May 19, 1857. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDEXER. 
395 
experiences and observations led him to concur with the essayist in 
the doctrine that the Alpines and the show llowers were of distinct 
origin, though it was evident that they were nearly related. It was 
■eurious that in a sketch from a picture by Van Huysum, which Mr. 
Hibberd had placed on the table, the t'owcre were all pin-eyed, and it 
was just possible that at the time the striped flowers were in vogue pin 
eyes were in favour. That the show varieties and the Alpines might be 
persuaded to hybridise freely was rendered probable by a remarkable 
seedling shown by Samuel Barlow, Esq., at the National Exhibition, 
April 26th. This was nothing less than a green-edged Alpine. What 
was its meaning in relation to pedigree he was not prepared to say, but 
it appeared to open the way to new sources of knowledge, and was, apart 
from all that may result from it, a most interesting curiosity. 
Mr. Daniel I)cwar, of the Royal Gardens, Kew, was not disposed to 
accept Mr. Hibberd’s doctrine in the form stated, for he had, as a culti¬ 
vator of Alpine Primulas, observed their great range of variation, and 
would prefer to agree with Professor Kerner in tracing all the forms, 
show flowers, Fancies, amk Alpines to Primula pubcscens, in which, he 
felt satisfied, there were all the characters required. For example, in a 
batch of seedlingsof this Primula, however carefully raised from isolated 
plants, the hybridising of which was not to be suspected, there would be 
the greatest variety of colour in the flowers, and very considerable 
variety in the leaves. Nor was this surprising, seeing it had been 
proved by Professor Kerner that Primula pubescens was a natural 
hybrid, and to represent its parentage had been by him designated 
tniper-Auricula x hirsuta—a parentage that accounted fot many of 
■the various characters, as well as the variability of cultivated Auriculas. 
As for the range of variation, it extended to pure white in one direction, 
and to the deepest purple in another; and we had the cartilaginous 
tendency in the leaf and the floral bract, which so characterise the 
cultivated flower, while these features also are immensely variable. In 
some instances the bract was of great size, in others it was scarcely 
perceptible. Mr. Hibberd had thrown aside Primula Palinuri as a 
possible progenitor of the Auricula, but he might yet want it to account 
for the persistency of the bract. The Auricula of Clusius was no doubt 
the true Primula Auricula, which had gone out of cultivation, com¬ 
paratively speaking, ere the cultivation of the flower became general; 
•but P. pubcscens had taken its place, and was at least a possible pro¬ 
genitor of the show flowers. And it was worthy of i special remark 
that P. pubcscens had immense vitality, for it would live and thrive 
under the most various and even adverse circumstances. That it had 
given birth to flowers of very distinct character was well known, and it 
would do so again and again, reproducing in every possible way the 
characters of its two parent species. The Primulas severally known as 
-alpina, Reich.; helvetica, Don; hirsuta, Vi!/.; microcalyx, Lehm.; 
■rhaetica, Gaud. ; and villosa, Ait., were but forms of pubescens. 
The Chairman briefly summed up the main points in the discussion, 
remarking that such a meeting as the present was the best justification 
the Club could desire, and he would hope for more of such meetings as 
the sure means of increasing their numbers. They were deeply indebted 
to Mr. Shirley Hibberd for the paper he had placed before them, and to 
Mr. Douglas and Mr. Dewar for their practical and valuable comments 
upon it. He moved that their best thanks be given to those gentlemen 
for the intellectual entertainment they had afforded. 
Mr. Hibberd acknowledged the compliment, remarking that he had 
kept clear of the pictures and descriptions of the sixteenth century 
•botanists, for the sufficient reason that as they had not s^en the florists’ 
Auricula they could not describe it, and all that has heen said about 
Matthiolus, Clusius, and the rest was beside the question. Those who 
relied upon such books for evidences of the origin of the florists’ Auri¬ 
cula had not grasped the question, which was one altogether apart from 
the reintroduction of the wild Auricula to gardens. If he appeared to 
damn the sixteenth century botanists, it was not because he failed to 
appreciate their labours, but because they had been absurdly cited 
for evidence of things they had not seen, and that were actually non¬ 
existent when their books were printed. He concluded by moving a 
vote of thanks to the Chairman, and this being carried by acclamation 
the meeting separated. 
We learn that the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society 
have resolved not to hold the proposed Chrysanthemum Show and Con¬ 
ference which had been fixed for November 8th and 9th next. 
- Orchids at Weybridge. —Mr. G. F. Wilson of Weybridge 
writes that his hardy and half-hardy plants now take up all his avail¬ 
able time, therefore his collection of Orchids will be sold at Stevens’s on 
Wednesday, 2oth May. 
- Ox Wednesday in last week the inhabitants of Astwood Bank 
presented to Mu. J. Hi am a handsome microscope in a neatly finished case. 
Mr. Hiam has taken great interest in the local horticultural and amateur 
gardeners’ Society, and as a naturalist has devoted much attention to 
the insects that attack fruit trees, notably in connection with canker* 
Mr. Hiam, who is evidently greatly respected in his district, is an occa¬ 
sional contributor to these columns. 
- We learn from the Western Times of the 11th inst. that 
Passiflora Constance Elliott was raised from seed of Passiflora 
ccerulea at Newton Abbot by Mr. Fuller, and was the only plant with 
white flowers obtained from numerous seedlings raised, and it was so 
little esteemed that the moderate price of 3s. 6d. was the value placed 
upon it. 
- A correspondent writes—“ When travelling in Germany 
recently I visited many gardens where Cactaceous Plants are made a 
specialty, but the best collection I saw was that of H. Hildmann, 
Oranienburg, near Berlin. It was simply wonderful, as Herr Hildmann 
is not only a good cultivator, but he has a botanical knowledge of Cacti, 
and writes a good deal about them in German periodicals. His plants 
are very accurately named, and the collection is altogether a remarkable 
one." 
- Mr. Wm. Wilkinson, The Gardens, Elloughton Lodge, 
Brough, writes respecting Roses La France and Niphetos— “ I have 
been much interested in the chapters on “ Rose-growing for Beginners ” 
from the pen of Mr. D. Gilmour, jun., but I was rather struck with his 
unfavourable comparison of Tea and H.P. Roses on page 369. Has Mr. 
Gilmour grown La France under glass ? In our case La France is more 
free-flowering than Niphetos both grown under the same conditions, and 
both do well here ; true, the two Roses differ in colour, and both are 
useful in their respective classes. We have gathered some blooms of 
La France that would be no disgrace on the exhibition table. Another 
Tea Rose in every way worthy to be added to Mr. Gilmour’s list is La 
Sylphide for growing under glass.” 
_ A correspondent writes:—The annual meeting of the 
Preston and Fulwood Horticultural Society was held at the 
Three Legs of Man Hotel, Preston, on the 14th inst. The balance-sheet 
and report for the past year being submitted to the members. It is 
gratifying to note that the balance in hand with which to commence the 
current year is £14 14s., showing an increase of over £7 on that of the 
previous year. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr. A. Waters, 
gardener to J. Eccles, Esq., Farington House, for a good bunch of Lady 
Downe’s, which was good in colour and had been well preserved, also a 
bunch of Black Hamburgh Grapes in excellent condition for this period 
ot the year. Mr. C. Parker contributed an extra strong spike of flowers 
of Dendrobium thyrsiflorum. A vote of thanks to the Secretary and 
Treasurer brought the meeting to a close. 
_ The remarkably fine specimen of Rhododendron Veitchi- 
ANUM plant, grown by Mr. W. Hannah, gardener to T. Wilson, Esq., 
Oakholme. Sheffield, has again flowered very finely. A little more than 
a week ago it had 180 trusses, mostly of three flowers each, and covered 
a space of nearly 100 square feet of wall surface with a mass of pearly 
white flowers of great size, and deliciously scented. In the same house 
are also a number of others of the best varieties of greenhouse Rhodo¬ 
dendrons flowering freely, one specimen of Lady Alice Fitzwilliam, in 
an 11-inch pot, carrying twenty-one trusses of large waxy white flowers, 
each 5 to 6 inches in diameter. This grand variety was introduced a 
few years since by Messrs. Fisher, Son, A Sibray of Handsworth 
Nurseries, Sheffield. 
_Gardening Appointments.— The following have been re¬ 
cently made through Messrs. John Laing & Go., Nurseries, l 1 orest Hill, 
S.E. ; —Mr. H. Brown, as gardener and bailiff to Jas. Brand, Esq., jun., 
Sanderstead Court, Surrey. Mr. H. Gough, as gardener to Professor 
Adams, The Observatory, Cambs. Mr. T. Cotes, as gardener to Mrs. 
Walter, Redlands, Kent. Mr. G. Wilson, as gardener to R. H. Ainsworth, 
Esq., J.P., D.L., Smithills Hall, Bolton, Lancs. Mr. G. Johnson, as 
gardener to W. W. Burnett, Esq., East Dene, Kent. Mr. G. Aylott, as 
gardener to J. Ramsey, Esq., J.P., D.L., Gidea Hall, Essex. Mr. Hill, 
as gardener to George Kem, Esq., Manor Villa, Essex ; and Mr. Biggs, 
as gardener to F. D. Frost, Esq., The Maples, Kent. 
_ Rainfall in Ireland.— A telegram from Dublin last Tuesday 
night says, “ The much-needed rainfall has come at last. There has 
practically been no rain in Ireland for more than a couple of months. 
