December 13, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULl'URE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
549 
laat meeting of the year, but, as is usual at December meetings, their 
duties were the reverse of exacting. By far the most important 
exhibit for examination was a collection of 100 varieties of cooking 
Apples from Messrs. Bunyard & Co., Maidstone, all the fruits being in 
admirable condition, both in respect to size and colour, and it did not 
take many minutes to award a silver-gilt medal. 
Mr. A. G. Nichols, Nuneham Park Gardens, sent specimens of 
“ White Spine Winter Cucumber,” an old variety resembling Telegraph, 
and cropping freely. It is useful, no doubt, but was not considered 
sufificiently distinct for receiving a certificate. 
Mrs. Wingfield, Ampthill (Mr. Empson, gardener), sent twelve 
medium-sized bunches with good berries of Gros Colman and Golden 
Queen Grapes, and a vote of thanks was awarded. 
Messrs. Cooper, Taber & Co., sent dishes of new American Potatoes, 
which were referred to Chiswick. Mr. C. Herrin, Dropmore, sent 
samples of Farmer’s Seedling Apple—a large Pearmain shaped fruit, 
but no award was made. 
C. D. Hambury, Esq., Belmont, Eastbourne (Mr. Porteous, 
gardener), sent several Melons, medium sized fruit without any netting ; 
and also it must be said, without any flavour. This is only what might 
be expected at this dull period of the year, and one of the members 
Jocularly remarked, “ That they tasted more of the moon than the sun.” 
This has, perhaps, been the worst Melon season on record in the 
experience of the Committee. 
Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son sent a plant with ripe fruit of Warden 
Park Favourite Tomato, fruits corrugated and small, not unlike those 
of the old Orangefield, but the plants more free in growth. No award 
was made. 
At the termination of business an unanimous vote of thanks was 
passed to the Chairman, Mr. Philip Crowley, for his unfailing courtesy 
in the chair during the year, coupled with an expression of regret that 
illness prevented his attendance at the last meeting, and Mr. Rivers was 
thanked for taking his place. The thanks of the Council were conveyed 
to the Committee for their services, and suitably acknowledged by Mr. 
Rivers. Thus an harmonious season harmoniously ended. 
Floral Committee. —Present: W. Marshall, Esq. (in the chair) ; 
the Rev. H. H. D’Ombrain ; Messrs. C. T. Druery, J. H. Fitt, R. Dean, 
H. B. May, G. Stevens, W. C. Leach, R. Owen, C. J. Salter, C. F. Bause, 
G. Gordon, T. Godfrey, J. D. Pawle, E. Mawley, C. E. Shea, H. J. Jones, 
C. E. Pearson, J. Walker, G. Paul, and P. Barr. 
The most prominent exhibit in the floral section was sent by Messrs. 
J. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, S.E., and comprised a table of miscellaneous 
foliage and flowering plants. All the plants were healthy and well 
grown, amongst the most prominent being Bouvardias, Solanums, 
Cyclamens, Cypripediums, Ericas, Palms, Ferns, Crotons, Dracsenas, and 
Poinsettias (silver Flora medal). 
A very interesting exhibit of cones was staged by Mr. C. Herrin, 
Dropmore Gardens, Maidenhead. Araucaria imbricata, Cedrus deodara, 
C. atlantica, Pinus Lambertiana, and Abies nobilis were noticeable 
(silver Banksian medal). 
Mr. R. Owen, Floral Nurseries, Maidenhead, staged a handsome 
collection of Chrysanthemums, comprising many new varieties. Colonel 
Bourne, Charles Young, Mrs. Smith Rylands, Bellem (award of merit, 
see below), Mrs. W. H. Lees, Milky White, King of Plumes (see below), 
Minerva, Miss Ellen Terry, Pearl of Maidenhead, Mrs. H. Perkins, Owen 
Thomas, Madame Leveque, and Julian Hillpert were particularly 
prominent. A silver Flora medal was recommended. 
A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. F. W. Moore, Royal Botanic 
Gardens, Glasnevin, for sprays of Nerine Manselli, Iris stylosa alba, and 
Billbergia Windi. 
Orchid Committee. —Present : H. J. Veitch, Esq. (in the chair); 
Dr. M. T. Masters, Messrs. J. O’Brien, E. Hill, H. J. Chapman, 
H. Williams, W. H. White, H. Ballantine, H. M. Pollett, J. Douglas, 
W. Cobb, and A. H. Smee. 
Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, sent a small group of Orchids, 
including the popular Dendrobium Schrbderianum in variety, Catasetum 
Christyanum, Laelia furfuracea, and some choice Cypripediums. Fore¬ 
most amongst the latter were C. X J. Bartels, C. radiosum superbum, 
and C. X Albert Truffaut. T. Statter, Esq., Stand Hall, Manchester, 
secured an award of merit for Lselia Euturpe, which is described below. 
Cypripedium Ariadne and Lselia Tressideriana were also shown by the 
same exhibitor. Mr. E. Hill, gardener to Lord Rothschild, Tring Park, 
exhibited cut flowers of Cattleya guttata Prinzi, for which an award of 
merit was adjudged. This is described below. Mr. H. Ballantine, 
gardener to Baron Schroder, The Dell, Egham, staged a splendid spike 
of Cymbidium Tracyanum bearing twenty flowers. Mr. Barnes, gardener 
to the Duke of Westminster, exhibited blooms of Cattleya labiata fine in 
colour. Mr. Duncan, gardener to C. F. Lucas, Esq., Warnham Court, 
Horsham, had Bulbophyllum mandibulare, and a botanical certificate 
was awarded for it. Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Royal Exotic Nurseries, 
Chelsea, sent Epidendrum Wallisio-ciliare, which is the result of a cross 
between E. Wallisi and E. ciliare. The same firm had some striking 
hybrid Cypripediums, including C. Mimosa, C. Sirius, C. Nibbe, and 
C. Zeno. 
Mr. T. W. Swinburne, Corndean Hall, Winchcombe, won an award 
of merit for Cypripedium Swinburnei magnifica, a strong flowering 
plant. Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., Clapton, had a small group of 
Cypripediums and other Orchids, including Schomburghia rhinodora 
Kimballiana (award of merit). Mr. P. Weathers, Silverhall Nursery, 
Isleworth, secured an award of merit for Cypripedium x William 
Lloyd, which is described below. Mr. E. Holbrook, gardener to 
E. Ashworth, Esq., Wilmslow, Cheshire, gained an award of merit for 
Cypripediums Swinburnei magnifica. Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, 
Upper Holloway, had a group of Cypripediums, Odontoglossums, and 
other Orchids, the whole making a good display. 
Votes of thanks were presumably passed of the same nature as those 
above alluded to, but reporters say they “must not go near the Floral 
and Orchid Committee tables lest any of the remarks there made 
should reach their ears,” but they “ heard a noise that was unin¬ 
telligible.” Possibly this was an outburst of enthusiasm consequent on 
that interchange of courtesies of the nature suggested. 
Certificates and Awards op Merit. 
Cattleya guttata Prinzi (E.Hill).—A fine variety of C. guttata. 
The sepals and petals are creamy yellow spotted violet, the lip being a 
bright magenta shade (award of merit). 
Chrysanthemum King of Plumes (R. Owen).—This is a charming 
variety with narrow florets, very bright yellow colour (award of merit). 
Chrysanthemum Bellem (R. Owen).—This is a good addition to the 
incurved Japanese. The blooms are deep, and the florets broad and 
stout. The colour is pale cream flushed rose on the lower florets, with a 
delicate primrose centre (award of merit). 
Cypripedium Sioinhurnei magnifica (T. W. Swinburne and E. Ash¬ 
worth).—This is a vigorous growing plant, bearing large flowers on tall 
spikes. The upper sepal is green, spotted brown and margined white. 
The petals are bronze green, also spotted brown, the pouch being a 
mixture of a green and brown (award of merit). 
Cypripedium William Lloyd (P. Weathers).—This is a very distinct 
dark coloured hybrid, being the result of a cross between C, bellatulum 
and C. Swanianum. The upper sepal is deep purplish rose, darker veins, 
white tip. The petals are of a similar colour, but thickly spotted dark 
brown. The pouch is a very dark red (award of merit). 
Lcelia Euturpe (T. Statter).—This is a charming Orchid. The sepals 
and petals are white, tinted blush, as is the base of the lip, the tube 
being a rich purplish crimson (award of merit). 
Schomburghia rhinodora Kimballiana (H. Low & Co.).—A charming 
Orchid, with bright magenta coloured flowers, borne on rather a tall 
spike (award of merit). 
WOKK/oiiTHE WEEK, fv 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Pruning- Apples and Pears. — Pyramids and Bushes. —It is 
advisable to commence the winter pruning as soon as possible after the 
leaves fall, and as time and weather afford opportunity. The first 
requisite in pruning is to note the state of the branches. If these are 
closer together than a foot saw out the crowded parts cleanly, smooth¬ 
ing the edge of the cut with a sharp knife. Trees are rendered more 
fruitful and are easier managed when the main branches never exceed 
the above distance apart. The advantages of ample room are most 
apparent in the summer when the foliage is present. The effects are 
permanently beneficial, as owing to the thin disposal of the branches the 
sun can reach the base of each, fully maturing every leaf. Not less 
important is the thin disposal of the spurs. Very often clumps of the 
latter are allowed to accumulate and the spurs to extend too far from 
the branch. Thinning out may be done in the former case, and shorten¬ 
ing in the latter. This admits of weakly fruit buds which have hitherto 
received scant support being better nourished. The current year’s shoots 
must in all cases be shortened to two or three buds from their originating 
point. These buds will, under favourable circumstances, eventually 
form fruiting spurs. They do so more readily when the growths have 
been summer pruned, so that the sap which otherwise would have been 
drawn away and wasted has been concentrated in their vicinity. 
Standard Trees. —Freedom of growth within certain limits is the 
usual characteristic of this form of tree. The branches being allowed 
to freely extend without any shortening are mostly productive if atten¬ 
tion is given to preventing the growth becoming crowded by crossing or 
interlacing, whereby the fruit buds are shaded by superfluous foliage. 
Abundance of spray is often produced in the interior, mainly on the 
larger branches, and this must be cut closely away now, but it is pre¬ 
ferable rubbed off when young and soft in early summer. In the process 
of thinning, any shoots of medium strength it is necessary to cut out may 
be shortened to a few buds, when'spurs will probably Vje formed, but those 
thick and strong in character must be closely taken off. 
Cordon and Horizontally-trained t'^ees —If properly planted and 
trained at the correct distances apart cordons on w^alls and in the open 
need no thinning as regards the branches, but the spurs may from time 
to time require regulating. It is advisable not to encourage the exten¬ 
sion of spurs too far from the wall or trellis. It is very essential that 
the young shoots issuing from among the spurs be pruned back to 
several leaves in summer in order to confine the sap in elaborating the 
lower buds on such shoots. At the same time benefit is received by the 
older buds, which are materially strengthened, probably just at the time 
when they are first assuming their bold, round fruit-promising character. 
