so high in my estimation as the grand old type of 
the past. There was another grand old race of plants in the Brompton 
Stock, but I fancy we have not such a strain now. For many years 
I have been unable to secure such Stocks as we used to have. We 
pay the same price, but the produce has often proved, to me at least, 
a grievous disappointment, scarcely having a double flower from 
packets of the three varieties, and have been obliged to give up their 
