July 29, 1888. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
99 
Matricaria inodora grandiflora plena (Mr. T. S. Ware).—An improved 
seedling form of a well-known plant, the flowers double the ordinary Bize 
and pure white, 
Special Prizes. —Seven cla=ses were provided, in which prizes were 
offered by the leading seedsmen for Peas and other vegetables. Messrs. J. 
Carter and Co., High Holborn, offered three prizes for twelve pods of their 
Leviathan Bean, which were won by Mr. K. Timbs, Amersham ; Mr. T. A. 
Beckett, Penn, Bucks ; and Mr. C. J. Waite, in the order named, all showing 
very fine pods, as did also most of the other six exhibitors. For the best 
Lettuces, comprising two heads of Giant White Cos, Longstander, and All 
the Year Round, the sam’ firm offered three prizes, which were won by Mr. 
Beckett, Mr. Waite, and Mr. Harris, amongst five competitors. There were 
eight exhibitors of Carter's Heartwell Cabbage, Messrs. C. Osman, Waite, 
and W. Jacob, Petworth, being awarded the prizes in that order with firm 
handsome specimens. 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading, provided three classes for Peas, Cauli¬ 
flowers, and Cabbages, in which the competition was close. For the best six 
dishes of Peas, to include Sutton’s Satisfaction and Duke of Albany, Mr. H. 
Marriott was first with fine samples of Trlegraph, Telephone, Duke of 
Albany, Evolution, Charmer, and Satisfaction; Mr. H. Marriott, jun, 
was second, his dishes of Satisfaction and Duke of Albany being note¬ 
worthy. Mr. E. Walter and Mr. J. Cook, Boston, followed, and in all 
the seven collections staged the two Peas stipulated for were represented by 
good pods. The prizes for Sutton’s First Crop Cauliflower were awarded to 
Messrs. Beckett, Waite, and Osman, for medium size, but solid, pure white 
heads (five exhibitors). A class was also devoted to three specimens each 
of Sutton’s Little Gem and All Heart,which brought nine competitors ; Mr. 
Cornish. The Shrubbery Gardens, Enfield ; Mr. G. Woodham, Model Farm, 
North Dulwich, and Mr. Osman securing the awards with excellent well- 
hearted Cabbages. The first and second prizes for the Chancellor Peas, 
offered by Messrs. Webb <fc Sons, Stourbridge, were awarded to Mr. H. Mar¬ 
riott and H. Marriott, jun., both of whom had large well-filled pods. In 
addition to those in competition Mr. Marriott had fourteen dishes of hand¬ 
some Peas, mostly new or recent varieties, and comprising Wordsley 
AYonder, Laxton's Charmer, Duke of Albany, Webb’s Chancellor, Evolution, 
Stratagem, and Carter’s Telegraph, and Pride of the Market. 
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE. 
Dr. M. T. Masters in the chair. Present—Mr. Pascoe, Prof. Boulger, 
Mr. Worthington G. Smith, Mr. Wilson, Mr. O’Brien, and Rev. G. Henslow, 
Hon. Sec. 
Selenipedium , Uropedium, and Cypripedium. —Observations were made 
upon these forms, that while the first and the last differ very slightly in 
morphological characters, having one and three-cehed ovaries respectively, 
yet, as Mr. O’Brien observed, they refuse to cross, though Sdenipediums 
cross readily, as do also Cypripediums, with one another. Uropedium is a 
peloric variety of Selenipedium— i e., a natural tendency to a reversion to a 
regular and more ancestral form. 
Cypripedium snperbiens ( Veitchi). —Dr. Masters exhibited a blossom having 
two labella ; another from the same plant had one within the other. In the 
former (being side by side) it waB an additional petal to the ordinary 
number, but in the latter case the inner labellum represented an anterior 
stamen. 
Cattleya Loddigesi. —Dr. Masters remarked on the specimen shown at 
the last meeting, which he had examined, and which proved to have two 
BepalB, two petals, one stamen, and no pistil; hence it was a flower which 
had degraded to a dimerous condition. 
Lilium lancifolium ( speciosum ).—Mr. O’Brien exhibited a plant which 
had been grown solely in moss for two years, with only a slight quantity of 
Clay’s fertiliser added when the bulbs began to sprout. He remarked on 
the importance of potting fresh imported bulbs in some porouB material, 
such as cocoanut fibre, &c., and to avoid burying them in the ground, in 
order that there might be a free circulation of air about the bulb. The 
common practice of planting in the ground often caused the bulbs to dis¬ 
appear entirely. The interpretation of the advice seemed to be the same 
as for seeds : that if planted too deeply, or so that air could not reach them 
to set up respiration, they would perish from asphyxia and rot. 
Grapes with “ Oidium TucJceri.” —Mr. Plowright forwarded specimens 
attacked by this fungus, now known to be Erysiphe communis, on the 
stalks, the Grapes themselves having some peculiar dendritic spots of a dark 
colour. There did not appear to be any mycelium. The dark lines, less 
than a quarter of an inch, are formed by reddish brown discolorations of 
the epidermal tissue. They were generally considered by the Committee 
not to be fungoid, but only natural changes of the character of the 
epidermis on ripening. 
Nematoid Worms in Cereals. —Mr. Worthington G. Smith exhibited 
specimens of cereals from Midlothian, the roots of which were attacked by 
Heterodera radicicola. It was called Tulip-root, Thick-root, and Segging 
in Oats in Scotland, and appeared to be widely spread, all crops being 
totally destroyed on damp clay soils for several years. On stony soils the 
crops were not so severely attacked. 
Larix Griffilhii loith Cones.— Dr. M. T. Masters exhibited a branch 
bearing several cones. They were from 3 to 4 inches long, of a rich purple 
colour, while the pointed bracts behind each scale were of a golden brown. 
It wa,3 rec ived from Mr. Nanscawen of Cornwall. It is believed to be the 
first instance of this Himalayan species of Larch to have borne cones in this 
country. He observed that the leaves were readily distinguished from 
those of Larix europaea by having stomata on the lower side only, while 
those of the common Larch are on both sides. 
Clematis "Proteus," Double and Single. —Mr. Noble sent an illustration 
of this Clematis, which is remarkable for always bearing double flowers at 
the first flowering season, but later in the autumn only single flowers. It 
illustrated conditions of a temporary exhaustion in the plant, which is 
chiracteristic of this variety, but not of other forms of Clematis. 
Clematis viticella rubra grandijlora sub virescens. —Mr. Noble also for¬ 
warded sprays of this plant with semi-foliaceous sepals, they being usually 
of a deep crimson ; the green foliaceous character commenced at the apex 
of the sepal and more or less descended to the base. 
Achillea Millefolium, dimorphism in. —Rev. G. Henslow called attention 
to the hitherto unobserved fact of this plant being gyno-dicecious. The 
heads are very distinct when in blossom, as in the hermaphrodite flowers 
the yellow anthers when shedding their pollen protrude from the corolla, 
though they become withdrawn later on through the contraction of the 
filaments. This form has been carefully described by H. Miiller (“ Fert. of 
FIs.,” p. 325-G), but he does not appear to have noticed the female form. In 
the first stage of blossoming of this kind the long style arms of the ray 
florets are very conspicuous, but later when they shrivel those of the 
disk florets rise up, but are of the same form as in the corresponding florets 
of the hermaphrodite flowers, being provided with the terminal brushes, 
the papillae of which, however, seem to be less prominent. The anthers of 
the fema'e are abortive and contain no pollen, and are often scarcely coherent. 
Another feature is the frequent reduction of petals and stamens in number 
to fours and threes in the female flowers ; and, lastly, there is a slight differ¬ 
ence in the length of the ovaries, that of the female being a trifle longer 
and the tube of the correspondingly a little shorter than in the hermaphrodite 
flowers. 
Strawberry with foliaceous epicalyx. —Mr. Henslow exhibited a specimen 
in which each of the divisions of the epicalyx consisted of a three-lobed 
leaflet. They are ordinary bract-like or sometimes cleft at the apex, which 
has given rise to the theory that they represent pairs of coherent stipules. 
The present example would seem to point to their being a whorl of true 
leaves in their primitive condition, and before separation into three leaflets 
to form the usual compound leaf. 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Thinning Vegetables.— All vegetables intended for late autumn 
and winter use should be well thinned during the early part of their 
growth, that they may become very hardy and able to bear severe 
weather. Late Turnips now require much thinning, and Spinach should 
also be freely thinned. As a rule, field roots are much hardier than those 
in the garden, and this is mainly due to the system of giving them more 
room in the fields. Some are inclined to think that by growing them 
close they will get more of them, and this is certainly true, but we always 
prefer quality to quantity, as giving the greatest satisfaction everywhere. 
Staking and Tying Asparagus. —There is nothing more injurious 
to Asparagus plants, or more detrimental to the crop, than allowing the 
growths to be blown about and broken by the wind. The stems do not 
break, but they snap at their connection with the crown, and it is this 
which injures the roots so much. The best mode of treating them is to 
stake and tie them up from the first, but it is now, when the steni9 are 
becoming fully grown, that they are heaviest and most apt to fall over, 
and if staking and tying has not had attention, no time should be lo9t in 
giving it. Any kind of stakes will do, and strong soft matting is the best 
material for tying with. 
Tomatoes. — Plants growing under glass are now bearing fruit, 
and as good crops are formed the main object should be to get them 
matured. Superfluous shoots must be kept constantly pinched off, and 
where the foliage is luxuriant and shading the crop, a quantity of it should 
be removed. It is astonishing how well the lruit swells and ripens when 
the foliage is very thin. Now that we have more rain open air plants 
are growing rapidly, and the main stems require to be staked and tied, 
or nailed to the wall as the case may be, frequently. Taking off the 
shoots and thinning the leaves also applies forcibly to these, but the fruit 
need never be thinned unless it is required for exhibition or a special 
purpose. 
Late Parsley. —All gardeners know that it is most important that 
a supply of Parsley be kept up all the year round, and amateurs and 
small garden holders also know that it is very desirable that they should 
be able to gather Parsley throughout every week in the year. Spring-sown 
Parsley has done very well this season, very little of it having been 
destroyed by the maggot, but early spring plants are very liable to 
become rough and poor before the winter is over, and to have a supply 
of robust green leaves a quantity of seed should be sown now to produce 
the winter and spring crop. Where it is not convenient to do this, 
however, take all the old leaves from the spring plants, dress them with 
a little artificial manure, and allow them to form young leaves for winter 
use. Where a quantity of seed was sown about midsummer the plants 
will now be ready for transplanting, and a number of them should be put 
into a frame where they can be easily protected in winter. This is a great 
advantage, especially in localities where the winter is generally severe. 
In all cases of sowing or planting always introduce a quantity of lime or 
soot into the soil, as it is most important that the maggot should nevi r 
gain a footing in the neighbourhood of Parsley. 
Saving Seed. —Where it is intended to save seed of Peas, Beans, &c., 
the whole of the best produce should not be gathered, and only allow the 
inferior to remain to ripen for seed, as this is a sure way of degenerating 
the crop 0 , but when seed is saved from the very be$t of tho produce the 
succeeding crop is almost sure to be supeiior, and there is no better way 
than this of improving crops generally. Indeed it iB impossible to be to i 
careful in selecting seed, and the best only should be dealt with. It is an 
as advantage to have it ripened and harvested before the fineweather is over, 
few kitchen garden seeds can be secured in good condition in late autumn. 
Late Carrots. —Where early sown Carrots have not done well, or 
where young Carrots are greatly valued at all times, it is a good plan to 
