134 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 15 1819. 
successful attempts to revive the culture of the plant at a time when it 
was much neglected. 
“Saffron is still retained in the ‘British Flora’ as a naturalised 
plant ; but I am of opinion that it does not naturalise, as no traces of it 
are to be found in this neighbourhood. The only instance in which I 
ever saw the plant growing wild was when this building was erected, 
and large quantities of earth removed, a few plants came up at the west 
end of the building, but the nest season they all disappeared.” 
[The name of Saffron is of Arabic origin, and is thus traced inLyte’s 
“Herbal,” published in 1578:—“In the Arabian speech Zahafaran, 
from thence it was called in French and high Douch Saffran ; in base 
Almaigne Safferaen, and in English Saffron.” 
Saffron was in reputation as a medicine, and was cultivated in 
Greece when Theophrastus wrote, about three centuries before the 
Christian era. Writing of “ odours,” he says that the Saffron 
(Crocinum) prepared in iEgina and Silicia was the best. Pliny says 
that it couid not be grown profitably in Italy ; and he also states that 
the Saffron most esteemed was that of Cilicia, especially that grown on 
Mount Coryeus ; next in estimation was that from Mount Olympus ; 
and, lastly, that from Centuripa in Sicily. Columella, Palladius, Yarro, 
and \ egetius, all give some slight directions for its cultivation, as does 
Florentinus (Geoponika, xi., 26) who was a Greek writer on the culti¬ 
vation of plants early in the third century. 
Some have thought, considering that the. Eomans introduced Vines 
and other plants which they valued into Britain, that Saffron might 
have been one of them ; but we think a tolerable test of the source 
from whence a new plant has been imported is the name by which it 
continues to be popularly known. The Vine and the Cherry, for in¬ 
stance,^ were introduced by the Romans, and retain names corrupted 
from those by which they were called by that nation. Saffron retains a 
name of Eastern extraction, and this inclines us to believe that there is 
some truth in the tradition preserved by Hakluyt (ii., 104), that bulbs 
of the plant were smuggled from the Levant by a palmer, and intro¬ 
duced. into this country. Gough, Camden, and others of our oldest 
historians agree in stating it is “ a commodity brought into England in 
the time of King Edward the Third.” A time of crusading and 
pilgrimages. 
Conrad Heresbach, writing in 1570, states that it was then cultivated 
about Spires and other places in Germany, and three years later our 
Tusser, whose farming experience was gained chiefly in Essex, writes 
thus in “ August’s Husbandry,” as if Saffron were then commonly 
cultivated :— 
“ Pare Saffron between the two St. Mary’s days, 
Or set, or go shift it, that knoweth the ways, 
What year shall I do it, more profit to yield 1 
The fourth in the garden, the third in the field. 
!“ In having but forty foot, workmanlike dight, 
Take Saffron enough for a lord and a knight. 
All winter time after, as practice doth teach. 
What plot have ye better for linen to bleach ?” 
This needs little comment — a plot of 40 feet square produced 
enough for a nob’eman’s establishment. The bulbs were taken up and 
planted in fresh ground every third or fourth year ; and during the 
winter the green leaves of the Saffron (Crocus sativus) remaining after 
the stigmas were harvested, made a clean surface on which to outspread 
the family linen for bleaching.] 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
August 13th. 
The Drill Hall, Westminster, was well furnished on this occasion, 
chiefly with nurserymen’s exhibits, which were well worthy of inspec¬ 
tion. Messrs. James Veitch & Sons exhibited one of the finest collec¬ 
tions of variegated and ornamental trees and shrubs ever seen, repre- 
s P rays in P ots > resembling small bushes ; also a bright group 
•of Gladioli of the Lemoinei type ; and boxes of Java hybrid Rhododen¬ 
drons. Messrs. Paul & Sons, Cheshunt, had an imposing display of 
Roses, large and small, and various other interesting plants. Messrs. 
H. Cannell & Sons had a group of exceedingly floriferous double 
Begonias, some of the blooms of enormous size. Mr. T. S. Ware had a 
collection of very fine Dahlias, a striking group of Gaillardias, and a 
new yellow summer flowering Chrysanthemum, which was honoured 
with a certificate ; and Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons contributed an effective 
display of Dahlias, including varieties of marked excellence. The 
above coHectmns, with sundry other exhibits, imparted a gay and 
diversified appearance to the hall, to which fruiting plants of Tomatoes 
in pots from Chiswick materially contributed. 
Floral Committee.— Present: W. Marshall, Esq., in the chai 
Messrs. Shirley Hibberd, R. Dean, W. C. Leach, W, Goldring, I 
Herbst, J. Walker, F. Ross, H. Cannell, W. Holmes, B. Wynne, C. Nobh 
J. Frazer, G. Paul, G. Nicholson, and Dr. M. T. Masters. 
In Messrs. Veitch’s group, for which a silver Banksian medal we 
awarded, the very distinct Nepenthes Curtisi superba was prominen 
I he plant had four handsome pitchers, dark brown clearly barred wit 
yellow, and was adjudged a first-class certificate. Similar awards wei 
granted for Rhododendron Duchess of Fife, with large, well formec 
straw-coloured blooms, and to Gladiolus nancieanus President Oarnc 
(Lemome), with large deep red and yellow blooms. Awards of mer 
were granted for G. Alcace, primrose, and Chesnier, yellow and whiti 
In Messrs. Cannell’s group (silver Banksian medal), Begonias Mrs. Sitkie, 
pink; Mrs. Cayzer, yellow ; and A. Blanc, rose, were accorded awards 
of merit ; as was Naegelia or Achimenes pyramidale, a compact flori¬ 
ferous variety with rosy red flowers ; and a vote of thanks was awarded 
for Coleus Vesuvius, with very large red and yellow leaves. Small 
plants of Eochea falcata with bright scarlet heads of flowers were 
effective, and specimens of the pure white double Begonia Octavie were 
remarkable for their fioriferousness. 
From Messrs. Cheal’s (bronze medal) group the single Dahlia James 
Scobie was selected for an award of merit. It is a large well formed 
flower flaked with orange and scarlet. 
A silver Banksian medal was recommended for Mr. Ware’s excellent 
contribution, and an award of merit for single Dahlia C-. H. Harvey, 
and summer Chrysanthemum The Sbah. This is an improvement on 
the good old Felicity, being dwarfer in habit and deeper in colour, and 
will be of substantial value for pots, flower beds, and borders. A first 
class certificate was awarded to Messrs. J. Laing & Sons for Pteris 
tremula Smithiana, a distinct and elegant form of this free and useful 
decorative Fern. A silver Banksian medal was recommended to Messrs. 
Paul & Son for their Roses and other flowers. Messrs. Hawkins and 
Bennett exhibited plants of their double Zonal Pelargonium Duke of 
Fife, with bright scarlet flowers freely produced, for which an award 
of merit was awarded. A botanical certificate was recommended for 
Tritonia scurigera exhibited by Mr. O’Brien, and a vote of thanks 
accorded to Mr. G. Ross for Physianthus albens. Messrs. Daniels 
Brothers exhibited glowing bunches of Godetias Duke and Duchess of 
Fife, and Mr. Beale several plants growing healthy, and some flowering 
freely in fertilising moss; he also staged other garden requisites. 
Orchid Committee. —Present : Dr. M. T. Masters in the chair, and 
J. O’Brien, G. Hill, H. J. Veitch, C. Pilcher, J. Dominy, H. M. Pollett, 
and H. Ballantine. 
Mr. G. Norman, gardener to the Marquis of Salisbury, exhibited a 
dozen cut racemes of Saccolabium Blumei, most of them being 2 feet in 
length, for which a cultural commendation was worthily adjudged. 
Mr. H. Ballantine, The Del), Egham, was granted a first-class certificate 
for the chaste and beautiful Cypripedium Orphanum, the result of a 
cross between C. Druryi and C. barbatum. He also exhibited fine cut 
specimens of C. Morgana;. First class certificates were awarded to Sir 
Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., also to Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., for 
Vanda Kimballiana. The plant is of neat somewhat compact habit of 
growth, and the flowers, which are an inch or moie across, with white 
sepals and petals and purplish violet lips, appear to be freely produced. 
A cultural commendation was awarded to Lselia monophylla from the 
Burford Lodge collection, and votes of thanks for Saccolabium eceleste 
and Cypripedium Stonei superbiens. H. Tate, Esq., Allington Beeches, 
Liverpool, was accorded a vote of thanks for the rich and beautiful 
Cattleya Warscewiczi Hardyana, which had been previously cer¬ 
tificated. 
Fruit Committee. —R. D. Blackmore, Esq., in the chair, with 
Messrs. John Lee, J. Willard, J. Cheal, Harrison Weir, F. Q. Lane, 
W. Warren, A. H. Pearson, J. T. Saltmarsh, G. Bunyard, H. Balderson, 
G. Norman, G. Cliffe, J. Hudson, P. Crawley, J. Burnett, J. Wright, and 
Dr. Hogg. 
The Gunton Park scarlet flesh Melon was again sent by Mr. 
W. Allan, very large handsome fruit, the result of a cross between 
Hero of Lockinge and Austin’s Incomparable, juicy but lacking in 
flavour, hence passed. Mr. William Smythe, The Gardens, Basing 
Park, Alton, sent a medium-sized oval-shaped distinctly netted green- 
fleshed Melon. It was deep in the flesh, rich in flavour, and a first class 
certificate was unanimously awarded to it under the name of Basing 
Park Green Flesh. Mr. H. Divers sent a medium-size well-netted fruit 
of Ketton Gem Melon, but it was distinctly overripe, and no award 
was made. Mr. F. Nicholas, The Gardens, Upleatham Hall, sent a 
closely netted fruit of an oval shaped Melon, very tender and unusually 
sweet, but somewhat lacking in aroma, and lost a certificate by a con¬ 
siderable majority of votes. Mr. Joseph Brutton, Yeovil, sent Brutton’s 
Perfection Melon, that had been certificated at the Crystal Palace, but 
it was decidedly overripe, and no opinion could be formed of its 
value. 
A seedling Apple was sent by Mr. F. R. W. Rich, but extremely 
acid, and passed. It was thought it would do for a “ roadside ” Apple, 
on the ground that boys would not eat the fruit. Mr. W. Roupell sent 
from Roupell Lodge, Streatham, excellent samples of Irish Peach, Red 
Astrachan, Red Juneating, and Devonshire Quarrenden Apples—well- 
grown Irghly coloured fruits in excellent condition, and a cultural 
commendation was unanimously awarded. 
Mr. H. Balderson sent a bunch of a new black Grape raised by Mr. 
Wattam, Shendish Gardens, Hemel Hempstead, raised from Muscat of 
Alexandria and grafted on the Muscat Hamburgh. The berries had 
much the appearance of Black Alicante and were similarly soft in 
texture, but with a decided Muscat flavour. As it was grown on an 
evidently unripened lateral the Committee desired to see it again, as it 
might possibly be firmer in texture from ripened wood. Mr. James 
Douglas, Great Gearies, exhibited bunches of a white seedling Grape, 
somewhat resembling Buckland Sweetwater in appearance, but much 
firmer in the flesh, and although it was considered agreeable and refresh¬ 
ing in quality no award was proposed ; all the same it is a good white 
companion to the Black Hamburgh, and will perhaps be heard of again. 
Messrs. H. Lane & Son sent well grown bunches of the American Straw¬ 
berry Grape, and a vote of thanks was accorded. 
EMr. J. Green sent fruits of the Peach Tomato, distinct in colour and 
