September  8.  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
183 
Laslio-Cattleyas  were  particularly  noteworthy,  but  Cypripediums, 
Miltonias,  Dendrobiums,  and  Oncidiums  were  also  good  (silver  Flora 
■medal).  Mr.  0.  Thomas,  Royal  Gardens,  Windsor,  sent  a  magnificently 
grown  plant  of  Peristeria  elata.  It  was  one  of  the  grandest  specimens 
that  has  been  seen,  and  carried  seven  splendid  spikes  of  flowers 
(silver  Mora  medal).  Messrs.  F.  Sander  &  Co.,  H.  Low  Sc  Co.,  and 
T.  W.  Bond,  also  sent  small  exhibits  of  Orchids. 
Certificates  and  Awards  of  Merit. 
Acer  negundo  elegans  (Paul  &  Son). — A  graceful  growing  golden 
variegated  plant  that  is  comparatively  well  known  (first-class  certificate). 
Cattleya  Ella  (J.  Veitch  Sc  Sons). — This  is  a  handsome  hybrid  that 
resulted  from  a  cross  between  C.  Warscewiczi  and  C.  bicolor.  The  sepals 
and  petals  are  purplish  rose,  paler  in  the  sepals.  The  flat  spreading  lip 
is  crimson  with  a  suffusion  of  purple  (award  of  merit). 
Dahlia  Puck  (T.  W.  Girdlestone). — A  single  decorative  variety  with 
deep  reddish-buff  flowers  (award  of  merit). 
Dahlia  Columbine  (T.  W.  Girdlestone). — A  peculiarly  coloured  decora¬ 
tive  single  variety.  The  central  portion  of  the  flower  is  orange,  and  the 
outer  portion  slaty  pink  (award  of  merit). 
Dahlia  Mrs.  Finlay  Campbell  (J.  Cheal  &  Sons). — An  excellent  scarlet 
coloured  Cactus  variety  (award  of  merit). 
Dahlia  Loreley  (J.  Cheal  &  Sons). — A  bright  rose-hued  variety  with  a 
paler  centre.  It  belongs  to  the  Cactus  section  (award  of  merit). 
Dahlia.  Magnificent  (J.  Stredwiek). —Another  Cactus  variety  of  the 
best  quality.  The  colour  is  yellowish  buff  (award  of  merit). 
Dahlia  Lady  Rogers  (J.  Leggatt). — A  good  variety  of  the  Pompon 
type.  The  colour  is  pure  white  (award  of  merit). 
Dendrobium  sanguineum  (W.  H.  White). — This  is  a  Dendrobe  of 
remarkable  formation,  differing  from  almost  if  not  quite  all  others  in 
the  genus.  As  the  name  implies  the  colour  is  blood  red  (award  of 
merit). 
Dracaena  Duchess  of  York  (J.  Veitch  Sc  Sons). — An  elegant,  narrow¬ 
leaved  plant  that  ought  to  have  decorative  value.  The  central  portion  of 
the  leaf  is  dark  green  and  the  margin  is  deep  red.  When  youug  there  is 
a  considerable  amount  of  white  in  the  leaves  (award  of  merit). 
Helenium  autumnale  superbum  (W.  Bain). — A  fine  variety  of  this 
floriferous  autumn-flowering  plant.  The  colour  is  bright  yellow  (award 
of  merit). 
Lobelia  Rivoirei  (W.  Bain). — This  attains  to  a  height  of  nearly  2  feet, 
and  produces  numerous  pale  rose-hued  flowers  (award  of  merit). 
Peristeria  elata  (O.  Thomas). — This,  the  Dove  Orchid,  is  too  well 
known  to  call  for  any  description  (first-class  certificate). 
HUNNEMANNIA  FUMARI^EFOLIA. 
At  the  last  four  or  five  meetings  at  the  Drill  Hall,  Westminster, 
Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Ltd.,  Chelsea,  have  exhibited  a  collection  of 
annuals  and  biennials  for  the  Sherwood  cup  that  was  offered  for  the 
encouragement  of  these  flowers.  Unfortunately  the  Chelsea  growers  have 
been  the  only  contributors,  but  they  have  sent  flowers  of  excellent  quality. 
At  the  exhibition  held  on'Tuesday,  August  23rd,  there  was  included  in  a 
splendidly  diversified  stand  Hunnemannia  fumarise  folia,  this  also  being 
entered  for  special  examination  by  the  Floral  Committee.  The  result  of 
this  was  that  this  body  recommended  an  award  of  merit,  an  honour  that 
the  plant  well  deserved  for  its  decorative  value.  It  was  introduced  to  this 
country  from  Mexico  about  seventy  years  ago,  but  is  very  seldom  seen. 
Though,  strictly  speaking,  it  is  a  perennial,  it  may  well  be  grown  as  an 
annual,  for  the  flowers  staged  were  from  seeds  sown  in  the  open  ground 
during  April.  The  flowers  are  Poppy-like  in  formation  and  bright  yellow 
in  colour.  They  are  of  much  substance  and  exceedingly  attractive.  The 
foliage  resembles  that  of  the  Eschscholtzia  both  in  form  and  colour. 
An  excellent  representation  of  the  flower  is  given  in  the  illustration, 
fig.  33. 
ROYAL  BOTANIC  SOCIETY. 
Mr.  Brinsley  Marlay,  in  a  letter  that  appeared  in  a  recent  issue 
of  the  “Times,”  and  which  was  reprinted  in  your  issue  of  the  1st  inst., 
refers  to  one  aspect  of  the  Botanic  Society  which  he  states  he,  as  Chair¬ 
man  of  the  annual  meeting  on  the  10th  ult.,  omitted  to  dwell  upon.  The 
aspect  in  question  is  the  opportunity  the  Gardens  afford  for  seclusion 
from  the  crowds  that  are  to  be  found  in  almost  every  other  place  of  resort 
in  London,  and  this,  we  are  informed,  was  an  object  aimed  at  by  the 
founders  of  the  Society. 
Everyone  can  sympathise  with  the  object  referred  to,  but  I  venture  to 
doubt  if  it  is  rightly  attributed  to  the  founders.  The  Charter  of  the 
Society  was  granted  in  1840,  when  London  was  a  very  different  place  to 
what  it  is  to-day,  and  when  the  need  of  secluded  spots  could  not  have 
been  an  urgent  one.  The  Charter  itself  does  not,  I  submit,  support  your 
correspondent’s  contention,  as  the  objects  of  the  Society  are  set  out  in  the 
recital  as  follows  : — “  Whereas  several  of  our  loving  subjects  are  desirous 
of  forming  a  society  for  the  promotion  of  botany  in  all  its  branches,  and 
its  application  to  medicine,  arts,  and  manufactures,  and  also  for  the  forma¬ 
tion  of  extensive  Botanical  and  Ornamental  Gardens  within  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  the  metropolis.” 
I  am  at  variance  with  the  Council  as  to  whether  the  Society  now 
satisfactorily  fulfils  the  intentions  of  the  founders.  The  charter  and  bye¬ 
laws  authorise  ths  appointment  of  Superintendents,  Secretaries,  Librarian, 
Curators,  and  other  officers.  The  fact  that  the  Council  now  apparently 
consider  one  officer  alone — the  Secretary — is  equal  to  the  whole  of  the 
work  the  Society  is  called  upon  to  do,  seems  to  me  to  indicate  that  the 
founders'  anticipations  have  not  been  fully  realised. 
There  is,  however,  another  aspect  of  the  question  that  it  is  impossible 
t>  ignore,  and  that  is  that  the  policy  of  exclusion  and  the  system  of 
management  that  has  for  many  years  past  been  pursued  by  the  Council 
has  involved  the  Society  in  heavy  and  increasing  liabilities.  To  keep  the 
Gardens  in  their  present  condition  requires  an  annual  income  of  £6000. 
The  income  that  can  be  reckoned  upon  only  amounts  to  some  £4000.  In 
their  report  this  year  the  Council  say  that  “  their  prediction  as  to  the 
success  of  the  year  1897  in  their  last  report  was  fully  borne  out,” 
and,  again,  that  “  the  Council  are  pleased  to  say  that  the  account  of 
receipts  over  expenditure  shows  a  small  balance  in  favour  of  the  Society.” 
Fig.  33. — Hunnemannia  fumari.efolia. 
It  is,  however,  very  difficult  to  reconcile  these  statements  with  the 
accounts,  as  no  less  than  £2352  had  to  be  borrowed  from  friends  in 
order  to  make  the  receipts  cover  the  expenditure. 
The  Fellows  have  absolutely  no  voice  in  the  management  of  the 
Society,  and  practically  none  in  the  election  of  the  Council.  A  resolution 
l  moved  last  year  affirming  that  Fellows  .ought  to  be,  if  not  already, 
entitled  to  bring  forward  at  Fellows’  meetings  motions  of  recommenda¬ 
tion  to  the  Council,  was  negatived  by  the  casting  vote  of  the  Chairman. 
The  scant  consideration  given  to  almost  every  suggestion  made  for 
improving  the  Society’s  position  indicates  the  spirit  in  which  the  Society’s 
affairs  are  managed. 
It  would,  I  conceive,  be  a  dire  misfortune  if,  in  consequence  of  the 
inability  of  the  Society  to  surmount  its  difficulties,  the  Gardens  had  to  be 
thrown  open.  Apart  from  the  scientific  work  that  might  be  done,  the 
enclosure  is  probably  now  the  only  private  grounds  left  in  London  where 
flower  shows  and  exhibitions  can  suitably  and  at  all  times  be  held,  and  it 
is  impossible  to  say  what  uses  may  not  in  the  future  be  found  for  such  an 
area  of  ground  in  the  centre  of  town,  admission  to  which  can  be  controlled. 
The  Society’s  liabilities  are,  however,  greater  to-day  than  they  have  ever 
been  before,  and  I  venture  to  address  you  in  the  hope  that  the  Council 
may  be  induced  to  reconsider  the  policy  they  have  hitherto  pursued, 
witn  the  view  to  putting  their  house  in  order  before  it  is  too  late. — 
J.  S.  Rubinstein. 
