230 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Maroh 25, 1886. 
Salvia bicolor may be readily increased either by division of the roots 
in spring or by seed, which generally ripens freely, but which must be 
gathered just before it is fully mature, or, like that of the S. patens, it 
falls from the nodding calyx. 
It should be sown on a gentle hotbed early in spring, and the seed¬ 
lings, when an inch or two high, must be transferred singly to small pots 
of light soil, and subsequently shifted into larger, until the plants are fit 
for tunrng into the borders in May. They will usually flower the first 
season, as is the case with nearly all the Salvias, though not, indeed, so 
early as older plants. In the absence of a hotbed we have no doubt that 
seeds would readily vegetate if sown in a warm border about the end of 
April, especially if assisted by a hand-glass, or protected at night from 
frost and snails by having a flower-pot turned over them. 
Although Salvia bicolor has been found, as we have already intimated, 
in the north of India, it appears also to be a native of Barbary, from 
which country it was first introduced. This plant must not be confounded 
with the blue-and-white variety of pratensis, commonly sold under the 
name of bicolor.—W. T. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
March 28 rd. 
Hyacinths, Daffodils, and Orchids were plentifully shown in the con¬ 
servatory at South Kensington on Tuesday, and collectively they formed a 
very interesting exhibition, but the Hyacinths were not so numerous as 
usual, the Daffodils occupying much the greater space. Amongst these the 
members of the Narcissus Committee found mueh to occupy their time and 
attention, while the orchidists were similarly pleased with the display of 
their favourites. Of the latter Baron Schroder’s magnificent Dendrobium 
crassinode-Wardianum, and handsome specimen of Cattleya Lawrenciana, 
with Mes=r3. W. Thompson’s beautiful example of the hybrid Dendrobium 
Leechianum, were the chief attractions, though several other notable plants 
were exhibited by continental growers. Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons’ and 
Messrs. J. Cutbush & Sons’ Hyacinths included admirable specimens of those 
useful bulbs, the Daffodils being from Messrs. Barr & Son, T. S. Ware, and 
Collins Bros. & Gabriel. During the afternoon there was a good attend¬ 
ance of visitors, as the day proved very fine and exceedingly mild. 
Fruit Committee. —Present : T. Francis Rivers, Esq., in the chair ; and 
Messrs. Arthur W. Sutton, W. Warren, G. T. Miles, J. Willard, Charles Ross, 
G. Norman, P. Crowley, Harrison Weir, T. B. Haywood, William Denning, 
G. Bunyard, J. Woodbridge, R. D. Blackmore, H. J. Veitch, F. Mason, and 
Dr. Robert Hogg. This Committee had but little business to execute, as 
there were few contributions. Mr. Lye, Market Lavington, sent tubers of 
Potato King of the Russets, which has been tried at Chiswick, and a seedling 
from a cross between Old Forty fold and Schoolmaster, a round variety with 
purple eyes, which was referred to Chiswick for trial. The same exhibitor 
also had samples of a seedling Onion from Golden Gittau and White Spanish, 
for which a letter of thanks was accorded. Mr. J. Walker, Pomona Farm, 
Withington, sent a seedling Apple that was passed. Messrs. Foster and 
Pearson sent samples of their ventilator previously noticed, and Mr. Horley, 
Toddington, Beds, had a specimen of a neat and simply constructed hand- 
light. A meeting of the Fruit Committee is to be held at Chiswick on 
Tuesday, the 30th inst., for testing Potatoes. 
Floral Committee. —Present : James O’Brien, Esq., in the chair, and 
Messrs. E. Hill, H. M. Pollett, John Dominy, Thomas Baines, R. Dean, W. 
Holmes, James Walker, H. Herbst, H. Bennett, W. Bealby, John Laing, 
W. H. Lowe, Amos Perry, H. F. Lendy, H. Turner, B. S. Williams, and Dr. 
M. T. Masters. 
Orchids. —There was an interesting and beautiful group of these from 
numerous exhibito-s, several novelties being certificated. Dendrobium 
mieans, from Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons, is a hybrid between D. Wardianum 
and D. lituiflorum, the sepals white, the petals similar, tipped purple, and 
the lip deep crimson in the centre, a zone of white and a purple tip. Mr. 0. 
Thomas, Chatsworth Gardens, had a plant of Odontoglossum triumphans, 
bearing a spike of fifteen large flowers. Mons. J. Heye, Ghent, sent a 
plant of Cypripedium Sallieri, a very distinct form, the lip and petals of a 
yellow tint, the dorsal sepal similar, but with small dark dots and a white 
margin. M. E. Vervaet, Mont St. Amand, Ghent, Bhowed plants of Onci- 
dium fuscatum, Odontoglossum Pescatorei Vervaetianum, white, with a few 
large crimson spots on sepals, petals, and lip ; Odontoglossum mulus, with 
a fine spike of flowers, and a curious unnamed Pleurothallis, bearing droop¬ 
ing spikes of brown-striped flowers larger than they are usually seen in this 
genus (vote of thanks). Messrs. J. R. Pearson & Son, Cheshunt, had plants 
of distinct and pretty varieties of Dendrobiums Wardianum and nobile, for 
which votes of thanks were accorded. Mr. E. Hill, gardener to Lord 
Rothschild, Tring Park, had a plant of the hybiid Lcelia flammea, with 
large deep orange-coloured flowers, the lip tipped with bright red (vote of 
thanks). From the same garden came a plant of Aerides cylindrica on a 
block in a pot, very healthy, and bearing two or three white flowers 
(cultural commendation). Comte Oswald de Kerchove, Ghent, exhibited a 
flower of Lycaste Skinneri alba, very large and pure white (vote of thanks), 
Messrs. J. Laing & Co. and B. S. Williams showing plants of Cattleya 
Lawrenciana. Messrs. Sander & Co. showed flowers of Ccelogyne cristata 
maxima for comparison with the Chatsworth variety. De B. Crawshay, Esq., 
Rosefield, Sevenoak=>, exhibit' d plants of Odontoglossums criBpum, hystrix, 
and Ruckerianum, Cattleyas Triame Crawshayana and Rosse. 
Miscellaneous —Messrs. J. Laing <fc Co. had a remarkably strong plant of 
Imantophyllum robustum Mrs. Laing, bearing four trusses of fifteen flowers 
each, the latter deep orange and very large, with rounded petals (cultural 
commendation). Mr. R. Dean, Ealing, showed three Primroses—Beatric 3 , 
lilac; Novelty, hose-in-ho?e, purple ; and Brilliant, deep crimson, all beauti¬ 
ful varieties (vote of thanks). F. \V. Collinson, Esq., Rookfield, Muswell 
Hill, exhibited a plant of Chrysanthemum Mrs. Charles Carey, a Japanese 
variety with flat twisted white florets, and remarkably late (vote of thanks). 
Mr. Bealby, The Laurels, Roehampton, showed a plant of Carnation Madame 
A. Bernaix, salmon pink flaked with scarlet, large and full. Mr. W. Wood, 
Eastbourne, sent a variegated Eupatorium ; and Mr. W. Clay, Kingston, 
had four highly coloured varieties of Cyclamens. Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons 
had several new Hyacinths besides those certificated, comprising the follow¬ 
ing :—Blush Perfection, double, white with a pink tinge; Rose Pompon, 
single, pale blush, fine spike, and large bell; The Bride, single, pure white, 
large bells and spike ; Princess of Wales, single, pink,with strongly recurving 
petals. Some pretty white Crocuses named Mont Blanc, and a pan of Primula 
pulcherrima were also shown. 
Groups. —These have been incidentally referred to, and we can only 
notice them briefly. Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, had a grand col¬ 
lection of 100 Hyacinths, representing most of the best varieties in cultiva¬ 
tion, the spikes large and the colours varied (silver-gilt Banksian medal). 
Messrs. J. Cutbush & Sons, Highgate, had about 120 Hyacinths, also of 
many varieties and well grown (silver Banksian medal). The St. George’s 
Nursery Company, Hanwell (Mr. H. B. Smith, Manager), exhibited a superb 
group of Cyclamens, and were awarded a silver-gilt Banksian medal and a 
cultural commendation for a variety named The Major, with massive white 
flowers and a crimson throat. Mr. J. James, Woodside, Farnbam Royal, 
contributed a handsome group of his fine Cinerarias, the blooms large, beau¬ 
tifully formed, and very rich in colour (silver Banksian medal) ; and W. 
Clay. Esq., Kingston, had a fine group of Cyclamens (bronze Banksian 
meaal). Silver Banksian medals were awarded to Mr. T. S. Ware, Messrs. 
Barr & Son, and Messrs. Collins Brothers & Gabriel for groups of Daffodils 
and other flowers, Anemones of the fulgens type being freely used. A silver 
Banksian medal was also awarded to T. A. S. Dorien Smith, Esq., Tresco 
Abbey, Scilly Isles, for a large collection of Daffodils arranged in their 
several sections, and all gathered out of doors. 
PLANTS CERTIFICATED. 
Hyacinth Queen of the Pinks (J. Yeitch & Sons).—A single-flowered 
seedling from King of the Blues, the bells large, of good form, and deep 
pink in the centre of the petals, lighter at the margin. Spike compact and 
massive. 
Hyacinth Grand F.eur (J. Yeitch & Sons).—A pretty single variety, with 
purplish rose flow rs, a very distinct shade, the bells large and spike 
compact. , . 
Dendrobium Leechianum (W. Thomson & Son).—A fine hybrid, raised by 
Mr. W. Swann when gardener to W. Leech, Esq., Fallowfield, Manchester, 
from seed obtained from D. nobile fertilised with pollinia from D. aureura. 
The crossing was effected in January, 1875, and in February of the follow¬ 
ing year the seedlings were first noticed, and flowers were first produced in 
January, 1881. The parents are the same as those of D. Ainsworthi and 
D. splendidissimum. but it is quite distinct from both, Messrs. Thomsons’ 
plants being so good and the flowers so fine that a unanimous certificate 
was granted. The sepals and petals are white, tinged with purplish crimson, 
the lip over an inch in diameter, of a rich crimson hue, feathering into the 
pure white margin. Like D. nobile, it is very free, and small growths had 
over a dozen flowers each. An illustration of this hybrid was given in this 
Journal (page 233, March 23rd, 1882), with the raiser’s description of its 
treatment. 
Dendrobium crassinode-Wardianum (Baron Schroder).— A supposed 
natural hybrid, introduced with other Denbrobiums, and apparently inter¬ 
mediate between the species named both in flowers and pseudo-bulbs. The 
latter are 3 feet long, more slender than D. Wardianum, with swollen nodes, 
but less strongly marked than in D. crassinode, and the internodes are 
longer. In the specimen shown the pseudo-bulb had forty flowers, the 
petals about 1 inch in diameter and rounded, these, with the sepals, being 
white tipped with soft rosy crimson. The lip is broad and round, golden, 
with two small crimson dots at the base, a white band, and a pale rose tip. 
It is a charming Orchid and will probably become valuable. 
Cattleya Lawrenciana (Baron Schroder).—This fine Cattleya has been 
shown several times without securing honours, and it seems to vary con¬ 
siderably, like others of the genus. The plant shown had twelve flowers, 
two or three on each growth, the petals 1 ^ inch in diameter, and with the 
sepals of a uniform purplish hue, the lip of an intensely rich crimson colour, 
and a white throat. 
Odontoglossum Pescatorei Vervaetianum (M. E. Vervaet, Ghent).— A 
beautiful variety, with well-foimed flowers, white, with a few large crimson 
spots on the sepals, petals, and lip. 
Azalea mollis Lord Shaftesbury (J. Cutbush & Sons).— A handsome 
variety, with round well-formed flowers, of a bright golden colour. Very 
free and useful. 
Scientific Committee. —Sir J. D. Hooker in the chair. Prof. A. H. 
Church drew the attention of the Committee to a new insecticide, the out¬ 
come of a long series of experiments. The preparation in question is 
essentially a complete and permanent emulsion, in which has been_ incor¬ 
porated a large quantity of such oily liquids (including certain kinds of 
paraffin oil) as destroy the insect-pests of plants. Hitherto the rough 
methods in use for preparing such emulsions have failed to effect the perfect 
distribution of the oily matter in the wash, and, in consequence, oily drops 
of sensible size have spotted and injured the leaves and tender shoots of the 
plants. The sample exhibited contained two-thirds of its bulk of the 
above-named oils along with other useful ingredients. On dilution with 
water no separation of the oils takes place. For very tender and succulent 
plants half an ounce of the emulsion in a gallon of rain water forms a 
syringing wash, which proves fatal to green fly, red spider, brown scale, and 
even mealy bug, without inflicting any injury on the flowers or foliage of 
the plants to which it is applied. The proportion may be increased in the 
case of more robust plants—even I ozs. to 1 gallon may in some cases be 
used, though mueh weaker solutions are in the great majority of cases 
perfectly effective. The plants if at all delicate should be syringed with 
fresh water two hours after the insecticide has been applied. By appropriate 
chemical methods various substances may be introduced into the emulsion 
in order to meet special requirements of gardeners and Hop-growers. For 
instance, sulphur, in a free state and yet in a perfectly soluble form, has 
been added to some of the preparations, and proves to be an efficient pre- 
