July 10, 1890. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
27 
Gardens, Norwich).—A long, even, spineless Cucumber, slightly 
ribbed ; very handsome (award of merit). 
Melon Seedling (Major C. "YV. Heneage, Y.C , Compton Bassett, 
Caine ; gardener, Mr. W. A. Cook).—A large globular fruit, wich 
deep green skin, coarsely netted, the flesh scarlet bright, and good 
flavour (award of merit). 
Melon Syon House Seedling (Mr. Wythes).—An oblong Melon, 
scarlet flesh and yellow skin, slightly netted ; flavour good (award 
of merit). 
Melon Highlands Hybrid (J. F. Wilkinson, The Gardens, 
Highlands, Minchin). — A scarlet flesh globular Melon, beauti¬ 
fully netted, the flesh deep, and good flavour (award of merit). 
Floral Committee. —Present : W. Marshall, Esq., in the 
chair, and Messrs. Shirley Hibberd, H. Herbst, J. Walker, W. C. 
Leach, H. B. May, T. W. Girdlestone, H. Cannell, B. Wynne, T. 
Baines, C. Noble, J. Fraser, C. T. Druery, W. Holmes, W. Gold¬ 
ring, F. Ross, G. Nicholson, and Dr. M. T. Masters. 
Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons, Chelsea, contributed an interesting 
collection of hardy flowers, together with some choice shrubs, 
including Robinia glutinosa, Indigofera decora alba, Genista 
capitata, Ptelea trifoliata aurea, and SLuartia Pseudo-Camellia. 
Varieties of Anthuriums Rothschildianum and Rhododendrons were 
also shown (silver Banksian medal), Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, 
Swanley, sent a collection of single and double Tuberous Begonias 
and a double scarlet Zonal Pelargonium named Turtle’s Surprise, 
very free and of good habit (award of merit). Mr. T. S. Ware, 
Tottenham, had a group of Liliums, comprising specimens of about 
fifty varieties, L. pardalinum, L. davuricum, L. elegans, L. martagon, 
L. Hansoni and L. tenuifolium being the principal types repre¬ 
sented (silver Banksian medal). 
From Lord Rothschild, TringPark, Tring (gardener, Mr. Hill), 
came a group of about seventy plants of Carnation Germania 
bearing large numbers of large, well formed, pure, soft yellow 
flowers. This variety is found to be one of the best yellow 
varieties grown at Tring, free in flowering, strong in habit, and 
constant. The group was margined with small Ferns and Palms at 
the back, and had an excellent appearance (silver-gilt Banksian 
medal). Mr. G. Wythes, gardener to the Duke of Northumber¬ 
land, Syon House, Brentford, sent flowers of Stuartia vir- 
ginica and Clethra arborea. Mr. W. C. Leach, The Gardens, 
Albury Park, Guildford, exhibited a group of seedling Alstroemerias 
and Pentstemons, comprising many varieties distinguished by rich 
colour. Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, exhibited nine boxes of 
handsome Rose blooms in many varieties (silver medal). Messrs. 
Barr & Son, King Street, Covent Garden, had a group of hardy 
flowers (silver medal). Mr. H. J. Jones, Lewisham, had a group 
of Petunias, Pansies, and Ferns, together with several dishes of 
Tomatoes. -Mr. H. Eckford, Wem, Salop, had a stand of Sweet 
Peas, including extremely pretty varieties. Mr. J. Hall, Cam¬ 
bridge, sent several varieties of Scolopendrium vulgare, alcicor- 
nioides being very peculiar. From the Society’s gardens came 
several Babianas, B. rubro-cyanea having deep purple and red 
centre (first-class certificate). A commendation was adjudged for 
some fine Canterbury Bells from Mr. R. Dean, Ealing. 
Orchid Committee.— Present : H. J. Yeitch, Esq., in the 
chair, and Messrs. T. B. Haywood, J. Douglas, F. Sander, Lewis 
Castle, E. Hill, C. Pilcher, J. Dominy, W. Ballantine, H. M. 
Pollett, J. O’Brien, De B. Crawshay, and A. II. Smee. 
Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., Burford Lodge, Dorking (gar¬ 
dener, Mr. W. White), showed plants of Aganisia cyanea, certifi¬ 
cated as A. coerulea in August, 1885, the flowers a delicate blue 
tint like Yanda coerulea, with a peculiar brownish lip ; Bulbo- 
phyllum grandiflorum, with large purplish reticulated flowers, and 
Sarcopodium psittacoglossum, with small yellowish red veined 
flowers, and a deep crimson lip. 
Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, showed plants of Cattleya 
Sanderiana, Cypripedium Rothschildianum, and C. Elliottianum ; 
Oncidium hastatum var. Ernesti, and Aerides expansum Leonise, 
with four long racemes of flowers (cultural commendation). 
TLANTS CERTIFICATED. 
Cypripedium hybridum Youngianum (F. Sander & Co.).—A 
hybrid from C. superbiens, crossed with C. Roebelini, having large 
flowers ; the dorsal sepal white, veined with green ; the petals long, 
drooping, broad, dotted with deep crimson, and having a few dark 
hairs on the margin. The lower sepal is white, -with fresh green 
veins, the lip of soft greenish tint, and the staminode reticulated 
with green. A distinct and beautiful Orchid. 
Lcelia grandis (F. Sander & Co.).—The true L. grandis, with 
strong upright pseudo-bulbs, and broad leaves ; the flower having 
light and bright brown sepals and petals of nearly equal size ; the 
lip is deep purplish crimson in the throat, lighter towards the 
margin, with veins running through to the edge (first-class 1 
certificate). 
Cattleya Mossice X Doiviana var. Empress Frederick (Baron 
Schroder).—A charming hybrid with large showy fragrant flowers,, 
the sepals and petals pure white, the lip broad, rounded, intensely 
rich crimson, edged white, with a deep yellow throat, dwarf in 
habit and free, the plant having fine flowers (first-class certificate). 
Masdevallia Schroederiana (Baron Schroder).—An imported 
species which flowered last year for the first time. It has large 
flowers, purplish crimson, white in the centre of the lower sepals,, 
the tails long, slender, recurving and yellow (first-class certificate).- 
Zygopctalum crinito-maxillare (Lord Rothschild) —A hybrid 
from the parents included in the name, the sepals and petals small,, 
green, with many brown spots, the lip small, rounded, deep purplish 
blue (award of merit). 
Gloxinias (Yeitch). — Nestor, bright scarlet, finely formed 
flowers ; Gaiety, crimson, edged white, centre dotted with crimson 
on light ground (award of merit). 
Zingiber D'Arceyi. —A species from the South Sea Islands ; the 
leaves bright green, edged w r hite. A bold variegated plant, and 
free in growth (award of merit). 
Spircea bumalda variegata (J. Veitch & Sons).—A pretty little 
shrub with small narrow green and yellow leaves, and bright red 
flower buds (award of merit). 
Rosa polyantha The Engineer (Mr. J. T. Gilbert, Bourne).— 
Flowers bright red, small, but very freely produced. 
Carnation Mrs. Sanders (Mr. H. J. Jones).—Flowers bright 
yellow, of good size and shape, freely produced. Plant of good 
habit. 
Siveet Pea Dorothy Tennant (Mr. H. Eckford).—Flowers pale 
purplish mauve. Stanley, red and pink, very bright. 
THE REV. H. H. D’OMBRAIN. 
Not only will the members of the National Rose Society' 
welcome the appearance of the portrait of the founder of the 
Society in what it pleases so many readers to describe as the “ Rose 
Journal,” but to persons far and wide who are interested in flori¬ 
culture its presentation will be equally acceptable. It, moreover, 
seems fitting that the portrait should appear in an issue that contains 
the record of one of the great Exhibitions of the National Rose 
Society, and we have very great pleasure in thus introducing 
“ D., Deal," to a much wider circle of his friends and admirers— 
and there are many—than those who rejoice in his personal 
acquaintance. We are making no disclosure in this reference, for 
Mr. D’Ombrain told the readeis of the Journal several years ago 
on his removal from Deal to another charge that, though he had 
changed the scene of his labours, he should not change the nom de 
plume that had then become so familiar to the readers of the pages 
to which he has now regularly contributed for thirty years. When 
we consider the great variety of subjects he has treated in that 
time, and especially as these naturally come round in the yearly cycle 
of flowers, and have to be dealt with again and again, we cannot but 
marvel at the wonderful sustaining power of the veteran florist. 
Mr. D’Ombrain has told us he was born in 1818, yet his pen is as- 
active and his writings are as fresh as the flowers he loves when 
these are in their youthful beauty. 
We cannot say that Mr. D’Ombrain was a “born florist,” for 
born in Ebury Street, Pimlico, he could scarcely be surrounded with 
flowers in his earliest days, and we believe it was not until he entered 
on his college career in Ireland that the floral chord was touched, 
and this by a bed of Ranunculuses in a garden near Dublin. His 
love for flowers at that now far past time was very real and deep, 
and it has proved enduring. Nor were flowers alone objects of his- 
study, for -while at the University he founded the Natural His¬ 
tory Society of Dublin, and became its Secretary. The Society 
numbered among its members some of the best known naturalists 
of Ireland, and Archbishop Whateley often attended its meetings. 
To this Society Mr. D’Ombrain on leaving Dublin for the curacy 
of Bray presented a good collection of Irish birds. 
For years he could only indulge in floriculture under difficulties. 
At Deal his garden was simply a slice taken off a field, and at Bray 
he had to grow flowers on the top of a cliff, swept by every wind 
that blew, yet from these unsheltered plots he derived far more 
pleasure than the majority of garden owners enjoy with the aid of 
immeasurably greater natural advantages and artificial means. But 
though the field of his experience was thus limited, his “ sphere of 
influence ” became great, bounded only by the limits of civilisation. 
Loving flowers earnestly, and finding them repay by the pleasure 
they gave him for his fostering care, he wished that others should 
share in that which made the world happier and brighter for him.. 
Untiring industry and a facile pen accomplished to a large extent 
the object of his hopes, for undoubtedly “ D., Deal," has by his- 
