0'tober 20,18S5. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
889 
Floral Committee. —G. F. Wilson, Esq., in the chair. Present—Messrs. 
J. Douglas, John Laing, W. Bealby, J. Child, H. Herbst, J. James, John 
Fraser, Thos. Baines, John Dominy, EL M. Pollett, E. Hill, H. Cannell, H. 
Ballantine, H. Turner, James O’Brien, Henry Williams, Amos Perry, 
Shirley Hibberd, and M. T. Masters. 
Messrs. J. Veitch A Sons, Chelsea, exhibited several new Chrysanthe¬ 
mums, all Japanese, the best being Lakme, bright red ; Melanie Fabre, of a 
rosy tint; Souvenir d’Haarlem, like Margot, but of a deeper colour; and 
Lady Bosebery, one of Salter’s varieties, with flat florets of a pale rose or 
blush colour. A botanical commendation was awarded for Peristeria 
pendula, bearing wax-like flowers dotted with purple. Amazonea punicea 
with scarlet bracts and yellow tubular flowers, was also shown, tog ther with 
a fine plant of the graceful Davallia retusa, and a collection of BouvarJias, 
comprising President Garfield, double pink ; Alfred Neuner, double white; 
Maiden’s Blush, pale pink; Leiantha, very bright scarlet; Priory Beauty, 
soft blush pink, handsome; Yreelandi and Umbellata Alba, white, and 
Elegans, scarlet. A vote of thanks was accorded for a plant of Eugenia Hgni 
bearing numerous fruits. Votes of thanks were also accorded for the fol¬ 
lowing : To Mr. Cummins, gardener to A. H. Smee, Esq., The Grange, Wal- 
lington ; to James Bateman, Esq., Worthing, for sprays of Acacia retinodes, 
with small yellow flowers ; to Mr. B. S. Williams for ZEehmea imperialis of 
the Marie Kegime type, with large drooping crimson bracts, and Sarracenia 
Flambeau, a hybrid between S. psittacina and S. variolaris ; to Mr. Robert 
Owen, Maidenhead, for cut blooms of Tuberous Begonias and Chrysanthe¬ 
mums ; to Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, for blooms of Zonal Pelar¬ 
goniums Swanley Gem and Henry Cannell, both grand varieties,rosy salmon 
and deep crimson colour ; to Mr. S. Forbes, Boehampton, for a stand of 
Chrysanthemum blooms; to Messrs. E. G. Henderson, Pine Apple Place, for 
Nerine elegans coerulea, a variety with a purplish tinge in the flowers; and 
to Mr. Ridout for blooms of Tea Roses very fresh and beautiful, especially 
President, Annie Ollivier, Souvenir d’un Ami, Mons. Lambard, Etoile de Lyons 
and Catherine Mermet. C. Norman Cookson, Esq., Wylam-on-Tyne,showed 
several beautiful hybrid Calanthes, two of which were certificated, others 
being named C. Normani, white with a red eye, and C. Sedeni candibula, red 
with a white eye. 
CERTIFICATED PLANTS. 
Cattleya autumnalis (J. Veitch & Sons).—A small-flowered but extremely 
pretty variety, with purplish sepals and petals, a crimson lip with a white 
throat. 
Chrysanthemum Val d’Andorre (Mr. Wright, Middle Temple Gardens).— 
A Japanese variety shown last year, having flat or slightly fluted florets 
streaked with bright red on a yellow ground. Blooms large and of good 
substance. 
Sarracenia Buchani (B. S. Williams).—A hybrid between S. rubra and 
S. purpurea, dwarf, the pitchers 6 to 8 inches high, the lid broad, rounded, 
and erect, and the colour an extremely rich dark red with darker veins. 
Cymbidium elegans (B. S. Williams).—A strong-growing plant, with 
leaves like C. Lowianum, the flowers 1J inch long, tubular in form, of a 
peculiar buff tint, and borne in dense pendulous racemes. 
Nepenthes Excelsior (B. S. Williams).—A hybrid between N. Hookeriana 
and N. Rafflesiana, with pitchers of medium size, of neat form, and finely 
mottled with bright red. 
Calanthe Alexandra (Norman C. Cookson, Esq., Oakwood, Wylam-on- 
Tyne).—A beautiful hybrid between C. Veitchi and C. vestita, rubra 
oculata, the flowers of an intensely deep crimson colour, the two lower 
sepals whitish. 
Calanthe Coohsoni (Norman C. Cookson, Esq.).—A hybrid between 
C. Veitchi and C. vestita luteo-oculata, one of the grandest white forms yet 
obtained, the flowers very large, of handsome shape, and pure white, with 
a light yellow eye. 
AUTUMN SHOWS. 
Exhibitors of Chrysanthemums will soon be actively engaged in 
preparing for the numerous shows announced for the present season, and 
the following list of fixtures may be ussful as a reminder. Secretaries of 
Societies not mentioned will oblige by forwarding their schedu’es. 
October 21st to November 4th.—Chiswick (Pear Congress). 
November 3rd and 4th.—Ealing, Southampton, and LamVietb. 
n 4th and 5th—Brixton. 
„ 6th and 6th.—Richmond, Havant, and Highgate. 
„ 9th aud 10th.—Stoke Newington. 
„ 10th.—Southend and Putney. 
„ 10th and 11th.—Brighton and Kingston. 
„ 11th— Basingstoke. 
„ lltli and 12 th.—National Chrysanthemum Society and Croydon. 
„ 12th and 13th.—Lindfield and Portsmouth. 
„ 13th and 14th.—Huddersfield. 
„ 14th.—Ramsbottom. 
„ 17th.—East Grinstead and Devizes. 
,, 17th and 18th.—Lincoln,. Manchester, and Winchester. 
„ 18th and 19th.—Northampton. Bristol, Burton-on-Trent, and Birmingham. 
,, 39th.—Taunton, Hammersmith, and Aylesbury. 
„ 19th and 20th.—Hull. 
„ 20th and 21st.—Sheffield. 
„ 24 th.—Liverpool. 
LATE GRAPES AND CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
As proposed in the columns of the Journal by “ A Surrey Gardener,” 
seconded by Mr. Stephen Castle, and finally accepted by Mr. H. Holmes 
(Hon. Sec.) on behalf of the Committee of the National Chrysanthemum 
Society, that a Grape class or classes should be added to the Jauuary, 1886, 
Exhibition of Chrysanthemums to be held at the Royal Aquarium, West¬ 
minster. I think the idea is a good one, and I am of opinion that to 
make it a representative Show of late-keeping varieties several classes 
should be added for both black and white varieties, such as Lady Downe’s 
Seedling, Alicante, and Gros Colman ; for white variety, Muscat of 
Alexandria, and Golden Queen as any other variety of white Grape. 
Those who attended the Grape Show in September at South Kensington 
would notice how badly Golden Queen was represented. There were 
only two exhibits, and they were quite green, simply because it is a lat 
Grape. I think nothing is so damaging to the character of this Grape a 
showing it in an unripe state. I do not maintain that it is a first-class 
Grape not to be compared with Muscat of Alexandria and some other 
white Grapes. I have heard several persons speak of it as good for 
nothing, and not worth growing ; but with me it has proved to be a very 
useful late Grape after Christmas when other white varieties have been 
over, and it grows and ripens equally well with Alicante and Lady 
Downe’s Seedling. I have seen this Grape at some of the late autumn 
shows in very fine condition, but unless a class is provided for it 1 do not 
think it would be shown in competition with Muscat of Alexandria. Can 
any reader of the Journal inform me if Gros Maroc is a late-keeping 
variety ?—A. O. W. 
JUDGING GRAPES. 
I DID not state that the “ popularity” of the Alicante was the only 
ground claimed by “ A Kitchen Gardener ” for its superiority ; but it 
certainly is the principal ground which he has to stand upon. He asks 
me if I can see nothing more in his notes than the brief distinction of 
popularity. Yes, I see attempts made to establish the superiority of 
Alicante over Madresfield Court; hut, as far as I can see, only attempts. 
We are fully aware that there are not nearly as many Vines of the latter 
variety planted as of the former, and I think that the principal reason for 
this is that Alicante is easier to grow, not because it is a superior Grape. 
Madresfield Court might be much more planted if it were not written 
about as on page 292 by “A Kitchen Gardener.” In our own case, for 
the first two seasons it failed to colour properly and also cracked somewhat 
badly, but this was no doubt partly owing to wrong treatment. This 
season we were able to cut bunches good enough to accompany the Alicante 
amongst the eight which were placed second at the Royal Caledonian 
Society’s Show. So I say to those who have not yet succeeded, Try 
again, for it is worth a little trouble. 
“ A Kitchen Gardener ” would almost make your readers believe that 
because the grand bunch of Madresfield Court shown at Edinburgh was 
not mentioned in the report, that it was not equal to Alicante which is 
shown so well in all the collections, or, indeed, that it was nothing out of 
the common ; hut the fact is, that it was shown in the class “ for any 
black not named in the schedule,” and as far as I remember very little 
mention was made of any of the double and single-buuch classes, I 
presume simply because it would occupy too much of the valuable space 
of the Journal. It certaioly was not because they were not deserving oE 
notice. Iam pleased to see that Mr. D. Buchanan has lately given an 
accurate description of the bunch to which I referred on page 312, which 
saves me the trouble of saying any more about it, except that I think with 
the many that it was the finest bunch in the Show, all things considered. 
It may not, as 11 A Kitchen Gardener ” says, “speak highly of its abund¬ 
ance ;” but is abundance to be considered the test of merit ? Judging 
from what we too often see at shows, appearance is very often regarded as 
the test of merit; but, as Mr. Iggulden says on page 342,1 certainly think 
that the present discussion will cause Judges to reflect a little more before 
making their awards next season ; at any rate, let us hope so. We do not 
wish to exclude Alicante and other fine late Grapes from our autumn 
shows. That is not the point under discussion ; the principal question 
put by Mr. Iggulden at the commencement was, Is appearance to go before 
quality? or questions to that effect. If “ A Kitchen Gardener” cannot 
grow Madresfield Court himself, he ought not to discourage others who 
are willing to try.— Wm, Jenkins. 
f . 
WORK. F0I l. THE WEEK,. v 
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4-7 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Forcing. —Kitchen garden work is not pressing just now. The 
whole of the crops which are of any use this season are in and left to go 
on as best they can, and the most important matter to be considered is 
the forcing of those roots, the produce from which is so much valued 
about Christmas and during the winter. Preparation for this should 
begin at once. There are two ways of doing the work ; one is by the aid 
of fermenting material, the other by the help of hot water. Where a 
well-heated pit or Cucumber-like house is at command successful forcing 
is a very easy matter. It is not very difficult either with fermenting 
material, but not so quick as with the hot water. Fallen leaver, which 
are now very plentiful, and manure from a stable, are the best materials 
for hotbed-making. 
Rhubarb. —This is very easily forced by the aid of these. Some 
large pots, old boxes, or empty casks should be turned upside d iwn over 
the crown of each clump of Rhubarb, and then a good heap of the ferment¬ 
ing material should be put around each of these. It should be made as 
firm as if it was being formed into a hotbed of the ordinary kind, and the 
material should not be put on merely to cover the box, or whatever it may 
be, but it may extend over the whole of the space where the roots are, 
as it is by the heat penetrating the soil and exciting these that growth is 
produced quickly. The stems would never spring up if surface heat alone 
