34 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
July 12, 1S94. 
- Tomato Blooms Falling. —Does not this arise solely from 
lacking fertilisation ? I have found very considerable and dry heat— 
such as strong sunshine will create in glass houses—to produce sterility, 
but why it may be difficult to say, unless there is in such dry 
heat that which is destructive to the fertility of pollen. We all know 
that given fairly natural conditions of light and warmth, with plenty 
of air. Tomato blooms will set freely, and it is this fact which 
leads to the puzzling of the uninitiated when they find, under diverse 
weather, conditions, or surroundings, that the flowers fall. Potato 
blooms closely resemble those of the Tomato, but they fall wholesale, 
indeed nearly all do so, because they are quite devoid of pollen, or 
else pollen is found in such minute quantity as to be useless. That 
sterility has grown out of so much in-and-in-breeding, though, happily, 
we suffer nothing in consequence, because we have gained largely in 
root tubers, and through these all we need is secured. In the case of 
Tomatoes if seed fails we can but revert to cuttings as a means of 
propagation, but that is a very troublesome process. Happily, we have 
not found any lack of pollen or of seed yet, and I do not think we 
shall, in spite of the fact that conditions sometimes produce sterility 
and falling flowers. Anyone suffering from this evil under glass may 
do some good by syringing the plants, and lightly damping the house 
in the evenings, and they should endeavour to procure fertilisation, 
not only by tapping the stems near the trusses of bloom in the 
morning, but also if the house then be dry, holding a sheet of white 
paper beneath to catch waste pollen, and with that and a camel’s 
hair brush artificially fertilise flowers.—A. D. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
July 10th. 
The meeting held on the above date was not a particularly large one. 
Hardy flowers constituted the bulk of the exhibits, and a few collections 
of Cactuses were shown. Orchids were very sparingly represented, the 
same applying to fruit and vegetables. 
Fruit Committee.—P resent : Mr. Philip Crowley (in the chair); 
Rev. W. Wilks, Dr. Hogg, Messrs. Harrison Weir, G. W. Cummins, 
G. Bunyard, J. Cheal, G. Taber, T. J. Saltmarsh, A. Dean, J, A. Laing, 
G. H. Sage, F. Q. Lane, and H. Balderson. 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons sent fifty dishes of fruit, including twenty- 
three dishes of Cherries in distinct varieties, the most showy of these 
being Black Hawk, Early Red Gean, May Duke, Empress Eugenie, 
Bedford Prolific, Archduke, and Cleveland Bigarreau. These were grown 
on pyramids in the open ground at Slough. Messrs. Veitch likewise had 
two boxes of Gunton Park Strawberry, large, handsome, dark coloured 
fruit, and also two boxes of Lord Suffield. From the same source came 
several dishes of Gooseberries, Red and White Currants, and a dish of 
Superlative Raspberry, A silver Knightian medal was recommended. 
Messrs. T. Rivers & Son, Sawbridgeworth, exhibited Cherry, Plum, 
and Neetarine trees laden with fruit. The Cherries included Noir de 
Guben, Bedford Prolific, and Montreuse de Mezel. Amongst the Plums 
were Belgian Purple and Jefferson, with a dish of Oullins Golden Gage. 
The Nectarine trees were Early Rivers, grown in 12-inch pots in a cold 
house, and all were carrying a good crop of fruit (silver Knightian medal). 
Mr. Owen Thomas sent a fine collection of fruit from the Royal 
Gardens, Frogmore, and a silver Knightian medal was recommended. 
This contribution included sixteen varieties of Cherries, large, fresh, 
and well coloured ; the same applving to the fifteen varieties of Straw¬ 
berries sent by Mr, Thomas. The best of these were Noble, The 
Countess, Sir Charles Napier, and Aromatic. Some new Melons and 
Walburton Admirable Peaches were likewise sent from the Royal 
Gardens, but the Melons were not cut, and no further award was made. 
Messrs. G. Steel & Sons, Ealing Dean, sent a basket of Steel’s 
Victoria Raspberry, a fruit of good appearance and crisp flavour. 
Col. Archer Houblon, Welford Park, Newbury (gardener, Mr. Ross), 
showed a seedling Melon, but no award was made. Mr. Miller, gardener 
to Lord Foley, Ruxley Lodge, Esher, staged some Nectarines, Peaches, 
and Figs (vote of thanks), and Mr. C. T. Holden, Grange Road, Rhyl, 
North Wales, some Cucumbers (vote of thanks). A vote of thanks was 
accorded to Mr. A. T. Harwood, Colchester, for a dish of Gooseberries. 
A^ variegated leaved Tomato was shown by Messrs. Collins and 
Gabriel, Waterloo Road ; and Dr. P. H. Emerson, Broadstairs, had some 
Carrots, Florence Fennel, and Turnip-rooted Parsley. 
Floral Committee.— Present : Mr. W. Marshall (in the chair) ; 
with Messrs. J. Laing, H. Herbst, C. T. D-uery, G. Stevens, C. F. Bause, 
R. B. Lowe, J. T. Bennett Poe, H. Cannell, W. Bain, J. Walker, H. Selfe 
Leonard, C. E. Shea, C. Beckett. C. Noble, H. Turner, and J. Jennings. 
A charming collection of Carnations and Picotees was staged by 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, amongst which such varieties as 
Mrs. F. Watts, Florence, Mrs. F. Gifford, Norman Carr, Clara Penson, 
Showy, and Alice Ayres were prominent. Plants of Germania in 
flower were also sent, as also were Nepenthes mixta, Polypodium 
tricuspe, and Selaginella viridangulata. Baskets of Quercus cuspidata, 
Stuartia pseudo-Camellia, Rubus japonicus tricolor (see below), Cornus 
stricta, and Rhus cotinus purpurea, too. were staged by Messrs. Veitch 
(silver Flora medal). G. F. Wilson, Esq., Weybridge, sent blooms of 
Calochortus venustus vesta, C. v. rosea, and C. v. purpurascens. 
Messrs. Wallace & Co., Colchester, exhibited a good collection of 
Calochorti, amongst the best of which were C. venustus purpurascens, 
C. T. roseus, C. v, citrinus, C. v, oculatus, C. splendens, 0. s. atro- 
violaceus, C. luteus, C, 1. concolor, and C. Kennedya. Lilium Thun- 
bergianum Horsmani (see below), and others were sent by the Colchester 
firm (silver Banksian medal). A superb group of Begonias, including 
double and single varieties, was contributed by Messrs, J. Laing & Sons, 
Forest Hill. Neatness, Lydea, Countess of Dudley, Lord Hawke, Mrs. 
French, Lord Dunraven, and Countess of Craven were prominent in the 
doubles ; John Roberts, Laing’s Fringed White (see below), Lady Grim- 
thorpe, were the best of the singles (silver Flora medal). 
Plants of Bougainvillea glabra Sanderiana, splendidly grown and 
flowered were shown by Messrs. Sander & Co,, St, Albans, while Sonerila 
Mrs. H. Walter (award of merit) came from the same source. 
Mr. Eckford, Wem, Salop, sent blooms of Pansies, and some 
magnificent Sweet Peas, the best of which were Captivation, Little 
Dorrit, Lady Grisel Hamilton, Countess of Aberdeen, Mrs. Dugdale, 
Blanch Purple, Countess of Powis (see below), Lord Rosebery, Salopian 
(see below), and Alice Eckford (silver Banksian medal). 
A showy group of Antirrhinums and Sweet Williams was shown 
by Mr, W. Salmon, Ivy Cottages, Elder Road, West Norwood (bronze 
Banksian medal), and Mr, J. Walker, Thame, sent handsome blooms 
of Walker’s Auricula-eyed Sweet Williams (bronze Banksian medal). 
An award of merit was accorded to Mr. S. Kidley, gardener to W. E. 
Hall, Esq., Coker Court, Yeovil, for Bougainvillea glabra, Coker Court 
variety. 
A splendid collection of hardy flowers, comprising Erigerons, 
Alstromerias, Delphiniums, Geums, Campanulas, Veronicas, and many 
others (silver Banksian medal) was staged by Messrs. W. Cutbush and 
Sons, Highgate, N., who also sent a very fine group of Souvenir de la 
Malmaison, Uriah Pike, and other Carnations, with plants of Lilium 
Harrisi (silver Flora medal). Mr. M. Prichard, Christchurch, sent a 
small collection of hardy flowers, in which Chrysanthemum maximum 
Maurice Prichard (award of merit, see below) was noticed Hardy 
flowers, including Campanulas, Linums, Phloxes, Centaureas, Poppies, 
Gaillardias, and others, all in splendid condition, came from Messrs. 
Veitch & Sons. 
A group of Larkspurs, comprising some handsome forms, were staged 
by Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley and Eynsford, who also sent 
Cannas, Sweet Peas, Stocks, and other hardy flowers (bronze Banksian 
medal). Blooms of Carnation Annie Fry were sent by Mr. Geo. Fry, 
Lewisham, and plants of Coleus Westgate Gem by Mr. H. Burbidge, 
Grove Nursery, Westgate-on-Sea. 
Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., contributed plants of Exacums affine 
and macranthum, also blooms of Pentstemons, of which Jean Mace 
received an award of merit. An award of merit was given to Messrs. 
J. Ivery & Sons, Dorking, Surrey, for Clematis Lady Ashcombe. 
M. R. Smith, Esq., The Warrens, Hayes, sent blooms of some very fine 
Carnations, of which Winifred received an award of merit (see below). 
The collections of Cactaceous plants sent by Messrs. H. Cannell and 
Sons (silver Flora medal) ; Mr. G. J. Pritchard, 78, Godwin Road, 
Forest Gate (silver medal) ; Mr. J. W. Singer, Frome (silver Banksian 
medal) ; and Mens. E. Rebut, 4 Chazay, d’Azerjues, Rhone, France, 
were extensive and very interesting, and shows to a certain extent in 
what popularity these plants are held. Mr. C. G. Ludford staged a 
collection, and a bronze Banksian medal was recommended. 
There were several competitive classes for hardy flowers, but the 
contest was very keen. For twelve bunches of hardy herbaceous peren¬ 
nials Mr. G. H. Sage, Ham House, Richmond, was first with a choice 
collection, amongst which Gaillardias, Delphiniums, Liliums, and Ever¬ 
lasting Peas were conspicuous. Mr. S. Kidley, The Gardens, Coker 
Court, Yeovil, was a close second, showing a fine collection. Miss R. 
Debenham was awarded first prize for six bunches of hardy flowers, 
these being fresh and attractive. Dr. P. D. Emerson, Claringbold, 
Broadstairs, was awarded first prize for six varieties of Gaillardias. 
Orchid Committee. —Present: Mr. H. J. Veitch (in the chair), 
with Dr. Masters, Messrs. J. O’Brien, De B. Crawshay, H. M. Pollet, 
T. W. Bond, R. B. White, H. J. Chapman, E. Hill, C. Pilcher, 
H. Ballantine, W. Cobb, T. B. Haywood, H. Williams, and S. Courtauld. 
Orchids were not very extensively shown, but some choice plants 
were noticeable. Mr. F. Wigan, East Sheen, sent plants of Cypripedium 
Wiganianum and C. macropterum, both very fine species. Mr. C. J. Lucas 
had a plant of Orithocepalus grandiflorus, a chaste, fragrant species. 
Mr. J. W. Temple, Ley wood, Tunbridge Wells, had a plant of Cattleya 
gigas Leywoodiensis, a very fine variety. The same exhibitor sent 
C. gigas Temple var. and other Orchids. Mr. De B. Crawshay had some 
very fine Odontoglossums, including 0. Harryanum platychectum and 
O. Harryanum giganteum. The last named is a very fine form. Messrs. 
Sander & Co., St. Albans, exhibited a plant of Dendrobium filiforme 
(cultural commendation) and other Orchids, amongst which Cypripedium 
exul, C. Parishi, C. bybridum Youngianum, and some Cattleyas were 
conspicuous. Messrs. Lewis & Co. Southgate, contributed a group of 
Oichids, chiefly Cattleyas in variety, Odontoglossums, and Lselia 
purpurata (silver Banksian medal). 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Royal Exotic Nursery, sent a few very 
choice hybrids. These included Thunia X Veitchi superba, L^lio- 
Cattleya Timora, and Disa x Diores. Some of these are described below. 
Dr. Davis, Maidstone, Kent, staged a plant of Odontoglossum crista- 
tellum, and Mr. C. W. Fincken, Hoyland Hall, Barnsley, had a fine 
variety of Cattleya Rex. Mr. R. J. Measures, Camberwell, sent a 
number of Masdevallias, with cut flowers of Odontoglossums. Mr. 
