54 
January  18,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE 
BEGONIA  SOCOTRANA. 
About  twenty  years  ago  this  handsome  species  was  introduced  to 
Kew  from  the  island  of  Sucrotra  by  Dr,  Balfour,  and  a  few  years  later 
it  was  put  into  commerce  by  Messrs.  \  eitch.  On  first  flowering  it 
was  found  to  possess  the  qualities  of  a  first-rate  garden  plant,  and 
hopes  were  also  entertained  that  it  would  prove  useful  to  the  hybridist. 
That  it  has  fulfilled  the  promises  of  its  early  days  is  quite  evident,  fur 
besides  being  a  most  useful  and  showy  winter  flowering  plant,  it  is 
one  of  the  parents  of  the  new  race  of  winter  flowering  Begonias 
typified  by  B.  Gloire  d©  Lorraine. 
In  general  appearance  it  differs  from  most  other  species.  It  is 
included  in  the  tuberous  section,  but  differs  from  other  inembers  by 
making  a  large  number  of  small  bulbils  instead  of  one  single  tuber. 
The  leaves  also  differ  from  those  of  other  species  by  being  quite 
round,  with  a  cup-shaped  depression  in  the  centre.  From  each  bulbil 
a  stoutish  stem  is  made  a  few  inches  high,  on  which  from  four  to  six  of 
the  handsome,  bright  green  leaves — which  are  from  4  to  6  inches  across 
— are  borne.  The  flowers  are  produced  in  medium-sized,  loose  trusses 
well  above  the  leaves  ;  they  are  bright  rosy  red,  and  2  inches  across. 
Unlike  other  species,  this  requires  resting  during  summer,  and 
should  be  kept  perfectlj’  dry  from  the  time  the  leaves  fall  until  August. 
At  the  beginning  of  this  month  the  tubers  should  be  divided,  and 
potted  several  together  in  3-inch  pots  in  a  mixture  of  loam,  leaf  soil, 
and  peat  in  equal  proportions,  with  a  fair  quantity  of  sand  added. 
They  should  be  placed  in  a  house  having  a  minimum  temperature 
of  55",  and  little  or  no  water  given  until  growth  has  commenced. 
After  leaves  appear  the  plants  should  be  grown  quickly  without  a 
check,  potting  when  necessary  until  they  are  in  6-inch  pots.  When 
the  pots  are  filled  with  roots  liquid  manure  should  be  given.  Under 
this  method  big  plants  should  be  obtained,  which  will  flower  from 
the  end  of  November  onwards  for  at  least  two  months. — W.  D. 
HARDY  VINES  FOR  THE  OPEN. 
I  WISH  to  thank  the  various  correspondents  for  their  interesting 
notes  on  outdoor  Vines,  on  pages  468,  496,  520,  and  541.  I  am  parti¬ 
cularly  obliged  to  “  F.  S.,  Dumbarton,”  for  giving  his  experience  so  fa,r 
north  as  Scotland,  and  hope  he  will  favour  us  with  further  notes  this 
year ;  also  to  Mr.  H.  M.  Tod  for  the  list  of  sorts  he  has  found  to 
ripen  early,  and  those  that  are  uncertain  to  ripen.  The  suggestion  that 
not  only  the  unripe  fruit,  but  the  superfluous  green  growth  of  Vines, 
with  sugar  added,  will  make  wine  equal  to  ripe  fruit  is  worth  knowing, 
as  there  are  always  an  abundance  of  surplus  growth.  There  are  various 
ways  in  which  unripe  fruit  can  be  used  instead  of  wasted.  This  and 
the  thinnings  of  Grapes  can  be  utilised  for  tarts  or  simply  stewed,  but 
the  best  way  of  using  the  fruit  at  any  stage,  particularly  by  those  who 
have  only  a  small  or  a  moderate  quantity,  is  in  the  form  of  Green  Grape 
jelly,  which  is  very  good. 
Mr.  Tod  mentions  American  Brandt.  It  would  seem  this  variety  is 
fairly  satisfactory,  but  are  there  not  several  of  the  American  varieties 
which  would  succeed  in  our  climate  ?  Perhaps  some  of  the  readers  of 
“  our  Journal  ”  will  give  tlleir  experience  with  these. 
It  would  be  most  interesting,  and  in  all  probability  useful,  to  set 
about  cross-breeding,  so  as  to  produce  finer  sorts  and  earlier  ripening 
varieties  than  any  we  now  possess.  This  has  already  been  brought 
about  with  other  fruits,  and  splendid  results  have  been  achieved.  Only 
a  few  days  ago  I  was  told  by  an  ex-soldier  that  he  saw  in  the  cold  parts 
of  Abyssinia  splendid  large  Grapes  growing  in  the  open,  of  good 
quality.  They  were  simply  planted  on  hillocks,  the  branches  resting  on 
the  ground.  Can  anyone  give  any  information  on  this  v'ariety  ? 
“  Wanderer  ”  mentions  Keine  Olga  Grape  as  being  easy  to  grow  in 
the  open.  Will  someone  kindly  give  their  experience  and  any  information 
of  this  Grape,  or  any  other  hardy  variety  they  have  found  a  success  ? 
Enclosed  T  send  a  newspaper  cutting,  showing  that  vineyards  were 
established  in  England  before  the  Norman  conquest,  and  that  Lincoln 
was  one  of  the  places  where  they  were  grown — presumably  on  the 
southern  slope  of  the  hill,  where  we  now  have  a  street  called  “  Vine 
Street.” — W.  B.,  Lincoln. 
[The  “  cutting  ”  referred  to  is  from  the  “  Globe  ” — a  long  narrative 
of  old  English  vineyards,  and  concludes  as  follows  : — “  Old  Vines  still 
adorn  the  south  walls  and  sunny  gables  of  many  cottages  and  farm¬ 
houses  in  the  southern  counties  of  England,  and  in  favourable  seasons 
a  fair  yield  of  Grapes  may  be  obtained.  These  wall  Vines  are  so 
picturesque  that  one  would  fain  hope  the  day  is  far  distant  when  they 
will  be  superseded  by  more  showy  creepers.  But  to  attempt  to  revive 
the  systematic  cultivation  of  the  Grape,  with  the  view  of  producing 
wine  which  should  compete  in  any  degree  with  the  growths  of  foreign 
vineyards,  would  be  perfectly  hopeless.  An  isolated  experiment,  con¬ 
ducted  with  unwearying  labour  and  pains,  like  that  of  the  Marquis  of 
Bute,  when  circumstances  are  favourable,  and  when  profit  is  no  object, 
may  meet  with  some  degree  of  success.  But  from  a  commercial  point 
of  view  such  efforts  are  practically  foredoomed  to  failure.  English 
wines  played  a  useful  part  in  the  past,  and  doubtless  satisfied  palates 
imperfectly  educated,  and  not  too  fastidious ;  but  beverages  which,  in 
the  expressive  language  of  the  old  chronicler,  ‘  twisted  the  mouths  of 
the  drinkers,’  would  have  few  attractions  for  modern  consumers.”] 
AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
THE  GARDENERS’  ROYAL  BENEVOLENT 
INSTITUTION. 
ANNUAL  GENERAL  MEETING. 
The  annual  general  meeting  of  this  estimable  Institution  which  was 
held  under  the  presidency  of  Mr.  Harry  J.  Veitch  at  Simpson’s  Hotel 
on  Friday  last,  did  not  bring  together  a  very  large  gathering. 
Amongst  the  best  known  horticulturists  present  were  Dr.  Maxwell  T. 
Masters,  and  Messrs.  G.  Monro,  W.  Roupell,  W.  Denning,  J.  Fraser, 
H.  J.  Cutbush,  G.  Wythes,  J.  H.  Veitch,  J.  Willard,  A.  G.  Monro, 
T.  Manning,  and  Ranger  Johnson.  After  the  Seci’etary  had  read  the 
minutes  of  the  previous  annual  meeting,  Mr.  Veitch  rose  and  put  the 
following  proposition,  which  was  adopted  without  a  dissentient 
voice  ; — 
“  That  this  general  meeting  of  subscribers  of  the  Gardeners’  Royal 
Benevolent  Institution  desires  to  place  on  record  its  deep  sense  of  the 
very  grievous  loss  sustained  by  the  Institution  through  the  death  of  its 
President,  the  late  Duke  of  Westminster.  It  also  gratefully  records 
the  great  interest  always  evinced  by  his  Grace  in  the  well  being  of  the 
Institution  and  the  liberality  he  continually  showed  during  the  twenty- 
one  years  that  he  occupied  the  office  of  President.” 
The  Secretary  then  read  the  report  and  balance-sheet  as  follows  : — 
Report  of  Committee  for  1899. 
The  Committee  in  submitting  their  anniral  report  for  the  year  1899 
again  have  the  great  satisfaction  of  congratulating  the  members  and 
subscribers  on  the  prosperous  condition  of  the  Institution  and  the 
marked  progress  which  happily  has  been  made  during  the  year,  not 
only  in  respect  of  its  financial  status,  but  also  in  dispensing  its 
assistance  to  a  greater  number  of  old  and  worthy  people  whose 
circumstances  and  necessities  have  obliged  them  to  seek  its  aid. 
At  the  beginning  of  the  year  174  pensioners — ninety-five  men  and 
seventy -nine  widows— were  receiving  £20  and  £16  a  year  respectively, 
entailing  an  annual  liability  of  £3160.  Of  this  number  during  the 
year  nine  men  and  one  widow  have  passed  away,  while  another  man 
whose  circumstances  have  changed  has  voluntarily  relinquished  his 
pension  ;  thus  leaving  a  total  number  of  163  on  the  funds  at  the  close 
of  the  year.  The  Committee  propose  to  increase  this  number,  and 
recommend  that  sixteen  pensioners  be  added — ten  by  resolution  under 
power  conferred  by  Rule  iii.  5,  and  the  remaining  six  by  the  votes  of 
members  and  subscribers,  giving  a  total  number  of  178  pensioners, 
being  four  more  than  the  number  on  the  corresponding  date  last  year. 
The  number  of  beneficiaries  will  then  be  larger  than  at  any  period  of 
the  Institution’s  past  history ;  and  whilst  keenly  alive  to  the  increased 
liabilities  necessarily  to  be  incurred,  the  Committee  are  also  confident 
they  may  rely  upon  the  continued  and  increased  support  of  the  friends 
of  the  Institution. 
The  Committee  have  to  report  that  the  anniversary  festival  dinner 
in  aid  of  the  funds,  under  the  presidency  of  the  Right  Hon.  the  Earl 
of  Derby,  K.G.,  P.C.,  proved  most  successful,  and  they  desire  to  place 
on  record  their  grateful  thanks  to  his  lordship  for  his  able  and  effective 
advocacy  of  the  claims  of  the  Institution,  which  resulted  in  such  a 
substantial  addition  to  the  funds,  as  well  as  for  his  lordship’s  own 
generous  contribution.  In  reply  to  the  vote  of  thanks  tendered  by  the 
Committee,  Lord  Derby  was  pleased  to  send  the  following  commu¬ 
nication  : — 
Derby  House,  St.  James’s  Square,  W. 
July  3rd,  1899. 
My  Dear  Sir, — 1  thank  you  for  your  letter  of  this  date  conveying  the 
kindly  message  sent  by  your  Committee  with  reference  to  the  festival  dinner 
of  the  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution  on  the  28th  ult.  I  am  very 
glad  to  learn  the  result  of  the  dinner  is  considered  to  have  been  satisfactory. 
For  my  own  part  I  certainly  say  that  I  am  very  happy  to  have  attended  so 
pleasant  a  gathering,  and  that  I  am  sincerely  grateful  for  the  assistance  and 
support  wiiich  I  received  as  your  Chairman  from  all  present,  and  especially 
from  the  Treasurer  and  yourself. — I  remain,  my  dear  Sir,  yours  very  faithfully, 
(Signed)  Derby. 
George  J.  Ingram,  Esq. 
The  Committee  take  this  opportunity  of  gratefully  acknowledging 
their  indebtedness  to  the  Stewards,  donors  of  flowers,  and  the  horti¬ 
cultural  press,  and  to  others  who  in  any  way  contributed  to  the  success 
of  the  anniversary.  They  likewise  tender  their  best  thanks  to  the 
Honorary  Secretaries  of  the  several  auxiliaries  for  their  kind  services, 
and  also  to  other  friends  throughout  the  country,  who,  by  arranging 
concerts,  flower  stalls,  opening  their  gardens,  and  in  other  ways  have 
so  materially  assisted  the  Institution.  The  Committee  are  glad  to 
announce  the  formation  of  an  auxiliary  at  Reading  under  the  presi¬ 
dency  of  Charles  E.  Keyser,  Esq.,  and  the  treasnrership  of  Arthur  W. 
Sutton,  Esq.,  which  they  feel  will  be  of  great  advantage  in  diffusing 
fuller  information  of  the  Institution  and  creating  a  wider  interest  in  its 
work  in  that  district.  Their  thanks  are  specially  due  to  Mr.  Sutton,  to 
whose  influence  and  indefatigable  exertions  the  establishment  of 
the  branch  is  due. 
To  the  Messrs.  N.  M.  Rothschild  &  Sons,  who  have  again  contri¬ 
buted  their  generous  annual  gift  of  £105;  to  the  anonymous  donor 
who  left  four  £5  notes  at  the  office  “  In  Memory  of  Robert  Fortune 
and  to  other  friends  too  numerous  to  mention  who  have  so  generously 
given  to  the  funds,  the  Committee  offer  their  most  grateful  thanks. 
