JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 497 
recently described by Mr. Taylor in these pages. When at Long- 
leat, before the method had been described, I took particular notice 
of the whole process, and the next day imitated it as closely as 
I could. We dipped all sorts of plants in the mixture; but though 
thrips, scale, or green fly were destroyed, mealy bug still held its 
ground. It must be remembered Mr. Taylor does not grow mealy 
bug, but unfortunately we do, and shall not be rid of it while our 
houses are crowded with plants. According to my experience 
paraffin at the rate of 6 ozs., or three wineglassfuls, to the three- 
gallon can of soft water, heated to about 120°, and to which is 
added a lump of soft soap of the size of a hen’s egg, will, to quote 
Mr. D. Thomson, “ fetch the white jackets off the bugs,” and it is 
almost needless to say this ends their career. We prefer the 
evening for the operation, and have two syringes at work—one 
constantly discharging the mixture back into the can to keep it 
mixed, the other forcibly syringing it on to the plant or plants to 
be cleaned. The mixture is usually syringed off in the course of 
half an hour, and I have never found it injure either the foliage 
or the roots of the plants. A few bugs generally escape, and if 
not treated to more paraffin or otherwise destroyed soon re-colonise 
the plants. It may in some cases, where recklessly applied, have 
injured the young leaves of tender plants and young Fern fronds. 
If we sponge the leaves of stove plants, such as Crotons, Gar¬ 
denias, Stephanotises, and Dracaenas, we invariably use a small 
quantity of paraffin with soapy water, and it is surprising how 
it expedites the work as well as improving the natural gloss on 
the leaves. 
Vines have been injured in several cases to my knowledge by 
being dressed with paraffin. Ordinary gas tar mixed with an 
equal quantity of water thickened with clay is the best winter 
dressing for Vines, especially if infested with mealy bug. Both 
Mr. Roberts of Gunnersbury and Mr. Austin of Ashton Court ad¬ 
vised me to use it on our Vines, and my experience fully coincides 
with theirs. Owing to the length of this paper this tar remedy 
may, and with advantage, be further discussed at a more season¬ 
able date.—W. Iggulden. 
CLEMATIS MONTANA, 
This is one of our prettiest outdoor climbing plants in flower at 
the present time. It is quite hardy, makes shoots 8, 10, and even 
12 feet long in one season, and these have blooms on their entire 
length the following year. The flowers are about the size of a 
two-shilling piece, pure white, and are produced in the greatest 
profusion. It is a charming plant with which to drape old walls, 
trellises, and stumps of trees. One of our plants cover the front 
of a stone lobby attached to the end of a conservatory, and as 
there is a large Sweet Bay tree close by the Clematis shoots have 
caught it and are scrambling over the tops of the branches, and 
the white flowers of the Clematis have a very pretty effect nest¬ 
ling amongst the dark Bay foliage. As to soil and situation this 
old Clematis is not particular, as it will grow freely almost any¬ 
where ; but it is an advantage to have the shoots in a position to 
be ripened by the sun in autumn.—J. Muir, Margam. 
EOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
June 12th. 
The meeting of the Committees on this occasion was held in one 
of the picture galleries leading from the principal exhibition buildings, 
the plants being arranged in the small approach tent. Exhibits were 
fairly numerous, hardy flowers being particularly well shown by 
Messrs. Barr & Son and T. S. Ware, Mr. B S. Williams and Messrs. 
J. Veitch & Sons contributing new plants and Orchids. 
Fruit Committee.— John Lee, Esq., in the chair. There were also 
present Messrs. W. Paul, H. Howcroft, John E. Lane, Arthur W. Sutton, 
Thomas Laxton, G. Bunyard, Harrison Weir, G. F. Goldsmith, James 
Smith, Sir C. W. Strickland, Bart., R. D. Blackmore, J. Woodbridge. 
Mr. G. Goldsmith, Hollanden, Tunbridge, sent two boxes of very hand¬ 
some Sir Joseph Paxton and James Veitch Strawberries, large and 
finely ripened, for which a cultural commendation was awarded. Mr. 
T. Laxton, Bedford, sent a new Strawberry, a seedling from a cross 
between Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury and Black Prince. It was 
named King of the Earlies, and is said to be as early as May Queen. 
The fruits are obtusely conical in shape, occasionally slightly wedge- 
shaped, of moderate size and good colour. The variety was much 
approved, and is to be tried at Chiswick. Mr. Stevens, The Gardens, 
Trentham, sent half a dozen fine Lord Napier Nectarines, large and 
richly coloured. Mr. C. Herrin, The Gardens, Chalfont Park, Gerrard’s 
Cross, sent a seedling green-flesh Melon named Chalfont Favourite. 
Mr. Henderson, Thoresby Gardens, Notts, also sent a seedling green- 
flesh Melon ; and Mr. J. Hyde, Watergate, Emsworth, sent a seedling 
scarlet-flesh variety. All these were passed. Messrs. Paul & Son, 
Chesbunt, sent a plant of Strawberry Pauline, which was figured in 
this Journal three years ago. Messrs. J. Veitch & Son, Chelsea, sent 
several varieties of Early Milan Turnips, one named Extra Early 
Milan being awarded a first-class certificate. It is of neat form, 
white, with a purple top, very even and solid. 
Floral Committee. —George Wilson, Esq., in the chair. There 
were present Messrs. G. Henslow, J. Douglas, John Dominy, G. 
Duffield, John Fraser, H. Bennett, W. Bealby, Thos. Moore, W. B. 
Kellock, J. James, James Cutbush, Shirley Hibberd, James MTntosh, 
James Hudson. 
A gold Banksian medal was awarded to Messrs. Barr & Son, 
Covent Garden, for a most extensive and handsome collection of 
Poppies, Pyrethrums, Irises, and miscellaneous hardy flowers, 
arranged in what Mr. Barr terms “argillaceous vases” — i.e., blacking- 
bottles. The collection, which was one of the finest of the kind 
that has ever been staged, included a great number of species and 
varieties, representing a large proportion of the most beautiful in 
cultivation. A silver Banksian medal was awarded to Mr. T. S. 
Ware, Tottenham, for an interesting collection of hardy flowers in 
neat brown-glazed bottles. A large number of species and varieties 
were represented, of which a few only can be noted. Armeria planta- 
ginea rosea and rubra were very pretty, with large globular heads of 
delicate and richly coloured flowers. Papaver nudicaule and its 
white variety were attractive ; the lemon-yellow Onosma taurica and 
the purple Aster alpinus were similarly pleasing. The dark purple 
Phyteuma betonicmfolia and the rich rosy red and free Lychnis 
viscaria splendens plena being very notable. Lilies and Irises were 
in excellent condition, some of the best of the former being L. Szo- 
vitzianum, yellow ; L. elegans robustum, L. davuricum grandiflorum, 
L. pyrenaicum and the variety rubrum, with L. monadelphum and 
L. pomponium were charming. Cypripedium spectabile was very 
fine, and Campanula glomerata dahurica, with dense heads of rich 
purple flowers, was magnificent. 
Mr. B. S. Williams, Upper Holloway, contributed a beautiful group 
of Orchids and choice flowers, very notable being a plant of Nepenthes 
excelsior with seven grand pitchers, one 9 inches long like N. Hookeri, 
richly blotched with dark red. Anguloa Ruckeri sanguinea, red- 
spotted, and A. Clowesi, light yellow, were noteworthy amongst the 
Orchids ; as were also Cattleya Mossise alba marginata, Galeandra 
Devoniana, Cypripedium barbatum giganteum, C. superbiens, and a 
fine plant of Orchis foliosa with seven fine spikes. Many other choice 
and new plants were comprised in this group, for which a silver medal 
was awarded. Messrs. John Laing & Co., Forest Hill, had two new 
and excellent double Tuberous Begonias, the flowers extremely large, 
full, and brightly coloured. Dr. Duke is bright scarlet, very hand¬ 
some, and Prince of Wales dark rich scarlet. Mr. Coombs, gardener 
to Sir H. Meux, Bart., Sheen House, Mortlake, staged a group of 
seedling Coleuses, comprising several distinct orange-coloured varie¬ 
ties. Messrs. J. & J. Hayes, Edmonton, contributed a group of deco¬ 
rative Pelargoniums, all well flowered and well grown, and several 
were certificated. 
Messrs. J. Carter & Co., High Holborn, sent nine baskets of Tro- 
paeolums, comprising many distinct varieties, the best being Tom 
Thumb ; Pearl, pale yellow ; Ruby.King, rosy ; Spotted King, yellow 
with maroon blotches : Empress of India, rich scarlet; Lobbianum, 
Napoleon III., and Queen Yictoria, pale yellow with crimson blotches. 
A vote of thanks was accorded for this exhibit. A vote of thanks 
was accorded to Mr. Stevens, gardener to W. Thompson, Esq., The 
Mount, Walton, Stone, Staffordshire, for Odontoglossum Thompsoni, 
a fine variety of the Alexandra type, white, with large rich chocolate 
blotches. A similar vote was also accorded to Messrs. Yeitch for 
specimens of Viburnum plicatum with heads of pure white flowers, and 
specimens of Indigofera decora alba with long racemes of white flowers. 
Sir C. W. Strickland, Hildenley, Malton, sent a plant of Balia majalis 
with four fine and deeply coloured flowers. Mr. Powell, Orchid grower 
to W. E. Brymer, Esq., Ilsington House, Puddleton, Dorchester, was 
awarded a cultural commendation for very handsome specimens of 
Cattleya Sanderiana, with eleven fine flowers, the lip of great size and 
rich crimson, white in the throat. 
From Chiswick came an extensive group of Pelargoniums, Lan- 
tanas, Tuberous Begonias, and Gloxinias, all exceedingly well grown, 
and tastefully arranged with Adiantums, Panicum variegatum, and 
plants of Ionopsidium acaule. 
First-class certificates were awarded for the following plants :—_ 
Acer polymorphum variegatum (Yeitch.)—A pretty variety, with 
finely cut leaves, green variegated with rose and white. 
Acer cratcegifolium variegatum (Veitch).—Leaf three-lobed, green 
marbled with white and rose. 
Hydrangea rosea (Yeitch).—A Japanese form of the hortensis type, 
with very rich rose-coloured flowers in dense heads. 
Himulus radicans (Yeitch).—A peculiar little, prostrate, creeping 
plant, somewhat suggestive of Lobelia littoralis in habit. The leaves 
are a quarter to half an inch long, elliptical, brownish-green, rough 
and hairy. The flowers have three lower round white lobes, and 
two upper lanceolate purple ones. 
Sarcopodium Dearii (Lieut.-Col. Dear, Englefield Green).—A very 
distinct Orchid ; the upper sepal nearly an inch broad, ovate, semi¬ 
transparent, yellow, irregularly reticulated with dull purple ; the lower 
sepals and petals of similar colour, and with a curiously hinged lip. 
Rose Princess of Wales (Bennett, Shepperton).—One of the pedigree 
Tea varieties, very beautiful; the petals of great substance; the 
margins revolute ; colour rosy yellow, varying in depth from nearly 
white to rich yellow and warm rose. 
Pelargonium Dr. Masters (George, Putney Heath).—A seedling 
