‘October 25,1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
383 
Cattleya Clonia (award of merit), and Wendlandiana. R. J. Measures, 
Esq., Cambridge Lodge, Camberwell (gardener, Mr. Henry Chapman), 
contributed a small group, including Cypripediums, Cattleyas, and 
others (silver Banksian medal). Botanical certificates were awarded 
for Masdevallia Laucheana and M. attenuata. shown by the same 
exhibitor, who also secured a first-class certificate and a cultural 
commendation for a grand plant of Oncidium ornithorhynchum album. 
Messrs. W. L. Lewis & Co., Southgate, sent a small group, amongst 
which were Vanda Sanderiana, Cattleya labiata, Miltonia spectabilis 
Moreliana, and Oncidium Forbesi (silver Banksian medal). Gurney 
Fowler, Esq., Woodford, also contributed a group of Orchids, chiefly 
Cattleyas and Laelias, arranged with Palms and Ferns (silver Flora 
medal). Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., Clapton, sent a charming group of 
Cattleyas, Odontoglossums, and the blue Vanda coerulea (silver Banksian 
medal). A botanical certificate was awarded for Dendrobium Coelogyne 
sent by the same firm. 
Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, Upper Holloway, had a small group 
of Orchids, comprising Dendrobium album, Cypripedium Pitcherianum 
Williams’ var. and Laslia Perrini nivea. Mr. W. Cobb, Tunbridge Wells, 
secured an award of merit for Odontoglossum aspersum fulvidum. A 
plant of Odontoglossum grande was also shown. Messrs. F. Sander & Co., 
St. Albans, had a small collection of Dendrobium Phalsenopsis Schrbder- 
ianum and Cattleyas (silver Banksian medal). An award of merit was 
adjudged for Odontoglossum Wattianum superbum, shown by Messrs. 
Sander & Co. Mons. Jules Hye Lysen sent a plant of Miltoniopsis 
Bleuiana rosea, for which a first-class certificate was awarded. This is 
described below. T. Statter, Esq., Stand Hall, Manchester (gardener, Mr. 
R. Johnson), had cut blooms of Cattleyas, and P. Hardy, Esq., Ashton-on- 
Mersey (gardener, Mr. Thomas Stafford), staged a plant of Cypripedium 
insigne Hardyana. S. G. Lutwyche, Esq., Eden Park, Beckenham, 
had a few plants of Cypripedium and other Orchids, but no award was 
made. Mr. R. Hinds, Broomfield, Sale, exhibited dried flowers of 
Orchids mounted on cardboard (silver Flora medal). 
Certificates and Awards of Merit. 
Cattleya X Clonia (J. Veitch & Sons).—This is the result of a cross 
between Lselia elegans Turner! and Cattleya Warscewiczi, the former 
being the pollen parent. The sepals and petals are blush, the lip being 
a rich purplish crimson, with a faint white margin (award of merit). 
Begonia margaritacea (J. Veitch & Sons).—A distinct and very 
ornamental foliaged Begonia. The leaves are bronzy red, veined dark 
green (award of merit). 
Chrysanthemum Mons. Chas. Molin (W. J. Godfrey).—This is one of 
Mons. Cal vat’s Japanese seedlings. The colour is old gold, tinted reddish 
brown (award of merit). 
Chrysanthemum Louise (W. Wells).—This is a magnificent incurved 
Japanese vuriety. The flowers are massive and white tinted blush 
(award of merit). 
Chrysanthemum Prefet Robert (J. Stevens).—An incurved Japanese 
variety of a maroon colour with silvery reverse (award of merit). 
Chrysanthemum 31. Aug. de Lacviver (H. Cannell & Sons).—An 
incurved Japanese of a brick red shade, yellowish reverse (award of 
merit). 
Chrysanthemum Hairy Wonder (H. J. Jones).—This is one of the 
best hirsute-floret Chrysanthemums extant. The flower is of a good 
size, cinnamon buff colour, and very hairy (award of merit). 
3[iltonioj)sis Bleuiana rosea (Jules Hye Lysen). — This is a 
magnificent Orchid, with flowers nearly 4 inches in diameter. The 
blooms are white tinted rosy pink (first-class certificate). 
Odoni^oglossum Wattianum superbum (F. Sander & Co.).—This is 
a charming form, the sepals and petals being yellow, blotched reddish 
brown. The lip is creamy white, spotted violet (award of merit). 
Odontoglossum aspersum fulvidum (W. Cobb).— A good form 
of 0. aspersum. The sepals and petals are yellowish green, thickly 
spotted with reddish brown, the lip being buff coloured (award of 
merit). 
Oncidium ornithorhynchum album (R. J. Measures).—This is a small- 
flowered though graceful Orchid, the miniature creamy white blooms 
being borne in long drooping racemes (first-class certificate). 
Saintpaulia ionantha (Sir Trevor Lawrence).—A useful dwarf¬ 
growing plant for winter flowering. The blooms are blue, and produced 
in large numbers (first-class certificate). 
Origin of Vegetables and their Value as Food. 
At the afternoon meeting held on the 23rd inst. in the Drill Hall, 
Westminster, and under the auspices of the Royal Horticultural Society, 
the Rev, Professor G. Henslow, M.A., F.L.S., gave a lecture on the 
“ Origin of Common Vegetables and their Value as Food,” Mr, G. Bun- 
yard presided, and there was a moderate attendance. Illustrations of 
the various types of vegetables were shown, and many dried specimens 
were displayed, these making the lecture doubly interesting. 
The Rev. G. Henslow in opening his subject said it was impossible to 
deal with the matter at length in a limited time, but he would refer 
briefly to the origin of the various common vegetables and their value as 
food. Dealing first with what are known as roots, reference was made 
to the Turnip. This vegetable, he said, was doubtless known to the 
ancients well enough, but in Pliny’s time other things were called 
Turnips. As they all knew, when a Turnip is cultivate! it p:oluce8a 
bulb which it would not do in a wild state. The Radish came originally 
from the East, and was very common in the fields at Malta. An old 
botanist had grown it, and proved that when the seeds were sown in a 
heavy clayey soil, the wild form had a tendency to produce round tubers 
or roots, whereas in sandy light ground they were inclined to be 
elongated. That, remarked the lecturer, gave a clue as to how the 
present kinds should be cultivated. The same thing may be said of 
Carrots, In Malta and Gibraltar Radishes grew to a large size. There 
is no doubt, he said, but that the Radish is of very great antiquity, 
and it was reported that an ancient writer saw a notice in the East 
referring to the number of Radishes and Onions that were consumed on 
an occasion 500 years b c. 
Parsnips, the lecturer observed, were more or less cultivated forms of 
the wild one. In support of this assertion he gave an interesting 
account of the origin of The Student variety. It seems that in the 
year 1847 Professor Buckland made some experiments in his garden 
with the wild Parsnip. The first year the roots commenced to improve, 
and selections were made annually, until what is widely known as The 
Student Parsnip was in 1850 sent to Messrs. Sutton & Sons. Judging 
by a figure of this variety published at that date, and the one issued by 
the above mentioned firm in 1891, it was obvious that further improve¬ 
ments have been effected. The lecturer also had a sample of a Parsnip 
to show what state of perfection had been reached in the present year. 
Carrots, he said, were derived from the wild form in much the same way 
as Parsnips, and they had long been cultivated. Pliny remarked that 
long roots could be grown by making holes six “ fingers ” deep and 
filling these with a light soil, sowing the seeds on the top. Beet (Beta 
maritima) was supposed to be a variety of B. vulgaris, and there were 
several forms, including the Sugar Beet. Regarding the value of above 
mentioned roots as food, they were, it was said, praccically useless as 
flesh formers, containing but a small per-centage of nitrogenous matter. 
Turnips contain a very large amount of water, the same applying to 
Parsnips, and they should therefore be used only as adjuncts to food of 
a more sustaining character. 
As to the Potato, that tuber was brought from Peru by Spaniards, 
and was grown in Italy for many years before Gerard received some 
samples. This occurred just previous to publishing an edition of his 
book in 1597, in which he described the Potato as a very valuable root. 
Darwin found Solanum Maglia, which Messrs. Sutton & Sons have been 
crossing with S. tuberosum in the hope of preventing the disease. 
Apart from water, sugar and starch formed the principal ingredients of 
the Potato. The Jerusalem Artichokes, like Potatoes, do not, it was said, 
contain much nourishment. This plant bad been found growing in the 
Northern States of America, and was a comparatively modern vegetable. 
Asparagus was known very many years ago, and in Poland and South 
Asia ic grew so abundantly that horses were fed on it. It was similar 
to the Seakale, as in neither case did the cultivated forms differ much 
from the wild kinds. Cabbages, on the other hand, were much improved 
by cultivation, and varied considerably. The wild type, said the 
lecturer, was to be found growing on the coast of England, and he 
showed a specimen that had been gathered on the shore at Walmer. 
About 300 years B.c. there were reported to be three varieties of Cabbage, 
and a first century writer said he knew a dozen sorts. Pliny alluded 
to shoots or sprouts on Cabbages, though whether he meant Brussels 
Sprouts or the inflorescence of Cauliflower was not quite clear. Broccoli 
came from Italy, where it was usually ready to cut in March and April. 
The history of the common Onion was not known, though it was 
recorded to have been used extensively by the ancients in Egypt. 
Leeks he had found growing wild in Malta, the plants usually having a 
small bulb. 
What might be termed fruits—that is. Peas, Haricots, and Lentils, 
remarked the reverend gentleman, were highly nutritious and valuable 
as flesh formers. This fact, he thought, was well worth knowing, and 
if these vegetables were used in conjunction with Potatoes by the Irish 
labourers it would be better for the consumers. Mr. Henslow referred 
to the so-called mummy Peas and Wheat, and repudiated the idea that 
any of the seeds taken from the tombs would germinate. A very hand¬ 
some Pea, he said, was grown in Egypt, and this was known as the 
“ Mummy ” Pea. This appeared to be between the field Pea and the 
ordinary white culinary variety, and produces fasciated stems. It was 
issued as the " Mummy ” variety in 1840 by a Mr. Grimston. The story 
then invented seemed to keep with it. The lecturer concluded his 
admirable and interesting discourse by alluding to the advantages 
derived from the consumption of certain vegetables, and his remarks 
were apparently appreciated by the audience. 
Dr. Masters, in opening a brief discussion, said it occurred to him 
that we did not make sufficient use of the vegetables which were 
provided by Nature. There were many more succulent plants that 
could be thus utilised. He wondered why native plants as the Cabbage 
varied so much and the Seakale not. It also seemed curious that most 
of the common vegetables were originally seaside plants. He would 
like to ask why the cultivated Carrots were red and the wild one white ? 
Rev. G. Henslow, in reply to a question, recommended the consump¬ 
tion of Mushrooms and similar edible fungi as food. It would, he 
remarked, be a difficult matter to say why the Cabbage varied so much, 
and Seakale not; and as to the colour of Carrots, he had asked a similar 
question of a young Maltese, who said that a streak of red could 
occasionally be seen in the root of the wild Carrot. This was possibly 
the origin of the present characteristic colour. 
A vote of thanks to Professor Henslow concluded the proceedings. 
