354 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
April  16,  1886. 
Colonial  Secretary,  or,  to  give  him  his  full  title,  the  Right  Hon.  Joseph 
Chamberlain,  has  been  brought  somewhat  prominently  before  Journal 
readers  of  late  he  shall  head  this  list.  The  individual  flowers  and  the 
umbels  are  very  large,  the  deep  orange  colour  being  very  attractive. 
This  is  a  splendid  variety.  One  of  the  richest  coloured,  best  shaped 
flowers  is  that  of  Harry  Laing,  which  possesses  the  additional  merit  of 
being  of  good  habit.  It  is  one  of  the  gems  of  the  collection,  as  also  is 
Lady  Wolverton,  of  which  the  orange-hued  flowers  are  reflexed  in  a 
pleasing  manner.  With  such  a  good  name  as  John  Laing  one  would 
expect  to  find  something  out  of  the  common  ;  nor  is  one  disappointed, 
for  Clivia  John  Laing  is  indeed  superb.  The  colour  is  intense  orange 
scarlet,  the  flowers  and  umbels  large,  and  the  shape  of  the  whole  little 
short  of  perfect.  Much  lighter  in  shade  than  either  of  the  foregoing 
but  equally  as  charming  is  Fascination  ;  while  the  warlike  name  of 
Mars  conveys  such  an  idea  of  its  colour  as  to  render  unnecessary  any 
description  in  these  brief  notes. 
Besides  the  half  dozen  that  have  been  named  there  are  several,  such 
as  Her  Majesty,  Advance,  Purpurascens,  Stanstead  Beauty,  and 
Vesuvius,  that  are  all  of  more  than  average  merit.  In  addition  to  all 
these  there  are  the  many  older  varieties,  the  naming  of  which  would 
serve  no  useful  purpose,  as  the  majority  of  them  are  familiar  to 
readers.  Then  there  are  several  seedlings,  not  yet  named,  that  promise 
good  things,  of  which  we  must  hope  to  see  and  hear  more  next  season. 
So  long  as  this  firm  keeps  working  on  these  flowers,  as  it  has  done 
of  late  years  and  is  still  doing,  we  shall  continue  to  look  for  improve¬ 
ments  year  by  year,  and  in  all  probability  we  shall  see  them. 
Passing  now  to  the  Caladiums  we  come  to  an  entirely  distinct  class 
of  plants  requiring  essentially  different  treatment  to  grow  them  to  the 
state  of  perfection  which  is  attained  at  Stanstead  Park.  These  plants, 
as  everyone  knows,  must  have  a  warm  humid  atmosphere  if  it  is  desired 
that  the  charming  and  extraordinary  colours  and  variations  of  the  leaves 
are  to  be  developed  to  the  fullest  possible  extent.  There  can  be  no 
doubt  that  when  Caladiums  are  really  well  grown  we  have  no  plants 
that  equal  or  even  approach  them  in  beauty  of  leafage.  The  collection 
here  is  one  of  the  most  up-to-date,  comprising  as  it  does  almost  all  the 
novelties  that  are  introduced.  As  they  are  shown  in  a  large  span-roofed 
structure  the  effect  is  very  imposing,  and  at  the  same  time  fascinating, 
by  reason  of  the  immense  leaves  of  some,  the  small  ones  of  others,  and 
the  wide  range  and  style  of  colouration.  It  is  no  doubt  this  form  of 
exhibiting,  both  at  home  and  at  the  various  exhibitions,  that  has  greatly 
tended  to  popularise  Caladiums,  though,  unfortunately,  they  can  never, 
by  reason  of  the  conditions  rrnder  which  they  must  be  cultivated,  become 
what  might  be  termed  plants  for  the  million.  If  a  hardier  strain 
combining  the  present  brilliancy  or  delicacy  of  hue  were  introduced, 
it  would  be  received  with  acclamation  as  an  acquisition  by  plantsmen, 
both  amateur  and  professional. 
It  would  be  an  impossibility  in  these  notes  to  give  accurate 
descriptions  of  the  many  choice  varieties  that  are  at  present  to  be  seen, 
so  it  must  suffice  for  the  names  of  a  dozen  to  be  particularised  for 
the  benefit  of  those  who  are  unable  to  examine  for  themselves. 
Excellent  indeed  were  C.  E.  Dahle,  Lymington,  Madame  Imbert  Koecblin, 
James  H.  Laing,  Rose  Laing,  Gaspard  Crayer,  Ibis  Rouge,  Hermione, 
Golden  Queen,  Le  Nain  Rouge,  John  Laing,  and  L’Automne,  and  while 
lacking  these  no  collection  (an  be  termed  complete.  To  those  whom 
Fortune  favours  so  far  as  to  provide  an  opportunity  of  going  to  Forest 
Hill  I  would  say,  Seize  the  chance,  as  benefit  and  instruction  are  certain 
to  accrue.  Once  the  visitor  get3  there,  however,  let  him  not  depart  until 
he  has  seen  the  much  that  is  worth  inspection  beyond  the  Olivias  and 
the  Caladiums, — Traveller. 
FLORAL  MILLINERY. 
If  evidence  were  wanting  of  the  vast  trade  done  in  cut  flowers  in 
what  is  termed  the  “  Black  Country,”  a  stranger  has  only  to  take  a 
stroll  through  the  Birmingham  Market  Hall,  the  Bull  Ring  Market,  the 
Arcades  connecting  Corporation  Street,  as  well  as  the  numerous  florists’ 
shops  throughout  the  city  and  its  immediate  suburbs.  What,  however, 
I  wish  more  particularly  to  draw  attention  to  is  the  “  floral  millinery  ” 
— to  coin  a  term — establishments  of  Messrs.  Perkins  &  Sons  in  the 
Market  Hall  and  the  North-western  Arcade,  where  daily,  especially  in 
the  former  place,  hundreds  of  buttonholes  are  presented  to  view  as 
examples  of  refined  artistic  taste  in  harmony  of  colouring  and  arrange¬ 
ments.  To  complete  this  floral  picture  may  also  be  seen  in  their  respec¬ 
tive  seasons  stands  of  the  best  and  newest  Roses  and  Dahlias,  besides 
Pelargoniums  and  other  plants  in  pots.  The  tout  ensemble  is  an  exhibi¬ 
tion  in  itself,  and  worth  a  long  journey  to  behold. 
The  firm’s  enterprising  proclivities  are  such  that  about  two  years  ago 
a  business  was  established  in  the  North-western  Arcade,  as  already 
mentioned,  but  on  a  somewhat  different  mode  to  the  preceding,  inas¬ 
much  as  the  Market  Hall  “  making  up  ”  is  effected  at  the  firm’s  estab- 
ment  at  Coventry,  and  from  which  the  supplies  are  received  daily,  whilst 
the  Arcade  “  making  up  ”  is  manipulated  on  the  spot. 
Apropos  of  the  large  display  of  the  firm’s  floral  “effects”  in  the 
Market  Hall,  one  naturally  wonders  as  to  the  necessary  means 
required  to  furnish  the  whole,  but  a  visit  to  the  establishment  at 
Coventry  affords  a  ready  solution  to  the  enigma.  It  was  most  refresh¬ 
ing  and  novel  to  the  writer,  not  long  since,  to  have  the  privilege  of 
witnessing  the  whole  modus  operandi ,  including  the  finishing  touches 
being  given  by  Mr.  H.  Perkins  himself  to  a  magnificent  bridal 
“  shower  ”  bouquet,  comprised  chiefly  of  Orchids  and  Orange  blossom. 
The  workroom  is  a  large,  well  lighted,  and  efficiently  fiited  up  apart¬ 
ment,  in  perfect  consonance  with  the  refined  style  of  the  particular 
branch  of  the  trade. 
As  it  would  be  almost  superfluous  to  individualise  the  great  variety 
of  flowers  grown  at  Coventry  for  the  “  millinery  ”  department,  we  will 
only  just  remark,  as  worthy  of  particular  note,  that  the  “  consumption” 
of  EuchariB  blooms  alone  at  Christmastide  is  enormous,  and  requires  at 
least  the  aid  of  two  span-roof  houses,  each  90  feet  long,  filled  with  large 
plants  in  pots  to  afford  a  supply.  Thousands  of  blooms  of  Camellias  are 
afforded  by  a  large  number  of  immense  bushes  growing  in  the  borders 
of  two  lofty  span-roofed  houses,  where  for  the  more  ready  convenience  of 
gathering  the  blooms  a  permanent  wooden  path  stage  has  been  erected. 
Supplementary  to  the  section  of  flowers  already  adverted  to,  it  may  be 
stated  that  a  very  large  proportion  of  the  supplies  are  obtained  from  the 
outside  departments,  such  as  Roses  and  Dahlias  in  particular,  and 
which  two  subjects  occupy  the  principal  portion  of  the  nurseries 
belonging  to  this  flourishing  firm. — Urbanus. 
WAKEFIELD  PAXTON  SOCIETY. 
Report  of  the  Committee. 
The  Committee,  in  presenting  their  nineteenth  annual  report,  can 
only  repeat  what  has  been  said  on  so  many  preceding  ones — namely,  that 
the  Society  is  in  a  most  flourishing  condition  aud  that  thorough  harmony 
prevails  amongst  its  members.  During  the  year  there  have  been  fifty 
ordinary  meetings.  At  forty-nine  of  these  a  lecture  or  essay  has  been 
delivered.  The  subjects  treated  upon  have  been  of  a  varied  and 
interesting  character,  chiefly  on  horticulture  and  gardening  subjects,  but 
including  a  number  on  travel,  botanical,  and  other  scientific  topics  which 
have  been  highly  appreciated  by  the  members.  The  interest  created  by 
the  latter  class  is  instanced  by  the  attendance  of  over  100  members 
at  the  last  two  meetings  to  hear  Dr.  Clark  on  “  A  Glimpse  Down  the 
Corridor  of  Time,”  treating  of  vegetation  as  shown  us  by  the  various 
geological  formations,  and  also  by  the  Rev.  L.  S.  Calvert,  M.A. 
(member  of  the  English  Alpine  Club)  on  “Axe  and  Camera  under 
the  Italian  Skies,”  in  which  he  described  his  tour  during  the  past 
summer  from  Switzerland  to  Italy,  across  the  mountains,  and  the 
climbing  of  two  new  peaks. 
We  cannot  refrain  from  mentioning  our  old  friend  the  Rev.  F.  D. 
Horner,  who  never  fails  to  respond  to  our  request  each  year  to  lecture  on 
some  of  his  favourite  flowers.  The  one  this  session  was  on  the  “  Florists’ 
Carnations  and  Picotees.”  The  Chrysanthemum  night,  held  on  the  18th 
November,  was  a  great  success  not  equalled  in  any  previous  session  in 
respect  to  the  exhibition  of  flowers,  attendance  of  members,  or  the 
masterly  manner  in  which  Mr.  E.  Molyneux  of  Bishops  Waltham,  lectured 
upon  the  culture  of  this  fine  and  favoured  flower.  We  were  this  year 
favoured  with  the  visit  of  another  member  of  the  firm  of  Messrs.  J.  R. 
Pearson  &  Son,  of  Chilwell  Nurseries,  Mr.  A.  H.  Pearson,  who  delivered 
a  most  able  lecture  on  the  “Cultivation  of  Small  Fruits,”  showing 
that  a  subject  apparently  so  simple  as  this  one,  laid  itself  out  for  an 
instructive  and  eloquent  discourse  at  the  hands  of  so  fluent  and 
experienced  a  horticulturist  as  Mr.  Pearson,  and  who  certainly  main¬ 
tained  the  good  reputation  of  his  family.  Our  thanks  are  specially 
due  to  members  of  various  kindred  societies  for  the  delivery  of  essays 
during  the  year. 
The  members’  roll  now  stands  at  309  ordinary  members  against  306 
last  year,  and  one  honorary  member,  being  a  net  increase  of  three. 
Twenty-seven  new  members  have  been  made,  and  twenty-four 
struck  off  by  reason  of  death,  removal  from  the  City,  &c. 
The  average  attendance  at  each  meeting  was  forty-five.  The 
utility  of  the  library  department  ha9  again  been  manifest,  and  this 
year  exceptional  demands  have  been  made  upon  it.  The  Committee 
desire  to  express  their  obligations  to  Messrs.  Molyneux,  Corden,  and 
Pitts  for  useful  contributions  to  its  shelves. 
The  accounts  have  been  duly  audited  and  the  balance  sheet  sub¬ 
mitted  for  approval.  The  Committee  in  concluding  their  report  desire 
to  note  the  amicable  relations  with  kindred  societies  aud  their  satis¬ 
faction  at  the  progress  some  are  making.  They  also  trust  that  the 
members  will  continue  their  support  and  sympathy  to  maintain  the  high 
standard  to  which  the  Wakefield  Paxton  Society  has  attained,  feeling 
sure  it  is  an  instrument  of  good  to  both  its  professional  and  amateur 
members. 
Thos.  Taylor,  President. 
Geo.  W.  Fallas,  )  TT  c 
T.  H.  Mountain,  J  Eon‘  Secs- 
Anniversary  Dinner. 
One  of  the  most  successful  meetings  of  the  kind  ever  held  by  its 
members  was  that  of  Monday  evening  last,  on  the  occasion  of  the 
nineteenth  anniversary  of  this  the  original  Paxton  Society  of  the  West 
Riding  of  Yorkshire.  The  Yorkshire  Paxton  Societies  are  composed  of 
amateur  and  professional  gardeners  and  supported  by  gentlemen  who  are 
interested  in  horticulture  or  other  arts  and  sciences. 
Named  in  commemoration  of  the  late  Sir  Joseph  Paxton  these 
Societies  are  educational  in  their  objects,  but  not  severely  restricted  to 
the  discussion  of  methods  of  practical  gardening.  Other  subjects  are 
introduced  from  time  to  time  of  the  nature  of  those  indicated  in  the 
annual  report,  which  is  given  above,  imparting  variety  and  interest  to 
