458 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
November  14, 1895. 
to  be  called  to  account  because  the  Peach  trees  have  not  set  the  regula¬ 
tion  quantity  of  fruit  equally  distributed  all  over  the  trees.  After  all 
other  arguments  failed  to  convince  it  would  be  easy  to  fall  back  upon 
“  Sceptic’s  ”  style  of  controversy,  and  state  that  the  wood  must  have 
been  scorched  ;  but  at  the  same  time  it  would  be  a  gross  and  palpable 
absurdity.  The  “  Sceptic’s  ”  complaint  is  not  new,  but  a  very  old  ailment 
which  has,  however,  happily  never  proved  catching;  still  a  slight  tonic 
cannot  do  him  harm  if  it  does  him  no  good. 
Since  writing  the  foregoing  I  have  read  the  quasi  iscientific  para¬ 
graph  in  “  Sceptic’s  ”  rejoinder,  page  344  ;  it  is  a  remarkable  production. 
After  stating  his  reasons  why,  he  discovers  that  he  has  been  mixing  up 
with  his  own  some  of  the  arguments  brought  forward  by  his  opponents ; 
he  then  hurriedly  attempts  to  wriggle  out  of  his  illogical  position  by  a 
repudiation  of  all  he  had  written  as  having  nothing  to  do  with  the 
ripened  wood  controversy.  In  his  previous  remarks  in  the  same  article 
he  contends  that  green  wood  is  better  for  the  production  of  fruit  than 
ripened  wood.  In  the  paragraph  alluded  to  he  attempts  to  prove  that 
green  wood  does  not  bear  fiuit  because  of  the  lack  of  sunshine  to 
ripen  it. 
Whilst  all  through  the  controversy  he  has  been  striving  to  convince 
us  that  sunshine  is  an  unnecessary  factor  in  the  case,  he  would  now  have 
us  believe  that  we  are  not  discussing  the  bearing  these  matters  have  on 
the  production  or  non-production  of  fruit,  and  by  a  blind  trail  he 
attempts  to  lure  us  on  in  the  chase  of  a  chimera,  which  all  the  way 
through  the  controversy  he  has  been  attempting  to  foist  on  us  as  a 
substitute  for  ripened  wood. 
“Your  sceptical  tale,  my  friend. 
Is  made  of  nothing,  and  of  nothing  spun; 
Foam  of  the  ocean,  hoar  frost  on  the  grass. 
Phantom  gossamer  threads,  which  melt  in  the  sun.” 
As  showing  “  Sceptic’s  ”  inconsistency  and  entire  lack  of  logical 
acumen,  he  first  informs  that  the  actual  cause  is  not  understood  as  to 
why  a  fruit  tree  growing  in  the  shade  does  not  bear  fruit ;  his  next 
sentence  informs  us  that  it  is  “  doubtless  ”  due  to  lack  of  sunshine,  and  he 
advances  a  statement  as  if  it  were  a  new  discovery,  “  Sachs  ”  notwith¬ 
standing,  that  the  chlorophyll  performs  a  certain  function  which 
“  Sceptic  ”  in  the  Journal  (November,  1894,  page  402)  entirely  ridiculed 
as  on  the  verge  of  being  exploded.  “  Sceptic  ”  having  now  developed 
into  a  scientific  authority,  he  will  perhaps  inform  us  (1)  what  he  means 
by  the  statement  that  the  chlorophyll  performs  its  function  during  its 
growth  ;  (2)  what  does  he  mean  by  the  circulation  of  the  vital  juices 
of  the  plant  1  As  there  is  only  one  vital  principle — viz  ,  the  protoplasm, 
and  by  no  stretch  of  imagination  can  it  be  called  a  juice,  further 
explanation  is  desirable. 
Again,  to  have  “  Sceptic  ”  attempting  to  set  up  the  upward  flow  of 
the  eap  by  electricity  generated  by  the  light  and  heat  of  the  sun  is  as 
excruciatingly  funny  as  his  journey  beyond  the  regions  of  space. 
Surely  he  might  have  found  sufficient  electricity  in  the  earth  and  around 
it  for  that  purpose,  if  it  were  needed.  It  is  also  unfortunate  for 
“  Sceptic  ”  as  a  scientific  controversialist  the  first  time  he  needs  support 
of  his  arguments  be  has  to  fall  back  on  foreign  scientific  opinions, 
which  he  so  lately  assumed  to  despise.  It  is,  further,  unfortunate  for 
him  that  the  foreign  scientists  only  hazarded  the  opinion  that  electricity 
influenced  the  flow  of  the  sap  as  a  speculation  to  be  tested  by  criticism, 
which  exploded  the  theory  before  it  assumed  the  shape  of  actuality.  It 
is  more  refreshing  to  have  Canning  and  Gobbet  resurrected  in  support 
of  "  Sceptic’s  ■’  views,  but  to  complete  the  three  C’s,  or  the  trinity  of  his 
scepticism,  he  might  add  the  name  of  Crabbe.  Also,  he  would  do  better 
to  keep  clear  of  his  quasi  science,  stick  to  the  trinity  of  his  C’s,  and  take 
this  tonic  pleasantly.  It  is  a  Yorkshire  mixture  by — A  Man  from 
Sheffield. 
If  our  friend  “  A  Sceptic  ”  turns  up  his  ground  in  the  autumn  in  the 
same  way  as  he  twists  and  turns  what  is  said  against  his  views,  his 
ground  ought  to  do  well  under  wintry  frosts.  Has  he  never  heard  that 
“  One  swallow  does  not  make  a  summer,”  any  more  than  one  branch  does 
not  make  a  tree  ?  It  does  not  follow  that  my  gross  shoot  of  Apricot  was 
unripened.  Again,  has  he  never  heard  the  French  proverb,  “  The  ex¬ 
ceptions  prove  the  rule?  ” — Y.  B.  A.  Z. 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
Drill  Hall,  November  12th. 
The  meeting  of  the  Eoyai  Horticultural  Society,  held  on  the  above 
date,  was  not  a  very  large  one,  the  bulk  of  the  work  falling  on  the  Floral 
Committee  by  reason  of  the  number  of  fine  Chrysanthemums  that  was 
staged.  These  comprised  all  sections,  though  as  usual  Japanese  varieties 
formed  the  bulk.  Orchids  and  fruit  were  not  particularly  numerous,  but 
as  a  rule  the  quality,  especially  amongst  the  former,  was  very  good. 
Fruit  Committee. — Present :  P.  Crowley,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ;  with 
Dr.  Hogg,  Rev.  W.  Wilks,  and  Messrs.  T.  F.  Rivers.  H.  J.  Pearson,  J.  H. 
Veitch,  T.  J.  Saltmarsh,  J.  Willard,  W.  Farr,  F.  Q.  Lane,  J.  Smith, 
W.  H.  Divers,  G,  W.  Cummins,  and  J.  Cheal. 
The  most  prominent  display  before  the  Fruit  Committee  was  one  of 
Apples  and  Pears  from  Mr.  W.  H.  Divers,  gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Rut¬ 
land,  Belvoir  Castle,  for  which  a  silver-gilt  Knightian  medal  was  recom¬ 
mended,  The  Apples  in  this  exhibit  were  very  fine,  the  colour,  con¬ 
sidering  the  climate  whence  they  came,  being  very  fine.  The  Pears  also 
were  very  good,  the  number  of  varieties  in  each  case  being  very  large. 
Apples  Dewdney’s  Seedling  and  Jenkinson’s  Seedling,  the  Committee 
desired  to  see  again.  A  silver  Banksian  medal  was  given  to  Mr.  A.  ' 
Becker,  Jersey,  for  Apples  and  Pears,  some  fine  fruits  being  staged.  The 
Pears,  as  a  rule,  were  large,  but  the  Apples  were  the  reverse. 
Mr.  Owen  Thomas,  Royal  Gardens,  Windsor,  sent  eighteen  winter 
Pines  in  superb  condition,  receiving  a  silver-gilt  Knightian  medal.  Mr. 
Thomas  also  sent  Frogmore  Late  Plum,  that  should  be  useful  for  late 
work.  Mr.  L.  E.  Thomas,  Berkhamsted,  sent  Eureka  Apples,  but  they 
were  passed. 
A  cultural  commendation  was  deservedly  given  to  Mr.  J,  Smith, 
Mentmore  Gardens,  Leighton  Buzzard,  for  three  splendid  bunches  of 
Chasselas  Napoleon  Grapes.  From  the  Bev.  J,  R.  Drummelow,  Chard, 
came  Grapes  from  the  open  air. 
Apples  Reinette  de  Damason  Fraise  d’Hoffinger  and  Welsh 
Beauty  were  staged  by  Messrs.  J,  Veitch  &  Sons,  but  no  award  was 
made.  Messrs.  Rivers  &  Son,  Sawbridgeworth,  staged  Apples  Rivers’ 
Codlin  and  Rivers’  St.  Martin,  but  these  also  were  passed.  Mr.  J. 
MeIndoe,  Hutton  Hall,  Guisborough,  sent  Pears  Charles  Ernest ;  Mr. 
A.  Waterer,  Woking,  Apple  Sanspareil ;  and  Mr.  A.  McKay,  Dunstable, 
Apple  Ivanhoe,  but  all  were  passed. 
Floral  Committee.— Present ;  W.  Marshall,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ; 
with  the  Rev.  H.  H.  D’Ombrain,  and  Messrs.  J.  Fraser,  0.  Thomas, 
H.  Herbst,  R.  Dean,  R.  Owen,  G.  Stevens,  B.  Mawley,  J.  D.  Pawle, 
C.  E.  Shea,  J.  Walker,  H.  Cannell,  H.  Turner,  C.  T.  Druery,  and 
G.  Paul. 
A  group  of  single-flowered  Chrysanthemums  was  arranged  by  Mrs. 
Jones,  Greenford  Place,  Sudbury.  Many  of  the  best  known  varieties 
were  staged,  and  all  were  in  creditable  condition  (bronze  Banksian 
medal).  Mr.  Slogrove,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Crawford,  Gatton,  Reigate, 
exhibited  blooms  of  Mdlle.  Marie  Hoste  and  Thunberg,  both  in  fine 
condition  (bronze  Banksian  medal).  From  Mr.  W.  Bain,  gardener  to 
Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  Bart.,  Dorking,  came  plants  of  Pentstemon  Coboea, 
said  to  be  an  old  plant  from  Texas  that  ia  rarely  seen.  Chrysanthemums 
were  shown  in  fine  condition  and  variety  by  H.  Briscoe  Ironside,  Esq., 
Burgess  Hill.  Thejvarieties  comprised  Monte  Rosa,  Arona,  Principina, 
Vignola,  Oggebbio,  Beilina,  Ghiffa,  and  others. 
A  charming  exhibit  of  Chrysanthemums  arranged  for  effect  with 
small  Ferns,  Dracsenas,  and  Asparagus  by  Mr.  Pentney,  gardener  to 
Mrs.  Howard,  Isleworth.  The  blooms  were  of  medium  size,  and  repre¬ 
sented  many  of  the  leading  varieties  in  the  Japanese  section  (bronze 
Banksian  medal).  Mr.  T.  S.  Ware,  Hale  Farm  Nurseries,  Tottenham, 
also  staged  Chrysanthemums  in  a  somewhat  similar  manner.  In  this 
exhibit  the  blooms  were  rather  larger,  and  of  better  colour.  Amongst 
the  varieties  were  M.  B.  Spaulding,  Mdlle.  Tbbr^se  Rey,  Robert  Owen, 
Rose  Wynne,  Mons  J.  Allemand,  Golden  Gate,  and  others  (silver 
Banksian  medal).  The  cut  blooms  of  Chrysanthemums  from  Mr.  W.  J. 
Godfrey,  Exmouth,  were  very  beautiful  and  of  splendid  quality.  Fine 
examples  of  King  of  Yellows,  Mrs.  Hume  Lang,  Cecil  Wray,  Clinton 
Chalfant,  Mutual  Friend,  Hallow  Een,  Madame  Carnot,  Mrs.  George 
West,  Mrs.  W.  J.  Godfrey,  Miss  Rita  Schroeter,  Reine  d’Angleterre, 
Wilson  Addison,  Cheveux  d’Or,  Louise  Sievers,  and  Mr.  W.  G.  Tranter 
were  staged  (silver  Banksian  medal).  Half  a  dozen  blooms  and  several 
plants  of  Philadelphia  were  staged  by  Messrs.  B.  S.  Williams  &  Sor, 
while  H.  Tate,  jun.,  Esq.,  Allerton,  Liverpool,  sent  Aristine  Anderson. 
A  few  Chrysanthemums  were  staged  by  Mr.  R.  Owen,  Maidenhead, 
the  varieties  comprising  Robin  Adair,  Mrs.  R.  C.  Kingston,  Vicar  of 
Bray,  George  Haigh,  Lord  Mayor,  John  Lightfoot,  and  Lady  Ridgway. 
Messrs.  A  G.  Eley  &  Co.,  Chippenham,  sent  flowering  specimens  of 
Boussingaultia  baselloides.  From  Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Royal 
Exotic  Nursery,  Chelsea,  came  a  small  collection  of  Javanico-jasmini- 
florum  hybrid  Rhododendrons,  which  were  very  charming.  The  varie¬ 
ties  included  carminatum,  Minerva,  Princess  Beatrice,  Imogene,  Prim¬ 
rose  and  Ruby.  Messrs.  Veitch  also  staged  Rhododendron  x  Numa,  a 
handsome  plant  having  a  certain  amount  of  Azalea  blood  in  it. 
The  most  imposing  display  of  flowers  was  staged  by  Messrs.  H. 
Cannell  &  Sons,  Swanley,|and  comprised  Zonal  Pelargoniums  and  Chrys¬ 
anthemums.  Of  the  latter  Kentish  White,  Oceana,  Rose  Wynne,  Phil¬ 
adelphia,  Madame  Carnot,  Thos.  Wilkins,  Mrs.  C.  Harman  Payne,  R. 
Dean  and  G.  W.  Childs  were  amongst  the  most  conspicuous.  Noticeable 
amongst  the  Zonals  were  Snowdrop,  Delicata,  Blue  Beard,  Lady 
Carlisle,  Lilacina,  Easpail  Improved,  Volcanic,  and  other.  Canna 
Queen  Charlotte  and  Violet  Princess  of  Wales  also  came  from  Swanley 
(silver-gilt  Banksian  medal). 
Mr.  Goble,  Walcot  Nursery,  Ryde,  I.W.,  sent  plants  of  a  floriferous 
Chrysanthemum  named  Ewan  Cameron,  while  Mr.  G.  Wythes,  gardener 
to  Earl  Percy,  Syon  House,  Brentford,  staged  cut  Chrysanthemums  in 
great  variety.  All  the  best  of  the  older  varieties  were  shown,  with 
several  of  the  newer  ones,  the  flowers  in  all  cases  being  of  good  form 
and  very  rich  in  colour  (silver  Banksian  medal). 
Mr.  C.  Last,  gardener  to  H.  0.  O’Hagan,  Esq..  Hampton  Court, 
showed  a  finely  grown  plant  of  Dracseua  latifolia  ;  W.  Marshall,  Esq., 
Bexley,  sending  a  new  Polystichum  called  constrictum.  Messrs.  F. 
Sander  &  Go.,  St.  Albans,  sent  plants  of  Ancectochilus  petola  and 
Sanderianus,  both  very  handsome.  Mr.  Gulzow,  Bexley  Heath,  staged 
foliage  plants  and  a  few  Orchids,  all  in  good  form  (silver  Banksian 
medal). 
Orchid  Committee. — Present :  H.  J.  Veitch,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ; 
with  Messrs.  J.  O’Brien  W.  H.  White,  T.  Statter,  F.  Sander,  A.  H.  Smee, 
H.  J.  Chapman,  E.  Hill,  T.  W.  Bond,  W.  Cobb,  S.  Courtauld,  H.  Williams, 
and  H,  Ballantine. 
As  has  been  said  Orchids  were  not  very  numerous,  Messrs. 
B.  S.  Williams,  Upper  Holloway,  staged  a  small  group,  comprising 
Coelogyne  Garoneriana,  Pescatona  Klabochtrjm  superbum,  Odontc- 
