March 21, 1895. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
255 
Mdlle, Maeie Cbepey (Fernet P^re).—A good shaped, large full 
flower of a yellowish-white colour, edged and glossed with bright red. 
Seedling from Marie Van Houtte. 
Mdlle. Maeie Louise Bageeie (Chainey).—A large, full cup¬ 
shaped flower of a beautiful chrome yellow colour, the reverse of the 
petals delicately pencilled with red ; in the autumn flowering it is a 
golden yellow seedling of Gloire de Dijon. 
Madame Bontoe Pontcaeee (L^veque).—A large, good shaped 
flower of a brilliant light rose colour, shaded with darker red and 
apricot yellow. 
Miss Katheeine G. Waeeen (Bernaix).—A large carmine-red 
flower shaded with garnet shading off to a brilliant China Rose shade ; 
very free flowering. 
Misteess Mieabel Geey (Nabonnand).—A large, erect, medium 
full flower not unlike “ Papa Gontier,” of a dark, velvety, carmine-red 
colour on the outside, lighter in the centre; seedling of Papa Gontier. 
Peincesse Maeie de Eouma^tie (Soupert & Netting).—A large, 
good shaped, full flower, the petals large and rounded; a beautiful 
cream-white colour shaded with pale lake rose, and in the centre very 
pale vermilion red. A very delicate-coloured flower ; cross between 
Madame Nabonnand and Souvenir d’un Ami. 
Peincesse Dueoussoff (Soupert & Netting).—A large full flower 
of a good shape, China Rose colour shaded with light melon yellow ; 
cross between Paul Nabonnand and Madame Falcot. 
Rose d’Evian (Bernaix).— A very large, full, cup-shaped flower 
with a long bud of a fine magenta red before opening ; the flower fine 
China Rose colour on the outside of the petals, scarlet on the inside of 
them. 
SOUVENIE DE Peeike d’Autunovics (Soupert & Netting).— A 
medium-sized flower, very full and imbricated, milk white colour ; an 
excellent variety for cutting. Cross between Madame Maurin and 
Marie Lambert. 
SouvENiE DE Laueent Guillot (Bonnaire).—A large, full flower 
of a good China Rose colour, peach yellow in the centre, and the edge of 
the petals tinted with carmine. A very pretty variety. 
Th:6eeSE Baeeois (Nabonnand).— A large flower of a perfect shape, 
rose colour, the reverse of the petals dazzling golden China Rose colour 
when half opened, golden tint in the centre when full blown ; very free 
flowering. 
Valentine Gannet (Nabonnand).—A very large, erect, full flower 
with large petals bright clear rose colour, reverse of petals silvery- 
looking, and slightly tinted with carmine ; very free flowering. A fine 
variety. 
V. Vivo e’ Hijos (Bernaix).—A novel flower in colour, very full, 
and outside petals very large; carmine rose colour, lighter in the middle 
and at the base ; the interior petals numerous and irregular, very bright, 
sometimes golden, sometimes salmony or apricot, and often tinged with 
carnation. The mixture of red and yellow shades gives this flower a 
very attractive appearance. 
It is of course impossible to guess even what may be the real 
character of these flowers, nor do the raisers’ names give any indication 
of their quality, and it seems as if all must be left in a state of 
uncertainty for another season. Many of the descriptions sound very 
tempting, but we have learned to discount these very largely, and we 
shall probably not err in doing so now. Sometimes one gets informa¬ 
tion more or less reliable from some of our English growers, but this year 
I have had positively none, and I doubt very much whether we shall 
see many of these novelties amongst us this season. I hope to give in a 
future number a description of the varieties offered in other classes.— 
D., Deal, 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Maech 12th. 
Scientific Committee. —Present: Dr. M. T. Masters (in the chair) ; 
Mr. McLachlan, Prof. Muller, Prof. Church, Dr. Russell, Mr. Michael, 
Rev. W. Wilks, and Rev. G. Henslow (Hon. Sec.). 
Dendrobium Wardianum ,—A plant was exhibited by Mr. Hugh Low, 
lately received from Burmah, remarkable for having four flowers, two 
on one stem and two on a second stem, each pair of flowers being quite 
distinct, but arising from the same point, and all four flowers with two 
lips. Dr. Masters undertook to examine and report upon them. 
Libocedrus decurrens. —Dr. Masters exhibited specimens received 
from Mr. Meehan of Germantown, Philadelphia, in which the terminal 
portions of the shoots had been attacked by some grub. The consequence 
was that the leaves, instead of being minute with mucronate tips and 
adherent to the axis, were broad at the base, free and lanceolate ; thus 
bringing about what would seem to be a reversion to a more ancestral 
state of the foliage. 
Stelis, sj). (f). Diseased .—Dr. Masters showed some Orehid leaves 
with rows of circular spots, having a central hole, due to some fungus. 
The specimen was interesting from an historical point of view, because 
it was figured by Gerarde, “Herball” (page 1168), in 1597, under the 
name of Viscum indicum L’Obelii. Being an epiphyte, this and a 
Tillandsia, called V; peruvianum L’Obelii, were supposed to be parasites, 
like the Mistletoe, Gerarde describes the leaf of this Orchid as having 
" certaine round eies, such as are in the haft of a knife.” 
Chinese Primrose x.—Some umbels of flowers were received from 
Mr. Cannell, stated to be a cross, originally effected by Mr. C, Green, 
of Reigate, between the original wild form of Primula sinensis, from 
N.W. China, and a garden form of the same plant. The wild form 
had never previously been known to be crossed. It is figured in the 
“Gardeners’ Chronicle,” March 16th, 1895 (page 327). 
Photos from New Jersey. —Dr. Masters exhibited a series of photo¬ 
graphs illustrative of Nelumbiums, Nymphseas, &c., growing in the open 
in ornamental waters, from Mr. S. C. Nash, of Clifton, N.J. 
Pinvs cubensis, loith Androgynous Cones, — Dr. Mellichamp of 
Blufton, Sth. Carolina, forwarded some cones of one particular tree, 
which apparently produces this phenomenon every year. 
Larch Canker. —Mr. Rogers sent a very characteristic specimen of 
this disease caused by Peziza Wilcommi. It appears to be due to the 
attack of this fungus after some injury, and then spreads throughout the 
tree. When this occurs no remedy can be applied, and the tree must be 
cut down. If, however, it be perceived early enough the infected part 
can be cut out, and coal tar or carbolic acid be applied to the wound ; 
the fungus may then be killed and the canker arrested. 
Orchid Leaves Decayed. —Some Cypripedia leaves were sent by 
Mr. 0. O. Wrigley for examination. No fungus was apparent on a 
superficial examination. They were forwarded to Kew for further 
investigation, 
Trachymene, fasciated. —Baron Ferd. Von Mueller sent a specimen 
of this plant with this common deformity from near Coolgardie, W.A. 
VEGETATION OF THE ITALIAN LAKE DISTRICT, 
ESPECIALLY OF THE LAGO MAGGIORE. 
[Eead at the Horticultural Club by Mr. H. BRiSCOE-lRONSIDE.] 
This subject, which Mr. D’Ombrain has honoured me in requesting 
that I should open this evening, is one which I think should indeed be 
taken up by the botanist rather than an inexperienced person like 
myself, as it is overflowing with the most interesting and knotty points, 
and is in many instances in exact contrast to what we experience here 
in England ; and it occurs to me as being a somewhat startling fact, 
when one seriously considers the matter, that it is possible to find a 
climate so very different to ours after a journey of only about thirty 
hours. 
Some of you present, gentlemen, may not be acquainted with that 
part of Italy to which I am referring, and I must include Switzerland, 
a small part of the Lago Maggiore being in that country ; I will there¬ 
fore endeavour to briefly describe the seasons and climate. Spring may be 
considered to open about the middle of February, summer about the 
middle of April (or generally immediately after the spring rains), 
autumn say the beginning of September, and winter about Christmas. 
The winter in ordinary seasons may therefore be roughly estimated at 
about seven or eight weeks. There are, however, several places in the 
Lake District where the winter is prolonged. 
As is generally the case in all mountainous regions the variations in 
the temperature and weather are extreme and local, and this is par¬ 
ticularly felt in this district— e.g 8 kilometres from Pallanza, where 
I resided. Lemons and Oranges flourished entirely out of doors. On 
the Isola Bella, about 2 kilometres distant, where Oranges are cultivated 
to a considerable extent, they are protected by wood coverings during 
the winter, and at Stresa, about 4 kilometres away, artificial heat is 
necessary. 
The soil of the district is extremely sandy and stony, and considering 
that it does not rain for months at a time, you can imagine what the 
cultivation of plants and flowers in exposed positions means. I have 
seen huge trees, the leaves of which have flagged for a considerable 
period. For pot use I found that the best substitute for a retentive 
soil was the decayed wood of the Chestnut, which the native women 
easily procure in large amounts from the woods and carry on their 
backs. In consequence of the large quantity of silica in the soil the 
effect of a thunderstorm or heavy rain on land which at all slopes 
is disastrous, the soil being washed away in large quantities. To meet 
this contingency it is necessary to construct gulleys and small canals 
or rivulets with considerable forethought. The less said in the way 
the Italians fertilise the soil the better, as it is distinctly objectionable 
to the English idea, and should not, I think, be tolerated. It amply 
illustrated to me the force of the nigger’s explanation on the effect of 
fertilisers—viz., that directly a plant began to smell it endeavoured to 
run away. 
The chief industry is the cultivation of the Vine. It at first struck 
me as curious how every native, in whatever sphere of life he was, 
seemed thoroughly well versed in this subject. I had a little practical 
experience myself, having some 200 or more Vines in my garden, which 
included Muscat, Barbara, a red Sweetwater, and an American. This 
last variety—which the Italians called “ Americana ”—has a very large 
and almost globular purple berry, is very fleshy and almost stoneless, 
and has a flavour somewhat resembling a Black Currant (I believe the 
strictly technical term is “foxy ”). The wine made from it is, however, 
considered “ rough,” and is not much drunk by the better classes. It 
is, nevertheless, very popular in this part of Italy on account of its 
robust growth, its distinct superiority as a stock for grafting, and also 
for its greater resistance to the phylloxera. I_ may remark that the 
flavour of the berry is perceptible in the sap, which might also account 
for the less vigorous attacks of the insect. 
It may perhaps be of some interest if I mention a few details on the 
subject of phylloxera, as one of my most intimate friends was the Anti- 
Phylloxera Delegate appointed by the Government to this district.^ I 
thus heard a good deal, and I may add as a further reason for cultivating 
a closer acquaintance on the subject was that one morninK I found a 
score or so of men disturbing the roots of several of the Vines in my 
