540 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 22, 1887 
Oncidium species, from MM. Yervaetet Cie.; Cypripedium Lawrenceanum, 
from M. Grenier ; Cypripedium Crossianuro superbum, Cypripedium 
1 nsigne, and Cypripedium pnestans, from M. J. Hye. Cultural certifi¬ 
cates were awarded for Cypripedium Spicerianum, var., from M. L. 
Spae-Vander Meulen, Cypripedium Spicerianum, var., Cypripedium 
Sallieri, and Masdevallia tovarcnsis, from M. J. Hye ; and Oncidium 
ornithorhynchum, from M. le Cte. P. de Hemptinne. Honourable men¬ 
tion was accorded for Draciena indivisa var., from M. de Bruycker of 
Meirelbeke ; Reinwardtia tetragyne, Masdevallia bella, Cypripedium 
Dayanum splendens, and Cypripedium Sedeni grandiflorum, from 
M. Ed. Pynaert; Cypripedium Scblimi, from MM. Vervaet et Cie.; 
Laelia Ddrmani, from M. Ad. D’Haene ; and Cypripedium Sedeni, from 
MM. Yervaet et Cie. 
- Horticultural Supper in Edinburgh.—A horticultural 
supper was held on the 16th inst. in the Windsor Hotel, Edinburgh. Mr] 
Wm. Thomson, Clovenfords, presided, and Mr. R.Munro and Mr. A. 
Mackenzie acted as croupiers. There were about seventy horticul¬ 
turists present. “The Magistrates and Town Council of Edinburgh” 
was proposed by the chair, and replied to by Councillor Hay. In pro¬ 
posing the toast of “ Scottish Horticulture,” the Chairman said if ever 
there was a time in the world’s history when it was important that the 
science of cultivation should be known in all its details, it was now 
It was becoming a serious thing for the nation that there was, generally 
speaking, no class of tenants able to make the very best of the land 
they held. There was, he went on to say, an opening now for young 
gardeners which did not exist twenty-eight years ago. He referred to 
the Tea planting in India. Gardeners were altogether much better off 
than when he was a young man. Mr. Alexander Mackenzie, in respond 
ing, said that he was often told that the present race of Scottish gar. 
deners were not equal to that of the past. He believed they were, and 
that they would carry forward the triumphs of former generations, and 
hand them down to the coming generations. Mr. James Grieve, in a 
humorous speech, proposed “ The Royal Caledonian Horticultural 
Society, the Scottish Horticultural Association, and other kindred 
Societies.” Mr. D. P. Laird, of the Scottish Horticultural Association) 
who responded, said he did not see why there should not be certificates 
for proficiency in horticulture. The other toasts included “ The 
Nursery and Seed Trade,” “Scottish Gardeners,” “ The Horticultural 
Builders,” “ The Horticultural Press,” “ The Market Gardeners and 
Florists,” and “ The Nursery and Seed Employes.” 
-The annual meeting of the Wimbledon Horticultural 
Society was held on the 14th inst. in Lecture Hall, Dr. Walker in 
the chair. It was statid that the total receipts were less than in 
1886, yet nearly £20 more had been awarded in prizes, and there was 
still a balance of nearly £10 in favour of the Society. Dr. Walker and 
Mr. J. Lyne were re-elected Honorary Secretaries, the following being 
elected as members of the Committee—Messrs. Alderman, Amoore, 
Berridge, Bentley, Cole, Chandler, Cypher, Dale, Faulkner, Gibson, 
Hunt, Methven, Newell, Northover, Shcaham, Stratton, Thomson, 
Thornton, and Ware. It was agreed that the Society should be 
amalgamated with the National Chrysanthemum and National Rose 
Societies. 
- The Kingston Chrysanthemum Society held their annual 
meeting on Wednesday, the 14th inst., the Hon. Treasurer, Mr. J. 
Drewett, presiding. From the annual statement it appeared that the 
income of the past year amounted to £223 3s. lid., which was made up 
by the following items :—Balance brought forward from previous year, 
£40 2s. 5d.; subscriptions received, £110 18s. ; money taken at doors— 
first day, £43 17s. 9d., second day, £25 Is. 3d., total, £68 19s. ; sale of 
tickets, £3 4s. 6d. The expenditure reached £215 5s. 7d., the chief item 
being £120 16s. for the Society’s prizes. There was a balance in hand of 
£7 18s. 4d. The falling off in the receipts was due to the exceedingly 
wet weather on the second day of the Show. Mr. T. Jackson resigned 
his post as Hon. Secretary, and was accorded a hearty unanimous vote of 
thanks for the services he had rendered. Mr. Woodgate was elected 
Hon. Secretary and the following as members of the Committee— 
Messrs. Attrill, Bates, Child, Cawte, Hardy, Lyne, Macpherson, Orchard, 
Puttock, Shepherd, Slade, Watson, Furze, and Dr. Walker. The Show 
next year will be held on November 6th and 7th. 
- On Wednesday, the 14th inst., the Ancient Society of 
York Florists held their annual dinner at the “ White Swan Inn.” 
The Lord Mayor of York, Mr. Alderman Rymer, occupied the chair 
and there were also present the City Sheriff, Mr. S. Border ; Mr. Coun¬ 
cillor Oakley, Mr. Councillor Wragge, Mr. T. E. Abbey, Mr. Marchanti 
Mr. Walton, Mr. Cowper, Mr. Ogden, Mr. White, Mr. J. Hume, Mr. 
Hebblethwaite, Mr. Carr, Mr. Fielden, Mr. Hampson, Mr. W. B. Dyson, 
Mr. Key, Mr. Lazenby, Hon. Sec. ; and others. Letters had been re¬ 
ceived from Aldermen Hornby and Wright, Councillors Matthews, Dale, 
Turner, and Lindberg, and Major Bairstow, Messrs. J. N. Rowntree, 
W. W. Hargrove, J. T. Hingston, J. Brown, and T. Coulson regretting 
their inability to be present. The usual toasts were proposed and re¬ 
sponded to, and the Chairman said, in the course of a short speech, that 
“ He was sure the Florists’ Society was doing a great work in the city 
of York. He remembered when they had their Horticultural Society, 
which unfortunately died a natural death. That Society had existed con¬ 
siderably over 100 years, and had, in some obscurity at one time, carried 
on its work quietly and unostentatiously. He was pleased to think it was 
now coming more to the front, making greater headway, and he was glad 
to say was never in a more prosperous condition than at the present 
time. They must all be delighted with flowers, and those who had not 
the faculty for training and cultivating them envied those who knew 
how to grow those pretty flowers known as ‘ florists’ flowers.’ He 
believed in Chryranthemums, for, as the Irishman said, he admired the 
moon because it came out and shed its light when all was dark, so Chrys¬ 
anthemums came out in winter when all other flowers ‘ had faded and 
gone,’ and shed their beauty all around. He rejoiced that he had been 
one who assisted in the establishment of the Chrysanthemum Show. 
He had been pleased to see how it had grown, and he knew it was now 
looked forward to with interest by the citizens, and as long as they 
acted bravely and nobly, and with some little enterprise, he was sure 
success would crown their efforts in the future as in the past.” 
- Auricula Page’s Champion. —Mr. W. Kilgour, Blair Drum¬ 
mond, writes :—“ A friend to whose opinion I am always inclined to 
defer informs me that what I have as this variety is not correct. He 
founds this mainly upon Sweet’s “ Florists’ Guide,” where Champion is 
figured and described. Sweet gives the ground as a velvety black, and 
my informant says that a plant which bloomed with himself, but which 
he subsequently lost, corresponded to that description. Every other 
authority, past and present, that I can meet with gives the body colour 
as more or less red, and in the bloom of my plants the red is quite de¬ 
cided. The colour may deepen as the plants get stronger, but certainly 
not to black. Inquiries tend to convince me that I have what was over 
thirty years ago grown in Scotland as Champion. One eminent florist 
whose collection of Auriculas was then well known exhibited beyond 
question as such the flower I have, and 1 can as readily doubt Sweet’s 
infallibility as believe that he and others should be cultivating and 
showing some other plant as Champion within a few years after the 
latter was sent out. I am anxious to know whether or not I have the 
true variety, and perhaps some of the readers of the Journal can 
help me.” 
- The Richmond Horticultural Society. —At the annual 
meeting of this Society held recently, the report of the year was read, 
the financial condition being satisfactory, as there is a balance to the 
credit of the Society of £19 4s. 2d., the total amount expended in 
prizes and medals being £261 0s. 6d. At the summer show eight silver 
Jubilee medals were offered for the most meritorious exhibits in the 
different sections, and seven were awarded to the following :—H. Little, 
Esq., East Twickenham ; Messrs. Hooper k Co., Twickenham ; Mr. W. 
Bates, gardener to Mrs. Meek, Poulett Lodge, Twickenham ; Mr. J. 
Coombs, Sheen House Gardens ; Mrs. Chard, Brunswick Nursery, Stoke 
Newington ; Mr. H. Down, Isleworth ; and Mr. G. Filsell, Hatfield 
House Gardens, Twickenham. These medals are large, handsome, and 
valuable productions, and were presented to the winners by Sir H. 
Whittaker Ellis. Hearty votes of thanks were accorded to the courteous 
and respected Hon. Secretary, Mr. J. H. Ford, and other officials for 
their services during the year. 
-A “ Local Rosarian ” writes as follows respecting the Na¬ 
tional Rose Society at Richmond : —“ I was present recently at a 
meeting of the National Rose Society, when the Hon. Secretary stated 
that it had been proposed to hold one of the National Society’s shows in 
Richmond, and he had twice written to Mr. Fori respecting it, but 
failing to obtain a reply, other arrangements were made. However, 
after the lapse of three weeks, he received a letter expressing willingness 
to receive the National Society, but it was then too late. I believe that 
