[ September 19, 1889. 
248 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
and here I was shown a Marechal Niel Rose, budded last summer, 
which has thrown out a number of large shoots from 12 to 10 feet 
long, and is still growing, apparently quite fiee from blight, and very 
healthy looking. 
The Peach house was empty, the first crop having come to an end, 
but in the open some heavy crops of fine luscious fruit were seen on the 
walls. Such sorts as Noblesse, Barrington, Grosse Mignonne, and 
Princess of Wales did honour to their names, both as to quantity and 
quality. 
Pears are a special feature at Dogmersfield, and some very fine fruit 
is grown, Williams’ Bon Chretien, Jargonelle, Madame Treyve, and 
others. Those for exhibition are chosen from Pitmaston Duchess, 
Beurr4 Diel, Beurrc Clairgeau, Beurrfi Bachelier, and King Edward. 
Strawberries are grown in quantities averaging over a thousand 
plants, and there is still some fruit in the open. Vicomtesse Hericart 
de Thury, Keens’ Seedling, President, and Sir Joseph Paxton are the 
favourite sorts, and they answer well here. 
Tomatoes are showing plenty of fruit indoors and out. 
The fruit room is beginning to receive its autumn stores, a quantity 
of fine Pears and Peaches being already on its shelves. 
The kitchen garden shows an abundance of vegetables of all sorts, 
with salads and culinary fruits. 
Sir Henry St. John Mildmay i3 fond of his garden, and takes a great 
interest in it, and he is fortunate in having a gardener who knows how 
to make the most of the resources entrusted to him, Mr. Trinder having 
almost if not quite solved the problem, ‘‘ How to have plenty of flowers, 
fruit, and vegetables from January to December.”—H. A. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
September 17th. 
This meeting was not a largely attended-one, either by exhibitors or 
visitors, but there were sufficient Dahlias and miscellaneous exhibits 
with fruit to occupy the Committees for an hour or two. The weather 
was extremely fine, but the sharp frost in the morning had injured some 
outdoor plants and flowers. 
Fruit Committee. —Present: R. D. Blackmore, Esq., in the chair, and 
Messrs. Philip Crowley, J. Cheal, W. Bates, J. Willard, G. Bunyard, A. J. 
Pearson, T. J. Saltmarsh, G. Wythes, J. Hudson, H. Balderson, F. Q. 
Lane, Harrison Weir, G. Cummins, C. Haycock, J. Wright, and Dr. Hogg. 
Mr. Ross,Welford, send a seedling Pear from Calebasse Grosse, a handsome- 
looking fruit, resembling Doyenne Boussoch, and, like it, decaying at the 
core. Quality not superior (passed). Mr. Brutton, Yeovil, sent fruits of 
Brutton’s Perfection Melon, smooth, yellow, slightly netted, medium¬ 
sized fruits of moderate quality (passed). Mr. F. Taylor, Swindon 
Gardens, Cheltenham, sent a scarlet-flesh Melon named Swindon Hall 
Perfection, deep fleshed, rich in quality, but somewhat destitute in 
aroma. A good Melon, and only lost a certificate by two votes. Mr. 
G. Hawkins, Ewenny Priory, Bridgend, sent a ribbed Melon of fairly 
good quality, but appeared as if it had been cut too long for being 
presented in the best condition (passed). 
Fruits of the so-called Melon Pear, Solanum guatemalense, bearing 
a general resemblance to those of the Egg Plant, were sent from 
Chiswick. They were grown in the same way as Tomatoes, and in 
quality reminded of a bad Melon with a suspicion of Cucumber flavour, 
a bitter-sweet mixture of essences that few if any palates could enjoy. 
It was generally considered useless for dessert purposes. 
W. Roupell, Esq., Roupell Park, S.W., exhibited an interesting 
collection of eighteen varieties of Grapes grown in the same house, 
several of them (Frontignans) not often seen nowadays, though, if 
naturally small, very delicious. The following comprised the col¬ 
lection—Muscat Hungary, Canon Hall Muscat, very good ; Mill Hill 
Hamburgh, good ; Purple Constantia, superior to Black Frontignan ; 
Grizzly Frontignan, very good ; Chasselas Musque of Herr Horvath, 
inferior as compared with the Chasselas Musqud of Rivers ; Dr. Hogg, 
excellent; Old Black Frontignan, Ascot Frontignan, Diamant Traube (cer¬ 
tificated) ; Primavis Frontignan, Troveren Muscat, Trebbiano, Muscat 
Hamburgh, Foster’s Seedling, July Frontignan, and American Straw¬ 
berry. A silver medal was unanimously recommended for this collection, 
and a first-class certificate was awarded for Diamant Traube. This is a 
nearly round white Grape of refreshing quality, with good sized berries 
but not large bunches. It is not new, but Mr. Barron says, in his 
“ Vines and Vine Culture,” was received from M. Leroy of Angers 
many years ago, but lost sight of for a time. It ripened in an unheated 
house at Chiswick. The Committee were of opinion that the variety 
was capable of development by good culture, and might form a valuable 
companion to the Black Hamburgh. In berry it is superior to either 
Foster’s Seedling or Buckland Sweetwater—to the former in size, and 
the latter in quality—and it will be suitable for growing with little 
artificial heat. 
Messrs. William Paul & Son, Waltham Cross, exhibited an extensive 
collection of Apples, nearly all the varieties, upwards of seventy, being 
represented in admirable condition. Messrs. Paul also staged a number of 
good Pears (silver medal). Messrs. John Laing & Sons exhibited nearly 
forty very fine dishes of Apples (bronze medal). Mr. Charles Edwards, 
Newton House, Brickley, exhibited two dishes of Apples, Ecklinville 
Seedling and Lord Suffield, for which a cultural commendation was 
awarded. 
Floral Committee.— Present: W. Marshall, Esq., in the chair; 
Messrs. R. Dean, W. Holmes, B. Wynne, Lewis Castle, T. W. Girdlestone, 
J. Walker, W. C. Leach, C. Noble, E. Mawley, W. Goldring, George 
Paul, Shirley Hibberd, J. Douglas, and Dr. Masters. 
Air. C. Ross, Pendell Court Gardens, Bletchingley, exhibited five 
flower heads of Aphelandra cristata with long tubular scarlet florets 
large elliptical leaves. It is a fine o’d plant rarely seen in good con¬ 
dition, and a cultural commendation was awarded. The specimens were 
gathered from a plant 4 feet high, planted out in a stove and bearing 
thirty large heads. From the same exhibitor came flowering shoots of 
Hibiscus pedunculatus, a cool greenhouse shrubby plant with soft pale 
green leaves and large deep pink flowers (vote of thanks). 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, had a large collection of green¬ 
house Rhododendrons in many colours and choice varieties, a group of 
Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora, Berberis vulgaris loaded with its 
coral red fruits, Eucalyptus coccifera shoots, Ceanothus azureus albidus, 
Gloire de Versailles, grandiflorum (blue), and the pink Marie Simon. 
Specimens of Daphniphyllum glaucescens were also shown. 
Messrs. Dobbie & Co., Rothesay, exhibited excellent blooms of 
double yellow, striped and crimson, and single Marigolds, the strain 
being commended. Mr. R. Dean, Ealing, had blooms of African and 
French Marigolds, an award of merit being granted for a double white 
Dianthus Ileddewigi named Snowflake. Mr. G. Stevens, Putney, sent 
blooms of Japanese Chrysanthemum Sam Henshaw, purplish upper 
surface to the florets, silvery reverse ; and Annie Stevens, with narrow- 
twisted florets, white, sulphur centre, a good early variety (award of 
merit). Messrs. J. Laing & Co., Forest Hill, had a group of early 
flowering Chrysanthemums (vote of thanks). 
Messrs. Wm. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross, contributed six boxes of 
Roses, remarkably fresh and grand for the time of year (bronze medal). 
Messrs. Dickson & Co., Edinburgh, sent two border Carnations named 
Maggie Lauder, soft pink ; and W. M. Welsh, dark scarlet. 
Dahlias afforded a brilliant display, and it is probable that they are- 
the last that will be exhibited this season, as some were evidently 
damaged by the frost on the morning of the day they were cut. Messrs. 
Paul & Son, Chesliunt, had an extensive and beautiful display (silver 
medal). Messrs. Laing & Son, Forest Hill; Messrs. Rawlings & Sons, 
Romford; and Mr. J. T. West, Brentwood, also exhibited well, bronze 
medals being awarded to all. Mr. C. Turner, Slough, showed several 
stands of good blooms, and T. W. Girdlestone, Esq., Sunningdale, Berks, 
had a stand of graceful single Dahlias, mostly varieties he has raised 
himself. An award of merit was granted for Hester Dorothea, deep 
maroon, very rich colour, and neat flower. 
Orchid Committee.— Present: Dr. M. T. Masters in the chair, 
and Messrs. J. Douglas, C. Pilcher, J. O’Brien, and J. Dominy. There 
were few exhibits before this Committee, but botanical certificates were 
awarded for Disperis Fanninie from A. H. Smee, Esq., Wallington, a. 
peculiar little plant with white hooded flowers in a spike like a small 
Monkshood. From the same garden came Masdevallia vespertilio, with 
small flowers, buff coloured, with crimson dots, and a similar award 
was granted for it. 
CERTIFICATED plants. 
First class certificates were awarded for— 
Cattleya Miss Harris (Miss Harris, The Grange, Lamberhurst).— A 
cross between C. Schilleriana and C. Mossirn, partaking, largely of the 
floral form of the first named species, with a rich crimson lip, and 
lighter crimson sepals and petals, the colour apparently chiefly derived 
from C. Mossias. 
Miltonia vexillari-a Leopoldi (Baron Schroder).—Flowers of mode¬ 
rate size, pale rose, with a central triangular blotch of deep maroon. 
Watsonia iridifolia (J. O’Brien).—Flowers of good size and shape, 
pure white, ten in a spike, the leaves 2 feet long and more, narrow and 
Iris-like, said to be the only pure white Irid known. 
AWARDS OF MERIT. 
Coleus Cleopatra (Hewitt & Co., Solihull).—Leaves of great size, 
green centre, crimson towards the margin, and yellow or green crenated 
edge. 
Dahlia Conquest (G. S. P. Harris, Orpington).—A peculiar pale 
purplish mauve, the bloom deep, well proportioned, and even. 
Dahlia Marmion (C. Turner).—A line bloom with yellowish ground 
colour, striped with crimson. 
Dahlia Centenary (Mr. J. T. West).—A Cactus variety, very large 
flower, of a brilliant crimson scarlet colour, well formed and effective. 
Dahlia Guliehna (J. Cheal &; Son).—A single variety, with white 
florets bordered with orange, very distinct. 
Dianthus Heddeivigi Snorvflahe (Dean), Chrysanthemum Annie 
Stevens (Stevens), and Dahlia Hester Dorothea (Girdlestone), are 
described in the preceding notes. 
STRAWBERRY GROWING. 
Mr. Easty’s article under the above heading was interesting, 
as his writings always are, and his expressed opinions will tend to 
strengthen reports previously given on the merits of Laxton’a 
Noble Strawberry. I have not yet had the privilege of proving its 
qualities myself, but hope to do so next season. One good variety 
has not been mentioned by Mr. Ea3ty which deserves notice, and 
that is Loxford Hall Seedling. This variety has long since been 
recognised as being above average merit, and those who intend 
1 extending their plantations in variety should not fail to give it a 
