May 28, 1896. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
607 
Pea Sutton's Early Giant. 
very distinct, and the massive white flowers with a 
scarlet throat are very handsome. Very pretty is 
the epithet which we should apply to Princess of 
Wales which is white with red spots at the base of 
the segments, and sometimes a light purple band 
forming an arch over the segments. The Gloxinias 
were arranged in a double row interspersed with 
white Maidenhair Fern and various flowering plants. 
The numerous plants of Lilium Harrisii in the 
central line were both attractive and deliciously 
scented. Numerous plants of Azalea mollis came in 
just behind the rows of Peas. The hybrid forms of 
Streptocarpus raised from the S. Rexii section, 
crossed with S. Wendlandi, were exceedingly attrac¬ 
tive and distinct from the ordinary types, The scapes 
were g in to 12 in, high and bore very numerous 
flowers. On either side of the centre were finebanks 
of the varieties of Begonia semperflorens, including 
Crimson Gem, Princess Maude, rose, and Princess 
Louise, rosy-pink, and all in a very floriferous con¬ 
dition. Here also were bunches of Ixias, Gladioli, 
Ranunculus asiaticus in variety, Parrot Tulips, 
double Narcissus poeticus, and bunches of the Eng¬ 
lish Florist's Tulips. 
A great bank of Sutton’s Spring Bedding Stock 
in scarlet blue, terra-cotta, white, yellow, purple, 
and rose, presented a massive and attractive 
appearance ; the flowers were deliciously scented 
Plants of Sutton’s Superb Double, Double Pink, and 
Double White Fringed Petunias, were also arranged 
in groups intermixed with Ferns and Palms. Some 
bunches of English Irises served to enliven certain 
places. Some pans of Lily of the Valley flowers 
were sweetly scented and very attractive. 
Amongst foliage plants we noted Eulalia japonica 
variegata, the bright leaved Eurya latifolia variegata 
in small specimens. Coleus Sutton’s Eastern Queen 
was remarkable for the great size of the leaves and the 
strange combination of crimson, maroon, carmine, 
greeD, yellow, and other colours, arranged in a very 
complicated way. It is a seedling, and therefore 
quite new. 
-•*»- 
Walnut shells have formed the material wherewith 
an American workman has made a complete suite of 
furniture, including a centre table, a rocker, arm¬ 
chair, four straight-backed chairs and a sofa. 
West Indian Bananas.—From 15,000,000 to 
14,000,000 bunches of Bananas, representing a value 
of considerably over 820,000,000 annually reach the 
United States from the West Indies. 
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ROYAL 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Our reports of the fortnightly and monthly meetings, 
as well as the lectures and conferences held by the 
Royal Horticultural Society, have made our readers 
familiar with the transactions and proceedings of 
this body, particularly since the greatly increased 
interest in its welfare took place. Its past history, 
its strange vicissitudes, and the services which it 
has rendered both to the practical and scientific side 
of horticulture, are facts to which we have referred 
only in a brief and intermittent way. Space forbids 
us from dealing with these matters so fully as we 
should desire ; but we hope the remarks we offer 
concerning the oldest horticultural society in this 
country and almost the oldest in Europe may prove 
interesting to some. 
Origin of the Society. 
Societies for the improvement of domestic animals 
and of agriculture in all its branches had been suc¬ 
cessfully established in various parts of Britain 
about the beginning of the present century, but 
horticulture had no such advocate. The idea of 
establishing a horticultural society originated with 
John Wedgwood, Esq.,of Betley.in Staffordshire (some 
accounts say Etruria, near Newcastle-under-Lyne, in 
the same county), and his suggestions he communi¬ 
cated to Mr. William Forsyth. The outcome of 
this was the holding of a meeting on the 7th March, 
1804, at the house of Mr. Hatchard, the bookseller in 
Piccadilly. Mr. Wedgwood presided over this 
meeting, which was attended by the Right Hon. 
Charles Greville, the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, 
Bart., William Townsend Aiton, Esq., of Kew, 
Richard Anthony Salisbury, Esq., Mr. Wm. Forsyth, 
and Mr. James Dickson. Some resolutions were 
framed and passed at this meeting for the regulation 
of the infant society; and another meeting was held 
at the same place a week later, when John Hawkins, 
Esq., was added to the list of original members. 
The society continued to increase from 1804 till 
1809, when the directors felt the growing necessity 
for having it incorporated by Royal Charter. This 
was accomplished on the 17th April, 1809, when the 
Charter was granted by His Majesty King George 
III. The Royal Horticultural Society of London 
was the name registered in the Charter. George, Earl 
of Dartmouth was the first president; the Right Hon. 
Charles Greville, the first treasurer; and Richard 
Anthony Salisbury, Esq. the first secretary. 
Transactions of the Horticultural Society. 
On April 2nd, 1805, Thomas Andrew Knight, Esq , 
F.R.S., read the first paper before the young society, 
The subject of it was the "Objects which the 
Horticultural Society have in view." He was 
followed by other eminent men such as Sir Joseph 
Banks, Bart., Richard Anthony Salisbury, Esq., 
F.R.S., and various others. The society first 
began publishing its " Transactions” in 1810, and 
completed its first volume in 1812. The third edition 
of the first volume was published nine years later, 
namelyin 1821. These " Transactions ” ran into ten 
large quarto volumes, and contained valuable in¬ 
formation on a great variety of subjects; and though 
some of the information given is now considered 
behind date, it doubtlessly formed the superstructure 
upon which much of our present day practice has 
been built up. On the contrary much of the 
information contained within the ten volumes is as 
valuable to day as ever, and useful for reference for 
all time coming. Horticulture was dealt with both 
from a gardener’s and botanist’s point of view, and 
the discoveries in the physiology of plant life made 
by Mr. Thomas Andrew Knight and brought before 
the society, have a scientific value even at the present 
day. The cost of these " Transactions ” exceeded 
£30,000. 
Trial grounds have always proved of great value 
to any horticultural society, and in this case two 
small experimental gardens were established in 1818. 
New species and varieties of flowers, fruits, veg¬ 
etables, trees, and shrubs, either of use or ornament, 
were fairly tested in these gardens to ascertain their 
practical value both for the mother country and the 
colonies. By this time the society was beginning to 
feel its growing posver for usefulness, and in 1822 the 
well-known gardens at Chiswick were acquired on 
lease from the Duke of Devonshire, who afterwards 
became president of the society and an ardent 
supporter of horticulture. Several plants still in 
cultivation, and highly appreciated, commemorate 
the name of this patron. 
The Society's Collectors. 
Ihe name of the society is indelibly associated 
with the introduction of a large number of plants of 
a very varied nature, and which were brought from 
all parts of the world by its collectors. This most 
important and excellent work was commenced in 
1818. Mr. John Reeves travelled in China, where 
he collected and sent home a vast number of valuable 
plants. This he did at a time when China was but 
little known to English travellers. The original 
plant of Wistaria sinensis sent home by Mr. Reeves 
was long an object of great interest in the gardens at 
Chiswick, and attained a great size. Azaleas, 
Chrysanthemums, Paeonies, Camellias, Roses, and 
other subjects, were sent home by gentlemen in the 
service of the East India Company. Mr. Reeves 
was succeeded by Mr. Potts and Mr. Damper Parks, 
in the East Indies and China. Mr. Don collected 
plants on the West Coast of Africa, South America, 
and the West Indies. Mr. Forbes went to South 
Africa and afterwards up the Zambesi. All the fore¬ 
going four collectors were sent out by the society. 
Mr. Douglas was likewise sent out in 1823, and sent 
home a large number of fruit trees for trial. In the 
following year he travelled in Oregon and British 
Columbia, both of which had hitherto been practi¬ 
cally unexplored by the botanist. He sent home a 
vast number of annual and perennial plants ; but his 
name will for ever be associated with the Conifers 
which he discovered and sent home to adorn the 
parks and gardens throughout Britain. The Douglas 
Fir (Pseudotsuga Douglasii) commemorates his name 
most effectually. Pinus insignis, P. lambertiana, P. 
sabiniana, P. monticola, Abies nobilis, A. grandis, 
A. amabilis, Picea Menziesii, and many other Conifers 
are living monuments to his memory. The Arbore¬ 
tum planted at Chiswick was of great importance in 
its day. 
Trials of various kinds were conducted in the 
gardens for the purpose of sifting out the wheat from 
the chaff of garden plants in those days. When our 
gardens were adorned with European and allied Roses 
only, the period of flowering was limited to a few 
weeks. Beautiful as these Roses are they are now 
greatly neglected, and the great bulk of attention 
is given to the Teas and hybrid perpetuals resulting 
from the importations made by the society from 
China, and by the hybridising of the old sorts with 
them. About 1823 the collection of Roses at 
Chiswick amounted to 1,200 varieties. This will 
serve to give some idea of the importance of the 
work carried on by the society in those days. The 
"Journal’’ was commenced about this time and 
continued regularly till 1865. 
The origin of the garden Pentstemons, that is, of 
the improved varieties, is P. Hartwegi, which com¬ 
memorates the name of the collector Mr. Hartweg, 
who was sent out by the society in 1837. This 
traveller sent home a great variety of plants from 
California, Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, and other 
parts of America, both North and South, Bar¬ 
berries, Pines, Lupins, Achimenes, and Orchids, were 
among the more important of his introductions. 
Strange as it may now seem, the society was instru¬ 
mental in importing a large number of Orchids 
which were but little known in those days. 
The importations effected by Mr. Robert Fortune 
come more within the memory of living gardeners, 
perhaps, than any of those above mentioned. He 
was sent by the society to China in 1842. Through 
his instrumentality seeds of various fruits, flowers, 
and vegetables were distributed amongst the natives 
of Northern China. Chrysantffemum growers must 
ever be grateful to him for the introduction of the 
Chusan Daisy, the origin of all the pompon Chry¬ 
santhemums now in cultivation, and later on for the 
varieties which have since given rise to the Chinese 
(incurved) and Japanese races which constitute the 
glory of the autumn months on both sides of the 
Atlantic, and elsewhere. Anemone japonica, Primula 
japonic3, Deutzia gracilis, Dicentra spectabilis, 
Diervilla rosea, Astilbe japonica, and many other of 
the commonest garden plants attest Mr. Fortune's 
activity. The numerous Tree Paeonies he intro¬ 
duced were the wonders of those days and one of the 
glories of the spring garden at present. 
While thus engaged by the society, Mr. Fortune 
kept his eyes open to possibilities with the Tea 
plant, upon the cultivation of which he drew up a 
report. When his services with the society 
terminated he was engaged by the East India 
Company to make experiments with the Tea plant 
