48 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
( January 19, 1083. 
May. They are also destroyed by the first severe frost, and in the 
past autumn both it and an old Mulberry were almost denuded of 
their leaves in one night. The largest leaves are 1 foot long by 
8 inches broad, heart-shaped, and tapering at the tip, of a peculiarly 
bright fresh green, quite distinct from the majority of deciduous 
trees, and in contrast with a dark Pinus and Arbor-Vitse the tint is 
very striking. The flowers are produced very freely every year 
during August, and they are occasionally followed by long narrow 
pods 8 inches to a foot in length, but this rarely happens except 
after a hot summer. Strangely enough the tree did not bear one 
fruit last, year, although the season was so favourable ; perhaps 
it was too dry. In some gardens this Catalpa bears its fruits more 
frequently, certain peculiarities of situation no doubt helping it. 
In the United States the fruits often remain on the tree until the 
following spring. 
When in flower the tree is very handsome, the large panicles 
being borne in great numbers, and for a fortnight or more these 
expand in succession. The corollas are peculiarly crumpled, with 
spreading lobes and a short inflated tube, white with yellow lines 
in the throat, and numerous small violet or purple dots, which give 
it a beautiful appearance, something like the spotted Gloxinias. 
The calyx has a dark purplish tinge, the pedicels being similar, and 
they serve to show up the flowers still more. The illustration 
(fig. 7) represents a panicle of ordinary size, many exceeding it 
in length, and with larger individual flowers. They are almost 
useless for cutting, as they last but a short time when placed 
in water. 
The tree is almost solely planted here for ornamental purposes, 
and a moderately sheltered position should be chosen when possible, 
as the leaves, being of delicate texture, are soon torn and injured 
by wind. The wood being very brittle, the branches are soon 
broken and the symmetry of the tree completely spoiled. In the 
south it is rarely injured by frost, but the previous season’s growths 
if unripened are occasionally killed. Owing to its starting so late in 
the spring it usually escapes the frosts that are often so disastrous 
to fruit trees. The wood is very light, but when matured and 
well seasoned is said to be durable, and large numbers of trees have 
been planted by the railway lines in North America to furnish 
timber. Judging by the wood produced here, however, it would 
not be expected to be of much use, as it is extremely brittle and 
pithy. The bark is of a corky nature, grey, or almost white, and it 
is said to possess some medicinal value. One curious character is 
the freedom with which shoots are produced from all parts of the 
old branches or stems when cut back or injured in any way. 
The variety of C. bignonioides named aurea, which is remarkable 
for its rich golden leaves, has come into notice of late years, and is 
one of the finest ornamental foliage trees we possess. Throughout 
the summer, especially in warm bright seasons, the leaves assume a 
golden hue that is most effective amongst variegated or green¬ 
leaved shrubs or trees. Last season I saw a large quarter of young 
specimens of this variety in a nursery near Richmond, and the 
unusually rich colour was very notable. Though not frequently 
seen in gardens it has been in cultivation for over eighteen years, as 
a certificate was awarded for it by the Royal Horticultural Society 
in 1870. 
CATALPA SPBCIOSA. 
Most of the other Catalpas are but little known in English 
gardens, but C. speciosa is^so nearly related to C. bignonioides that it 
was long regarded as that species, and it may possibly be still found 
in some collections under that name. It is regarded as the repre¬ 
sentative of the better known tree in the valley of the Mississippi, 
and Dr. Engelmann has said that the French settlers called it 
Shawnee Wood (Bois Chavanon) after the Indians in that district. 
It was first brought prominently into notice as a distinct species in 
1853 by a Dr. Warder, and it was then propagated extensively by 
Messrs. John C. & E. Y. Teas of Indiana. It is more erect in 
habit than C. bignonioides, equally quick in growth, and flowers 
several weeks earlier. Fruits have been produced as much as 
20 inches in length, but they are usually much shorter. The 
flowers are whiter than those of C. bignonioides, and their handsome 
appearance led to the adoption of the name speciosa. 
CATALPA KAIMPFERT. 
This is the Japanese tree already mentioned as being described 
by Kaempfer under the name Bignonia Catalpa. By some it is 
regarded as a geographical variety of the American species, but it is 
very distinct in habit, being dwarfer, more bush-like, with lobed 
leaves. The flowers are also smaller, yellow spotted with red, but 
they are fragrant. It was introduced from Japan in 1862, and is 
figured in the “ Botanical Magazine,” t. 6611. Sir Joseph Hooker 
there states that it was discovered by Kncmpfer in 1693, and intro¬ 
duced into Belgium by seed in 1849. It has proved perfectly hardy, 
and though not attaining the stature and size of leaf and flower of 
C. syringaefolia (C. bignonioides), it is a most welcome addition to 
the tree flora of Europe, being easily propagated by seeds, which 
have been ripened on the Continent and by cuttings. C. Kaempferi 
is often found under the name of C. Bungei, a very different tree, 
not hitherto introduced into Europe, which is a native of North 
China, has a much larger flower, and pods 18 inches long. 
CATALPA BUNGEI. 
A dwarf-growing tree from North China, described as having lobed 
leaves and yellowish flowers spotted with red, borne in a raceme. 
This rarely exceeds 10 feet high, and a variety with very diverse 
leaves is named heterophylla. It is evidently a near relative of 
C. Kaempferi. Catalpa Pottsi, said to be from Mexico in 1851, with 
pink flowers, I do not know, and the two stove species, Catalpa 
longisiliqua or C. longissima, and C. microphylla, from the West 
Indies, are rarely seen out of botanical collections.— Lewis Castle. 
GARDENERS’ ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. 
The annual meeting of this Institution was held at Simpson’s, in the 
Strand, on Friday last, the 13th inst., when the chair was occupied by 
Harry J. Veitch, Esq. With a few preliminary remarks the following 
report was read to the meeting :— 
Report op the Committee of the Gardeners’ Royal Bene¬ 
volent Institution for the Year 1887. 
It is with infinite satisfaction that the Committee present their 
report for the year 1887, and they sincerely congratulate the subscribers 
on the great success that has attended their labours during that time. 
During the year fourteen pensioners have died, five leaving widows, 
and these having been found worthy, and having in every way eomplied 
with the rules, were, in accordance with Rule 7, placed on the pension 
list in succession to their late husbands. 
This being the year of Her Most Gracious Majesty’s J ubilee, it was, 
after very mature deliberation, determined by the Committee that some 
steps should be taken to mark that auspicious event, and it was 
eventually arranged that a special Jubilee grant of £5 should be made 
to each of the pensioners and each unsuccessful candidate at the last 
election, and that a special appeal for this object should be made to the 
public and the horticultural world. This appeal, your Committee are 
pleased to say, was nobly responded to, more particularly by gardeners, 
to whom special collecting cards were issued, resulting in a clear sum 
of £G77 12s. 2d. This with the donations, &c., received at the annual 
festival have enabled the Committee not only to pay the largest amount 
ever distributed in pensions—viz., £2124 lOs., but also to make the pro¬ 
posed Jubilee grant, amounting to £655, without trenching on the 
reserve fund. 
This has been, with one exception, the most successful year on 
record, and the Committee have to return their best thanks and acknow¬ 
ledgements to Baron Ferdinand De Rothschild, M.P., who so kindly pre¬ 
sided at the anniversary festival on the 29th June last, who, by his 
influence and his eloquence, added to his liberality and that of his 
friends, so materially assisted in securing a very large subscription list, 
and making the festival one of the events of the season. 
It is with infinite satisfaction that your Committee have to announce 
that the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, M.P., most kindly consented 
to succeed Baron Ferdinand De Rothschild as chairman at the festival 
when held in the ensuing summer, and they have reason to believe that 
with such a distinguished President the festival will be a grand 
success. 
The number of pensioners on the list is 114 now, this day increased 
to 126. 
After the report was read the following resolutions were adopted :— 
I. —It was moved by Mr. B. Wynne, and seconded by Mr. A. F, 
Barron, and carried unanimously. That the Report of the Committee 
and statement of the accounts of the Institution as certified by the 
auditors now read, be received and adopted, and that the best thanks of 
this meeting be given to the Committee for their able management of 
the Institution during the past year. 
II. —Moved by Mr. John Lee, and seconded by Mr. W. Roupell, That 
Mr. Harry J. Veitch be elected the Treasurer, and that the thanks of 
the meeting be presented to him for the great interest and trouble he 
has taken in the affairs of the Institution during the past year. 
III. —Moved by Mr. W. Richards, and seconded by Mr. John Lee, 
That Mr. N. Sherwood, Mr. John Roberts, Mr. John Laing, Mr. A. F. 
Barron, Mr. Geo. Woodgate, and Mr. Henry Tillman be elected on the 
new Committee. 
IV. —Moved by Mr. Webber, and seconded bv Mr. Richards, That 
Mr. John Lee, Mr. J. F. Meston, and Mr. Jesse Willard be re-elected 
auditors. 
V. —Moved by Mr. Watkins, and seconded by Mr. Woodbridge, That 
Messrs. E. Tidswell, James Webber, E. W. Cathie, George Monro, and 
William Richards hie appointed arbitrators. 
VI. —Moved by Mr. .John Lee, and seconded by Mr. Watkins. That 
Mr. Cutler be re-elected Secretary. 
VII. —In consequence of four vacancies having occurred in the list of 
pensioners since the voting papers were issueil, the Committee recom¬ 
mend that after the pensioners for whom the election has been called 
have been elected, the four next highest on the poll shall be declared 
elected. Mr. H. J. Veitch proposed, and Mr. Woodbridge seconded the 
I adoption of this suggestion, which was agreed to unanimously. 
