December 5, 1896. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
221 
immense flowers of globular form, broad in petal, 
stout in substance, and withal so pure ancTclear. 
Certainly here is all that is desirable to have in this 
particular type. T. H. Spalding, Florence Davis, 
and White Louis Boehmer, were well represented. 
So too was Mrs. Thomson, a new pure white, 
incurved Japanese, of large size and substance. A 
number of bush plants of L. Canning was also 
coming into flower, which with similiarly grown 
plants of Avalanche and Beauty of Exmouth will 
keep the supply going for some time yet. 
Among other white-flowering plants grown during 
the season are quantities of Callas, Marguerites, 
white Gloxinia Her Majesty, white Sweet Pea, 
Primulas, Cyclamen, Cinerarias, Swainsonia 
galegifolia alba, Pancratiums of sorts, Coelogyne 
cristata, Stephanotis, Comet Asters, large batches of 
Malmaison Carnations, Dipladenia boliviensis, 
Tuberoses, Lilium candidum T. 1 . Harrisii. The 
mention of these will give some idea of the quantity 
of white flowers required and supplied. Of the 
Pines, Vines, Peaches, and Bananas, which are well 
grown here, I may speak on some future occasion ; 
suffice to say, this season the quantities have been 
greater than usual, and at the same time of most 
excellent quality.— W. Swan, Bystock. 
— Pi 
NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM 
SOCIETY. 
Annual Dinner. 
The members and friends of the above society 
assembled in strong force at Anderton’s Hall, Fleet 
Street, E.C., on the evening of Thursday, November 
26th , to discuss an admirable menu provided by 
Host Clemow. W. H. Fowler, Esq., J.P., occupied 
the chair, supported by Messrs. T. W. Sanders, and 
B. Wynne. Amongst the visitors were included 
such well-known gentlemen as Mr. J. W. 
Wilkinson (Royal Aquarium), and M. Martinet 
(editor of Le Jardin, Paris). 
A lengthy toast list, interspersed with musical 
items, had been drawn up, and after the viands had 
been cleared away, and the walnuts and the wine, 
with sundry meaner drinks were brought forward, 
the chairman proposed, as in duty bound, the health 
of “ The Queen, The Prince and Princess of Wales, 
and the Rest oi the Royal Family ” which he 
averred might be considered rather a tall order. 
The Chairman next gave the toast of the evening 
“ The National Chrysanthemum Society.” Said he, 
the title of the society is a rather high sounding one, 
and should lead us to consider whether we really 
deserve it. At one time the right of the society to 
the national title was questioned, but he had heard 
nothing on this point of late. Speaking of the 
classes, he thought that they set a good example to 
other societies in having classes for sixty varieties of 
Japanese, and sixty of " incurves,” distinct. He was 
of opinion that the premier class for Japanese in 
provincial societies' shows should at least consist of 
thirty-six varieties, distinct. As a society they had 
to congratulate themselves upon the excellence of 
their management. Mr Dean told him that at the 
recent exhibition at the Aquarium, half-a-mile of 
tabling had been employed so that would give some 
idea of the magnitude and far-reaching character of 
the display. The increase of members was most 
gratifying, no fewer than 182 new ones having been 
elected since January 1st of the current year, whilst 
twenty-six new societies had been affiliated during 
the same period, making in all a total of 880 
members, and 136 affiliated societies. 
Speaking of the Floral Committee he could only 
say that it does good work, and deserves their best 
thanks. He also wished to express the appreciation 
they all felt of the manner in which the directorate 
of the Royal Aquarium had met them in every 
possible way. He felt that the best thanks of the 
society were due to that estimable body. 
Mr. P. Waterer followed with the toast of “ The 
Affiliated Societies,” and spoke of the benefits mutually 
given to and bestowed upon each other by the parent 
and affiliated societies, and mentioned the Bromley 
Society as being the heaviest contributor to the 
Jubilee fund. He had just learnt that they were in 
telegraphic communication with Mr. R. W. E. 
Murray, Blackford House, Edinburgh, with regard to 
the proposed affiliation of the Scottish Horticultural 
Association. At the exhibition held recently by that 
body over 33,000 people had attended, and the gate 
money had exceeded £ 1,100. 
Mr. W. Weeks, secre ary of the Bromley Society, 
responded at some length, speaking of the determina¬ 
tion of the Bromley people to win back the Challenge 
Trophy taken from them by the Portsmouth Society, 
and challenged that association to repeat their 
victory next year. 
The presentation of the prizes was then made by 
the chairman, the coveted Challenge Trophy being 
handed to Mr. Berry, the secretary of the Portsmouth 
Society. In making reply that gentlemen stated that 
although the Portsmouth Society was one of the 
youngest in England, it was going to be one of the 
best. Continued he, Mr. Weeks challenged us to 
win this “ shield ” again,—We can do it (vociferous 
applause). We mean to come up next year,‘-'and 
walk it home again. 
The medals won by Mr. H. J. Jones, Messrs. H. 
C.annell & Sons, Mr. Taylor, Mr. D. Donald, Mr. 
William Colchester, and other exhibitors were then 
handed to their respective recipients, but excitement 
reached its boiling point when Mr. Mease, of 
Leatherhead, received his two Gold Medals, a voice 
from the crowd making itself heard above the crowd 
in an insidious " do it again Mease.” 
A surprise was sprung upon the general company 
when M. Martinet rose to address the meeting. In 
admirable English he testified to the great pleasure 
it gave him to be present among them on that 
occasion, as well as to the delight with which he 
received the late delegation of the National Chrysan¬ 
themum Society which had been sent to Paris. His 
special business, however, was to convey to Mr. C. 
Harman Payne, the Cross and Diploma of a Knight 
of the Order of Merite Agricole. This had been 
awarded him some time ago on the recommendation 
of M. Meline, the French Minister of Agriculture. It 
was then found that as a good and loyal subject of 
Her Gracious Majesty, Mr. Payne could not receive 
the decoration without first obtaining the consent of 
the British Government. Since yesterday, however, 
everything had been in order, the necessary consent 
had been obtained, and it was now his duty to hand 
the diploma and medal to their recipient. Amidst a 
scene of indescribable enthusiasm, M. Martinet then 
decorated Mr. Payne with the cross and offered his 
congratulations. He assured the audience that Mr. 
Payne was known upon the continent as a good 
Chrvsanthmisie . The Marseillaise was here sung by 
the whole of the company, standing. Upon resuming 
M. Martinet read a letter from the President of the 
French Horticultural Society expressing that gentle¬ 
man's pleasure at being able to congratulate Mr. 
Payne upon his decoration. In conclusion, M. 
Martinet said that horticulture is a ground upon 
which all nations may meet in amity, for it has been 
said that in flowers every man may discover the 
colour of his national flag. He raised his glass to 
the friendship of English and French Horticultural 
Societies. 
Mr. C. Harman Payne responded in a few well- 
chosen words alluding to the fact that M. Martinet 
had expressed a wish to become a member of the 
National Chrysanthemum Society. 
A resolution was then formulated, embodying the 
sense of appreciation of the courtesy and good wishes 
of the French Horticultural Society. This was put 
to the meeting by the chairman, and carried with 
acclamation. 
Mr. T. W. Sanders proposed the healths of the 
donors of special prizes, saying that over £200 in 
cash, and £50 worth of plate had been raised in this 
way, which was a great assistance to the parent 
society. In responding, Mr. H. J. Jones stated that 
he was there not only as a giver but as a receiver of 
special prizes. Personally, he should always feel 
happy to do all he could to further the cause of the 
Chrysanthemum by continuing to offer special 
prizes. 
The toast of “ The President, Vice-President, and 
Officersof the Society” wasgivenby Mr. C. Orchard, 
and spoken to by Mr. R. Ballantine, and Mr. C. H. 
Payne. 
The chairman followed on with “ The Visitors.” 
Mr. J. W. Wilkinson (Royal Aquarium), acknow¬ 
ledged, and testified to the readiness of the Aquarium 
directors to do as much as lay in their power to meet 
the requirements of the society. When they were 
approached last year on the subject of the bad light, 
the result had been the installation at considerable 
expense, of the electric light. The roof had been 
originally composed of glass, but that was found to 
be unsuitable. Wire-woven glazing, said to be the 
very best roofing, was then employed. The roof 
would shortly need attention again, and he could 
assure them that the needs of their society would be 
considered. 
Mr. Ballantine toasted "The Press, General, and 
Horticultural,” to which Mr. E. T. Cook responded. 
Mr. Wynne gave “The Chairman,” whom he 
stated to be a good cricketer, an enthusiastic 
cultivator of the Chrysanthemum, and a genuine 
Britisher. 
The proceedings terminated at an advanced hour. 
-- 
LAW NOTES. 
The Extraordinary Orchid Dispute : Judg¬ 
ment. —In the City of London Court, on Wednesday, 
Mr. Commissioner Kerr delivered judgment in the 
case of Rappart v. Peat & Dillon, which was before 
him some time ago, and which raised questions of 
peculiar interest and importance to Orchid growers 
and others. The plaintiff, Mr. David B. Rappart, 
The Promenade, Liscard, Cheshire, sought to recover 
against the defendants, Mr. W. P. Peat & Mr. 
Malcolm Dillon, executors of the late Mr. G. D. 
Owen, 24, Grosvenor Road, Newcastle-on-Tyne, the 
return of the sum of £17 6s, 6d., which he had 
paid to them for certain Orchids. 
Mr. J. G. Pease was counsel for the plaintiff, and 
Mr. Edwin Pollock for the defendants. The 
plaintiff’s case was that he attended the sale of the 
Selwood collection of Orchids which was held at 
Selwood, Rotherham, Yorkshire, on April 24th, 25th, 
and 26th of last year, when the late Mr. Owen’s fine 
collection was disposed of by auction. He purchased 
Orchids which were not, as he asserted, of the 
rarity represented, and he now wanted his money to 
be returned, as a mistake had been made. He 
bought an Odontoglossum elegans, a Dendrobium 
splendidissimum grandiflorum, and a Cattleya 
Skinneri alba. For those he paid £iy 6s. 6d. The 
plants were not in flower when he bought them, so it 
was impossible to tell whether the plants really 
answered the descriptions contained in the catalogue 
upon which he purchased. When the plants 
flowered the Odontoglossum turned out to be aHalli 
(worth 2S. 6d. instead of the 5 gs. he had paid), the 
Dendrobium proved to be an Ainsworthii (worth 2s.) 
and the Cattleya Skinneri alba was not an alba at 
all, but quite an ordinary variety. As a mistake had 
been made somewhere he asked to have his money 
returned. 
The defendants’ case was that the plaintiff had 
purchased, as a fact, what the defendants pretended 
to sell him. The late Mr. Owen had seen the 
Orchids in flower, and when he bought them Mr. 
Owen paid sums far in excess of those paid by the 
plaintiff. The plaintiff must have mixed them up in 
some way or other. There could be no doubt that 
the defendants sold the plaintiff the genuine plants, 
and not the common varieties which was now 
alleged. 
Mr. Commissioner Kerr, on the last occasion, said 
there was no allegation of mala fides on the part of 
anyone ; but that as the case presented so many 
difficulties he would take time to consider his 
decision. He now gave judgment. He said the case 
had given him more trouble than any action had 
involved for a long time past. He could not satisfy 
his mind that he ought to give judgment for either 
the plaintiff or the defendants, as he was in so much 
difficulty. He was bound to say that the plaintiff 
had not satisfied him that he did not get the Orchids 
that he bought. That being so the plaintiff had 
failed in his action. As the plaintiff might be able 
to satisfy another Judge in another Court he would 
simply nonsuit the plaintiff, so that another action 
might be brought elsewhere. He allowed the 
defendants their costs. 
-- 
©bttuatr. 
Mr. James Russell. —It is with much regret we 
announce the death of Mr. James Russell, late 
gardener at Poltallocb, Argyleshire, who died at 
Sandbank, Campbeltown, at 12.30 a.m., on Thursday, 
the 26th ult., in the 77th year of his age. Mr. 
Russell had been gardener to John Malcolm, Esq., 
of Poltalloch, for the long period of thirty-nine 
years, and needless to say his influence for good 
upon the place was visible in more respects than that 
of gardening. 
