November  23,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
449 
The  Cypripediums  included  Ashburtonias,  Chantini,  alba  marginata, 
Leeanum,  grandiflorum,  Spicerianum  and  aureum.  All  the  plants  were  in 
excellent  health  and  carrying  good  flowers.  Mr.  C.  Whitlock,  gardener 
to  W.  A  Bilney,  Esq.,  Fir  Grange,  Weybridge,  contributed  a  collection  of 
flowers  of  Cattleya  labiata  in  variety,  with  a  spike  of  Vanda  Sanderiana 
and  V.  coerulea.  Mr.  E.  Kromer,  Bandon  Hill,  also  sent  flowers  of 
Cattleya  labiata.  In  both  instances  the  flowers  were  of  good  quality. 
Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Chelsea,  sent  a  charming  group  of  Orchids, 
ih  which  eight  plants  of  Cypripedium  insigne  Sanderae  met  with  general 
appreciation.  Each  carried  splendid  flowers.  There  were,  too,  Cypri¬ 
pediums  Creon,  Prospero,  Arthurianum,  cenanthum  superbum,  Niobe, 
Euryades,  Enid  and  Leeanum  ;  Lselio-Cattleya  Decia,  L.-c.  Dominiana 
langleyesis,  L.-c.  Lady  Rothschild,  L  -c.  Statteriana  and  L.-c.  Semiramis ; 
Cattleyas  Portia,  Alatanta  and  Pearl,  with  a  few  others.  The  same  firm 
also  contributed  several  rarer  forms,  as  also  did  a  few  other  growers. 
Mr.  J.  Bradshaw  showed  from  Southgate  a  small  collection  of  Orchids 
including  Cattleyas  and  Cymbidium  Traceyanum. 
Mr.  A.  Chapman,  gardener  to  Captain  Holford,  Westonbirt,  Tetbury, 
contributed  a  collection  of  Cypripediums,  including  Pitcherianum, 
Williams’  variety  ;  Morganise  burfordense,  Leeanum  gigauteum, 
L.  superbum,  Spicerianum  magnificum,  Arthurianum  pulchellum,  Ash- 
burtoniae,  Charlesworthi  magnificum,  Niobe  magnificum,  Tityus,  Arthur¬ 
ianum,  Buchanianum,  Barleti,  oenanthum  superbum,  insigne  Dorothy, 
i.  Sanderm,  i.  Laura  Kimball,  i.  Maulei,  i.  Balli,  i.  citrina,  i.  biceps, 
i.  Dormani,  i.  Harefield  Hall  variety,  i.  punctatum  violaceum,  and  Milo 
Westonbirt  variety.  Tho  plants  were  splendidly  grown  and  carried  fine 
flowers.  Messrs.  H.  Low  &  Co.,  Bush  Hill  Park,  sent  a  small  collection 
of  Orchids,  including  Oncidiums,  Cattleyas,  Cypripediums,  with  Cycnoches 
chlorochilon,  and  Cypripedium  insigne  Laura  Kimball. 
Medals. — Fruit  Committee. — Mr.  J.  Basham,  silver-gilt  Knightian 
medal ;  Messrs.  J.  Laing  &  Sons,  silver  Knightian  medal  ;  and  Messrs. 
Harrison  &  Sons,  silver  Banksian  medal.  Floral  Committee.— Gold 
medals  to  Messrs.  W.  H.  Lees  and  J.  Veitch  &  Sons  ;  silver  gilt  Flora 
medal  to  Mr.  A.  Chapman.  Silver  Flora  medals  to  Messrs.  J.  Hill  and 
Son,  Cripps  &  Son,  and  E.  Beckett  ;  silver -gilt  Banksian  medal  to  F.  W. 
Flight,  and  silver  Banksian  medals  to  Messrs.  W.  J.  Godfrey,  Peed  and 
Son,  and  H.  Low  &  Co.  Orchid  Committee. — Silver-gilt  Flora  medal  to 
Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons  ;  silver  Flora  medal  to  Mr.  A.  Chapman  ;  and 
silver  Banksian  medal  to  Mr.  J.  Bradshaw. 
Certificates  and  Awards  of  Merit. 
Apple  Cissy  (J.  Basham). — An  attractive  Apple  of  medium  to  large 
size,  almost  wholly  covered  with  crimson  and  having  numerous  white 
spots.  The  stalk  is  very  short  and  is  deeply  set  in  a  small  cavity.  The 
small  and  closed  eye  is  deeply  set  in  a  puckered  basin  (award  of  merit). 
Apple  Bassaleg  Pippin  (J.  Basham). — A  very  handsome  Apple  of 
regular  shape.  The  colour  is  pale  lemon  with  a  crimson  cheek,  splashed 
with  darker  crimson  on  the  sun  side.  The  stalk  is  scarcely  more  than 
a  knob,  and  is  deeply  placed  in  a  wide  green-lined  cavity.  The  small, 
half-open  eye  is  deeply  set  (award  of  merit). 
Begonia  Sylvia  (Jas.  Veitch  k,  Sons)  —  A  semi  double  variety  with 
rosy  pink  flowers,  free  flowering,  and  of  good  habit  (award  of  merit). 
Cattleya  Bowring-Massaiana  (J.  Hamilton). — The  name  of  this  tells  the 
parentage.  The  sepals  and  petals  are  purple  rose,  the  lip  being  velvety 
crimson  purple  on  the  front  lobe  and  yellow  in  the  throat  (award  of 
merit). 
Cattleya  vestalis  (J.  Veitch  &  Sons). — This  is  from  a  cross  between 
C.  Dowiana  aurea  and  C.  maxima.  The  sepals  and  petals  are  creamy 
blush  ;  the  long  lip  is  crimson  purple  veined  bright  crimson,  and  the 
fimbriated  margin  is  white  ;  the  throat  is  orange  (award  of  merit). 
Chrysanthemum  Mrs.  Alfred  Tate  (W.  H.  Lees). — A  terra-cotta  bronze 
sport  from  Etoile  de  Lyon  ;  a  very  taking  variety  (award  of  merit). 
Cypripedium  Milo  Westonbirt  variety. — A  magnificent  form.  The  pouch 
is  deep  claret,  as  are  the  petals,  which,  however,  have  a  margin  of  green. 
The  handsome  dorsal  sepal  is  green  at  the  base,  but  the  colour  is  almost 
obscured  by  the  deep  purple  brown  spots.  The  margin  is  white  (award 
of  merit). 
Dracaena  The  Queen  (Jas.  Veitch  &  Sons), — A  charming  variety  of  the 
rubra  type,  a  deep  green,  broadly  edged  with  pink  ;  will  make  a  good 
decorative  variety  (award  of  merit). 
Odontoglossum  Loochristyensis  Canary  Bird  (W.  Stevens).  —  A  most 
attractive  yellow  variety,  with  narrow  sepals  and  petals  chastely  spotted 
with  brown  (award  of  merit). 
Pear  Double  de  Guerre  (F.  Lloyd). — A  stewing  Pear  of  medium  size 
and  regular  shape.  The  colour  is  green  with  a  flush  of  bronze  on  the 
sun  side  and  profusely  covered  with  brown  russet.  The  stalk  is  obliquely 
set  on  the  side  of  the  fruit.  The  eye  is  large  and  wide  open  (award 
of  merit). 
Zonal  Pelargonium  Lilian  (Captain  Holford). — A  pale  pink  variety,  a 
little  deeper  in  colour  than  Duchess  of  Fife  (award  of  merit). 
Fruit  Growing  in  South  Wales. 
In  the  report  above  particular  attention  is  called  to  Mr.  Basham’s 
Monmouthshire  fruit,  and  it  was  a  matter  for  regret  that  the  number  of 
Fellows  at  the  afternoon  meeting  was  so  small  when  this  excellent 
grower  read  a  paper  with  the  title  given.  It  would  be  of  much  advantage, 
both  to  the  lecturer  and  his  audience,  if  the  noise  in  the  hall  could  be 
abated  during  the  reading  of  the  papers,  as  it  was  at  times  almost 
impossible  for  the  essayist’s  remarks  to  be  heard.  It  was  evident  that  it 
was  a  source  of  trouble  to  Mr.  Alfred  Pearson,  who  occupied  the  chair  ; 
but  it  was  not  then  possible  for  him  to  take  any  steps  in  the  matter, 
however  much  he  might  have  wished  to  do  so. 
Mr.  Basham  opened  his  discourse  with  a  geographical  description  of 
the  county,  in  whose  possibilities  as  a  fruit  growing  centre  ho  has  tho 
utmost  faith.  The  soil  of  various  districts  was  explained,  and  instances 
quoted  where  possible,  of  excellent  fruits  being  produced  on  the  different 
kinds.  This  embraced  not  only  private  gardens,  but  also  Apples  from 
new  as  well  as  very  ancient  orchards.  He  referred  to  the  exceptionally 
heavy  crops  that  are  the  rule  rather  than  the  exception,  some  varieties 
being  particularised  as  suitable  for  special  districts  and  soils.  Attention 
was  also  called  to  the  brilliance  in  colour  of  some  varieties,  and  any 
number  of  illustrations  of  this  could  be  found  in  the  collection  of  Mon¬ 
mouthshire  produce  that  the  essayist  had  brought  together.  The  paper 
throughout  was  of  an  essentially  practical  character,  and  it  will  be  read 
with  undoubted  advantage  when  the  full  text  is  published  in  the  Journal 
of  the  Society. 
Scientific  Committee,  Nov.  7th.— Present :  Dr.  M.  T.  Masters 
(in  the  chair) ;  Mr.  Michael,  Dr.  Russell,  Mr.  E.  F.  im  Thurn,  Mr.  E 
Mawley,  Professor  A.  H.  Church,  and  Rev.  G.  Henslow,  Hon.  Sec. 
Effects  of  Fog. — Mr.  Wright  sent  some  Vine  leaves  from  Chiswick  to 
show  the  injurious  effects  of  the  recent  fogs  in  the  gardens  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society.  All  the  Muscat  class  of  Grapes  were  most  injured, 
the  foliage  being  all  scorched  and  the  fruit  more  or  less  covered  with  a 
deposit.  It  was  observed  that  the  fog  was  remarkably  early  in  the  season. 
Prof.  Church  noticed  that  it  was  peculiarly  pungent,  causing  a  hundred 
buds  of  a  Camellia  to  fall  in  a  single  day.  Injury  was  also  done  to 
Orchids  in  Chelsea  and  Gunnersbury.  The  real  cause  of  the  injury  is  the 
presence  of  sulphurous  acid  gas,  as  well  as  the  mechanical  accumulation 
of  sooty  matters. 
Amaryllis  reversion. — Rev.  W.  Wilks  brought  an  Amaryllis,  the 
flowers  apparently  having  more  or  less  reverted  to  the  primitive  form  of 
Hippeastrum,  from  which  the  modern  types  were  descended  through 
hybridisation. 
Foxglove ,  hybrid. — A  flowering  spike  of  a  hybrid  between  a  white- 
flowered  Foxglove  and  Digitalis  lutea  was  sent  by  Mr.  Wilson,  of  St. 
Andrews.  It  was  remarkable  in  having  much  smaller  flowers  than  those 
of  the  usual  form  of  D.  purpurea  X  D-  lutea  ;  and  though  possessing 
perfect  pistils,  there  were  no  stamens.  Moreover,  the  flowers  were  white, 
but  slightly  virescent.  The  white  Foxglove  was  the  pollen  parent. 
French  Vineyards  Injured.— Dr.  Masters  observed  that  having  lately 
seen  the  vineyards  of  the  champagne  country,  also  those  near  Neuchatel 
and  Geneva,  he  did  not  observe  a  single  perfect  bunch  of  Grapes.  They 
appeared  to  have  rotted  early  in  the  opring,  through  frosts  prevailing  at 
the  time  fertilisation  was  taking  place. 
Pinus  aristata. — Ho  also  exhibited  cones  of  this  rare  Californian  Pine. 
They  are  remarkable  for  bearing  a  needle-like  spine  at  the  back  of  the 
thickened  end  of  scales,  the  so-called  hypophysis.  It  was  a  question 
whether  this  be  not  a  variety  of  P.  Balfouriana,  which  grows  in  the  same 
country  and  only  differs  in  the  absence  of  the  spine.  It  is  a  good  maritime 
species,  bearing  dense  foliage.  They  w  ere  received  from  Mr.  Croucher  of 
Crief. 
Pelorian  Mentha. — Air.  Henslow  showed  a  drawing  of  a  regular  flower 
of  Alentha  roiundifolia  found  wild  by  the  river  Wye,  near  Ross. 
HARDY  FRUITS  AT  SlrON. 
The  gardens  at  Syon  House,  Brentford,  one  of  the  several  seats  of  the 
Duke  of  Northumberland,  have  long  been  famed  for  both  forced  and 
hardy  fruits.  When  it  is  said  there  are  nine  acres  of  kitchen  garden  in 
three  walled  sections,  aud  every  available  foot  of  space  filled  with  fruit 
trees  surrounding  the  vegetable  quarters  as  well  as  the  walls  themselves, 
it  will  be  readily  conceded  that  Air.  G.  Wythes'  fruit  charge  is  au 
extensive  one.  The  situation  is  very  low,  so  low,  in  fact,  that  drainage 
in  winter  is  rendered  difficult,  not  only  because  of  its  elevation  but 
because  of  the  close  proximity  of  the  river.  The  soil  is  light,  resting 
on  a  gravel  bed,  which  is  favourable  in  some  respects,  and  less  so  in 
others.  It  is  only  by  thorough  cultivation  that  the  best  results  are  to  be 
obtained  in  this  land,  particularly  when  such  a  summer  as  the  one  in  1899 
has  to  be  reckoned  with. 
Apples. 
Apples  and  Pears  are  necessarily  grown  in  considerable  numbers. 
The  trees  themselves  were  generally  in  the  best  of  health,  the  younger 
ones  in  particular,  so  many  of  which  have  been  planted  by  Air.  Wythes. 
Of  the  more  useful  cooking  and  dessert  sorts  there  are  goodly  numbers 
planted  of  each,  which  is  not  only  an  excellent  practice  but  a  necessary 
provision  where  the  daily  needs  of  the  kitchen  is  heavy.  A  long  line  of 
trees  of  Alfriston  skirted  one  of  the  large  vegetable  quarters,  and  this 
Mr.  Wythes  speaks  of  as  being  one  of  his  best  for  later  supplies.  Quanti¬ 
ties,  too,  are  planted  of  Lord  Derby,  Stirling  Castle,  Lord  Grosvenor, 
Bismarck,  Warner's  King,  and  Lane’s  Prince  Albert,  the  last-named 
coming  next  to  Allriston  in  keeping  and  cropping  properties.  Cox  s 
Orange,  Ribston  and  Blenheim  Pippins,  and  King  of  the  Pippins  are 
among  the  dessert  sorts  grown  in  quantity,  the  latter  being  a  never  tailing 
Apple.  Blenheims  are  good  as  standards,  but,  as  everywhere  else,  it  is 
very  sparing  in  fruiting  on  bush  or  pyramid-trained  trees. 
There  is  a  long  list  of  varieties  treated  as  bushes,  and  others  grown  as 
horizontal  cordons,  do  excellently  and  furnish  the  best  samples.  .  Of 
these  Bramley’s  Seedling,  Gold  Aledal,  Cardinal,  Cox  s  Pomona,  Domino, 
Grenadier,  Ecklinville,  the  newer  Chilwell  variety  Newton  A\  onder, 
