30 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January 12, 1888. 
EOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
JANUARY 10th. 
The Svvanley Primulas constituted the principal attraction at this 
meeting, the Cyclamens from Teddington, the Rhododendrons from 
Chelsea, with several exhibits of Orchids from amateurs furnishing other 
interesting groups. 
Feuit Committee. —Present: Dr. Robert Hogg in the chair, and 
Messrs W. Marshall, C. Howe, C. Ross, A. H. Pearson, J. Wright, G. T. 
Miles, G. W. Cummins, J. Cheal, J. Woodbridge, H. J. Veitch, J. Roberts, 
P. Crowley, T. F. Rivers, .John Lee, R. D. Blackmore, P. Barr, Harrison 
Weir, and G. Norman. A seedling Apple was sent by Messrs. W. Barron 
and Son, Borrowash, Derby. It is a large, flattish, and rather angular 
fruit, bearing a general resemblance to Bramley’s Seedling ; and as it is 
said by the exhibitors to keep firm till July the Committee expressed a 
desire to see it again later in the season, as its value will largely depend 
on its long keeping property. Mr. A. Dean, Bedfont, sent two dishes of 
Apples for identification, and seemed a little amused subsequently that 
th’s could not be satisfactorily accomplished by such a body of “clever” 
men. They were able, however, to determine that the names attached 
—Royal Pearmain and Winter Pearmain—were incorrect. The fruit 
bearing the latter name seemed intermediate in character between 
Brabant Bellefleur and Striped Beefing, and it was thought to be a 
variety worth looking after, as its size, firmness, and good colour would 
be likely to commend it for the market. Messrs. Veitch, Rivers, and 
Pearson secured specimens for comparison with others in their collec¬ 
tions. Fruits of Messrs. Pearson’s Newton Wond-r, for which a first- 
class certificate was awarded at the last meeting, were again placed on 
the table. They appeared to show the parentage of Blenheim Pippin 
and Dumelow’s Seedling ; the variety therefore ought to prove worthy 
of its honour. 
Mr. J. Roberts, Charleville Forest, Tullamore, sent two bunches of 
his seedling Grape, White Gros Colman. They were medium sized, and 
in shape resembling the typical form, the berries also being like it in 
shape, but small for Gros Colman ; skin thin, flesh juicy, sweet, with a 
peculiar aroma. Many of the berries were much spotted and soft, and 
because of its apparent non-keeping properti s no award was made for 
the variety. 
Mr. T. Francis Rivers exhibited a dish of the Royal Medlar, also a 
sample of jelly made from the fruit. The fruit was much approved, 
and considered to excel the Nottingham Medlar, being larger, and at 
least equal in quality. It has been grown at Sawbridgeworth for many 
years. The jelly met with unanimous approval, being firm, rich, with a 
new and most agreeable flavour, and when known will probably be 
widely esteemed. Mr. Rivers thinks Medlar growing and jelly making 
will prove remunerative, as the trees can be grown in hedges, or, indeed, 
may form attractive and profitable fences. Some years ago he cut down 
a Thorn hedge, grafted Medlars on the shortened stems, and this hedge 
now bears abundant and profitable crops of fruit, costing nothing to 
grow. A first-class certificate was unanimously awarded. 
Mr. E. Newton, Susse'c House, Hitchin, sent asmall dish of Tomatoes, 
apparently Laxton’s open air variety, gathered from plants that fruited 
early in the season, and now grown “ in a house glazed on his new 
system.” It is right to add, however, that Tomato plants have borne 
continuously for two years long a_;o. A vote of thanks was awarded 
for the Tomatoes. 
Messrs. Hurst and Son sent specimens of Hearting Kale that did not 
appear to possess any special merit calling for remark. 
Floeal Committee. —Present : G. F. Wilson, Esq., F.R.S., in the 
chair, and Messrs. W. Wilks, H. Bennett, H. Herbst, W. Bates, G. 
Nicholson, W. Goldring, R. Dean, J. Dominy, H. M. Pollett, C. Noble, H. 
Ballantine, B. Wynne, J. O’Brien, E. Hill, G. Duffield, and T. Baines. 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent, were awarded a silver-gilt 
Banksian medal for one of the best groups of Primulas they have ever 
staged, comprising 170 excellent plants, well grown, with abundant 
handsome flowers of some very fine varieties. These were as follows, 
commencing with the single forms ;—Swanley Red, Improvement, and 
King of the Primulas, all distinct but remarkably rich shades of red, 
the last named of strong habit and bearing lar^e trusses of flowers. The 
Queen White with a delicate blush tint, flowers of great size ; Emperor, 
peculiar salmon red large flowers, foliage dark ; White Perfection, fern 
leaf, pure white, massive flowers, dark foliage ; Princess Beatrice, com¬ 
pact habit, rosy pink edged with white, very distinct; Swanley Giant, 
rich purplish crimson, very large and handsome ; Cannell’s White, pure 
white, a grand flower, compact habit and lii!ht foliage ; Princess of 
Wales, very delicate pink, fringed flowers, light foliage, a charming 
variety ; Swanley White, a well-formed flower, dark foliage, red leaf¬ 
stalks ; Swanley Purple, an intensely rich crimson purple, dark foliage ; 
Miss Cannell, an extremelv large flower of excellent form, white or 
faintly tinged with pink, dark foliage. The double varieties were Miss 
Eva Fish (certificated), Marchioness of Exeter, full, white or blush 
fringed flowers, dark foliare, very free and handsome ; Earl of Beacons- 
field, rosy red, neat flowers and good truss, free dark foliage ; Annie 
Hillier, delicate pale pink, the buds white ; Alba plena and Alba plena 
fimbriata, both well-known varieties, and King of the Purples, fine 
purplish crimson, full. A silver-gilt medal was also awarded ti Messrs. 
H. Page & Son, Grove Nursery, Twickenham, for a group of remarkably 
well-grown Cyclamens in -IS-size pots, the colours varying from very 
dark red to the purest white. 
Orchids were not very numerous, but they included several of a 
rather interesting character, four being honoured with certificates. As 
a specimen the plant of Cypripedium insigne from A. S. Smith, Esq., 
Silvermere, Cobh.am, was the most notable, and the cultural commenda¬ 
tion awarded was well deserved. The specimen was over 3 feet m 
diameter, in vigorous health, and bearing fifty-one large flowers. A. H. 
Smee, Esq., The Grange, Wallington, Surrey (gardener Mr. G. W. Cum¬ 
mins), sent a plant of Odontoglossum Rossi Smeeana, with white lip and 
petals and pale sepals, quite clistinct from other varieties. Epidendrum 
polybulbon from the same garden is one of the diminutive Orchids, not 
exceeding 2 inches in height, the pseudo-bulbs small, with one or two 
leaves and a single flower each, the narrow sepals and petals brown 
tipped with yellow, the lip white. Lselia anceps Protheroeana, a rich 
crimson variety, with the lip unusually dark. F. G. Tautz, Esq., Studley 
House, Hammersmith (gardener, Mr. J. C. Cowley), showed several 
hybrid Cypripediums, the best of which, C. Tautzianum, was certificated. 
C. Marshallianum was worthy of a similar award, it is a hybrid from 
C. concolor and C. venustum, showing much of the former in the shape 
of the flower, which is dotted with dark red on a light yellowish ground, 
the leaves are mottled with light and dark green. C. concinnum is one 
of the Harrisianum type, and C. pleurnneuron is a curious and rather 
pretty form, with deep red glossy petals, a pale yellowish lip and a 
rounded dorsal sepal heavily veined with dark green. R. J. Measures, 
Esq., Camberwell (gardener, Mr. Simpkins), exhibited a p'ant of the 
bold Cypripedium Saltieri, which has large yellowish flowers suggestive 
of both C. insigne and C. villosum in form, C. apiculatum and _C. regale 
are both of the Harrisianum group, and C. Fostermanni is an introduc¬ 
tion from Sylhet, where it is said to be found in a district subject to 
sharp frosts ; it is of the C. insigne character with the lip and petals 
curiously mottled with yellow and brown (vote of thanks). 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, had a group of hybrid Rhododen¬ 
drons chiefly from the new R. Curtisi, together with a collection of 
brilliantly tinted flowers of their general stock. The Orchids comprised 
a hybrid Phalsenopsis (certificated) and Cypripedium Galatea, a hybrid 
of unknown parentage, but something of the C. insigne form. Messrs. 
Hugh Low & Co., Clapton, sent a plant of Angrfecum calligerum ivith 
white flowers, the sepals and petals narrow, the lip of similar shape and 
size, furnished with a white spur 4 inches long. 
CERTIFICATED PLANTS. 
Oxera 2 )ulchella (Mr. F. Ross, Pendell Court Gardens, Bletchingley). 
—A handsome climbing plant of the natural order Verbenacem, and re¬ 
lated to the Clerodendrons. It is a native of New Caledonia, where it 
was found during La P4rouse’s 'voyage. A plant was flowered at 
Pendell Court in December, 1886, and figured in the “Botanical Maga¬ 
zine” June last year (t. 6938). It has flowered again most freely this 
year, as the specimen exhibited well indicated. The plant is a strong 
climber with smooth bright green elliptical opposite leaves, and the 
flowers are borne in dense pendulous axillary cymes. The corollas are 
white, broadly funnel-shaped, with two long stamens and a greenish 
white calyx of four sepals. It requires an intermediate temperature 
and a rich soil. 
Pi'iniu^a sinensis Miss Ecu Fish (H. Cannell & Sons).—A double 
variety with very full large flowers, lilac purple edged with white, 
a most distinct colour. The foliage is light green and the trusses large. 
Cui)ripe(Vmm. Tautzianuni (F. G. Tautz, Esq.).—A hybrid which 
originated in the Veitchian collection from a cross between C. niveum 
and C. barbatum. It is an extremely promising novelty, the colour 
peculiarly rich and distinct. The flower is neat in form, the lip after 
the style "of C. niveum. white on the under surface, and of a fine rosy 
crimson tint on the face. The petals are veined and spotted with deep 
crimson, the lower edge white, the dorsal sepal white veined with 
crimson. 
Laelia ayiceps fichrcelerat (Baron Schroder).—A handsome variety 
ivith an intensely rich crimson lip, lighter in the throat and veined with 
gold, the sepils and petals suffused with a warm crimson hue. 
PkalcBnpsis F. L. Ames (J. Veitch & Sons).—A hybrid between 
P. amabilis and P. int-rmedia Portei, with plain green foliage, the 
flow'ers white, with a tinge of red in the throat of the lip. Notable for 
its neat elegant outline, and interesting as an addition to the few hybrid 
Phalmnopses yet raised. 
AnjrcBeum, Sa/i'lerianum (S.anders & Co., St. Albans).—-A graceful 
species of the small flowered section. The plant shown was growing on 
a small moss-covered raft 8 inches by 3, and had two racemes of about 
fifteen flowers each, the leaves oval and smooth. The flowers II inch in 
diameter, pure white, with ovate petals and lip, the sepals narrow and 
acute, the pedicels creamy, the spurs long and straight. 
lihododendron Primrose (J. Veitch & Sons).—A single variety yvith 
large well-formed clear yellow bell-shaped flowers. A handsome addition 
to the greenhouse hybrids. 
Scientific Committee. —Present:—Mr. F. P. Pascoe, Vice-Presi¬ 
dent, in the chair ; Messrs. Boulger, Lynch, Smith, O’Brien, Michael, 
McLachlan, Ridley, Murray, Scott, Morris, Smee, Wilson, Drs. Masters, 
Lowe, Profs. Church, Ward, and Hon. Sec. Rev. G. Henslow. ^ 
Potato with Cavity. —Mr. McLachlan showed a Potato with a cavity 
which was caused by a predaceous beetle. The cavity was lined with 
cork cells. 
Aluminum Plants. —Prof. Church alluded to experiments proving 
that aluminum was very prevalent in plants— e.g., gums and gluten, &c. 
Coccus, new sp. —Mr. Morris exhibited a new species discovered on 
Strobilanthes cuspidatus, growing at Kew. 
Clerodcn-’lron,n. He also exhibited a new species remarkable for 
its climbing hooked petioles. 
