January  11,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
35 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
DRILL  HA.LL. — January  9th. 
The  Drill  Hall,  on  this  the  occasion  of  the  first  show  of  1900,  did 
not  present  a  particularly  attractive  appearance.  Fruit  was  practically 
non  est.  Orchids,  however,  were  fairly  numerous,  and  of  a  most 
interesting  character.  The  only  exhibit  of  striking  individuality  in 
the  floral  section  was  the  collection  of  Primulas  from  the  great 
Reading  firm  of  Sutton  &  Sons, 
Fruit.  — The  duties  of  the  Fruit  Committee  appeared  to  be  nil,  but 
ultimately  Mr.  G.  Woodward  gardener  to  R.  Leigh,  Esq.,  Bark  am, 
exhibited  dishes  of  Pears  Doyenne  d’Alenyon  and  Passe  Crasanne, 
both  in  splendid  condition. 
Floral  Committee. — Present :  W.  Marshall,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ; 
and  Messrs.  O.  Thomas,  Chas.  T.  Druery,  H.  B.  May,  R.  Dean,  W. 
Howe,  J.  F.  McLeod,  R.  B.  Lowe,  Chas.  E.  Pearson,  Jas.  Hudson, 
E.  T.  Cook,  H.  J.  Cutbiish,  Geo.  Gordon,  Chas.  E.  Shea,  Chas.  Blick, 
Harry  Turner,  Geo.  Paul,  D.  B.  Crane,  and  J.  Fraser. 
The  chief  exhibit  in  the  Hall  was  a  large  and  attractive  group  of 
Primulas  from  Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons.  The  plants  had  just  produced 
their  first  flower  trusses  to  perfection  ;  the  colours  were  exceedingly 
bright  and  varied,  while  the  dwarf  habit  of  the  plants  left  little  to  be 
desired.  The  single  varieties  of  the  sinensis  section  included  Brilliant 
Rose,  Sutton’s  Blue,  a  Fern-leaved  variety;  Sutton’s  Star,  a  white  variety 
of  the  stellata  section  ;  Snowdrift,  Pink  Star,  Crimson  King,  a  brilliant 
•crimson,  possessing  a  grand  habit;  Reading  Blue,  and  Rosy  Queen,  a 
delicate  pink.  The  double  varieties  were  remarkably  fine.  Carnation 
Flaked  is  a  pretty  form,  white  delicately  flaked  with  rose ;  Improved 
Double  Scarlet,  a  bright  variety  with  capital  foliage  ;  Double  Pink,  a 
dwarf  variety ;  and  Double  White,  a  free  form  of  good  habit.  A 
few  plants  of  The  Duchess,  a  white  single  variety  with  a  rose  centre, 
very  distinct.  The  exhibit  was  relieved  with  numbers  of  small  Ferns 
and  decorative  Palms.  The  same  firm  also  staged  Cyclamen  Salmon 
Queen,  a  pretty  variety,  and  Cyclamen  Papilio  in  a  variety  of  colours 
(silver  Flora  medal). 
A  box  of  exceedingly  bright  Rhododendron  hybrids  was  staged  by 
Messrs.  Jas.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Ltd.,  Chelsea  ;  the  flowers  were  particularly 
attractive  at  this  season.  The  varieties  were  Princess  Beatrice,  a 
rosy  fawn  ;  Indian  Chief,  a  bright  buff  ;  Delioatum,  flesh  pink  ;  Cloth 
of  Gold,  a  pale  yellow  ;  Empress,  a  rosy  red  ;  Princess  Alexandra, 
white ;  Conqueror,  red  ;  multicolor  Mrs.  Heale,  a  charming  white ; 
and  multicolor  Neptune,  a  bright  red. 
Mr.  H.  J.  Jones,  Ryecroft  Nursery,  Lewisham,  staged  some  vases  of 
Mrs.  Alfred  Tate,  the  bronze  sport  from  Etoile  de  Lyon,  also  a  good 
yellow  variety  that  has  sported  from  Mrs.  Alfred  Tate  ;  both  should  be 
useful  for  late  decorative  work.  Messrs.  W.  Wells  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  Earlswood 
-Nurseries,  staged  baskets  of  the  new  late  white  Chrysanthemum 
Letrier  ;  the  flowers  are  borne  on  stiff  stalks,  while  the  broad  petals 
possess  plenty  of  substance.  It  appears  to  be  a  good  market  variety  ; 
also  a  yellow  variety,  Kakor,  bright  in  colour,  with  good  petals.  Messrs. 
Hugh  Low  &  Co.,  Bush  Hill  Park,  arranged  a  table  of  Cyclamen  of  the 
Papilio  type. 
Orchid  Committee. — Present  :  Harry  Veitch,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ; 
and  Messrs.  J.  O’Brien,  De  B.  Crawshay,  H.  Little,  F.  Sander,  J.  T. 
Gabriel,  H.  J.  Chapman,  W.  H.  Young,  W.  H.  White,  T.  W.  Bond, 
H.  T.  Pitt,  J.  Colman,  J.  Douglas,  and  J.  G.  Fowler. 
Mr.  W.  H.  Young,  Orchid  grower  to  Sir  F.  Wigan,  Bart.,  Clare 
Lawn,  East  Sheen,  contributed  a  very  bright  and  attractive  group  of 
Orchids,  in  which  Phalsenopsis  were  peculiarly  conspicuous.  These 
comprised  Sanderiana,  Stuartiana,  Schilleriana,  amabilis,  and  graudi- 
llora.  Other  Orchids  included  were  Cypripediums  insigne  Wigan’s  var., 
Leeanum,  Rothschildianum,  Statterianum,  and  Marjorie  ;  Pleurothallis 
Koezli,  Zygocolax  leopardinum  Wigan’s  var.,  and  Wiganianum;  Laslia 
Gouldiana,  and  Odontoglossum  crispum  (silver  Flora  medal). 
A  small  group  of  Orchids  was  shown  by  R.  W.  Richards,  Esq., 
The  Priory,  Dsk,  Mon.  There  were  two  forms  of  Odontoglossum 
Rossi,  a  form  of  O.  crispum  with  a  much  branching  spike,  and  Cypri- 
pedium  insigne,  Dsk  Priory  variety  (silver  Banksian  medals).  Messrs, 
B.  S.  Williams  &  Son  were  represented  by  a  collection  of  Cypripediums, 
including  Sallieri  aureum,  Leeanum  superbum,  villosum,  insigne 
Maulei,  nitens  superbum,  discolor,  Williamsianum,  Pitcherianum 
Williams’  var.,  rubrum,  insigne  Fosterianum,  insigne  albo-marginatum, 
Fitchiauum,  Spicerianum,  Measuresianum,  and  a  seedling. 
Mr.  R.  B.  Lowe,  gardener  to  Earl  Brownlow,  Ashridge,  sent  a 
magnificent  plant  of  Cypripedium  Leeanum  carrying  twenty-six 
splendidly  developed  flowers.  Messrs.  H.  Low  &  Co.,  Bush  Hill  Park, 
staged  Cycncches  chlorochilon,  Cymbidium  Traceyanum,  Lajlia 
Gouldiana,  Odontoglossum  crispum,  Cypripedium  Leeanum  giganteum, 
C.  insigne  Laura  Kimball,  a  white  form  of  Dendrobium  nobile,  and  one 
or  tw'o  others  (silver  Banksian  medal). 
'Mr.  W.  H.  White,  Orchid  grower  to  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  Bart., 
Burford  Lodge,  Dorking,  exhibited  Calanthes  Phcebe,  rubro-ocnlata 
splendens,  limatodes,  limatodes  rosea,  porphyrea,  and  revertens  splen- 
dens,  Cypripedium  fascinatum,  Mormodes  buccinator  Rolfei,  M.  b. 
Warscewiczi,  Platyclinis  uncata,  and  Ltelia  anceps  Leeana.  Mr. 
E.  Shill,  gardener  to  G.  W.  L.  Schofield,  Esq.,  Rawtenstall,  sent  a 
couple  of  Cypripediums  ;  Mr.  J.  Douglas  Laelia  Bresies  ;  Mr.  Wm. 
Appleton  two  Cypripediums;  Mr.  A.  Chapman,  gardener  to  Captain 
Holford,  Westonbirt,  Tetbury,  two  Cypripediums  ;  Mr.  Downes, 
gardener  to  J.  T.  Bennet-Poe,  Esq.,  Cheshunt,  Dendrobium  spectabile; 
Messrs.  L.  Linden,  Brussels,  Cypripediums  and  Odontoglossums ;  Mr. 
B.  Kromer,  West  Croydon,  Brssavola  grandiflora;  Mr.  T.  W.  Swinburne, 
Winchcombe,  Glos,  Laelia  Jongheana  ;  and  Messrs.  Heath  &  Sons, 
Cheltenham,  Cypripedium  Leeanum  viridis. 
Certificates  and  Awards  of  Merit. 
Cypripedium  Sir  Bedvers  Buller  (W.  M.  Appleton). — This  is  a  cross 
from  C.  Smith!  and  C.  insigne.  It  is  a  most  handsome  flower.  .The 
immense  dorsal  sepal  has  a  yellowish  green  ground,  almost  obscured  by 
lines  of  chocolate  brown  spots  ;  it  is  margined  with  white  flushed  rose. 
The  large  pouch  is  reddish  claret.  The  petals  are  claret  with  large 
brown  varnished  spots  (first-class  certificate). 
Lcelia  anceps  Leeana  (W.  H.  White). — A  pure  white  variety  of  fine 
form.  The  lip  has  a  slight  tinge  of  colour  on  the  front  lobe,  and  lemon 
in  the  throat  (award  of  merit). 
Pear  Doyenne  d’Alen^on  (G.  Woodward). — A  well-known  variety  of 
proved  excellence  (award  of  merit). 
Primula  sinensis  General  French  (Sutton  &  Sons,  Reading). — A 
double  variety,  good  in  habit  and  with  deep  crimson  flowers  (award  of 
merit). 
Primula  sinensis  (Sutton  &  Sons). — This  well  known  and  excellent 
strain  received  an  award  of  merit. 
Zygocolax  leopardinum  Wigan’s  var.  (W.  H.  Young). — The  sepals  and 
petals  are  green  and  brown,  and  the  lip  is  violet  (award  of  merit). 
Zygocolax  Wiganiana. — This  bigeneric  hybrid  is  from  Zygopetalum 
intermedium  and  Colax  jugosus.  The  sepals  and  petals  are  green 
barred  bright  brown,  and  the  lip  is  white,  with  violet  markings  (award 
of  merit). 
NOTES  ON  FIGS. 
Early  Forced  Treks  in  Pots. — The  temperature  should  now,  for 
trees  started  in  November,  be  increased  to  60°  at  night,  and  65°  bv 
day  by  artificial  means,  70°  to  75°  with  sun  heat,  commencing  to 
ventilate  at  70°,  closing  at  75°,  and  if  the  tempera'ure  rise  5°  to  10°  it 
will  be  an  advantage,  provided  it  is  due  to  sun  heat.  Avoid,  however, 
a  high  temperature  by  artificial  means,  for  it  tends  to  attenuate  and 
vYeaken  the  growths,  and  this  is  unfavourable  to  the  first  and  second 
crops  of  fruit.  The  sturdier  and  shorter- jointed  the  young  shoots 
can  be  kept  the  greater  the  chances  of  a  satisfactory  early  crop. 
Syringe  the  house  and  trees  twice  a  day,  in  the  morning  and  again  at 
closing  in  bright  weather ;  but  when  dull  sprinkle  the  fl'or,  pit  sides, 
and  walls,  as  a  saturated  atmosphere  at  such  tin.es  is  unfavourable  to 
a  sturdy  fruitful  habit. 
As  the  fermenting  material  settles  firmly  about  the  pots  add  fresh 
leaves,  bringing  them  nearer  to  the  rims,  taking  care  that  the  heat 
about  the  pots  does  not  exceed  70°  to  75°.  Water  the  trees  as  required 
with  liquid  manure,  always  before  the  soil  becomes  dry.  Neglect  of  water 
for  once  only  will  cause  the  entire  collapse  of  the  first  crop.  Place  some 
turves  about  2  inches  thick,  grass  side  downwards,  on,  round,  and  over- 
the  rims  of  the  pots,  extending  a  couple  of  inches  on  the  inside  and 
outside,  filling  the  circular  dish  with  rich  compost.  Sprinkle  a  little 
fertiliser  on  the  turves ;  surface  dressing  occasionally,  and  water 
the  turves  with  liquid  manure  so  as  to  keep  them  moist.  Stop  the- 
growth  at  the  fifth  leaf,  especially  if  necessary  for  inducing  a  bushy 
habit,  but  avoid  crowding  the  trees  with  growth  and  foliage  that  can¬ 
not  receive  plenty  of  light. 
Planted-out  Fig  Trees  to  Ripen  the  Fruit  in  May. — The  house 
containing  the  planted- out  trees  for  this  purpose  would  be  started  at 
the  new  year,  or,  if  nor,  there  must  be  no  further  delay  in  setting 
the  house  to  work.  The  border  will  probably  require  repeated 
waterings  to  moisten  it  thoroughly  through  to  the  drainage.  Avoid, 
however,  making  the  soil  sodden  and  sour  or  even  very  wet,  as  only 
moderate  moisture  is  required  in  the  early  stages.  The  surface  of 
the  border  may  then  be  covered  with  about  2  inches  thickness  of 
turfy  loam  and  decayed  manure  in  equal  parts,  with  one-sixth  of  old 
mortar  rubbish  added.  The  roots  will  extend  from  the  collar  into 
this,  especially  if  the  mulch  be  rather  thicker  there.  This  will 
favour  surface-rooting,  and  it  will  be  still  further  accelerated  and 
growth  sustained,  both  in  the  wood  and  fruit,  by  the  application  of 
some  approved  fertiliser. 
The  surfaces  of  the  house  and  trees  will  require  an  occasional 
syringing,  but  avoid  damping  the  trees  in  very  dull  weather,  yet 
maintain  a  genial  condition  of  the  atmosphere  by  sprinkling  the- 
pathways  and  borders  when  they  become  dry.  Maintain  a  night 
temperature  of  50°,  55°  from  fire  heat  by  day,  and  from  60°  to  65° 
with  sun  heat,  ventilating  freely  from  that  temperature,  and  losing  no 
opportunity  ot  effect -v  ?  change  of  air  daily. — Grower. 
Camellia  Buds  Falling.  —  In  my  opinion,  the  cause  of  this 
trouble  is  often  dryness  at  the  roots,  the  risk  of  which  is  greatly 
lessened  by  plunging  the  pots  in  beds  of  coal  asbes.  Since  we  adopted 
this  plan  we  have  had  scarcely  a  bud  drop,  though  the  structure  in 
which  the  plants  are  housed  is  often  heated  far  beyond  the  requii’ements 
of  Camellias  owing  to  the  presence  of  other  occupants.  Were  this  plan 
generally  adopted  as  far  as  practicable,  I  think  we  should  hear  less, 
of  this  trouble. — S.  X. 
