June 25, 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
515 
then spoke of tidyness, by which he did not mean primness or formality. 
Tidyness in his garden was a necessity, and formality an abhorrence. 
In enlarging upon this point, be said ha called it untidy when a gardener 
took a lot of sticks of the same height and a ball of string and proceeded 
to tie the plants up to look what they were, a row of martyrs condemned 
for the zeal of their growth. (Laughter.) Tied too tight they were 
strangled, and tied too loose they chafed themselves to death. But they 
must teach the employer, and, better still, the “ Missus ” and the young 
ladies, to recognise the fact that a hardy border cannot be spic and span 
tidy. They must teach them that it was a sin to cut off leaves before 
they were thoroughly ripe, because upon the thoroughly ripening up of 
the leaves depended the flowers of nest year. It was not untidyness to 
leave them alone, and they must be content with it. Then they must 
never let the plant bear seed unless they wanted it to raise next year’s 
plants. Pull off every seed head or pod as fast as it is formed : every 
one carelessly neglected made a dozen heads of bloom less in the follow¬ 
ing year. What he was striving for in this paner was to try to get 
back variety into our English gardens—variety of form and foliage, of 
colour and stature. Theiv forefathers had it 150 years ago, and yet 
now they were so much richer than they were in plants, they were 
subjected to Geraniums and Calceolarias. But they should not think 
so much as to how many kinds they could grow, as about growing 
nothing that is not ornamental in itself. 
The Chairman said he was sure they were very grateful to Mr. Wilks 
for his paper. (Applause). It was their rule to get up a little discussion, 
and Mr. Wilks would be pleased to answer any questions that might be 
put to him. They had got him there, and they might as well pump him. 
They could not pump him dry—(laughter)—only get a little more out 
of him. If they would only go at him he would be only too pleased to 
impart as much as he could. 
Mr. Carr started the discussion, Mr. Box, Mr. Roffey, Mr. Eitchings, 
and others taking part therein ; and several questions were put to Mr. 
Wilks, and answered by him in a genial way. 
Mr. Carr proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Wilks for his able lecture, 
which was seconded by Mr. Roffey, supported by Mr. Bowman, and 
carried with acclamation. 
A vote of thanks was also accorded to the Chairman, and to those 
who had brought exhibits ; and a resolution having been arrived at that 
the Society should be represented at the forthcoming floral Fete at the 
Crystal Palace, in aid of the Gardeners’ Widow and Orphan Fund, the 
proceedings terminated .—(^Croydon Chronicle.') 
KOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
June 23ed. 
Exceedingly interesting was the meeting of this Society on 
Tuesday last, for besides the numerous floral exhibits of a special 
character, the Orchids and the fruit, the National Rose Society’s prizes 
for Tea Roses brought together far more of these beautiful flowers than 
the season had given occasion to expect. Four tables extending the 
entire length of the Hall were filled, and even then some contributions of 
an important character were crowded into corners or placed upon the 
floor. At a meeting combining so many attractions as this the capacity 
of the Drill Hall is indeed severely tested, and the difficulty of displaying 
the exhibits to the best advantage, or even in their fair characters, 
causes much dissatisfaction alike to the officials and the exhibitors. 
Fruit Committee. —Present: P. Crowley, Esq., in the chair; and 
Dr. Hogg, with Messrs, R. D. Blackmore, G. Reynolds, J. H. Veitch, J. 
Cheal, J, T. Saltmarsh, A. Dean, G. Wythes, J. Hudson, G. T. Miles, H. 
Balderson, J. Smith, C. Penny, 15’. Q. Lane, G. Bunyard, and J. Wright. 
Mr. S. Mortimer Eowledge, Farnham, sent beautiful fruits of a new 
Cucumber named Matchless, a seedling between Express and Lockie’s 
Perfection. An award of merit was proposed and lost by one vote, 
eeveral members not considering it sufficiently distinct from and superior 
to existing varieties. Mr. Leech, gardener to the Duke of Northumber¬ 
land, Albury Park, sent a fine dish of Duke of Albany Peas with very 
large pods, and a cultural certificate was unanimously awarded. 
Mr. J. Collis, market gardener, Acton, sent fruits of Collis’s Seedling 
Strawberry, an early variety but rather small, and the Committee 
desired to see it again. Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons exhibited splendid 
fruits of Noble Strawberry grown on heavy land—-jirm, and of really 
good quality ; by far the best early Strawberry grown at Crawley, and 
the best flavoured Noble yet submitted. A cultural commendation was 
promptly recorded, 
Mr, Barron placed trusses of Crescent Seedling Strawberry on the 
table, the fruits still green, though others of Noble grown by the 
side of them were quite ripe. During the past two seasons Crescent 
Seedling has been the first Strawberry to ripen at Chiswick, and its 
lateness this season is remarkable. It is less robust in foliage than most 
others, and its growth was presumably checked in the early stages by 
the cold weather, while the more robust varieties kept steadily moving 
on. It is of American origin, and if its earliness is not maintained will 
scarcely be worth growing. 
Mr. John Watkins, Pomona Farm, Hereford, sent a dish of Duke of 
Devonshire Apple, fruits of medium size and excellent in quality ; 
also splendid fruits of Striped Beefing, firm and beautifully coloured. 
A vote of thanks was unanimously awarded. , 
Mr. G. F. Pontin, Stanley Vineries, Wolkingham, sent a large oval¬ 
shaped Melon, not sufficiently good in quality to merit any award. Mr. 
J, Hudson, gardener to the Messrs, de Rothschild, Gunnersbury, sent a 
beautifully netted Melon, not quite ripe, but of such promise that the 
Committee desired to see it again. Mr. Bishop, gardener to R. Burrell, 
Esq., Westley Hall, Bury St. Edmunds, sent two new Melons. No. 1, 
White flesh, large, closely netted, but overripe. The Committee thought 
it good, and desired to see it again. No. 2, Scarlet, oval, not quite ripe 
nor so good as the other, and prssed, Mr, T_. H. Crasp, gardener to Lord 
Wimborne, Canford Manor, sent excellent A Bee Peaches and Stanwick 
Elruge Nectarines, and a cultural commendation was unanimously 
awarded. 
Cecil H. Hooper, Esq., exhibited a collection of instruments used in 
fruit tree cultivation in France, some useful, some novel, and a vote of 
thanks was awarded. 
The Chairman announced that arrangement has been made for a 
series of experiments in drying fruit at Chiswick during the season, and 
requested the members of the Committee to appoint a fe-w from their 
body to co-operate with the Chiswick Board in conducting those 
experiments, whereupon Messrs. J. AVright, J. Cheal, J. Hudson, A. Dean, 
and J. H. Veitch were nominated for that purpose. 
Floral Committee. —Present: AV. Marshall, Esq., in the chair, 
and Messrs. H. B. May, H. Cannell, H. Turner, R. Dean, C. T. Druery, 
B. AVynne, AV. C. Leach, G. Phippen, H. Herbst, J. T. Bennett Poe, 
G. Paul, J. Fraser, AV. AVatson, F. Ross, C. Jeffries, and G. Gordon. 
From the Royal Gardens, Kew, came a small collection of choice 
plants, which attracted much attention. Conspicuous amongst them 
was Primula imperialis from the mountains of Java, one of the 
P. japonica type, with long strong broad leaves, and flower stems 2 feet 
to 2^ feet high, bearing the deep orange coloured ffiowers in dense 
whorls, separated by rather long internodes. This plant is especially 
interesting, owing to the fact that many efforts have been made to 
import the seeds and raise plants, but the latter has invariably failed 
until at Kew the experiment was tried of first soaking the seeds in hot 
water for a time, which resulted in the production of the plants now 
referred to. It is possible that if a cross could be obtained with 
P. japonica a new race of hybrids would be obtained, and the habit of 
P. imperialis might also be improved at the same time, as at present it 
appears rather too tall to be of much service from a horticultural point 
of view. AVith it was shown P. Poissoni from Northern China much 
in the style of P. japonica in form and colour. The deep blue Exacum 
macranthum was greatly admired, also Disa tripetaloides, with numerous 
white and pink dotted fiowers in racemes ; D. racemosa flowering very 
freely ; the handsome Dendrobium MacCarthise from Ceylon; the 
peculiar diminutive Masdevallia muscosa, Crinum purpurascens, with 
long narrow white petals tinted purple on the lower surface, and the 
strange dwarf Protea nana, with drooping bell-like flowers. A vote of 
thanks was accorded for the group. 
The collection of Tulips from S. Barlow, Esq,, Stakehill House, 
Manchester, was a centre of attraction, for it was designed apparently 
on an educational method to illustrate to the ordinary public some of 
the distinctions between the various sections which are puzzling to 
beginners. Thus the flowers ■were arranged in little groups of feathered 
and flamed bizarres, then came similar divisions of byblcemens, and 
following these the “ breeders.” Considering the distance they had 
travelled the flowers were fresh and beautiful, and the award of a bronze 
Banksian melal was amply justified. 
Carnations were grandly represented in a group of Souvenir de la 
Malmaisoii from Mr. T. H. Crasp, gardener to Lord AAhmborne, Canford 
Manor, AA’imborne, and although fine examples have been shown before 
on several occasions better plants could not be desired. They were 
in perfect health, vigorous without being gross, the foliage of a beau¬ 
tiful metallic hue, the flowers substantial and numerous. They were, 
however, placed in a dark and unfavourable position, and could not be 
seen to the best advantage (silver Banksian medal). 
Hardy plants and dwarf Cannas from Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, 
furnished an exceedingly pleasing group, and amongst the former ■\vere 
the stately Eremurus himalaicus ; the pale blue Codouopsis clematidea, 
suggestive of the Canarina campanula of old greenhouses; the compact 
and graceful Orobus hirsutus; the golden Inula glandulosa; the charming 
Copper Austrian Briar, and other beautiful single Roses. Bold and effec¬ 
tive Poppies were also shown, and the Cannas were remarkable both for 
their dwarf habit, 2 to 3 feet high, the large size and brilliant colours of 
their flowers (silver-gilt Banksian medal). 
Three tall stems of A^erbascum olympicum from Messrs. Cannell and 
Sons, Swanley, were placed at one end of the hall, surprising and 
delighting many visitors. The stems were 6 to 7 feet high, furnished 
below with strong leaves, and the upper half a densely branching 
pyramidal inflorescence of bright yellow flowers. The value of such 
plants in suitable positions could not be over-estimated, and this 
exhibit will call prominent attention to them (bronze Banksian medal). 
A group from Messrs. J. A’^eitch & Sons, Chelsea, comprised the 
remarkable Iris Gatesi, certificated and described below ; the peculiarly 
graceful Chionographis japonica, with long slender spikes of filamentous 
white flowers suggestive of the Orchid family; two reddish salmon 
varieties of Azalea indica named the Mikado and the Daimio, both from 
out of doors, where they had stood all the winter. Fine bushes of 
Fabiana imbricata and Ozothamnus rosmarinifolia were also shown 
from the Coombe AVood Nurseries, where so many rare plants flourish. 
Sarracenias are seldom so well represented as they were in Messrs. 
B. S. AVilliams & Son’s collection on this occasion, the healthy well 
coloured plants admirably illustrating the characters of this singular 
genus. The most distinct in form and colourina: were VVilsoni, 
Mitchelliana, Courti, Chelsoni, Tolliana, decora, AVilliamsi, illustrata, 
