May 28, 1896 
609 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY’S OFFICERS. 
In connection with the short history of the Royal 
Horticultural Society we have much pleasure in 
giving a photograph of each of its officers, for which 
see the supplement to this week’s issue. 
Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., was elected president 
in 1885 on the retirement of Lord Aberdare. He 
has all along been a staunch supporter of the society 
and has seen it pass through its darkest days, and 
witnessed with excusable pride its returning 
prosperity, which was fully established in 1890 as 
indicated on another column. Ever sincehis election 
his face has been familiar to those who frequent the 
meetings of the society on ordinary and special 
occasions, as well as when the numerous conference 
and great shows were benefited by his presence and 
assistance. He is also widely known in various parts 
of the world as a great Orchid grower; and is a 
frequent exhibitor. Whether his exhibits are large 
or small they always bear inspection and prove 
interesting to the specialist and connoisseur as well 
as the general public. He is also one of the vice- 
chairmen of the Orchid Committee, which was estab¬ 
lished March 26th, 1889. 
Philip Crowley, Esq., F.L.S., succeeded Dr. Morris 
of Kew, as treasurer in 1891. He does his duties 
as conscientiously as if he were paid for his services. 
He is also chairman of the Fruit and Vegetable 
Committee, the sittings of which he attends very 
regularly and always takes a great interest in the 
work. This committee was first established on May 
7th, 1858. Not the least important of the society’s com¬ 
mittees, is this, though the heaviest work in 
connection with it falls at certain periods of the 
year. 
The Rev. W. Wilks took a keen interest in the 
affairs of the society for several years before he was 
officially connected with it. He was elected hon. 
secretary in 1888 when the society left South 
Kensington, and was appointed paid secretary in 
1892. For years past he has been editor of the 
society’s "Journal,” assisted by Mr. John Weathers. 
As an amateur he has been an exhibitor at the 
society's meetings and conferences. Like the presi¬ 
dent he has seen the society pass from adversity to 
prosperity, and was largely instrumental in piloting 
the society through the darkest days and the severest 
trials, probably, which it has ever encountered ; 
though being turned adrift from South Kensington 
has proved a blessing in disguise to the society under 
the directions of its ablest advisers. For many 
years the Rev. W. Wilks was a familiar figure at 
almost every meeting of the society, but latterly he 
has been confined at home through very serious 
illness. We are pleased to see that he has so far 
recovered as to be able to attend the meetings and 
shows again. 
Mr. John Weathers, the assistant secretary, has 
been in office for over six years. He is the first 
assistant secretary of the Royal Horticultural 
Society who has actually been trained as a practical 
gardener. He looks after the ctmmercial and busi¬ 
ness interests of the society and is always in 
attendance at the Lindley Library, in the arrange 
ment of which he has had an important share. 
Before his engagement with the society he was with 
Messrs. Lee & Son, Messrs. F. Sander & Co., and in 
more than one capacity in the Royal Gardens, Kew. 
Mr. S. T. Wright was appointed garden superin¬ 
tendent at the commencement of the present year, 
on the retirement of Mr. A. F. Barron. Previously 
to this appointment he had been for several years 
gardener to C. Lee-Campbell, Esq., at Glewston 
Court, Ross, Hereford, during which time he was a 
frequent exhibitor at fruit shows, where we have 
chronicled his successes. He was the winner of one 
of the " Prize Essays on the Commercial Aspect of 
Hardy Fruit Growing,” which was published in vol. 
xix, part 2, of the’society’s "Journal.” Though 
not yet a member of any of the committees he is in 
attendance at all the meetings and shows. 
Mr. T. Humphreys has been assistant superinten¬ 
dent at Chiswick for about three years. He formerly 
had an appointment with Messrs. Dickson’s, of 
Chester, before joining the staff of the Royal 
Gardens, Kew. He was in that establishment for 
five years and had a good training in all that pertains 
to the propagation of hardy trees, including Conifers, 
shrubs, and as a special class, Roses. Three of the 
officers, it has been our pleasant duty to mention, have 
therefore been trained as practical gardeners, and 
cannot but serve to strengthen the society's hands in 
the making of the trials of fruits, flowers, and vege¬ 
tables, and in recording the same. 
-- 
MESSRS. VEITCH’S CALADIUMS. 
The value of Caladiums for decorative purposes is 
being more and more recognised from year to year ; 
and their noble and telling aspect for exhibition 
purposes has long been patent both to exhibitors, 
flower show committees and the general public, 
For some years past Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, 
Chelsea, have been getting together the best of the 
old varieties as well as the new that are constantly 
being added to the extensive list in cultivation. 
The larger and more massive plants of the 
well-recognised exhibition varieties were arranged 
along the back of the group. A line of tall 
plants of Cocos plumosus formed a green and 
graceful background to the bright colours of the 
Caladiums which were sloped from the back to the 
edging of Maidenhair Fern at the ground line. 
The large deep red leaves of Madame E. Pynaert 
with their black petioles are very imposing when they 
have attained their full development. Cardinale, 
with uniformly metallic-red foliage is very dwarf, 
but well adapted for exhibition purposes on account 
of the great size of the individual leaves. Those of 
George Berger may well be compared to a sunshade on 
account of their size ; they are red, with large ebony¬ 
like leaf-stalks. La Lorraine is a dwarf variety with 
bright red leaves margined with green, and is well 
adapted for general decorative work. Distinct and 
handsome is Tennyson with green leaves and a rich 
carmine centre. Beautiful and pleasing are the soft 
pink leaves of Reine de Danemark, interwoven with 
carmine ribs netted with green, and margined with 
the same. The bronzy metallic-red of Baron 
Adolphe de Rothschild is now getting well known ; 
the ebony-leaf stalks are often lined with red. The 
value of Gaspard Crayer for exhibition purposes is 
also well recognised by a large number of exhibitors. 
The leaf-stalks are long, so that plants can be grown 
to great size. The leaves are carmine-red, passing 
to a green shade towards the margin. Very hand¬ 
some are the soft red leaves of John Laing with a 
broad, white margin, ultimately developing into a 
yellowish-green shade. 
Amongst recent acquisitions Leonard Bause is very 
choice, for the creamy-white leaves ultimately become 
finely netted with green as if threaded with green 
