July 22, 1893. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
787 
dates :—The Lady of the Carnation, the Lady of 
the Cornflower, the Lady of the Daisy, the Lady of 
the Heartsease, the Lady of the Lily, the Lady of 
the Marguerite, and the Lady of the Poppy. The 
Queen was then installed in her bower, and with be¬ 
coming grace and dignity performed the ceremony of 
distributing the prizes. A variety of sports followed 
for the children, and there was a gymnastic display 
by the members of the Wood Green Club. 
The Tomato a Vegetable or a Fruit? —The question 
is frequently asked, "What is the Tomato, a vege¬ 
table or a fruit ? ” and the answer is as frequently, 
" Either one or the other, according to circum¬ 
stances,” but the United Sates Supreme Court has 
decided, after lengthy consideration, that for the pur¬ 
poses of import duty the Tomato is a vegetable, and 
not a fruit. The question came before the Court in 
an action, brought February qth, 1887, against the 
collector of the Port of New York, to recover back- 
duties, paid under protest, on Tomatos imported by 
Nix Bros, from the West Indies in the spring of 
1886, which the collector assessed under " Schedule 
G, provisions,” of the Tariff Act of March 3rd, 18S3, 
chap. 121, imposing a duty on " vegetables, in their 
natural state, or in salt or brine, not specially 
enumerated or provided for in this Act, 10 per cent. 
ad valorem," and which the plantiffs contended came 
within the clause in the free list of the same act, 
" fruits, green, ripe, or dried, not specially enum¬ 
erated or provided for in this Act.” On May 10th, 
1893, Mr. Justice Gray delivered the opinion of the 
Court, in which it was stated "there being no 
evidence that the words ‘fruit’ and ‘vegetables’ 
have acquired any special meaning in trade or com¬ 
merce, they must receive their ordinary meaning. 
Botanically speaking, Tomatos are the fruit of the 
vine, just as are Cucumbers, Squashes, Beans, and 
Peas. But in the common language of the people, 
whether sellers or consumers of provisions, all these 
are vegetables, which are grown in kitchen gardens, 
and which, whether eaten cooked or raw, are, like 
Potatos, Carrots, parsnips, Turnips, Beets, Cauli¬ 
flower, Cabbage, Celery, and Lettuce, usually served 
at dinner in, with, or after the soup, fish, or meats, 
which constitute the principal part of the repast, and 
not, like fruits generally, as dessert. The attempt 
to class Tomatos as fruit is not unlike a recent 
attempt to class Beans as seeds, of which Mr. 
Justice Bradley, speaking for this court, said : “ We 
do not see why they should be classified as seeds, 
any more than Walnuts should be so classified. Both 
are seeds in the language of Botany or natural his¬ 
tory, but not in commerce nor in common parlance. 
On the other hand, in speaking generally of provi¬ 
sions, Beans may well be included under the term 
' vegetables.’ As an article of food on our tables, 
whether baked or boiled, or forming the basis of 
soup, they are used as a vegetable, as well when ripe 
as when green. This is the principal use to which 
they are put. Beyond the common knowledge 
which we have on this subject, very little evidence is 
necessary, or can be produced.” 
National Chrysanthemum Society. —The members 
of this society, with their friends, had their annual 
outing on Monday, the 17th inst., when the weather 
proved fine and bracing. The company travelled by 
two trains from Paddington to High Wycombe, 
Bucks, the destination being Wycombe Abbey, the 
noble residence of Lord Carrington, in whose beau¬ 
tiful grounds a cricket match was played between 
the Aylesbury team and that of the National Chry¬ 
santhemum Society. The early train was meant to 
accommodate those who intended to play cricket, 
but by far the greater number travelled by it. 
About 145 sat down to dinner in the spacious Abbey 
Hall, but the number was subsequently augmented, 
beating the record of all previous outings of the 
society. The chairman, Mr. R. Ballantine, in an 
after-dinner speech, proposed "The health of Lord 
Carrington,” thanking him for the use of his fine 
grounds, and this was replied to by Mr. G. T. Miles, 
the able gardener, who a few years ago was one of 
our best growers of exhibition fruit and vegetables. 
The cricket match was resumed after dinner, some 
inspected the chairmaking factories of Messrs. Beech 
& Sons, and a large party drove to Hughenden 
Manor, the seat of the late Lord Beaconsfield, return¬ 
ing to tea in the Abbey Hall at six. Most of the 
party returned by the 8 p.m. train for London, just 
as it commenced to rain, after having spent a most 
enjoyable day. 
GLOXINIAS AND STREPTOCARPUS. 
The early batches of old plants of Gloxinias are 
now out of bloom in the nursery of Messrs. J. 
Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, but their place is taken by 
seedlings now flowering. They are only in small 60- 
size pots, but the flowers are well in character, and 
in many cases even of large size. Most of the very 
select varieties are named; and although the bulk of 
them have erect flowers, a few of the nodding and 
tubular sorts have been selected, owing to the beauty 
of their colour. A fine crimson-scarlet variety is 
Hector; and Cicely has crimson-purple segments, 
with a broad white margin. The segments of 
Zalima are rosy-scarlet, with a broad white edge. 
By way of contrast to this type, we have another in 
which the segments are white, with a broad, deep 
mauve border, like a heavy edged Ficotee. This has 
been named Cygnet, and was the most novel variety 
we noted as well as the most attractive. Spotted, as 
well as self and banded flowers, are well represented. 
Ismenes is densely and beautifully dotted with rose 
on a white ground. On the contrary, Cordelia is 
marked in the same way with violet-purple. A 
tubular drooping flower is Miss H. de Rothschild, 
resembling a magnified Streptocarpus. The lamina 
is of a delicate blue or lavender, and the lower side 
of the tube internally is of a uniform blackish 
violet-purple. When placed in a position on a level 
with the eye, so that its beauty could be seen, the 
value of this old type would be better realised. 
There is a large batch of seedlings of Strepto¬ 
carpus in. cold frames which, however, at the time 
of our visit might well have been considered equal 
to artificially heated ones, owing to the intense heat 
of the sun. Cooler weather has supervened since 
then and the Streptocarpus will like it all the better. 
The seeds of this batch were sown in December and 
planted out in March. By forcing on the plants the 
great heat has reduced the flowers in size, but we 
expect to see a great improvement on this state of 
matters presently. Many pleasing shades of lilac- 
purple, sky-blue, and white might be noted, all 
having rich violet-purple bands in the throat. In 
marked contrast to the others was an unusually large- 
flowered form, which must become even more 
marked when the plant attains its full vigour. It 
was white with three branching violet-purple bands 
in the throat. Another set of seedlings was planted 
in frames in June, and each would have a large leaf 
with two smaller ones. They will commence flower¬ 
ing in a week or two. Some that were flowering at 
the Temple Show are still in bloom. With batches 
of old and young plants it is now possible to keep up 
a succession of bloom for nine months of the year. 
_- 
PLANTS RECENTLY CERTIFICATED, 
The undermentioned plants were certificated by the 
Royal Horticultural Society at the meeting held at 
Chiswick on the nth inst :— 
Lilium Alexandra.— This new Lily is evidently 
a hybrid between L. longifolium and L. auratum, 
taking more after the former than the latter parent, 
but intermediate in many respects. The stems are 
12 in. to 20 in. high, and furnished with lanceolate, 
shortly stalked leaves that are certainly closely akin 
to those of L. auratum. Those of L. longifolium 
are sessile and clasp the stem. Then the tube of 
the flower is shorter and the lamina widely funnel- 
shaped, showing the pale green tint in the 
throat, otherwise the flower is pure white externally 
and internally, and delightfully fragrant. In this 
spreading character of the flower we see evidence of 
L. auratum, and the long orange maroon anthers are 
those of the latter parent. Thus we see L. auratum 
in the leaves, wide perianth and anthers ; the latter 
are yellow in L. longifolium. It was exhibited 
under this name by Messrs. Wallace & Co., Colches¬ 
ter, and by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, under 
the Japanese name of L. Ukeyuri. Their flowers 
were more expanded than in the other case, thus 
taking more after L. auratum. We understand that 
the names are provisional, and that Mr. J. G. Baker, 
F.R.S., of Kew, is to decide the case. A First-class 
Certificate was awarded in both cases. 
Lilium Lowii.— The stems of this Lily are 3 ft. 
to 4 ft. high, bearing scattered leaves along most of 
their length. The leaves are linear, deep green, and 
2 in. to 2J in. in length. The bell-shaped flowers 
are revolute at the apex and white, dotted with purple 
along the centre on each side of a pale green midrib. 
On the whole it is a distinct and very pretty Lily, of 
the Himalayan type or somewhere near that region. 
First-class Certificate. Exhibited by Messrs. Hugh 
Low & Co., Clapton. 
h errari a antherosa.— In this we have a singular 
looking plant belonging to the Irideae or Iris family. 
I he leaves are equitant, ensiform, and moderate in 
length, while the flower stem is 18 in. to 20 in. high, 
and branched towards the top, bearing large flowers 
with six segments that are singularly wavy at the 
edge and brown with a pale yellow base and edge, 
and more or less blotched with violet. The lacerated 
stigma is brown and yellow. Botanical Certificate. 
Exhibited by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons. Botanists 
accept the name of F. Ferrariola for this plant. 
Nicotian a colossea variegata.—' This Tobacco 
plant is now getting pretty well known for the huge 
size the leaves attain, especially when the plant is 
put in the ground either under glass or out-of-doors. 
We have no experience of the variegated form under 
notice, but should imagine that it is more suitable 
for pot culture than the green one, that is, would 
show itself to best advantage under those conditions. 
The edges of the leaves are irregularly splashed with 
creamy-yellow, with gray splashes occasionally 
running inwards, while the central portion is paler 
than usual. Award of Merit. Exhibited by M. J. 
Sillier fils, Neuilly, near Paris. 
Drac.ena indivisa aurea variegata. — The 
leaves of this plant are lanceolate, arching and 
variegated by stripes or bands of various shades of 
yellow along the centre. When once it has begun 
to vary in this way we may expect improvements 
upon the original. Award of Merit. Exhibited by 
Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill. 
Caladium Baronne de Maimore. —The leaves 
of this variety are as yet moderate in size, sagittate, 
and slightly united at the base in the sinus. The 
centre is red, with the midrib and principal branches 
radiating from it of a bright crimson. On each 
side of the red the ground colour is splashed and 
variegated with white, and the edge is green. Award 
of Merit. Exhibited by Messrs. J. Laing & Sons. 
Alstrcemeria aurantiaca.— An Award of Merit 
was accorded this fine old herbaceous plant when 
shown by G. E. Cammsll, Esq., Brookfield, Hather- 
saye, Sheffield. The plant varies from 2 ft. to 3 ft. 
in height, bearing orange-yellow flowers at the top, 
and they are further ornamented by crimson spots 
and stripes on the two upper segments. 
The new border and other Carnations recorded be¬ 
low were awarded First-class Certificates by the 
National Carnation and Picotee Society, at their 
show held in the gardens of the Royal Horticul¬ 
tural Society, Chiswick, on the nth inst. 
Rosa Bonheur. —This is heavily flaked with 
scarlet on a white ground, and belongs to the 
section known as flakes. If, as we understand, it 
was an English-raised variety, why the French 
appellation ? 
Sirius.— In this we have a yellow ground fancy 
variet}', spotted and mottled with scarlet, on a pale 
yellow ground, and very pretty. 
Audrey Campbell.— The flowers of this variety 
are similar to those of Germania, but a paler shade 
of yellow, somewhat less refined, and the petals are 
slightly toothed at the edges. The petals are also 
more numerous. 
Sir Gawain.— Like the last, this also is a self of 
a pale buff-yellow, that is, the buff shade is not 
strongly pronounced. The flowers are of good size, 
and do not split, while the petals are somewhat in¬ 
curved at the edges. 
Tom Sayers.— This is a terra-cotta, fancy variety, 
with a few crimson spots on the edges of the petals. 
Bendigo. —The flowers in this case are large, with 
a moderate number of broad, almost entire petals of 
an intense purple. It is a good self and does not 
split the calyx. 
George Cruickshank.— This is a fancy yellow- 
ground with rich scarlet flakes uniting with one 
another and extending from the edge inward. 
Waterwich. —The self-coloured flowers of this 
variety are large, with broad, nearly entire petals of 
a flesh colour, ultimately shading to a creamy-white 
at the edges of the outer petals. 
Mephista. — Here again we have a self-coloured 
variety, with maroon-crimson, broad, and nearly 
entire petals, slightly incurved at the edges, and not 
crowded. 
