July  14  l '98 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDEN  Eli. 
31 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
DRILL  HALL. — July  12th. 
The  Drill  Hall  on  Tuesday  was  very  full,  partly  owing,  no  doubt,  to 
the  Rose  show  that  was  held  in  conjunction  with  the  ordinary  meeting 
of  the  Committees.  Besides  Roses,  Cattleyas  and  Ferns  were  handsome, 
while  Cherries  and  Strawberries  were  grandly  shown  by  Messrs.  J.  Veitch 
and  Sons. 
Fruit  Committee. — Present  :  Geo.  Bunyard,  Esq.  (in  the  chair")  ; 
with  Messrs.  J.  H.  Yeitch,  A.  F.  Barron,  A.  Dean,  G.  Wythes,  W. 
Balderson,  F.  Q.  Lane,  and  R.  Fife. 
Messrs.  J.  Veitch  k  Sons,  Chelsea,  exhibited  a  large  collection  of 
Cherries  in  pots,  also  numerous  trays  of  the  same  fruits,  with  a  very 
comprehensive  exhibit  of  Strawberries.  The  Cherries  contained  such 
varieties  as  Frogmore  Early,  Bigarreau,  Governor  Wood,  Elton, 
Bigarreau  de  Schreken,  and  Black  Hawk.  Strawberries  were  represented 
by  good  trays  of  Sensation.  The  Countess,  Gunton  Park,  Waterloo,  and 
Leader.  Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Chelsea,  exhibited  a  new  Strawberry, 
called  Veitch’s  Prolific,  a  cross  between  British  Queen  and  Empress  of 
India.  The  fruits  were  exhibited  as  grown,  also  a  large  tray  of  specimen 
fruit.  The  flavour  is  exquisite,  though  a  little  pale  in  colour  ;  also  a  fine 
variety  called  Exquisite,  of  excellent  flavour.  Mr.  S.  Mortimer,  Farnham, 
exhibited  a  box  of  Cucumber  called  Sensation. 
Mr.  Owen  Thomas,  gardener  to  her  Majesty  the  Queen,  Windsor, 
exhibited  a  grand  display  of  fruit,  arranged  in  dishes,  and  composed  of 
Strawberries,  Melons,  Peaches,  Nectarines,  and  Cherries.  The  Cherries 
were  very  fine  samples,  such  as  Royal  Duke,  Elton,  Knight’s  Early  Black, 
Downton,  and  Black  Eagle.  Royal  Sovereign  (grand),  Sensation,  Gunton 
Park,  James  Veitch,  Monarch,  Leader,  and  The  Countess  were  the  best 
Strawberries,  though  it  is  unnecessary  to  make  distinctions  where  all  were 
so  good. 
Messrs.  Laxton  Bros.,  Bedford,  sent  four  new  Strawberries — 
Leader,  Mentmore,  Seedling,  and  Fillbasket ;  the  fruits  were  very  fine 
and  good  looking.  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence  staged  a  box  of  fine  Peaches, 
Royal  Charlotte,  from  a  tree  more  than  thirty  years  old.  Messrs. 
H.  Cannell  k  Sons,  Swanley,  staged  a  good  collection  of  edible  Peas. 
The  most  attractive  were  Duke  of  Norfolk,  Epicure,  Lord  Mayor,  and 
Ensford  Matchless. 
Messrs.  Carter  &  Co  ,  High  Holborn,  had  a  very  comprehensive 
display  of  Peas,  admirably  displayed  in  baskets.  Such  varieties  as  the 
Duke  of  Albany,  Gradus,  Danby .  Stratagem,  Model  Telephone,  Early 
Morn,  Alderman,  Queen,  and  Model  Telegraph  were  very  well  grown. 
Floral  Committee.—  Present  :  W.  Marshall,  Esq.  (in  the  chair); 
with  Messrs.  H.  B.  May,  J.  Fraser,  J.  Laing,  G.  Gordon,  G.  Stevens, 
W.  Howe,  J.  F.  McLeod,  J.  Fraser  (Kew),  J.  D.  Pawle,  C.  E.  Pearson, 
J.  Walker,  C.  E.  Shea,  H.  J.  Jones.  H.  J.  Cutbush,  H.  Turner,  E.  T. 
Cook,  C.  Blick,  W.  Bain,  E.  Mawley,  C.  J.  Salter,  and  J.  Jennings. 
Mr.  F.  G.  Foster,  Brockhampton,  Havant,  exhibited  an  extensive 
display  of  Sweet  Peas,  with  a  groundwork  of  Maidenhair  Fern.  Very 
conspicuous  were  Grey  Friar,  Princess  May,  Oriental,  Queen  Victoria, 
Black  Knight.  Salopian,  Mars,  and  Dolly  Vardon.  Messrs.  H.  Cannell 
and  Sons,  Swanley,  also  exhibited  Sweet  Peas  in  fine  form.  The  most 
notable  varieties  were  Golden  Gate,  Aurora,  Stanley,  Firefly,  Ovid,  Her 
Majesty,  Princess  May,  Salopian,  and  Mars. 
Messrs.  Carter  &  Co.,  High  Holborn,  exhibited  a  very  fine  display  of 
Delphiniums  in  a  variety  of  colours,  with  fine  spikes,  named  Wedding 
Bells,  also  a  large  collection  of  Sweet  Peas  arranged  in  bowls  with  moss 
and  Asparagus.  The  collection  of  Peas  included  all  the  new  and  popular 
varieties. 
Messrs.  Barr  &  Sons,  Covent  Garden,  bad  a  very  effective  exhibit  of 
Iris  Kaempferi  in  great  variety.  The  most  conspicuous  forms  were 
Tachibana,  Tosa,  Ozaka,  Chiyo,  Taira,  Oda,  Tomoye,  Okubo,  and  Aki. 
Mr.  C.  Blick,  gardener  to  Martin  Smith,  Esq.,  Hayes,  exhibited  a  very 
fine  group  of  Carnations  with  a  background  of  Palms,  and  Maidenhair 
Ferns  for  a  groundwork.  Mrs.  Martin  Smith,  a  bright  silvery  rose  ; 
Malraaison  Lord  Welby,  bright  red  ;  Calypso,  blush  ;  and  Rose  Cheii 
were  very  attractive.  Mr,  T.  Young,  gardener  to  D.  Cooper,  Esq.,  Warren 
Towers,  Newmarket,  exhibit'  d  a  good  group  of  Msilmaison  Carnations. 
Messrs.  J.  Hill  &  Sons,  Lower  Edmonton,  and  Mr.  H.  B.  May,  Upper 
Edmi  nton,  had  extensive  displays  of  Ferns,  the  former  staging  a  general 
collection,  while  the  latter  confined  himself  to  Aspleniums. 
Messrs.  Wm.  Paul  &  Son,  Waltham  Cross,  staged  a  fine  exhibit  of 
Roses  in  standard  form,  also  as  bushes  in  pots,  with  bo'es  containing 
bunches  of  decorative  forms.  White  Lady,  Madame  Abel  Chatenay, 
Empress  Alexandra  of  Russia,  Enchantress,  Souvenir  de  Catherine 
Guillot,  Ma  Capucine,  Madame  Charles,  and  Clara  Watson  were  the  most 
conspicuous. 
Messrs.  J.  Veitch  k  Sons,  Chelsea,  sent  hardy  flowers,  in  addition  to 
Spiraea  bullata,  Cytisus  nigricans,  and  Rubus  canadensis  rosea.  Mr.  W. 
Baskett,  gardener  to  Lord  Penzance,  Eashing  Park,  Godaiming,  showed  a 
collection  of  garden  Roses,  amongst  which  were  noted  several  charming 
varieties.  Fragrant,  as  well  as  beautiful,  wrere  the  Sweet  Peas  from  Mr. 
H.  Eckford,  Wem.  The  flow  ers  were  of  splendid  quality,  the  colours  being 
rich,  and  the  substance  fine.  Amongst  the  best  were  Sadie  Burpee,  Capti¬ 
vation,  Prince  of  Wales,  Mikado,  Peach  Blossom,  and  Salopian,  Mr. 
J.  Pitt,  gardener  to  F.  W.  Campion,  Esq.,  Reigate,  sent  a  collection  of 
garden  Roses,  and  included  several  of  the  better  known  varieties. 
Twenty-four  varieties  of  Liliums  comprised  the  bulk  of  the  exhibit 
from  Messrs.  R.  Wallace  k  Co.,  Colchester.  Very  handsome  were 
umbellatum  Cloth  of  Gold,  Parryi,  Roezli,  canadense,  Thunbergianum 
Van  Houttei,  T.  Beauty,  and  others.  Calochorti  were  also  sent  from 
Colchester.  Tne  Roses  exhibited  by  Mr.  Cbas.  Turner,  Slough,  made 
a  handsome  display.  They  were  mostly  garden  or  decorative  varieties, 
in  splendid  condition,  and  well  arranged.  Messrs.  Paul  &  Son,  Old 
Nurseries,  Cheshunt,  also  showed  bunches  of  garden  Roses,  comprising 
several  of  the  leading  varieties.  Besides  those  enumerated  there  were 
several  other  exhibits  before  the  Floral  Committee,  but  lack  of  space 
precludes  their  mention. 
Sherwood  Cup. — Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons.  Ltd.,  Chelsea,  again 
sent  a  group  of  hardy  annuals  and  biennials  in  competition  for  the 
Sherwood  cup.  The  exhibit  was  extensive  and  diversified. 
Orchid  Committee.— Present:  H.  J.  Veitch,  Esq.  (in  the  chair); 
with  Messrs.  J.  O’Brien,  De  Barri  Crawshay,  H.  Little,  H.  M.  Pollen, 
A^  H.  Smee,  H.  J.  Chapman,  W.  H.  Young,  W.  Cobb,  H.  Williams, 
W.  H.  Protheroe,  S.  Courtauld,  H.  Ballantine,  E.  Hill,  J.  Douglas,  and 
W.  H.  White. 
Mr.  Bristow,  gardener  to  J.  W.  Temple,  Esq.,  Groombridge,  exhibited 
a  bright  collection  of  Cattleya  gigas,  comprised  of  healthy,  well  flowered 
plants  (silver  Flora  medal).  Messrs.  H.  Low  k  Co.,  Bush  Hill  Park,  sent 
a  few  Orchids,  including  Dendrobium  Dalhousianum  giganteum, 
Cattleyas,  and  Cypripediums.  Other  small  exhibits  of  Orchids  came 
from  Messrs.  W.  Bull,  W.  H.  White ;  and  Mr.  J.  Machar,  gardener  to 
H.  Hicks,  Esq.,  Great  Baddow,  Chelmsford,  sent  a  splendidly  flowered 
plant  of  Dendrobium  Deari  (silver  Banksian  medal). 
Medals. — Fruit  Committee  :  Silver-gilt  Knightian  medal  to  Mr. 
Owen  Thomas  ;  silver  Knightian  medal  to  Messrs.  J.  Veitch  k  Sons; 
silver  Banksian  medal  to  Messrs.  ,T.  Carter  k  Co.,  and  bronze  Banksian 
medal  to  Miss  Ridge.  Floral  Committee  :  Silver  Flora  medals  to  Messrs. 
D.  Cooper,  F.  G.  Foster,  C.  Turner,  and  W.  Baskett ;  silver-gilt  Banksian 
medals  to  Messrs.  H.  B'.  May  and  C.  Blick  ;  silver  Banksian  medals  to 
Messrs.  J.  Hill  &  Son,  Barr  k  Sons,  H.  Cannell  k  Sons,  Paul  k  Son, 
J.  Carter  &  Co..  F.  W.  Campion,  if.  Cant  &  Co.,  W.  Paul  &  Son,  H. 
Eckford,  and  R.  Wallace  &  Co. 
Certificates  and  Awards  of  Merit. 
Asplenium  ornatum  (H.  B.  May). — A  handsome  Fern.  The  finely 
divided  fronds  are  very  hard,  and  promise  well  for  standing  in  rooms 
(first-class  certificate). 
Carnation  Calypso  (C.  Blick). — A  grand  Malmaison  of  a  soft  flesh 
colour.  The  flower  is  splendidly  built  (award  of  merit). 
Carnation  Mrs.  Martin  Smith  (C.  Blick). —  One  of  the  handsomest 
Malmaisons  we  have  seen.  The  colour  is  bright  rose  (award  of  merit). 
Carnation  Nell  G Wynne  (J.  Douglas). —An  almost  pure  white  variety, 
of  which  the  flowers  unfortunately  lack  fragiance  (award  of  merit). 
Carnation  Sundridge  (F.  Tapper). — A  fine  variety  ;  very  bright  red, 
approaching  scarlet  (award  of  merit). 
Cucumber  Sensation  (S.  Mortimer). — A  handsome  deep  green  fruit  of 
the  best  quality.  We  understand  that  Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons  have 
secured  the  stock  (first*class  certificate). 
Picea  pungens  glauca  pendula  (Koster  &  Co.). — A  very  effective  Conifer, 
of  which  the  name  correctly  tells  the  colour  and  habit  (first-class 
certificate). 
Polystichum  angulare  x  aculeatum  (W.  Marshall). — A  grand  Fern  ;  tie 
fronds  are  about  3  feet  long  and  freely  divided  (award  of  merit). 
Pose  Edith  Turner  (C.  Turner). — This  is  a  beautiful  Hybrid  Perpetual. 
The  flower  is  full  and  the  colour  soft  peach  (award  of  merit). 
Rose  Perles  des  Rouges  (W.  Paul  &  Son). — A  charming  Polyantha 
variety  with  rich,  deep  crimson,  profusely  borne  flowers  (award  of 
merit). 
Strawberry  Veitch's  Prolific  (J.  Veitch  &  Sons). — This  is  the  result  of 
a  cross  between  British  Queen  and  Empress  of  India.  The  flavour  is 
first-class,  and  the  flesh  is  very  firm.  The  shape  is  a  broad  wedge,  and 
it  is  wonderfully  free  cropping  (first-class  certificate). 
Sweet  Pea  Aurora  (F.  G.  Foster). — Blush,  delicately  flaked  carmine 
(award  of  merit). 
Sweet  Pea  Golden  Gate  (F.  G  Foster). —Pale  heliotrope,  suffused  with 
a  deep  shade  of  mauve  (award  of  merit). 
Sweet  Pea  Grey  Friar  (F.  G.  Foster). — White,  veined  and  suffused 
purple  (award  of  merit). 
Burdock  as  a  Vegetable. — We  believe  a  lecture  was  recently 
given  at  Swanley  on  vegetables  not  in  general  use.  It  would  be 
a  good  one  and  interesting,  but  we  are  inclined  to  doubt  that  the  Burdock 
would  be  included  by  the  versatile  “  A.  D.”  The  information  we  have 
to  give  comes  from  America,  and  is  as  follows  What  is  even  regarded 
as  a  vile  weed  can,  with  a  little  stretch  of  imagination,  be  turned  into  an 
ornamental  plant  or  delicious  vegetable.  This  is  especially  the  case  with 
the  common  Burdock,  Lappa  major.  Schoolboys  all  know  it  from 
gathering  the  burs  and  compressing  them  into  a  ball,  they  being  held 
together  by  the  curved  points  of  the  floral  involucre.  This  is  all  they 
know  about  it.  It  is  difficult  to  see  anything  more  to  be  depised  in  the 
Burdock  leaf  than  in  the  leaf  of  the  Rhubarb.  It  appears  that  it  is  largely 
used  in  China  for  food.  It  is  stated  that  if  the  stalks  be  cut  down  before 
the  flowers  expand  and  then  boiled  the  taste  is  relished  equally  with 
Asparagus.  The  leaves,  when  young,  are  boiled  and  eaten  as  we  eat 
Spinach.  In  Japan  it  is  in  universal  use.  Thousands  of  acres  are  devoted 
to  its  culture  ;  but  in  this  case  the  root  is  the  object.  It  requires  deep 
soil  to  get  the  roots  to  the  best  advantage.  The  common  name  in  China 
is  Gobbo— a  name,  however,  which  need  not  replace  our  common  one  of 
Burdock. 
