October 12, 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
93 
Councillor E. Butler, Wednesbury, &c. The president 
spoke of the very great pleasure it gave him to be 
present on that occasion, and congratulated the 
members upon the great progress that had been made 
during the past year. Particularly gratifying was it to 
note from the annual report that a new bookcase had 
been purchased, and that many valuable books had 
been added to the library, which was freely used by the 
members, the average attendance for the year being 
ninety, which he considered most satisfactory. Alto¬ 
gether he felt that he had every reason to be proud of 
the little cutting which he assisted to put in during 
the time of his mayoralty, a little more than three 
years ago, seeing how quickly it had made roots, thrown 
out its branches, and thoroughly established itself 
among the educational institutions of the city. He 
was pleased to find that annual excursions had been 
inaugurated, knowing as he did that a visit to such 
establishments as the Messrs. Suttons’ and the beau¬ 
tiful gardens at Heckfield Place could not otherwise 
than prove to be instructive and enjoyable. 
The president then briefly introduced Mr. J. Wright, 
F.R.H.S., who read a paper on the social, intellectual, 
and professional status of gardeners. The whole 
paper was so pregnant with good advice to gardeners, 
old and young, and was delivered with such force and 
animation, that it would be most difficult to select any 
one passage that did not meet with general approbation, 
evidence of which was to be found in the frequent and 
unanimous applause of the members. Professor 
Hillhouse, in a congratulatory speech, moved a hearty 
vote of thanks to Mr. Wright for his paper. This tvas 
readily supported by the Rev. J. A. Williams, Mr. 
Latham, and Mr. Jones, and was unanimously endorsed 
by every member present. 
Mr. Wright having replied, and a goodly number of 
new members elected, the meeting was brought to a 
close. Special mention should be made of a magnificent 
collection of Tea Roses, exhibited by the Rev. J. A. 
Williams, which Mr. Wright said were by far the best 
he had seen in or out of London for the past six weeks* 
The society meets on Tuesday evenings at 7 30, and 
the programme as at present arranged is as follows : — 
October 15th.—“ Potatos, their introduction, varieties, 
crosses, &c., with particulars of older and new 
varieties,” Mr. J. P. Jones, Reading. October 29th.— 
Election of Apples most suitable for growing within 
seven miles of Birmingham; discussion to follow, 
introduced by Mr. J. R. Petch, Worcester. At this 
meeting the question of changing the night of meeting 
will be considered. November 12th.—“ Select Annuals 
for the Stove and Greenhouse,” Mr. J. Udale. 
November 26th.—“A Chat about Ferns,” Mr. W. B. 
Latham. December 10 th.—“The Big Gooseberry, 
varieties and cultivation,” Mr. J. Pope. December 
31st.—General annual meeting at 7 o’clock, for the 
election of committee and officers for 1890 ; nominations 
to take place on Tuesday, December 10 th. Subscriptions 
will be received in accordance with Rule 8 . 
-->$<*- 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
Royal Horticultural. — October 8 th. 
The most prominent features of the meeting on Tuesday 
last were the collections of Apples and Pears, and three 
groups of Conifers, the latter of which have never been 
brought up to the Drill Hall in such quantities before. 
The earlier varieties of Japanese Chrysanthemums are 
also getting more numerous. Orchids were shown in 
moderate quantity, but some beautiful, rare, or well- 
grown samples were present. A group of Orchids, 
Crotons, and Sarracenias was exhibited by Mr. B. S. 
Williams, Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, Upper 
Holloway. The Orchids consisted chiefly of Cypri- 
pediums, including C. cenanthum, C. oe. superbum, 
C. selligerum, C. vexillarium, and C. cardinale ; also 
Pachystoma Thomsoni and Cattleya Aigburthensis. 
Amongst the Sarracenias were S. Chelsoni, S. Drura- 
mondi, S. flambeau, and others. A Silver Banksian 
Medal was awarded for the exhibit. A similar award 
was also made to Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, 
for a fine group of Retinosporas, amongst which were 
R. pisifera, R. p. aurea, R. plumosa, R. p. flavescens, 
R. p. aurea, R. obtusa, R. o. aurea, R. filifera aurea, 
R. tetragona aurea, R. pisifera nana aurea varie- 
gata, R. leptoclada, R. lycopodioides, R. filicoides, 
and others. A Bronze Banksian Medal was awarded 
to Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, for a collec¬ 
tion of Junipers and Cupressus Lawsoniana with 
its varieties. Amongst the former were Juniperus 
virginiana glauca, J. v. stricta, J. v. compacta, J. 
chinensis aurea, J. japonica aurea, J. sabinoides and 
others. Cupressus Lawsoniana Fraserii glauca, C. L. 
erecta viridis, C. L filifera, and C. L. pulcherrima, 
with silvery grey foliage, were very distinct and orna¬ 
mental. A similar award was made to Messrs. W. 
Paul & Son, Waltham Cross, for a collection of Yews. 
Erect-habited trees are Taxus baccata elegantissima, T. 
b. Cheshuntensis, T. b. fastigiata folia aurea, T. b. 
pyramidalis, T. adpressa stricta, and several other 
seedlings. Other subjects of a kindred nature were 
Podocarpus japonica, P. macrophy 11a variegata and 
Cephalotaxus drupacea. Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons also 
showed Begonia Prometheus, a hybrid between a 
tuberous variety and B. Froebelii. They also exhibited 
cut trusses of hybrid greenhouse Rhododendrons, such 
as Aspasia, soft luteus-yellow ; Duchess of Connaught, 
crimson ; Dante, fiery orange ; Indian Yellow and Star 
of India. Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, exhi¬ 
bited a mixed collection of single and double tuberous 
Begonia blooms and Abutilon flowers, for which they re¬ 
ceived a vote of thanks. They also staged an assortment 
of Chrysanthemum blooms, including W. Holmes, 
crimson ; Doric, yellow ; Comte de Mun, rose-purple ; 
Theodore Bullier, red ; Etoile de Lyon, suffused purple 
on white ; Avalanche, pure white ; Stanstead Surprise, 
rose-purple, and several others, all Japanese varieties. 
Messrs. Davis & Jones, Camberwell, also exhibited a 
collection cut with their foliage. Amongst those we 
noticed were Mrs. Hawkins, yellow ; La Vierge, white ; 
Mons. W. Holmes, crimson ; Fiberta, a Pompon, 
yellow, and others, for which they received a vote of 
thanks. Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., Burford 
Lodge, Dorking, exhibited a group of Anthuriums, 
mostly hybrids, including A. Leodense ; A. Edwardii 
roseum, rose ; A. carneum, crimson-red ; A. Laingii, 
white ; and several unnamed seedlings with rose and 
pink spathes. 
Besides those Orchids already mentioned, Lrelia 
pnestansand L. p. alba were exhibited by Mr. W. Bull, 
King’s Road, Chelsea. E. G. Wrigley, Esq., Hawick 
House, Preston, exhibited fine specimens of Cattleya 
Dowiana aurea and C. Hardiana, Wrigley's var. A 
fine sample of Vanda coerulea was shown by Lord 
Rothschild (gardener, Mr. E. Hill), Tring Park. The 
spike had twelve fully expanded and seven unopened 
flowers of a rich bright blue, tessellated with white. 
A Cultural Commendation was awarded it. Lycaste 
plana Cumminsi was staged by A. H. Snree, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. G. W. Cummins), The Grange, Wai- 
lington. Flowering and fruiting sprays of Jambosa 
australis were shown by Mr. G. Wythes, gardener to 
the Duke of Northumberland, Syon House, Brentford. 
Mr. F. Ross, gardener to Sir George Macleay, Pendell 
Court, Bletchingley, exhibited the curious balloon- 
flowered Ceropegia Sandersoni. Some baskets of 
Lilliput China Asters and a group of Balsams were 
brought up from the Royal Horticultural Society’s 
Gardens at Chiswick. Messrs. Hawkins and Bennett, 
Twickenham, received a vote of thanks for a stand of 
the new yellow Chrysanthemum, Mrs. Hawkins. Mr. 
R. Dean, Ealing, showed some flowering specimens of 
Pyrethrum uliginosum, the tops of which had been 
layered and put in pots. 
At a meeting of the Fruit Committee Messrs. J. 
Veitch & Sons exhibited 220 dishes of Apples and 
eighty dishes of Pears. Amongst the Apples were fine 
samples of Red Hollandbury, Mabbot’s Pearmain, Cox’s 
Orange Pippin, Blenheim Orange, King of Pippins, 
Warner’s King, Lord Derby, Pitmaston Russet, Baxter’s 
Pearmain, Yorkshire Beauty, Large American, Dutch 
Codlin, Alexander, Alfriston, Annie Elizabeth, 
Bismarck, Brabant Bellefleur, Cox’s Pomona, Hoary 
Morning, Lord Suffield, Mrs. Barron, Peasgood’s 
Nonsuch, Lane’s Prince Albert, the handsome Lady 
Sudeley, Graham’s Jubilee, and others. The collection 
of Pears also included the best known varieties, and 
some not so frequently seen, such as the fine Beurre 
de l’Assomption. A Silver-gilt Bauksian Medal was 
awarded. A similar award was made to Mr. C. Davies, 
The Mote Park Gardens, Maidstone, for a smaller lot, 
but many of them were fine samples of cultivation. 
Pitmaston Duchess Pear weighed 20 ozs., and General 
Todtleben, Conseiller de la Cour, Beurre Clairgeau, 
Durondeau, and Beurre Bachelier were also of great 
size. Handsome and large-sized Apples were Alexander, 
Gloria Mundi, Warner’s King, Loddington Seedling, 
Alfriston, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Hoary Morning, Cox’s 
Pomona and Baumann’s Red Reinette. He also showed 
some Black Hamburgh and Muscat of Alexandria Grapes, 
Morello Cherries, Coe’s Golden Drop Plum, and 
Warner’s Grape Red Currants. A large Silver Medal 
was awarded to Messrs. -J. Cheal & Sons, Crawley, 
Sussex, for a collection of 110 dishes of Apples and 
57 dishes of Pears. Amongst the former were good 
specimens of Stirling Castle, New Hawthornden, 
Warner’s King, Yorkshire Beauty, Lord Suffield, Blen¬ 
heim Orange, Golden Spire, Forge, and others. Some 
of the last named were shown on the branches All the 
leading varieties of Pears were shown, with Doyenne 
Boussoch, Pitmaston Duchess, Easter Beurre, Alexander 
Lucas, Beurre Clairgeau, Duchesse d’Angouleme, 
Durandeau, Louise Bonne of Jersey, and Fondante 
d’Automne amongst others. A Bronze Banksian 
Medal was awarded to W. Roupell, Esq., Harvey 
Lodge, Roupell Park, for a fair-sized collection of 
Apples in beautifully clean condition. Amongst the 
finer samples of large Apples were Peasgood’s Non¬ 
such, The Queen, Annie Elizabeth, Loddington, 
Stirling Castle, Lord Derby, Cox’s Pomona, Lady 
Henniker, Golden Noble, Bismarck, Sandringham, and 
Newton Wonder. Finely - coloured varieties are 
Duchess Favourite, Crimson Queening, Kerry Pippin, 
Wealthy, and Dartmouth Crab. Amongst American 
Apples we noted King of Tomkins County, American 
Mother, Washington, and Mabbot’s Pearmain. He 
also showed Diamante Traube, a large white Sweet¬ 
water Grape grown under glass, and Black Frontignati 
grown out of doors. Messrs. W. Paul k Son showed 
fine samples of Mabbot’s Pearmain ; Mr. Geo. Gow, 
Reading, had John Harris Apple ; Messrs. W. & J. 
Brown, Stamford, showed South Lincoln Beauty, 
Duncomb’s Seedling and Toogood’s Seedling Apples. 
National Chrysanthemum. — October 9 th. 
At the Floral Committee meeting held on Wednesday, 
at the Royal Aquarium, Mr. Geo. Steveus, Putney, 
exhibited blooms of Chrysanthemum M. Jules Lefebvre, 
a Japanese variety, pale purple and white reverse, with 
the florets ragged at the apex ; also M. Le Comte 
Foucher de Careil, rose, and Le Camoens, pink and 
white, both Japanese varieties also. Mr. R Owen, 
Maidenhead, showed a single variety named Lovely, 
which was commended, and a Japanese Anemone 
named Jeanne Marty, which was awarded a First Class 
Certificate. The disc-florets are rose tipped with 
white, and the rosy ray-florets are somewhat twisted 
and drooping. Mr. Sullivan, gardener at Devonshire 
House, Roehampton, exhibited Mrs. Chapman, a large 
purple Japanese kind, and white on the reverse. The 
largest exhibit came from Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, 
Swanley, Kent, who showed a dozen blooms of Etoile 
de Lyon, a large Japanese sort, opening pale purple, 
and ultimately becoming nearly white. Other varieties 
were Theodore Bullier, deep red; Doric, yellow ; 
Thomas Stephenson, orange ; F. Marrouch, large 
yellow ; W. L. Scheffer, white ; Georges Daniel, 
blush; O. J. Quintas, pink, and which was com¬ 
mended ; Eugene Gait, deep orange ; Avalanche, large 
white ; Stanstead Surprise, purple and satiny reverse ; 
W. Holmes, crimson ; Meto, a large white variety, 
slightly stained with purple, and having the florets 
deeply ragged at the apex ; and Mons. C. Comte de 
Foucher de Careil, purple. All were .Japanese kinds, 
and they had a few Japanese Anemone kinds, 
together with some very fine double tuberous 
Begonia blooms. These were accorded a vote of thanks. 
Messrs. Hawkins & Bennett, Twickenham, Middlesex, 
had a stand of twelve fine blooms of the now noted 
yellow, Mrs. Hawkins, for which they received a vote 
of thanks. Mr. Henry Briscoe Ironside, Foot’s Cray, 
Kent, exhibited a variety of Chrysanthemum iu bloom, 
and about 2 ft. high, which he stated was grown from 
a simple leaf without any attachment to it whatever. 
He received a vote of thanks. 
-—>x<—- 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 
Carrots Splitting. — Christopher Leeson: It would appear 
that your Carrots are in a rich soil, and that the advent of heavy 
rains has been favourable to rapid growth, as in the case .if 
other root crop’. Before the rains, growth probably had almost 
stopped, and the effect of a sudden absorption of a large amount 
of moisture would encourage the splitting of which you complain. 
If the top of the root is much uncovered there would be an 
additional inducement, by an absence of the natural pressure to 
which they should otherwise be subjected. The best plan, 
probably, would be to lift and store them. 
Dahlias — Alpine Cottage: Sorry we cannot oblige you with 
the names, as florists’ flowers are beyond our power of identiti- 
cation, except by comparison, and there are none left for that. 
Double Richardia.— L. McGreal: Many thanks for the 
drawing of the double-spathed Richardia africana, but the 
occurrence is by no means rare. In fact we see a number of 
them growing every year and have specimens sent us. Several 
of them have been noted in The Gardening World at different 
times. They occur apparently by chance and may not appear at 
all on the same plant next year. If you could fix the sport so 
that the same plant may produce double spathes every year then 
you will have gained the thanks of all concerned. A drawing of 
a three-flowered spathe was sent us some time ago ; and this is 
of less common occurrence than the double one. 
