February  13, 1896. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
147 
Chamberlain  (staged  threeiOrchids  also — namely,  Masdevallia  Chamber- 
lainiana,  Odontoglossum  aspersum,  and  Dendrobium  Andromeda. 
Quality  pervaded  the  Orchids  of  Messrs.  J.  Yeitch  &  Sons,  Chelsea, 
the  firm  staging  also  in  rather  larger  numbers  than  usual.  The  Dendro- 
biums  were  grand,  and  included  Cordelia,  Findleyanum,  euosmum 
roseum,  Cordelia  flavescens,  Cassiope,  Wardiano-japonicum.  Cypri- 
pediums  were  also  conspicuous.  There  were  G-erminyanum,  Euryades, 
Godseifianum,  T.  B.  Haywood,  Lathomianum  superbum  (magnificent), 
with  Coelogvnes,  Cattleyas,  and  a  few  others  (silver  Flora  medal). 
A  small  group  of  Orchids  came  from  Messrs.  H.  Low  &  Co,,  Upper 
Clapton,  and  comprised,  amongst  others,  Phalaenopsis,  Cypripediums, 
Dendrobiums,  and  others  (silver  Banksian  medal).  Messrs.  Heath  and 
Son,  Cheltenham,  staged  Cattleya  Trianae  Ernesti,  C.  T.  Diadem,  Phalae- 
nopsis  Yeitchiana,  and  Dendrobium  Findleyanum  giganteum,  all  in 
highly  creditable  form. 
Certificates  and  Awards  of  Merit. 
Cypripedium  Jamesonianum  (A.  J.  Hollington). — This  a  handsome 
form.  The  dorsal  sepal  is  very  broad,  white  veined,  and  flushed  rose  in 
colour.  The  petals  are  rose,  suffused  with  whitish-green,  and  heavily 
spotted  with  brown.  The  pouch  is  intense  maroon  (award  of  merit). 
Cyrtanthus  parviflorus  (E.  H.  Woodall).  —  The  flowers  of  this 
plant  are  rich  scarlet  in  colour,  and  carried  on  very  long  footstalks 
(award  of  merit). 
Dendrobium  pallens  (W.  H.  White). — This  Dendrobe  is  delicately 
beautiful.  The  flowers  are  of  good  size,  the  sepals  and  petals  being 
white,  tipped  with  bright  rosy  pink.  The  lip  is  also  white,  with  the 
same  shade  at  the  tip  as  in  the  other  organs,  while  the  throat  is  pale 
canary  yellow  (award  of  merit). 
Houlletia  tigrina  (E.  Hill). — The  sepals  of  this  Orchid  are  a  very 
dull  rose  in  colour,  while  the  petals  are  brown,  barred  with  yellowish 
green.  The  lip  is  creamy  white,  spotted  and  blotched  maroon,  and 
having  a  very  faint  yellow  patch  (award  of  merit). 
Leucoium  carpaticum  (T.  S.  Ware). — This  is  a  very  handsome 
Snowflake  with  pure  green-tipped  petals  (first  class  certificate). 
Masdevallia  Henrietta  (W.  H.  White). — Resulting  from  a  cross 
between  M.  Ignea  and  M.  Shuttleworthi  this  is  very  striking.  The 
flowers  are  rose,  with  brown  markings  and  lovely  yellow  tails  (award  of 
merit). 
ANNUAL  GENERAL  MEETING. 
A  large  gathering  of  members  of  the  Society  attended  the  annual 
general  meeting  held  at  117,  Victoria  Street,  several  of  them  having  to 
stand  throughout  the  proceedings.  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  Bart.,  President 
of  the  Society,  occupied  the  chair,  and  before  commencing  the  business 
of  the  meeting  moved  that  an  address  of  sympathy  be  accorded  to 
Her  Majesty  the  Queen,  patroness  of  the  Society,  on  account  of  her 
recent  bereavement. 
The  preliminary  business  of  the  meeting  was  then  disposed  of,  which 
included  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  retiring  members  of  the  Council,  Sir 
J.  E.  Moss,  with  Messrs.  Owen  Thomas  and  Henry  Williams.  The 
Chairman  then  moved  that  the  report  and  balance-sheet  appended 
be  adopted. 
In  course  of  his  remarks  relative  to  the  adoption  of  the  report, 
Sir  Trevor  said  he  only  intended  touching  briefly  on  a  few  points.  The 
Council,  he  continued,  had  circulated  a  new  code  of  judging  rules,  which 
it  was  considered  would  be  of  assistance  to  judges  and  exhibitors  at 
horticultural  shows.  The  code  was  not  considered  to  be  anything  more 
than  a  beginning,  and  they  quite  expected  it  would  be  subject  to 
criticism.  They  should  also  be  glad  to  receive  any  suggestions  that 
would  result  in  the  further  improvement  of  the  code. 
With  respect  to  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Barron,  he  was  expressing  the 
sentiments  of  the  whole  of  the  Council  when  he  said  that  they  all  fully 
recognised  his  invaluable  services,  which  had  extended  over  a  great 
number  of  years.  During  a  disastrous  period  in  the  Society’s  history 
Mr.  Barron’s  assistance  and  advice  had  been  invaluable,  and  he  was  also 
authorised  to  say  that  Mr.  Barron  was  fully  satisfied  with  the  terms 
of  his  retirement.  Mr.  Wright  had  been  appointed  superintendent  at 
Chiswick  Gardens  ;  he  had  come  there  with  an  excellent  reputation,  and 
the  Council  thought  it  only  fair  that  he  should  be  allowed  an  entirely 
free  hand,  while  they  were  anxious  that  the  experiments  should  be 
carried  on  and  Chiswick  be  made  a  model  horticultural  establishment. 
The  Society’s  shows  had  been  very  successful,  the  only  drawback 
being  that  Her  Royal  Highness  the  Princess  of  Wales  was  unable  to  be 
present  at  the  opening  of  the  Temple  Show,  while  they  were  similarly 
disappointed  at  the  Crystal  Palace  Fruit  Show  in  the  unavoidable 
absence  of  the  late  Lord  Mayor.  The  periodical  meetings  held  at  the 
Drill  Hall  had  been  well  supported,  and  the  attendance  larger.  The 
vegetable  show  was  a  disappointment,  and  he  regretted  to  say  that 
vegetables,  from  an  exhibition  point  of  view,  did  not  receive  the  attention 
they  deserved.  Sir  Trevor  also  spoke  highly  of  the  value  of  the  services 
of  the  Scientific  Committee,  and  the  character  and  punctuality  of  the 
Journal,  which  still  continued  to  give  great  satisfaction. 
It  was  satisfactory  to  note  that  seventy-two  provincial  societies  had 
been  affiliated,  and  the  number  was  still  increasing.  Some  suggestions 
had  been  made,  continued  Sir  Trevor,  to  make  the  Society  still  more 
provincial,  but  it  was  a  step  that  required  much  consideration.  The 
disastrous  experience  at  Liverpool  assured  them  that  provincial  shows 
did  not  pay  ;  the  Council,  however,  had  made  arrangements  to  send 
deputations  to  the  exhibitions  to  beheld  at  Chester  and  York  during  the 
forthcoming  summer.  It  had  been  decided  to  restrict  the  deputations 
to  these  two  shows,  for  the  present  at  any  rate. 
He  would  conclude  by  referring  to  the  criticism  to  which  the  Council 
had  recently  been  subjected,  adding  that  he  was  not  sorry  that  such  had 
been  the  case,  as  it  showed  the  members  were  taking  a  lively  interest  in 
their  Society.  The  Council  did  not  claim  that  it  was  not  liable  to  make 
mistakes,  but  figures  proved  that  it  had  always  worked  for  the  welfare  of 
the  Society,  as  previous  to  1889  each  year  there  had  been  a  deficiency, 
whereas  since  that  date  there  has  annually  been  a  balance  in  hand, 
while  the  number  of  members  and  the  circulation  of  the  Journal  had 
increased  correspondingly.  He  thought  this  was  sufficient  to  prove  the 
Council  had  done  everything  for  the  good  of  the  Society,  and  he  hoped  to 
give  a  satisfactory  answer  to  any  questions  that  might  be  asked  prior 
to  moving  the  adoption  of  the  report. 
Mr.  Parker  said,  in  regard  to  the  Journal,  the  end  of  the  current 
year  would  complete  twenty  volumes,  and  he  hoped  they  would  publish 
a  complete  index  of  the  whole,  as  he  felt  sure  it  would  be  very  useful, 
and  save  much  trouble  when  referring  to  the  information  contained 
therein. 
Mr.  A.  H.  Smee  moved  an  amendment  to  the  report,  criticising  the 
conduct  of  the  Council,  which  he  considered  was  not  consistent  with 
the  Society’s  charter.  In  regard  to  its  treatment  of  Mr.  Barron,  he 
wished  to  draw  attention  to  the  question  of  his  retiring  pension.  He 
considered  it  very  desirable  that  such  a  pension  be  granted,  but 
he  should  like  to  remind  them  that  the  Society  was  a  voluntary  one, 
and  also  to  ask  whether  the  pension  was  absolute,  and  if  it  could  be 
sold  in  the  open  market.  He  wished  to  know  whether  if,  by  any 
accident,  the  Society  should  fail,  the  Council  would  be  liable  to  make  up 
that  pension.  Mr.  Smee  further  criticised  the  conduct  of  the  Council 
respecting  the  election  of  Mr.  Barron  as  an  honorary  life  member  of  the 
Society,  and  concluded  by  moving  that  a  Committee  be  appointed  to 
investigate  the  proceedings  of  the  Council,  and  make  a  report  on  the 
same.  Mr.  Smee  assured  them  that  he  had  raised  the  question  in  the 
interest  of  the  Society,  and  had  prior  to  doing  so  obtained  the  best 
possible  legal  advice  on  the  subject.  Mr.  Peter  Barr  seconded  the 
amendment,  but  on  being  put  to  the  meeting  it  was  thrown  out  by 
an  overwhelming  majority. 
Mr.  P.  Barr  put  several  questions  to  the  Chairman,  the  principal  of 
which  were  : — With  reference  to  the  item  of  salaries  and  wages,  how 
was  it  that  it  was  not  made  out  in  detail  ?  Why  was  not  the  Secretary’s 
salary  set  forth  separately  ?  What  was  the  total  amount  that  had  been 
paid  to  him  since  he  has  been  in  office  ?  What  were  the  Secretary’s 
official  hours  ?  Several  other  questions  of  minor  importance  were  asked, 
and  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence  replied  to  them  in  rotation,  and  in  respect  to 
the  Secretary’s  official  hours  he  could  only  say  that  Mr.  Wilks  was  there 
when  he  was  wanted,  and  he  felt  ashamed  at  being  called  on  to  answer 
such  a  question  respecting  a  gentleman  who  by  his  untiring  energy  had 
done  so  much  for  the  Society. 
Baron  Schroder  said  he  had  not  come  (here  with  any  intention  of 
speaking,  but  since  he  had  heard  the  attack  on  Mr.  Wilks  he  felt  he 
could  not  sit  still.  That  gentleman  had  joined  the  Council  when  the 
Society  was  in  a  bad  way — in  fact,  when  it  was  practically  ruined  ; 
and  he  knew  of  no  man  who  had  filled  his  office  better.  In  short, 
the  Secretary  was  a  man  snch  as  he  (the  Baron)  had  seldom  met  with 
in  the  course  of  a  long  life.  After  the  very  painful  scene  that  had 
taken  place  he  should  propose  a  vote  of  confidence  to  the  President, 
Secretary,  and  officers  of  the  Society,  and  ask  Mr.  H.  J.  Yeitch  to 
second  it. 
Mr.  Veitch,  in  seconding  the  vote,  said  he  had  not  sat  on  the  Council 
of  the  Society  so  long  as  Baron  Schroder,  but  he  had  sat  long  enough 
to  know  the  invaluable  service  which  Mr.  Wilks  had  rendered  to  the 
Society.  He  knew  how  the  services  of  Mr.  Wilks  had  been  obtained 
during  the  disastrous  days  at  Kensington,  and  that  he  had  assisted  greatly 
in  bringing  about  the  prosperous  state  of  affairs  it  now  enjoyed. 
He  was  sorry  indeed  to  hear  the  question  asked  referring  to  his  official 
hours.  He  was  a  business  man  himself,  and  knew  Mr.  Wilks  to  be  a 
man  of  superior  business  habits,  always  prepared  to  give  full  information 
on  any  question  that  might  be  put  to  him  ;  in  fact,  it  was  seldom  they 
found  a  clergyman  with  such  capabilities  for  business  as  Mr.  Wilks,  and 
he  should  have  great  pleasure  in  seconding  the  proposal,  which  was 
carried  unanimously. 
Mr.  Wilks  in  reply  said  it  was  as  painful  to  him  to  have  to  listen  to 
the  kind  remarks  that  had  been  made  about  him  as  it  was  to  hear  the 
questions  asked  by  Mr.  Barr.  Baron  Schroder,  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence, 
and  others  knew  the  work  he  had  done  for  the  Society  in  assisting  to 
bring  about  its  present-day  success.  He  did  not  mind  the  criticism, 
as  it  was  a  healthy  sign  and  did  good,  and  he  hoped  the  Society 
would  in  the  future  progress  as  it  had  done  since  he  had  been  connected 
with  it. 
Sir  Trevor  Lawrence  here  remarked  that  it  was  only  fair  to  say  that 
Mr.  Wilks  served  for  a  considerable  time  without  any  remuneration 
whatever,  and  it  was  not  until  force  of  circumstances  rendered  it  necessary 
l  that  he  coHld  be  induced  to  accept  a  salary. 
Mr.  Marshall  asked  what  was  the  nature  of  the  Council’s  proposals 
with  reference  to  Chiswick  Gardens,  and  in  reply  the  Chairman  said 
that  for  the  time  being  it  was  decided  that  the  new  superintendent 
should  have  a  free  hand,  as  it  would  not  be  fair  to  hamper  him 
with  any  alterations  until  he  had  become  fully  versed  with  the  duties 
of  his  office. 
