January  2,  189G. 
3 
JOURNAL  OB1  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE 
GA  RDENER. 
of  those  who  have  fallen  from  thejfranksi  during  the  pastjyear. 
Many  a  good  gardener  whom  we  have  been  wont  to  hail  as  a  past 
master  in  the  art  has  passed  away  from  amongst  us.  In  William 
Thomson  of  Clovenfords  we  have  lost  one  of  two  brothers  whom,  I 
think,  everybody  recognised  as  the  very  princes  of  horticulture  ;  David 
Thomson  of  Drumlanrig  still  survives,  a  noble  sample  of  that  race 
which  has  done  so  much  for  the  advancement  of  gardening.  Then 
we  have  lost  Thomas  Baines,  a  figure  long  familiar  to  us  at  all  our 
metropolitan  meetings,  probably  one  of  the  most  accomplished  and 
successful  growers  of  greenhouse  plants  that  we  ever  had.  He  will 
be  remembered  by  us  of  the  older  generation  as  the  winner  of  the 
Davis  prize,  in  which  he  showed  in  how  short  a  time  those  large 
specimens,  of  which  he  was  so  successful  an  exhibitor,  might  be 
brought  to  their  highest  point  of  excellence,  and  he  was  a  most 
valuable  member  of  the  Floral  Committee  of  the  R.H.S.,  as  his 
knowledge  of  plants  was  most  extensive  and  accurate.  In  Mr. 
Bauso  we  miss  (I  say  we,  although  he  was  a  German)  one  of  the 
most  successful  hybridisers  of  foliage  plants  ;  in  fact,  I  think  I  may 
say  the  most  successful  one.  Many  may  remember  the  sensation 
created  in  the  horticultural  world  when  his  seedling  Coleuses,  six 
in  number,  were  sold  for  the  marvellous  sum  of  £250.  lie  was 
also  a  most  successful  raiser  of  Caladiums,  Dracaenas,  Crotonst 
so,  amidst  the  storms  and  varying  scenes  of  this  our  mortal  life 
may  your  flowers  suggest  to  you  thoughts  of  Him  who  has  clothed 
the  earth  with  so  much  beauty,  and  would  lead  you  on  through  His 
earthly  gifts  unto  those  higher  and  better  treasures  “  which  are  at 
His  right  hand  for  evermore.” — D,,  Real. 
Cypripedium  Gertrude  Holeington. 
Exhibited  at  a  meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society 
during  the  early  part  of  the  summer  of  1895,  this  hybrid 
Cypripedium  attracted  attention  and  was  greatly  admired  by  both 
experts  and  visitors.  Resulting  from  a  cross  between  C.  ciliare 
and  C.  bellatulum,  both  flower  and  plant  partake  of  the  character 
of  each  parent.  The  flower,  as  may  be  seen  by  the  accompanying 
woodcut  (fig.  1),  is  broad  and  of  stout  texture,  and  should  last  for 
some  considerable  time  after  expansion.  The  dorsal  sepal  is  white 
tinged  with  green  and  striped  with  dull  red,  while  the  pouch  is  of 
the  latter  colour  and  of  medium  size.  The  ground  colour  of  the 
and  Ferns.  In  Mr.  William  Dean  horticulture  ha* 
lost  the  oldest  of  a  band  of  three  brothers,  who  by 
their  pens  and  active  energy  have  done  much  to 
advance  its  interests,  especially  in  the  section  of 
florists’  flowers.  Mr.  Peter  Grieve  occupied  a  con¬ 
spicuous  place  many  years  ago,  when  by  a  fortunate 
break  he  introduced  the  section  of  golden  tricolor 
Pelargoniums,  which  for  a  long  time  were  in  great 
favour,  but  are  now  very  little  seen.  Mr.  Joseph 
Lakin  was  known  as  a  successful  raiser  and  grower 
of  Carnations,  Picotees,  and  Tulips  ;  while  the  last 
days  of  the  year  have  taken  from  us  one  of  the  best 
practical  gardeners  of  his  day,  Mr.  R.  Gilbert  of 
Burghley.  His  forte  was  not  flowers  so  much  as 
vegetables  and  fruit ;  he  was  a  frequent  contributor 
to  the  pages  of  the  Journal,  and  was  one  of  the 
valuable  race  of  practical,  hardworking  men,  who  did 
much  of  his  own  work  and  encouraged  others  to  do 
theirs. 
Having  thus  briefly  reviewed  the  past  year,  I  must 
say  a  few  words  in  regard  to  the  future.  Happily 
that  future  is  unknown  to  us.  There  seems,  how¬ 
ever,  to  me  to  be  a  steady  onward  progress  in  horti¬ 
culture,  and  no  diminution  of  interest  in  those  who 
are  engaged  in  it.  I  see,  however,  no  symptoms  of 
anything  very  startling  to  disturb  our  quietude  in 
the  year  that  is  now  opening  upon  us.  Our  first  thought  ought 
to  be,  I  think,  for  the  veteran  leader  of  our  Journal  corps, 
and  I  am  sure  I  but  echo  the  views  of  all  readers  in  hoping 
that  he  may  be  long  spared  to  keep  us  in  order.  I  am, 
I  suppose,  now  the  oldest  contributor  to  his  pages  ;  when  he 
talks  of  taking  off  his  harness  I  shall  very  soon  have  to  follow 
suit.  And  to  all  our  readers  we  must  earnestly  wish  success  in  the 
pursuit  of  their  separate  fancies  in  horticulture  ;  it  may  be  a  flower 
or  a  Fern,  or  some  fruit  or  vegetable,  and  it  is  strange  to  see 
whither  their  fancies  lead  them,  but  there  is  no  doubt  that  such 
fancies  do  tend  to  the  advance  of  the  science,  and  it  is  one  great 
comfort  connected  with  it  that  it  can  be  followed  by  the  old  when 
other  things  fail  them.  Men  advanced  in  years  would  hardly  set  out 
to  capture  the  Purple  Emperor,  but  they  can  enjoy  their  flowers 
at  home  ;  and  so  I  may  well  wish  them  success  in  their  pursuit. 
Failures  and  disappointments  I  dare  say  you,  my  friends,  may  have, 
but  don’t  be  faint-hearted,  for  it  is  often  through  these  that  our 
most  successful  efforts  come  ;  your  tastes  hurt  no  one,  and  are  in 
themselves  good,  while  you  may  learn  many  a  valuable  lesson  by 
watching  the  caprices  and  likes  and  dislikes  of  your  favourites  ;  and 
FIG.  1. — CYPRIPEDIUM  GERTRUDE  HOLLINGTON. 
petals  is  a  rather  dirty  white,  and  very  heavily  spotted  with 
brownish  red.  They  are  broad,  slightly  drooping,  and  very 
substantial.  This  Cypripedium  was  exhibited  by  Messrs.  II.  Low 
and  Co.,  Clapton,  and  received  a  first-class  certificate  from  the 
Orchid  Committee  of  the  above  Society. 
HONEST  WORK  AND  HONEST  WORKERS. 
A  Motto  for  1896. 
The  facile  hand,  and  “the  pen  of  a  ready  writer,”  give  us  in 
the  last  issue  of  this  paper  a  complete  and  thorough  resume  of 
the  work  done  and  attempted  during  the  past  year.  How 
gracefully  he  thanks  friends  and  contributors,  and  how  neatly  he 
touches  on  the  gentle  reproofs  and  tender  hints  of  those  who 
with  such  sharp  eyes  have  discovered  (or  thought  they  discovered) 
the  weak  places  in  the  joints  of  his  harness.  It  is  great  audacity 
for  me  to  attempt  such  a  thing,  but  at  this  season  of  goodwill 
and  charity  one’s  heart  is  moved,  and  I  would  fain  offer  kindliest 
greetings  to  those  who  with  me  enjoy  their  weekly  feast  of  the 
good  things  which  issue  every  Thursday  morniDg  from  the  offices 
at  No.  171,  Fleet  Street. 
We  are  so  quickly  approaching  the  coming  of  the  New  Year, 
that  in  fancy  we  can  hear  the  regular  sweep  of  his  wings.  The 
New  Year,  laden  with  so  many  hopes  and  fears  ;  the  New  Year, 
