76 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
r July 26, 1888. 
- In the course of an article on the Dispersion of Seeds and 
Plants, contributed by Mr. D. Morris to Nature recently, he had the 
following note :—“ The Orange tree was introduced to Jamaica more 
than a hundred years ago. It is now found practically wild over the 
•settled parts of the island, and the fruit is exported to the value of 
nearly £50,000 per annum. Up to quite recently very few trees were 
planted. Nearly the whole were sown by the agency of frugivorous 
birds, who carried the seeds from place to place and dropped them 
in native gardens, Coffee plantations, Sugar estates, and grass lands. 
In such localities the Orange trees grew and flourished, and now a 
demand has arisen for the fruit in the United States an important 
industry has been established, the active agents in which have been 
birds. The agency of birds in the distribution of the seeds of plants 
.is too large a subject to be discussed at length here. A valuable con¬ 
tribution of facts in this direction has lately been made by Dr. Guppy 
.in his important work on the Solomon Islands. As the most recent 
addition to our knowledge of what takes place in oceanic islands at 
the present time it deserves careful attention. It will suffice only to 
quote one or two sentences :—‘ Whilst through the agency of the winds 
and currents the waves have stocked the islet with its marginal vege¬ 
tation, the fruit pigeons have been unconsciously stocking its interior 
with huge trees, that have sprung from the fruits and seeds they have 
transported in their crops from the neighbouring coasts and islets.’ ” 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
July 24th. 
The Drill Hall, James Street, Westminster, was well filled with 
exhibits on Tuesday last, as in addition to the groups and plants and 
fruit submitted to the Floral and Fruit Committees, the National 
Carnation and Picotee Society held its annual Show on the same date. 
The competition for the prizes in the classes provided by the latter was 
not, however, so keen as usual, and consequently the exhibits did not 
occupy a very large space, but the non-competing groups amply com¬ 
pensated for this deficiency. Four tables extending nearly the whole 
length of the hall were filled with plants and flowers, a cross table at 
The top being devoted to fruit and vegetables, of which there was a 
larger display than has been the case at recent meetings. 
Fruit Committee. —Present : Dr. Hogg in the chair, and Messrs. 
Veitch, J. Lee, J. Cheal, R. D. Blackmore, J. Burnett, G. T. Miles, 
W. Marshall, W. Denning, T. B. Haywood, T. J. Saltmarsh, J. Willard, 
J. Smith, J. Roberts, and Dr. Hogg. 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, exhibited a collection of fruit 
comprising very handsome examples of the large dark coloured 
Strawberry Waterloo, Raspberry Lord Beaconsfield (a dark-fruited 
variety), Raspberry Superlative with large, bright, conical fruits, a fine 
variety, thought by some to resemble Semper Fidelis ; but the decision 
of the Committee was reserved until the next meeting at Chiswick. 
The cut-leaved White Dutch Currants, Cleveland Bigarreau, Kentish 
and May Duke Cherries, Negro Largo Figs in pots, and several cordon- 
trained Red Currants completed the collection (vote of thanks). Messrs. 
Paul &; Son, Cheshunt, sent several fruits, amongst which samples of 
Elreagnus longipes edulis, some being preserved ; in the fresh state the 
small oval fruits are exceedingly acid and astringent, not unlike the 
common Sloe, and certainly not more tempting. Fine bunches and 
berries of La Versaillaise Red and White Currants were shown, and 
fruits of the late prolific Strawberry Helena Gloedc. 
Mr. W. Allan, gardener to Lord S .ffield, Gunton Park, Norwich, was 
deservedly awarded a cultural commendation for a collection of ex¬ 
tremely handsome well grown Strawberry fruits, the following varieties 
being represented: —Unser Fritz, very large; Sir C. Napier, British 
Queen, Crimson Queen, James Veitch, and Dr. Hogg. Mr. A. G. Nichols, 
Nuneham Park Gardens, Abingdon, showed a seedling green-flesh Melon 
which was unripe, but the Committee desired to see it again. Mr. D. 
Tallerman exhibited a number of Strawberries in cardboard boxes to 
illustrate the De La Vergue cold air system of refrigerating. The fruits 
had been gathered in Essex on July 13th, twelve days before, and were 
as fresh and firm as if they had only been gathered a few hours. 
They, however, possessed very little flavour, and as it could not be 
determined whether this was due to the process or not, a series of ex¬ 
periments was suggested that will definitely determine the value of the 
system. It was considered very satisEacto'ry as regards the preserva¬ 
tion of the fruits, and it is believed by the exhibitors that they can be 
kept for two months, retaining both colour and flavour. From the 
Society’s garden at Chiswick came twenty-one dishes of Red and White 
Currants, including Red and White Dutch, Common White, Champagne. 
Red Cherry, and Defiance, which is very similar to La Versaillaise. 
Mr. Walker of Thame showed pods of Duke of Albany and Improved 
Telegraph Peas that did not obtain any special notice. 
Floral Committee.- Present: G. F. Wilson, Esq., F.R.S., in the 
chair, and Messrs. Shirley Hibberd, H. Ilerbst, W. Bates, J. Fraser 
W. Wilks, T. Baines, R. D an, C. Noble, C. Pilcher, H. Ballantine, 
J. Dominy, H. JR Pollett, J. O’Brien, E. Hill, G. Paul, and B. Wynne. 
From Mr. G. F. Wilson’s garden at Wisley came some handsome 
Howers of choice Lilies, Lilium gigantcum and L. Browni being of 
remarkable merit, and very rarely are such large blooms oE the latter 
seen ; the L. giganteum flowers also had more deeply coloured stripes 
than is usually seen in this fine Lily. The others were L. Martagon 
var. dalmaticum, very rich and dark ; L. elegans. L. sanguineum, L. 
cruentum, L. avenaceum, L. concolor, and L. Ooridion, only a few from 
an uncommonly rich collection. T. B. Haywood, Esq., Woodhatch 
Lodge, Reigate, showed blooms of the Rose Margaret Haywood, a sport 
from Clemence Joigneaux, which was obtained three years ago, and is 
now quite fixed. The blooms are of fine shape and substance, of a 
soft rosy tint, not unlike that of La France, but resembling its parent 
in general style. It is of strong habit, free, and a good autumnal 
Rose. The variety possesses one admirable quality too often almost 
absent in new Roses—namely, an exquisite and powerful fragrance. A 
vote of thanks was awarded for it, but it won the National Rose Society’s 
silver medal last year at Reigate. 
Mr. J. C. Cowley, Studley House Gardens, Hammersmith, exhibited 
several Orchids, amongst them being Miltouia vexillaria superba, the 
flowers small but highly coloured, with a deep maroon blotch at the 
base of the lip, partly surrounded by a white band, the other portion of 
the flower being rosy crimson. It is very distinct and evidently free. 
Plants in flower were also shown oE Dendrobium Macarthias and 
Cattleya crocata, the latter having neat white flowers with a deep gold 
throat to the lip. Votes of thanks were accorded for all these. 
C. Dorman, Esq., Laurie Park, Sydenham, sent a plant of Epidendrum 
vitellinum majus with a large spike and fine flowers (vote of thanks), 
also Anguloa Ruckeri alba, (certificated). R. B. Lemon, Esq., Moat 
Lodge, Beckenham (gardener, Mr. Adams), was adjudged a vote of 
thanks for Odontoglossum cristatellum, with deep brown sepa's and 
petals, yellowish at the base, not remarkably beautiful, but distinct 
from most other forms of the same section. Messrs. Sander & Co., St. 
Albans, again exhibited a plant of Lselia Eyermanniana, a supposed 
natural hybrid between L. majalis and L. autumualis ; the flowers of a 
soft rosy mauve colour and possessing some characters of each species, 
but most of the latter (vote of thanks). Bollea Wendlandiana, with 
large fleshy yellow flowers and a white column. Messrs. Seger and 
Tropp, Lordship Lane, East Dulwich, showed Cypripedium Stonei acro- 
sepalum, a variety with long dark sepals and petals, but not distinguish¬ 
able from many ordinary forms of C. Stonei. Mr. C. Noble, Bagsliot, 
sent a large plant of Spiraea palmata well flowered, and Messrs. Laing 
and Mather, Kelso, showed a plant of Carnation R. H. Elliot, salmon 
striped with crimson. 
Messrs. \V. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross, exhibited several new H.P. 
Roses, one of which, Duchess of Albany, was certificated ; the others 
were Brilliant, a fine richly coloured crimson buttonhole Rose, and 
Marchioness of Lome, rosy crimson, a larger bloom than the latter. 
Mr. W. Gordon, Twickenham, exhibited flowers of Lilium elegans in 
several varieties, reddish orange, yellowish, and several intermediate 
shades ; a fine collection of Japanese Irises also came from the same 
nursery, two being certificated. Mr. T. Smith, Newry, sent a so-called 
hybrid Lychnis from L. flos-Jovis and L. coronaria, but it was much 
like the last named. From Mr. A. Scott, Cambridge, came a Lobelia 
with light blue flowers and yellowish leaves, distinct, but not very 
beautiful. Messrs. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, showed a collection of 
flowers of Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums, a primrose-coloured Sunflower, and 
early pale yellow Chrysanthemum, named L’Ami Conderchet, a white 
variety of Salvia patens, and several good Pentstemons (vote of thanks). 
Messrs. Kelway Sc Sons, Langport, had a large collection of Delphi¬ 
niums, Gaillardias, Amaryllises, and hardy flowers (bronze medal). Mr. 
B. R. Cant, Colchester, exhibited six boxes of Rose blooms exceedingly 
fresh and beautifid, representing most of the best exhibition varieties 
(silver medal). Messrs. J. Cheal Sc Sons, Crawley, contributed a col¬ 
lection of single and Pompon Dahlias in many fine varieties, also some 
Tuberous Begonias and Roses. Most of the former were arranged in 
Cheal’s patent wire flower supports, which are very conveniently con¬ 
structed for holding flowers in vases, several brauclies radiating from a 
central stem, each furnished with a small ring for holding the flower in 
the required position. 
A magnificent group of Ferns was contributed by Messrs. W. & J. 
Birkenhead, Sale, near Manchester, for which a silver Bauksian medal 
was awarded, but in the opinion of many it merited a higher honour. 
There were about 1000 plants in over 360 species and varieties, including 
a choice assortment of both greenhouse and hardy Ferns, furnishing, 
indeed, one of the most interesting features of the meeting. Of Sela- 
ginellas and Adiantums alone sixty species or varieties each were shown, 
and the twenty forms of Davallias included all the types from the 
largest to the diminutive D. parvula, like a small Selaginella. The 
climbing Lygodiums were also admirably represented from tall plants 
of the comparatively gigantic L. dichotomum, a bold and distinct Fern 
with large palmate fronds, to the smallest of all, L. microphylla. The 
delicate and exquisitely beautiful Notliochhenas and Cheilanthes 
were numerous. There were also many choice forms of Athyrium, Scolo- 
pendrium, to which we must refer more fully in another issue. Three 
were, however, selected for certificates, and are noted below. A 
silver-gilt Bafiksian medal was awarded to Messrs. Paul Sc Son 
for an extensive and brilliant group of Roses and hardy flowers 
most effectively arranged, and silver medals were adjudged to 
Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham, for a smaller but similarly ^choice 
group of hardy flowers, and to Mr. B. S. Williams, Upper Hol¬ 
loway, for a grand group of Orchids, Ferns, Palms, with valuable 
or rare stove and greenhouse plants in variety. Messrs. Veitch & Sons 
had several extensive collections, including a group of Clethra alnifolia 
