December 7, 1895. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
227 
as my memory serves me was either the last of old 
Mr. Pince’s catalogues, or the f:rst of his successor's 
—the late Dr. Woodman—and in it, at p. 6, you will 
observe, as stated in my former note, that B. 
Woodmanii is fully described, and quoted at ios. 6d. 
each, which indicates that this famous hybrid had 
probably been offered in a previous list, as at that 
time our novelties, when offered for the first time, 
were quoted at 21s. each at least. 
Anyhow, I started at the Exeter Nursery under 
Mr. Pope in the propagating department consisting 
of many houses in March, 1868, and can remember 
that Begonias, among others, were cultivated there at 
that time and grown well, too. During the last portion 
of my long connection with the Exeter Nursery I 
had the honour of representing the firm, calling 
regularly at most gardens in nine counties, besides 
annual visits to London and the great flower shows; 
so was in touch with many collections of Begonias 
in divers places, and their pedigrees, and do not 
remember a single instance where the B. boliviensis 
type was aimed for. By the way, as “ Lover of the 
Begonia ” assumes to know so many family secrets, 
perhaps he will condescend to tell me how much B. 
boliviensis has to do with the present race of 
tuberous-rooted Begonias of gardens. A parting 
shot and I have done. The late Mr. Pince was, in 
in his day, a veritable giant in horticulture, and a 
landscape gardener of rare ability. He died in 1871, 
after a long and useful life, and was buried in the 
family vault in Ide churchyard, beside his wife, who 
had gone over to the majority some years before. 
There is also a handsome brass plate inside the 
church to Mr. Pince's memory. This quaint old 
village is in the midst of most beautiful undulating 
pastoral scenery, under the shelter of the famous 
Haldon Hills, within easy walking distance of 
Exeter, and nowhere do the birds sing more sweetly. 
When Mr. Pince died the great Exeter Nursery with 
its enormous collection of exotic trees, shrubs 
and flowers, together with its village of con¬ 
servatories, dwelling houses, horticultural building, 
factory, cash invested in the public funds, goodwill, 
and many broad acres of freehold land in two 
parishes, were roughly estimated at £100,000. 
Cock-a-doodle-do! Mr. Lover of the Begonia.— 
IV, Napper, Chelsea. 
-- 
ARDDARROCH. 
The lovely residence of R. B. White, Esq., is 
situated some three miles from Garelochhead, in 
close proximity to Loch Long, amidst some of the 
finest and most romantic scenery in Scotland. The 
pleasure grounds come right down to the Loch side. 
Passing along a gravel walk that goes from end to 
end of the pleasure grounds, I obtained some splendid 
views of the surrounding country, which entirely 
baffles description. In the pleasure grounds at 
Arddarroch there are many subjects worthy of note ; 
now it may be a huge Araucaria towering to a height 
of 50 ft., and furnished with leaves from base to 
apex ; a little further on will be seen some grand 
beds of Azalea mollis, from 10 ft. to 15 ft. high, and 
set with tens of thousands of flower buds. During 
early spring these beds are a sight well worth seeing. 
Rhododendrons find a happy home here ; in no 
place have I seen them equalled except in the neigh¬ 
bourhood of Swansea. 
Having visited the pleasure grounds, I was con¬ 
ducted through the Orchid houses by Mr. White. 
The first house we entered was full of Cattleyas and 
Laelias, all in the pink of health, and mostly all in 
flower sheath or bud. In passing through I noted 
some grand specimens of the following:—Cattleya 
Skinneri alba, a very fine plant with numerous 
flower sheaths, and in robust health. Cattleya 
Mendelli (Mrs. Brooman White) is one of the finest 
Cattleyas in existence, the sepals and petals are pure 
white, the lip being dark crimson. A little further 
on, suspended from the roof, was Cattleya Mendelli 
(Duchess of Montrose), a superb variety also, but 
not equal to C. M. Mrs. Brooman White. Cattleya 
aurea does well at Arddarroch, I have.seldom seen a 
finer lot. Amongst the aureas I noticed a superb 
plant of Cattleya gigas hardyana. This plant was 
imported along with the aureas some two years ago. 
Many people are under the impression that Cattleyas 
cannot be so well grown in the north as in the south, 
but, were they to see Mr. White's Cattleyas, I am 
certain that they would change their minds. In this 
house also I noticed a wonderful lot of Cattleya 
mossiae, C. Mendelli, C. Schroderae, C. Trianaei, all 
in sheath, and a grand lot of Cattleya labiata in 
flower. Amongst the Cattleya labiata in flower I 
noticed a real gem, with pure white sepals and petals 
and crimson lip. 
We now pass into the intermediate house, where 
all the Vandas are growing. I was rather surprised 
to find Vanda Sanderiana quite at home in this 
house; it is usually seen in the stove. In this house 
also were some remarkable Cymbidiums, Sobralias, 
Laelia anceps, fine plants in spike; L. a. Williamsii, 
L. a. sanderiana, L. a. Schroderae, likewise in spike. 
Cattleya citrina was growing in pans suspended from 
the roof; a finer lot I have not seen in any part of 
the country. 
Moving onwards, we come to the Odontoglossum 
house. Here are many real gems; for health and 
vigour they cannot be beaten in any part of the 
kingdom. I made a few notes in passing through of 
some of the leading varieties—viz., Odontoglossum 
elegans, O. wilckeanum, O. wilckeanum album, O. 
arnoldianum, O. aspersum, etc. There are other 
three Odontoglossum houses at Arddarroch 
absolutely packed with plants. I would think at 
the very least there must be upwards of 20,000 
plants in the three houses, for the most part 
unflowered. A finer lot of Odontoglossums one 
could not wish to see. The Cypripedium and 
Dendrobium houses contain many gems of the latest 
introduction, all in a high state of perfection, truly a 
credit to both employer and employed.— J. McNab. 
-- 
NOTES FROM OAKWOOD. 
I do not send the usual account of our Lilies, as 
there is nothing remarkable to note about them. 
Lilium auratum was especially fine in rather damp 
soil in the wood, and poor in the drier soil of the 
hill, owing to the hot, dry weather. I think Eulalias 
are not enough grown ; a good clump is always a 
pretty object, and when the autumn frosts cut the 
flowers that are out, Eulalias still show well for a 
time ; besides the graceful leaves, the flowers make 
very pretty winter decoration. I bought some sent 
from Japan, not knowing what plant produced them 
till our Eulalia zebrina bloomed. This has flowered 
very well this season, and E. gracillima or E. 
univittata has had a few flowers with us for the first 
time. Eulalia japonica variegata has not flowered. 
I believe E. zebrina is the only one which can be 
relied on for flowers. 
The short frost cut up Liquidambar a little ; the 
leaves are beautiful but not quite up to the usual 
colour. Aponogeton distachyon is flowering well; we 
have many Primroses and Gentianellas in bloom. Iris 
Vartani has been beautiful. Gaultheria procumbens 
clothing the side of ditches, and on banks in full sun 
is always pretty, the red fruit taking the place of 
flowers. The North American Cranberry (Oxycoccus 
macrocarpus) at the sides of a pend makes a pretty 
contrast and has fruited very freely. The fruit is 
excellent stewed, and in tarts I think better, from being 
fresher than the imported fruits of the American 
Cranberry. — George F. Wilson, Heatherbank, Weybridge 
Heath. 
GRAPES NOT DISTINCT. 
I have read a deal on this subject at different 
periods, and of late many Grape growers are 
exercising their minds as to the identity or distinct¬ 
ness of Cooper's Black with Gros Moroc. My 
opinion is there are two sorts, but I am afraid that 
many have only the one, under two names While 
adjudicating lately at the fine show (Ulster), held in 
Belfast, there was an exhibit of Cooper's Black, 
from Lord Downshire’s gardens, at Hillsborough 
Castle, exhibited by Mr. Bradshaw’s gardener. I 
carefully examined the variety on all its points, 
namely, the very round berries, such as distinguish 
the variety from Gros Moroc, and, its worthless 
character, except its beautiful appearance. The 
examples referred to were perfect with bloom, and I 
believe, as others have done, that the “ two varieties 
are not alike, as they are spoken of,” but have 
thought the same varieties should not be placed in 
the same exhibit. We know some friends who affirm 
that they are the same ; but, I fear the matter may 
be explained, as an old friend of ours did (in a 
provincial town in East Anglia), with Daniel 
O'Rourke and Sangster’s No. 1 Peas. He sold them 
out of the same bag; and we know some nursery 
friends who are led to believe that certain fruits 
are the same. Bowood Muscat Grape, where it can 
be found true, I believe to be distinct from Muscat 
of Alexandria. I saw the first examples of it many 
years ago at Bowood, while a youngster in Wiltshire, 
and saw the first 2,000 vines propagated for the late 
Mr. Spencer, (who sent it out) and many years after¬ 
wards grew it in a vinery with Muscat of Alexandria, 
showing its features in very distinct form ; but it 
has so often been mixed wiih Muscat of Alexandria, 
that it is difficult to find it true. The same may 
be said of Trebbiano Grape and Rasin de Calabar. 
Though distinct, we have seen them frequently 
exhibited under each other's names, I know five 
varieties of Black Hamburgh, distinct in a variety 
of ways, but, would suggest that none of these 
should be exhibited in the same classes as distinct 
varieties of each.— M. Temple, Stirlingshire. 
-«*■- 
NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM 
SOCIETY. 
Annual Dinner and Presentation of Pfizes. 
On Wednesday evening of last week, after we had 
gone to press, the annual dinner of this popular 
floricultural society, took place in the large hall at 
Anderton’s Hotel, Fleet Street, under the presidency 
of Sir Edwin Saunders, who was supported by Dr. 
Grigg, Dr. Althans, W. Forsyth, Esq., E. W. 
Sowerby, Esq., secretary of the Royal Botanic 
Society, R. Ballantine, Esq., the officers of the 
society, and members and friends to the number of 
125. The dinner tables were exquisitely decorated 
for the occasion, while the grouping of flowers and 
foliage around the prize trophies on view behind the 
presidential chair was of the most pleasing 
character. 
The usual loyal toasts having been duly honoured, 
the president gave “ Continued success to the 
National Chrysanthemum Society.” He then went 
on to speak of the uses of flowers in the growth and 
development of the fine arts, poetry, painting, 
architecture and music, and spoke at some leDgth 
about China, from whence the Chrysanthemum was 
introduced. “Now, gentlemen,” he concluded, 
“ before I ask you to do honour to the toast of the 
evening, allow me to remind you that next year is 
the jubilee of our society, and that it is very properly 
proposed to celebrate that event in a manner com¬ 
mensurate with its interest and importance. And 
when we look back on its achievements in the past, 
and the succession of brilliant shows of the last fifty 
years, culminating by an ever-increasing crescendo 
in the unrivalled exhibition of the present year, we 
may not doubt that the same enthusiasm, tne same 
emulation, the same earnest endeavour will render 
such celebration worthy of the occasion. Past 
successes are a guarantee that in the same capable 
hands and with the same singleness of purpose, your 
secretary and the executive committee may be safely 
trusted to bring to a successful issue the contem¬ 
plated arrangements for the due celebration of the 
jubilee of the National Chrysanthemum Society. 
And I feel sure that everyone here present will use 
his best endeavour to ensure success in the coming 
great celebration. Gentlemen, I ask you to drink to 
the prosperity of the National Chrysanthemum 
Society.” The response to this toast was unanimous. 
Mr. T. W. Sanders, vice-chairman of the 
committee, gave “ The Affiliated Societies,” which he 
considered the bulwarks of the parent society, 
inasmuch as they were the means of keeping the 
work of the society before the Chrysanthemum- 
loving public, both at home and abroad. There were 
now 112 societies on the roll, others seeking early 
election, and he hoped that continued prosperity 
would attend the efforts of them all in the special 
work they had in hand. The toast was acknowledged 
by Mr. Weeks, secretary of the Bromley Chrysan¬ 
themum Society. The winners of the principal 
prizes at the late show then received their respective 
trophies from the hands of the president, each 
receiving a round of applause from the assembled 
company. Mr. Henry Cannell and Mr. H. J. Jones 
met with specially enthusiastic receptions, but the 
lion of the evening was undoubtedly Mr. W. H. 
Lees, who won both the Holmes Memorial Cup and 
also secured the Challenge Shield for the Southgate 
Chrysanthemum Society. His later triumph at 
Edinburgh was also remembered, and round after 
round of cheers greeted his appearance before the 
president. 
