181 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August £8, 1S90. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
August 26th. 
Owing, no doubt, to the fact that many horticulturists are now 
taking their holidays, the meeting at the Drill Hall on Tuesday last 
was not largely attended either by exhibitors or visitors. There was, 
however, a fair gathering at the afternoon meeting when Mr. J. Douglas 
discoursed upon Hollyhocks. 
Fruit Committee. —Present: T. Francis Rivers, Esq., in the 
chair, and Messrs. P. Crowley, Harrison Weir, A. J. Pearson, J. Cheal, 
J. Willard, G. Bunyard, W. Warren, G. Wythes, F. Q. Lane, A. Bal- 
derson, J. Smith, and J. Wright. 
Mr. Allan, Gunton Park, sent a seedling Grape between Muscat of 
Alexandria and Black Morocco. It appeared tc closely resemble the latter 
variety, and the Committee desired to see it again when fully ripe. Mr. 
Allan also sent bunches of Duke of Buccleuch Grape grafted on 
Alnwick Seedling, full, large, and good ; Mrs. Pearson, grafted on a 
seedling Grape, long bunches, and good berries ; and Gros Maroc, 
grafted on Frankenthal, very fine bunches and berries, these possessing 
the Black Hamburgh flavour in a marked degree, and considered of 
exceptionally good quality. A cultural commendation was unanimously 
awarded. Mr. Allan further exhibited a dish of good Strawberries, 
second crop fruits produced by forced plants of La Grosse Sucr6e, and 
for these received a vote of thanks. 
Mr. Taylor, gardener to Sir John Lubbock. Bart., M.P., High Elms, 
Down, Kent, sent fine specimens of Lady Sudeley Apples from a three- 
year-old tree which had produced two dozen fruit; they were not quite 
ripe (vote of thanks). Mr. Wythes sent very fine Sea Eagle, also Prin¬ 
cess of Wales Peaches from Syon House (vote of thanks). Mr. W. Farr, 
Patshull Gardens, sent another fruit of his Melon, but, though tempting 
in appearance, its quality did not justify any mark of approval. Mr. 
Ely, gardener to J. C. Stevens, Esq., Henley-on-Thames, sent Ely’s 
Favourite Melon, which resembled the Beechwood, but was not so good, 
and was passed. 
Messrs. James Carter & Co. sent a dish of the Blenheim Orange 
Tomato, orange, with a tinge of red ; also a dish of Market Favourite, 
flat, highly coloured scarlet fruits. The former had scarcely any seeds, 
but all the fruits were over-ripe for testing their true quality. Mr. 
Bones, gardener to J. Donaldson, Esq., Tower House, Chiswick, sent 
very large fruits of Tower House Favourite Tomato. They were con¬ 
sidered well grown and of good quality, but not superior to other forms 
of the Perfection type now in cultivation. Mr. R. Ridley, gardener to 
F. F. Mieville, Esq., Duncroft, Staines, sent a handsome looking 
white seedling kidney Potato, and it was advised to be tried at 
Chiswick. 
Mr. T. IT. Crasp, Canford Gardens, Wimborne, sent remarkably fine 
fruits Kjf Red Magdalen Peaches, the finest of the variety ever seen on 
the table, and a cultural commendation was unanimously awarded. Mr. 
Crasp also sent a collection of thirty dishes of very good Apples, and a 
bronze medal was recommended. 
Orchid Committee. —Present: Harry J, Yeitch, Esq., in the chair, and 
Messrs. J. O’Brien, J. Douglas, E. Hill, J. Dominy, H. Ballantine, Lewis 
Castle, and Dr. M. T. Masters. 
Messrs. H. Low & Co., Clapton, sent a box of flowering plants of 
Vanda Kimballiana, some of the racemes bearing ten of its bright and 
pretty flowers (silver Banksian medal). E. G. Wrigley, Esq., Howick 
House, Preston, sent several fine Cattleyas, for one of which, 
C. Massaiana of the C. aurea type, a first-class certificate was awarded. 
Alfred Wilson, Esq., Westbrook, Sheffield, also sent a handsome variety 
of C. Hardyana which secured an award of merit. M. G. Cooke, Esq., 
Kingston Hill, Surrey (gardener, Mr. Cullimore) sent two varieties of 
Laelia elegans, which were not considered superior to others in culti¬ 
vation and were passed. One variety with broad petals had been 
previously certificated. Mr. G. Wythes, Syon Gardens, Brentford, 
showed several spikes of Satyriura carneum. 
Drewett 0. Drewett, Esq., Riding Mill-on-Tyne (gardener, Mr. H. A. 
Keeling), contributed, three hybrid Cypripediums, one named C. Con¬ 
stance from C. Curtisi and C. Stonei ; another named Alice from 
C. Spicerianum and C. Stonei; the other from C. Revigatum and 
C. venustum named Alfred (award of merit). Mr. J. Douglas, Great 
Gearies Gardens, Ilford, exhibited a plant of Cypripedium Numa with 
very large dark flowers. It had been previously certificated. Messrs. 
J. Yeitch & Sons, Chelsea, sent several interesting Orchids, including 
the true Brazilian Lrplia grandis and Cypripedium H. Ballantine, a 
cross between C. Fairrieanum and C. purpuratum, the dorsal sepal 
beautifully, veined with deep purplish crimson on a white ground. 
Baron Schroder, The Dell, Staines (gardener, Mr. Ballantine), exhibited 
two racemes of the wonderful Cypripedium Morganim bearing four and 
five large handsome flowers each, the plant producing them having five 
spikes and cwenty-one flowers. A cultural commendation was awarded 
for these fine specimens. 
Floral Committee. —Present : W. Marshall, Esq., in the chair, 
and Messrs. Shirley Hibberd, C. T. Druery, R. Dean, H. Herbst, W. C. 
Leach, H. Cannell, B. Wynne, Wm. Kelway, PI. Turner, C. Noble, 
G. Paul, T. W. Girdlestone, J. Walker, F. Ross, and the Rev. H. H. 
D’Ombrain. 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, had a large collection of specimens 
of ornamental trees and shrubs, including many beautifully variegated 
varieties (silver Banksian medal). 
Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, exhibited a very bright, varied, and 
beautiful collection of hardy flowers (silver Banksian medal). 
The Rev. H. H. D’Ombrain, Westwell Vicarage, Ashford, showed 
three good varieties of Gladioli, two spikes of each, the flowers of 
excellent size and shape. 
Mr. R. Dean, Ealing, sent flowers of African Marigolds, and a plant 
of white Mignon Aster. 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, had a group of seedling tuberous 
Begonias, lifted from the open ground on Tuesday morning, the flowers 
large, bright, and varied in colour. Several good Coleuses were also 
shown from Swanley. Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons, Crawley, sent boxes of 
Pompon, single and Cactus Dahlias that made an effective display. 
Messrs. H. Low & Co., Clapton, showed a box of Lilium Wallichianum 
superbum and L. nepalense flowers, for which a cultural commendation 
was awarded. Messrs. Kelway & Son, Langport, had an extensive col¬ 
lection of Gladioli, Delphinium, and Gaillardias, several of which were 
certificated (silver-gilt Banksian medal). Messrs. F. T. Smith and 
Co., Dulwich, and Stuart & Mein, Kelso, sent some Hollyhock flowers 
(votes of thanks), and from the Society’s Gardens at Chiswick came a 
group of Asters in pots. 
CERTIFICATED PLANTS. 
Cattleya Ilarclyana , Wilson's Variety (A. Wilson, Esq., Sheffield).— 
A handsome Cattleya with large flowers, deep crimson sepals and 
petals ; the lip an intensely rich magenta with a yellow throat. (Award 
of merit.) 
Cattleya Massaiana (E. G. Wrigley, Esq.).—An extremely beau¬ 
tiful variety of the C. aurea type. The lip rich gold, netted in the 
throat, and tipped with dark crimson ; the sepals and petals of a 
peculiar rosy shade (First class certificate.) 
Cypripedium Alfred (Drewett 0’Drewett, Esq.).—A hybrid from 
C. lrevigatum and C. venustum. The flowers neat but not remarkable 
for brightness of colouring. The ovate dorsal sepal was white veined 
with green, the lower sepals similar ; the petals are broad and twisted, 
spotted and tipped with reddish brown, and edged with dark hairs ; 
the lip yellowish green. 
Mentzelia bartonioides (Mr. G. Wythes).—An attractive Mexican 
annual, with large bright yellow flowers and dense clusters of long 
yellow stamens ; the leaves soft green and cut at the margin. 
Geranium Shirley Blue (Rev. W. Wilks).—This was shown by Mr. 
Wilks as a supposed hybrid, with a letter stating that “ A plant of G. 
Endressi and another named G. Armenum (not the true Armenum), 
growing side by side, the supposed hybrid appeared in 1888. It is mid¬ 
way between the parents in growth and leaf, the colour being a very 
pale clear reproduction of the doubtful G. Armenum. Its growth is. 
vigorous and it flowers unceasingly from the end of May until frost 
comes. The flowers are neat in form, blue, white centre, with rosy 
veins, the leaves palmately divided. (First-class certificate.) 
Leelio- Cattleya Proserpine (Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons). — A hybrid 
between C. velutina and Ltelia pumila Dayana ; the flowers of mode¬ 
rate size, the sepals and petals recurving, veined with pale rosy crimson 
on a white ground, the lip tipped with rich crimson, and heavily veneered 
with crimson in the centre. (Award of merit.) 
Gladiolus Baron Schroder (Kelway).—Brilliant scarlet, with a. 
purple dash of colour in the centre ; the spikes long -and compact. 
Gaillardia Wendell Holmes (Kelway).—Single, rich crimson centre 
tipped yellow. 
Pentstemon Le Borda (Kelway).—Flowers large, very deep purple, 
and light throat. 
Bahlia Buhe of Clarence (Cheal & Sons),—A Cactus variety with 
deep rich magenta flowers. Very effective and handsome. 
Bahlia Eclipse (Cheal & Son).—A single variety with large full 
purple flowers, reddish in the centre. 
Bahlia Northern Star (Cheal & Son).—Single, deep red in the 
centre of the florets, evenly margined with bright yellow. 
Dahlia Mrs. J. Douglas (H. Cannell & Sons).—A Cactus variety of 
a most distinct shade of colour, a purplish salmon, deeper in the 
centre, and almost bronzy in the outer florets. 
Dahlia Maude (Mr. T. S. Ware).—A single variety, with blooms of 
good shape, pure white, regularly margined with crimson purple. 
Dahlia Mrs. Stanley (Mr. j. G. West, Cornwalls, Brentwood).—A 
decorative variety of the Cactus type, of an extremely bright rosy 
shade ; fresh and beautiful. 
Dahlia Canary Bird (Mr. G. S. P. Harris, Orpington, Kent).—A 
handsome show variety, deep well-proportioned blooms of a clear bright 
yellow colour. 
Phlox Le Soldi (Paul & Son).—A pretty variety with large flowers 
bright rose shading to white in the centre. (Award of merit.) 
Potentilla formosa pallida (Paul & Son. Cheshunt).—A peculiar 
variety with pale rosy salmon coloured flowers, having a bright crimson 
spot at the base of each petal. (Award of merit) 
HORTICULTURAL SHOWS. 
READING.— August 27th. 
The autumn Show of this Society was held in the picturesque 
Abbey Ruins and the Forbury Gardens, on Wednesday, and pre¬ 
sented in several features a most satisfactory advance on the shows- 
of the past few years. The large marquee was devoted to plants, 
groups, cut flowers, and fruit, while another portion of the Ruins was 
occupied with one of the most extensive and admirable displays of 
vegetables ever seen in Reading or elsewhere. The weather was some- 
