November 12, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
423 
Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution. “Non-Believer” may, if he 
likes, call this putting horticulture on a “low ground” and thus de¬ 
grading it. Most assuredly I do not, and so far from “ repudiating,” I 
emphasise what I have said on this subject, and with all due deference 
I venture to submit it is not for “Non-Believer” to accuse me of 
•evasion. 
Now a step further. I have said too much for my critic before, but 
fail to see that fact should deter me any more than the hunting whip 
does from saying still a little more. When I asked “ Non-Believer” on 
page 378 if he is in a position to say that he has “ never exhibited Grapes 
that were not ripe and in the best condition for table,” it was with the 
object of testing his sincerity as to the practice being “ indefensible.” 
This has nothing whatever to do with gate money. It is a separate sub¬ 
ject to which he devoted a separate paragraph on page 342. If “ Non- 
Believer” is a good sportsman he will keep his “ nose to the fence” and 
not “ turn tail.” He has not answered that question, but “ fenced” with 
it. I repeat it, and further ask if he has never exhibited late Grapes in 
the autumn. If he can give a clear, unqualified negative reply he will 
strengthen his position immensely ; if he cannot he stands condemned of 
doing that which he has characterised as “ indefensible." 
As to his simulated horror of putting horticulture on a “ low ground,” 
because, forsooth, shows are made so good that they attract the public 
and bring gate money for disbursing in prizes, I cannot help thinking the 
protest does not come with the best of grace from an individual who does not 
show now because from a “ pecuniary point of view ” he can “ do better.” 
He must have exhibited at some time, or he would not know how much 
or how little money he could make, and thus find out how he could “ do 
better,” or make more in some other way. I do not blame him if he is 
repentant of what he may regard as past errors in receiving a share in 
the gate money of shows, but notice bis significant admission. I observe, 
too, “ Non-Believer ” does not dispute the existence of individuals who 
are so exacting for their “ pound of flesh ” as to have threatened man¬ 
agers of shows with actions, nor does he a9k for an example. I am in¬ 
clined to think the “ dust ” I “ throw up ” does not “ confuse spectators ” 
so much as it confuses my assailant, who, with his usual taste, chooses to 
make a personal matter of a public question. I regret he has done so, 
not on my own account, but in the interests of horticultural literature. 
His mock heroics can deceive no one, and his distortion of sentences and 
characteristic equivocation are, to employ a mild term, pitiable. Perhaps 
sufficient has been said on this subject at present by— A Thinkeb. 
Yeitch Memorial Prizes for 1886. — We learn that the 
Trustees of the Veitch Memorial Prize Fund have decided to offer next 
year the following prizes, the dates for which and other particulars will 
be announced later on:—At Stoke-on-Trent, a Yeitch Memorial medal 
and prize of £5, for a group of Orchids with Ferns intermixed; at Stoke- 
on-Trent, a Veitch Memorial medal and £5, for a mixed group of flowering 
and foliage plants ; at Exeter, a Veitch Memorial medal and £6 (subject 
not determined) ; at Royal Botanic Society, Regent’s Park, a Veitch 
Memorial medal and £5, for twelve Amaryllis ; at Royal Horticultural 
Society, South Kensington, a Veitch Memorial medal and £5, for a collection 
of forced salad plants. 
- At the Brixton Show, briefly reported last week, there was a 
very pretty display of Orchids, Mr. Salter, The Gardens, Selborne, 
Leigham Court Road, Streatham, contributing largely, for besides several 
entries in the classes, he had a beautiful group of well-grown plants. 
Thest included some fine examples of Vanda coerulea, one of which had a 
spike of sixteen large flowers. Cattleya Dowiana and a darker-coloured 
variety with golden sepals and petals termed aurea was also notable, and 
with Odontoglossum Pescatorei, Phalaenopsis amabilis, Cattleya imperialis, 
and Cypripediums made a most effective group arranged with Ferns. Mr. 
Weston, Clapham Park, had a good plant of Zygopetalum crinitum bearing 
two spikes of seven flowers each, and Mr. Luff also showed several well- 
grown plants. 
- In the fruit classes at the same Show Mr. W. Hall, Tulse Hill, 
had three superb bunches of Alicante Grapes, weighing 12 lbs., the 
berries even, of good size, and finely coloured. For evenness and finish 
they were some of the best we have seen this year. The best white Grapes 
were from W. Roupell, Esq., Roupell Park, well-coloured medium size 
bunches of Muscat of Alexandria. Apples and Pears were well repre¬ 
sented, Messrs. A. Sandy and W. Hall being the principal prizetakers. 
- Mr. Joseph Oliver states :—“ The weather in Northumberland 
is most beautiful this week, some days being more like spring than 
November, and quite a treat after such a long run of unsettled weather.” 
- At the risk of making one of our correspondents vain, we are 
tempted to publish what Mr. Oliver sends respecting him. Here it is :— 
“We are pleased to see‘Thinker’ on again; all the readers of the 
Journal that we fall in with from time to time are highly pleased with 
him, and consider he is doing a good thing in a capital spirit.” 
- We have received an illustrated catalogue of Rippingille's Oil- 
warming Stoves, in which the different forms are represented, showing 
their adaptability to various domestic purposes. Silver medals and cer¬ 
tificates of merit have been awarded to these stoves, which many amateurs 
have found useful in excluding frost from small greenhouses. They are 
manufactured by the Albion Lamp Company, Birmingham and London. 
- A correspondent, “ Sutton,” will be glad if W. J. Ireland 
will state his method of Packing Gardenias to travel safely ; and 
“ Sutton ” is of opinion that many other readers will be glad to know the 
best way of packing these flowers. 
- The East Grinstead Chrysanthemum Society will hold 
their annual Show in the Public Hall of that town on November 17th. 
Thirty-six classes are provided, of which twenty-six are for Chrysanthe¬ 
mum plants or blooms, and the remainder are for table decoration. 
Primulas, Grapes, Apples, and Pears. The prizes range from 25s. to Is. 6d 
Mr. Jenks, Brambletye, is the Hon. Sec. 
- A correspondent writes :—“ In Messrs. R. P. Ker & Son’s 
nursery, Aigburth, Henderson’s White Plume Celery is growing in 
two or three rows, and every plant is true and answers exactly to the 
character given it when sent out. The foliage is beautifully variegated, 
and the stems blanch without the trouble of earthing them. In fact, all 
the inside stems are naturally white. Having tasted it under these con¬ 
ditions it did not possess that crispness characteristic of good Celery. In 
spite of this it will prove a valuable acquisition for stewing in establish¬ 
ments where quantities are in request for this purpose early in the 
season.” 
- “ Large quantities of Cyclamens are also grown in the Aig¬ 
burth nursery, and are just now remarkably fine. The plants number 
many hundreds, in pots varying from 5 to 7 inches in diameter. The 
whole are from seed sown last year, and have, therefore, been grown in 
little more than twelve months. Those in the largest size are about 
sixteen months old, and wonderful examples of cultivation they are, for 
many of the plants are as many inches through them as they have been 
months growing. They are also flowering with great freedom, for many 
of the plants have already scores of their beautiful sweet flowers well 
above the foliage. Mr. Ranger has certainly proved himself to be a 
master in the cultivation of the Cyclamen in past years ; but the plants 
he has grown this year are certainly superior to any of his previous 
productions.” 
- A gardener recommends “ Those who have not grown 
Begonia Carriebi to do so, for it is a gem, and flowers with great 
profusion during the autumn and winter months. Where white flowers 
are required for cutting, or plants for decorative purposes in various size 
Dots, it is undoubtedly one of the best plants that can be grown. It 
appears to be a good grower, of free branching habit, and flowers so 
profusely that the smallest plant—even those just rooted—soon becomes a 
mass of bloom. The white flowers which are produced in clusters are 
displayed to great advantage by the dark foliage of the plant. It does 
not appear very particular about treatment or position, for it continues 
growing and flowers freely in the conservatory where a temperature of 
45 to SO 3 is maintained. The plants grow into shapely bushes without 
much trouble as regards the pinching of the shoots. Its good habit of 
growth, therefore, renders it a very suitable plant for using as single 
specimens in vases. But for the embellishment of the conservatory during 
the dreary months of the year we think it invaluable.” 
- The dwarf-growing evergreen shrub, Veronica Traversi, 
flourishes in the neighbourhood of Liverpool, and is admirably adapted 
for planting in town gardens. The greatest recommendation in its favour 
is the character it possesses of growing well under the shade of trees. 
Plants that flourish in such positions are well worth noting, for very few 
do well for any length of time subjected to drip and shade in such 
situations. 
