February 9, 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
873 
shown, they would run some risk of having only a 
limited competition, because it is difficult to make sure 
of a certain number of blooms of some of the varieties 
now seldom seen. I have known seasons when several 
plants of some of these varieties, Isabella Bott for 
instance, were cultivated, and not a single presentable 
bloom was obtained, so that the number of stipulated 
varieties must be large enough to allow of a good margin. 
Another objection to adding many varieties to the 
list is that they are most difficult to arrange in the 
manner I suggested, as compared with the Mrs. G. 
Rundle family. In some cases the blooms are broad 
and shallow, as for instance Lord Derby and Mr. 
Cullingford ; these could not be arranged so neatly as 
narrower deeper flowers. Take Eve again—the stems 
and peduncles of this sort are so stiff that a difficulty 
would be experienced in their arrangement, but not so 
much as to be insurmountable. I should say more 
uniformity would be obtained in the arrangement of 
the “Rundle” class alone than would be where the 
number and character of the varieties were more varied. 
RHODODENDRON BALSAMINiE- 
FLORUM ALBUM. 
The flowers of this variety are the largest of all the five 
seedlings which, it is well known, originated from one 
capsule of seed in the nursery of Messrs. J. Veitch & 
Sons, Chelsea. The “hit” was effected by Mr. John 
Heal, the foreman of that department, who observed 
the stamens of a certain flower exhibiting a tendency to 
become petaloid. The plant was an unnamed seedling, 
and all the flowers were cut from the truss with the 
exception of that exhibiting the above-mentioned 
peculiarity. This flower was fertilised with its own 
pollen, with the result that five seedlings have already 
been flowered from the batch raised, exhibiting yellow, 
flesh, rose, orange and white flowers respectively, all 
of which are double. The white variety is that under 
notice, and has flowers comparable to those of a 
Gardenia; they are perfectly double to the very centre, 
while all the outer segments are closely imbricated, or 
overlapping one another as seen in a Gardenia. The 
five varieties constitute a very distinct group amongst 
the bank to the credit of the Donation Fund. * The 
statement of receipts show a considerable increase as 
compared with the year 1887 in the amount received 
from annual subscriptions, and for produce sold from 
the Chiswick Gardens—the total sum received in 1888 
being £4,372 16s. 3 d., as against £2,894 4s. 10 d. in 
1887. The Council have, therefore, every confidence 
that the society has now surmounted its financial 
difficulties, and, with a regular increase in the number 
of Fellows joining the society, there is little doubt but 
that it has a long and honourable career of usefulness 
before it. During the year 1888, 657 annual Fellows 
have been elected, representing an income of £924 4s. 
On the other hand, eighty-one Fellows resigned and 
forty-eight died, representing a loss of £242 Us. ; the 
net increase of Fellows thus being 528, representing a 
net increase of income of £685 15s. The total number 
of Fellows on the society’s books on the 1st of January, 
1889, consisted of 556 life Fellows, 1,080 annual 
Fellows, and six Associates. 
Financial Prospects .—The prospects of the coming 
RlIODOnEXDIlON BALSAM I N.-EFLO RUM ALBUM. 
The consideration of the details of arrangement is more 
for the interest of each particular society, as whichever 
way is adopted it is purely a matter of personal taste. 
One point, however, should not be lost sight of, and it 
is this :—The more simple the class the more likelihood 
will there be of their obtaining the greater number of 
entries, and this is or should be the aim of all societies 
if they want to make a show. 
To oblige “Southdown,” I will add a few names of 
varieties to those already mentioned which might be 
classed together, leaving societies to choose for them¬ 
selves what part of this number shall be selected for 
this new departure in class-making. I have already 
pointed out the objections to such an extended class as 
I originally suggested, so that committees of societies 
may have an opportunity of bearing these observations 
in mind with a view to remedying such objections as 
those pointed out. The following are the varieties I 
would add to the list already given by myself and 
“Southdown”:—Miss Hope, Angelina, Lady Slade, 
Mrs. Cobay, Le Grand, Lady Talfourd, Enamel, Cas¬ 
sandra, Blonde Beauty, Aureurn multiflorum, Aimee 
Ferriere, Duchess of Manchester, Formosum album, 
and Formosum luteum.— E. Molyncux, 
greenhouse Rhododendrons, which have been raised 
chiefly from R. javanicum and R. jasminiflorum. The 
pity is that the flowers are so double as to destroy the 
organs of reproduction, thus preventing further crosses 
from being effected. The different sets of segments are 
produced one within the other almost to the base of 
the tube of the outer one, rendering the whole very 
compact and lasting, either on the plant or in the cut 
state. The individual blooms are very suitable for 
button-hole bouquets. We are indebted to Messrs. J. 
Veitch & Sons for the opportunity of figuring it. 
-~>X<~- 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 
We take the following extracts from the report of the 
Council, for the year 1888, to be presented at the 
annual meeting on Tuesday next 
Finance .—The society commenced the year with a 
debt of £1,152, which has happily all been discharged, 
chiefly by means of donations received. Expenses 
amounting to £99 16s., incurred in the removal of the 
offices and of the Lindley Library, have also been 
paid, and a balance of £365 16s. 6 d. is now lodged in 
year may be briefly summarised thus : — The income, 
on the basis of the experience of the past year, is 
expected to be not less that £3,000 ; while the expendi¬ 
ture, involving no new or extraordinary services, is 
expected to reach £2,950. It is proposed to devote 
any increase in income which may arise specially to 
improving the Chiswick Gardens, and to reviving the 
publication of the Society’s Proceedings and Journal, 
which will contain information having a direct bearing 
upon the science and practice of horticulture. 
Temple Show.— The Council think they may fairly 
congratulate the Fellows on the magnificent show held 
on the 17th and 18th of May, by the kind permission 
of the treasurer and benchers in the gardens of the 
Inner Temple — a show by which, amongst other 
things, attention was drawn to the excellent work 
being done for horticulture by the market growers of 
the London district. The Council beg to record their 
grateful thanks to the treasurer and benchers for again 
allowing the use of their garden, and express a hope 
that the show this year (18S9) may be as great a 
pecuniary success as it undoubtedly was last year horti- 
* Towards the expenses of moving the Lindley Library the 
Trustees contributed the sum of £20. 
