September 22, 1892. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
however, by the Committee. Mr. C. Holden, Harwich Road, Ealing, 
sent a collection of miscellaneous plants, for which a bronze Banksian 
medal was recommended. A vote of thanks was accorded to Messrs. 
R. B. Laird & Sons, Edinburgh, for a box of their Keir Prince Car¬ 
nation, a dark variety. Mr. R. Dean, Ealing, sent a few blooms of 
Crocus speciosus, and Messrs. Pitcher & Manda, Hextable, two plants 
of Pteris Wallichiana. 
Orchid Committee. —Present: Dr. Masters (in the chair), Messrs. 
J. O’Brien, S. Courtauld, W. H. White, H. Williams, E. Hill, C. Pilcher, 
T. W. Bond, F. Sander, J. Douglas, T. B. Haywood, and J. Jaques. 
The duties of this Committee were light, not many Orchids being 
shown. W. Walker, Esq., Brettargh Holt, Kendal, sent two splendid 
baskets of Saccolabium Blumei, each having eight racemes of bloom. A 
vote of thanks was accorded. Messrs. Hugh Low & Co. sent a collection 
comprising Cattleya bicolor Wrigleyana, Yanda Kimballiana, V. K. 
delicata, Saccolabium Blumei majus, Vanda cterulea, Cypripedium 
radiosum superbum, C. Parishi, and Dendrobium formosum giganteum. A 
vote of thanks was given. Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son exhibited Oncidium 
incurvum album, a white variety of incurvum. Messrs. Sander & Co. 
sent the beautiful Cattleya aurea, a plant being shown carrying two 
fine flowers. The creamy yellow sepals and petals and the large broad 
crimson lip with the deep golden veins are gloriously beautiful. Sterling 
plants such as this are always a pleasure to see, whether new or old. 
Messrs. Sander & Co. also contributed a collection of Cypripediums, 
which included C. picturatum, C. hybridum Maynardi, C. h. Eyermann- 
ianum, C. Chamberlainianum, C. radiosum, and C. Macfarlanei; also 
Odontoglossum aspersum, O. Harryanum, Masdevallia Measuresiana, 
Angraecum bilobum Sander’s variety, Dendrobium Phalaenopsis 
Schroderiana, and others. C. L. N. Ingram, Esq., Elstead House, 
Godaiming (gardener, Mr. Bond), sent Cypripedium Wendlandianum. 
T. Statter, Esq., Stand Hall, Manchester (gardener, Mr. Johnson), sent 
Cattleya Statteriana (first-clast certificate, see below); and C. aurea 
Statteriana. The latter was one of the features of the meeting. It 
was certificated in 1890, but probably many had not seen it, and were 
very glad of the opportunity to do so. The sepals and petals are of a 
uniform pale yellow, the side lobes of the lip are of the richest nankeen 
yellow, the centre of the apical portion is brownish crimson, and lines of 
crimson radiate into the throat. It is a noble flower J. Foster Alcock, 
Esq., North Church, Berkhampstead, sent Catasetum Bungerothi with 
seven flowers (vote of thanks). Messrs. J. Veitcb & Sons sent Cattleya 
X Minucia (award of merit, see below) ; and from L’Horticulture 
Internationale came Cyrtopodium Alicae, C. macranthum, and Odonto¬ 
glossum prsestans. 
Certificates and Awards. 
Potato, Reading Giant (Fidler).—A very large rough kidney, a very 
heavy cropper, and a pronounced disease resister. It is a promising 
market variety (first-class certificate). This and the others to be named 
have given the greatest satisfaction at Chiswick. 
Potato, Mary Anderson (Fletcher).—A long, pointed kidney, medium 
size, smooth and pale ; a fine cropper (first-class certificate). 
Potato, Quantity and Quality (Johnston).—A round, rough tuber, 
somewhat resembling Schoolmaster, very even in size, there being few 
small ones. It is a very heavy cropper, a good disease resister, and cooks 
well (first-class certificate). 
Potato, The Canon (Dean).—A large flattened kidney, somewhat 
rough skin, an excellent cropper, and likely to prove valuable either for 
show or general purposes (first-class certificate). 
Runner Bean, Hill's Prize (Messrs. Bunyard & Co.).—A very fine 
Bean with long even pods. It is a good cropper and received three 
marks at Chiswick (first-class certificate). 
Runner Bean, Prizewinner (Messrs. Sutton Sc Sons).—An excellent 
Bean of the Ne Plus Ultra type, having large handsome pods and a 
heavy cropper. It has received three marks at Chiswick (first-class 
certificate). 
Aristolochia gigas var. Sturtevanti (Messrs. F. Ross & Co.).—This 
is a fine variety. The plant shown was in an 8-inch pot and had one 
bloom about 15 inches in length and a foot or so in diameter, with 
a tail some 3 feet long. The outside is a creamy white, a portion of the 
centre being rich velvety maroon (first-class certificate). 
Dahlia Matchless (Perkins & Sons).—A Cactus variety, medium in 
size, and of a rich maroon colour, the centre petals being very dark 
(award of merit). 
Silver Elder (Mr. Gibbs).—A pretty decorative Elder with white 
and green foliage, the young leaves being particularly effective (award 
of merit). 
Pteris nivalis (H. B. May).—An elegant Fern, resembling in growth 
P. Reginas, which was figured in these pages a short time ago, but 
whiter in appearance (first-class certificate). 
Dahlia lommy Keith (\V. Keith, Esq ).—A Pompon variety with 
neat white and dark crimson flowers (award of merit). 
Dahlia Arthur West (W. Keith, Esq.).—A Pompon variety with 
small dark crimson flowers of perfect symmetry (award of merit). 
Dahlia Kathleen (Mr. C, Turner).—A Show variety of perfect 
symmetry, colour soft lilac, creamy centre (award of merit). 
Cattleya Statteriana (T. Statter, Esq.).—This is a magnificent plant, 
and the wonderful size and exquisite colouring of the lip aroused the 
greatest admiration. It is an imported plant, and probably the only one 
in the country. Nothing definite is known about its parentage, but it is, 
no doubt, a natural hybrid, and many of its characters point to a C. aurea 
and C. gigas union. The petals are broad and of a dull ivory white, 
though we are informed that five or six days ago they were much purer 
than they are now, having faded somewhat. They are very broad, but 
recurve so much that the breadth is lost, and are elegantly crimped or 
fimbriated. The sepals have a faint yellow tinge. The lip is, however, 
the mo3t striking feature of the flower. It is very long and broad, 
rounded near the throat, but curying down towards the apex, which is 
elevated and fimbriated. The apical area is rich velvety crimson, 
purplish flakes radiating into the throat. The side lobes have the 
rich nankeen yellow of C. aurea. The outer surface of the tube is 
deeply suffused with carmine, and the charm of the flower is completed 
by a beautiful rosy carmine feathering round the edge, almost like a 
heavy-edged Picotee (first-class certificate). 
Cattleya x Minucia (Messrs. Yeitch & Sons).—This is a garden 
hybrid between C. Loddigesi and C. labiata var. It is a delightfully 
tinted flower, the sepals and petals being a glowing rosy lilac, inclining 
to mauve. The lip is fimbriated and somewhat narrow, the side lobe^ 
each having a conspicuous carmine patch. The entrance to the throat 
is suffused with pale yellow (award of merit). 
The Rev. C. Wolley Dod on the Variation of Hardy Plants. 
A paper on the “Variation of Hardy Plants under Cultivation,” by 
the Rev. C. Wolley Dod, was read at the afternoon meeting of the Royal 
Horticultural Society on the above-mentioned date. There wa 3 but a 
small attendance of Fellows, and in the unavoidable absence of the 
essayist the paper was read by the Rev. W. Wilks. Mr. G. Paul 
presided. 
In opening his subject Mr. Wolley Dod observed that the chances of 
variation in plants were multiplied when the latter were under culti¬ 
vation. In a natural state the plants ripened comparatively few seeds, 
whereas when cultivated the reverse was generally the case. Common 
sources of error regarding the variation ©f plants, he said, occur when 
observations are made carelessly. After many years’ experience he was 
convinced that the common single Daffodil did not develop into a double 
bloom; neither did the single Primrose change colour through any 
system of cultivation. Then as to the stature of plants, he had noticed 
that many seedlings from wild plants showed an increase in height 
when cultivated in gardens, as, for instance, Campanula glomerata ; 
whilst some, on the other hand, degenerate. As to variation of colour, 
he had seen no real change unless attributable to some other plant; 
but many of the flowers in the damp soil in his garden varied much. 
What was a pale blue Primrose in the garden of a friend became a dull 
red in his soil in Cheshire. The first change of colour was as likely to 
take place in a wild plant a3 in a cultivated one, but it would be less 
noticeable. In the lanes in Cheshire he had seen Campanula rotundifolia 
vary much, also Veronica spicata in other places. Regarding the varia¬ 
tion of seedlings, the essayist remarked that the white Foxglove rarely 
gave him a white flower from home-saved seed, neither did the white 
Harebell. Twenty years ago he planted a white Musk Mallow in his 
garden, and for ten years the plant produced white flowers ; then he 
introduced a pink-flowered sort, and ever since had been obliged to 
weed the latter out. 
Concerning the fertility of garden hybrids no rule, he said, could be 
laid down. Some were barren, others fertile. Among the Columbines 
it was never known what home-saved seed would produce, according to 
his experience, and the Dianthuses were also very variable. Narcissi 
seemed to hybridise in almost every way, but he had never seen a 
hybrid Crocus. As to the cause of some plants producing double flowers, 
he thought that hybridisation had more to do with this than luxuriant 
growth. Seedlings of Michaelmas Daisies show a tendency to produce 
double flowers, and Aquilegias would also persist in yielding double 
bloom*. 
Profeasor the Rev. G. Henslow, in the brief discussion which 
followed, said he had long been anxious to find out the real cause of the 
dwarfing of plants, particularly the product of florists. If gardeners 
and florists would endeavour to find out the cause it would be most 
useful. Then, again, no one as yet had settled the actual cause of the 
production of double flowers. It was, so to say, a form of disease, a 
destruction of stamens and pistils, but no special reason for this special 
disease could be assigned. According to his experience rather a dry 
position tends to produce it. Daffodils and Bluebells introduced from a 
wild state into his garden degenerated, the latter in many instances 
producing pink short flowers instead of elongated blue ones as when 
growing wild. 
Votes of thanks to the lecturer and the Chairman concluded the 
proceedings. 
GROWING GRAPES IN NINETY DAYS. 
We have received two letters having an important bearing on this 
ease, and it would appear that more light is still needed. The first is as 
follows :—“ The report which appeared in last week’s Journal of the 
paper read by Mr. Gilchrist on “ Growing Grapes in Ninety Days,” and 
the discussion thereon, is somewhat incomplete, owing no doubt to Mr. 
Cowan having to leave in the middle of the discussion. Probably, 
therefore, the following additional particulars will interest your readers. 
Mr. Gilchrist said that his employer wished to have Grapes in April, 
but he was unable to start in November, owing to there being two Vines 
which were not ready to start in the early house. He closed the house 
on the 1st of January and applied fire heat, but on the same day the 
boiler broke down. When it was put in again a tube broke, and 
altogether he could not get it started till February 6th. 
“ Then followed the temperatures, &c., which were given in the 
