440 
[ November 17, 1892.. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
to be battled with, but invariably gardeners were successful. Gardening, 
he said, had a great influence over the beauty and character of the 
country, and for that reason should be encouraged. There was no 
English landlord who did not look forward to planting, and he consi¬ 
dered forming avenues a duty. More land, too, should be cultivated 
with fruit and other products, for last year we spent £2,000,000 in 
importations of this kind, comprising £1,000,000 in Apples and propor¬ 
tionate sums in Onions and Potatoes. 
Sir Trevor Lawrence. Bart., in responding said he did not know where 
England would be if it were possible to imagine for a moment that the 
practical gardener were wiped out of existence. It was, therefore, the 
interest of such that they had to consider. He thought that the Royal 
Horticultural Society could claim to be the parent of all other societies. 
It may have made mistakes, but it had done good, and he ventured to 
say that in the last years of the present century the Royal Horticultural 
Society may fairly expect the respect and confidence of the horti¬ 
cultural world. In no year since 1887 had there been less than 265 
Fellows elected. This year there would probably be 400 new Fellows. 
But having reduced the subscription the income of the Royal Horticul¬ 
tural Society did not increase proportionately, it now being about £3000. 
Out of this nearly £2000 were spent annually in maintaining Chiswick 
Gardens. It may be asked what did they give country subscribers in 
return for their subscriptions ? Well, they gave them more than they 
generally anticipated. The copies of the Journal of the Society were dis¬ 
seminated widely, and he considered the report of the Conifer Confer¬ 
ence, recently distributed, a most valuable work of reference. He 
thought the Royal Botanic Society did good in a particular way, 
and all who could ought to support the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent 
Institution. It was not supported so much at it should be. There was 
not anyone who owned a garden that did not derive pleasure from the 
work of his gardener. (Hear, hear). 
The Rev. W. Wilks, M.A., in proposing 11 The Stewards and Donors,” 
said that all who know him was aware of the warm interest he took in 
gardening. He considered the English gardener inferior to none, but 
superior to all in the world. (Cheers.) He thought that the income of 
the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution might be increased consider¬ 
ably if the Committee were to draw up a proper circular and send it 
round to the clergy of the kingdom, asking for offertories made at harvest 
festivals at least every third year. He had adopted that plan this year, 
and although his was a tiny parish, with but little over 600 inhabitants, 
he had been able to hand £30 over to the Institution. 
Mr. H. E. Milner briefly responded, and said that, thanks to a hard¬ 
working Executive Committee, the promoters of the recent International 
Horticultural Exhibition were able to give a donotion of £250 to the 
Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution, (Cheers.) He was sorry 
they could not give more, but there were other gardening charities to be 
remembered. 
Mr. N. Sherwood gave “ Oar Chairman ” in suitable terms, and Lord 
Brassey briefly responded. 
The Secretary, Mr. G. J. Ingram, announced that the result of the 
evening’s subscription was £1400. This included Lord Brassey 
50 guineas, Messrs. Rothschild 100 guineas, Baron Schroder 30 
guineas, Mr. Howard Morley £25, Sir Julian Goldsmid 20 guineas, 
Rev. W. Wilks 30 guineas, Mr. Watkins 26 guineas, Mr. T. Manning 
10 guineas, Mr. A. Weeks 10 guineas, and numerous other smaller sums. 
In commemoration of their silver wedding, Mr. H. J. Veitch and Mrs. 
Veitch have very kindly given £250 each. 
A selection of music, under the direction of Mr. Herbert Schartau, 
enabled those present to pass a very pleasant evening. 
ACIDANTHERA BICOLOR. 
We believe it to be the first time that this Iridaceous plant has 
been figured in the British floricultural press. Acidanthera bicolor 
was discovered in 1844, and though generally known as a Cape bulb, 
it has, we believe, been found as far away as Abyssinia. 
The bulbs are a little more than an inch across; the foliage is 
similar to that of a Gladiolus, while the spikes grow from 2 to 3 feet 
high. The flowers are borne loosely at the top of the spike, and are 
slightly pendulous, long and tubular ; the perianth is spreading at the 
mouth of the tube, and in colour is creamy white, with markings of 
chocolate or brown. As the plant produces bulblets very freely, a 
stock can easily be raised ; it may also be propagated from seed. There 
is nothing difficult about the cultivation of Acidanthera bicolor. 
It requires similar treatment to that accorded to those species and 
varieties of Gladiolus which are usually grown in pots for late or 
early flowering. 
In some parts of the United States it is largely grown, as plentifully 
as Ixias are grown in the south of England. A favourite mode of 
culture there is to place a number of flowering bulbs into small tubs 
or large pots, and these, when in bloom, are used for decorating the 
conservatory or greenhouse. The flowers are especially fragrant during 
the evening, which naturally gives them an additional charm. The 
plants from which our illustration (fig. 60), was taken, were flowering 
in the Cape house at Kew during the end of September and the 
beginning of October, and were in bloom about three weeks.—C. K. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOWS. 
DEVIZES.— November 8th. 
This is a very popular Show, both with exhibitors and visitors. 
Literal prizes are provided for the former, while in addition to the dis¬ 
play of Chrysanthemums of superior merit there is also a very successful 
bazaar held, the charities of the town being greatly benefited thereby. 
Mr. T. King, the Castle Gardens, is responsible for all the arrangements 
connected with the Chrysanthemum Show, and everything in his hands 
passed off very pleasantly and smoothly. 
No classes for trained plants are now provided, groups being the 
principal feature. This year only two of these were arranged. Mr. H. 
Clack, gardener to Major C. E. Colston, M.P., was well first, having a 
grand display of bloom, the second prize going to Mr. W. Mantell, 
gardener to W. Brown, Esq. 
For twenty-four cut blooms of incurved varieties the first prize was 
£10, and this was easily won by the Messrs. W. & G. Drover, who had 
flowers of Emily Dale (2), John Doughty (2), Lord Wolseley (2), Golden 
Empress of India (2), Mr. Coleman, Lord Alcester(2), Princess of Teck, Nil 
Desperandum, Queen of England (2), Alfred Salter, Alfred Lyne, Miss 
M. A. Haggas, Prince Alfred, Violet Tomlin, M. Darrier (good), Mrs. 
Heale, Mrs. \V. Shipman, and Jeanne d’Arc. Mr. G. Inglefield, gardener 
to Sir J. Kelk, was a good second ; and Mr. W. Neville, gardener to 
F. W. Flight, Esq., third. Seven competed with twelve Japanese 
varieties. 
The first prize, a. silver cup value 5 guineas, went to the Messrs; 
Drover, who had very fine blooms of Viviand Morel, Florence Davis, 
Mrs. E. W. Clarke, Edwin Molyneux, Sunflower, Mons. Bernard, Mrs. 
Wheeler, Mdlle M. Hoste, Avalanche, J. S. Dibbin, M. E. A. Carribre, and 
Mrs. F. Jameson. Mr. Neville was a creditable second, his stand com¬ 
prising J. P. Kendall, Beauty of Castlewood, Alberic Lunden, E. D. 
Adams, Masterpiece, Florence Davis, and Viviand Morel. Mr. W. Robin¬ 
son, gardener to Lord Justice Lopes, was third. A remarkably fine 
bloom of Viviand Morel in the latter’s stand was selected as being the 
finest bloom of Japanese variety in the Show ; a bloom of Lord Alcester 
shown by Messrs. Drover, securing a similar award in the incurved 
section. Mr. II. Clack was first for Anemone flowered, and Mr. 
W. Robinson second ; the last named being first for twelve incurve f 
varieties shown as grown with foliage. 
LEEDS PAXTON.— November 8th and 9th. 
The third Show under the auspices of the above Society was held in 
the Victoria Hall. The eariiness of the fixture and lateness of the. 
season told somewhat heavily on the quality of the exhibits. This was 
especially noticeable in the incurved and cut bloom classes. 
For thirty-six blooms, not less than sixteen incurved and sixteen 
Japanese, distinct varieties, there were four entries. The first priz°, 
including a challenge cup, was awarded to W. Robinson King, Esq , 
Nelholme, North Ferriby, Brough (gardener, Mr. Hotham). Mrs, 
Cope, Dove Park, Woolton, Liverpool (gardener, Mr. Tho3. Carling), 
was second; the Earl of Harrington, Elvaston Castle, Derby (gar¬ 
dener, Mr. J. H. Goodacre), third ; and Mrs. Roundell, Gleds'one, 
Skipton (gardener, Mr. J. Bell), fourth. The competition was very keen 
in this class, and many thought Mr. Carling’s flowers at least equal to 
the winner. Mr. Hotham staged his flowers as follows:—Incurved, back 
row : Mons. Bahuant, Queen of England, Alfred Salter, Jeanne d’Arc, 
Queen of England, and Bahuant. Middle row : White Beverley, Lord 
Wolseley, Beauty of Hull, Prince Alfred, Ami Hoste, and Formosum 
alba. Front row: Lady Harding, Mr. Bunn, Camille Flammarion, 
White Venus, Mrs. Dixon, and Prince of Wales. Japanese, back row : 
Sunflower, Viviand Morel, Stansteai White, W. W. Coles, Sunflower, and 
Etoile de Lyon. Middle row : E Iwin Molyneux. Miss H. Whellan, W. H. 
Lincoln, Bouquet des Dames, Viviand Morel, and Mrs. J. Wright. Front 
row: Madame Clemence Audiguier, Mons. Bernard, George Daniels, 
Thomas Stephenson, Mdlle. Louhe Leroy, Val d’Andorre. The best 
incurved flowers in Mr. Carling’s stand were Mons. Bahuant, Emily Dale, 
Ami Hoste, Madame Mante, Refulgens; and of Japanese, Mdlle. Marie 
Hoste, Viviand Morel were well staged. 
For twelve incurved, distinct, the first prize was awarded to Mrs. 
Cope; second to W. Jackson. Esq., Ivnottingley Hall (gardener, Mr. 
W. Pearson). The flowers in the leading stand were staged as follows :— 
Back row : Lord Alcester, Queen of England, Ami Hoste, and Mons. 
Bahuant. Middle row : Alfred Lyne, Mr. Bunn, Nil Desperandum, an I 
Jeanne d’Arc. Front row : J. Salter, White Beverley, M. F. Mistra’, 
and Madame Mante. For twelve Japanese Mr. Hotham was placed 
first, Mr. Jos. Bell second, and Mr. Carling third. The first prize stand 
contained Stanstead White, W. W. Coles, Viviand Morel, Sunflower, 
Ed. Molyneux, Condor, Mdlle. Louise Leroy, Mrs. H. Whellan, Thos. 
Stephenson, Mrs. C. Wagstaffe, and Gloire de Rocher. 
The smaller classes were well filled, and a fine feature was the class 
for six blooms of one incurved, Mr. Hotham winning, Mr. Pearson beirg 
second. For six Japanese Mr. Hotham was first with fine Bouquet des 
Dames ; second, Mr. Bell, with six magnificent Molyneux. 
In the gentlemen’s and amateurs’ class, limited to a radius of seven 
miles, for twenty-four blooms, not less than twelve incurved and twelve 
Japanese, distinct, a silver challenge cup and £5 in cash was offered. 
The first prize fell to Mr. T. Newboult, gardener to A. Jacobs, Esq., 
Craig Royd, Rawdon. Sir Jas. Kitson, Bart., M.P. Gledhow (gardener^ 
Mr. W. Grix), was placed second ; third, Mr. J. Gordon, Esholt House, 
Woodlesford. 
The classes for black and white Grapes were well filled with good 
