310 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April Ifl, 189’; 
house IS properly attended to.” This is by no means a “ new or improved 
method,” though it possesses all the advantages claimed for the spreading 
out system, without in the least hampering any work that may be neces¬ 
sary on the border or causing unnecessary burning of fuel. Both as a 
journeyman and foreman in private gardens I have had charge of houses 
thus heated from which were cut Grapes which took first prizes against 
all comers at provincial shows held under the auspices of the Koyal 
Horticultural Society. 
I have known intimately for years a gardener whose Grapes have 
figured conspicuously on the boards at Liverpool and other shows, who 
depends mainly ^pon fruit ripened in June in houses heated on the 
principle which “ Heating Keformer ” deems “ objectionable.” Eespect- 
ing the query, “ Will Mr. Williams say in what respect Mr. Divers’ 
objection is full of sound judgment?” Mr. Divers says (page 210):— 
“ 1 do not consider his plan of placing six pipes at 2 feet apart on the 
surface of the Vine borders is a good one to fol'ow, as I am quite certain 
it would be no easy matter to lift the Vine roots and renew a border 
under such conditions unless the pipes were taken out, which would be 
an expensive addition to border making.” Mr. Divers’ “ certainty ” of 
the difficulties such an arrangement would present is verified by “ Heat¬ 
ing Reformer” (page 243) where he says “ Even this (every dozen years) 
is but a small affair in willing hands.” I have seen made and assisted 
to make a few Vine borders, but I have not yet met a gardener who 
considered border making, though unhampered with pipes, a small 
affair. Last month I found it anything but a welcome addition to my 
numerous other duties at that time. Labour is not sufficiently plentiful, 
and I have not had the good fortune of being employed elsewhere where 
labour has been sufficiently abundant to render border making a small 
affair “even in willing hands.” Mr. Divers was quite certain that 
it would be rendered more difficult by the “ spreading out ” system of 
heating, and in this his objection is sound, or, as I said previously, 
“full of sound judgment.” 
Owing to the absence of details it is difficult to say why “Heating 
Reformer’s” plant house is heated so unsatisfactorily; but if his 
boiler is equal to the w'ork it is probable that what he wants is more 
flow and return pipes to give sufficient heating surface with free unham¬ 
pered circulation to the ar;a to be heated.—W. R. Williams, Great 
Marlow, 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
April 14th. 
Admirable in all respects was this Society’s meeting on Monday 
last, and the Drill Hall has never presented so bright and diversified an 
aspect early in April. Orchids were shown in much larger numbers 
than usual. Greenhouse plants of the most attractive character -were 
well represented by imposing groups of excellent useful little specimens. 
Daffodils and other hardy flowers formed another great feature, ■while in 
the fruit department Apples and Strawberries were submitted to the 
Committee. Altogether there was ample to satisfy visitors of 
every floral fancy, and we should have liked to see the hall much more 
crowded than w'as the case. It is, however pleasant to record that 
the attendance was a decided improvement upon that at preceding 
meetings this year, and the greatest satisfaction was expressed by all 
present, especially by the strangers, who were surprised both at the 
extent and variety of the display. In the afternoon, Mr.'F. Mcore, of the 
Glasnevin Botanic Gardens, read a capital paper on Lachenalias before 
a large audience. 
Fruit Committee. —Philip Crowley, Esq., in the chair, and 
present, Dr. Hogg, John Lee, R. D. Blackmore, Harrison Weir, 
T. F. Rivers, G. W. Cummms, W. Warren, G. Bunyard, A. Dean, J. Smith, 
G. Wythes, H, Balderson, F. Q. Lane, J. Willard, J. Cheal, C. Penny, 
W. Denning, G. Reynolds, W. Bates, and G. Clyffe. 
Mr. R. Gilbert, Burghley, sent a very fine dish of John Ruskin 
Strawberry, and stated that he had grown the variety with Noble and 
other carlies, and found it ripen some days in advance of them. At 
Chiswick it ripened about the same time as Vicomtesse Hdricart de 
Thury, which it generally resembled. The fruits exhibited were of 
good size, shape, colour, and flavour. A cultural commendation was 
awarded, and a desire expre.ssed that it be seen again with the 
Viscountess, both from the open ground. Messrs. Vertegans & Co. sent 
specimens of Solanum guatamalense, or “ Melon Pear,” but none of the 
Committee required a second taste, which resembled that of an over¬ 
ripe Cucumber. Mr. J. Miller, gardener to Lord Foley, Ruxley Lodge 
Gardens, Esher, sent very fine dishes of Blenheim Orange and M^re de 
Manage Apples, and a vote of thanks was unanimously accorded. Mr. 
W. Miller also sent dishes of Mushrooms, grown respective’y on outdoor 
beds and in a house, the former decidedly the best .samples, which 
received a similar mark of recogu’tion. Messrs. H. Lane & Son, Berk- 
hampstead, sent splendid fruits of Lane’s Prince Albert Apples. The 
specimens were large, firm, and attractively streaked, and a cultural 
commendation was promptly accorded. 
Mr. Leach, Albury Park Gardens, sent fruits of Tomato Ladybird, 
the result of a cross between Ham Green, also sent, and Hackwood Park. 
The fruits were much larger than those of Ham Green and well coloured, 
and a cultural commendation was granted for them. The first Melon of 
the season -wms sent by Mr. A. Bradshaw, Davenham Gardens, a small, 
yellow, well-netted fruit that did not, however, merit any award. Mr. 
G. W. Cummins, gardener to A. H. Smee, Esq., Hackbridge, sent a small 
collection of remarkably good and well-kept Apples, a few of the more 
noticeable being Gooseberry Apple, Bismarck, Cox’s Orange Pippin, 
Wadhurst Pippin, Dumelow’s Seedling, Melon Apple, Nonpareil, Clay- 
gate Pearmain, and New Hawthornden. A small Banksian medal was 
recommended. 
Floral Committee. —Present : AV. Marshall, Esq. in the chair, 
and Messrs. Herb.st, R. Dean, G. Nicholson, C. T. Druery, H. B. May, 
W. C. Leach, R. B. Lowe, C. B. Pearson, T. Baines, C. Noble, W. Furze, 
G. Gordon, T. W. Girdlestonc, B. Wynne, J. Fraser, H. Turner, 
B. Mawley, F. R. Ross, and Rev, H. H. D’Ombrain. 
Greenhouse plants were grandly shown by Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., 
Clapton, who had a diversity of useful plants, such as Heaths, Cytisuses, 
Pimeleas, Boronias, Eriostemons, Polygalas, Azaleas, the graceful 
Leptospermum bullatum, and many others that are now too seldom seen 
in general cultivation (silver-gilt medal). Excellent plants of a similar 
character came from Messrs. W. Cutbush & Son, Highgate, with the 
addition of some fine Clivias and wonderfully fine Mignonette of the 
strain Snowdrift, notable alike for the great size of the heads, their 
white appearance, the powerful fragrance, and their long-lasting 
qualities (silver Banksian medal). 
A most effective compact groun came from Messrs. B. S. AVilliamsand 
Son, Upper Holloway, in which the conspicuous attractions were 
Hippeastrums of many fine varieties, the be^t of the free-flowering 
Ericas, and Boronias with foliage plants (silver Banksian medal). 
Daffodils in profusion and scores of select varieties from Messrs, Barr and 
Son, King Street, Covent Garden, formed a group of much importance 
to many visitors, and a smaller collection of bright Anemone fulgens, 
Chionodoxas, and Primulas was also a verj’^ acceptable addition to the 
display (silver Flora medal). 
The charming trio of new Roses—Duchess of Albany, White Lady, 
and Corrinna from Messrs. W. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross, found some 
critical admirers, the last-named being a promising Tea Rose of a pecu¬ 
liarly distinct colour, a soft rosy salmon, with somewhat of a metallic 
sheen, A handsome new Camellia, Duchess, was granted an award of 
merit. Under the name of Munstead Early VVhite Miss Jekyll, of Godai¬ 
ming, exhibited a bedding Primrose of compact habit, having large white 
flowers. The Royal Gardens, Kew, contributed a basket of choice hardy 
plants, amongst which w’as a fine example of the beautiful Shortia 
galacifolia. Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, had some meritorious 
Hippeastrums. Mr. J. T. Gilbert, Dyke, Bourne, sent flowers of Primulas, 
Daffodils, and Fritillarias, and Mr. G, Wythes had a group of the graceful 
Spirma confusa (vote of thanks). Professor M. Foster, Cambridge, showed 
a flower of Iris Fosteriana, having yellowish standards and purple black 
falls, a curious little gem. A dozen large flower heads of Guelder Roses 
from C. E. Smith, Silvcrmere, Cobham, secured a cultural commen¬ 
dation, while votes of thanks recognised the interest of Andromeda 
floribunda seedlings from Mr, C. Noble of Bagshot, and a fine seedling 
Clivia from Mr. G. W. Cummins. 
The prizes and medals offered for Daffodils did not bring many com¬ 
petitors, probably because the season is so late. The challenge cup for a 
collection was won by Mr. Cowan of A’’alleyfield, with about ninety flowers 
of good varieties. In class 3, for six varieties, three blooms of each, 
the Rev. W. Wilks, Shirley Vicarage, was awarded the first prize, a 
bronze medal, wffiile in class 6, for a collection of Daffodils, excluding 
Polyanthus varieties, Messrs. Barr & Son’s small silver medal was 
awarded to Miss B. F. M. Doyne, Seaficld House, Gorey, Ireland, for 
small but good flowers. 
Orchid Committee. —Present: Dr. M. T. Masters in the chair; and 
Messrs. James O’Brien, H. M. Pollett, H. Ballantine, H. Low, E. Hill, 
Henry Williams, James Douglas, F. Moore, Sidney Courtauld, F, Sander, 
and Lewis Castle. 
Orchids, as a’reidy indicate!, were the spccialiattraction of the meeting, 
and, with the exception of such occasions as the Temple Show and the 
Orchid Conference a few years ago, the Society has seldom had better 
representative exhibits of these plants. In fact, Baron Schroder’s won¬ 
derful group from The Dell has probably never been surpassed even by 
himself as regards the exceptional value and beauty of the plants com¬ 
prised within a small space. The magnificent Cypripeilium Morganiae, 
in astonishingly vigorous condition, with twenty-two of its handsome 
flowers, was the centre of attraction, together with a grand specimen of 
Masdevallia iguea, nearly 3 feet in diameter, and bearing over 150 bril¬ 
liant flowers. Then there were strong plants of Odontoglossum crispum, 
variety Veitchi, with a raceme of eight fine richly marked flowers, and 
the variety of the same species Stevensi with a much larger raceme of 
some dozens of lighter flowers. That charmingly delicate and distinct 
Lfelia Digbyana Mossias, had two finely developed flowers of exactly 
the character depicted in our illustration of this most interestin.g 
hybrid last year. The peculiar Cymbidium Devonianum had six long 
drooping racemes of its strangely dark-coloured flowers, the superb 
Dendrobium nobile nobilius, the delicately tinted hybrid Cypripedium 
eburneo Lowianum, a hybrid Epidendrum (certificated), Masdevallia 
Lindeni, with dozens of richly coloured flowers, and several distinct 
varieties of Cattleya La'vvrenciana, were the principal plants in this 
group, and the Committee accorded due recognition of its merits by 
awarding a gold medal, an honour now seldom granted. 
Scarcely of less interest was tlie group of Masdevallias shown by Sir 
Trevor Lawrence from the Burford Lodge collection, and too seldom are 
such well grown healthy plants seen either in gardens or at shows. The 
plants were of moderate size, but had a large number of flowers, and the 
varieties were remarkable for their fine quality. This wms very notice¬ 
able in regard to the forms of Masdevallia ignea, such as coccinea and 
