December 21, 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
539 
- Veitch Memorial Prizes.—A t a meeting of the Trustees of 
the Veitch Memorial Fund, held on Friday last, the 18th inst., at the 
office of the Journal of Horticulture , Dr. Robert Hogg in the chair, 
it was decided to offer Veitch Memorial Medals and prizes for the year 
1892 as follows. At the Temple Show of the Royal Horticultural 
Society on May 27t h a medal and prize of £5 for the best six hard- 
wooded greenhouse plants in bloom. At the special Exhibition of 
Orchids at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Manchester, to be held in 
June, a medal and prize of £5 for the best hybrid Orchid in bloom, already 
in commerce, and a medal and prize of £5 for the best hybrid Orchid in 
bloom not in commerce. These medals and prizes can be competed for 
by amateurs and their gardeners only. It was also decided to award 
a silver medal to Mr. William Watson of Kew, and a similar medal 
to Mr. John Heal of the Royal Exotic Nursery, as a recognition of 
their skill as hybridisers and cultivators. 
- Floral Decorations.—A very successful bazaar was held 
on Wednesday and Thursday last in the Shakespeare Room at Warwick 
Castle. The stall presided over by the Countess of Warwick was 
effectively decorated with wreaths formed of the coloured leaves of 
Berberis aquifolia, and long trailing shoots of “ Traveller's Joy ” 
(Clematis vitalba), over the centre a Prince of Wales’ feather was 
formed of the same materials, with the addition of a few plumes of 
Pampas Grass, the whole being backed up with light sprays of Yew 
produced a novel and pretty effect, which was much admired. The 
downy substance formed on the seed vessels of the Clematis named 
renders it especially suitable for decorations at the present season. 
The conservatory adjoining the Shakespeare Room was converted into a 
refreshment stall, and presided over by the Lady Eva Greville. A 
charming effect was produced by draping the walls with art muslin and 
tapestry, and defining the doors and windows with wreaths, while 
the iron girders which supported the glass roof were entwined with Ivy, 
long trailing shoots of which huDg down at irregular intervals, and 
Japanese lanterns and coloured lamps were freely used, the effect thus 
produced being especially striking when seen under artificial light. 
- Christmas Roses at Warwick.—A call on Mr. J. Kitley a 
few days ago revealed the fact that Malmaison Carnations are by no 
means the only plants he grows exceedingly well. On entering one of 
the houses a broad expanse of snowy whiteness compelled more than a 
passing expression of admiration. This fine effect was produced by 
300 clumps of Helleborus niger major, studded with flowers as closely as 
they could be packed. The blooms were large, and beautifully fresh 
and clean, and no gardener with floral decorations to carry out at 
Christmas ought to be without a supply of these charming flowers, 
seeing that they are so easily grown. The plants are grown on a north 
border, where they are allowed to remain two and sometimes three 
years. About three weeks or a month before they are wanted in flower 
the plants are lifted with good balls of earth, and placed closely 
together on the floor of a vinery or any other cool structure, a little 
soil is worked around the roots as the work proceeds, and when com¬ 
pleted the whole mass is given a thorough watering through a coarse 
rose. This washes the soil among the roots, and leaves the flower buds 
quite clean. As the buds begin to open, a little heat is applied to 
lengthen out the flower stems, as they are much more appreciated for 
decorative work when the stems are of good length. After flowering, 
the plants are hardened off, divided, and again planted in the open air. 
- Lycium AFRTTM. —In reference to “ R. H. D.’s” inquiry (page 
497) anent the fruiting of this shrub in this country, I beg to say that 
occasionally it does so, but very sparingly hereabouts, and there are 
several shrubs of it growing in the cottage gardens facing the streets 
of this—now annexed—suburb of the city of Birmingham. It grows 
rapidly against walls and over arbours, &c., and invariably produces 
a profusion of reddish violet blossoms. The shrub in question must 
indeed be an interesting sight. Its one drawback is its deciduous 
character, and consequently presents a naked appearance in winter. 
Regarding its cognomen, “ Tea Tree,” it would be interesting to know 
if its leaves are really used as a beverage in Africa, inasmuch as there 
is a tradition that its first introduction into this country was by the 
captain of a vessel, who was commissioned to bring a consignment of Tea 
plants (Thea) from East India, and lost them on the voyage before 
arriving at the Cape of Good Hope ; but to get out of the dilemma he 
obtained plants of a shrub, the leaves of which he noticed were used 
by the natives there as a tea, and thus passed them off for the true 
Tea plants. The respective kind of plants, however, are of distinctly 
different families, the Lycium belonging to that of the Solanacese, 
and the Thea to Ternstromiacese.—W. G., Harborne, 
- Death of Mr. Fletcher Rogers.—B y the somewhat 
sudden death of Mr. Fletcher Rogers on Saturday last Liverpool loses 
one of its most prominent citizens and the Liverpool Horticultural 
Association one of its best supporters. To the latter the late Mr. Rogers 
had been Honorary Treasurer for a number of years, and it was a 
painful coincidence that his death should have occurred ou the day of 
the annual dinner of the members of the Association, many of whom 
had hoped to look for his genial presence in the chair, a position he had 
held at all the previous dinners. At those gatherings his remarks 
always made a great impression on all present, his delight for all that 
was good and true in gardening being strongly emphasised in the 
excellent speeches he made. His kindly presence was a sure sign of 
encouragement, and when the Liverpool Horticultural Association has 
been passing through some of its darkest times, the late Mr. Rogers was 
always there with his cheering words to help the Committee and 
members to greater stimulation, with the hope that brighter times 
would dawn. 
- Pancratium fragrans.—I can fully endorse the remarks by 
Mr. W. R. Williams, December 10th (page 491), for I have at the present 
moment a Pancratium fragrans in full bloom, four long fully expanded 
flowers on one stem ; its fragrance is almost overpowering. Being ever¬ 
green I keep it in my Fern house, which has a stove temperature. It is 
in a 7-inch pot, and has not been disturbed for four years, the whole 
time I have had it, and has always each year flowered well and been a 
noticeable feature amongst my Ferns and Orchids, and with your corre¬ 
spondent I can say it doe3 deserve worthy consideration by those who 
can give it the desired temperature.— Ellis Palmer, Salisbury. 
- Jerusalem Artichokes. —I do not think it is known to all 
growers of this useful vegetable that there is a white variety. Seeing it 
advertised by Messrs. Sutton I procured some of the tubers. They were 
planted by the side of the old purple variety; but now we have com¬ 
menced to dig them the white is found to be far superior, being more 
prolific, quite double the quantity to a root, and of a much better shape, 
some of the tubers being perfectly round with very few eyes. When 
cooked they are also of a better flavour. It is a new introduction which 
will be much sought after when better known, especially amongst 
growers for market, as it should fetch a higher price than the purple, as 
there is less waste to them and it is more taking in appearance, which is 
one of the principal items with anything grown for sale.—E. Trollope. 
- Liverpool Horticultural Association. —At the second 
meeting of ithe session, held in the lecture room of the Museum, 
William Brown Street, an excellent paper on “Deciduous Calanthes” 
was read by Mr. Hathaway, gardener to the Earl of Latham, Latham 
House, Ormskirk. Owing to the very inclement state of the weather 
the attendance was not so large as it might have been, but those 
present were highly gratified by the concise and lucid remarks from 
Mr. Hathaway, the paper showing him as one who thoroughly under¬ 
stood the cultivation of these beautiful winter-flowering Orchids. At 
the close a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Hathaway, and the 
hope expressed that he would at no distant date favour the members 
with another paper. 
- The fifth annual dinner of the above-named Association 
was held on Saturday last in the large dining-room of the Adelphi 
Hotel, when about 130 persons sat down to an excellent repast. The 
chair was occupied by Mr. Thomas White, Chairman of the Association, 
who was supported by Mr. T. Powell (Vice-Chairman), and Mr. R. W. 
Ker, Aigburth Nursery. A gloom was to some extent cast over the 
proceedings by the announcement of the death of Mr. Fletcher Rogers, 
Hon. Treasurer of the Association, which had taken place that morning 
—a gentleman who had presided at all previous dinners. The Chairman 
feelingly referred to the sad loss the Association had sustained, and 
Mr. R. W. Ker made sympathetic reference to the death of Mr. Rogers. 
After dinner the usual loyal toasts were proposed. The toast of the 
“ Liverpool Horticultural Association ” was proposed by Mr. R. W. Ker, 
who in a brief speech pointed out the good work being done, and 
expressing an opinion that greater work might be expected in the near 
future. He also went on to urge the necessity of not only the gardeners 
themselves doing all in their power to lift themselves up to the highest 
position, but to secure the assistance of their employers to help forward 
in all things calculated to raise the tone of their profession. Mr. White 
replied. “The Horticultural Trade” was responded to by Mr. Andrew 
Ker. Mr. Blomily proposed that of the Chairman, to which Mr. White 
suitably replied. An excellent vocal and instrumental programme was 
performed. 
