764 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
July 27, 1895. 
of various sizes are cut. The two round ones in the 
centre are planted with tuberous Begonias, a little 
group of Cannas occupying the middle and admir¬ 
ably serving to break the flatness. In the beds 
surrounding these are accommodated such Pelar¬ 
goniums as Crystal Palace Gem, Henry Jacoby, 
Flower of Spring, and Golden Harry Hiover. A 
very neat rockery at one end has lately been erected, 
and once the plants in it get well established it 
should prove an exceedingly pretty feature, and one 
which cannot fail to add considerably to the 
attractiveness of a charming front entrance. 
LI LI U M PARDALINUM. 
The leopard-spotted Lily, as it is familiarly called, 
is at once one of the handsomest and the most exten¬ 
sively cultivated members of the genus. The flowers 
vary considerably in colour, according to the 
position in which they are grown, but are usually of 
a bright orange-red hue, with a lighter orange 
centre, and a profusion of large, dark purple spots 
or blotches, from the curious appearance of which 
the specific name of pardaUnum has been applied. 
These markings, however, vary considerably in 
number and size. The segments, moreover, are 
considerably reflexed. The leaves are produced in 
three or four whorls along the stem of from nine to 
fifteen leaves each, their size depending in a great 
measure upon the strength and vigour of the bulb. 
Some fine plants of it bearing rather large, finely- 
coloured and marked flowers have been very con¬ 
spicuous lately in one of the small shrubberies close 
to the Broad Walk in Kew Gardens. L. pardalinum 
was brought in the first place from California. 
LILIUM PARRYI. 
A very distinct and pretty Lily is this, and one that 
is not nearly so often seen as it deserves to be. In 
height it usually runs from 3 ft. to 4 ft., although 
occasionally it gets somewhat taller. The flowers 
are of a lovely yellow hue, spotted more or less pro¬ 
fusely with dark chocolate-red. A delicious fragrance 
is also another important characteristic, although 
persons with very delicate olfactory nerves the per¬ 
fume may be rather too powerful. Messrs. Wallace 
& Co., of Colchester, exhibited it in fine style 
amongst other Liliums at the last meeting of the 
Royal Horticultural Society. L. Parryi is a native 
of California, having been brought thence as 
recently as the year 1879. 
-- 
FRUIT WITHOUT SEEDS. 
" Appendicitis may not be so fashionable a disease a 
few years hence as it is now,” said Assistant 
Pomologist Taylor. “ Gardeners are trying their 
best to get rid of seeds in fruits. Already we have 
an Orange which is nearly always seedless. Some 
varieties of Apples have been produced that have 
almost no seeds. They are abnormalities. Some¬ 
times they are called ' bloomless,’ because the 
blossoms have no petals, and in some cases lack 
stamens. The core is very small, and commonly 
there is a hollow at the end opposite the stem. 
These seedless Apples are generally poor in flavour, 
being grown merely as curiosities. Raisin producers 
in California are trying to obtain seedless Grapes for 
raisins. The object in view is to get size and seed¬ 
lessness in the same fruit. 
'* You are familiar with the seedless Grapes in 
Corinth, which are commonly known as ‘ currants. ’ 
The Sultana raisins of south-eastern Europe are 
likewise seedless Grapes. Both of these varieties 
are now cultivated in California, but they are small. 
A prominent grower in Fresno County is working in 
this direction with the Muscat of Alexandria, which 
is a leading raisin Grape in California. He selects 
cuttings from these Vines which produce less than 
the normal number of seeds. Continuing this pro¬ 
cess from year to year, he hopes to reduce the Grapes 
to absolute seedlessness eventually. It is believed 
that the seedlessness of the Corinth and Sultana 
Grapes was obtained by simple means. 
“ The Banana is seedless, and has been so for 
centuries, though nobody knows why. It is pro 
pagated by suckers, and possibly it had no seeds 
when it was first found in the wild state. The 
Banana is a modified berry. Cutting the fruit down 
through the middle, you will sometimes see a few 
little brown spots, which are rudimentary seeds. 
Occasionally the Banana does actually produce 
seeds. The Pineapple is nearly seedless, being pro¬ 
pagated likewise from suckers and from slips. The 
Egg-plant, which is a fruit, botanically speaking, is 
occasionally seedless. This plant is able to produce 
developed fruit, whether the blossoms are fertilised 
or not. 
Horticulturists are endeavouring at the same time 
to rid fruit plants of thorns. Some Oranges and 
Lemons are very thorny—for example, the high- 
priced King Orange, which is the best cf the 
Mandarins. It is rarely seen in this market. The 
first trees were brought to the United States from 
Cochin China. In Florida its thorniness has been 
diminished by selecting buds from branches with the 
fewest thorns. Thorns are objectionable, because 
they puncture the Oranges and Lemons when the 
branches are blown about by the wind. Efforts are 
being made to get rid of the thorns on Raspberry 
and Blackberry plants, simply for convenience in 
picking the fruit. The thorns are intended by 
nature to protect the plants from animals. Culti¬ 
vators select those plants which by chance happen 
to be thornless, or comparatively so .”—The 
Washington Star. 
-- 
SOCIETIES. 
West of Scotland Rosarians’, July nth .—The twenty- 
first annual Rose show, under the auspices of this 
Society, was held in the Victoria Hall, Helensburgh. 
The entries were the highest on record, and the 
quality of the exhibits in all the sections was 
exceptionally good. Mr. Hugh Dickson, Royal 
Nurseries, Belfast, carried off the Society's Gold 
Medal for sixty blooms of Roses with a very fine 
collection, including choice specimens of Bruce, 
Findlay, Captain Hayward, Charles Gater, Mrs. 
Paul, and the new Roses Mrs. R. G. Sharman- 
Crawford and Mrs. Harkness. This firm also got 
the prizes for both the best single hybrid and Tea or 
Noisette blooms in the hall. The exhibit of the 
other Irish competitors, Messrs. Alex. Dickson & 
Sons, Royal Nurseries, Newtownards, comprised 
some notable new seedlings, amongst them being 
Mavourneen, a bloom of delicate, silvery flesh white, 
shaded rose at base of petals; Countess of Caledon, 
deep pink ; Muriel Graham, ivory white ; Mrs. R. G. 
Sharman-Crawford, pink; and G. H. M., deep red. 
Fine exhibits were shown by Messrs. James Cocker 
& Sons, Rose growers, Aberdeen; D. & W. Croll, 
Dundee; Thomas Smith & Sons, Stranraer; and 
Mr. Alex Lister, Rothesay. Messrs. J. & R. Thyne, 
Glasgow, had a very fine stand of beehives and 
appliances. Amongst local exhibits an outstanding 
one was that from the Mossend Nurseries, Helens¬ 
burgh. It consisted of posy bouquets of Corn Blue 
Bottle, Sweet Peas, flower baskets, &c., the general 
display being exquisite, and reflecting the greatest 
credit on the Misses Robertson. The judges 
specially commended this exhibit. Another note¬ 
worthy display was that of Mr. James Bryson, 
Parkend Nursery. In the unavoidable absence of 
Sir James Colquhoun, Provost White conducted the 
opening ceremony at one o’clock in presence of a 
large gathering. The band and bell-ringers of the 
C.T.S. Empress, under Mr. H. H. Smith, carried 
through a fine programme of music. The judges, 
officials, and friends dined together in the Queen’s 
Hotel during the afternoon. The arrangements for 
the show were very complete, and reflected credit on 
the energetic secretary, Mr. Spalding. 
Royal Horticultural, July 2yd .—The meeting on 
Tuesday last was rather quiet, but the exhibits were 
fairly numerous and extensive considering the period 
of the year. Carnations, Lilies, Gloxinias, Sweet 
Peas, Achimenes and other subjects were amongst 
the leading features of the meeting. Orchids held 
their own, though not so numerous as previously. 
Hardy fruit, but particularly Gooseberries, were 
plentiful and good. A rich and varied group of 
Orchids was exhibited by Messrs. F. Sander & Co., 
St. Albans. Noteworthy were Sobralia xantholeuca, 
Cypripedium Kimballianum. Dendrobium specic- 
sissimum, Gramatophyllum Measuresianum, several 
fine Miltonias, Stanhopeas and Dendrobium Phalae- 
nopsis Schroderianum. The great variety of colours 
made an attractive group, and dotted through the 
larger flowered kinds were smaller but interesting 
subjects. On the opposite side of the table was a 
group of Orchids staged by Messrs. Hugh Low & 
Co., Clapton. The specimens of Cattleya Leopoldii 
were numerous and in several instances unusually rich 
in colour. Notable also were Cattleya Rex, C. 
granulata, C. Eldorado, Laelia elegans, L. e. 
ampliata, Oncidium Lanceanum and Dendrobium 
speciosissimum, a finer variety being staged than has 
hitherto been brought before the public. Some fine 
Cannas, to wit, Souvenir de President Carnot with 
large scarlet flowers, served to enhance the appear¬ 
ance of the group. Two huge flowers of an un¬ 
usually dark crimson-sepaled variety of Stanhopea 
tigrina were shown by Mr. Geo. Stevens, St. John's 
Nursery, Putney. A fine group of Disa grandiflora, 
showing a great amount of variation in colour, was 
shown by Messrs. T. Cripps & Son, The Nurseries, 
Tunbridge Wells. The upper and hooded sepal was 
the most varied in colour of the several segments of 
the flower. The plants had been well grown. 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, exhibited Cypri¬ 
pedium Carnusianum, Dendrobium glomeratum in 
fine condition, also D. porphyrogastrum, Miltonia 
vexillaria superba, a richly coloured variety, and a 
new hybrid Phalaenopsis named P. Ludde-violacea, 
which really explains its parentage. The hybrid is 
an acquisition to the group to which it belongs. A 
plant of Cattleya Rex was shown by J. Gabriel, 
Esq. (gardener, Mr. E. Ranson), Palace Road, 
Streatham Hill. Habenaria rhodocheila with a 
cinnabar lip and Epidendrum alatum were exhibited 
by Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart, (grower, Mr. White), 
Burford Lodge, Dorking. Maxillaria ochroleuca 
and Bulbophyllum Sanderianum were staged by 
R. I. Measures, Esq. (gardener, Mr. H. Chapman), 
Cambridge Lodge, Camberwell. Miltonia vexillaria 
superba and M. v. rubella in grand condition and 
size were shown by Fred Hardy, Esq. (gardener, 
Mr. T. Stafford), Ashton-on-Mersey. Fine flowers 
of Cattleya Warscewiczii were shown by W. C. 
Parkes, Esq , Lower Tooting. J. Foster Alcock, 
Esq., Exhins, Northchurch, Herts, staged Laelio- 
Cattleya Schilleriana. Walter C. Walker, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. Geo. Cragg), Percy Lodge, Winch- 
more Hill, exhibited Cypripedium Godefroyae and 
Brassavola Digbyana. 
Messrs. R. Wallace & Co., Colchester, con¬ 
tributed a bright little group of cut Liliums and 
Calochorti in considerable variety, amongst which 
L. chalcedonicum, L. japonicum odorum, L. 
auratum, and L longiflorum giganteum were in 
especially fine form. Very pretty also were 
Calochortus luteus, C. 1 . concolor, C. Plummerae, 
C. venustus purpurascens, and C. Weedii (Silver 
Banksian Medal). A group of exceedingly well- 
grown Achimenes, tastefully staged with Adiantums 
and Selaginellas, was sent by Mr. Geo Cragg, 
gardener to W. C. Walker, Esq., Percy Lodge, 
Winchmore Hill, N. The varieties known as 
Margaretta, fine white, Grandiflora, rich purple, 
longifloraalba and 1 . major were really good (Bronze 
Banksian Medal). Messrs. James Veitch & Son 
made a very meritorious exhibit of hybrid Rhodo¬ 
dendrons of the Javanico-jasminiflorum section, 
amongst wnich some fine yellow, rose and salmon 
coloured varieties were to be seen. The plants 
also were dwarf and shapely. A Bronze Flora 
Medal was awarded to Mr. W. E. Tidy, Brock- 
harapton Nurseries, Havant, Hants, for his display 
of cut flowers of named Sweet Peas, amongst which 
Firefly, Lady Penzance, Waverley, and Countess of 
Radnor appeared to advantage. Messrs. Dobbie & 
Co , Orpington, Kent, also staged a small but very 
praiseworthy group of cut Sweet Peas. Numerous 
fine varieties were here to be seen, Ignea, Mrs. 
Eckford, Emily Henderson, Blanche Burpee, 
Duke of Clarence, Dorothy Tennant, Mrs. J. 
Chamberlain, Cardinal, and Primrose being particu¬ 
larly noticeable (Bronze Flora Medal). Mr. Bain, 
gardener to Sir Trevor Lawrence, exhibited a very 
gay and pretty group of different varieties of 
Penstemons, also several nice bunches of the showy 
Salpiglossis that for beauty of marking and vividness 
of colouring left but little to be desired. Some 
grand examples of Cockscomb Cutbush's Giant, 
were sent by Messrs. Wm. Cutbush & Son, High- 
gate Nurseries, N., the combs being of extra large 
size and rich deep colour. Messrs. Webb and 
Brand, Saffron Walden, had good spikes of double 
Hollyhocks in excellent condition. 
A large group of miscellaneous hardy cut flowers 
that came from Mr. Pritchard, nurseryman, Christ¬ 
church, Hants, received a Silver Banksian Medal. 
Several varieties of herbaceous Phloxes were very 
good, and such well-known subjects as Gypsophila 
paniculata, Genista tinctoria elata, Montbretia 
