378 
Mav  3,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
Tlie  Hoyal  flopticultural  Society. 
The  Temple  Flower  Stjow,  May  23r(l,  24th,  and  2511]. 
For  the  thirteenth  year  in  succession  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  will  held  its  great  annual  flower  show  in  the  Inner  Temple 
Gardens  (by  the  kind  permission  of  the  treasurer  and  benchers)  on 
May  23rd,  24th,  and  25th. 
Every  year  the  desire  of  growers  to  exhibit  increases,  and  the 
ofiBcials  of  the  society  have  a  very  anxious  task  in  endeavouring  to  do 
justice  to  those  growers  who  regularly  support  the  fortnightly  shows 
of  the  society  held  at  the  Drill  Hall,  and  yet  at  the  same  time  to 
encourage  others  also  to  come  forward. 
The  space  is  absolutely  limited  by  order  of  the  Temple  authorities; 
no  more  or  larger  tents  may  be  erected,  hence  every  new  exhibitor 
whose  entry  is  accepted  means  curtailment  of  the  space  allotted  to 
previous  supporters. 
A  catalogue  of  the  show  is  given  gratis  to  every  visitor,  and  will 
contain  a  notice  of  new  and  rare  plants  entered  on  or  before  May  15th  ; 
it  will  also  contain  a  programme  of  the  music  to  be  performed  each 
day  by  the  band  of  her  Majesty’s  Royal  Horse  Guards  (Blues). 
The  judges  will  meet  at  the  secretary’s  tent  at  10.30  a.m.  on 
May  23rd,  at  which  hour  punctually  the  tents  will  be  cleared  of  all 
exhibitors  and  their  assistants. 
The  Fruit,  Floral,  and  Orchid  Committees  will  assemble  at  the 
secretary’s  tent  at  11  a.m.  sharp,  and  the  show  will  be  opened  at  12  30. 
All  plants  for  certificate  must  be  entered  on  or  before  Friday,  May 
18th,  addressed — The  Secretary,  R.H.S.,  117,  Victoria  Street,  S.W. 
They  cannot  be  entered  under  any  circumstances  on  the  day  of  the 
show. 
Scientific  Committee,  April  24ti|. 
Present :  Dr.  Maxwell  T.  Masters  (in  the  chair)  ;  Mr.  W.  Bateson, 
F.R.S. ;  Rev.  W.  Wilks,  Prof.  Church,  Or.  Muller,  and  Mr.  McLachlan. 
Ash-shoots  harked  hy  hornets. — Mr.  McLachlan  exhibited  growing 
shoots  completely  ringed  by  the  hornets.  This  is  apparently  a  rare 
occurrence,  but  the  chairman  recorded  a  similar  instance  which  had 
come  under  his  notice  in  Messrs.  Lee’s  nursery  at  Isle  worth  many  years 
ago. 
Fasciaiei  roots  of  Aloe  sp.— From  Mr.  Justus  Corderoy  came  speci¬ 
mens  of  pot-bound  Aloe-roots,  some  of  which  were  markedly  fasciated. 
Fasciation  so  common  in  stems  is  very  rare  in  roots,  only  two  or  three 
instances  being  recorded — viz.,  in  Spiraeas,  and  in  some  epiphytal 
Orchids. 
Umhell ate  Primrose. — Mr.  Arthur  Sutton  sent  a  flower  of  this  variety, 
at  one  time  confused  with  the  Oxlip. 
Evolution  Committee. — Mr.  Bateson  attended  as  a  delegate  from  the 
Royal  Society  to  bring  before  the  members  of  the  committee  some 
explanations  of  the  kind  of  work  which  it  was  hoped  some  cultivators 
might  be  disposed  to  undertake,  with  a  view  to  the  accurate  observation, 
and,  where  possible,  measurement  of  variations  in  the  plants  under 
their  care.  A  raiser  of  Chinese  Primroses,  for  instance,  might  keep 
under  observation  all  the  variations  that  arise,  measure  and  draw  or 
photograph  them  before  throwing  them  away,  so  that  we  should  have 
some  record  of  the  intermediate  stages  between  the  original  forms  and 
the  variety  thought  worthy  of  perpetuation. 
The  Views  of  Experts  op  Limpsfield. 
Mr.  Edwin  Beckett. 
I  VISITED  the  above  site  on  Wednesday,  April  18th,  as  requested 
in  company  with  Messrs.  Bunyard,  Paul,  and  Poupart.  We  carefully 
investigated  the  site,  and  I  beg  respectfully  to  submit  my  report  on 
same. 
Arable  field  marked  on  plan  344.  Test  hole  No.  1,  a  good  depth  of 
heavy  loam,  resting  on  strong  sandy  clay  subsoil.  No.  2,  test  hole 
ditto  ditto,  position  south  and  south-west,  protected  from  north  and 
east,  unquestionably  very  suitable  for  Strawberry  culture.  Field 
marked  on  plan  No.  343,  sloping  to  south-west,  test  hole  practically  the 
same  as  the  last. 
Field  No.  323,  facing  south.  Test  hole  No.  4,  slightly  lighter  and 
better  depth  of  surface  soil.  A  small  portion  of  this  field  is  water¬ 
logged  owing  to  the  water  courses  being  blocked. 
Field  No.  342,  grass  pasture,  south  aspect.  No.  5  test  hole.  A 
similar  kind  of  soil  to  the  last  and  also  badly  drained. 
Field  No.  324,  grass  pasture,  sloping  to  south-west.  No.  6  test  hole. 
Fully  a  foot  of  surface,  strong  loam  of  good  quality,  subsoil  sandy  clay. 
We  tested  this  field  at  four  stations  and  found  it  to  be  all  of  about  the 
same  quality. 
Field  No.  310,  now  cultivated  as  a  Hop  garden  on  southern  slope. 
Test  hole  No.  7.  Excellent  depth  of  surface  soil  of  a  much  lighter 
quality.  Test  hole  No.  8.  About  same  nature  as  foregoing. 
Field  No.  311,  arable,  good  light  sandy  loam  resting  on  rock,  falling 
rapidly  to  south-west ;  about  half-way  down  a  better  depth  of  soil  and 
of  superior  quality. 
In  my  opinion  nearly  the  whole  of  the  land  requires  to  be  thoroughly 
drained.  No  difficulty  should  be  found  in  carrying  this  out,  as  the  lie 
of  the  land  lends  itself  admirably  for  this  purpose.  Most  of  the  land 
also  is  in  a  very  poor  condition,  and  would  require  thorough  cultivation 
and  manuring.  The  variety  of  soils  and  positions  would  make  the  site 
an  admirable  one  for  an  experimental  garden.  The  whole  of  it  is 
particularly  well  situated  and  protected  from  north  and  east  winds, 
and  hardly  any  fruits,  fiowers,  or  vegetab'es  should  fail  to  do  well  upon 
it.  Rhododendrons,  perhaps,  excepted. 
I  consider  it  an  ideal  soil  for  all  kinds  of  vegetables,  and  apparently 
a  good  supply  of  water  could  be  stored,  and  a  delightful  bog  and  water 
garden  might  be  formed.  The  climate  appears  to  be  all  one  could  wish, 
and  the  site  could  be  made  both  interesting  and  beautiful. 
Mr.  George  Bunyard,  V.M.H. 
The  upper  portion  of  the  farm  is  some  400  feet  above  the  sea,  and 
falls  gradually  to  some  300  feet,  the  whole  (speaking  generally)  having 
a  most  desirable  exposure  to  the  south.  The  estate  is  naturally  sheltered 
from  the  north  and  east  by  the  adjacent  hills  and  woodland,  and  the 
spinneys  and  tall  hedges  provide  all  the  shelter  required  for  fruit  and 
vegetable  crops.  I  took  notes  of  the  soil  in  about  eighteen  positions, 
but  as  some  trials  were  exact  duplicates  I  only  record  nine  instances. 
Starting  at  the  lower  end  next  the  main  road  in  field  341-,  now 
in  Clover  and  seed,  the  soil  proved  to  be  an  unctuous  heavy 
loam,  with  a  subsoil  of  pervious  sandy  clay,  which  can  readfly  be 
improved  by  drainage.  A  grand  position  for  Pear  trees  on  Quince 
stock.  Black  Currants,  and  Strawberries  of  the  latest  sorts  and  the 
British  Queen  race. 
Field  343,  in  Wheat,  has  a  slight  slope  to  the  west,  and  is  a  trifle 
lighter  in  texture  than  344.  A  grand  spot  for  Roses. 
Field  323  in  grass,  lies  at  the  lowest  point,  and  although  the  drains 
and  ditches  had  been  neglected,  I  found  no  part  saturated  with  water, 
and  the  opening  of  the  ditches  and  draining  will  make  this  a  valuable 
plot  for  vegetable  crops,  as  it  contains  more  humus  than  the  previous 
plots. 
Field  342  in  pasture,  is  very  similar  to  323,  and  only  the  neglect  to 
keep  the  drains  open  causes  it  to  be  damp,  as  the  subsoil  is  not 
impervious,  and  there  are  two  outfalls  for  drainage  with  a  fall  of  2  feet 
to  provide  ample  outlet  for  any  winter  rains.  This  would  make  a  fine 
pinetum. 
.  Field  324  is  a  fine  pasture  field,  falling  from  east  to  west.  The  soil 
is  a  very  rich,  heavy  loam,  eminently  suitable  for  fruR  of  all  kinds,  as 
-the  surface  soil  is  deep  and  the  subsoil  is  lighter  than  in  other  parts. 
1  consider  it  the  best  field  on  the  farm. 
Field  310  is  in  Hops,  and  the  necessary  culture  for  the  crop  has 
rendered  the  land  in  good  heart  and  condition,  and  I  should  fix  on  this 
spot  for  an  experimental  orchard  or  plantation.  The  top  of  this 
position  is  even  better  than  the  lower  part. 
Field  311a  is  in  corn,  and  the  upper  portion  is  on  the  bedrock  about 
2  feet,  and  is  of  a  lighter  description  than  any  yet  noticed,  eminently 
suitable  for  bulbs  or  root  vegetables,  as  Beet,  Carrots,  &c.,  also  for  Nut 
bushes  and  Plums,  or  kidney  Potatoes. 
Halfway  down  field  311b  the  land  becomes  heavier,  and  is  then  fine 
retentive  loam  suitable  for  Pea  and  Bean  trials,  Apple  culture,  and  main 
crop  Potatoes  and  Strawberries. 
At  the  base  of  field  311c  and  towards  the  west  it  becomes  heavier 
and  requires  to  be  ameliorated  by  drainage,  although  fine  land  for  cereal 
crops  in  its  present  state.  There  is  a  2  feet  fall  into  a  ditch  on  the 
other  side  of  the  hedge  ample  for  all  drainage  purposes. 
Field  311  is  not  well  farmed  and  will  require  a  heavy  coating  of 
manure  to  bring  it  into  full  use. 
The  present  oast  house,  if  Hops  are  not  continued,  will  make  a 
capital  fruit  store  on  the  top  floor,  and  Potatoes  and  roots  can  be  kept 
below. 
General  Remarks. — I  consider  the  site  an  ideal  position  for  an 
experimental  garden  for  horticultural  purposes  as  there  are  several 
features  which  can  be  made  the  most  of.  For  example  the  roadsides 
can  be  used  as  an  aboretum  (forest  trees,  &c.).  The  field  323  or  342  for 
a  pinetum,  other  spots  suggests  a  collection  of  flowering  shrubs,  a 
salicarium  (or  Willow  bed)  for  the  purposes  of  correcting  the 
nomenclature  of  this  useful  family  and  for  selecting  the  best  Osiers  for 
basket  work,  trials  of  suitable  fancy  hedge  shrubs,  trials  of  artificial 
manures,  &o. 
The  water  supply,  rising  at  a  fair  altitude,  can  be  utilised  by 
gravitation  for  greenhouses,  vineries,  &c.,  ornamental  pond  for 
aquatics,  tanks  for  the  smaller  water  plants,  and  water  for  all  purposes 
can  be  stored  where  desired. 
There  is  an  ample  choice  of  soil  for  all  the  families  of  herbaceous 
plants.  Sandstone  rock  at  hand  suitable  for  rockeries,  alpine  garden, 
&c.,  and  positions  for  every  kind  of  hardy  fruits  and  vegetabU  s.  Prom 
the  conditions  of  the  old  trees  in  the  garden  (uncalled  for)  it  is  evident 
that  fruit  will  succeed  in  the  district,  and  younger  trees  planted  near 
were  evidently  in  congenial  soil  drainage.  A  complete  system  of 
drainage  will  be  required,  and  the  trend  of  the  land  favours  this 
operation,  as  it  falls  naturally  to  the  outlet. 
