470 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June 10, 1886. 
Fruit Committee. —Present: T. Francis Rivers, Esq., in the chair, and 
Messrs. G. T. Miles, G. Norman, J. Burnett, John E. Lane, John Wood- 
bridge, William Warren, William Denning, T. B. Haywood, and Harry J. 
Veitch. 
Messrs. Thomas Rivers & Son, Sawbridgewortli, were awarded a cultural 
commendation for fruits of Early Favourite Plum, a small round dark 
variety of excellent flavour. A vote of thanks was also awarded for well- 
kept Dumelow’s Seedling Apples. Mr. Lockie, Oakley Court Gardens, 
Windsor, showed a green-fleshed Melon named Oakley Court Seedling, a 
cross between Dr. Hogg and Egyptian Greenflesh. It was scarcely ripe, and 
the Committee desired to see it again. Mr. E. S. Wilei, Edgcote Park, 
Banbury, exhibited a Melon named Edgcote Beauty, a cross between Captain 
Larks and Golden Perfection, but it was passed. 
The South Australian Commissioners showed some ripe and finely 
flavoured Winter Nelis Pears, Potatoes something like a rough Vicar of 
Laleham, Onions, and dried or preserved fruits, comprising Pears, Peaches, 
and Plums, for which votes of thanks were accorded. It was stated that 
the Potatoes were at the disposal of the Committee for distribution, subject 
to the results being made known to Sir Samuel Davenport, Commissioner 
for South Australia. 
Mr. March, Board of Green Cloth, Buckingham Palace, exhibited some 
frames to illustrate his method of “ water protection for plants.” They 
were ordinary box frames with a flat glass top, but with wooden sides to 
form a kind of trough in which water was to be placed, that, when frozen, 
it is thought, would protect the plants below. It was referred to Chiswick 
for trial. 
Floral Committee. —Present Mr. James O’Brien in the chair, and 
Messrs. Harry Turner, A. J. Lendy, H. M. Pollett, Amos Perry, G. Paul, 
Shirley Hibberd, H. Herbst, W. Wilks, W. H. Lowe, W. Bealby, H. Cannell, 
W. B. Kellock, E. Hill, William Holmes, and J. Dominy. 
Mr. W. Stacey, Dunmow, had a stand of two dozen Verbena trusses, 
representing some of the handsome varieties that he has raised in recent 
years, and which are remarkable for their bright clear colours and size of 
flower and truss, being especially valuable for culture in pots where others 
of a sturdy character are adapted for bedding out. Very notable were Alba 
Magna, pure white ; Acquisition, a distinct rosy salmon tint, extremely 
bright; Purity, white; Purple Queen, rich purple; Lord Charles 
Beresford, dark scarlet: Fairy Queen, striped ; Cantab,large light purplish- 
blue ; Lilacina, lilac ; and Lady C. Beresford, scarlet which was certificated. 
F. G. Tautz, Esq., Goldhawk Road, Hammersmith, exhibited several fine 
semi-double Tree Paeonies, two of which were certificated. Mr. G. Burnett, 
The Grange, Hillingdon, showed two seedling varieties of Decorative Pelar¬ 
goniums named Miss Dyson, rosy salmon and dark blotch, and Beauty of 
HilliDgdon, pale rose. Both are very free, and a vote of thanks was 
accorded for them. C. Dorman, Esq., The Firs, Lawrie Park, Sydenham 
(gardener, Mr. W. White), had several choice Orchids, one of the most 
notable being Maxillaria Sanderiana, with large white flowers stained with 
claret at the base of the sepals and petals; Odontoglossum crispum 
Mrs. C. Dorman was a distinct variety, the sepals and petals margined 
with rosy crimson on a white ground; Oncidium pulchellum, a graceful 
species with light panicles of small blush white flowers ; Epidendrum 
vitellinum maximum, very large and bright; Cattleya Wagneri, white with 
gold throat; Odontoglossum Andersonianum. variety Dormani, delicate 
buff, with brown spots ; and Cattleya Reineckiana, with whits sepals and 
petals, the lip veined with crimson (vote of thanks). Mr. Cypher had a 
pale rose-lipped Laslia purpurata named pallida rosea and some distinct 
varieties of Cattleyas Mossite and Mendeli. G. Nevill "Wyatt, Esq., Lake 
House, Cheltenham, showed a pale variety of Cattleya Mossias, named 
Wyattiana. H. M. Pollett, Esq , Fernside, Bickley, showed Cjpripedium 
Godefrojte argenteum, a variety with silvery leaves. S. Courtauld, Esq., 
Booking Place, Braintree (gardener Mr. A. Wright), was awarded a cultural 
commendation for a plant of Masdevallia rosea in a 48-size pot, with about 
120 flowers, the best example of this floriferous species that we have seen. 
The New Plant and Bulb Company had two pretty varieties of Cattleya 
Mossi®. Walter Cobb, Esq., Silverdale, Sydenham, showed a fine pure white 
variety of Odontoglossum crispum (vote of thanks). Mr. J. King, Ito wsham, 
had a new Coleus named Vesuvius, with large leaves, very bright red,neatly 
edged with gold, an effective variety. Mr. R. Underwood, Fortune Green, 
Kilburn, showed a Pelargonium, sport with scarlet and blush flowers on the 
same plint (vote of thank-i). Messrs. J. Laing & Co. sent a beautiful double 
Tuberous Begonia named Triumph, with very full blooms of a rich salmon 
hue. Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, had a small collection of choice 
new Gloxiniis, one of which—Ormonde—was certificated. Thehestofthe 
others were Snowdrift, white; Viceroy, crimson, white throat; and Mrs. 
Amherst-Morris, purple, dotted with crimson. 
A series of water-colour sketches of Orchids, faithful and well executed 
representations of plants in Mr. A. H. Smee’s coll°ction, the work of A. Foord 
Hughei, E^q., Wandle Bank, Wellington, was exhibited and greatly admired 
by many visitors. Oncidium Jonesianum, Vanda Sanderi ina, and Odonto¬ 
glossum crispum were especially well depicted, Zygopetalums, Cattleyas, 
and other plants being cirefully and correctly drawn. Messrs. Jones and 
Firmin, 120, Blackfriars Road, showed a mirror, upon the back of which a 
plant of Odontoglossum crispum with a fine raceme of flowers had been 
painted previous to the glass being silvered. It had a pleasing effect and 
was tastefully sketched. Mr. H. G. Smyth, Goldsmith Street, Drury Lane, 
exhibited a very good example of Orchid peat. 
MM. Vervaet et Cie, Ghent, Belgium, showed a plant of Odontoglossum 
Vuylstikianum, which was something like a yellow 0. luteo-purpureum, the 
sepals and petals undulated and the lip fringed. 
CERTIFICATED PLANTS. 
Verbena Lady C. Beresford (Stacey).—A bright rosy scarlet variety, 
with a white eye; very effective and handsome. 
Poeonia Moutan lilacina (F. G. Tautz).—A large semi-double variety, 
white stained with purple at the base. Purity, similar in shape and style, 
but pure white. 
Cattleya speciosissima, Fairfax variety (Admiral Fairfax, Ravenswood, 
Melrose, N.B ).—Very handsome, with broad crimson petals, narrow sepals 
of similar colour, and a large round dark crimson lip. 
Gloxinia Ormonde (El. Cannell & Sons).—An exceedingly dark crimson 
variety of very rich colour. 
Pyrethrum roseum Ormonde (Kelway & Son).—A double variety of a 
bright ro3e tint, close cut florets, very full. 
Pyrethrum roseum, Princess of Wales (Kelway & Son).—A single variety, 
bright rose, very large, and of good form. 
_ Pyrethrum Mrs. Bateman Brown (T. S. Ware).—Single, rich rose- 
crimson, very fine colour and excellent shape. 
Iris Victorine (Kelway & Son).—A pretty variety of the germanica type, 
with dark blue falls and white standards veined with purple. 
Pceony Eclaire (Kelway & Son).—One of the herbaceous Pseonies, with 
pinkish white double flowers ; very full and handsome. 
Pceony Festiva maxima (T. S. Ware).—An herbaceous variety, with large 
double white blooms, slightly tinged with red, very fragrant. 
Scientific Committee. —A. Grote, Esq., in the chair. 
Bed-spotted Potatoes. —Dr. Masters observed with reference to Mr. Plow¬ 
right’s communication made to the last meeting, that although many were 
found in the experiments at Chiswick in 1881, none whatever occurred in 
1885. 
Apples and Pears attached by Erysiphe Communis. —Mr. W. G. Smith 
stated that the trees at Dunstable were badly attacked this year by an 
“ oidium.” It had often been noticed before, but it had not previously been 
identified with E. communis. It attacks the stamens and pistil, destroying 
the pollen. 
Circcea Lutetiana with Stipules. —Dr. Masters brought plants, and called 
attention to the fact, previously unobsetved, that this species possessed minute 
gland-like stipules, which disappeared from the older and lower portion 
of the plants. 
Hawthorn Shoot from Boot. —He also exhibited a shoot of Craticgus 
Pyracantha springing from a root. 
Deutzia gracilis with “ blind flowers." —Dr. Lowe brought specimens 
showing that these produced no fruit, but often bore isolated flowers with 
perfect organs. 
Senecio spathulifolia. —He also exhibited fine specimens of this plant 
growing in the open. It is a native of Holyhead, and said to be in York¬ 
shire by Backhouse. Mr. Boscawen observed that the Groundsels are all 
best raised from green seed, which come up quicker and better than when 
dried. It is the same with Lilies. Dr. Lowe also exhibited plants of Aster 
aurantius, originally nceived from the late Mr. Joad. 
Potato with Phycomyces nitens. —A specimen was received from Mr. 
Wills with the silky-lookiDg fungus, which appeared to be in fructification. 
It was referred to Mr. Smith for farther examination and report. 
Ascomyces Alni. —A specimen of Alder root covered with excrescences 
due to this fungus was sent by Mr. Bunyard of Maidstone. 
Anthericum Liliustrum and Delphinium. —He also sent isolated blossoms 
of these plants springing from the base of the plants in anticipation of the 
usual spikes. 
Method of Lighting with the Interposition of Water. —Mr. T. C. March 
(of the Board of Grren Cloth, Buckingham Palace) was invited to give 
some account of his invention, which consists of introducing a shallow glass 
tank over the plants. This s ops the heat rays but allows the light to pene¬ 
trate freely. Mr. Stirling, the Queen’s gardener, is experimenting with it, 
and finds Fuchsias, Ferns, &c., grow extremely well under it. It was sug¬ 
gested that it might be useful to adopt some form of the arrangement in 
tropical countries with advantage. 
REVIEW OF BOOK. 
Flowers, Fruits, and Leaves. By Sir John Lubbock, Bart., F.RS, 
M.P., D.O.L., LL.D. London : Macmillan and Co. 1886. 
We have already a Eumber of works from Sir John Lubbock’s prolific 
pen, several of which have taken a high place amongst popular scientific 
treatises, but to many persons the work now under notice will probably 
prove one of the most interesting. The author has repeatedly given good 
evidence of his acute and accurate observations in natural history, and it 
might be well imagined that bringing this attentive study to bear upon 
plant peculiarities, something original and instructive would result. 
With regard to one portion of the subject, however, that relating to the 
cross-fertilisation of flowers, so much has appeared in late years, that 
little room has been left for original investigation, but a comparison of 
the recorded observations is very useful, especially as the author has 
himself paid special attention to the matter, as related in his “ Flowers 
and Insects,” published some ten years since. Upon the structure of 
fruits and seeds treated popularly there has been less of an authoritative 
character, while the chapters on leaves, which conclude the work, contaiu 
much that will be new to many readers. 
We may briefly note tbe features of these divisions. In chapter i., 
dealing with flowers, cross-fertilisation, specialisation of structure to 
encourage insect visits, and the observations on insectivorous plants are 
reviewed. Mr. C. Darwin’s experiments also receive consideration, as 
well as those of other celebrated European naturalists. The structure of 
Geranium pratense is described and illustrated, also Epilobium angusti- 
folium and Vallisneria spiralis, but a much fuller description of the latter, 
with au illustration, is given in chapter iii., page 51, though there is 
apparently a slight inconsistency in the two references. At page 10, it is 
said, after describing the female flowers, that “ the male flowers are 
minute and sessile, but when mature they detach themselves from the 
plant, rise to the surface, and float about freely like little boats among 
the lemale flowers.” On page 51, however, it is said that “ the male 
flowers have short straight stalks, from which, when mature, the pollen 
detaches itself, rises to tbe surface, and floating freely on it, is wafted 
about so that it comes in contact with the female flowers.” The italicised 
word indicates the seeming discrepancy. 
Some space is devoted to the consideration of the authoi’s favourite 
study, the partiality of bees for particular colours. He says, “ In order 
