October 20, 189J. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
861 
Woking, was accorded a vote of thanks for a bunch of Berberis 
Thunbergi. 
A hybrid Streptocarpus, crossed between Galpini and Rexi, wa 3 sent 
from the Royal Gardens, Kew. It is a very beautiful flower, the 
-colour being clear mauve blue with a velvety violet throat, in which 
respect it differs from Galpini, which has a pure white throat and was 
staged for comparison. 'mp 
OrchId Committee. —Present: Dr. Masters (in the chair), Messrs, 
•de B Crawshay, E. Handley, J. Douglas, G. Hill, J. Jaques, Jas. O’Brien, 
H. M. Pollett and H. Williams. 
Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, Upper Holloway, had a diversified 
group of Orchids, flanked by a few plants of the beautiful Griffinia 
hyacinthina. A fine specimen of Cypripedium insigne was conspicuous ; 
C. oenanthum superbum, C. selligerum rubrum, C. Dominianum, 
<3. Hartwegi, C. Morganire, C. Spicerianum. Dendrobium Goldiei, 
Odontoglossum mirandum, O. grande, Pleione lagenaria, P. Wallichiana, 
Bollea Patini, and Oncidium Papilio Eckharti being also represented 
(silver medal). Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, had an interesting 
group, which comprised a very pale form of Dendrobium Phalaenopsis 
Bchroderiana, Coelogyne fuscescens, Dendrochilum Lobbianum with 
sixteen racemes, Cattleya Brymeriana (a brightly coloured form of the 
«ldorado section, the lip being very rich, supp sed to be a natural 
■hybrid between C. eldorado and C. superba), Masdevallia Gorgona, 
M. Roezli, M. chimaera, Cattleya chrysotoxa (a richly marked flower 
with aurea characters, being deeply veined with gold, the sepals and 
petals pale yellow), Brassia maculata, and a charming pure white 
Masdevallia named Measuresiana, a cross between M. amabilis and 
M. tovarensis. Phillip Crowley, Esq., Waddon House, sent a good plant 
of Vanda tricolor, V. Kemballiana, and Odontoglassum grande, freely 
flowered. He also contributed Cymbidium giganteum, with a spike con¬ 
taining nine of the dark bronzy flowers (bronze Banksian medal). 
Certificates and Awards. 
Chrysanthemum Mrs. C. Myers (Mr. R. Owen).—A white Japanese 
with broad, evenly disposed, and gracefully arched florets (award of 
merit). 
Chrysanthemum Baron Hirsch (Mr. R. Owen).—A very promising 
incurved, having broad, substantial petals of a reddish bronze hue. The 
flower was not quite up, and will most likely turn out well (award of 
merit). 
Chrysanthemum William Seward (Mr. Seward, gardener to 
J. Shrimpton, Esq.).—A handsome Japanese with broad florets of a 
■deep brownish crimson, central ones reflexed, and greyish bronze 
(award of merit). 
Chrysanthemum Beauty of Exmouth (Mr. W. J. Godfrey).—This is 
a fine white Japanese, figured and described elsewhere in the present 
issue (award or merit). 
Zonal Pelargonium Madame Bondeville (H. Cannell & Sons).—Pale 
flesh pink, edged Picotee-like, deep rosy red, very fine truss. • 
Zonal Pelargonium Improved Baspail (H. Cannell & Sons).—A 
decided improvement on the well-known F. V. Raspail, the blooms and 
trusses being much larger (award of merit). 
Mr. W. Carruthers on “ Cycads.” 
The subject of the lecture given at the Drill Hall on Tuesday after¬ 
noon was “ Cycads,” and was most ablydealt with by Mr. W. Carruthers 
in the short time at his disposal. Dr. Masters occupied the chair. 
In opening the lecture Mr. Carruthers remarked that a few years ago 
it would have been very difficult for anyone to have said what Cycads 
were ; but of late years a very great interest had been taken in them by 
botanists, thus making it now an easy matter to identify them, and tell 
from whence they came. They had been allied with the Palm in each 
•case erroneously, though it has since been demonstrated, and is now 
generally accepted, that they are related to our Conifers. He gave a 
few remarks on the hybridisation, remarking that the flowers of the 
Cycads have no stamens. There are, the lecturer went on to say, about 
400 known species, which are found on almost all of the great continents. 
Their natural habitat appears to be the tropics, though they are found 
extending in a northerly direction, and also a southerly one, from the 
tropics. A large group is found in Florida, others in Mexico, South 
Africa, Tropical Australia, Asia, and on the borders of the Indian. 
Ocean. The species with imbricated cones are found mainly in Mexico, 
and the various other kinds from the different quarters of the globe 
already named. One leaf shown by the lec urer had no resemblance 
to any of the others, but was more like a Fern, amongst which it was 
originally classed, until the botanists proved it to rightly belong to the 
Cycads. 
The plants are all very easy to cultivate, requiring stove heat to 
bring them to perfection. Mr. Carruthers said he failed to understand 
how it was that plants of such easy culture, so beautiful and so useful 
for decorative purposes, should be so seldom grown. He would like to 
warn those who might be intending to grow Cycads not to throw them 
away if they did not at once break into growth. The plants remained 
dormant for a very long period, and would then suddenly start into 
growth. 
Mr. Watson, Kew Gardens, in the brief discussion which followed, 
described the method of culture required, and said that, although 
C. revoluta would live in a temperate house, it would not grow, needing 
as it did a stove temperature to bring it to perfection, and show to 
advantage its fine green foliage. Professor Henslow remarked on the 
principal botanical points connected with Cycads. A vote of thanks to 
Mr. Carruthers and the authorities at Kew Gardens concluded the pro¬ 
ceedings. 
CLETHRA ALNIFOLIA. 
When this dwarf, hardy summer-flowering shrub is blooming freely, 
it is extremely attractive. Spikes of flowers, many of them much larger 
than those shown in the engraving (fig. 49), are produced from every 
axil; indeed, so freely have we seen the flowers produced that the low 
bushes bristled with them. They are creamy white in colour, delicately 
fragrant, and, associated with the fresh-looking light green foliage, are 
admirably adapted for vase decoration. 
Being a native of the swamps of Virginia it requires moist, deep, 
and tolerably rich soil. It is worthy of a suitable position in the 
front of shrubberies, or even in large borders of herbaceous plants 
that are grown for affording flowers for cutting. It is deciduous, 
quite hardy, and although introduced in 1731 is not so generally 
grown as it might be. It is of close and rather compact habit, and 
grows about 3 feet high. The present is a good time to plant this 
useful shrub. 
EFFECTIVE FLOWER BEDS. 
I notice you have been giving a list of flower beds which have been 
thought worthy of notice during the past season. 
The following bed has been greatly admired, and is still good :— 
Hyacinthus (Galtonia) candicans and Agathea coelestis. The Hyacin- 
thus were planted in April about 10 inches from bulb to bulb, and 
the Agatheas were planted in June. 
A second and very pretty arrangement was composed of Fuchsia 
Charming and yellow Violas. The Fuchsias were rooted in September, 
1891, placed in 3-inch pots in March, and shifted in April into 6-inch 
pots. They were 18 inches in height when planted in June ; the Violas 
were rooted under handlights the same month and planted as a ground¬ 
work at the same time. 
A third and a very much admired arrangement consisted of Gladioli 
brenchleyensis and Phlox Drummondi planted underneath. When these 
beds were at their best at the end of August they presented a very gay 
picture and one well worth repeating. The Phloxes are still as gay 
as ever. 
Another effective association has been produced by planting a dark 
