Ill 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
t February 11, 1886. 
ground ; Claire Varichon, shaded with, pale pink ; and Jean Naturelle, 
crimson shaded, large and handsome. Flowering Aroids, like 
Anthurium Andreanum and A. Schertzerianum, are much grown, and 
one group of another genu 5 ", Arisaema, not quite so well known, includes a 
species, A. fimbriatum, of very distinct characters. Like others of the same 
genus, it is tuberous, bearing trifoliate leaves and spathes striped longi¬ 
tudinally with white on a purplish ground. The spadix is long and 
pendulous, and densely clothed with fine dark filaments. These characters 
are shown in the woodcut (fig. 19) lent by Mr. Bull, which also conveys 
a good idea of the general appearance of other allied species. 
NOTES ON GRAPES. 
MUSCAT OF ALEXANDRIA AND BOWOOD MUSCAT. 
Foe ten years I have been a careful reader of the Journal, and having 
profited much by its teachings I venture to give my experience with the 
above Vines. Five years ago I took charge here, and found in a mixed 
Muscat house ona Vine of Bowood Muscat and three of Muscat of Alex¬ 
andria, two grafted on different stocks, and one on its own roots, Mrs. 
Pince, Madresfield Court, and Muscat Hamburgh being also represented. 
The last named was discarded owing to its colour. I have each year 
noted that Bowood Muscat was ten or twelve days earlier than Muscat of 
.Alexandria, and produced bunches more freely, set its berries better, and 
is more robust in growth. I, however, fail to see any difference in the 
shape of the berries, though Bowood swells its fruit rather larger than its 
parent. I will give my experience of last year. In May, just as our 
Muscats came into flower, our boiler, a large tubular one, broke down, 
and for twenty-five days we had no fire—a very anxious time for me, as 
the thermometer stood at 41° several times; but one morning, finding it 
ha i fallen to 41°, I got desperate, in fact gave up gardening and turned 
engineer and general labourer until the work was completed, and informed 
my employer that our crop would be lost ; but although Muscat of 
Alexandria and Mrs. Pince failed to set a full crop, I had a lot of thinning 
to do with Madresfield Court and Bowood Muscat. The second week in 
September the Bowood was ripe, and on the rod bearing sixteen bunches, 
averaging 2| Its. each, you could not point to one deformed bunch. 
Madresfield Court coloured well, without any sign of cracking, while 
Muscat of Alexandria and Mrs. Pince failed to stone the berries they had 
set. Any Grape-grower could not fail to see a difference in the varieties as 
they grow here, but put them—a bunch of each—on a stand, and show 
them as two sorts, and I will leave it for better judges to point out the 
difference in the berries. Although I have seen Muscat of Alexandria 
and Bowood Muscat shown in a collection of four varieties, and carry 
off chief honours. 
As I am going to try sulphate of ammonia on our Vine borders, I 
shall be glad to hear if any of jmur correspondents have used it, and if so, 
in what proportion and with what result.—G. G. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
ANNUAL MEETING.— February 9th. 
The annual general meeting of this Society was held on Tuesday last in 
the crush room of the Royal Albert Hall, there being fairly good attend¬ 
ance of Fellows and the following members of the Council were also pres-nt: 
—Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., presiding ; the Hon. and Rev. J. T 
Boscawen, W. Lee, Esq., G. F. Wilson, Esq., F.R.S., Colonel Trevor Clarke, 
Dr. Robert Hogg, \V. T. Thiselton Dyer, C.M.G., Professor Michael Foster, 
E. G. Loder, Esq., Major F. Mason (Secretary), and William Haughton, Esq. 
(Treasurer). 
Sir Trevor Lawrence took the chair at 3 P.M., and the proceedings com 
menced by the Secretary reading the notice convening the meeting and the 
minutes of the last general meeting. The names of fifteen proposed Fellows 
were then read and their election ratified in the usual way. Dr. M. T 
Masters and Mr. James Douglas were then appointed scrutineers of th’eballol 
for offices and new memb-rs of the Council, the result being as was subse. 
quently announced that the following were elected as officers for 1886 •— 
President, Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P.; Treasurer, William Haughton 
Secretary, William Lee (Downside) ; Auditors, John Lee, James F. West 
William Richards. To fill the vacancies on the Council caused by tin 
retirement of G. T. Clark, F. Du Cane Godman, F.R.S., and Sir P. Cunlifh 
Owen, K.C.M.Gr., C.B., C.I.E., the following gentlemen were elected:— 
Sydney Courtauld, A. B. Mitford, C.B., and Baron Schroder. 
This concluded the principal formal introductory business, and Sir 
Trevor Lawience then rose to make few comments upon the Annua 
Report and the position of the Society. He stated that the Council re 
gretted they had only recently been able to circulate the terms of agree 
ment between themselves and the Committee of the Indian and Colonia 
Exhibition for the present year. There was a serious curtailment of th< 
h allows privileges in the tickets of admission being rendered non-transfer 
able ; this was the only difference, but it was an important one, and th< 
delay had been caused by the efforts made to procure the same terms as it 
previous years. The Exhibition Committee had, however, been unable ti 
agree to that course, and he (Sir Trevor Lawrence) believed that the matte 
had been referred to the Financial Committee, and definitely refused on th 
ground of the heavy expenses incurred in the past years. The main 
tenance of the Garden had been a great expense, and in 1885 the autumi 
weather was so unfavourable the number of visitors had been reduced con 
siderably. For these reasons the Committee of the Exhibition for 1886 fel 
it was absolutely necessary to conduct their arrangements as economically a 
possible, and m consequence the Fellows of the Royal Horticultural Soc'iet 
had to submit to this restriction. 
President then referred to the fact that two meetings were caller 
last year to consider the desirability of holding an international horticultura 
exhibition m 1887. The Council felt, however, that the financial respons 
bility of such an undertaking would be too great unless it was combined 
with something else. He believed that there was a general feeling that the 
time named would be a suitable one for an exhibition of the character pro¬ 
posed, as a considerable period had elapsed since one had been held in 
London, and he thought that if the way could be seen to carrying a scheme 
in to execution, the Society would receive the hearty support of both amateurs 
and nurserymen throughout the country. It was considered that an exhibi¬ 
tion like that named would, if held in the South Kensington Gardens, have 
to be accompanied by attractions similar to those provided in the three past 
years, and that this would be outside the Society’s province. The idea had 
not been abandoned, it was only in abeyance, ana it was hoped that some 
plan might yet be devised to permit its realisation. 
Referring to the lists of honorary and foreign members, Sir Trevor Law¬ 
rence stated that steps had been taken to increase the numbers of these 
Fellows, with the result that some highly important additions had been made, 
including many distinguished scientific horticulturists and botanists in 
various parts of the world. As one of the chiof events of the past year, 
the Orchid Conference demanded a few remarks. It had proved a decided 
success. The exhibition in number and variety of plants, and the cultural 
skill indicated by their healthy condition, was such as it would have been 
impossible to obtain in any other country. The Conference itself was 
highly satisfactory ; the papers read and the discussion which followed 
were interesting and instructive, but special praise was accorded to the 
paper on the “ Hybridisation of Orchids,” read by Mr. H. J. Yeitch. Another 
important gathering, the Pear Conference, had been a similar success in the 
number of exhibits, and the President thought that such shows were entitled 
to be considered of national importance. More attention was being directed to 
the culture of fruit and vegetables as an important portion of the food 
supply and as a profitable industry. The official report of the Conference 
was being prepared by Mr. A. F. Barron, and would form a valuable addi¬ 
tion to our knowledge of Pears. The Royal Horticultural Society has 
undertaken to assist the Committee of the Indian and Co’onial Exhibition 
as far as possible by taking charge of Ferns and other plants required to 
furnish the courts and galleries, and everything was being done to get the 
plants into the best condition. The Primula Conference, which is to take 
place next April, was referred to, and it was stated that much interest 
centred in it, both here and on the continent, and it was confidently 
expected to prove a success. As to the nomenclature of Orchids, a subject 
which had been left over from last year, nothing had been done at present. 
The existing system was known to”be faulty, but it was difficult to suggest 
a remedy. In’the opinion of Sir Trevor Lawrence the first steps to be taken 
should be in the direction of expunging proper names ; he considered it a 
mistake to associate the names of persons with Orchids. 
The President next adverted to what he said was a matter of great 
importance—namely, the position of the Society at South Kensington. It 
was becoming more and more evident that it will not be possible to continue 
a3 at present. The Exhibition for this year was considered to be the last of 
the series, and n othing had been arranged for next year, neither was there 
any definite plan for the disposal of the gardens, but it was quite possible 
that in a few years they would be built upon. The position held by the 
Royal Horticultural Society could not be considered as a dignified one, but 
it was evident that the interest in horticulture was increasing, and that in 
no part of the world is so much done in its behalf as in Great Britain. The 
Society had done good work, and he (the President) had no doubt that if 
they could see the way to establishing themselves upon an independent 
footing they would be supported in a creditable manner by the horticul¬ 
turists of this country. No doubt the vitality of the Society will enable 
them to overcome all the difficulties due to their connection with South 
Kensington, for at no period of the Society’s existence had there been a 
larger number of gentlemen upon the Council interested in scientific and 
practical horticulture. In conclusion, Sir Trevor Lawience remarked that 
it had been arranged to hold a provincial show at Liverpool this year, they 
had received an invitation from the Mayor and Corporation, and the Botanic 
Garden was to be placed at their disposal for the purpose. There was every 
reason to believe that it would be a great success. 
This concluding statement was received with considerable applause, and 
it is evident that the holding of provincial shows gives general satisfaction. 
Mr. Liggins inquired why an Assistant-Secretary had been appointed after 
it had been stated at the last General Meeting that the funds were too low 
for the purpose. In reply. Sir Trevor Lawrence observed that the course 
had been adopted because it was found that the work was accumulating too 
rapidly to be disposed of by the Honorary Secretary, and the greater por¬ 
tion of the salary had been subscribed by the members of the Council and 
friends, thus enabling the work to be cleared up without materially increas¬ 
ing the Society’s expenses. 
Mr. Wolley Dod moved the adoption of the Report in a few appropriate 
words, and in seconding it Mr. Johnson referred in laudatory terms to the 
excellent work performed at Chiswick. He regretted that it was not more 
generally known, as he felt sure that if it were the Society would take a 
higher position. He suggested monthly reports of the work done in the 
Garden, and thought that more persons might be induced to visit it. 
The President then read the results of the ballot as already given, and 
proposed that the thanks of the meeting be conveyed to the Auditors for 
their services ; also to Major F. Mason, on his retirement from the secretary¬ 
ship, for the valuable assistance he had rendered them, both propositions 
being carried unanimously. He also paid some well deserved compliments 
to Mr. A. F. Barron. He considered he was the right man in the right place, 
and that it was impossible to overrate his labours in behalf of the Society. 
Major Lendy proposed that a Committee be appointed to draw up some 
plans for the future. In reply to which the President remarked that the 
Council would consider the matter, and when they had come to some deci¬ 
sion they would call a meeting, and that would answer the same purpose as 
the Committee Major Lendy suggested. A few other observations were 
made by Fellows present, one commenting rather strongly on the injustice 
of rendering tiokets non-transferable, and Mr. Smee thought that the Society 
should get clear of the Commissioners as soon as possible. Certain Fellows 
who have not paid their subscriptions were then formally removed by vote, 
and a hearty unanimous vote of thanks to the Chairman, proposed by 
Professor Foster and seconded by Mr. Cheal, brought the proceedings to a 
close. 
