December 17, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
531 
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Royal Society at 4.30 P.M. Linnean Society at 8 p M. 
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Fourtii Sunday in Advent. 
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PLiNTS CERTIFICATED IN 1885. 
[E Committees and Judges of the leading 
Horticultural Societies entrusted with the im¬ 
portant task of determining the value of the 
numerous novelties submitted to them have this 
year been busy, for the number exhibited has 
been large, and it has required vigilant care in 
the selection to avoid bestowing honours upon 
plants of uncertain merit, and at the same time 
not to pass those of real worth. The greatest 
portion of this work has necessarily fallen upon the Floral 
Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society, and it is very 
satisfactory to observe that, owing to the excellent judgment 
exercised in granting or withholding their awards, the certifi¬ 
cates are becoming more valuable as official recognition of 
plant merit. The Judges engaged by the Royal Botanic 
Society invariably have some scores of novelties brought 
before them at the four exhibitions held annually in Regent’s 
Park, and though, perhaps, certificates are rather more freely 
granted there than at Kensington, there is no material cause 
for dissatisfaction. It must be considered, too, that the 
dual system of botanical and floricultural certificates adopted 
at Regent’s Park allows a greater latitude than the ordinary 
first-class certificates of the other Society. The award of 
botanical certificates is also undertaken by the Scientific 
Committee at Kensington, but these are now as rare as the 
doubtful second-class honours have fortunately become, and 
which at one time were much too frequently bestowed. What 
is really needed is a reliable indication to the horticultural 
world of what plants amongst the hosts of new claimants to 
popular favour are worthy of culture, either as improvements 
on older forms of a similar type, or as new introductions. 
Merely certificating a plant because it is new, or because it 
is distinct, is not sufficient; if it does not possess some quali¬ 
ties to recommend it as a garden plant, no award should be 
granted by Horticultural Committees. 
Next to the two Societies already named the Floral Com¬ 
mittee of the National Chrysanthemum Society has awarded 
the greatest number of certificates, though nearly all these 
have been confined to the special object of the Society’s exist¬ 
ence—the Chrysanthemum. This Floral Committee is a 
comparatively youthful institution, and perhaps in a few 
instances their zeal has somewhat outrun their discretion, 
certificates having been very freely granted. More experi¬ 
ence at their work, and a fuller appreciation of its importance, 
will probably render them more careful in their awards. They 
have unquestionably done much valuable service, and it is 
with a desire to see the Society take the position it deserves 
that we advise a more rigid economy in their honorary awards. 
The National Carnation and Picotee Society, the Judges 
at the Crystal Palace and a few other leading shows, have 
also assisted in the work of selection, but it would be well if 
local societies refrained from granting certificates, unless it 
be conditionally recommending the exhibitors to submit their 
productions to the higher tribunals. There is one form of 
certificate—namely, for culture, which many local societies 
No. 286.— Yol. XI., Third Series. 
might advantageously grant, and such would be of far more 
practical value to gardeners than the usual recognition 
accorded. 
Taking the awards of the bodies named, we find that the 
substantial total of 846 plants and flowers have been deemed 
worthy of certificates, several having been honoured by two or 
more societies. Of this total 127 are miscellaneous, stove, 
greenhouse, and hardy plants, species, hybrids, or introduced 
varieties, and the remaining 219 are florists’ flowers, or 
varieties of garden origin. These numbers are favourable 
signs of the activity prevailing in the horticultural trade, and 
also indicate how great must be the demand for novelties 
when so much labour and expense are incurred to provide the 
public with additions to the already long lists of cultivated 
plants. At no period in the history of horticulture have such 
enormous numbers of novelties been introduced from other 
countries or raised in our own as at the present time, and if 
any proof were needed that the love of horticulture is extend¬ 
ing, this fact affords it most convincingly. 
A brief glance at the principal groups of plants will indi¬ 
cate to some extent the direction of popular favour, and as 
for several years past we must again place the Orchids at the 
head of the poll with a large majority. No less than seventy- 
six of these have been certificated this year, and adding to 
these 100 other novelties in the same family that have been 
described or figured in the principal gardening and botanical 
publications of Europe during the same time, we can gain an 
idea of the rapidity with which collections are being increased. 
The Odontoglossums preponderate amongst the certificated 
Orchids, twenty-one having been chosen for honours, a good 
proportion being varieties of the 0. crispum type. Next in 
number are the Dendrobiums, ten being selected, all either 
hybrids or varieties of such well-known species as crassi- 
node, Falconeri, heterocarpum, macrophyllum, and nobile. 
Of Cattleyas nine have been certificated, including some 
grand varieties of the leading types. Seven Lielias have 
found favour with the censors, and the remainder is made up 
of Calanthes, of which several beautiful hybrids have been 
obtained, Cypripediums and miscellaneous species. It is 
worthy of remark that Angrsecum or Aeranthus Leonis was 
shown on the same day by five exhibitors, and each obtained 
a certificate—a very uncommon occurrence. 
Following the Orchids, in point of numbers, strangely 
enough, come the Chrysanthemums, with a total of thirty- 
eight, the largest number of varieties that have ever been 
certificated in one year. Again we find one group largely 
predominant, the Japanese having been increased by twenty- 
seven varieties, and some of these may be expected to take 
a prominent place amongst the exhibition varieties. It is 
quite evident that the Japanese forms with the early-flowering 
and what are termed decorative Chrysanthemums are 
advancing most rapidly in favour, and for purposes of utility 
the incurved forms, though so highly esteemed by florists, 
will have an inferior position. A well-grown incurved bloom 
is very handsome as regards symmetry, but it is of little 
value in ordinary floral decoration, whereas the more graceful 
Japanese, the Anemones, the reflexed, and the single varieties 
can be employed to excellent advantage in numberless ways. 
Fuchsias follow the Chrysanthemums, twenty-one having 
been found worthy of special notice by the Floral Committee 
at Chiswick. A large collection has been grown there during 
the year, and from these the number mentioned has been 
carefully examined and considered distinct and meritorious 
enough to deserve certificates. This list is a substantial 
addition to the varieties already in cultivation, but it should 
be remarked that several of these were not strictly new, 
though not generally known. They were all good varieties, 
and the fact of so many being recognised may serve to draw 
some additional attention to the usefulness of Fuchsias as 
flowering plants for the conservatory. Specimen Fuchsias 
are occasionally seen at exhibitions, but except in the west 
of England it is seldom that they are shown in their best 
No. 1942. —Vol, LXXIIT., Old Shries. 
