10 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July ?, 1890. 
having two maroon blotches at the base, then yellow and white 
zones and a crimson tip.— L. Castle. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
June 24th. 
Scientific Committee. —Present: Dr. Masters in the chair ; 
Mr. Wilson, Eev. C. W. Dod, Mr. McLachlan, Professor Church, Dr. 
Oliver, Mr. Michael, Mr. Pascoe, Dr. Muller, and Eev. G. Henslow, 
Hon. Secretary. 
Iris reticulata, protection against Mi 1 dew upon. —Eev. C. W. Dod 
described his experiments of dusting the bulbs of this Iris with flowers 
of sulphur before planting them, as well as the ground where they were 
placed, in August, 1889. The remarkable effect was to arrest all attempts 
at growth, the bulbs being this year exactly in the same state as when 
planted. Professor Church suggested that the cause of the arrest might 
be due to a slow oxidation of the sulphur, producing sulphurous acid, 
which could be absorbed by the tissues, coupled with a consequent 
deprivation of oxygen necessary for the development of roots. 
Blight. —Mr. Wilson remarked on the excessive prevalence of 
blight this year, Iris Kaempferi being for the first time attacked by 
thrips. 
Batura Leaves, diseased. —Dr. Masters exhibited some leaves with 
small spongy-like processes by the ribs, &c. They were referred to Dr. 
Oliver for examination and report. 
Spanish Iris with Supernumerary Parts. —Dr. Masters exhibited 
some flowers with four petals instead of three, and one with a four-celled 
ovary. The multiplication of parts had followed the chorisis or bifurca¬ 
tion of the fibrovascular cords of the organs in question. 
Bigener (?) between Raspberry and Strawberry. —Dr. Masters ex¬ 
hibited drawings of the flower of this remarkable plant, which Mr. 
Culverwell has raised. It is generally known as Eubus Leesii, Bab. 
The pedicel and sepals are finely setose, but it wants the epicalyx of the 
Strawberry. Moreover, the carpels of the hybrid are setose and not 
glabrous. They appear to be abortive. Prof. Babington in his Manual 
of British Botany records it as being found at Ilford Bridges, Devon, 
and Dunster, Som., with a reference to “ A. N. H., ser. 2, ix., 124.” 
Hybrid between the Black Currant and Gooseberry. — He also 
showed drawings of various organs of this hybrid, also received from 
Mr. Culverwell. The foliage more nearly resembles that of the Goose¬ 
berry, being glabrous, except along the nerves of the under surface. 
The petiole, however, is glabrous and not hairy as in the Gooseberry. 
It has no glands as the Black Currant. The inflorescence is a many- 
flowered raceme, intermediate in length between the many-flowered 
Currant and the few-flowered Gooseberry. The flowers are larger than 
those of either parent, with the sepal lobes erect and not reflexed as in 
them. The stamens are contabescent, and the style is villous in the 
middle, whereas those of the parents are glabrous. The stigma or apex 
of the style is deeply cleft, tho3e of the parents being sub-capitate and 
obscurely two-lobed. 
Leelia, two-lipped. —Dr. Masters also showed the not uncommon 
production of two labella in this Orchid. It is probably due to chorisis. 
Antirrhinum, with virescent corolla. —He exhibited a specimen with 
the corolla in the form of a calyx, but undertook to examine it further 
and report upon it. 
Bigener Orchid. —Mr. Veitch exhibited an interesting plant called 
Epiphronitis Veitchi, being a bigener between Epidendrum radicans, 
the male parent, and Sophronitis grandiflora, the female. It received a 
first-class certificate, and was unanimously awarded a botanical certificate 
by the Scientific Committee. 
Calceolarias, dying off. —Mr. Henslow showed plants which had 
suddenly died in his garden. They had decayed in the lower part of 
the stem, having the cortex split for a length of about an inch. Mr. 
Wilks said he was familiar with the fact, and attributed it to the plants 
having first suffered from drought and then being overwatered, the 
sap was thus unable to rise and burst the tissues. Mr. Henslow observed 
that this interpretation corresponded with the conditions of the case in 
question. It was a small crimson-flowered variety with hairy foliage. 
The common yellow coloured species showed no signs of injury 
whatever. 
Pistacia Lentiscus, Galls on. —Mr. Henslow exhibited branches of 
this plant from Malta covered with flat galls formed from the meta¬ 
morphoses of the leaflets, which had assumed a “ leguminous” shape. 
It is not uncommon in the Mediterranean regions. Mr. McLachlan 
observed that at least four species of aphides make galls on the Pistachia. 
Mr. Dod observed that Cicero speaks of the Lentiscus bearing fruit 
thrice a year ; but that this was probably to be explained by the gum 
being collected three times annually. 
Orange, Pistilody of Stamens in. —Mr. Henslow showed specimens 
of this malformation. It was well known before, but, as Dr. Oliver 
observed, it appears to be rather more common than usual during the 
present season. 
Caprijicus, or Wild Fig. —Mr. Henslow showed fruits of the Wild 
"Fig from Malta, used by the peasants for “caprification” or fertilisation 
of the autumn varieties of cultivated Figs. Unlike the latter, the 
Wild Fig called “ Duccar,” invariably grows in walls or crevices of 
the rocks. It produces three crops per annum, each supplying a 
brood of the Blastophaga. The Fig is not required for the summer 
or “St. John’s” Fig, which ripens about the end of June, the 24th 
being St. John the Baptist’s Day, as this Fig contains both male and 
female blossoms. Mr. Henslow could find no male blossoms at all in the 
first or winter crop of the Duccar. It is not known whether the autumn 
Figs are entirely female or not, but a Maltese botanist, Signor Gatto, has 
undertaken to make a thorough investigation upon this and other as yet 
obscure points involved in the caprification in Malta, as it appears to 
differ in some respects in other countries. 
Julj' 3rd.—Bath, Farningham, Norwich. 
„ 5th.—Crystal Palace (N.E.S.). 
„ 8th.—Gloucester, Ipswich, * Winchester. 
„ 9th.—^Brighton, Diss, Ealing, Tunbridge Wells. 
„ 10th.—Birkenhead, Woodbridge, Worksop. 
„ 11th.—Ulverstoa. 
„ 12th.—New Brighton. 
,, 15th.—Christleton. 
„ 17th.—Birmingham (N.E.S.), Helensburgh. 
„ 22nd.—Tibshelf. 
„ 24th.—Salterhebble (Halifax). 
Aug. 2nd.—Eipley. 
* In the case of Brighton and Winchester, where the Shows extend 
over more than one day, the date of the first day’s exhibition only is 
given.— Edwaed Hawley, Rosebank, Berkliamsted, Herts. 
Manners and Customs of Eoses. 
Mr. Eaillem’s notes on “ Manners and Customs” have been very 
useful to me, particularly by reason of their hints as to which Teas do 
best as dwarfs and which as standards. I should therefore be glad to 
hear that he is likely to continue these notes to the end of the list of 
foremost Teas, but if this is not practicable, I shall feel obliged if he will 
be good enough to inform me whether the dwarf or the standard is the 
better mode of growing the following :—Perle des Jardins, Princess 
Beatrice, Eubens, Souvenir d’Elise, Souvenir d’un Ami, and The Bride. 
I grow all these, but do not succeed with them, and if you allow me to 
ask the question, and if Mr. Baillem will kindly reply through your 
columns, my indebtedness to the Journal and to these “ notes” will be 
greatly increased.—J. B. 
EOYAL AQUAEIUM, WESTMINSTER.— June 27th and 28th. 
The first of the more important Eose Exhibitions in and near the 
metropolis opened under favourable auspices at the Eoyal Aquarium 
on the above dates. The weather, after a heavy morning shower, was 
most pleasant, and bright anticipations were formed of the coming 
season when the quality of the flowers was noted. The recent rains 
appear to have brought on the blooms well, and collectively considered 
they were excellent, size and form being good, with true, fresh and 
lustrous colour. Many famous names were found amongst the entries. 
Mr. B. E. Cant, Messrs. Paul of Cheshunt, Burrell, Burch, Keynes, 
Williams & Co., Cooling, Prince, and Prior were representatives of the 
trade; and Messrs. Burnside, Pemberton, Berners, Foster-Melliar, 
Lindsell, and Slaughter may be instanced amoDg the amateurs. With 
these names quality is usually associated, and the display on the present 
occasion was of a high order. 
The awards of the Judges, with some notes on the individual ex¬ 
hibits, are appended. 
Nurserymen. 
The principal class for forty-eight blooms, single trusses, with prizes 
of £G, £5, £3, and £2, proved an excellent one, the entries being 
numerous, and the quality of the blooms of a high character. Mr. 
B. E. Cant, the famous Colchester grower, was placed first for a very 
fine and even stand, containing several very noteworthy blooms, and all 
were fresh and well coloured. He showed the following varieties :— 
Back row : Lady Mary Fitzwilliam, Francois Michelon, very large and 
fine ; Merveille de Lyon, Maurice Bernardin, Madame Cusin, very large 
but coarse ; Etienne Levet, Baronne de Eothschild, S6nateur Yaisse, 
Her Majesty, Mons. TriiWoz, Marguerite de St. Amand, Magna Charta, 
Souvenir d’un Ami, John Hopper, Souvenir d’Elise, splendid ; and 
Ulrich Brunner, large and very richly coloured. Middle row : Victor 
Verdier, Marie Verdier, Madame Ducher, Madame Gabriel Luizet, 
Susanne Marie Eodocanachi, Viscountess Folkestone, Dupuy Jamain, 
Madame D^sir, A. K. Williams, very good ; La France, Duke of Wel¬ 
lington, Marshal Niel, Duke of Edinburgh, Mrs. John Laing, beautiful; 
Marie Baumann, and Pride of Waltham, very fine. Front row : Madame 
Hoste, General Jacqueminot, Madame Willermoz, Alfred Colomb, 
Niphetos, Le Havre, Innocente Pirola, Madame C. Joigneaux, Marie 
Van Houtte, splendid ; Prince Arthur, Catherine Mermet, Boieldieu, 
Cleopatra, Victor Hugo, Marie Verdier, and a beautiful example of 
Madame de Watteville. The English Fruit and Eose Company (Cran- 
stons), King’s Acre, Hereford, were second with a good but somewhat 
uneven stand, the best flowers being Le Havre, Ulrich Brunner, Etienne 
Levet, John Stuart Mill, Duke of Edinburgh, and Madame Charles 
