120 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 11, 1887. 
answer well for gathering. Nemophila, Convolvulus, &c., are too fragile 
to be worth picking ; and out of the others also there is an abundant 
choice. The chief thing to avoid is gathering scarlet and pink Pelar¬ 
goniums, or scarlet and pink Verbenas. Pink and dark rose colour do 
well in both together, but the pink and scarlet in the same flowers are 
so much alike that they want to be more or less so, and in looking at the 
nosegay one unconsciously compares them. 
A good-sized vase well filled with green for the solider part and 
edges, would look very well with several white or very light flowers put 
in in different places dotting about the vase, then working to one side 
of the white, but by no means at regular distances (at least, for a first 
attempt, as in very mixed arrangements any degree of form is difficult 
to do well.) Perhaps, at the back or side of one of the lighter flowers a 
piece of dark Verbena, a Clove Carnation, a red Rose, or even two or three 
such flowers carelessly grouped together, and generally the better for 
being of the same kind. (I should mention that I only name the light 
flowers to give myself a starting-point from which I can describe.) Say 
that above a cluster of crimson Roses one had two or three pieces of 
white and pale pink Verbena slightly verging towards .the light flower 
next door. Underneath, on the shady side, if anywhere, the purple or 
mauve Verbena, lighted up in its turn, when the time comes for lighting, 
which is only at the very last, with a little piece of velvety scarlet 
Pelargonium, and it is the more essential to choose a deep full scarlet 
because of the purple being so dead that a paler, thinner colour would 
look poor by its side. 
These purple Verbenas must be only looked on as shades ; a flower- 
glass will look no fuller for them, though sometimes they will answer 
in filling up a shadow. These dark flowers, however, should always be 
arranged not to overshadow, but to be enlivened by the lighter flowers 
near. 
The centre of the vase will probably have a cluster of Roses or a fine 
Pelargonium, which shows extremely well if surrounded with four of its 
own good-sized leaves. If Roses are used there, one or two little pieces 
of scarlet Geranium often prove effective for lighting up the centre. A 
Water Lily is particularly beautiful when it can be had. So are Passion 
Flowers well relieved with scarlet or with crimson. But the very centre 
should be always some grandish flower or a distinct light sort of group- 
light, not in colour so much as in arrangement. Spikes of Mignonette 
do better in the middle than in any other place. A good group of Car¬ 
nations answers beautifully, and sometimes one may make a merit of a 
difference, just as at another time one tries to be all alike. So five or 
six splendid Carnations of various stripes and colours may look very 
striking. 
When the general effect of the nearly finished vase is that the edge 
is darker than the centre, a few little sprays of yrnllow Calceolaria may 
be introduced with very great advantage, and it will, better than any 
flower I know, light up the vase without toning down as white does, or 
reddening the colour too much as scarlet does, when not wanted for its 
own sake. The yellow may have put in against it a good-sized spray of 
the dark orange brown sort of Calceolaria, which has often a very good 
effect, and decides the yellow to be really gold colour. If the centre 
should be the heaviest, it may probably require the addition of a little 
red or pink or white to give it liveliness, as well as a little yellow to give 
the required light. Light and gay, in this instance, having a different 
meaning, as may easily be seen by substituting scarlet Pelargoniums 
for the bright yellow flower, when it will look rather darker than it did 
before. 
The lights must not be too numerous, nor too large, nor too near the 
actual centre. I think for them it is best to slip in the flower (the stalk 
smooth and deprived of leaves), and then to cut off with sharp scissors 
any too many of the “ Ladies’ Slippers.” 
China Asters, Stocks, and dull-coloured Verbenas should never ad¬ 
vance much into notice. Sometimes a good China Aster may, but gene¬ 
rally vases are better with lighter-formed flowers in the more conspicu¬ 
ous places, and when there is a choice, I think if there is much scarlet 
in the vase the yellow-tinged light flowers do better than those of a 
pinkish or bluish hue, which in their turn again answer best where the 
chief tone is crimson.—D. G. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
August 9th. 
The meeting on Tuesday was rendered attractive by the collection of 
hardy flowers, Gladiolus and Hollyhocks provided. There were also some 
good vegetables, and several interesting exhibits of fruits. 
Fruit Committee. —Present: T. Francis Rivers, Esq., in the cha and 
Messrs. Harrison Weir, James Smith, G. Norman, Sidney Ford, J. Roberts, 
J. Burnell, J. Fitt, Phillip Crowley, G. Bunyard, and R. D. Blackmore. 
Mr. W. Carmichael, Bognor Park Gardens, Pulborough, showed samples of 
a seedling Grape, a cross between Muscat of Alexandria and Black 
Hamburgh, raised from seed sown in April, 1884. The berries were of a 
reddish colour like Muscat Champion, and the Committee did not express 
any opinion concerning it. Mr. Carmichael also sent a seedling green- 
fleshed Melon, named Duke of Buccleuch. Mr. Denne, Gore Court Park, 
Sittingbourne, showed a dish of Cherries unnamed. Mr. C. Ross, Welford 
Park, Newbury, sent a seedling green-fleshed Melon of fair flavour and well 
netted. Mr. W. Divers, Ketton Hall Gardens, and Mr. W. Palmer, .Thames 
Ditton House Gardens, also sent seedling Melons. 
Messrs. Rivers & Son, Sawbridgeworth, v e e awarded a cultural com¬ 
mendation for four dishes of Cherries, Bigarreau Monstrueuse de Mezel, 
Geant d’Hedelfingen, late' Black Bigarreau, and Emperor Francis (certifi¬ 
cated). W. Roupell, Esq., Streatham Hill, showed six bunches of the Purple 
Constantia Grape (Frontignan), from which the liqueur wine is made at the 
Cape. It is grown in 13-inch pots on warm pipes in a sunny situation. The 
flavour was very rich. Some good examples of Muscat Hamburgh grafted 
on Black Hamburgh were also shown. 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, were awarded a silver Banksian 
medal for sixty diBhes of fine Gooseberries, representing a great number, of 
distinct varieties, white, green, and red. Some of the more notable varieties. 
Mount Pleasant, Dan’s Mistake, Leviathan, Alma, Leveller, Pilot, Leader, 
Tiger, Hepburn’s Prolific, Broom Girl, Keens’ Seedling, Surprise, Trumpeter, 
Snowdrop, Green Overall, Crown Bob, Warrington, Snowdrift, Eagle, Sally, 
and Green Gascoigne. Several plants were also shown in pots. They also 
had several dishes of Apples, Plums, Green Gages, Oullins Golden Gage, 
Alexander Peaches, and Pears. 
Certificates were awarded to the following:— 
Apple Cooling's Beauty of Bath (G. Cooling & Sons, Bath).—A pretty 
Apple of medium size, 2^ iD. across, II deep, eye closed in a deep basin, stalk 
short, thick, in a deep depression, colour bright red, with numerous whitish 
dots. Flesh firm, yellowish, of a brisk subacid flavour, rather suggestive of 
the Devonshire Quarrenden. It is said to be fit for table by the middle of 
July. 
Cherry Emperor Francis (Rivers & Son).—A fine heart-shaped fruit of 
a bright red colour, firm flesh, of excellent flavour. 
PearMadlle. de Solange (J. Veitch & Sons).--A new variety, the fruits small, 
green, nearly globular, with a large open eye, and a protuberance at the 
side of the stalk. It was ripe, juicy, and of good flavour. 
Special Prizes —Mr. Fidler’s prize for a collection of vegetables brought 
two competitors, Mr. C. J. Waite winning first honours with admirable 
samples of Pen-y-Byd Marrows, Intermediate Carrots, Snowdrop and 
Fidler’s Clipper Potatoes, Reading Perfection Tomatoes, Carter’s Jubilee 
and Ne Plus Ultra Beans, Veitch’s Autumn Giant Cauliflowers, Reading 
Allheart Cabbages, R ading Conqueror Peas, Early Nantes Carrots, White 
Leviathan Onions, Moore’s Cream Marrows, Green Globe Artichokes, and 
Sutton’s Royal Jubilee Peas. Mr. T. A. Beckett was second with less even 
samples. The prizes for dishes of Fidler’s new Reading Conqueror Pea 
were gained by Mr. T. A. Beckett, Cole Hatch Farm, Amersham, Mr. C. J. 
Waite and Mr. H. Marriott. The prizes for Fidler’s Defiance Melon were 
won by Mr. C. Ross, Mr. J. G. Dean, and Mr. W. Woolford, there being 
five competitors. 
Messrs. Webb & Sons’ prize for a collection of vegetables was won by Mr. 
C. j. Waite with be mtiful samples of Intermediate Carrots, Canadian 
Wonder Beans, and White Leviathan Onions. 
Floral Committee.— Present: G. F. Wilson, Esq., in the chair, and 
Messrs. J. Douglas, W. Goldring, R. Dean, J. Dominy, H. M. Pollett. 
A. F. Lendy, J. O’Brien, G. Paul, J. Fraser, J. Walker, W. Holmes, 
B. Wynne, E. Hill, and Dr. M. T. Masters. Mr. T. S. Ware, Totten¬ 
ham, exhibited a bright collection of hardy flowers, comprising Gladi¬ 
olus, Iceland Poppies, Gaillardias, Lilies, and the orange coloured Asclepias 
tuberosa (a silver Banksian medal was awarded). Messrs. Kelway & Son, 
Langport, Somerset, had a grand collection of about 150 spikes of Gladioli, 
representing a selection of their numerous choice delicate and richly coloured 
varieties, several of which were certificated, and a silver-gilt Banksian medal 
was awarded for the collection. Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, showed 
two plants of the yellow fruited Capsicum Mango Pepper, a large collection 
of handsome single and double Tuberous Begonias, three pretty Gloxinias, 
and a stand of a new double Zonal Pelargonium, purple and scarlet (vote of 
thanks). Messrs. Webb & Brand, Saffron Walden, sent a collection of 
Hollyhocks of capital quality. A vote of thanks and two certificates were 
awarded. Messrs. Dobbie & Co., Rothesay, N.B., sent some extremely fine 
African Marigolds and Violas, several certificates being awarded. Messrs. 
J. Carter & Co., High Holborn, had a vote of thanks for eight flowers of 
Japanese Irises, representing some beautiful varieties. They also had plants 
of the double white Pyrethrum Parthenium Snowball. Mr. F. T. Smith, 
West Dulwich, was adjudged a vote of thanks for two stands of Hollyhocks, 
comprising sixty-four good blooms. 
F. G. Tautz, Esq., Studley House, Hammersmith (gardener, Mr. J. C. Cow- 
Sley), had a small group of Orchids, including Cypripedium leucorrhodum, C. 
*Ashburtonioe expansum, C. orphanum (certificated), C. Tonsum, and a species 
like C. concolor from Siam. Cattleya Warneri rubra had two large and 
highly coloured flowers, Miltonia spectabilis bicolor was white with a crim¬ 
son central blotch in the lip, and Miltonia Palusoni concolor of a dark purplish 
hue. Mr. W. Divers, Ketton Hall Gardens, Stamford, showed blooms of Car¬ 
nation Pride of Ketton, of a Boft pink colour. Mr. P. McKenzie McKie, 
Teddington, showed blooms of a pale pink double Petunia named Dorothy t 
and Mr. R. Maher, Yattenden Court, near Newbury, showed blooms of 
Picotee Orlando, a yellow ground, flaked red. Mr. W. Palmer, The Gardens, 
Thames Ditton House, Surrey, had some fine blooms of Magnolia grandi- 
flora and several new Coleuses, for which votes of thanks were accorded. 
The prizes offered by W. Roupell, Esq., for fifty spikes of double Holly¬ 
hocks only brought one exhibitor, Mr. James Blundell, West Dulwich, who 
had a fine collection of spikes, the flowers large and varied in colour, white, 
cream, pink, yellow, orange, crimson, and purple. 
CERTIFICATED PLANTS. 
Catasetum Bungerolhi (Baron Schroder).—The plant shown was the 
valuable one sold at Stevens’ Rooms last year, and had a raceme of ten large 
ivory-white flowers. We gave an illustration of this remarkable Orchid in 
this Journal, page 563, December 23rd, 1886. 
Saccolabium Heathi (Baron Schroder).—A charming species, with a long 
several graceful raceme of pure white flowers. 
Cypripedium orphanum (F. G. Tautz).—A beautiful hybrid of unknown 
parentage, the dorsal sepal broad white veined with green in the centre, and 
purplish towards the sides ; the petals about 2 inches long, half an inch 
broad, the margin even, a few daik hairs at the base, with a dark central 
vein, and a purplish tint in the other portion. The lip is well proportioned 
and rounded, of a rosy purple hue, bright and pretty. 
African Marigold Lemon Cfieen (Dobbie & Co.).—Blooms very large and 
solid, 4 j, inches across and 3 inches deep, globular and pale yellow. 
African Marigold Prince of Orange (Dobbie & Co.).—Blooms of similar 
size to the above, of a rich orange colour, very handsome. 
Viola Lucy Ashton (Dobbie & Co.).—A distinct variety, flowers white in 
I the centre, veined purple, and broadly margined with pale purple 
