July 11, 1(89. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTWULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
29 
varieties, but my already scribbled sheets remind that I must reserve for 
a future opportunity. But just a sentence more which I would like to 
offer as a text for the young and thoughtful portion of your readers to 
ponder over. With links of the same family by which the universe is 
he'd together we have seasons too coupled, and the more we recognise 
this truth the readier shall we comprehend and be able to perform the 
duties our calling is surrounded by ; in fact, it is the greatest of misfor¬ 
tunes our failing to zealously recognise this potent factor, which we see 
included in the great and wondrous machinery all in order contributing 
to our well-being.— Joseph Witherspoon, Red Ruse Vineries, Chester- 
le-Street. 
chrysanthemum: show fixtures. 
Why Mr. Hughes should ask me to explain the changing of the 
dates he refers to of the Hull Chrysanthemum Society I am at a loss to 
understand, as the alteration of a detail so important is a matter which 
devolves on the Committee. If he refers to my note (page 444) he will 
hardly iind that I blame the Society to which he belongs for the clashing 
of the dates, but I there say it is regretable that such a clash should 
take place, as it undoubtedly will. Exhibitions of any sort, let alone 
giants like these, ought not under any conditions to be placed in 
autagonism, although I know well how difficult it is to steer clear of the 
dates of each other, but the necessity need hardly have arisen for these 
two societies to have their shows on the same day. Mr. Hughes says I 
“particularly complain of the unsuitableness of the date of the Birming¬ 
ham Show for southern growers.” I have not yet seen any reason for 
altering my opinion, and does he know of one other grower in the south 
who will say it is a suitable date ? I should not need to mention this 
part again, but Mr. Hughes says the object of these handsome prizes 
was to bring about a contest between growers of the north and south. 
He cannot have any experience of a southern grower’s difficulties in 
exhibiting a week earlier than that named for the Birmingham Show, 
much less so late as the 20th November, or he would not say the date is 
an intermediate one. 
The National Chrysanthemum Society hold their great Show on the 
12th November this year. Last year it was on the 7th. If the execu¬ 
tive did not consider these dates best suited for their Show why did they 
fix them ? The results justified the aim, as anyone could say who saw 
the exhibition of last year. Now if they were to select dates twelve 
days later than these I wonder what sort of a show they would get ? 
These are facts which speak for themselves as to the most suitable time 
for southern exhibitors. The dates are evidently fixed by persons who 
have experience of southern Chrysanthemum growing.—E. Molyneux. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
July 9th. 
The Fruit and Floral Committees held their first meeting of the 
year in the gardens at Chiswick, and as the Chiswick Horticultural 
Society’s Show was held on the same day, quite an extensive and varied 
display was provided, three large marquees, besides a good portion of the 
conservatory, being devoted to exhibits. The day was warm and fine, 
and the gardens were looking in their best condition. 
Fruit Committee. —Present: T. Francis Rivers, Esq., in the chair, 
with W. Wildsmith, W. Bates, W. Denning, J. Smith, G. Wythes, 
W. Warner, Philip Crowley, and J. Wright. 
Mr. J. S. Clark, Richmond Park, Staines, sent growing plants of 
Potatoes in pots, also from tubers in moss, the leaves being distinctly 
and clearly variegated with white. It is a novelty that growers of 
curiosities may perhaps like to try (a vote of thanks was accorded). 
Nine dishes of splendid Strawberries were sent from Mr. W. Allan, 
Gunton Park, Norwich (a cultural commendation was unanimously 
awarded). Amongst them the large dailc variety, Waterloo, was con¬ 
spicuous, and though its colour may not be admired by all, there are 
purchasers willing to pav higher prices for this than any other Straw¬ 
berry. Mr. Lovel, Driffield, sent remarkable fruiting trusses of Filbert 
Pine, also a good dish of fruit (a vote of thanks was accorded). Mr. 
Barron placed on the table fruits of a seedling Strawberry, the result of 
a cross between Fragaria lucida and the Hautbois. It has long been 
grown in the gardens, and though small is of remarkably rich flavour ; 
a Strawberry that should be increased and grown by connoisseurs. 
Mr. J. H. Goodacre sent from Elvaston Gardens a stem of a Melon 
plant bearing four fine looking well netted fruits weighing 4 lbs. each, 
and as the quality was good a first class certificate was unanimously 
awarded. Three of the fruits were produced on a length of stem of less 
than a foot. It has somewhat the appearance of the old Golden Perfec¬ 
tion, and evidently possesses a combination of good qualities. It is 
named The Countess. 
Mr. Charles Turner sent from Slough a dish of a yellow form of the 
Perfectic*i Tomato, appropriately called Golden Perfection. The fruits 
were smooth and handsome, and it was recommended that the variety 
be grown in the gardens for fully testing its merits. * 
Mr. T. F. Rivers placed on the table dishes of three varieties of 
Cherries—namely, Early Rivers, large, early, and rich, a variety of un¬ 
doubted excellence ; Bigarreau Ludwig, pale, early, and excellent ; and 
a variety named Olivet, somewhat resembling the Kentish, but three 
weeks earlier; it bears abundantly on Gooseberry-sized bushes, hence i3 
suitable foi small gardens. 
Messrs. James Veitch & Sons submitted examples of the Gros 
Parasseuse Cabbage Lettuce, large, firm, crisp, and n together meritori¬ 
ous, and a first-class certificate was granted unanimously. 
Mr. George sent samples of improved wood wool for packing, softer,, 
sweeter, and whiter than before, being from the Poplar ; it is ex¬ 
cellent for the purpose suggested. 
The Committee inspected several varieties of Raspberries growing 
in the gardens, and without a dissentient voice accorded a first class 
certificate for Hornet (Rivers) for its healthy growth and fine trusses 
of large firm fruit. It has been long grown in quantity at Sawbridg- 
worth, and there regarded as the best Raspberry in the collection. 
The Peas growing in the trial ground were also inspected. Some 
varieties grown under numbers only were passed in consequence. A 
first class certificate was adjudged for Consummate (Eckford), a dwarf 
growing variety, 2 to 3 feet high, laden with large dark green pods r 
and Laxton’s Optimum only lost a similar honour by one vote. 
Floral Committee. —Present: W. Marshall, Esq., in the chair ; and 
Messrs. W. Goldring, Shirley Hibberd, J. Walker, H. Herbst, C. Noble, 
H. Turner, L. Castle, B. Wynne, J. O’Brien, J. Dominy, J. Douglas, 
J. Fraser, W. Holmes, and Dr. M. T. Masters. 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, exhibited a pretty yellow Genista, 
capitata, the small flowered Hypericum Coris, with small plants of 
ornamental Conifers, and the rosy mauve Notospartium Carmichfelia. 
Messrs. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross, had a box of new Roses 
Marchioness of Lome and Salamander, both Hybrid Perpetuals and 
crimson in colour, were notable. Mr. T. S. Ware had a group of hardy 
flowers, chiefly Lilies and Pentstemons, a first class certificate being 
awarded for L. pardalinum var. luteum, yellow with deep maroon spots. 
A pure white Carnation, Mrs. Frank White, was adjudged an award of 
merit. Mr. A. R. Brown, Birmingham, contributed a group of Calceo¬ 
larias of many varieties, but small flowers. Mr. Mortimer. Farnham,. 
had a group of a new miniature Capsicum in 48-size pots, the plants- 
bearing large numbers of small red fruits (first clas3 certificate). From 
the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chiswick Garden came a collection of 
annuals with (several Ivy-leaf Zonal Pelargoniums. Mr. Gordon,, 
Twickenham, exhibited a collection of Irises. Mr. C. Turner, Slough, 
sent a box of Carnation flo wers ; Messrs. Hooper & Co. and Mr. Douglas, 
also having Carnation flowers. Mr. J. Walker, Thame, contributed 
several boxes of Sweet Williams, representing an excellent strain. 
In the afternoon the Floral Committee also held a meeting in the 
Chiswick Gardens to examine the collection of annuals grown there, 
for comparison, chiefly with a view to determining which are the 
best adapted for town gardens. 
Orchid Committee. —Present: Dr. M. T. Masters in the chair, 
and Messrs. T. Baines, J. Douglas, L. Castle, J. Dominy, H. J. Veitchy 
and J. O’Brien. 
Mr. T. Charlesworth sent a plant of a good variety of Cattleya 
gigas, with richly coloured flowers, but it was not considered superior 
to others of the better forms of that species. Six panicles of a fine 
variety of Oncidium crispum, named grandifiorum, with the flowers- 
over 3 inches in diameter, deep brown, with a yellow centre to the 
base of the lip were shown. A cultural commendation was recommended 
for it, but lost, and a first-class certificate was awarded by four votes 
to two against. Mr. Whillans, gardener to the Duke of Marlborough, 
sent a plant of a light variety of Cattleya Mendcli, named Duchess of 
Marlborough, the sepals and petals white or faintly tinged with blush, 
the lip yellow in the centre—a delicate and charming variety, which- 
was unanimously awarded a first-class certificate. A plant of Physosi- 
phon Loddigesi was shown by Mr. Tautz of Hammersmith, and a 
botanical certificate was unanimously awarded for it. It has slender 
spikes of small flowers, with a swollen greenish tube and orange 
brown sepals. 
The Chiswick Show.— In some departments the competition was- 
not quite so numerous as on previous occasions, but the Show was a 
good one, fruit, flowers, plants, groups, and vegetables being well 
repiesented. 
The chief attraction was in the marquee devoted to groups, where- 
Mr. W. Brown of Richmond succeeded in again winning the first prize- 
in the competition for the challenge vase offered by Mrs. Lee. This now 
becomes Mr. Brown’s property, and he well deserves his success, for 
he has won first honours three times with excellent examples of good 
taste in arranging plants. It was very light and tasteful, Liliums 
lancifolium and auratum with a few Crotons, Odontoglossums, and 
Gloxinias being employed with excellent effect on a bed of Caladiums, 
Adiantums, and small Palms. Messrs. W. Fromow & Sons, Chiswick, 
were second with a rather heavier group, rich in colour, handsome, but; 
somewhat crowded. E. H. Watts, Esq., Devonhurst, Chiswick (gardener, 
Mr. A. Wright), was first in a class for smaller groups with an elegant 
and well-balanced arrangement. 
A long tent was filled with decorations, cut flowers, and cottagers’ 
productions. For three stands of flowers and foliage the Duke of 
Devonshire offered several prizes, the first of which was secured by Mr v 
J. R. Chard, Stoke Newington, with very light graceful arrangements 
