300 
f April 11, 1889. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
_ 
each particle has an opportunity of commencing to run into the 
new soil and increase the fibrous parts the whole length of the roots, 
whereas when the roots are bound in a ball, so to speak, it is only the 
outer ones which have free access to the new soil. When the Vines are 
planted without disturbing the roots, the old ball of soil and the roots 
contained therein are more likely to suffer from drought than when they 
are spread out separately, because water is less likely to penetrate 
through the bound-up roots, as all Vines ought to be which have had a 
season’s growth in either 8-inch or 9-inch pots. Very good results I have 
experienced in planting young Vines by removing the soil from the 
roots, disentangling them carefully, spreading them evenly over the 
border a few inches deep, covering them with fine soil mainly composed 
of loam as fibrous as possible, lime rubbish and charcoal, with half-inch 
bones thinly scattered among the soil. 
Planting was not done until April, the Vines having been kept under 
a wall, the roots protected from frost, the rods pruned to within 2 feet 
of the soil. After planting a good soaking of tepid water was given to the 
border, the soil being rather dry at planting time ; the eyes of the Vines 
were rubbed off to within about four of the base, and as soon as it was 
seen that the bottom eyes were starting to grow two more eyes or shoots 
were rubbed out, thus retaining the two bottom shoots only until 3 or 
4 inches of growth was made, sufficient to make the new growth secure 
from the attack of slugs, which are partial to the tender growth of Vines 
when near the soil, this being the reason why two growths were 
retained. The shoot nearest the top was then rubbed off, allowing'the 
bottom one to remain in all cases where it gave promise of clean growth. 
The Vines were syringed twice daily, the atmosphere being maintained 
in a moist state ; rapid growth was made, the Vines reaching the top of 
the house. The leaves were firm and of a good colour, while the wood 
was short-jointed, and ripened satisfactorily. Pruning was done the 
following autumn to within three eyes of the first wire, thus laying the 
foundation of one pair of spurs and a leading growth. Since then the 
Vines have borne good crops of Grapes their whole length, and promise 
to continue doing so. For this reason I can say that the system has 
been decidedly successful here, the Vines not showing the appearance of 
having lost large quantities of their best roots by the removal of the 
soil, and as the planting of a house of Vines is not, or ought not to be, 
an annual occurrence, it matters little if more time be spent over the 
work than is necessary when the Vines are treated in the same manner 
as “bedding” plants.— Practical. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
April 9th. 
The Drill Hall at Westminster was well filled with exhibits on Tues¬ 
day last ; three rows of tables nearly the whole length of the building 
being occupied, mainly with plants and cut flowers. Orchids constituted 
the chief feature of the display, and they were exceptionally well repre¬ 
sented. Daffodils also were show n in large, numbers including most of 
the best varieties in cultivation. The weather was dull and wet and 
the attendance small. 
Fruit Committee.— R. D. Blackmore,Esq.,inthe chair, with SirC. 
W. Strickland, Bart., Harrison Weir, Arthur W. Sutton, Philip Crowley, 
J. Cheal, J. Burnett, J. Willard, G. Norman, W. Warren, G. T. Miles, G. 
Clyffe, W. Bates, F. T. Lane, W. Wildsmith, J. Wright, G. Bunyard, and 
James Hudson. Mr. J. T. Harris, Great Lodge, Tonbridge, sent a number 
of plants in pots, also a tray of very large fruits of Harris’s Early Forcing 
Strawberry. The plants were very dwarf, and the fruit decidedly imposing 
in appearance, but the reverse of superior in flavour. A cultural com¬ 
mendation was awarded, and the variety was recommended to be tried 
at Chiswick. Some of the members of the Committee thought it resem¬ 
bled Marguerite. Mr. W. Unwin, the Piazza, Covent Garden Market, 
sent handsome white spined fruits of a Cucumber named Covent Garden 
Favourite, a variety extensively grown for market. An award of merit 
was recommended. Mr. R. Dean sent a dish of New Potatoes, Dean’s 
Early Sunrise, medium sized, well matured pebble-shaped tubers, for 
which a vote of thanks was awarded. Mr. H. Divers, Wierton House 
Gardens, Maidstone, sent specimens of a very dwarf purple sprouting 
Broccoli, said to be earlier than the type. It was recommended to be 
grown at Chiswick. 
Floral Committee. —Present—W. Marshall, Esq., in the chair, 
and Messrs. Shirley Hibberd, Richard Dean, Peter Blair, H. Herbst, 
T. W. Gmilestone, E. Mawley, J. Walker, W. 0. Leach. B. Wynne, 
E. B. Lowe, J. Fraser, G. Paul, H. Turner, T. Baines, W. H. Williams, 
and F. Ross. 
Mr. H. W. Houldsworth, Wilton, showed a very strong plant of 
Carnation Souvenir de la Malmaison, about 4 feet high, having five 
extremely large flowers expanded (cultural commendation). Mr. F. 
Ross, Pendell Court Gardens, exhibited flowers of the red Kennedya 
rubicunda and the bright scarlet Mutisia Clematis, recently figured in 
this Journal (vote of thanks). Messrs. J. Vcitch & Sons, Chelsea, sent 
two handsome Amaryllises, named Sirocco, of handsome shape and rich 
deep scarlet, and Zephyr, veined with scarlet on a white ground. From 
the Royal Gardens, Kew, came a collection of Arisfemas, a plant of 
Godwinia gigas, the yellow bell-flowered Columnea Kalbreyeri, besides 
Primulas, hardy Orchises and other interesting plants. MM. Vilmorin, 
Andrieux & Cie., Paris, sent some good white Cinerarias (vole of 
thanks). Mr. W. Gordon, Twickenham, had a group of Pseonies and 
Japanese Maples (vote of thanks). Mrs! S. Wilson, Penrhyn, Cornwall 
(gardener, Mr. Gill), sent some trusses of Rhododendrons (vote of 
thanks). Mr. J. Walker of Thame had some Chrysanthemum flowers. 
Mr. R. Dean exhibited a group of single Primroses of various colours, 
and Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co., Salisbury, showed plants of the 
climbing Niphetos Rose. 
Two magnificent groups of Daffodils and hardy flowers were contri¬ 
buted by Messrs. Barr & Son, Covent Garden, and Mr. T. S. Ware, 
Tottenham, for each of which a silver medal was deservedly awarded. 
Large numbers of varieties were represented, including many of great 
beauty. 
Only one award of merit was granted by the Committee—namely, 
for 
Hose Gloirc de Margottin (Messrs. H. Lane & Son).—This is a 
bright crimson Rose, very free, of good habit, and evidently well 
adapted for early flowering in pots. The blooms are of moderate size 
and very fragrant. 
Orchid Committee. —Present—Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., 
and subsequently Dr. M. T. Masters in the chair, and Messrs. J. O’Brien, 
E. Hill, J. Dominy, H. Ballantine, H. M. Pollett, Lewis Castle, and 
F. Sander. 
Baron Schroder, The Dell, Egham (gardener, Mr. Ballantine), was 
awarded a gold medal for a remarkably handsome group of well-grown 
Orchids, possessing the vigour and freshness that invariably distinguish 
the plants from this garden. Dendrobiums were largely represented, 
comprising good plants of D. nobile nobilius, and several other fine 
varieties of D. nobile ; D. Ainsworthi, D. splendidissimum grandiflorum, 
very handsome ; the small white, but free, D. barbatulum, the small 
golden D. aggregatum, and D. Farmeri. With them were associated a 
number of Odontoglossums and Ferns, the whole constituting a most 
beautiful group. 
Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, were awarded a silver-gilt 
Banksian medal for a group of choice Orchids, comprising beautifully 
flowered plants of the following—Dendrobium transparens, the small 
delicately tinted flowershaving a charming appearance ; Cattleya Skin- 
neri with over a dozen trusses of highly coloured flowers ; Dendrobium 
marmoratum, somewhat like a more deeply coloured D. transparens, 
and nearly as well flowered ; D. Devonianum in excellent condition ; 
Cattleya Trianre var. superba, very fine ; Dendrobium Dalhouseianum, 
and several other plants. 
Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., Burford Lodge, Dorking, had a 
smaller, but very interesting group (silver medal), including Cypripedium 
Curtisi, with unusually large handsome flowers, for which a vote of 
thanks was awarded, as it had been certificated on July 8th, 1884. Plants 
of Cattleya Lawrenciana were shown with good flowers, a fine variety of 
Odontoglossum Harryanum, a small example of Angraecum Leonis 
loaded with white flowers, and Cymbidium eburneum Dayanum, to¬ 
gether with two others, for which botanical certificates were given. 
F, G. Tautz, Esq.. Studley House, Hammersmith (gardener, Mr. Cowley), 
was awarded a silver medal for a collection of choice Orchids, amongst 
which were Cymbidium eburneum with twenty-four flowers, Cypripedium 
villosum aureum, the flowers of a deep golden tint; Cattleya speciosissima 
Bella Donna, the flowers large with broad petals ; Maxillaria Sanderiana, 
having dull white flowers, heavily stained with dark purple at the base, 
and Miltonia vexillaria leucoglossa, a white-tipped variety, besides a 
dark variety of the same species, which was certificated. 
G. Firth, Esq., Manningham Thorpe, Bradford (gardener, Mr. J. 
Collier), sent specimens of Phalmnopsis Schilleriana alba, the sepals and 
petals pure white, except for a few yellow dots in the throat of the lip. 
Messrs. J. Low & Co., Clapton, showed a plant of Cypripedium bellatu- 
lum, with large heavily spotted flowers, Mr. P. Blair, Trentham Gar¬ 
dens, showed Odontoglossum Sutherlandi (vote of thanks), a distinct 
and handsome variety, the flowers large, yellow blotched with brown, 
one strong raceme bearing eleven flowers. Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons, 
Chelsea, exhibited a small plant of Dendrobium Wardiano-aureum, a 
hybrid between the species expressed in its name. The flowers were not 
so large as D. Wardianum, and the Committee expressed a desire to see 
it again. 
PLANTS CERTIFICATED. 
Dendrobium euosmum-leucopterum (Baron Schroder). — A hybrid 
between D. nobile and D. endocharis, D. euosmum having originated from 
a cross between the same parents, and D. endocharis itself is a hybrid 
between D. japonicum and D. heterocarpum (aureum). In the one 
certificated the flowers are of medium size, very delicate and beautiful, 
the sepals and petals narrow and white, the lip long, crimson in the 
centre, the apical half pure white. It is of slender growth, but very 
free flowering. 
Miltonia vexillaria purpurea (F. G. Tautz, Esq.).—The general 
opinion of the Committee was that this is the richest coloured of the 
larger varieties that has yet been shown. The flowers aref of good size 
and shape, broad, and well proportioned, the colour a deep rosy 
crimson. 
Oncidium bifolium (F. Sander & Co.).—This is not a novelty by any 
means, but it is a dwarf free-flowering Orchid that is not too well 
known now in collections. It is, however, free and attractive when in 
good condition, bearing numerous short racemes of flowers, the lip broad 
and deep yellow, the sepals and petals relatively very small, undulated, 
and greenish with brown bars. An award of merit was adjudged for 
this plant. 
Lycaste Schilleriana (Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P.).—A curious 
but not a beautiful Orchid, the sepals long and green, the petals and lip 
much shorter and white (botanical certificate). 
Catasetum barbatumproboscideum (Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P.). 
