Jane 16. 1887. ] 
491 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
they are much valued bv us new beginners, but what delights me most 
of all is the prospect of having a manual on our favourite flower by such 
an experienced grower and charming writer as the Rev. F. D. Horner. 
Let us hope and trust he will favour us in his own good time. 
The descriptions of the edged Auricula by the late Rev. Geo. .leans, 
twenty-five years ago, would be very interesting if they could be repro¬ 
duced in the Journal, as suggested i>y Mr. Ilornor, and who kindly offers 
to lend the volumes in which they lie emtombed.—C. IV. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
JlTXE 14 th. 
Hardy flowers from Messrs. T. S. Ware and Harr & Son, Pyrethrums 
from 5Iessrs. Kelway & Son, Orchids from F. G. Taut/,. Esq., and miscel¬ 
laneous contributions from other exhibitors nearly filled the Conservatory 
and rendered the meeting very interesting. 
Fruit Committee. —Present: T. Francis Rivers, Esq., in the chair, 
and Messrs. John Lee, G. T. Miles. W. Warren. J. Fill, <1. Xonnan, F. 
Rutland, H. J. Veitch, G. Bunyard. and Harrison Weir. Mr. G. Norman, 
The Gardens, Hatfield House, Herts, sent thirty fruits of Sir Charles 
Napier Strawberries, extremely fine and highly coloured, for which a 
cultural commendation was awarded. These Strawberries were greatly 
admired by all the horticulturists present, Mr. Norman also had a fruit 
of Melon Dempsey’s Favourite, for which a vote of thanks was accorded. 
The fruit was a large oval one with yellow flesh. 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading, offered prizes for a pair of Melons, 
consisting of Sutton’s Hero of Lockinge and La Favourite. Mr. T. 
Lockie, The Gardens, Oakley Court, Windsor, was awarded the first 
prize, and Mr. Ward, gardener to the Earl of Radnor, Longford Castle, 
was third, the second prize being withheld. 
Floral Committee. —Present: Shirley Hibberd,Esq.,in the chair, 
and Messrs. Fraser, Wilks, G. Paul, llerbst, Bradshaw, H. Turner, W. G. 
Lowe, B. Wyiyie, R. Dean, Noble, Pilcher, Dominy, Pollctt, O’Brien, 
Lendy, Hill, Henslow, Ballantine, and Duffield. 
Groups .—From the Royal Gardens, Kew, came flowers of the peculiar 
reddish Streptocarpus Dunni, a plant of Oxalis brasiliensis, with bright 
rose flowers, very free ; Walilenbergia graminifolia, a pretty dwarf plant 
with small purple flowers ; Salvia scapiformis, from Hong Kong, with 
-small ovate leaves, purplish beneath, and numerous spikes of small 
mauve flowers and reddish calyx, and Onosma taurica, with clear yellow 
drooping flowers. Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham, secured a silver Banksian 
medal for a large and handsome collection of hardy flowers, comprising 
Irises, Pyrethrums, and Poppies in variety. Very noticeable amongst 
the Irises were Gracchus pallida speciosa, Bridesmaid, pallida ramosa, 
Gazelle, and Victorine. The Pyrethrums comprised numerous fine 
varieties, large, full, rich, and delicate in colour. The Poppies were 
chiefly Papaver bracteatum multiflorum, very bright colour, black 
blotched centre, and free (vote of thanks), with P. nudicaule varieties, 
yellow, orange, and white. Of miscellaneous plants Anthericum 
iiliastrum majus; Hemerocallis fla/a ; the dark blush purple Campanula 
glomerata daliurica ; the clear yellow Thcrmopsis fabacea, and Ccntaurea 
montana varieties. Messrs. Barr & Son, Covent Garden, W.C.. contri¬ 
buted a magnificent group of Paeonies, Irises, Pyrethrums, Poppies, and 
miscellaneous hardy plants,, arranged with Funkias, Ferns, and a few 
Palms (silver Banksian medal). 
Messrs. Kelway & Son, I.angport, were awarded a bronze Banksian 
medal for a superb collection of Pyrethrums, single and double varieties 
ten boxes of about sixty blooms each being contributed. Some of the 
best varieties were—Double : Melton, rich crimson ; Aphrodite, pure 
white ; Figaro, rosy crimson ; Rembrandt, bright rose ; Gustave Hertz, 
pale rose ; Madame Minier, blush ; Boule de Neige, pure white, with 
narrow twisted florets ; Empress Queen, tinted with pale pink, very 
■charming. The single varieties were also very bright in colour or pure 
white. 
Orchi ls. —F. G. Tautz, Esq., Studlcy House, Hammersmith (gardener, 
Mr. Cowley), was awarded a silver-gilt Banksian medal for a large group 
of Orchids and Ferns, comprising Lnelia purpurata, Cattleya Mossim and 
C. Mendelli, C. Wagneri, large and pure, in several fine varieties. Odonto- 
glossum vexillarium was well represented by healthy plants and richly 
coloured varieties.; 0. crispum was also well shown. Cypripedium 
Swannianum ; C. caudatum giganteum, very large, with petals 2 feet 
long; C. Lawrencianum grandiflorum (vote of thanks) very large 
flowers, and atro-rubens, dark colour ; C. superciliare ornatum, a neat 
variety. Masdevallias were good, and a plant of Dendrobium Veitchi 
was included with fusiform pseudo-bulbs, densely hairv pedicels, greenish 
*8cpals. dull yellow petals, and a long green lip veined with purple. 
Barm Schroder, The Dell, Staines, exhibited plants of Odontoglossum 
vexillarium radiatum, the lip with dark crimson radiating lines at the 
base, very distinct ; O. vexillarium vestale, pale, nearly white ; and 
Cymbidium Davanum, with four pendulous racemes of buff and brown 
flowers, 2 to 2} feet long. The Duke of Marlborough, Blenheim, sent 
two varieties of Cattleya Mendeli, one named picturata, with white lips, 
blotched in the centre with crimson ; the other named limbata (vote of 
thanks), flowers large, petals broad blush-rose, lip broad, rich crimson 
tip and margin, bronze throat. J. Day. Esq., Tottenham, exhibited a 
plant of Odontoglossum crispum, var Wolstenholmne, with well-shaped 
flowers, heavily blotched with pale brown. Mr. Blair, gardener to the 
Duke of Sutherland, Trentham, Stoke-u[>on-Trent. exhibited a variety 
■of Odontoglossum crispum, with nearly brown and purplish blotched 
flowers. Messrs. F. Sander k Co., St. Albans, showed plants of Odonto¬ 
glossum crispum albanense, white, spotted and blotched with pale 
brown ; also a heavily blotched form named Sclmedene. E. G. Loder, 
Esq., Floore, Weedon, exhibited flowers of Cypripedium macranthum of 
rich colour ; C. Calceolus majus, and a scape of Eremurus robustus, 
white variety, 4 feet long (vote of thanks). Gen. G. S. Berkeley, 
Sibbertoft, Market Harborough, and R. I(. White, Esq., Ardarrocb, 
Garelochhead, sent plants of Dendrobium polyphlebium, which has been 
considered to be natural hybrid between D. primulinum and D. Parishi, 
sepals and petals rose tinted, lip open, rose centre white margin, 
pubescent. E. R. Whitwell, Esq., Barton Hall, Darlington, was ad¬ 
judged a vote of thanks for flowers of Cattleya Mossia? and Lilies of the 
Valley ; also for Cattleya labiata Warneri, with broad rose-tinted petals 
and a neat lip. F. Wigan, Esq.. Clare Lawn, East Sheen (gardener, Mr. 
D. East), showed a raceme of Phalaenopsis granc’iflora, with very large 
flowers 3} inches in diameter, the petals 2J across. Mr. Wigan also had 
a pretty variety of Cattleya Mendeli named limbata, the lip margined 
with purplish-crimson, the sepals and petals tinted with rose, and C. 
gigas Sanderiana with large handsome flowers. Messrs. Heath & Son, 
Cheltenham, showed a Cypripedium named Cheltonia, much like C. 
Lawrenceanum, the petals having dark spots neerly to the tip. 
Miscellaneous. —Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, showed a plant of 
Anthurium Bakeri with narrow dark green leaves and spadices of bright 
red fruits, also of Stenogaster concinna (vote of thanks) with small 
funnel-shaped flowers, white on throat, and purple lobes ; very dwarf 
and neat. Messrs. W. Balchin & Sons, Brighton, were awarded a cul¬ 
tural commendation for a number of extremely healthy well-flowered 
plants of Leschenaultia biloba major, laden with brilliant blue flowers. 
Mr. R. Spink, Victoria Road, Horley, showed several varieties of Car¬ 
nations. Messrs. J. Carter & Co., High Holborn, were awarded a cul¬ 
tural commendation for a basket of plants of the Edelweiss — Gnapha- 
lum Leontopodium, with large velvety heads of capituhe. Dr. Wallace, 
Colchester, showed a plant of Blandfordia flammea aurca, with large 
drooping golden flowers. Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, exhibited 
several trusses of Rhododendron Fortunei Mrs. C. Butler, with large 
open flowers of a delicate blush hue. G. F. Wilson, Esq., F.R.S., 
Heatherbank, Weybridge Heath, sent a plant of a yellow flowered 
Primula, something like a drawn P. vcrticillata. Messrs. H. Collyer and 
Co., Camden Road Nursery', Tunbridge Wells, showed plants of Ampe- 
lopsis Veitchi purpurea, a variety with purplish leaves. Mr. B. Gilbert, 
Anemone Nurseries, Dyke, Bourne, Lincolnshire, sent flowers of a bright 
scarlet double Anemone named King of the Scarlets. Mr. Gordon, 
Twickenham, sent a collection of Tree Poeonies, varied in colours, semi¬ 
double, white, pink, and crimson (vote of thanks). Mr. It. Dean, Ealing, 
had a small group of hardy flowers, including a cross between Chrysan¬ 
themum coronarium and C. segetum named Sunbeam, hybrids between 
Aquilegia glandulosa and chrysantha, and the bright blue Phacelia 
campanularia. 
CERTIFICATED PLANTS. 
Masdevillia Harryana lutro-ocuhita (F. G. Tautz, Esq.).—A hand¬ 
some variety, rich magenta with a yellow throat, beautifully formed, of 
medium size. 
Cymbidium Day mum (Baron Schroder).—An effective plant with 
four pendulous slender racemes, 2 to 2] feet long, the sefals and petals 
buff and brown, rather dull colours, but having a i eculiar appear¬ 
ance. 
Odontoglossum vexillarium radiatum (Baron Schroder).—An ex¬ 
tremely distinct variety, with flowers of medium size, the lip having 
a series of heavy, dark, crimson lines radiating from the base. 
Pyrethrum Magicien (Kelway & Son).—Double, of a peculiarly 
bright pink colour, tipped with gold, neat and pretty. 
Pyrethrum Florentine (Kelway & Son).—Double, very handsome, 
full, broad euard florets, blush, nearly white. 
Figaro (Kelway & Son).—Double, rich crimson, outer florets broad, 
inner small. 
Aphrodite (Kelway & Son).—Double, large, full, handsome white 
broad outer florets, quilled centre. 
Pel a gonimn Duke <f C-arenas (E. B. Foster, Esq., Clewer Manor, 
Windsor).—A variety with beautifully formed flowers, symmetrical 
scarlet lower petals, and dark upper petals. 
Ixioliri n fat'iricum (T. S. Ware).—A pretty Amaryllidaceous plant 
from Turkestan, with long scapes of purple flowers and recurving 
petals. 
Pyrethrum Margaret Moore (T. S. Ware) —A single variety, very 
large, 3.J inches in diameter, florets broad and thick, pale pink. 
Hemerocallis Middondorjiana (T. S. Ware).—Flowers larger than 
most other forms, more open, and a rich golden colour. 
PRIMULA SIEBOLDI AND ITS VARIETIES. 
Those who have grown the best of our hardy plants for years past 
will well remember how very modest in number of varieties this little 
group was twelve or fourteen years ago ; they will also not have over¬ 
looked what was, and is still, to be considered a drawback to them for 
general decorative purposes out of doors— i.c., the want of substance in 
the flowers, and how, after even a slight fall of rain, many seemed to 
have completely lost what little colour they once possessed. This is a 
perplexing fac‘, and one not easily overcome, since we have no control 
over pelting rain or hail, of which latter we have had an extremely 
severe example quite recently. This did much damage to this little 
group, ami also to many plants such as Liliums, which in some 
instances had the foliage cut to fragments, and others such as Funkias 
had their broad and handsome leaves riddled with holes by the hail- 
