58 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  16,  18U6. 
Mr.  Hill,  at  that  time  gardener  at  Hillsborough  Castle.  It  was  then 
named  Cooper’s  Black.  Mr.  Cooper  left  Armagh  in  1862  and  went  to 
Harristown  in  February,  1863,  and  he  took  eyes  with  him  there.  Mr. 
Cooper  was  three  years  altogether  at  Trentham,  first  from  1841  to  1843 
and  the  second  time  in  1852,  so  if  there  had  been  any  Vine  like  it  there 
he  would  have  known  it,  for  he  often  told  me  Mr.  Fleming  used  to  grow 
a  number  of  kinds. — B.  Cooper. 
[We  are  very  much  obliged  to  Miss  Cooper  for  the  information.  The 
Grape  is  probably  of  continental  origin.] 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
Drill  Hall — January  14th. 
The  first  meeting  of  this  Society  for  the  year  1896  was  held  in  the 
Drill  Hall  on  the  above  date,  and  was  probably  one  of  the  best  that  has 
been  held  at  this  time  of  the  year.  Not  only  were  the  exhibits 
numerous  and  of  a  high  quality,  but  visitors  collected  in  strong  force, 
and  this,  despite  the  very  untoward  weather  that  prevailed  throughout 
the  day.  It  was  noteworthy  also  as  the  occasion  of  the  public  debut  of 
Mr.  S.  T.  Wright,  Chiswick’s  new  Superintendent.  Apples  formed  the 
bulk  of  the  exhibits  before  the  Fruit  and  Primulas  before  the  Floral 
Committees,  whilst  Orchids  were  very  numerous  and  of  great  interest,  so 
much  so  as  to  form  as  good  an  exhibition  as  is  usually  to  be  seen  at  a  much 
later  period  of  the  year. 
Fruit  Committee. — Present :  P.  Crowley,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ;  with 
Rev.  W.  Wilks  and  Messrs.  G.  Bunyard,J.  H.  Veitch,  J.  Cheal,  A.  F. 
Barron,  T.  J.  Saltmarsh,  G.  Norman,  G.  Reynolds,  F.  Q.  Lane,  G.  Wythes, 
G.  Sage,  W.  Bates,  J.  A.  Laing,  W.  Pope,  A.  Dean,  W.  Farr,  and 
J.  Wright. 
In  commencing  the  proceedings  the  Chairman  gave  a  genial  greeting 
to  all,  and  expressed  his  pleasure  in  welcoming  Mr.  A.  F.  Barron  to  a 
seat  at  the  table,  a  welcome  that  would  have  been  equally  extended  to 
other  new  members,  Messrs.  Crasp,  lnglefield  and  Ward,  could  they  have 
been  present  on  the  occasion. 
The  display  of  Apples  was  extensive,  most  if  not  all  the  collections 
containing  varieties  not  extensively  cultivated,  and  some  of  them  perhaps 
not  likely  to  be.  Messrs.  G.  Bunyard  &  Co.  staged  100  varieties,  five  fruits 
of  each,  and  not  an  inferior  dish  among  them.  Mr.  Bunyard  grows  fruit 
well,  keeps  it  well,  and  shows  it  well  ;  and  not  a  hand  was  held  up 
against  the  silver-gilt  medal  that  was  proposed  for  the  collection. 
Similar  unanimity  was  displayed  in  awarding  silver  Banksian  medals 
to  Mr.  John  Watkins,  Hereford  ;  Messrs.  J.  Laing  &  Sons,  Forest  Hill  ; 
and  Messrs.  Cheal  &  Sons,  Crawley.  Mr.  Watkins’  Apples  included 
several  fine  specimens,  the  collection  as  a  whole  being  remarkable  for 
high  colour.  Messrs.  Laing  &  Son  had  fifty  dishes  of  Apples,  several 
very  fine,  and  some  of  them  quite  sufficiently  polished  ;  the  foreman 
evidently  likes  to  see  them  “cut  a  shine.’’  Messrs.  J.  Cheal  &,  Sons 
staged  fifteen  dishes  of  Apples  and  a  few  Pears  of  not  generally  known 
varieties,  varying  in  size,  quality,  and.  colour.  Two  of  the  Pears  were 
placed  on  the  table —  namely,  Marie Lruise,.»  jnediuni  sized,  pyriform 
fruit,  juicy,  and  sweet,  a  promising  late  variety  for  a  wall  ;  and 
Bergamotte  Collete,  also  a  medium-sized  fruit,  grown  on  an  open  fence, 
and  also  of  very  good  quality. 
From  Mr.  Watkins’  collection  a  dessert  Apple,  Lord  Hindlip ,  was 
examined .  The  fruit  is  of  good  medium  size,  broad  at  the  base,  narrowing 
sharply  to  the  eye,  yellowish  green,  with  crimson  stripes  rising  from  the 
base,  and  the  whole  fruit  more  or  less  flecked  with  russet ;  stalk  long, 
Blender  :  eye  small,  closed  ;  flesh  tender,  sweet,  and  pleasantly  flavoured. 
An  award  of  merit  was  unanimously  granted. 
Apple,  Royal  Late  Cooking,  was  sent  from  Windsor  by  Mr.  Owen 
Thomas  ;  large  conical  fruits,  bright  yellowish  green.  Mr.  Bunyard, 
who  has  an  eye  for  Apples,  thought  he  could  detect  a  mixture  of  Tower 
of  Glamis  and  Alfriston  in  the  variety.  It  is  a  seedling  raised  by  Mr. 
Powell  in  the  Royal  Gardens  many  years  ago,  and  the  fruits  were 
gathered  from  a  large  standard  tree.  From  young,  cultivated  trees  in 
good  soil  the  fruit  might  be  expected  to  be  still  finer.  No  one  voted 
against  an  award  of  merit  for  this  Apple. 
Mr.  Wm.  Prior,  Bonks  Hill,  Saw  bridge  worth,  sent  a  dish  of  fruits 
of  Apple  Sir  Walter  ;  a  large  variety  ;  round,  symmetrical,  somewhat 
russety  to  the  feel,  and  suggesting  a  blending  of  the  characteristics  of 
the  Blenheim  and  Alfriston.  The  fruits  were  rather  shrivelled.  A 
request  was  made  that  others  be  sent  next  year  with  a  description  of 
the  tree,  as  the  variety  was  thought  to  be  promising. 
Mr.  W.  S.  Hurlstone,  gardener  to  C.  W.  Lea,  Esq.,  Parkfield  Hallow, 
Worcester,  sent  a  dish  of  Beurre  Perron  Pear  ;  large  fruits,  bearing  a 
general  resemblance  to  Passe  Crasanne,  but  distinct ;  very  juicy  and 
pleasantly  flavoured  (award  of  merit). 
Mr.  Peter  Yeitch,  Exeter,  sent  six  varieties  of  Apples,  grown  in  his 
nursery  in  strong  soil — namely,  Newtown  Pippin,  good  as  English  grown 
fruits  ;  D’Arcy  Spice  and  Cornish  Gilliflower  very  good  ;  Winter  Warden 
and  Cornish  Aromatic  of  moderate  quality  (vote  of  thanks).  Mr.  W. 
Roupell  sent  a  basket  of  Apples  “  Border  Parsonage,”  a  medium  sized 
fruit  with  a  sweet  sub-acid  taste,  but  was  not  thought  worthy  of  any 
special  award.  It  is  an  old  Kentish  Apple,  superseded  by  many  others 
in  cultivation. 
Mr.  W.  Farr,  gardener  to  A.F.  Pears,  Esq.,  Islewortb,  sent  a  dish  of 
Tomatoes,  “  All  the  Year  Round,”  small  to  medium,  oval  shaped  crimson 
scarlet  fruits  in  clusters,  evidently  useful  for  home  consumption,  as 
ripening  so  well  at  this  seauon  of  the  year. 
Floral  Committee. — Present  :  W.  Marshall,  Esq.  (in  the  chair); 
and  Rev.  H.  Id.  D’Ombrain,  with  Messrs.  J.  Fraser,  Owen  Thomas, 
J.  Laing,  C.  T.  Druery,  H.  B.  May,  H.  Herbst,  R.  Dean,  J.  H.  Fitt, 
G.  Stevens,  Jas.  Hudson,  J.  T.  McLeod,  R.  B.  Lowe,  J.  D.  Pawle, 
Chas.  Jefferies,  W.  Selfe  Leonard,  W.  Bain,  C.  E.  Pearson,  Charles  E. 
Shea,  Jas.  Walker,  E.  Mawley,  H.  J.  Jones,  E.  Beckett,  Chas.  Blick, 
H.  Turner,  G.  Paul,  and  G.  Gordon. 
A  decided  feature  in  the  show  was  the  magnificent  display  of 
Primulas  staged  by  Messrs.  H.  Cannell  &  Sons,  Swanley,  which 
occupied  the  whole  of  one  side  of  the  hall.  Conspicuous  in  the  group 
were  such  specialities  as  The  Lady,  Purple  Lady,  pyramidalis  grandiflora 
alba,  White  Perfection,  Cannell’s  Carmine,  Purple  Fern-leaf,  Eynsford 
White,  and  Swanley  Blue.  The  plants  throughout  were  sturdy  and 
healthy,  characteristic  of  the  high  condition  of  culture  to  which  they 
must  have  been  subjected  (silver-gilt  Banksian  medal). 
Another  good  collection  of  Primulas  was  that  staged  by  Mr.  J.  R.  Box, 
Croydon,  abundance  of  bloom  and  dwarf  sturdy  habit  here  also  speaking 
of  good  culture.  Among  the  specialities  were  White  Perfection,  Intensity, 
Princess  May,  Cannell’s  Pink,  Wickham  Surprise,  Wickham  Beauty,  The 
Queen,  Marquis  of  Lome,  King  of  the  Blues  and  Wickham  Gem  (silver 
Flora  medal)  Messrs.  J.  Peed  &  Sons,  Norwood,  contributed  a  compact 
group  of  foliage  plants,  which  included  Dracaenas  Jamesi,  Alexandra, 
Mrs.  Sladin  Wallis,  Goldieana,  Alberti,  Madame  Heine  and  Barbetti, 
with  Palms  and  Begonias  King  Rufus  and  Arthur  Malet  (silver 
Banksian  medal). 
A  few  plants  of  the  late  Chrysanthemum  Jeanette  Sbeaham  were 
shown  by  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones,  Lewisham,  this  variety  being  a  yellow  sport 
from  the  white  Princess  Blanche.  Messrs.  Jas.  Yeitch  &  Sons,  Chelsea, 
sent  a  number  of  blooms  of  their  Javauico-jasminiflorum  hybrid  Rhodo¬ 
dendrons,  together  with  a  well-flowered  plant  of  Rhododendron  multi¬ 
color  Ensign.  Messrs.  J.Laing&  Sons,  Forest  Hill,  vere  represented  by  a 
bright  collection  of  flower  and  foliage  plants,  which  included  Palms, 
Crotons,  Dracmnas,  Begonias,  Solanums,  Primulas,  Cypripcdium  insigne, 
Azalea  mollis  and  otters  arranged  with  taste  (silver  Banksian  medal). 
From  the  Botanic  Gardens,  Glasnevin,  Dublin,  came  flowers  of  Ericas 
mediterranea  alba  and  mediterranea  media  and  Ilippeastrum  aulicum 
grandiflorum.  Mr.  G.  M'Dougall,  Ravenna  Cottage,  Stirling,  sent  a  few 
Ferns — Pterises  tremula  Ravenme,  tremula  superba  and  scrrulata  cristata 
M'Dougalleana. 
Orchid  Committee. — Present:  H.  J.  Veitch,  Esq.  (in  the  chair) ; 
with  Messrs.  Jas,  O’Brien,  F.  Hardy,  W.  H.  White,  J.  T.  Gabriel,  Chas. 
Pilcher,  C.  H.  Ballantine,  II.  M.  Pollett,  T.  W.  Bond,  H,  J.  Chapman, 
T.  Statter,  E.  Ashworth,  W.  Cobb,  J.  Jaques,  E.  Hill,  J.  Douglas, 
H.  Williams,  J.  Sander,  and  T.  B.  Haywood. 
Orchids  were,  as  has  previously  been  said,  splendidly  Bhown  for  the 
time,  of  the  year.  Mr.  J.  Bradshaw,  Southgate,  staged  a  few  cut 
blooms,  including  Cattleya  Trianae  The  Admiral,  Lmlia  anceps 
Sanderiana,  and  Cypripcdium  nitens.  Cut  blooms  and  one  or  two  plants 
of  Cypripcdium*  came  from  Messrs.  Heath  &  Son,  Cheltenham  ;  while 
Messrs.  B.  S.  Williams  &  Son,  Upper  Holloway,  arranged  a  bright 
exhibit.  Prominent  in  this  were  numerous  forms  of  Cypripediums, 
such  as  Lecanum  superbum,  Sallieri  aureum,  Sedeni,  Chamberlainianum, 
Argus,  and  others;  Lmlia  coBtata,  Calanthe  bella,  and  Lrelia  anceps 
Fitchianum.  Palms  and  Ferns  were  utilised  in  this  stand  with  good 
effect  (small  silver  medal). 
Messrs.  Hugh  Low  &  Co.,  Upper  Clapton,  staged  a  small  group, 
comprising  some  handsome  Cypripediums,  Odontoglossums,  and 
Angrsecums  (small  silver  medal).  Mr.  A.  Wright,  gardener  to  Sydney 
Courtauld,  Esq.,  Booking  Place,  showed  a  group  of  Orchids  of  great 
botanical  interest.  All  the  plants  were  Masdevallias,  and  some  of  the 
forms  were  extremely  rare  (bronze  Banksian  medal).  Mr.  H.  Ballantine, 
gardener  to  Baron  Schroder,  The  Dell,  Egham,  sent  two  plants  of 
Orchids  only,  one  of  a  heavily  spotted  variety  of  Odontoglossum  crispum, 
and  the  other  a  very  pale  Vanda  named  Charlesworthi. 
As  is  customary,  quality  was  the  conspicuous  feature  of  the  exhibit 
from  Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Chelsea.  It  was  a  charmingly  bright 
arrangement,  by  reason  of  the  many  flowers  represented.  Cypripediums 
were  most  numerous.  The  forms  included  were  venustum,  PerBeus, 
Sallieri  nigro-maculata,  Godseffianum,  Aeson,  nitens,  T.  B.  Haywood, 
insigne  Sanderianum,  Germinyanum,  Schroderas  candidulum,  and 
several  others.  Then  there  were  one  or  two  plants  of  Cattleya  Trianas, 
Epidendrum  Endresio-Wallisi,  Zygopetalum  maxillare  Gautieri,  Odon¬ 
toglossum  grande,  Laelia  albida,  and  Phaio-Calanthe  Sedeni  albiflora 
(silver  Flora  medal). 
Mr.  H.  J.  Chapman,  gardener  to  R.  J.  Measures,  Esq.,  Cambridge 
Lodge,  Camberwell,  sent  a  few  Orchids  of  great  merit.  Cypripedium 
venustum  Measuresianum,  C.  calypso  superbiens,  C.  olenus  var.  rubrum, 
C.  nitens,  C.  Fascinator,  Vanda  Amesiana,  and  a  few  others  were 
particularly  conspicuous  (bronze  Banksian  medal).  Three  plants  of 
Orchids  came  from  C.  L.  N.  Ingram,  Esq.,  Godaiming,  and  comprised 
Cattleya  Percivaliana,  Ingram’s  variety,  Lselio-Cattleya  Cicero,  and 
Dendrobium  recurvum. 
The  C>  I  ’ds  from  Messrs.  F.  Sander  &  Co.,  St.  Albans,  were  good 
both  in  num  or  and  in  quality.  As  was  the  case  with  all  the  collec¬ 
tions,  Cypripediums  were  most  conspicuous.  Worthy  of  mention  were 
C.  Minnie  Ames  (a  hybrid  between  C.  Curtisi  and  C.  concolor), 
C.  nitens,  Sander’s  var.,  C.  Adrastes,  C.  Lathamianum  superbum, 
C.  L.  albescens,  and  C.  A.  R.  Smith;  Phaio-Calanthe  Arnoldias,  var. 
superbum,  Dendrobium  Findleyanum,  D.  Johnsoniie,  D.  glumaceum, 
Ly caste  lampes,  L.  Skinneri,  and  one  or  two  Odontoglossums  (silver 
Flora  medal).  Mr.  Eastwood,  gardener  to  H.  H.  Brown,  Esq.,  New- 
