March  25,  18*7 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
255 
Narcissus  Southern  Star  (Rev.  G.  H.  Engleheart). — Belonging  to 
the  small  capped  section  this  is  superb.  The  cup  is  of  peculiarly  rich 
orange  red  (first-class  certificate). 
Odontoglossum  crispum  Luciani  (L.  Linden).  —  The  chocolate 
markings  of  this  crispum  are  very  handsome.  The  ground  colour  is 
white  tinged  with  rose  (first-class  certificate). 
Odontoglossum  Rucherianum  ocellatum  (W.  Stevens). — The  ground 
colour  of  this  handsome  variety  is  purplish  rose  in  the  sepals  and  petals 
and  white  in  the  lip.  The  Bpots  of  each  are  chocolate  (award  of  merit). 
Polyanthus  Woodside  Gem  (R;  Dean). — A  gold-laced  variety  of 
excellent  quality  (award  of  merit). 
Rose  Antoine  Rivoire  (C.  Turner). — A  Hybrid  Tea  ;  the  colour  is 
cream,  suffused  with  salmon  (award  of  merit). 
Tulipa  Raufmanniana  (Barr  &  Sons  and  R.  Wallace  &  Co.). — This 
is  a  very  handsome  Tulip.  Tbe  colour  is  pale  lemon,  with  a  yellow 
centre.  On  the  reverse  of  each  outer  petal  is  a  large  patch  of  red  (first- 
class  certificate). 
ALLEGED  “LAXITY”  AT  THE  WESTMINSTER 
*  DRILL  HALL. 
With  your  permission,  I  should  like  to  publish  a  matter  which  has 
just  come  under  my  notice.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society,  held  at  the  Drill  Hall,  Westminster,  on  March  9th  a  gentleman 
known  to  me,  and  who  is  a  most  successful  enthusiast  in  Violet  culture, 
sent  a  sport  to  go  before  the  Floral  Committee.  The  plants  were  lifted, 
placed  in  a  box,  and  sent  off  on  Monday,  the  8th,  addressed  to  the 
Secretary,  who  did  not  acknowledge  receiving  them.  Not  hearing  any 
more  about  them,  a  telegram  was  sent  to  Mr.  S.  T.  Wright,  asking  him 
to  send  the  plants  back,  who  in  return  wired  that  the  Violet  proved  to 
be  Lady  Hume  Campbell.  A  letter  followed  the  telegram  to  the  same 
effect,  and  also  contained  an  expression  of  regret  that  the  plants  were 
untraceable. 
I  should  like  to  ask  you  who  is  responsible  for  the  safe  return  of 
exhibits  to  their  owners  ?  If  these  plants  are  untraceable  it  naturally 
leads  to  uncomfortable  feelings.  Blooms  from  them  had  been  sent 
previously  to  specialists,  who  recommended  sending  them  to  the  Drill 
Hall.  I  hope  soon  to  hear  that  the  plants  have  been  found,  and  by 
whom  they  were  taken,  and  trust  such  laxity  will  not  occur  again  on 
the  part  of  those  who  are  held  responsible  for  the  return  of  the  exhibits, 
or  tbe  result  will  be  that  provincial  growers  will  not  care  to  send 
exhibits. 
I  have  noticed  there  is  no  mention  of  the  Violets  in  the  reports, 
either  in  the  “  Journal  ”  or  “  Magazine,”  which  in  my  opinion  makes  it 
look  worse,  as  all  the  other  exhibits  are  given. — H.  Prosser. 
[In  reference  to  the  last  paragraph  it  is  right  to  say  that  it  would 
be  practically  impossible  for  any  of  the  gardening  papers  to  mention 
even  half  the  plants  that  are  sent  to  the  Drill  Hall  meetings.  As  a  rule 
only  those  which  are  honoured,  or  appear  specially  noticeable,  are 
mentioned  in  the  reports  of  the  meetings.  We  do  not  know  whether  the 
Society  is  bold  enough  to  make  itself  responsible  for  the  safe  return  of 
exhibits.  A  clause  is  inserted  in  most  scuedules  to  the  effect  that  while 
the  officials  will  take  all  reasonable  care  they  cannot  hold  themselves 
responsible  for  injury  to  or  loss  of  exhibits.  We  have  observed  that 
Mr.  S.  T.  Wright  is  most  watchful  during  the  meetings,  but  seeing  the 
crowded  tables  from  end  to  end  of  the  Hall  it  would  obviously  be  a 
simple  impossibility  for  him  to  have  his  eyes,  however  sharp,  everywhere 
at  once,  and  thus  prevent  mistakes  of  the  nature  indicated  occurring. 
It  is  very  regrettable  when  they  do  occur,  as  also  is  in  a  less  degree  the 
moving  of  new  plants  from  their  positions  before  the  appointed  time 
except  by  the  Society’s  officials ;  for  instance,  artists  taking  plants  away 
for  sketching,  and  thus  denying  to  other  artists  an  equal  opportunity  for 
sketching  them,  to  which  it  seems  to  us  they  are  justly  entitled.] 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY’S  COMMITTEES’ 
AWARDS. 
Your  correspondent  “A.D.’s”  latest  contribution  scarcely  shows 
much  advance  over  his  previous  effort  either  in  logic  or  consistency,  but 
it  must  be  admitted  that  he  has  developed  a  marvellous  capacity  for 
“  straining  at  a  gnat  and  swallowing  a  camel.”  He  is  keen  to  discern 
how  “  diverse  the  conditions  ”  between  the  Temple  and  the  York  and 
Chester  Shows,  but  is,  apparently,  not  yet  awake  to  the  equal  diversity 
between  the  latter  and  a  Chiswick  or  ordinary  Drill  Hall  meeting,  a 
recognition  of  which  tumbles  his  original  criticism  about  his  ears. 
“  That  is  enough  on  that  point,”  as  your  correspondent  remarks. 
But  even  when  we  leave  it,  and  get  to  another  point,  Mr.  “  A.  D.’s  ” 
longings  are  not  very  much  clearer.  In  his  original  letter  (p.  162) 
he  “  fears  ”  that  there  is  not  “  the  slightest  probability  that  any 
checks  will  be  put  on  the  present  perhaps  too  free  granting  of  awards,” 
and  has  “  long  contended  that  in  many  directions  it  is  now  time  that 
higher  standards  of  excellence  were  set  up.”  And  then  the  Council  of 
the  R.  H.  S.  falls  under  the  critic’s  displeasure,  and  he  “  cannot  see, 
without  the  Council  take  action  and  formulate  some  definite  rule, 
how  any  reform  can  be  effected.” 
Quite  clear  so  far,  but  npw  this  craving  for  “  reform  ”  and  “  definite 
rule”  seems  to  have  passed  away.  At  any  rate  Mr.  “A.  D.”  (p.  212) 
now  assures  us  “  I  do  not  think  the  present  too  free  making  of  awards 
should  be  restricted  in  the  least.”  This  is  a  fairly  startling  anti¬ 
climax,  surely,  especially  after  his  censure  of  the  Council  for  not  having 
formulated  a  rule  to  restrict  it. 
When  a  man  frankly  admits  that  the  granting  of  awards  has  been 
“  too  free,”  and  demands  “  reform  ”  and  “  definite  rule  ”  to  enforce  it,  one 
is  scarcely  prepared  to  be  told  that  he  is  quite  contented  with  things  as 
they  are,  and  that  even  if  the  granting  of  awards  have  been  “  too  free  ” 
he  has  not  the  slightest  wish  that  they  should  be  “  restricted  in  the 
least.  ” 
But,  without  labouring  further  to  ascertain  what  may  be  your  corre¬ 
spondent’s  very  latest  views  upon  the  point,  we  may  thank  him  for 
having  (when  in  his  earlier  frame  of  mind)  called  attention  to  a  matter 
which  seriously  affects  the  value. of  the  Society’s  awards  :  and  it  is  to  be 
hoped  that  the  Council  will  take  Mr.  “  A,  D.’s  ”  (original)  injunctions  to 
heart,  and  formulate,  for  next  year’s  guidance  of  its  Committees,  a 
practical  regulation  aimed  at  a  retorm  which  has  become  very  necessary. 
— F.  R.  fl.  S. 
DO  PLANTS  “THINK?” 
Although  I  have  not  seen  a  bunch  of  Grapes  spring  from  the  “  old 
stem  of  a  Vine  without  any  leaf  whatsoever,”  as  described  by  your 
facile  correspondent  “  The  Scribe  ”  on  page  206,  I  have  seen  bunches 
issue  direct  from  the  buds  of  canes  for  the  time  of  bearing  Grapes, 
which  admits  of  a  similar  explanation  to  that  given  by  “A  Gardener.” 
The  Vine  was  so  “  full  of  fruit  inside  ”  that  it  sent  out  a  bunch  without 
leaves.  This  is  a  very  important  point,  and  indicates  that  fertility 
depends  on  the  high  elaboration  of  the  juices  and  storing  of  assimilated 
matter.  That  the  Drumlanrig  Vines,  under  Mr.  D.  Thomson’s  charge 
for  so  many  years,  are  “  so  full  of  fruit  inside  ”  as  to  push  a  bunch  of 
Grapes  from  the  stem  of  one  beneath  the  stage  is  not  matter  for  wonder, 
for  the  whole  practice  of  the  veteran  has  been  to  get  the  stores  of  the 
soil  into  his  cultured  subjects,  and  thus  bring  out  a  maximum  of 
useful  produce  of  superior  excellence. 
Whether  “  The  Scribe  ”  is  not  writing  without  book  in  stating  that 
“  the  tendril  of  a  Vine  is  a  changed  or  modified  leaf,”  does  not  appear 
“  plain  and  easy.”  Of  the  tendril  being  ennobled  into  a  bunch  of  Grapes 
whilst  embryonic  by  the  assimilated  matter  “  full  of  fruit  inside  ” 
the  Vine  there  is  no  question,  and  good  service  has  been  done  by 
introducing  the  11  plain,  good,  working  gardener  ”  into  the  subject. 
Many  such  gardeners  achieve  great  results  without  knowing  exactly 
the  “  reason  why.” 
But  the  bunch  of  Grapes  is  not  unique  in  springing  from  the  old 
stem  “  without  any  leaf  whatsoever,”  for  other  plants  with  tendrils  act 
similarly,  and  some  that  do  not  have  tendrils  also  push  flowers  from  the 
old  stems.  Passifloras  do,  especially  P.  racemosa,  syn.  P.  princeps,  not 
occasionally,  but  annually,  and  sometimes  two  and  three  times  a  year. 
I  had  one  some  thirteen  years  with  3  feet  of  old  stem  below  a  stone 
shelf  of  that  width,  which  gave  not  one,  but  many  racemes  of  scarlet 
flowers.  Some  of  the  racemes  were  3  feet  in  length.  The  buds  actually 
formed  in  the  old  stem,  and  every  one  produced  nothing  but  flowers  or 
bracts.  In  this  case  the  whole  leaves  and  tendrils  were  transformed  in 
the  bud,  and  this  itself  formed  of  the  material  “  inside” — the  elaborated 
and  Btored  matter  essential  to  fertility.  But  the  raceme  is  not  a  trans¬ 
formed  tendril,  as  in  the  case  of  the  bunch  of  Grapes,  for  no  Passiflora 
tendril  undergoes  such  “  metamorphosis,”  and  thus  an  opportunity 
offers  for  explaining  the  “  reason  why  ”  the  tendrils,  as  well  as  the 
leaves,  disappear  as  parts  no  longer  useful. 
The  Aristolochias  also  push  their  curious  flowers  from  old  stems  in 
some  cases,  leaves  being  dispensed  with,  there  not  being  any  tendrils 
in  this  instance  to  transform.  Numerous  other  instances  might  be  cited 
of  the  higher  plants  at  times  dispensing  with  leaves  under  certain  con¬ 
ditions,  but  it  proves  nothing  of  cultural  consequence,  as  the  power  to 
so  act  has  been  derived  by  the  presence  of  them  concurrently  or  at  a 
prior  stage.  The  plants,  as  the  “gardener”  has  it,  are  “so  full  of 
fruit  inside”  that  it  must  come  out  somewhere. 
As  for  Vines  or  plants  having  the  power  to  “  think  ”  there  may  be 
such  thing.  I  will  say  that  some  of  them  act  as  if  they  had,  for  many 
of  them  possess  much  sense,  both  in  phtenogamous  and  cryptogamous, 
especially  in  “  smelling  out  ”  their  food  and  utilising  it  to  the  best 
advantage,  which  is  not  always  the  case  with  the  highest  creature 
assuming  the  prerogative  of  thinking.  What  has  more  of  “  think  ”  in 
them  than  the  lowest  members  of  the  vegetable  world  —  the 
Myxomycetes  Z 
Take,  for  instance,  the  clubbing,  fineer-and-toe  fungus,  Plasmo- 
diophora  brassicse,  the  plasmodium  of  which  creeps  about  in  search  of  its 
essential  Crucifeiae.  Get  hold  of  a  plant  of  this  lowly  organism,  and 
place  it  on  a  piece  of  glass  in  rain  water,  just  a  thin  film  sufficient  to 
allow  it  to  creep  about.  Place  it  under  the  microscope,  and  then  see  how 
quiescent  it  is  in  the  dry  air  of  an  empty  room,  where  no  smell  of 
cruciferous  plant  comes.  Leave  it  there,  and  fetch  a  little  Cabbage- 
stalk  or  Turnip-root  pulp,  place  on  tbe  glass  away  from  the  plasmo¬ 
dium,  then  look,  see  the  plant  wake  up,  stream  out  in  the  direction  of 
the  pulp,  and  creeping,  like  a  snail,  even  leaving  a  trail  behind,  behold 
it  pass  to  the  pulp,  and  at  once  work  as  “  flowers  of  tan  ’’  on  a  bark 
bed.  Whilst  active  sprinkle  a  little  lime  around,  but  rot  so  as  to  touch 
the  plasmodium,  then  see  the  amoeba-like  plant  shrink  into  a  ball,  a 
dead-like  body,  and  strive  to  surround  itself  by  a  wall  for  protection, 
forming,  if  it  can,  several  cells,  each  containing  a  little  of  the  naked 
protoplasm.  .  ,  ,.  , 
‘‘  Think”  is  not  the  word  for  such  action,  but  sound,  practical, 
useful  “  sense.”  Pursue  the  matter  further,  and  afford  a  plasmodium  of 
the  fungus  named  opportunity  of  choice  by  placing  it  in  the  centre  of 
a  piece  of  glass  in  a  thin  film  of  moisture,  also  equidistant  from  it  pulp 
of  Turnip  on  one  side  and  chalk  on  the  other.  Now  note  the  plasmodium 
