296 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 15, 1886. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
April 13th. 
Orchids and Daffodils were again the most important and beautiful of 
the exhibits at South Kensington ; the former from several amateurs, but 
especially from Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., were admirable, the 
Daffodils also being largely represented by collections from the nurserymen 
who make a specialty of those and other hardy plants. One of the greatest 
attractions was the group of New Z 'aland Forgat-me-nots from E. G. Loder, 
Esq., the plants being exceedingly healthy and bearing numbers of their 
pretty blue-tinted flowers. The Bcrkhampstead Rhododendrons, with 
miscellaneous contributions from various sources, occupied the whole of the 
remaining table space on both sides of the conservatory, and formed the 
most imposing display held by the Society this year. 
Fruit Committee. —Present: T. Francis Rivers, Esq., in the chair, and 
Messrs. H. J. Veitch, Wm. Denning, John Burnett, F. Rutland, Wm. Paul, 
John E. Lane, James Smith. Joseph Ellarn, John Woodbridge, William 
Warren, T. J. Saltmarsh, G. Goldsmith, Chas. Silverlock, T. B. Haywood, 
and R. D. Blackmore. A silver medal was awarded to Mr. Cummins, 
gardener to A. H. Smee, Esq., The Grange, Wallington, for an excellent 
collection of Apples, comprising fifty dishes, nearly all distinct varieties, 
and six dishes of Pears, the fruit being firm and extremely well kept. 
The best varieties of Apples we-e Dumelow’s Seedling, Lord Burghley, 
Winter Colmar, Ribston Pippin, Stone Apple, Clove Pippin, Maiden Millet, 
and Brabant Bellefleur; the Pears being Catillac, ITvedale’s St. Germains, 
Duchesse Tardive, and Bezi Mai. A letter of thanks was accorded to Mr. 
Stephen Castle, West Lynn Vineyard, Norfolk, for several good bunches 
of Gros Colman Grape, the berries large, plump, and bearing a fairly good 
bloom. A dish of unnamed Apples from H. A. Brassey, Esq., Preston Hall, 
Aylesford, Kent, was passed. 
Floral Committee. —Present: G. F. Wilson, Esq., F.R.S., in the chair > 
and Messrs. R. Dean, John Denning, H. M. Pollett, James O’Brien, W. B. 
Kellock, R. Hill, G. Paul, H. Cannell, J. Douglas, W. Bealby, Amos Perrv, 
B. S. Williams, H. Herbst, W. Wilks. James Hudson, G. Duffield, Harry 
Turner, H. F. Lendy, H. Ballantine, William Holmes, and Shirley Hibberd. 
Some handsome specimen Orchids were contributed by several growers, 
but the group from Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., Burford Lodge, 
Dorking, was a most important portion of the Show, including several 
remarkably well-grown plants, and the silver-gilt Banksian medal awarded 
them was a worthy recognition of their merits. Very conspicuous in the 
group was a magnificent example of Oncidium Marshallianum, with 
spreading panicles bearing scores of large flowers, the lip broad bright 
yellow, the sepals and petals smaller, and spotted with reddish brown. 
Odontoglossum vexillarium roseura is a beautiful variety, the flowers deeply 
coloured with rose, large and freely produced, the plant shown having four 
spikes of six flowers each. Cattleya Lawrenciana was capitally represented 
by a plant bearing fifteen flowers. Cypripedium caudatum had twenty- 
two of its peculiar flowers, with long ribbon-like petals. Of Cattleya Mossiae 
there was a fine variety, the sepals and petals bluBh tinted, the lips white 
and gold streaked, pale crimson, very d -licate and beautiful. Dendrobiums 
Harveyanum and Brymeriauum were also shown, both golden coloured, the 
former with the petals deeply fringed, and the latter with the lip similarly 
but still more deeply cut. Masdevallia racmosa Crossi is a very distinct 
Rirm, bright scarlet, but the flowers curiously contracted. Maxillaria 
Turneri had some hundreds of its small flowers; the rosy crimson Tricbo- 
pilia lepida was attractive; Cattleya Mendeli,Dendrobium crystallinum, D. 
lituiflorum, and the white Saccolabium curvifolium album jvere also well 
represented. A series of grand varieties of Anthuriu n Schertzerianum, 
remarkably well grown, formed a part of the Burford Lodge group. They 
were as follows : Wardi, thirteen spathes, 4J inches wide by 5 inches long ; 
Devansayanum, spotted with scarlet on a white ground, certificated ; Roth- 
schildianum, similar to the last mentioned but broader ; Hendersoni, Cypher’s 
variety, ten spathes, each G inches long bv 5 inches wide ; Palmeri, having 
the longest spathes, 8 inches bv 3J inches broad ; Pygmseum, narrow taper- 
ing spathes, and a number of Cypher’s seedlings, the spathes of various 
sizes and shapes. All were exceptionally bright in colour. 
An interesting hybrid, Phalienopsis intermedia, was shown by Messrs. J. 
Veitch & Sons, Chelsea,which has be D n previously referred to when the first 
flower expanded, this being the second. It was raised from seed in 1882,ob¬ 
tained by crossing P. amabilis with P. rosea, which was done t« prove if P. 
intermedia was reallv the natural hybrid it was supposed to be. The 
flowers produced confirm this view, for they have the true character of 
P. intermedia, the serials and petals are white, the petals tinged with 
crimson at.the base, the centre and side lobes of the lips are purplish 
crimson, with a few dots and a vellowish crest at the base, the flowers being 
2 inches across, and the foliage the same as that of a well-grown plant 
of P. intermedia. H. J. Buchan, Esq,, Wilton House, Salisbury, exhibited a 
plant of an Odontoglossum which had been received under the name of 
liluflorum, but which was thought to be ramosissimum roseum, the flowers 
2 inches across, with narrow pink undulated sepals and petals, and a 
tapering lip with a white crest. They are borne on a panicle at the end of 
a peduncle 4 feet or more in length, the stiff leaves growing to the length 
of 2 feet. Mr. Buchan also had flowers of some handsome varieties of Odon- 
toglossums Halli and its variety leucoglossum, luteopurpureum, Alexandr®, 
finely tinted with pale crimson at the base of the petals, Andersonianum 
and Rossi, all notable for rich colouring and good size of flower. C. L. N. 
Ingram, Esq., Elstead House, Godaiming ("gardener, Mr. J. W. Bond) 
showed several Orchids ; Odontoglossum Elsteadianum, having narrow 
yellow sepals and petals spotted with brown, Phaltenopsis Sanderiana 
superba, and Odontoglossum Andersonianum were all notable varieties. 
" • B. Greenfield, Esq., Beechwood Park, Dunstable (gardener, Mr. Free¬ 
man) had a capital spike of Oalanthe vestita igneo-oculata, the flowers 
extremely large, white with a brilliant orange centre. A. H. Smee, Esq., 
Urange, Wellington (gardener, Mr. Cummins) exhibited several plants 
ot Cattleya citrina in flower (vote of thanks), Warscewiczella discolor, with 
creamy sepals and purdish violet petals and lip, which some not inaptly 
compared to a Gloxinia, with Scuticaria Hadweni, a peculiar plant, with 
cylindrical or channelled drooping leaves and brown flowers, the lip white 
veined with pink. A. J. Hollington, Esq., Enfield (gardener, Mr. E. Ayling) 
showed a delicately coloured Odontoglossum Alexandr® named roseo- 
pictum, white tinged with rose and spotted with brown. 
W. Lee, Esq., Leatherhead, contributed a small group of choice Orchids, 
including some well-flowered Cattleya speciosissima, Epidendrum Stamford- 
ianum with two panicles of flowers, the distinct and beautiful Cypripedium 
Godefroym, and a variety with finer dots, the charming Oncidium Phal®- 
nopsis with small flowers, white, spotted violet crimson at the base of lip, 
the sepals and petals being barred with a similar but darker tint. A bronze 
medal was awarded to H. M. Pollett, Esq., for a choice collection of Odonto- 
glossums, comprising some of the best varieties of Andersonianum, Rucker- 
ianum insigne, Wilckeanum, Mulus, Pollettianum, and Scbillerianum. R. 
B. Lemon, Esq., Mont Lodge, The Avenue, Beckenham, Bhowed Oncidium 
Reichenbachi, a variety having brown sepals and yellow petals, spotted with 
brown at the centre. Messrs. J. R. Pearson & Son, Chilwell, exhibited 
several large-flowered varieties of Dendrobium Wardianum and nobile, the 
latter being also deeply coloured. 
Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons had a selection of their new Amaryllises, one 
of which, Princess of Wales, was certificated. Other good varieties were 
Eclatante, white, striped crimson ; Etoile, scarlet with a white central star; 
Compton, brilliant scarlet, the white central bars extending half the length 
of the petals; Pioneer, crimson, medium size, but good form and distinct 
shade of colour; and Crown Princess of Germany, white striped 
scarlet, the flowers rounded and well proportioned. Plants of the 
interesting dwarf Japanese Helionopsis umbellata were staged by 
the same firm, the flowers pale pink and d-ooping, the petals narrow. They 
rise about 3 inches above the rosette of leaves. The greenish yellow Fritil- 
laria-like Korolkowia Sewerzowii was also shown. Mr. B. S. Williams, 
Upper Holloway, contributed a group of plants, the Imantophyllums being 
very fine, the varieties aurantiacum and Ambroise Verschaffelt being 
noteworthy for the massiveness of the umbels, the size of the individual 
flowers, and the rich orange-scarlet shades of colour. Houlletia odoratis- 
sima is a peculiar Orchid, with brownish-red sepals, the petals and lip being 
yellowish, the flowers borne in a drooping spike. Odontoglossum cuspi- 
datum has yellow sepals, petals blotched with brown, and a white lip. 
Masdevallia Harryana lilacina is a distinct and delicately tinted variety, 
very pretty in contrast with the darker coloured varieties. Araucaria 
Vervaetiana, an elegant variety of the excelsa type, and the strangely 
marked Bromeliad Vriesia hieroglyphica, were also rliown by Mr. Williams. 
Mr. W. Bealby, Roehampton, had a good double white Azalea indica, 
named Sacountala, very full and pure. G. F. Wilson, E?q., F.R.S., Wey- 
bridge, showed flowers of Megasea speciosa, large, and of a bright rosy tint 
Primula denticulata purpurea, and a lovely Primrose named Alice Wilson, 
which was certificated. Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, sent flowers of 
Carnation Pride of Penshurst, bright clear yellow, and the scarlet A. Alega- 
tiere, which were greatly admired. Mr. F. Perkins, 51, Recent Street, 
Leamington, exhibited flowers of the now well-known white decorative 
Pelargonium Volonte Nationals album. Mr. James Gray, horticultural 
builder, Danvers Street, Chelsea, showed a sample of improved Orchid 
staging, in which the upper part consisted of wood laths in moveable 
lengths, to allow shingle or ashes on the stage below to be removed with 
ease. Slate, oak, or elm slabs form the lower stage, resting upon wrought 
iron standards, and covered with shingle or small coal to retain moisture. 
It was neatly but strongly constructed, and is one of the best forms of 
stages for Orchid houses, either over tanks, at the side, or otherwise. 
The groups of Daffodils were very extensive and comprised a large 
number of varieties, the best of which we have mentioned at different 
times, and the report of the Narcissus Committee will, no doubt, particu¬ 
larise the leading sorts, esp cially the novelties. Medals were awarded as 
follows :—Silver Banksian to Messrs. Barr & Son, Covent Garden, T. S. 
Ware, Tottenham, and bronze Banksian to Messrs. Collins Bros., and 
Gabriel, Waterloo Bridge Road, New Plant and Bull? Company, Colchester, 
and Mr. J. Walker, Whitton. Anemones and miscellaneous flowers were 
included in several of these collections, Mr. Ware’s Single Poppy Anemones 
being exceedingly bright and varied in colour. A silver medal was also 
awarded to Messrs. H. Lane & Son, Great Berkhampstead, for a group of 
Rhododendrons in pots, representing many varieties of good colour. 
CERTIFICATED PLANTS. 
Myosotidium nobile (E. G. Loder, Esq., Floore, Weedon).—This plant, 
which is popularly known as the New Zealand Forge'.-me-not, is a native of 
the Chatham Islands and a memb rof the Borage family. It was introduced 
to Europe by Mr. Watson of St. Albans, and first shown in flower before the 
Horticultural Society in London, March 1858. It was at first referred to 
the genus Cynoglossum, but was subsequently constituted a new genus 
under the name given. The leaves are heart-shaped, 8 to 9 inches broad, 
and as much long, with a stout petiole, bright, shining, and deep parallel 
veins, like a gigantic Plantago. The flowers are produced in a cymose 
inflorescence, forming a rather dense head; they are about half an inch in 
diameter, of a bright blue in the centre, shading to white at the margin, and 
much like the Myosotis in form. It is a beautiful plant, and the samples 
shown were wonderfully strong. The gardener at Floore, Mr. J. Goldsmith, 
states that they are grown in loam, leaf soil, one-third horse manure, and 
plenty of sand, being placed in a cold frame, but protected from frost. 
The plant is usually considered difficult to grow and is rarely seen in 
flower. 
Odontoglossum Pescatorei, Knox's Variety (B. D. Knox, Caversham, 
Reading).—A supposed natural hybrid between O. Pescatorei and another 
species, but w nderfully distinct from anything yet obtained, and very 
valuable. The flowers are 2J inches in diameter, the sepals and petals broad 
and rounded, bright yellow, lighter at the base, with a few bold crimson 
spots, the lip broad, lighter, and with few spots. A superb form and fine 
companion for O. Pescatorei Yeitchi. 
Lycaste Skinneri gloriosa (W. C. Pickersgill, Esq., Blendon Hall, Bexley). 
—A splendid plant of this was shown with two dozen flowers. The sepals 
pale blush, the petals crimson and the lip white. Yery handsome and 
admirably grown. 
Amaryllis Princess of Wales (J. Veitch & Sons).—A superbly formed 
flower, the petals broad and round, flushed with pale crimson, and streaked 
with whire. very delicate. 
Amaryllis Crown Princess of Germany (J. Yeitch & Sons).—A beautifully 
