March  15,  1900. 
:V2 
■fOUnXAL  OF  HOnTTCULTURF  ANT)  COTTAGT:  GARDENER. 
while  a  few  plants  of  Spirn'as  and  (lloire  de  Lorraine  Hegonias  added  a 
special  feature.  The  Clematises  were  grown  in  5-inch  pots,  and  were 
laden  with  flowers.  The  most  prominent  W'  re  Lord  Wolseley,  Mrs. 
Quilter,  Miss  Bateman,  and  Lady  ijondosborough. 
Messrs.  Barr  &  Rons,  Covent  Garden,  opened  the  Narcissus  season 
with  a  pretty  display.  The  chief  forms  were  coronatus,  Victoria, 
telamonius  plenus.  Golden  Spur,  Henry  Irving,  ornatiis,  spurius, 
Ilorsefieldi,  and  Sir  Watkin  ;  also  hardy  Cyclamens  in  variety,  Crocuses 
in  various  forms,  and  Chionodoxas,  Jiachenalias,  and  Irises.  A  pretty 
display  for  the  season. 
Messrs.  J.  Laing  &  Sons,  Forest  Hill,  again  staged  a  fine  table  of 
foliage  and  flowering  plants,  chiefly  of  the  decorative  typo.  The  most 
attractive  subjects  were  Azaleas  in  variety,  Epacrises,  Calla  Elliotiana, 
and  Clivias.  The  foliage  jilants,  however,  formed  a  good  feature,  and 
included  well  grown  plants  of  Crotons,  Dracaenas,  Palms,  and  Ferns. 
Messrs.  Paul  &  Son,  Cheshunt,  staged  an  interesting  display  of  alpine 
and  rock  plants,  with  Hellebores  ami  a  few  spring  flowering  plants. 
The  Hellebores  were  represented  by  H.  colchicus  coccineus,  H.  c. 
punctatus,  II.  orientalis,  and  11.  o.  (Itotchen  Heinoman.  The  Saxi- 
fragas  also  formed  a  pleasing  feature  (bronze  Hanksian  medal). 
Fig.  C3. — L#.lia  Jongheana. 
A  large  table  of  Azalea  mollis  seedlings  was  staged  in  good  condi¬ 
tion  by  Mr.  J.  Bussell,  Kichmond.  The  plants  were  shown  in  a  variety 
of  colours,  and  had  evidently  been  well  developed  (silver  Banksian 
medal).  Messrs.  J.  James  &  Son,  Farnham  Royal,  Slough,  have  been 
noted  as  specialists  in  the  cultivation  of  the  Cineraria,  but  it  is 
doubtful  if  they  have  ever  staged  so  perfect  a  strain  as  seen  on  this 
occasion.  The  plants  left  little  to  be  desired  as  far  as  habit  is  con¬ 
cerned,  while  the  flowers,  both  in  form  and  colour,  testify  to  the  skill 
and  care  that  has  been  expended  in  building  up  this  noted  strain 
(silver-gilt  Banksian  medal).  Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons,  Beading,  arranged 
a  table  of  Cinerarias  in  two  varieties,  Sutton’s  Light  Blue,  a  variety  of 
dwarf  habit  and  pleasing  colour,  and  Sutton’s  New  Pink,  a  pink. 
A  table  of  fine  Azalea  mollis  w'as  contributed  by  Messrs.  R.  &  G. 
Cuthbert,  Southgate.  The  plants  were  dense  masses  of  flowers  in  their 
well-known  delicate  tints,  with  a  groundwork  of  Ferns  (silver  Bankian 
medal).  Mr.  Geo.  Mount  again  sent  uj)  some  glorious  Boses,  com¬ 
prising  boxes  of  Captain  Hayward  and  Catherine  Mermet,  witli  Mrs. 
J.  Laing  and  Captain  Hayward  on  long  stems,  all  in  first-rate  form, 
with  good  foliage  (silver  Banksian  medal).  Some  well  grown  Cyclamens 
were  staged  by  the  Church  Road  Nursery  Co.,  Hanwell. 
Messrs.  Wm.  Cutbush  &  Son,  lligbgate,  presented  a  large  table  of 
Ericas  in  variety,  some  well  flowered  Epacrises,  Begonia  Gloire  de 
Lorraine,  Ei’icas,  Acacias,  and  Boronias,  while  the  hardy  plants  were 
Pyrus  mains  floribunda,  Staphylea  colcbica,  Laburnum,  and  double 
flowering  Peaches,  the  whole  arranged  with  Palms,  Azaleas,  and  a  front 
of  Ficus  repens.  A  small  group  of  plants  was  staged  by  Messrs.  B. 
Wallace  &  Co.,  Colchester,  comprising  a  basket  of  Anemone  blanda 
and  Eranthis  cilicus. 
I  Messrs.  Jas.  Veiich  &  Sons,  Ijtd.,  Chelsea,  staged  a  table  of  Primulas, 
I  which  included  P.  stellata  ami  P,  rosea.  Mrs.  Makiris  (a  floriferous 
I  white).  Gigantic  Bose,  and  Gigantic  Blue  in  the  ordinary  fringed 
types  were  good,  as  were  also  the  double  forms.  Double  Salmon,  an 
effective  colour ;  Double  Crimson,  a  bright  colour;  and  Double  Mauve. 
!  'I'he  same  firm  also  exhibited  a  small  group  of  Cerasus  pseudo-Cerasus 
^  Watereri  in  excellent  condition.  The  plants  were  full  of  flower, 
!  and  the  delicate  blush  of  the  petals  made  them  quite  noticeable.  Mr. 
I  H.  J.  Jones,  Byecroft  Nursery,  Lewisham,  staged  a  table  of  spring 
flowers,  consisting  of  Hyacinths  and  Narcissi.  The  former  were 
represented  by  a  large  number  of  varieties,  while  the  latter  contained 
well  developed  bunches  of  Mrs.  Thomson,  Ilorsefieldi,  Henry  Irving, 
Sir  Wafkin,  ornatus,  and  obvallaris  (silver  Banksian  medal).) 
Okciiio  Co-MMiitee. — Present:  J,  G.  Fowler,  Esq.  (in  the  chair); 
with  Messrs.  J.  O’Brien,  de  B.  Crawshay,  H.  Billantiue,  N.  C.  Cookson, 
H.  Liule,  J.  T,  Gabriel,  11.  J.  Chapman,  J.  W.  Potter,  F.  Sander, 
E.  Hill,  W.  H.  White,  11.  T.  Pitt,  H.  Tracy,  W.  H.  Young,  F.  J.  Thorne, 
and  J.  Dmiglas. 
Mr.  H.  Whiffen,  gardener  to  J.  Bradshaw,  Esq.,  The  Grange, 
Southgate,  arrarjgerl  a  smnll  group  of  Orchids.  Ttiere  were  several 
forms  of  Cattleya  'I’liana;,  including  the  chastely  beautiful  C.  T.  Ames- 
laiia  and  C.  'I',  arrioma,  with  Cadogyne  cristata  ulba,  La;Iia  harpophylla, 
and  a  few  OdontogloSHums  (silver  Banksian  medal).  Messrs.  H.  Low 
and  Co.,  Bush  Hill  t’uik,  exhibited  a  small  group  in  which  Dondrobium 
Wardianum  Lowi,  a  splendid  plant  (/f  D.  Bry rneriarium,  D.  Fiichiatiurn, 
D.  Madonna,  D.  Ainsworlhi  intertextum,  D.  Dowianum,  D.  nobile 
Murrhinianum,  Colax  jugosus,  and  a  few  others  were  conspicuous.  Mr. 
J.  M.  Black,  gaidener  to  B.  G.  'Ibwaites,  Esq..  Streatham,  sent  several 
Oichids,  including  Dondrobiums  and  Odontoglossums. 
Mr.  C.  J.  Salter,  gardener  to  T.  B.  Haywood,  Esq.,  Woodhatch 
Lodge,  Beigate,  showed  a  collection  of  Dendrobiurns,  including  several 
superb  varieties.  The  plants  were  excellently  grown  and  carried 
flowers  of  exceptional  size  and  substance.  The  varieties  comprised 
principally  forms  of  splondidissimurn  and  Ainsworthi,  with  many  others 
(silver  Flora  medal).  .Messrs.  J.  Cypher  &  Co.,  Cheltenham,  staged 
a  small  collection  mainly  of  Odontoglossums,  There  were  several 
well-known  varieties  as  well  as  one  or  two  seedlings.  Mr.  W.  J. 
Empson,  gardener  to  A.  H.  Wingfield,  Esq.,  Ampthill,  exhibited  a  few 
Cyiu'ipediums. 
The  smaller  exhibits  of  Crehids  were  very  numerous,  and  included 
specimens  from  Messrs.  W.  H.  White,  W.  Murray,  U.  J.  Chapman, 
JI.  A.  Tracey,  11.  Low  &  Co,,  H.  Whiffen,  B.  Roberts,  H.  Carnet, 
F.  Sander  &  Co.,  and  J.  Veitch  &  Sons. 
Certificates  and  Awards  of  Merit. 
JJendrobium  Burhiirryamim  (W.  H.  White). — This  is  a  hybrid  that 
resulted  from  a  cross  between  D.  Findleyanum  arid  D.  Dominianum. 
It  is  a  lovely  form.  The  sepals  and  petals  are  rich  red,  as  is  the  front 
lobe  of  the  lip.  The  central  {lortion  is  cream,  and  the  side  lobes  of  the 
throat  reddish  crimson  (award  of  merit). 
LatUa  Jongheana  (Messrs.  F.  W.  Thurgood,  F.  J.  Thorne,  and 
F.  Sander  &  Co.). — '1  his  is  an  Orchid  that  was  shown  by  the  above 
exhibitors  with  slight  variations  of  form  and  colour.  The  sepals  and 
petals  are  flat,  and  of  a  rose  purple,  the  lip  being  white  with  a  heavily 
fimbriated  rose  lip  and  a  yellow  throat  (^award  of  merit).  See  illustration 
fig.  63. 
Odontoglossum  crispum,  Oakfield  Sunrise  (B.  Roberts). — The  sepals 
are  white,  suffused  with  cream  and  one  or  two  pin  head  spots  of 
chocolate.  The  sepals  except  the  white  tips  are  chocolate  crimson 
(award  of  merit). 
OdontogloHsum  elegans,  Eastwood  I’arlc  variety  (H.  Ballantine). — 
A  most  attractive  Orchid.  The  sepals  and  petals  are  delicate  rose, 
with  both  large  and  small  brown  spots  (first-class  certificate). 
I’entapterygium  serpens  (J.  Downes). — An  uncommon  Himalayan 
plant  with  bright  red  tubular  flowers  hanging  beneath  the  growths 
(award  of  merit). 
The  Evolution  of  Plante. 
The  attendance  at  the  afternoon  meeting  in  the  Drill  Hall,  when  Mr. 
B.  Irwin  Lynch,  the  distinguished  curator  of  the  Cambridge  Botanical 
Garden,  read  a  paper  on  this  subject,  was  not  nearly  so  large  as  might 
have  been  expected  considering  the  interest  and  importance  of  the 
topic.  There  were  large  numbers  of  persons  in  the  body  of  the  hall, 
and  it  speaks  well  for  the  enthusiasm  of  various  gentlemen  that  the 
society  continues  able  to  provide  those  papers,  for  there  was  on  this,  as 
on  other  occasions,  a  continuous  buzz  that  \Vub  annoying  to  the 
audience  at  the  lecture  and  must  have  been  very  disconcerting  to  the 
lecturer.  As  wo  have  said  before  we  wish  something  could  be  done  to 
mitigate  this  trouble. 
The  field  covered  by  the  title  of  Mr.  Lynch’s  discourse  is  a 
tremendously  wide  one,  which  becomes  more  and  more  interesting  the 
deeper  it  is  penetrated.  Considering  the  experience  of  the  essayist 
it  need  scarcely  be  said  that  the  subject  was  treated  of  in  a  most 
entertaining  manner,  while  at  the  same  time  the  essayist  succeeded  in 
maintaining  its  instructive  aspect.  Notwithstanding  the  strain  that 
Mr.  Lynch  was  undergoing  the  noise  prevented  those  at  the  back  from 
hearing  much  that  was  said.  The  complete  text  will,  however,  be  given 
in  the  Journal  of  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  and  will  be  eagerly  read 
by  many  persons. 
