462  , _ JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTA GE  -  GARDENER.  December  15,  1898. 
reflected  much  credit  on  them  to  see  how  smoothly  everything  worked. 
In  this  Mr.  F.  W.  Campion  concurred. 
It  was  then  announced  that  the  ballot  had  resulted  in  the  list  of 
members  proposed  having  been  unanimously  elected. 
New  Regulation. 
The  next  item  on  the  agenda  was  a  proposed  new  regulation,  which 
says: — “In  the  three  trophy  classes  at  the  metropolitan  exhibition 
and  in  the  two  trophy  classes  at  the  provincial  exhibition,  the  blooms 
must  be  staged  in  boxes  of  the  following  dimensions — viz. :  twenty- 
four  blooms  in  boxes  3  ft.  6  in.  long  by  1  ft.  6  in.  wide,  and 
eighteen  blooms  in  boxes  2  ft.  9  in.  long  by  1  ft.  6  in.  wide — all 
outside  measurements.” 
The  inclusion  of  this  regulation  was  proposed  by  Mr.  Geo.  Paul, 
V.M.H.,  who  stated  that  it  had  been  discussed  in  committee.  He 
considered  it  very  desirable,  as  also  did  Mr.  Frank  Cant,  who  was  the 
seconder  ;  both  observing  that  it  would  tend  to  put  exhibitors  on  an 
equal  footing.  Others  present  testified  in  its  favour,  and  on  being  put 
to  the  vote  it  was  passed  by  a  majority  of  nineteen  to  five.  These  sizes 
may  be  taken  as  a  trial,  and  are  therefore  confined  for  next  season  to  the 
classes  specified  only,  but  growers  may  take  it  that  if  they  prove 
satisfactory  from  all  aspects  the  dimensions  will  become  general  law, 
and  apply  to  every  class  in  the  Society’s  schedule.  It  may  therefore 
be  wise  for  exhibitors  who  are  having  new  boxes  made  to  adopt  the 
standard.  The  Rev.  J.  H.  Pemberton  had  previously  proposed  an 
amendment  in  which  the  size  of  the  door  of  an  ordinary  four-wheeled 
cab  played  a  very  prominent  part,  but  it  was  lost. 
The  shows  of  1900  having  been  adverted  to,  a  vote  of  thanks  to 
the  Chairman  was  passed  and  the  meeting  closed. 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
Drill  Hall. — December  13th. 
The  meeting  at  the  Drill  Hall  on  Tuesday  was  a  most  interesting  one, 
notwithstanding  the  fact  that  fruit  was  very  scarce.  Orchids  were 
numerous  and  of  excellent  quality,  Calanthes  and  Cypripediums  forming 
the  backbone  of  the  display.  The  former,  shown  by  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence, 
Bart.,  were  well  diversified  examples  of  excellent  culture.  Begonias  and 
Zonal  Pelargoniums  formed  the  chief  features  in  the  department  coming 
under  the  sway  of  the  Floral  Committee. 
Fruit  Committee.— Present :  Phillip  Crowley,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ; 
with  the  Rev.  W.  Wilks  and  Messrs.  G.  Bunyard,  J.  Willard,  J.  Cheal, 
J.  H.  Yeitch,  A.  F.  Barron,  T.  J.  Saltmarsh,  A.  Dean,  C.  Herrin,  W.  Pope 
W  Bates,  G.  Wythes,  W.  J.  Empson,  II.  Balderson,  G.  H.  Sage^ 
J.  Smith,  G.  Reynolds,  G.  Norman,  and  R.  Fife. 
Miss  Breton,  FoTest  End,  Sandhurst,  exhibited  well  blanched  Cardoons, 
which  were  accorded  a  vote  of  thanks.  Mr,  C.  Herrin,  Hropmore, 
Maidenhead,  c  mtributed  tubers  of  Oxalis  crenata,  grown  as  a  vege¬ 
table  (vote  of  thanks).  Mr.  W.  Shingler,  Melton  Constable,  staged  a 
seedling  Grape,  a  cross  between  Lady  Hastings  and  Gros  Colman.  °  The 
berries  were  large,  well  coloured,  and  the  flavour  superior  to  Gros 
Colman. 
Mr.  Chas.  Ross,  Welford  Park,  Newbury,  exhibited  a  seedling  Apple 
named  Paroquet,  a  well  coloured  variety  of  average  size.  Mr.  Chas. 
Seden,  A  are,  sent  a  seedling  Apple  Arthur  Tite,  a  cross  between 
Kerry  Pippin  and  King  of  Pippins  ;  the  fruits  were  rather  small,  but  it 
partakes  of  the  character  of  both  Apples. 
Floral  Committee. — Present  :  W.  Marshall,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  • 
with  Messrs.  C.  T.  Druery,  J.  H.  Fitt,  II.  B.  May,  R.  Dean,  G.  Stevens, 
W.  Howe,  J.  Hudson,  J.  Jennings,  J.  F.  McLeod,  C.  J.  Salter,  G.  Gordon, 
0.  E.  Pearson,  C.  E.  Shea,  J.  T.  Bennett-Poe.  J.  D.  Pawle,  C.  Blick, 
H.  Turner,  E.  T.  Cook,  G.  Paul,  II.  J.  Jones,  and  C.  Jeffries. 
Messrs.  Canne11  &  Sons,  Swanley,  staged  a  remarkable  display  of 
Zonal  Pelargoniums  at  this  late  season.  The  exhibit  consisted  of  about 
forty  varieties,  staged  in  large  bunches,  interspersed  with  Maidenhair 
Perns.  The  colours  were  exceedingly  bright,  and  the  flowers  exhibited 
the  marks  of  good  culture.  The  most  prominent  were  The  Sirdar,  W.  E. 
Cordan,  A.  Tennyson,  The  Mikado,  Mrs.  Ewing,  Mrs.  Simpson,  Lord 
Reay,  King  of  Crimsons,  and  Rudyard  Kipling  (silver-gilt  Bauksian 
medal). 
^r*  Earlswood  Nurseries,  staged  a  very  good  display  of 
Chrysanthemums,  comprising  the  majority  of  the  late  varieties.  The 
following  forms  were  especially  good— Redhill  Beauty,  Beauty  of  Sholing 
Georgiana  Pitcher,  Julia  Searamanga,  Mdlle.  H.  de  Rocheterie,  and 
Mrs.  \\ .  Butters.  Tho  exhibit  was  very  bright  for  the  season  (silver 
Banksian  medal). 
Mr.  H.  B.  May,  Upper  Edmonton,  slageda  capital  display  of  the  now 
popular  Begonia  Gloire  de  Lorraine,  and  a  choice  collection  of  Ferns 
A.sil v  or-gilt  Banksian  medal)..  Mr.  W.  J.  Prewett,  gardener  to  C.  A. 
i  earson,  Esq.,  Farnham,  contributed  a  pretty  exhibit  of  autumn  flowering 
plants,  comprising  Erica  hyemalis,  Begonia  Gloire  de  Lorraine,  and 
Roman  Hyacinths  tastefully  arranged  with  Palms,  Crotons,  Dracsenas, 
aud  ®c‘oeu  with  Isolopis  and  Panicum  (silver  Banksian  medal). 
SrfS'  Ja9‘  &  Son8>  Ttd.,  staged  a  bright  and  attractive  * 
exniDit  or  winter  flowering  Begonias,  the  variety  Winter  Cheer  being 
pecial  y  bright,  while  Myra  and  Ensign  are  very  acceptable  colours  at 
mis  dull  season  (silver  Flora  medal).  Mr.  Henry  Eckford  exhibited  four 
new  Primulas,  but  it  was  difficult  to  form  an  opinion  a3  to  their  merits 
owing  to  the  bad  light,  and  the  plants  being  very  young  examples  of  the 
varieties.  Messrs.  F.  Sander  &  Son,  St.  Albans,  staged  some  attractive 
plants  of  Acalypha  Sanderi,  clearly  demonstrating  its  value  as  a  Christmas 
decorative  plant.  The  Dracasnas  Sanderiana  and  Godseffiana  were  also 
conspicuous  (silver  Banksian  medal). 
Orchid  Committee.— Present :  H.  J.  Veitch,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ; 
with  Messrs.  J.  O’Brien,  de  Barri  Crawshay,  H.  Little,  G.  W.  Law- 
Schofield,  H.  J.  Chapman,  W.  H.  Young,  W.  H.  White,  H.  M.  Pollett, 
S.  Courtauld,  E.  Hill,  E.  Ashworth,  T.  B.  Haywood,  and  T.  W.  Bond. 
As  has  been  said,  the  collection  of  Calanthes  sent  by  Mr.  W.  H. 
White,  Orchid  grower  to  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  Bart.,  Burford  Lodge, 
Dorking,  was  one  of  the  handsomest  exhibits  in  the  show.  The 
plants  were  numerous,  and  represented  several  species  and  varieties,  all 
thoroughly  well  grown.  Amongst  the  best  were  Yeitchi  splendens, 
Victoria  Regina,  revertens,  Veitchi  lactea,  burfordiense,  bella,  versicolor, 
amabilis,  and  jucunda.  Mr.  White  contributed  Cypripediums  in  fine 
form,  comprising  Fascinatum,  Leeanum,  L.  giganteum,  and  others  (silver 
Flora  medal).  Mr.  A.  Howard,  gardener  to  H.  Little,  Esq.,  Twickenham, 
arranged  a  small  group,  consisting  mainly  of  Cypripediums,  and  including 
most  of  those  that  flower  at  this  period  of  the  year  (bronze  medal). 
Mr.  H.  J.  Chapman,  gardener  to  R.  I.  Measures,  Esq.,  Cambridge 
Lodge,  Camberwell,  staged  a  large  coll  ction  o  f  Cypripediums,  many  of 
which  were  much  above  the  average  of  quality.  Varieties  of  insigne  were 
very  numerous,  as  well  as  Wottoni,  Zeus,  and  others.  Besides  these  thero 
were  Masdevallias,  Sophronitis,  Pleurothallis,  with  others  (silver  Flora 
medal).  Messrs.  H.  Low  &  Co.,  Bush  Hill  Park,  were  represented  by  a 
small  but  very  bright  group  of  varied  Orchids.  Of  Cypripediums  there 
were  insigne,  Laura  Kimball,  Leeanum  giganteum,  Niobe,  Charles 
Canham,  Leeanum  Low’s  var,  and  insigne  Dormani.  Noticeable  also  were 
Laslio-Cattleya  Aurora,  Laglia  Gouldiana,  Cattleya  Dowiana,  several 
Oncidiums,  Cymbidium  Traceyanum  superbum,  and  others  (silver  Bank¬ 
sian  medal). 
Orchids  were,  as  is  customary,  sent  by  Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Ltd., 
Chelsea,  and  quality  of  plants  and  flowers  took  the  place  of  quantity. 
Perhaps  most  conspicuous  were  Cypripediums  insigne  Chantini,  Euryades, 
Arthurianum,  insigne  Sanderae,  Leeanum  superbuin,  Niobe,  Leeanum,  and 
insigne  Sanderianum,  Laelio-Cattleya  Decia,  Dendrobium  atro-violaceum, 
Ionopsis  panieulata,  Cymbidium  Traceyanum,  Phalsenopsis  Hebe,  Dendro¬ 
bium  bracteosum  album,  Epidendrum  Wallisi-ciliare,  and  Oncidium 
pectorale,  with  several  new  Laelias  and  Lselio-Cattleyas  (silver  Banksian 
medal). 
Messrs.  F.  Sander  &  Co.,  St.  Albans,  sent  Oncidium  Rogersi,  with 
Cypripediums  insigne  giganteum,  Madame  Margaret  Hye,  Leeanum 
superbum,  L.  giganteum,  nitens  superbum,  Albert  Hye,  Leeanum  magni- 
ficum,  and  others.  Mr.  H.  Holbrook,  gardener  to  E.  Ashworth,  Esq., 
Harefield  Hall,  Wilmslow,  showed  a  grand  form  of  the  Harefield  Hall 
variety  of  Cypripedium  insigne.  Mr.  G.  Cragg,  gardener  to  W.  C. 
Walker,  Esq.,  Winchmore  Hill,  sent  a  fine  plant  of  Dendrobium  atro- 
carpum,  while  Sir  Wm.  Marriott  and  Captain  Holford  (silver  Banksian 
medal)  with  others,  contributed  smaller  stands  of  Orchids. 
Certificates  and  Awards  of  Merit. 
Asparagus  Sprengeri  compacta  (H.  B.  May). — As  almost  everyone 
knows  A.  Sprengeri,  all  that  is  necessary  with  respect  to  description  is 
conveyed  in  the  varietal  name  (first-class  certificate), 
Calanthe  revertens  (W.  II.  White). — This  is  a  handsome  form.  The 
large  substantial  flowers  borne  on  the  long  spikes  are  of  the  richest  rose 
crimson  colour,  the  sepals  having  just  a  suspicion  of  white  (award  of 
merit). 
Cypripedium  insigne  Harefield  Hall  variety  (E.  Ashworth). — Superb  in 
every  respect  is  this  variety.  The  dorsal  sepal  is  of  immense  size,  with 
a  very  broad  margin  of  white  round  the  pale  green  chocolate  spotted 
base.  The  pouch  and  petals  are  yellowish  green  veined  and  suffused 
brown  (first-class  certificate). 
Lcelii  Digbgana  purpurata  (J.  Yeitch  &  Sons,  Ltd.). — The  sepals  and 
petals  of  this  hybrid  are  pale  blush,  while  the  beautiful  lip  is  deep  crimson, 
with  a  paler  margin,  and  a  primrose  throat  (award  of  merit). 
Meteorological  Aquipoises.— One  of  the  undoubted  features 
of  the  present  winter  season  is  its  rain  production,  and  with  it  equalising 
moisture  requit ements.  Several  weeks  since,  in  making  reference  to  this 
subject,  I  stated  that,  judged  by  annual  average  rainfalls,  there  was  a 
deficiency  of  15  inches  to  be  made  up.  I  do  not  know-how  many  inches 
have  fallen  since  that  time,  but  probably  several,  so  that  now  the 
deficiency  is  very  materially  lessened,  and  there  is  every  reason  to  hope 
that  in  its  own  excellent  way,  not  in  one  great  flood,  but  by  instalments, 
the  entire  deficiency  will  be  made  up  dur-ng  the  winter^season.  So  far  it 
must  be  admitted  tho  rains  have  been  abundant,  yet  have  given  a 
minimum  of  inconvenience.  Even  if  we  knew  nothing  whatever  by 
measurement  as  to  the  deficiency  of  rain,  we  have  had  ample  evidence  in 
the  drying  up  of  springs,  lowering  of  wells,  and  general  dryness  of  tho 
soil,  which  during  the  autumn  led  to  practical  water  famines  in  many 
parts  of  the  kingdom.  Seldom  in  the  memory  of  the  oldest  of  us  had  the 
deep  subsoils  been  so  dry,  and  it  was  marvellous  that  huge  trees,  with 
their  roots  deep  in  them,  should  have  both  been  able  to  exist,  and  even  to 
make  good  growth.  If  leafage  does  not  absorb  moisture  from  the  air,  that 
through  root  action  alone  seems  all  the  more  remarkable.  It  i3  now  pretty 
Certain  that  where  next  spring  leafage  again  expands  there  will  be  at  the 
roots  a  store  of  moisture  that  is  almost  unwonted,  and  should  be  productive 
of  most  beneficent  results. — A.  D. 
1  -  -  '  -  -  •  «  ■  , ...  j  .  .  .  .  t  \ 
