GO 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
July 19, 1894. 
RUBUS JAPONICUS TRICOLOR. 
Messes. J. Veitch & Sons, Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, 
exhibited sprays of Rubus japonicus tricolor at the Drill Hall, 
Westminster, on the 10th inst., which appeared to attract more 
than ordinary attention. For decorative purposes this distinct 
Bramble is undoubtedly valuable and worthy of the first-class 
certificate awarded for it by the Floral Committee of the 
Royal Horticultural Society. As shown in the illustration 
(fig. 9), the leaves are prettily marked and varied, some being 
white tinted rose, others green and white. The stems are 
well coloured, which enhances the appearance of the sprays. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
July 10th. 
Scientific Committee. —Present: Dr. D. Morris, C.M.G., in the 
chair; Mr. McLachlan, Mr. Blandford, Dr. Russell, Prof. Muller, 
Mr. Wilson, and Rev. G. Henslow, Hon. Sec. 
Calochortus, vars. — Mv. Wilson exhibited specimens remarkable for 
their fine growth and varieties of colouring. They were C. venustus, 
purpurascens, C. v. roseus, and a pure white form. References to 
descriptions and figures of C. venustus, Bentli,, a native of California, 
will be found in Baker’s" Revision of the Genera and Species of Tulipem,’’ 
Journ. Lin. Soc. xiv., p. 302. Mr. Wilson observed that this species was 
drawn by Mrs. Duffield about twenty-five years ago, and reproduced in 
" The Garden.’’ It is also figured in Trans. Hort. Soc. ii. (1) [1835], t. 15, 
fig. 3. Mr. Baker places Calochortus as the sixth and last genus of the 
tribe Tulipeae, enumerating twenty-one species from Mexico and Western 
North America. 
Sugar Cane Diseased. —Mr. Blandford reported on specimens received 
LILIUM THUNBERGIANUM HORSMANI. 
having originated in Malta, will be found in the “ Proc. Lin. Soc.,’’ 
1893, page 31. 
Centaurea spathulata, Zeraph, 1827 (t7. crassifolia, Bert, 1829).— 
Mr. Henslow also brought a living plant in flower of this remarkable 
species, which is the only truly indigenous plant known to Malta. It 
has entire spathulate fleshy leaves, and heads of rose-coloured florets. 
It is found in the valley known as " Wied Babu,” in Malta, and also in 
Gozo, growing in the cracks of the rocks. 
The Fruit Committee at Chiswick. 
Members of the Fruit Committee met at Chiswick on July 13th inst. 
to examine Tomatoes and Peas. There were present Messrs. Balderson 
(Chairman), Pearson, J. Smith, Norman, Wythes, Hudson, Glen, Bates, 
A. Dean, and J. Wright. Tomatoes were found growing in 10-inch pots 
ranged on each side of the centre walk in the large span house. There 
were large numbers of varieties, but only few showed special merit, and 
none very particular merit. Three marks were awarded to Golden 
Princess, large yellow; Golden Nugget and Sutton’s Dessert, red, 
both small fruiters and very prolific ; Conference, still one of 
the very best reds ; Comet (Wrench), medium size and very 
free ; and Excelsior (Corbett), free cropping and handsome. 
The following had two marks awarded for the present:— 
Sutton’s Al, Brock’s Freedom, smooth round red ; and Turner’s 
Prolific, a large red. 
Under a heavy shower the members then adjourned to the 
edible Pea quarter, where very large numbers of these vege¬ 
tables were growing. The general opinion was that there was 
far too much of sameness, not only between new varieties, but 
between old and new, and that improvements were very hard 
to find. Only distinctly new or not previously noticed varieties 
were marked, all having three—viz., Eckford’a The Don, tall, 
fine pods ; and Critic, also tall and a fine podder ; Veitch’s 365, 
4 feet, a good variety ; Hughes' Fertility, 4 feet, very prolific ; 
and Laxton’s J. Howard, an excellent Ne Plus Ultra form, and 
of good flavour. Some of the sorts tried as new need even more 
hard selecting, but the great feature of so many is sameness. 
from Barbadoes. They were badly diseased with the fungus, Tricho- 
sphmria sacchari, and in some cases bored by the beetle Sphenophorus. 
This disease is as yet only known to occur in Mauritius, Java, and 
Barbadoes. Dr. Morris observed that it first appeared in Barbadoes 
and was called the “ rind ’’ disease; it then occurred in the roots in 
Java, being thought to be distinct from the former : but the two forms 
ultimately proved to be one and the same. A summary of the nature of 
the disease is contained in a letter to the Colonial Office, “ Kew 
Bulletin,’’ June, 1894, pp. 175-176. 
The accompanying illustration (fig. 10) represents a bloom 
of Lilium Thunbergianum Horsmani, a very distinct variety, 
exhibited by Messrs. R. Wallace & Co., Colchester, at the 
meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, held at the Drill 
Hall, Westminster, on the 10th inst. The plants shown were 
dwarf in habit, and each bloom nearly 7 inches in diameter, 
being very dark in colour, approaching a deep maroon red, 
covered on the inside with black spots. When compared with 
flowers of the type the rich colour of the form now under notice is 
most striking, and were the bulbs to become plentiful L. Thunbergi¬ 
anum Horsmani would probably be extensively grown. A first-class 
certificate was awarded Messrs. Wallace & Co. for this plant on the 
above-mentioned occasion. 
MALMAISON CARNATIONS AT RANGEMORE. 
Photos of Malta, —Mr. Henslow exhibited some photographs illustra¬ 
tive of different features of Malta, including cultivated areas, unculti¬ 
vated hill-tops, &c., and ancient river valleys known as " wieds.” The 
only trees of cultivation in the fields are Carobs, Figs, and Opuntia 
Ficus indica, of which last there are four varieties—the "blood,” the 
“ white,” the “ seedless,” and the " yellow.” 
Oxalis cernua, Thunb.—He also showed specimens of this ubiquitous 
and so-called by the Maltese “ English weed,” introduced by Father 
Giacintho from the Cape, in 1806. It is remarkable for its prolific 
multiplication by bulbils, as it never sets seed in the northern hemi¬ 
sphere, the "short-styled ” form being the only form known. It has 
elongated slender rhizomes with rod-like aquiferous appendages, by 
means of which it can climb up among the loose stones of the walls, 
or descend to great depths among the rubble. A further account of 
the distribution of this plant throughout the Mediterranean region. 
The Malmaison Carnations at Rangemore have been mentioned in 
the discussion on syringing and diseases to which these plants are 
subjected, and I wrote, judging from the plants sent here that it would 
be impossible to find cleaner and better grown examples. My friend 
Mr. Bennett sent me an invitation to see his plants, which I gladly 
accepted. Well, they not only equalled my anticipations, but far 
exceeded expectations in their cleanness, health, vigour, and luxuriance. 
Malmaison Carnations are well grown at Rangemore; the plants are 
not small sickly yellow specimens, but large ones, strong, and of the 
darkest shade of green. Several span-roofed houses are devoted 
to their culture, and Mr. Bennett is now building another structure 
80 feet in length and 19 or 20 feet wide. I will now give some 
idea how the plants are raised and the treatment they receive. If I 
give any small particulars wrong I can only hope that Mr. Bennett 
will correct me, because I am writing entirely from memory. 
