456 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
March 19, 18S7. 
THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 
"VYe are informed that at a meeting of the council of 
the Royal Horticultural Society held on the Sth inst., a 
draft memorial for submission to Her Majesty the 
Queen, prepared by the president of the society, was 
read, and Sir Trevor Lawrence was requested to lay the 
same before Her Majesty at an early date. The 
memorial briefly reviews the history of the society 
since its foundation in 1804, and, after setting forth its 
intimate and influential connection with the progress 
of practical and scientific horticulture, refers to the 
beneficent influence which the late lamented Prince 
Consort exerted over its fortunes, which have steadily 
declined since the removal by death of His Royal High¬ 
ness from the presidency of the society, until in 1882, 
after years of continually increasing financial difficulties, 
the society being unable to carry out the terms of its 
agreement with the 1851 Exhibition Commissioners, 
was compelled to give up possession of the Royal 
Horticultural Gardens, and is now brought face to face 
with the grave problem, not only how its future work 
is to be carried on, hut even of how its existence is to 
be maintained. 
The memorial, after alluding to the prestige of the 
society at home and abroad, prays Her Majesty to use 
her gracious influence to obtain for the society a suf¬ 
ficient portion of ground on the South Kensington 
estate for a building ta accommodate its committees, 
its valuable library [?] and its offices ; together with the 
use of the conservatory and quadrants in which to hold 
its shows. In concluding, the memorial assures Her 
Majesty that the council of the Royal Horticultural 
Society approach her with the hearty concurrence and 
support of the most eminent horticulturists of the 
kingdom, both amateur and professional, and in the 
firm conviction that force is added to their appeal, not 
only from the past history of the society, hut also from 
the fact that the sphere and scope of its work are 
distinctly germane to the objects for which the land at 
South Kensington was bought. 
-- 
PROTECTING FRUIT TREES. 
In those gardens where the securing of full crops of 
fruit on uncovered walls is regarded as a matter of the 
highest importance, no time should be lost in making 
the necessary preparations, with a view to accomplishing 
the desired results ; of this fact we were forcibly 
reminded to-day, March 10th, in looking over the 
walls, by finding that the first few flowers of Apricots 
were already fully expanded. There are not many 
localities where a full crop of these can he relied upon 
from year to year, without having recourse to protection 
in some shape or form. 
In our own case we find nothing better or cheaper 
than branches of Spruce Fir. These are cut into 
lengths of 2 ft. to 3 ft, and tied on with matting, or 
stuck in between the branches of the trees it is desired 
to protect ; but not too thickly, as too much sun would 
be excluded, and probably the object in view be defeated. 
One great advantage of Spruce, when used for this 
purpose, is that as the days get longer, and the sun’s 
power increases, the leaves fall off gradually, thereby 
admitting more light and air by degrees to the young 
fruit at a time when it is most needed. The same kind 
of protection may also be given to Cherries, Plums, and 
early varieties of Pears growing on walls, if, at the time 
they are in flower, the weather is at all unfavourable. 
Other kinds of protection, as an alternative, may be 
found in Yew and Laurel branches if used sparingly, 
and also in tiffany and ordinary fish netting, the latter 
to be suspended in front of the trees three or four 
courses thick. 
In the matter of Peaches and Nectarines, two of the 
most critical and tender subjects we have to deal with 
in out-door fruit culture, special means and precautions 
should be used to ensure a good “set ” of young fruit, 
as a good crop may be said to be the best test of a man’s 
skill and ability as an out-door fruit grower, and will 
redound far more to his credit, than a crop obtained 
under the more expensive or favourable conditions. 
"Where expense is of secondary importance, and sub¬ 
ordinate to high efficiency, neatness and order, we 
would strongly advise the use of rollers and blinds made 
of frigi domo, a material fully capable of excluding 
any frosts we are likely to experience at this time of the 
year. To facilitate the working of blinds, there ought 
to be placed in front of the trees, neat upright posts 
6 ft apart, resting in iron sockets fixed in the ground 
at a distance of 15 ins. or 18 ins. from the wall, and 
secured at the apex by cross pieces, joining them to a 
top rail fixed to the wall close under the coping. 
Heedless to say, the one great advantage of this plan 
consists in the work of covering and uncovering being 
quickly done—a boon to young men who may happen 
to lay in bed an extra half hour on a Sunday morning, 
or who may want to get away early in the evening on 
a more congenial and pleasant business. "Where this 
system, cannot be adopted, recourse may be had to 
Russian and home-made straw mats, stout poles being 
fixed in front of the trees to prevent damage being done 
in rough windy weather.— J. Horsefield, Heyte.sbv.ry, 
NOTES FROM HOWICK HOUSE. 
Very few lovers of Orchids, I imagine, have had 
the opportunity of feasting their eyes upon such a 
gorgeous display of Cattleya Trianse as was afforded 
me a few days ago. To say the least, I was simply 
astonished when my hospitable guide, Mr. Swan, the 
cultivator, showed me into a liottse where no less than 
270 or 280 flowers of the beautiful Cattleya Trianreand 
its varieties presented themselves like a huge army 
arrayed in their best uniforms. 
I should fail were I to attempt to convey to the 
minds of readers an adequate idea of the depth and 
richness of the many varieties enumerated in that 
beautiful picture of ail shades, including the lovely 
Cattleya Trianae alba, which is represented by a fine 
healthy piece with a good pair of its beautifully fringed 
pure white flowers. Several plants of C. Percivaliana 
and Mendelii were gay ; as well as C. amethvstoglossa, 
a very distinct and pleasing species. In the same 
house were noticed two or three good baskets of each of 
the following Dendrobiums, namely, D. crassinode, 
very rich and well-flowered ; D. heterocarpum, D. nohile 
and the beautiful D. Ainsworthii. In a second division 
suspended from the roof were a number of well-grown 
Phalrenopsis, the most noteworthy being a piece of 
Schilleriana, bearing a splendid branched raceme of 
some thirty flowers ; P. violacea, Stuartiana, Sander- 
iana, amabilis and grandiflora were all represented. 
In another division among myriads of Cattleya Mossise 
and other species were noticed several baskets of the 
pretty orange-coloured Lrelia cinnabarina, well-flowered. 
L. harpophylla is very much like the former, but 
the lip or labellum is of a somewhat lighter shade. 
Ccelogyne cristata is well grown here. Some of the 
plants have yielded a real harvest of flowers; but the 
lovely C. c. Lemoniana being a little later than the 
former variety, some four or five pans were rich and 
flowering profusely, each raceme bearing from five to 
eight flowers, a number rarely seen upon the type. 
The lip has a beautiful soft lemon-yellow, quite distinct 
from the former. 
A house full of most healthy pieces of Odontoglossum 
are just sending up a host of strong flower spikes. 
About 120 racemes of the following were noticed, 
namely, O. Alexandra, O. gloriosum, O. Andersonianum, 
anl O. Peseatorei. Several very strong plants of 
Oneidium macranthum have their long racemes showing 
flower, tied round neat stakes for support. 
On leaving the Orchid houses, one cannot escape 
being very much impressed with the fact that all kinds 
of florist and other plants have their various cultural 
requirements supplied with the same careful judgment 
throughout, as the hundreds of Orchids. 
Cyclamens fill one side of a span-roofed house, and 
are in themselves a complete show, and worthy of a 
journey to see. One plant is nearly a yard through, 
and there are many others from 15 ins. to 18 ins. over, 
and are the finest examples of good culture I have ever 
seen. Some of the corms have seen many summers 
since they were seedlings, but of their age no inquiry 
was made. In the same house may be seen a good 
strain of Cinerarias well grown. Tea Roses also occupy 
one side of another structure. They are grown in 
10-in. pots, and tied neatly to stakes, forming beautiful 
bushes down to the rims. Last, but by no means the 
least interesting feature, is a neat little conservatory 
adjoining the mansion, and within it a most tastefully 
arranged bank of Hyacinths, Tulips and Narcissus, 
intermixed with Primulas, Cyclamen, Lily of the 
Yalley and other things, backed up with a row of 
Acacia lophantha and Aspidistra lurida variegata, 
which give to the whole a most pleasing effect. 
The Hyacinths, splendidly grown, were represented 
by many excellent varieties too numerous to name. 
They are chiefly grown in self colours, three bulbs in 
each pot, a system that should be more generally 
adopted where effectiveness is the object. The absence 
of stakes and ties was conspicuous, sufficient evidence 
of the sturdiness of the spikes produced. Narcissus 
and Tulips are equally well grown. Space and time are 
short, therefore I must curtail my notes, feeling that a 
very profitable hour was spent with one of the best 
gardeners and orchidists of the present day. — Visitor. 
-—>x<—- 
GROS COLMAR v. LADY 
DOWNES. 
I was very pleased to read that my remarks had 
caused some gratification to Mr. J. Udale. Like him, 
I have much to learn and unlearn in connection with 
Grape culture, far more, I am afraid, than my interro¬ 
gator. It is equally pleasurable to me to answer his 
queries, which I will do in as lucid a manner as pos¬ 
sible. I do not wish to be dogmatical in any of my re¬ 
marks, but only wish to relate my experience on the 
subject. 
I may be wrong, but am still of the same opinion as I 
gave on page 394. I must say at the outset, I consider 
that Mr. Udale has altered the face of his former com¬ 
munication. So far as I remember, he gave us to under¬ 
stand that Lady Downes had been grown in a Muscat 
house ; now he says a mixed house. I do not consider 
Lady Downes and Muscats would be favourable com¬ 
pany, for the following reasons :—First, the former 
does not require so long a period to finish and ripen 
their crops as the Muscats ; secondly, the former does 
not require so high a temperature as the latter ; thirdly. 
Lady Downes is very apt to scald after the berries have 
stoned, thus requiring plenty of air early in the morn¬ 
ing. I have a lively idea on this head, and I daresay 
Mr. Udale has had similar experience. The air, almost 
an absolute necessity for the Grape in question, would 
certainly be unfavourable to the Muscats. Fourthly, 
Lady Downes would begin to colour much sooner than 
its aristocratic neighbours, still requiring that atmos¬ 
pheric condition so essential to good-flavoured Grapes. 
This, too, would be at a period when the Muscats were 
not requiring such an amount of air. 
I trust I have satisfied Mr. Udale on this head. I 
will now deal with his second query. I have had the 
pleasure of growing Gros Colmar in a Muscat-house, 
and I am of opinion that the temperature suitable for 
these is equally suitable for the other ; both of them 
requiring a long period to finish their crops. The 
flavour of Gros Colmar I have found superior in such a 
heat, as compared with those grown in an Hamburg- 
house ; but I have never yet tasted this Grape of first- 
class flavour, hence my assertion that they would 
‘ 1 revel ” in such a house. 
Mr. Udale’s third question is easily answered—simply 
because I am of opinion that Lady Downes is superior 
to Gros Colmar in flavour. At least, this has always 
been my experience, and I believe I am not alone in 
this opinion ; but it may possibly be as Mr. Horsefield 
suggests, I have not yet tasted this Grape at its best, 
and, as he adds, to find it in such a condition is truly 
exceptional. Air. Udale’s fourth query is, no doubt, 
very simple, but unanswerable. Why one variety 
should prove superior to the other growing in the same 
house is more than I can venture to say. The why 
and wherefore may be owing to certain conditions, with 
which I am totally unacquainted. I trust these 
remarks are plain enough for my questioner ; if not, I 
shall be pleased to try again, as my wish is to give 
experience, and not to dictate.— James B. Riding. 
- ~^K<~ - 
CHRISTMAS AND LENTEN 
ROSES. 
Our figure illustrates the two different groups of 
Hellebores, popularly known as Christmas and Lenten 
Roses. The large white flower represents H. niger 
maximus, otherwise known as H. n. altifolius, and is a 
form of the true Christmas Rose that has been from 
time immemorial in every cottage garden. Many fine 
varieties are now in cultivation, which commence 
flowering long before Christmas in favourable seasons 
and continue till late in spring ; the Lenten Roses, on 
the other hand, are most in season during Lent, although 
in the sunny south many of them commence in Decem¬ 
ber. There are about ten species, some of which, how- 
