140 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
October 31, 1896. 
OUR AUTUMN QUEEN. 
Again we are fairly launched in our annual fight for 
honour. After months of great watching and endless 
little cares we shall soon know the result of our 
labour. Many will be disappointed, and perhaps 
some justly so. These have my sincere sympathy. 
Most men, and I think more especially Englishmen, 
when they see they are beaten, will abide by the 
judges' decision. However, judges are not at all 
times perfect ; they should however, be chosen as 
near the ideal as possible. They are no doubt, in 
many instances placed in positions when they would 
gladly change places with anyone. Their main 
desire is (or should be) to give satisfaction to the 
society, exhibitors, and everyone concerned. There¬ 
fore, I say, let them be of the best. To the unsuc¬ 
cessful I can only say, keep going on. Every man 
has his day, and my opinion is, that, to anyone that 
will persevere, success will come. Gardeners that 
have masters interested in the cause stand on good 
ground. Never will they begrudge the many little 
niceties so essential to good Chrysanthemum grow¬ 
ing, and without which, any high place in the show 
world is not to be expected. 
The small man with limited means, and a master 
that dosen’t know a 'mum from a Cabbage, has 
great hills to climb before his time comes, and no 
wonder that so many fall out of the ranks in the 
struggle. Once more I say, and this to any judge 
of Chrysanthemums that may give this a passing 
glance, “ do your best at all times, and if any one 
who has come off badly should ask what his faults 
are, don't be frightened of telling him. A few words 
of encouragement to the downfallen have done 
wonders for many, more especially where the advice 
comes from sound men. 
Those who win the day may be congratulated on 
their success, and well may they enjoy the result of 
their long endeavours. 
Just a few words on varieties that promise well 
and which should never be discarded from the list 
fcr untried new ones. Sunflower. — This most beauti¬ 
ful golden yellow flower deserves a good place any¬ 
where, being of a good constitution, and at all times 
good to do. Viviand Morel should be secured as 
terminal buds, which will result in a beautiful soft 
pink bloom, the crown bud coming many shades 
lighter, and sometimes nearly white. 
C. Davis, a very delicate terra-cotta, is a sport 
from the last-named, and is good in every particular. 
Florence Davis, the green Chrysanthemum is also 
good. The following will also be found to be 
worthy of the attention of new beginners : —Col. 
Chase, a straw-coloured Jap ; Baron Hirsch, bronze 
incurved; Mons. Bahuant, bronze incurved; Wm. 
Seward, the terminal bud, a beautiful deep crimson, 
and a splendid flower; Gloire du Rocher, gold and 
red; Boule d’Or, yellow; Beauty of Exmouth, 
white; Avalanche, white. —J. G. Pettingcr, Strawberry 
Dale Nursery, Harrogate. 
-- 
NOTICE OF BOOK. 
The Journal of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, Edited by the Rev. W. Wilks, M A., 
Secretary ; and Mr. John Weathers, Assistant 
Secretary. Offices; 117, Victoria Street, S.W. 
Printed for the Royal Horticultural Society by 
Spottiswoode & Co., New Street Square, 
London Vol. xx. Part 1. Price (to non¬ 
fellows) 5s. 
The part of the journal above noted contains a great 
variety of information, commencing with eight 
papers, which were read at the meetings of the Royal 
Horticultural Society. The papers on “ Melons ” 
and “ Summer Saladings” contain practical informa¬ 
tion fcr the guidance of those who may only be 
climbing the hill of knowledge in their profession, or 
may require information on certain points in their 
practice the growing of salad plants maybe con¬ 
sidered an easy matter generally, and so it is, but 
careless or haphazard cultivation will never insure 
very successful results in keeping up a continual 
supply of those not unimportant items of a large 
gardening establishment. Pine-Apple culture is not 
very extensively carried on at the present day, and 
for some years past has been contracting rather than 
expanding. Improved methods of cnltivation, by 
which the period between the rooting of the suckers 
and the maturing of the fruit is shortened, may, how¬ 
ever, in the near future cause a revival of this 
special culture; for home grown fruits, matured, as 
they are, upon the plants, are superior in flavour and 
general excellence to those conveyed from distant 
countries, before they are fully ripe. 
The paper “ On the Species and Varieties of 
Tulipa,” by Mr. J. Gilbert Baker, F.R.S., is highly 
interesting to those who take special interest in 
Tulips, and must have been a revelation to those 
who knew little of Tulips beyond those so extensively 
cultivated in parks and gardens for bedding purposes, 
most of which belong to Tulipa gesneriana. Those 
who had some idea of botanical classification were 
able to follow Mr. Baker, but a much larger number 
should now be able to grasp the details as given in 
so clear and succinct a manner in the journal under 
consideration Mr. Baker does not attempt to 
determine whether such forms as T. retroflexa, T. 
elegans, T. vitellina, T. viridiflora, and others of a 
like character, are true species or garden forms. 
The long cultivation and improvement of T. 
gesneriana in gardens, renders this an extremely 
difficult and uncertain task. The above he describes 
as " less known species of garden forms, allied to T. 
Didieri,” a native of Savoy. 
An interesting paper on Iris, is contributed by Mr. 
W. J. Caparn of Oundle, Hants who treats of the 
history and geographical distribution of the genus. 
The Rev. George Henslow, M.A., F.L.S , consistently 
with his favourite subjects, treats of “The Move¬ 
ments of Plants.’’ Those, who are unfamiliar with 
the various physical attributes, and properties of 
plants, and the technicalities with which they are 
clothed, may be staggered with such a term as 
thaumotropism ; but it is described in other words, 
as that faculty bv which plants are enabled to " turn 
heatwards’’ or assume the habit of creeping or 
trailing upon the ground or close to it when the soil 
in which they are growing is warmer than the air 
immediately above it. He gives various instances of 
it in Malta, in this country and in dry Alpine regions 
where this phenomenon is common. 
-*#-- 
LAW NOTE. 
Extraordinary Orchid Dispute. 
In the City of London Court, on Monday, before 
Mr. Commissioner Kerr, the case of Rappart v. Peat 
and Dillon was tried, raising a peculiarly interesting 
question of importance to Orchid growers and others. 
The plaintiff, Mr. David B. Rappart, The Promenade, 
Liscard, Cheshire, sought to recover against the 
defendants, Mr. W. B. Peat and Mr. Malcolm 
Dillon, executors of the late Mr. G. D. Owen, 24, 
Grosvenor Road, Newcastle on-Tyne, the return of 
the sum of £ iy 6s. 6d. which he had paid to them for 
certain Orchids. Mr. Piesse, plaintiffs counsel, said 
that he attended the sale of the Selwood collection 
of Orchids which was held at Selwood, Rotherham, 
Yorks, on April 24th, 25th and 26th, 1895, when the 
late Mr. Owen’s collection was disposed of by auction. 
The plaintiff's case, shortly, was that he there 
purchased Orchids which were not of the rarity 
represented, and he consequently asked for his money 
to be returned. There was no question of feeling in 
those proceedings, the plaintiff putting his case no 
higher than that a mistake had besn made. The plain¬ 
tiff was called and he said he purchased an Odonto- 
glossum elegans, four bulbs, with one growth, for 
5 gs. He also bought a Dendrobium splendissimum 
grandiflorum and a Cattleya Skinneri alba, with 
seven bulbs, for the latter of which he paid gs. 
At the time he bought the plants they were not in 
flower and it was impossible to tell what varieties 
they were other than from the descriptions contained 
in the catalogue upon which he purchased. In April 
when the Odontoglossum flowered he found that it 
was a Hallii and was worth instead of 5 gs. about 
2S. 6d. The Dendrobium turned out to be an Ains- 
worthii and was worth about 2s. or 3s. The Cattleya 
Skinneri alba turned out to be quite an ordinary 
variety and it was not an alba at all. The petals 
ware a light rose colour. In cross examination he 
said he could not say he had a very great knowledge 
of Orchids. He had only been collecting them 
during the past eighteen months. He had about 
1,000. 
Mr. Commissioner Kerr (surprised). What do 
you do with them all ? The plaintiff: It is a hobby. 
Mr. Commissioner Kerr : Oh ! The plaintiff further 
said that he was quite sure the plants had not got 
mixed up while in his houses. He produced the 
plants in court for the inspection of the judge. Mr. 
Commissioner Kerr: I hope the legal atmosphere 
will not kill them or even damage them. The 
plaintiff in further evidence said that the Den¬ 
drobium came from the Quorn House collection 
when Mr. Owen purchased it. After he had bought 
it from the defendants, Mr. Protheroe, who was 
staying at the same hotel as he did, told him that he 
was afraid it was not the true variety. At the sale 
the plant was exhibited. 
Mr. Edwin Pollock, defendants’ counsel, said they 
were quite satisfied that the plants which they sold 
to the plaintiff were true to their names, and that the 
plaintiff had mixed them up in some way or 
other. The plaintiff said that he did not complain 
of any error of description. What he said was that 
he had not got the plants which he bought. Mr. 
Commissioner Kerr said there was no suggestion of 
mala tides. He thought the matter might be referred 
to someone who could act wiih impartiality, and in 
whom the parties had confidence. 
Mr. J. Baggallay, the representative of Messrs. 
Charlesworth, Bradford, Orchid growers and im¬ 
porters, said that in April he happened to call on the 
plaintiff on business when he saw the Odontoglos¬ 
sum. It was certainly not an elegans, but a very 
poor variety. 
Mr. James McNab, traveller for Messrs. Sander 
& Co., St. Albans, said he also called and saw the 
Cattleya Skinneri alba, and it was not an alba at all. 
The petals were slightly diffused with rose. His 
firm sold the plant (which was supposed to have 
been bought by the plaintiff) to Mr. Owen, and 
they were paid 35 gs. for it. That could not have 
been the one now in question. They also sold Mr- 
Owen, for 15 gs., the Odontoglossum elegans. They 
were then both in flower, and there was no mistaking 
them for the plants now produced. 
Mr. James O’Brien, hon. secretary of the Royal 
Horticultural Society, also gave evidence in support 
of the plaintiffs’ case. For the defendants evidence 
was given to show that the defendants had, in fact, 
sold genuine plants to the plaintiff. Mr. Com¬ 
missioner Kerr said the case was a very difficult one 
to decide. He would take time to consider his 
decision. 
-- 
SOCIETIES. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL. 
The meeting on the 27th inst. was chiefly notable for 
the fine display of Orchids. Pelargoniums and stove 
foliage plants were also present, and new Chrysan¬ 
themums were fairly plentiful. 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, exhibited a 
large, well-arranged, and showy collection of Orchids, 
amongst which Cattleya labiata in great variety, 
C. dowiana aurea, C. statteriana, C. Chloris, and 
Cypiipedium Charlesworthii were prominent and 
attractive. Interesting in their respective ways were 
Lycaste costata, Cycnoches chlorochilum, Cypri- 
pedium Milo, C. harrisianum superbum, C. 
insigne montanum, Odontoglossum harryanum, O. 
bictonense album, Oncidium ornithorhynchum, and 
many others, all splendidly flowered (Small Gold 
Medal). 
R. I. Measures, Esq. (gardener, Mr. Hy. 
Chapman), Cambridge Lodge, Camberwell,exhibited 
a collection of Orchids, including Cattleya labiata 
R. I. Measures’ var., many other forms of the same 
species, also Cypripedium Mrs. C. Canham, C. 
leeanum superbum, C. arthurianum, C. Milo, Laelia 
elegans, Cattleya gigas, a huge-flowered form of 
Cypripidium tonsum, and many others (Silver Flora 
Medal). 
Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., Clapton, staged a group 
of Orchids, amongst which we noted a huge piece 
of Cycnoches chlorochilum, and many beautiful 
varieties of Cattleya labiata. C. dowiana aurea, 
Oncidium ornithorhynchum album, and the huge 
flowers of Odontoglossum grande were also note¬ 
worthy. 
Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, Upper Holloway, 
staged a collection of Orchids, in which Cattleya 
labiata, Oncidium Forbesii, O. ornithorhynchum, O. 
o. album, and Cypripedium insigne Wallacei were 
prominent features. 
Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, exhibited a 
showy group of Orchids, including very numerous 
varieties of Cattleya labiata, also the hybrid C 
Johnsoni superba, C. labiata, The Bride, C. 1 . The 
Pearl, and others. Oncidium varicosum, Dendro 
