86 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July £0, 1I9T, 
Mr. CulliDgford three years since, which is little known at present, 
beiDg of no use for exhibition, but is one of the very best in cultivation 
for supplying quantities of good flowers for cutting, and is a favourite 
colour with ladies, being just the colour its name indicates. I am also 
of opinion that the favourite new variety of last year, VV. W. Coles, will 
prove an excellent one for this work. It is very free in producing good 
use'ul lateral flowers of good shape and build for decorative work and 
of a charming colour, lighter and brighter than are the big exhibition 
flowers of it, a bright terra-cotta red, a colour much sought after at the 
end of November. 
[In recognition of the services of Mr. Woodcock as a cultivator, 
writer, and good gardener, we have pleasure in publishing his portrait, 
and wish him much success in his future business career.] 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
July 21st. 
Scientific Committee.— Present: Dr. M. T. Masters (in the chair), 
Mr. Morris, Mr. Blandford, Rev. W. Wilks, Rev. G. Henslow, Hon. Sec. 
Conifers Attached by Chermes. —With reference to this subject, 
brought before the Committee at the last meeting, Mr. Blandford 
rema ked on the difficulty of destroying the insects with the paraffin spray, 
inasmuch as it was practically useless for lar^e trees, and could be only 
app 'e 1 to small ones ; moreover, it will not remove them unless it be 
applied with force, and in that case water alone would answer the 
purpose. The only effectual method was to nip off the galls made by 
the chermes. From some observations of Dr. Masters it would seem 
that the gall-making species does not appear to attack the Larch, but 
only the Spruce Fir, though other species of chermes attack various 
members of the Coniferae. 
Microscopical Structure of Hybrids. —Mr. McFarlane sent photo¬ 
graphs illustrating the microscopical structures of Lapageria, Philesia, 
and of a hybrid between them, Philageria. In all cases the anatomical 
details of the hybrid were intermediate in character between those of 
the two parents. 
Primula sikkimensis Attached by Slugs. —Rev. C. Wolley Dod sent 
plants from which the cortical chlorophyllaceous tissue had b.en gnawed 
off by the common white slug. As a proof of their partiality he observed 
that stalks of P. rosea and of Dodecatheon growing side by side with 
the above were not touched. If the P. sikkimensis is barked soon after 
flowering it withers and develops no good seed. 
Lnranthus (?) from Bechuanaland. —Mr. Johns'one forwarded a 
specimen of what appeared to be a species of Loranthus, on which 
he observes “It had a small berry not quite round, of a colour 
similar to red coral on a short stalk.” It was referred to Kew for 
identification. 
Apple and Pear Twigs Barked. —Mr. G. Lee of Clevedon sent some 
more specimens, but no new light could be thrown upon the injury. 
A method adopted by Mr. Bunyard, who is familiar with the fact, may 
be mentioned. In cases where nocturnal beetles or other insects attack 
young trees, he lays a sheet under the tree, and by violently shaking it, 
the insects fall upon it, are easily seen, and then dispatched. 
Strawberries Attacked by Beetles (?).—Messrs. Wood & Ingram of 
Huntingdon forwarded specimens of beetles of two species, Harpalus 
ruficornis and Terrostichus madidus, supposed to have been the depre¬ 
dators. They are nocturnal, but very exceptionally vegetable feeders, 
hence some suspicion was felt as to their being the right insects ; and 
the question was raised as to whether they had been actually observed 
eating the seeds of the Strawberries as described. If the above beetles 
were the real enemies, hand-picking at night is the only method of 
destroying them, as they are nocturnal in their habits. 
Plants, fyc., Exhibited. —Dr. Masters showed a specimen of Weigela 
sessilifolia, with small scentless and yellowish flowers, a dimerous Cypri- 
pedium, a pelorian Linaria vulgaris, and a proliferous Carnation. Mr. 
Henslow exhibited a white Iris with two flowers, both being dimerous 
instead of trimerous. Members of the Scientific Committee may be 
reminded that the next meeting on August 11th will be the last of the 
session. The first meeting of the winter session will be held at Chiswick 
on October 6th. 
TUBEROUS BEGONIAS. 
Tuberous Begonias are destined to occupy a very prominent 
position in all gardens where flowers are appreciated. Easy of culture, 
requiring only a warm greenhouse temperature as a maximum, and 
growing and flowering freely out of doors in beds and borders, vigorous 
ia growth, bold and beautiful in foliage, producing large and gorgeously 
coloured flowers with the greatest freedom, the Tuberous Begonia will 
rapidly become one of the most popular flowers. Less than twenty years 
ago any further improvement upon such kinds as Boliviensis, Chelsoni, 
Pearcei, and Yeitchi was pronounced to be impossible. What was said 
to be impossible has been achieved by Messrs. John Laing & Sons of Forest 
Hill by careful selection, judicious crossing, and first-class cultivation, 
extending over a period of seventeen years, but unremitting attention, 
persistency, and study has obtained its reward. These plants appear to 
successfully adapt themselves to all purposes but one—viz., cutting 
purposes. As basket plants they are very useful; when massed in the 
conservatory or greenhouse they make a display of colour that it would 
be difficult to equal from June to October ; it is valuable as a “ bedding 
out ” plant, two thousand of one colour having been sent for that 
purpose this season to one private garden, and it is equally at home in the- 
herbaceous border. As in purchasing Orchids and most other plants that 
vary considerably in the qua’ity of flower, it is a good plan to inspect 
a collection of good repute and select the best varieties. Of course 
the fir?t cost is greater, but as a rule it is the most satisfactory ra¬ 
the end. 
The plants under glass at Forest Hill have been exceedingly fine this 
season, and where there are so many that are excellent it is difficult to 
particularise. The principal show house is a magnificent sight, a span- 
roofed structure about 100 feet by 24 feet, with central and side stages, 
containing hundreds of specimens and half-specimens, as well as smaller 
and more saleable plants. The specimens are 2 feet to 2\ feet in height 
and diameter, with strong stems and immense leaves, and correspond¬ 
ingly large and numerous brightly coloured flowers. Many of the latter 
are 6 inches in diameter, very regular in form, and of good substance. 
Some flowers have been as much as 7 inches, but this size is exceptional. 
Given flowers 4 to 6 inches across, circular or nearly circular in form, 
bright and decided in colour or shade of colour, and of thick velvety 
substance, there is little more to be desired in the flowers of the 
Tuberous Begonia, except that it shall be attached more firmly to the 
flower stalk. 
Amongst the double varieties some of the best were Alice Manning, 
yellow, with long and pendulous panicles of bloom, and an excellent 
basket plant; Mrs. French, yellow or pale primrose, with full well 
shaped flowers, and petals well imbricated ; Stanstead Yellow, a lovely 
soft clear yellow and of exquisite form, one of the best ; Duchess of 
Teek, yellow, a large flower of good form, one of the best. Of Pinks 
which are clear in tint and are great acquisitions the best are Sir 
William Wallace, pale salmon pink ; Viscount Wolseley, rich rose pinky 
superb ; and Elfride, bright rose. In whites one of the best and 
perhaps the most useful in cultivation is Alba floribunda. This should 
be in every collection. Vesta, a superb and snowy-white flower, and 
Lucy Closon, beautiful ivory white, with just a tinge of yellow in the 
cen f re of the flower. The best of the crimson section are Hollyhock,, 
a beautiful light crimson, large and full ; and Notaire Dubled, a deep 
velvety scarlet. 
The single varieties contain amongst them all shades, from the 
deepest crimson to the purest white, and at present this section is 
decidedly in advance of the doubles in point of variety and richness of 
tints. A bicolor or “fancy” race has also arisen amongst them, and 
at no distant date these will form a distinct section. We have in 
Darkest Africa the deepest crimson yet known amongst Tuberous 
Begonias. Gigantea is a rich rose pink, clear in colour, large, and of 
almost perfect form. Her Majesty is a soft blush pink, exquisite in 
Arm, and one of the largest in size. Leviathan is what its name implies, 
and of a rich rose colour, good in form ; Lady Whitehead, a bright rose 
pink, large, and of excellent form ; Lady Brooke, a fine flower, rich 
purplish rcse in colour; Mis3 E. F. Cooper, a beautiful blush; Miss 
Warren, good dark rose, large size ; Torey Laing is a very fine orange 
yellow ; Primrose Queen, good primrose yellow ; Golden Gem, a rich 
golden yellow; Duche c s of Edinburgh, a deep yellow, slightly shaded 
with orange, a splendid variety ; Golden Queen, one of the best of the 
yellows ; and Mrs. R. Ballantine, a very bright yellow, and of excellent 
form and good substance. Of scarlets the best are J. W. Wilkinson, a 
very bright scarlet, and of good form ; Earl of Rosslyn, brilliant orange- 
scarlet, and of good form; Guardsman, bright vermilion, erect and 
circular flower ; Lady Cloncurrv, scarlet flushed with Indian red, a fine 
flower and of good form ; and Prince Albert Victor, orange scarlet, ol 
first rate form. Amongst crimsons Comet is one of the best, dark 
crimson in colour ; Duke of Edinburgh, a splendid variety, rich crimson 
maroon ; and Mrs. Petch and Mrs. Joseph Chamberlain are excellent 
types of the “ fancy ” section alluded to. The best whites are White 
Perfection, Mrs. Weekes, Princess Beatrice, and Princess Louise. 
The stock of Begonias is very large ; a considerable area of land is 
planted with double and single varieties in a series of beds. There are 
over 120,000 so planted, and even these must be seen to realise what 
that number actually is. There are several large houses in addition 
filled with flowering plants, and numbers of pits and frames are als<J 
oc upied. Hundreds of shallow boxes holding thousands of seedling 
plants were standing at the sides of the paths, and a large staff of 
men are solely occupied in attending to the requirements of these 
Begonias. 
The culture of th§ Tuberous Begonia is very simple. At the beginning 
of 1890 I obtained seed of the single variety from a reliable source. This 
seed was sown on 25th February in a pan well crocked, and the crocks 
covered with moss and an inch and half of light soil, consisting of loam, 
leaf mould and sand in equal proportions passed through a tine sieve. 
The soil was levelled, the seed carefully sown, gently watered so as not 
to disturb the seed, and a piece of newspaper placed over it in contact 
with the soil and kept constantly damp, the pan being placed in a cool 
stove. The seedlings were pricked off—somewhat late owing to pressure 
of other work—on May 9th, and placed with Primulas, Gloxinias, and 
Cyclamens into a heated pit, and within a foot of the glas3. These were 
potted into large 60’s on June 20ch in soil a little richer, and replaced 
in the frame. They were repotted into 48’s on July 15th, the strongest 
being put into 32’s and treated as before, and by the middle of August 
all but a few weak plants had been potted into 32 s, and from that time 
until the end of October we had one side of a house a perfect mass of 
colour, and they were admired by all who saw them. As the leaves turn 
yellow or fall off and the stems separate from the tuber water should be 
more sparingly applied, and not entirely withheld until the tubers ara 
