May  20,  i* 97.  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAOE  GARDENER.  441 
its  appearance.  In  supplementing  this  statement  Mr.  J  W.  Bentley 
stated  that  the  fungus  attached  the  injured  parts,  but,  in  his  opinion, 
it  afterwards  spread  to  the  healthy  plants.  In  reply  to  another  question 
respecting  the  theory  of  rectification  in  Tulips,  he  (Mr.  Bentley)  could 
give  no  idea  of  explanation.  He  had  heard  of  several  so-called 
theories,  which,  however,  were  too  absurd  to  be  entertained,  and  up  to 
the  present  the  matter  remained  a  mystery. 
Mr.  Barr  agreed  with  the  essayist  as  to  the  cause  of  the  disease,  and 
said  that  it  might  also  arise  from  the  lack  of  air  when  the  bulbs  were 
resting,  therefore  a  free  current  should  be  allowed  to  pass  above  and 
below  the  bulbs.  He  did  not  agree  with  Mr.  Needham  respecting  the 
distance  apart  to  plant  the  bulbs.  He  thought  3  or  4  inches  ample,  as 
they  helped  to  protect  each  other  ;  and  in  their  nurseries  he  had  noticed 
that  during  recent  hailstorms  those  planted  closely  together  were  not 
damaged  to  such  an  extent  as  others  dispersed  at  a  distance  of  6  inches. 
Referring  to  the  proper  time  for  lifting,  he  thought  it  should  be  done 
as  soon  as  leaf  and  stem  became  limp,  and  could  be  easily  bent  in  the 
hand  without  breaking.  Mr.  Chater  was  of  the  opinion  that  the  disease 
was  not  a  fungus  at  all,  but  the  direct  cause  of  hail  or  frost,  as  he  had 
not  noticed  that  it  spread  from  one  plant  to  the  other. 
Mr.  Krelage  (Holland)  spoke  of  the  disease  as  it  affected  Dutch  plants. 
The  cause  is  thought  to  be  in  the  ground,  as  it  is  confined  to  locality. 
Scientific  researches  are,  however,  being  made  to  ascertain  the  cause,  and  as 
a  preliminary  statement  he  might  say  that  he  thought  the  spread  of  the 
disease  common  in  Holland  was  owing  to  the  lack  of  some  element  in 
the  soil,  and  where  this  was  present  no  disease  appeared. 
Mr.  R.  Dean  said  that  in  the  ordinary  course  a  Tulip  was  a  breeder 
first,  and  then  rectified,  aDd  asked  Mr.  Needbam  whether  he  had  ever 
seen  a  rectified  Tulip  go  back  to  its  original  form  of  a  breeder,  to  which 
he  received  a  negative  reply.  Several  ether  gentlemen  took  part  in  the 
discussion.  The  Chairman  in  thanking  Mr.  Needham  for  his  highly 
instructive  paper,  said  it  appeared  that  the  spread  of  the  disease  was  the 
result  of  frost  and  hail.  If,  therefore,  the  plants  can  be  protected  and 
kept  in  a  healthy  state  the  fungus  can  be  held  in  check.  All  therefore 
should  be  done  to  make  the  conditions  as  favourable  as  possible  for  the 
welfare  of  the  plants,  and  as  equally  unfavourable  for  the  spread  of  the 
disease. 
Hybridising  Tulips  and  Raising  Seedlings. 
In  the  unavoidable  absence  of  the  Rev.  F.  D.  Horner,  the  wiiter  of 
the  essay,  it  was  read  by  Mr.  Bentley.  Writing  of  seeds  and  seedlings, 
Mr.  Horner  stated  that  the  chief  success  lay  in  the  selection  of  the  best 
parentage  ;  form  mattered  little,  though  the  self-coloured  section  carried 
the  best  and  largest  seed  pods.  Explanations  followed  respecting  the 
best  points  in  the  various  classes  of  flowers,  and  which  forms  could  be 
fertilised  with  the  best  results.  Precautions  must  be  taken  after  impreg¬ 
nation  to  prevent  the  inroads  of  bees ;  though  there  is  no  necessity  to 
pin  up  the  flower,  a  little  cotton  wool  placed  inside  being  quite  sufficient. 
Unlike  many  other  flowers,  the  Tulip  does  not  close  or  die  after  hybridisa¬ 
tion.  When  the  petals  have  fallen  the  pistils  should  be  removed,  and 
after  the  swelling  of  the  seed  pods,  whiffi  takes  place  in  June  and  July. 
The  seed  pods  may  be  taken  off  in  August,  when  they  commence  splitting 
at  the  points. 
The  essayist  explained  the  process  of  seed-forming,  and  in  regard  to 
sowing  said  that  early  in  September  was  the  best  time,  when  the  young 
plants  will  appear  in  February.  The  tiny  seedlings,  which  resemble 
the  earliest  growth  of  the  Onion,  are  perfectly  hardy,  and  require  no 
coddling.  No  further  growth  is  made  the  first  year,  and  probably  seven 
or  eight  years  will  elapse  before  the  bulbs  bloom.  They  will,  however, 
occasionally  flower  the  fourth  season.  He,  Mr.  Horner,  has  sown  the 
seed  in  the  open  ground  and  left  the  bulbs  there  till  they  have  bloomed. 
Speaking  of  the  selection  of  new  seedlings,  Mr.  Horner  considered 
that  the  qualities  can  generally  be  determined  as  soon  as  the  plant 
blooms.  The  Tulip  in  its  breeder  form  was  not  of  high  moment,  as 
bright  colours  were  not  necessary  in  obtaining  good  breaks.  Often  the 
best  forms  were  got  from  dull  breeders,  and  vice  versa.  In  conclusion 
the  essayist  thought  there  was  much  remained  to  be  done  in  the  hybrid¬ 
isation  of  Tulips,  particularly  in  the  rose  and  byb'cemen  classes.  Too 
much  attention  had  been  paid  to  marking  to  the  neglect  of  form,  and 
he  considered  the  former  was  much  ahead  of  the  latter. 
Mr.  Bennett-Poe  proposed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  compilers  of  the 
essays,  which  was  suitably  acknowledged  by  Messrs.  Needbam  and 
Bentley.  The  latter  moved  that  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  be  given  to 
Mr.  Wright  for  the  able  manner  in  which  he  had  presided  over  the 
proceedings,  and  a  brief  reply  brought  the  interesting  Conference  to  a 
conclusion.  Before  the  meeting  dispersed  it  was  suggested  that  steps 
should  be  taken  for  the  publication  of  the  essays. 
ARNICA  MONTANA. 
Scores  of  plants  that  are  comparatively  rarely  seen,  except  in  the 
collections  of  enthusiasts  and  in  botanical  gardens,  are  of  very  great 
beauty.  Amongst  these  must  be  classed  Arnica  montana,  which  is 
depicted  in  the  accompanying  woodcut  (fig.  89),  for  it  is  decidedly 
neglocted  by  the  majority  of  cultivators.  On  a  rockery  it  has  a  pretty 
appearance,  its  bright  orange-yellow  flowers  being  freely  produced,  and 
at  the  present  time  it  is  very  attractive.  Of  the  ordinary  shades  of 
yellow  we  have  abundant  floral  representatives,  but  a  pure  orange  is 
not  so  frequently  seen,  and  contrasts  with  many  other  colours  very 
effectivelyi 
ROYAL  BOTANIC  SOCIETY. 
May  19th. 
The  show  at  the  Royal  Botanic  Society’s  Gardens  on  Wednesday 
was  held  in  the  large  marquee,  a  place  admirably  adapted  to  such 
exhibitions.  The  display,  however,  was  not  at  all  large;  in  fact,  the 
tent  looked  somewhat  deserted.  The  quality  of  the  various  exhibits 
ranged  very  high,  Roses  being  particularly  good.  The  competitive 
section  was  poorly  represented  as  usual;  indeed,  without  the  miscel¬ 
laneous  exhibits  the  show  would  have  been  a  failure. 
Messrs.  W.  Paul  &  Son,  Waltham  Cross,  arranged  a  handsome 
cretcent-shaped  group  of  Roses  in  pots,  with  boxet  of  cut  blooms  in  the 
foreground.  Crimson  Rambler,  La  France,  Enchantress,  Madame 
Montet,  Duke  of  Edinburgh,  Aurora  (new  Hybrid  Tea),  Duke  of  Teck, 
FIG.  89.— ARNICA  MONTANA. 
and  Claire  Jacquier  were  conspicuous.  Mr.  W.  Rumsey,  Joynings 
Nurseries,  Waltham  Cross,  sent*  cut  Rotes  and  plants  in  pots.  The 
quality  of  such  varieties  as  Niphetos  Mrs.  Rumsey,  The  Queen,  and 
Souvenir  d’un  Ami  was  excellent.  Mr.  J.  Odell,  Goulds  Green,  sent 
Canterbury  Bells  in  pets. 
Mr.  C.  Turner,  Slough,  sent  a  group  of  Azaleas  and  Pelargoniums,  all 
of  good  quality  and  effectively  arranged.  Palms,  Ferns,  and  Spiraeas 
were  utilised  for  diversity.  Mr.  R  Scott  gardener  to  C.  Newington, 
Esq.,  The  Holme,  Regent’s  Park,  staged  a  miscellaneous  group  of  flower¬ 
ing  and  foliage  plants.  Amongst  others  were  noted  the  yellow  Calla, 
Clerodendron  Balfouri,  Cannas,  Zonal  Pelargoniums,  Azaleas,  Fern3, 
Palms,  Dracaenas,  and  Caladiums.  Messrs.  J.  Waterer  &  Sons,  Bagshot, 
sent  a  collection  of  named  Rhododendrons  in  pots,  comprising  many 
varieties  of  great  merit.  Mr.  J.  R.  Box,  Croydon,  staged  Calceolarias  in 
very  good  form. 
The  Tulips  sent  by  Messrs.  Barr  &  Sons,  Covent  Garden,  made  a 
bright  display,  the  interest  of  the  exhibit  being  added  to  by  the  use  of 
Irises,  Delphiniums,  and  Daffodils.  There  were  Darwin  Tulips,  besides 
breeder  and  rectified  florists’  varieties.  The  colours,  substance,  and 
