February 16, 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
393 
had yet a great deal to learn, and at their meetings 
they would find no humbler student and no more 
ardent lover of horticulture than himself. 
Professor Harvey Gibson, in the course of his address, 
hoped the society would keep definitely before their 
minds the application of science to practice. He 
believed the greatest results would be derived from an 
intimate union of both, and he urged them always to 
consider not only the practical applications, but the 
theoretical principles which underlie the applications. 
With regard to the provision of a library, he pointed 
out that the science of botany was constantly changing, 
and that text books soon became obsolete. He there¬ 
fore advised them not to load their shelves with text 
books, but to get good standard works on special 
subjects. Botany could not be properly taught nowa¬ 
days without recourse sooner or later to the microscope, 
and if they were going to do work, they must as a 
corporate body provide themselves with this appara¬ 
tus. They also required a cabinet, and he promised to 
furnish them with a series of typical slides. He sug¬ 
gested that they should amongst themselves agree to 
subdivide the subject of scientific applications in botany 
into different sections, and that periodically those who 
had access to papers and books should give the society 
a summary of recent advances in the particular section 
they had taken up. He counselled them not to put 
aside a thing which they did not know in the garden. 
Many of the greatest discoveries in botany had been 
made simply by chance. He, in conclusion, said he 
should be happy at any time when he could be of use 
to the society to place his services at their disposal. 
The chairman, amid loud applause, intimated that 
on obtaining evidence that a sufficient number of mem¬ 
bers would engage in the scientific study of horticulture, 
he would give practical effect to the suggestions of 
Professor Harvey Gibson by presenting the society with 
a microscope and a cabinet. He also announced that 
he should be willing to assist in providing books for 
the library, and at the desire of the meeting he asked 
Professor Harvey Gibson to prepare a list of the works 
required. Hearty votes of thanks to the president and 
Professor Gibson brought the meeting to a close. 
-- 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
Royal Horticultural.— February 12Ih. 
Notwithstanding the severe and frosty weather, and 
the presence of a considerable depth of snow, the dis¬ 
play of flowers and fruits on Tuesday was a great success 
for this early period. A fine display was made by some 
large collections of Cyclamen and Daffodils, and was 
specially interesting on account of the fine collections 
of Apples, which were in excellent condition. The 
exhibition practically showed that a great number of 
English-grown Apples may be had in splendid preserva¬ 
tion for a period extending over many months of the 
year. A few Orchids were present, and but for the 
inclemency of the weather other exhibits of tender 
subjects would have been present also. 
A Silver Banksian Medal was awarded to Messrs. 
Barr & Son for a group of Daffodils extending along 
nearly the whole length of one side of a table. Very 
conspicuous amongst the yellow trumpet kinds were 
Narcissus Spurius, Golden Spur, Henry Irving, and 
the Tenby Daffodil (N. obvallaris). Amongst white 
kinds were Princess Ida, Leedsii amabilis, N. ineom- 
parabilis, Queen Bess, N. Barri Orphee ; and early 
kinds were N. pallidus pracox, N. cylamineus, N. 
minimus, and others. There was also a sprinkling of 
Galanthus Elwesii, Scilla bifolia, Anemone fulgens, and 
others. A similar award was made to the St. George’s 
Nursery Company, Hanwell, fora group of Cyclamens 
in 48-sized pots, comprising about 150 plants. They 
were well flowered, even, and mostly of the Giganteum 
strain, showing great variety of colour. Mr. John 
May, Gordon’s Nurseries, Twickenham, had a similar 
group, and about as well flowered ; but they comprised 
a considerable number of the ordinary C. persicum 
type, and exhibited some remarkably fine colouring. 
He was awarded a Silver Banksian Medal. A Cultural 
Commendation was accorded Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons, 
Chelsea, for an exhibit of hybrid greenhouse Rhodo- 
dendrons. One lot consisted of named varieties of the 
R. javanieo-jasminiflorum type, while another lot 
showing considerable variety of colouring consisted of 
seedlings of the R. javanico-multicolor type. They 
also had a large plant of Cypripedium Lathomi, a 
hybrid between C. Spicerianum and C. villosum, raised 
by Mr. Lathom, curator of the Botanic Gardens, Bir¬ 
mingham, but now their property. A Bronze Banksian 
Medal was awarded to Messrs. George Paul & Son, 
Cheshunt, for a collection of hardy herbaceous plants, 
including several Lenten Roses, such as Helleborus 
niger ruber, H. colchicus, H. atrorubens, also Leucojum 
vernum, Cyclamen Coum zonate, Saxifraga Burseriana 
majus, and others. 
Mr. Ridout, gardener to T. B. Haywood, Esq., 
Woodhatch Lodge, Reigate, exhibited a Cypripedium, 
a hybrid between C. Drurii and C. superbiens. Mr. W. 
Swan, gardener to G. C. Raphael, Esq., Castle Hill, 
Englefield Green, exhibited a fine spike of Dendrobium 
undulatum with twenty flowers, and another of Odonto- 
glossum nebulosum pardinum. A fine piece of Lselia 
elegans Blenheimensis was shown by the Duke of 
Marlborough, Blenheim Palace. A beautifully blotched 
variety of Odontoglossum Pescatorei was exhibited by 
J. F. Jackson, Esq. (gardener, Mr. Dowsett), Bourne 
Place, Bexley, who received an Award of Merit for it. 
Mr. T. Rawlings, gardener to T. \Y. Yates, Esq., Birches 
Green, Erdington, Birmingham, showed Cattleya Triame 
Yatesi; while Mr. C. J. Rowe, gardener to W. H. 
Scott, Esq., Mumfield, Dumfries, showed Lielia anceps 
Scottiana, a very fine variety ; and Mr. H. Batchelor, 
Catton Park, Norwich, had a twin-flowered spike of 
Cypripedium insigne. Mr. R. Owen, Maidenhead,showed 
three boxes of very fine Chinese Primula blooms, called 
the Imperial strain, which was commended. Mr. F. 
Ross, gardener to Sir George Macleay, exhibited Acacia 
oxycedrus, and a flowering spray of Thunbergia 
laurifolia. Narcissus Pseudo-Narcissus Trollius, a very 
early variety, was shown by the Rev. W. Wilks, 
Croydon. Mr. R. Dean, Ealing, exhibited a beautiful 
hardy Primrose called True Blue, and which in colour is 
the deepest blue yet shown. A quantity of dried 
Prairie Flowers which had been collected near the 
Rocky Mountains, in America, was shown by Mr. A. 
Dean, Bedfont. Half-a-dozen fine plants of Yucca 
filamentosa variegata were exhibited by Mr. J. R. 
Pearson, Chilwell, Notts. Chinese Primula blooms 
were shown by Mr. J. James, Farnham Royal. 
The exhibits before the Fruit Committee were of a 
specially interesting and extensive kind for this time 
of the year. A Silver Banksian Medal was awarded to 
Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons, Crawley, Sussex, for a col¬ 
lection of seventy-nine dishes and eight baskets of 
Apples, amongst which Wellington, Mere de Menage, 
Gascoigne’s Seedling, Warner’s King, Alexander, and 
Prince Albert were very fine. A similar-sized collection 
of Apples was shown by Messrs. Geo. Bunyard & Co., 
Maidstone, Kent, containing fine samples of Bismarck, 
New Hawthornden, Cox’s Pomona, Fippet’s Incom¬ 
parable, Cellini, Warner’s King, and others; they 
were awarded a Silver Banksian Medal. A similar 
award was made to Mr. G. W. Cummins, gardener to 
A. H. Smee, Esq., The Grange, Wallington, for a col¬ 
lection of Apples in fine condition, including New Haw¬ 
thornden, Cox’s Pomona, Warner’s King, Wellington, 
&c. Messrs. Rivers & Sons, Sawbridgeworth, received a 
vote of thanks for a collection of Apples, amongst which 
were Cellini, Cox’s Pomona, Warner’s King, &c. They 
also showed an interesting collection of Oranges, Citrons, 
Shaddocks, and Lemons. A smaller but fine collection 
of Apples was shown by W. Roupell, Esq., Harvey 
Lodge, Roupell Park, who had also some Muscat of 
Alexandria Grapes ripened in August, cut at Christmas, 
bottled, and still in fine order. A dish of Apple Carlton 
Seedling was shown by Mr. W. H. Divers, Ketton Hall, 
Stamford ; another named Bietingheimer Red Apple by 
Messrs. John Cranston & Co., King’s Acre, Hereford ; 
and a dish of Pears by Mr. Geo. M. Breese, Petworth, 
Sussex. Yorkshire Telegraph Cucumber was shown 
by Mr. Henry J. Clayton, Grimston Park, Tadcaster ; 
and the Canterbury Prize Onion by Mr C. W. Howard, 
Bridge, Canterbury. Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons received 
an Award of Merit for a collection of different varieties 
of variegated Kale, showing a considerable range of 
bright colours. 
The Annual Meeting. 
The annual general meeting was held in the Library, 
117, Victoria Street. The president, Sir Trevor 
Lawrence, Bart., M.P., took the chair, the other 
members of the Council present being Messrs. A. H. 
Smee, G. F. Wilson, H. J. Veitch, G. Paul, J. Douglas, 
F. B. Haywood, W. T. T. Dyer, D. Morris, and the 
Rev. W. Wilks, secretary. There was a larger 
attendance of Fellows than usual, but the proceedings 
call for little comment. The minutes of the previous 
annual meeting, and of the special meetings held 
subsequently, having been read at length and con¬ 
firmed, twenty-eight Fellows were added by election 
to the society’s roll, thirteen of whom are residents in 
the neighbourhood of Chiswick. Mr. Pearson and 
Mr. Hamilton were appointed scrutineers of the 
ballot, and the report of the Council and state¬ 
ment of accounts being taken as read, the president, 
in moving their adoption, stated in general terms 
the reasons why the retiring members of the 
Council had sent in their resignations, and asked 
the meeting to accord them a hearty vote of thanks for 
their past services. Sir Trevor then called attention to 
the principal items of interest in the report, and con¬ 
gratulated the Fellows upon their meeting under much 
more favourable circumstances than they did last year, 
and upon the society being at last out of debt. He 
also paid a well-deserved compliment to the secretary, 
the Rev. W. Wilks, to whose capacity, self sacrifice, 
and unremitting labour, they were largely indebted 
for the society’s much improved position. The motion 
was seconded and carried unanimously. A Fellow 
congratulated the Council on the metamorphosis from 
almost decay to soundness and prosperity that had 
been brought about during the past year, and 
suggested that the Council should consider the advi¬ 
sability of holding a series of day and night fetes in 
the gardens at Chiswick. Mr. R. Dean asked a 
question with reference to the Chrysanthemum 
Conference, to be held in November, and the president 
stated in reply that the Council had that day changed 
the date from November 12th and 13th to the 5th and 
6th, in order to avoid clashing with the Aquarium and 
Kingston Shows. The scrutineers reported that Sir 
Charles W. Strickland, Bart, and Messrs. Bourne, 
Coleman, Courtauld, Pearson, and Rivers had been 
duly elected members of the Council, and Sir T. 
Lawrence, Bart, M.P., president, Mr. D. Morris, 
treasurer, Rev. W. Wilks, secretary, and Messrs. G. 
Deal, W. Richards, and Harry Turner, auditors. A 
vote of thanks to the president brought the proceedings 
to a close. 
-►»$<-- 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 
Special attention is paid in the columns of The 
Gardening World to the answering of questions on 
all subjects connected with practical horticulture, and 
the naming of Plants (other than Florists’ Flowers) and 
Fruits, in which department the Editor is assisted by 
gardeners and specialists of great experience. 
It is particularly requested that correspondents 
will favour us with their communications as early in 
the week as possible, and that they address them only 
to “The Editor.” 
Collection of Plants. — Pembroke: We shall be very glad to 
assist you in the matter, but desire to know to what class of 
plants you refer. Do you mean window, greenhouse, annual, or 
herbaceous perennial plants? Are they to be grown under 
glass, in a dwelling-house, or in the open air? We are equally 
at a loss to know the exact meaning, or exact words of your 
schedule with regard to table plants. If you have the con¬ 
venience of a stove or greenhouse, we could easily mention what 
plants you could grow under those conditions. At local shows 
the circumstances under which the plants are to be grown must 
be indicated. The following could, however, be grown by you 
in a window or greenhouse, and correspond to table plants under 
those conditions, namely, Draciena australis, Ficus elastica 
Aspidistra lurida variegata, Pteris serrulata cristata, Draciena 
rubra, small Fuchsias, and small, nicely grown Myrtles. If you 
give us more precise information about the particular classes of 
plants, we will furnish you with the names of suitable kinds. 
Cypripedium barbatdm. — T. Varr: There is nothing structur¬ 
ally to separate the specimens you sent us from C. barbatum ; 
but the colours are clearer and better defined, owing to there 
being less brown in the flower. This has the effect of bringing 
out the white apex and the purple of the standard in a much 
clearer manner, and in this respect it may be considered a very 
good variety. This also applies to the petals and lip, which are 
rosy purple, the former being pale green at the base. The exact 
price of such a piece as you mention could hardly be determined, 
as that fluctuates so much with the state of the market so to 
speak, that is, the supply and demand. 
Gardeners in America. —Could any of your readers tell me 
what is the average wage paid to gardeners in America, and 
generally say what encouragement is there for a Scotch gardener 
to go out?— J. S. [See pp. 392, 523 of our last volume.— Ed.] 
Gardenias.— G. R. R.: We are unable to suggest the cause of 
your plants dying in such a puzzling way. Had they been 
subjected at any time to an excess of bottom heat, or had been 
allowed to get dry, the leaves would have turned yellow and 
dropped off, and the loss of the feeders would bring about the 
same result. In your case the leaves and shoots are killed in 
part only, as if they had been dressed with an over-strong 
mixture of some insecticide. Have you been using paraffin ? 
Grubs on Lilt of the Valley. — H. and B. : The grubs sent 
appear to be the young larvie of the cockchafer (Melolontha 
vulgaris). They live in the soil for three-and-a-lialf years, and 
when full grown are about 1J ins. in length; they feed on the 
roots of plants, doing them considerable harm. The perfect 
insect is a beetle, which feeds on the leaves of trees and is very 
harmful when present in large numbers. There are several 
remedies : Destroy all the grubs you come across in digging the 
soil; encourage starlings, who feed upon the beetles when they 
appear above ground, as well as devour the grubs when dug up 
during frosty weather. Nitrate of soda, sown at the rate of 2 
cwt. of the nitrate to 30 bushels of soot per acre, has the effect 
