October 17, 1896. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
109 
SOCIETIES. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL. 
The principal features of the meeting on Tuesday 
last, were Orchids, Chrysanthemums, Dahlias, 
Ferns, perennial Asters and fruit. 
One of the most striking and attractive features of 
the meeting was a huge plant of Vanda sanderiana 
bearing eleven huge trusses of bloom, each truss 
having eight to twelve flowers. The taller stems 
were 2 ft. to 3 ft. long, and the bottom filled up with 
young ones. The plant was originally introduced by 
Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., Clapton, who sold it to 
Gurney Fowler, Esq. (gardener, Mr. Davis), South 
Woodford, who has now flowered it for the second 
time. A Gold Medal was accorded this superb 
exhibit, the biggest plant in the country. 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, staged a fine 
collection of Orchids, amongst which we noted a 
group of Cattleya labiata, also nice pieces of C. 
dowianaaurea, C. Mantinii, C. wendlandiana, Laelio¬ 
cattleya Eunomia and L. Nysa, the two latter being 
showy bigeneric hybrids. The Cypripediums here 
were also very fine, and included large pieces of 
C. oenanthum superbum, C. insigne montanum, and 
C. Charlesworthii. A large piece of Dendrobium 
glomeratum was well-flowered (Silver Flora Medal). 
Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, Upper Holloway, 
set up a collection of Orchids neatly furnished with 
Palms and Ferns. Vanda Lowii was, perhaps, the 
most interesting on account of its two forms of 
flowers. Fine also were Vanda tricolor superba, 
Cattleya labiata, Oncidium Forbesi, O. ornithorhyn- 
chum album, Cypripedium punctatum violaceum,and 
several others (Silver Banksian Medal). 
Messrs. F. Sander & Co., also staged a mixed 
collection of Orchids, including showy pieces of 
Vanda caerulea, Cattleya labiata, Laeliocattleya 
the Hon. Mrs. Astor, Habenaria Susannae, and a 
large well-flowered piece of Dendrobium aureum, 
Graceful though not very showy was the panicled Epi- 
dendrum profusum, with its small creamy and purple 
flowers (Silver-gilt Banksian Medal). 
Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., Clapton, set up a 
collection of Orchids, including five pieces of Cypri¬ 
pedium Charlesworthi, one of which named C. C. 
Low’s var., had a dorsal sepal of enormous size and 
other segments in proportion. Cattleya labiata 
and C. dowiana aurea were also shown, the latter 
being very fine (Silver-gilt Banksian Medal). 
E. Ashworth, Esq. (gardener, Mr. H. Holbrook), 
Wilnslow, Cheshire showed the beautiful C. labiata 
Mrs. E. Ashworth. Odontoglossum Uro-Skinneri 
album was exhibited by De B. Crawshay, Esq. 
(gardener Mr. S. Cooke), Rosefield, Sevenoaks. 
Cattleya dowiana Wheatley’s var., was shown by 
Frederick Wheatley, Esq., Riugmore, Teignmouth, 
Devon. 
Cattleya Countess of Derby, C. Princess of Wales, 
and C. bicolor caerulea were exhibited by Thos. 
Statter, Esq. (gardener, Mr. R. Johnson), Stand 
Hall, Manchester (Silver Banksian Medal). The 
beautiful orange-flowered Comparettia speciosa was 
exhibited by A. H. Smee, Esq. (gardener, Mr. G. W. 
Cummins), The Grange, Wallington. A cultural 
commendation was accorded to J. C. Ramsden, Esq., 
J P. (gardener, Mr. A. Nash), Shamley Green, for a 
fine piece of Vanda caerulea. 
A Silver Flora Medal was accorded to C. L. N. 
Ingram, Esq. (gardener, Mr. Bond), Elstead House, 
Godaiming, for a collection of hybrid Cattleyas and 
Laelias. Laeliocattleya T. W. Bond, Cattleya 
Triumph, C. Jupiter and C. Fabia were very bold 
and distinct forms. 
Messrs. Barr & Son, King Street, Covent Garden, 
sent a very nice group of hardy cut flowers consider¬ 
ing the time of year, including Chrysanthemums, 
perennial Asters, Gladioli, Aconitum autumnale 
Astrantia major, etc., in first class condition (Bronze 
Flora Medal). 
A collection of perennial Asters, sent by Mr. E. 
Beckett, gardener to the Rt. Hon. H. A. Aldenham, 
Aldenham House, Elstree, was one of the most 
noteworthy displays in the hall. The collection was 
most comprehensive, all the leading forms of horti¬ 
cultural merit being on view. A. cordifolius 
elegans, A. c. Diana, A. diffusus horizontalis 
Coombe Fishacre, A. puniceus pulchellus, A. 
vimineus, A. Amellus bessarabicus, A. Novi- 
Belgii densus, and A. Andromeda are a few of the 
best (Silver Gilt Banksian). 
Four superbly coloured specimens of the Knap 
Hill Scarlet Oak were forthcoming from Mr. 
Anthony Waterer, Woking. 
A miscellaneous group of cut flowers and ferns 
was set up by Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, 
Tottenham, N., Chrysanthemums, Phoebus, Red 
Warrior, and Rena Dula, the last named a new 
variety, were well shown here ; also Nerine coruscans 
major and N. coruscans Mr. F. Fell (Bronze Banksian 
Medal). 
Chrysanthemums were but sparsely represented. 
Mr. W. Wells, Earlswood Nurseries, Redhill, Surrey, 
had a couple of dozen large blooms, amongst which 
excellent samples of Queen of Buffs, Thomas Wilkins, 
Phoebus, and Reine d’Angleterre were to be seen 
(Bronze Banksian Medal). 
Cut Roses were well shown by Messrs. Frank 
Cant & Co., Colchester, many of the blooms giving 
no evidence of the fact that the ordinary Rose season 
has now gone far from us. Souvenir de la Malmaison, 
Climbing Niphetos, Captain Hayward, Gustave 
Regis, and Mrs. R. G. Sharman Crawford, were 
some of the finest samples (Silver Banksian Medal). 
Dahlias made yet another effort to outlast them¬ 
selves, and the collection sent up by Messrs. J. 
Cheal & Sons, Crawley, Sussex, contained a quantity 
of first-class material. Such Cactus varieties as 
Kentish Invicta, Earl of Pembroke, Mrs. Turner, 
Cannell’s Velvet, and Delicata, were grand samples. 
Pompon and single sorts were also good, and a 
couple of dozen fine blooms of show and fancy sorts 
were included (Silver Flora Medal). 
Seedling Pernettyas and Spiraea Anthony 
Waterer were shown by Mr. Anthony Waterer, and 
some superb trusses of flowers of the ever-popular 
Cannas were contributed by Messrs. H. Cannell & 
Sons, Swanley, Kent. A plant of Chrysanthemum 
Vice-Admiral N. Kashnakoff and ten other large 
blooms likewise came from the same firm. Hardy 
cut flowers were shown by Messrs Young & Dobinson, 
Holmesdale Nurseries, Stevenage, Herts. 
A group of small perennial Asters in pots was sent 
by Mr. Hudson, gardener to the Messrs, de Roth¬ 
schild, Gunnersbury House, Acton (Bronze Flora 
Medal). 
Mr. H. B. May, Dyson’s Lane Nurseries, Upper 
Edmonton, staged a superb batch of Adiantum 
farleyense. The plants were characterised by a 
robustness and vigour, bat too seldom seen. A 
basketful of the pretty winter-flowering Begonia 
Gloire de Lorraine was also exhibited by Mr. May 
(Silver Banksian Medal). 
Mr. Geo. Prince, Longworth, Farringdon, Berks, 
showed an ornamental stand of cut Roses, the 
blooms being in excellent condition. 
Mr. Robt. Owen, Maidenhead, had cut Chrysan¬ 
themums; and Mr. Charles Turner, Slough, a few 
bunches o( Pompon and Cactus Dahlias. 
Fruit and vegetables occupied a good portion of 
the table space, for although the exhibits were not 
numerous several of them were of great size. 
The most important of these, both with regard to 
size and the quality of the material composing it 
was undoubtedly contributed by Mr. Empson, 
gardener to Mrs. Wingfield, Ampthill House, Bucks, 
for which a Gold Medal was deservedly awarded by 
the committee. Grapes, Apples, Pears, Melons, 
Medlars, Capsicums, and nuts of all sorts were 
represented in strong force. Some gigantic specimens 
of Sutton’s Autumn Mammoth Cauliflower, Ailsa 
Craig, and Jubilee Onions appeared amongst the 
vegetables to which were added Tomatos, Carrots, 
Turnips, Brussels Sprouts, and Potatos, the whole 
forming one of the finest exhibits of fruit and 
vegetables ever seen within the walls of the Drill 
Hall. 
A Silver Gilt Knightian Medal was awarded to 
Mr. Geo. Wythes, gardener to Earl Percy, Syon 
House, Brentford, for 150 dishes of fine Apples and 
Pears. Of the former Golden Noble, Peasgood’s 
Nonsuch, Lane’s Prince Albert, and King of the 
Pippins, were excellent samples; whilst Beurre 
Diel, Pitmaston Duchess, Beurre Clairgeau, and 
Durondeau, were some of the best Pears. 
For the special prizes offered by Messrs. J. Veitch 
& Sons, at each meeting for the best flavoured Apple, 
and the best flavoured Pear, there were a goodly 
number of competitors. In the Apple class, Mr. G. 
Wythes was placed first with Cox’s Orange Pippin ; 
Mr. Herrin, Dropmore taking a like position in the 
Pear class with Doyenne du Comice. 
Mr. Maker, gardener to A. Waterhouse, Esq., 
Yattenden Court, Newhaven, showed a collection of 
seedling Grapes. 
Mr. Jas. Hudson, received a Cultural Commenda¬ 
tion for a fine basket of Apple Newtown Pippin, 
obtained from dwarf trees worked on the Paradise 
stock, and planted on grass land in 1894. 
The same exhibitor also was awarded a Cultural 
Commendation “ for dishes of six varieties of late 
Peas, the pods of all of them being remarkably well- 
filled. 
--j-- 
©bituarp. 
Mr. William Paterson, head gardener for more 
than forty years to Her Majesty at Balmoral, died at 
Daisy Cottage, Balmoral, on Monday, the 5th inst., 
at the age of seventy-two. He was born at Mort 
lach, near Dufftown, Banffshire, in 1824. His father 
rented a small farm there, and when his son was six¬ 
teen years of age apprenticed him to Mr. Christie, a 
nursery man in Fochabers, where he acquired much 
of the knowledge of his profession, especially in 
regard to the culture, propagation and management 
generally, of nursery stock. Sometime afterwards 
he removed to Aberdeen, and joined the staff of 
Messrs. Roy & Son, who were noted nurserymen in 
those days. Here he greatly increased his knowledge 
during the two years of his stay. His next appoint¬ 
ment was as head gardener to the Duke of Leeds at 
Old Mar Lodge, Braemar, where he stayed for two 
seasons. He was then appointed head gardener to 
Sir Robert Gordon, who occupied the old castle at 
Balmoral, having it on lease from the then Earl of 
Fife. Sir Robert died a few days after Mr. Pater¬ 
son’s appointment, and Her Majesty first leased and 
subsequently purchased Balmoral. Mr. Paterson 
first went to Balmoral on November 22nd, 1847, and 
-was retained till the following year when he was 
formerly appointed gardener to The Queen. This 
position he held till 1892, when failing health 
induced him to retire. Her Majesty granted him a 
pension together with the pretty Daisy Cottage 
situated near the dairy at Balmoral. Here he lived 
in comfort during the declining years of his life. 
Mr. Paterson, during his long period of service at 
Balmoral, discharged his duties in the gardens most 
faithfully, and his Royal mistress was not slow to 
appreciate his unflagging zeal and earnest attention 
to his charge. He had a wide knowledge of the 
various branches of his profession, and exhibited a 
considerable amount of skill in applying this know¬ 
ledge to the requirements at Balmoral. In the 
matter of floral decorations he was admitted to have 
admirable taste, and could make a bouquet or 
decorate a table with anyone. During the last few 
weeks of his illness, Her Majesty frequently called at 
Daisy Cottage, making kind enquires for her old 
servant. Her Royal Highness Princess Henry of 
Battenberg, often visited on the same errand. 
Needless to say these evidences of solicitous care on the 
part of the Royal Family, for an old servant, were 
highly appreciated, more particularly by the invalid 
himself. These and other acts of kindness are only 
instances of the qualities which have endeared The 
Queen to her subjects on Deeside. 
Mr. Paterson was an elder of Crathie Free Church. 
He is survived by his widow, one son, and three 
daughters, all grown up. His son is Lieutenant 
Paterson, of the Gordon Highlanders Volunteers, 
Aberdeen, and the well-known crack shot. The 
deceased was buried at Crathie Churchyard, Bal¬ 
moral. 
Mr. Peter Whitton, a well-known and much 
respected ^Perthshire gardener, died October 5th, in 
the 76th year of his age. He served the Smythes, 
of Methven, near Perth, for nearly fifty years, as 
head gardener. He was held ia high esteem by his 
employers, who trusted him as a faithful friend. 
Mr. Whitton was a thorough all round gardener, a 
member of the Royal Scottish Arboricultural Society, 
and had a keen interest in all Arboricultural matters. 
This is strongly evinced at Methven by the fine col¬ 
lection of Coniferae planted by Mr. Whitton, which 
have grown into specimens over 60 ft. high, during his 
lifetime, and are the admiration of all who visit this 
place. Many of the specimens were raised from 
cuttings by Mr. Whitton. The Royal Scottish 
Arboricultural Society visited this grand old seat 
some years ago, when with remarkable alacrity the 
deceased gave answers on all arboreal subjects, in 
the grounds and park. This year the kitchen 
