JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 25, 1892. 
1 $6 
Pteris serrulata cristata pendens (Lowe).—A very distinct and 
graceful form, with long pendent crested fronds (first-class certificate). 
Athyrium /.-/. setigerum Victoria (Birkenhead). — A cross with 
aarrow pointed pinnae, very distinct (award of merit). 
Nephrolepis darallioides var. multiceps (May).—A graceful variety 
with forked pinnae, light green (first-class certificate). 
Pteris Regina (May).—A variegated species in the way of P. Vic¬ 
toria, but with a lighter edge, and generally brighter in colour (first- 
elass certificate). 
Pteris Regina var. cristata (May).—A crested form of Reginas, in 
this respect quite distinct, and undeniably beautiful (first-class certi¬ 
ficate). 
Pteris tremula variegata (May). — A very distinct and beautiful 
variegated variety that should become popular (first-class certificate). 
Adiantum elegantissimum (May).—A loose growing graceful feathery 
form (award of merit). 
Athyrium filix-fcemina superbum percristatum (Druery).—A very 
heiutiful variety with laciniated pinnulets, giving it a soft and fleecy 
appearance (first-class certificate). 
Athyrium filix-fcemina rotundato-cristatum (Druery).—Avery dis¬ 
tinct variety with crested pinnae, and roundish oblong toothed pinnules 
(first-class certificate). 
Lcelio-Cattleya Baroness Schroder (Baron Schroder, Bgham).— 
This is a hybrid between Cattleya Trianae and Laelia Jonghiana. The 
sepals and petals are blush, deeply veined with rosy carmine. The lip 
is frilled, and is of the same colour as the sepals on the edge, paler as 
the throat is approached, and deep buff in the throat (first-class 
certificate). 
Begonia Madame Alamangy (Mr. W. Marshall).—An exceedingly 
attractive ornamental leaved variety. The leaves are medium size, 
silvery grey colour with bronzy green centres, and margined similarly 
(first-class certificate). 
Carnation Mrs. Leopold de Rothschild (Mr. Reynolds).—A fringed 
variety of a bright pink colour, and sweetly scented (award of merit). 
Begonia Bertha McGregor (Messrs. J. Laing & Son).—A useful 
decorative variety with serrulated leaves, silver-grey and bronzy-green 
in colour. The under sides of the foliage are green with red ribs, the 
stems also being red and hairy (award of merit). 
Begonia Picotee (Laing & Son).—An edged variety that has been 
described previously (award of merit). 
Begonia Lord Esher (Laing & Son).—A beautiful double variety, 
with large bright scarlet blooms (award of merit). 
Begonia Lady Gertrude (Laing & Son).—A splendid variety when 
fully expanded. Flowers large, very double delicate pink with white 
centre (award of merit). 
Begonia Earl Cranbrook (Laing & Son).—A grand double variety, 
lich scarlet (award of merit). 
Lilia platyphylla (Mr. W. C. Leach).—This is a very fine Lime, the 
branches shown having leaves fully 9 inches in lengih and 6 in width 
(first-class certificate). 
Asparagus deflexus (Mr. J. Hudson).—A beautiful basket of this 
fine species was shown. It is a slender, drooping species (first-class 
certificate). 
Coleus Distinction (Mr. J. A. Morris).—A very distinct variety of a 
shrubby character, the leaves and stems being nearly as dark as Perilla 
nankinensis (award of merit). 
Gladiolus Mr. Hobborne (Messrs. Kelway & Sons).—A flower of 
gigantic proportions, salmon pink colour, with a purplish magenta 
blotch in the throat (award of merit). 
Gladiolus Mrs. McAlister (Kelway & Son).—An attractive flower 
of a lemon yellow colour with magenta stripes in the throat (award of 
uaerit). 
Ilelenium grandicephalum striatum (T. S. Ware).—An exceedingly 
attractive variety with flowers about 2 inches in diameter. The disc is 
maroon and golden, the petals rich red striated with yellow (first-class 
certificate). 
Phlox Baccile (Messrs. G. Paul & Son).—A large flower, purplish 
magenta in colour, and produced in fine trusses (award of merit). 
Phlox Eclaircur (G. Paul & Son).—An attractive variety with large 
trusses of rich magenta flowers, light coloured at the base of the petals 
(award of merit). 
Phlox Michael Servantes (G. Paul & Son).—A white variety with a 
bright rose pink centre (award of merit). 
Phlox Le Soleil (G. Paul & Son).—A bright rose pink variety, the 
base of the petals being lighter in colour than the other portions (award 
of merit). 
Gladiolus Private Secretary (Kelway & Sons).—A beautiful variety 
with rose shaded carmine flowers, very distinct yellow lip (award of 
merit). 
Begonia multifiora E Avenir (V ilmorin).—A dwarf growing tuberous 
variety with small bright red double flowers. An attractive beddiDg 
sort (award of merit). 
Begonia Louis Robert (Vilmorin).—A compact tuberous rooted 
variety bearing flattish blush pink semi-double flowers (award of merit). 
Begonia semperflorens var. Princess Beatrice (Sutton & Sons).— 
This variety was growing in a bed in the gardens of the Society at 
Chiswick. It has a dwarf, spreading habit, and bears rather small, 
blush pink floweis, similar in shape to the type (award of merit). 
Begonia Madame Louis TJrban (Vilmorin). — A dwarf variety, 
producing trusses of small rose pink blooms (award of merit). 
Begonia rosea multifiora .—A dwarf, free flowering variety, suitable 
for bedding. Flowers small, double and light pink in colour (award of 
merit). 
Tomato Challenger (Collins & Gabriel).—Fruit of medium size, 
smooth, uniform, globular, bright red in colour, of good quality, and a 
heavy cropper (first-class certificate). 
Fig Black B mro (R.H.S. Gardens).—Fruit above medium size, 
purplish, good, but not particularly rich ; very productive (first-class 
certificate). 
The Begonia Conference. 
There was but a moderate attendance at the Begonia Conference, 
which was held in connection with the above Exhibition on Tuesday, 
Aug. 23rd. The chair was occupied by Mr. H. J. Veitch, F.L.S. Although 
comparatively small the audience was most attentive, and obviously 
appreciated the excellent lectures delivered. The Chairman opened the 
proceedings with an admirable address. His remarks on fertilisation 
were most interesting, the subject being dealt with at some length. 
Among other things Mr. Veitch remarked that the object of hybridisers 
was to obtain a race of sturdy plants capable of withstanding the climate 
of this country. In this respect they had been fairly successful. 
Difficulties, however, were not uncommon. The recently introduced 
varieties, John Heal and Winter Gem for example, had as yet produced 
no female flowers, whilst in the variety Adonis female blooms pre¬ 
dominated. Regarding the number of species of Begonias Mr. Veitch 
observed that there were no less than 350 kinds known to science, but 
probably of these not more than 150 species were cultivated, and this 
number only in botanical gardens. Notwithstanding this there was a 
wide field open to hybridists, and he hoped that even better results 
would be obtained. As to the geographical distribution of Begonias, it 
was a notable fact that not one came from Australia, and only about 
a dozen from Africa. The first tuberous Begonia cultivated in this 
country came from Teru in 1815, and it was a species of which 
hybridisers should not lose sight. Mr. Veitch also dealt with the history 
of Begonias generally in an interesting manner. 
Mr. W. Watson of the Royal Gardens, Kew, a well-known successful 
hybridiser, gave a descriptive account of “ Cultivated Species of 
Begonias,” illustrating his remarks with figures and plants of the kinds 
mentioned by him. Mr. Watson’s lecture was brief and to the point; he 
obviously purposely avoiding as many technicalities as possible, which 
are apt to prove tedious to an audience. 
Mr. J. Laing of Forest Hill next discoursed upon “ Tuberous 
Begonias,” and being a recognised authority his remarks were listened 
to with much interest. After referring to the historical portion of his 
subject Mr. Laing remarked that he commenced hybridising Begonias 
in 1875. The following year the results were not very noteworthy, but 
in January, 1878, he sowed seeds of sorts which he had very carefully 
fertilised. The results of that sowing far exceeded his expectations, 
inasmuch as he was that year awarded a gold medal for his Begonias, and 
many first-class certificates for named varieties. Encouraged by this he 
secured the varieties Queen of Whites and Henderson’s White Queen, 
and the second season from that date effected no less than 161 crosses. 
In fertilising the best types only were used, size, shape, and colour of 
the flowers, as well as habit of the plants being the aim of the hybri¬ 
diser. Double varieties were much more difficult to obtain, the pollen 
being less plentiful than in the single kinds. Mr. Laing went on to say 
that his varieties of to-day showed a marked improvement upon those 
of previous years. Hitherto the flowers always drooped ; now the 
majority of them were erect. Those, too, that obtained first-class 
certificates five years ago would not now merit attention. As to the 
uses of Tuberous Begonias the double varieties were best adapted for 
pot culture for the embellishment of conservatories, whilst the single 
kinds were, and should be, extensively used for summer bedding. Rain 
or shine they were always attractive, flowering continuously throughout 
the summer. For bedding purposes one-year-old seedlings were the best, 
and these should be raised early in the spring. 
In his nursery the seed was sown early in January, as the seedlings 
were not only thus stronger by bedding out time but were not so 
liable to damp off, as they are apt to do later in the year. The seed was 
sown in shallow pans and placed in a temperature of 65° or 70°, and 
when large enough were pricked out into other pans and grown in a 
similar temperature until the middle of May, when they were hardened 
off and planted on the second week in June. According to his ex¬ 
perience the tubers degenerated after they were four years old, hence it 
was important to keep up a stock of successional young plants. 
Mr. H. Cannell was to have given a paper on “ Winter-flowering 
Tuberous Begonias,” but as this will be published with others in the 
Society’s journal, it was decided not to read it at the Conference. Mr. 
Cannell, however, gave a brief lecture, remarking that it was as 
essential to have Begonias at midwinter as in the summer. The winter 
flowering kinds, he said, were as easy to grow as Zonal Pelargoniums, and 
succeeded well in soil that suited the last mentioned class of plants. 
Cuttings of the fibrous-rooted kinds should be inserted about mid¬ 
summer, and then the plants were in excellent condition for flowering 
during the winter. The paper on “ Rex Begonias,” by Mons. Bleu, was 
taken as read. 
Dr. Masters proposed a vote of thanks to the lecturers, which con¬ 
cluded the afternoon’s proceedings. On Wednesday a Conference on 
Apricots and Plums was held ; Dr. Hogg presided, and papers by Mons., 
Jamain, Mr. T. Francis Rivers, and Mr. J. Smith were read. The 
proceedings will be referred to in our next issue. 
