August  2fi,  1807. 
JOtiUNAL  OP  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
199 
ROYAL  HORTKJULTURAL  SOOIETY. 
DRILL  HALL. — August  24th. 
The  meeting  at  the  Drill  Hall  on  the  above  date  was  a  very  small  one 
indeed,  neither  the  Horal,  Orchid,  nor  the  fruit  section  being  largely 
represented.  The  superb  spike  of  Grammatophyllum  from  Hurford 
Lodge  attracted  almost  as  much  attention  as  the  remainder  of  the 
exhibits  put  together. 
Fruit  Committee.— Present ;  P.  Crowley,  Ks(i.  (in  the  chair)  ;  with 
Atessrs.  (L  Bunyai-d,  .1.  H.  A'^eitch,  A.  F,  Barron,  W.  Pope.  A.  H.  Pearson, 
A.  Dean,  G.  Afiles,  II.  Balderson,  G.  Norman,  R.  Fife,  and  F.  <2.  Lane. 
Air.  O.  Thomas,  Royal  Gardens,  Frogmore,  staged  a  handsome  new 
seedling  Alelon,  which  resulted  from  a  cross  between  Duchess  and  Beech- 
wood.  It  was  named  Frogmore  Scarlet.  It  resembles  the  old  Beech- 
wood  somewhat  closely.  Air.  Uorbett,  gardener  to  the  Rev.  Alanpiis  of 
Normanby,  Alulgrave  Castle,  staged  Tomatoes  Alulgrave  <  Astle  and 
Royal  Sovereign.  Air.  .1.  Alclndoe,  gardener  to  Sir  J.  W.  Pea.se,  Hutton 
Hall,  Guisborough,  sent  .Japanese  I'lum  Burbank;  and  Air.  W.  Kemp, 
Barnes,  Cucumber  Covent  Garden  Favourite. 
Upwards  of  two  dozen  fruits  of  Melon  Aliddlesex  Hero  were  exhibited 
by  Air.  G.  IVythes,  gardener  to  Karl  Percy,  Syon  House,  Brentford,  who 
also  showed  a  new  variety  named  Thames  Bank.  Air.  .1.  Robinson,  gar¬ 
dener  to  W.  Ivawrence,  Ks<i.,  Filsfield  House,  Hollingbourne,  arranged  a 
collection  of  vegetables,  comprising  highly  creditable  examples  of  Onions, 
Savoys,  <  arrots.  Tomatoes,  Potatoes,  Beet,  (  abbages  and  Beans  (silver 
Banksian  medal). 
Air.  A.  H.  Rickwood,  gardener  to  the  Dowager  Lady  Freake,  Fulwell 
Park,  was  represented  by  a  good  collection  of  fruits.  Amongst  others 
were  noticed  Peaches  Goshawk,  Grosse  Alignonne,  Early  Louise, 
Barrington,  Dr.  Hogg,  and  Hale’s  Early  ;  Apples  Ijord  Suflield,  Lord 
Grosvenor,  and  Keswick  Codlin,  with  Plums,  Alorello  Cherries,  Currants, 
Pears,  and  three  bunches  of  Black  Hamburgh  Grapes  (silver  Banksian 
medal). 
Alessrs.  G.  Bunyard  &  Go.,  Alaidstone,  sent  a  large  collection  of  Nuts, 
comprising  twenty  dishes  of  obs  and  Filberts.  There  were,  besides 
others.  Garibaldi,  Dawson’s  Prolific,  G^ant  des  Halles,  <  osford,  Bergeri. 
IVhite  Filbert,  IVebb’s  Prize  ob.  Purple  Filbert,  Kent  Cob,  Atlas,  and 
P'rizzled  I’rolific  Filbert.  Air.  G.  Elliott,  gardener  to  Captain  AIcDonald, 
Hurst  Side,  lYest  Alolesey,  exhibited  fifteen  bunches  of  Grapes,  all  in 
capital  condition  (silver  Knightian  medal  ,.  Alessrs.  T.  Rivers  &Son,  Saw- 
bridgeworth,  sent  boxes  of  Plum  Alonarch,  Green  Gages,  Golden 
Tran.sparent,  and  Late  Transparent,  with  two  bunches  each  of  Gradiska 
and  Directeur  Tisserand  Grapes. 
Florae  Committee.— Present  :  W.  Marshall,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  . 
with  Alessrs.  O.  Thomas,  C.  T.  Druery,  H.  B.  Alay,  R.  Dean,  G.  Stevens, 
J.  F.  McLeod,  C.  .leffries,  J.  D.  Pawle,  .1.  Walker,  G.  Nicholson, 
,1.  Fraser,  H.  ,1.  .Jones,  R.  AI.  Hogg,  and  .1.  Fraser. 
The  most  conspicuous  exhibit  in  the  floral  section  was  an  immense 
group  of  Caladiums  arranged  by  Alessrs.  .J.  Laing  &  Sons,  Forest  Hill. 
The  plants  included  well-grown  examples  of  Alichel  Buchner,  Louis  Van 
Hoiitte,  Baron  Adolph  de  Rothschild,  Flammant  Rose,  Princess  of  Teck. 
B.  S.  IVilliams,  Ibis  Rose,  George  Berger,  and  many  others.  The  same 
firm  also  had  a  handsome  exhibit  of  beautifully  coloured  Crotons  (silver- 
gilt  Flora  medal). 
Alessrs.  R.  Wallace  &  Co.,  Colchester,  exhibited  a  large  collection 
of  hardy  flowers  of  fine  quality.  Liliums,  Gladioli,  Alontbretias, 
Watsonia  Ardernei,  and  many  others  (silver  Flora  medal).  P.  Purnell. 
Es(i.,  Woodlands,  Streathani,  staged  a  group  of  miscellaneous  foliage  and 
dowering  plants,  comprising  Ferns,  Crotons,  Hydrangeas,  Begonias, 
F uchsias,  and  others  (silver  Flora  medal).  Alessrs.  .1.  V eitch  &  Sons, 
litd.,  '  helsea,  sent  an  interesting  collection  of  Ericas,  including 
E.  vulgaris  Alport,  cinerea  alba,  vulgaris  monstrosa,  v.  cuprea,  v.  tlore- 
pleno,  V.  Hammondi,  v.  aurea,  and  others  (silver  Banksian  medal). 
Orchid  Committee.  -Fresent  :  11.  .1.  Veitch,  Es(i.  (in  the  chair); 
with  Alessrs.  De  B.  Crawshay,  H.  J.  Chapman,  W.  II.  White,  J.  T. 
Gabriel,  W.  H.  A'oung,  E.  Hill,  T.  W.  Bond,  W.  Cobb,  A.  H.  Smee, 
A.  Alason,  and  H.  AI.  Pollett. 
Alessrs.  F.  Sander  &  Co.,  St.  Albans,  exhibited  a  few  Orchids,  com¬ 
prising  Laelio-Cattleya  Sander®,  L.-C.  Rose  Aleasures,  ("attleya  Gaskel- 
liana,  and  one  or  two  others.  A  silver  Banksian  medal  was  given  to 
Alessrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Ltd.,  for  a  small  group,  including  several 
Cattleyas,  L'elio-Cattleyas,  and  Cypripediums  .Janet  and  Alelanthus.  Air. 
W.  H.  IVhite,  Orchid  grower  to  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  Bart.,  Burford 
Lodge,  Dorking,  sent  Lmlio-Cattleya  .Janet,  '  ymbidium  species,  and  a 
spike  of  Grammatophyllum  speciosum.  For  this  plant  the  Orchid 
t  ommittee  gave  a  gold  medal  and  a  first-class  certificate. 
Certificates  and  Awards  op  AIerit. 
Dahlia  Marjorie  (C.  Turner). — The  form  of  this  Show  Dahlia  is 
excellent.  The  colour  is  yellowish  buff,  shaded  ivith  rose  (award  of 
merit). 
Dahlia  Hjipatia  (C.  Turner). —If  rather  dull  in  colour  this  Pompon  is 
of  splendid  shape,  d'he  shade  is  dull  terra-cotta  (award  of  merit). 
Dahlia  Vesta  (C.  Turner).— A  pure  white  Pompon  of  good  (piality 
(award  of  merit). 
Dahlia  Phrijne  (C.  Turner). — A  charming  Pompon  of  which  the  yellow 
petals  are  edged  with  bright  red  (award  of  merit). 
Dahlia  Night  (.1.  Sti’edwick). — This  is  an  intensely  dark  variety  of 
good  form  (award  of  merit). 
Dahlia  Amber  (.1.  Stredwick). — A  beautiful  variety  of  the  '  actus 
section.  The  colour  is  yellow,  the  other  petals  being  flushed  with  rose 
(award  of  merit). 
Ficus  radicans  variegata  (W.  Bull). — A  handsomely  silver-variegated 
form  of  the  type  (first-class  certificate). 
Goodyera  liollisoni  (W.  Bull). — The  foliage  of  this  plant  is  very  hand¬ 
some.  The  central  portion  of  the  leaf  is  dull  velvety  green,  and  the 
edging  is  yellow  (award  of  merit). 
Gramm  itophyllum  speciosum  (IV.  1 1.  White). — Flowering  for  the  first 
time  for  upwards  of  forty  years,  the  spike  of  this  plant  attracted  atten¬ 
tion  from  everyone.  The  spike  is  about  7  feet  high  and  the  Howers  very 
numerous.  The  colour  of  the  flowers  is  brown  and  gold  (first-class 
certificate). 
Laelio-Cattleya  Andreana  (H.  .1.  Chapman). — A  beautiful  hybrid,  with 
narrow  white  petals  and  sepals  delicately  flushed  with  rose.  The  lip  is 
long,  narrow,  and  of  a  rich  maroon  colour  (award  of  merit). 
Laelio-Cattleya  Juno  (N.  < '.  C ookson).  A  lovely  bigeneric  hybrid. 
The  sepals  and  petals  are  delicate  rose,  the  former  being  delicately 
suffused  with  yellow  at  the  tips.  The  lip  is  crimson  purple  (award  of 
merit). 
Melon  Frogmore  Scarlet  (().  Thomas). — This  Alelon  is  not  only  hand¬ 
some  in  appearance,  but  of  splendid  flavour.  It  has  a  great  depth  of 
luscious  flesh  (award  of  merit). 
REMINISCENCES  OF  BODOROAN. 
On  the  main  line  from  Chester  to  Holyhead,  about  fourteen  miles 
distant  from  the  latter  station,  lies  the  ancient  village  of  Bodorgan,  where 
we  alighted  on  our  way  to  visit  the  Welsh  seat  of  Sir  George  Aleyrick, 
Bart.  On  the  high  road  leading  from  Bodorgan  Station  we  called  to 
inspect  the  ancient  church  of  Llangadwaladr,  the  present  vicar  of  which 
told  us  the  structure  was  originally  built  in  508.  Since  then  this  ancient 
edifice  has,  however,  been  several  times  restored,  and  a  few  of  the  historic 
features  carefully  preserved,  including  a  notably  inscribed  stone  of  the 
seventh  century,  as  well  as  a  beautiful  seventeenth-century  window, 
the  rich  colours  in  same  being  beautifully  blended  and  striking  in 
appearance. 
The  gardens,  were,  however,  our  rendezvous,  and  under  the  guidance  of 
Air.  Gray,  Sir  George’s  head  gardener,  we  hastened  on  over  a  distance  of 
some  two  miles  to  what  proved  to  be  a  veritable  paradise.  No  less  an 
area  than  8  acres  are  devoted  to  the  cultivation  of  flowers,  fruits,  and 
vegetables  ;  and  everywhere  evidence  of  skilful  and  successful  culture 
was  to  be  seen.  In  the  extensive  vegetable  quarters,  which  were  clean 
and  tidy  throughout,  we  noticed,  in  addition  to  many  of  the  old  standard 
varieties,  several  novelties  under  trial,  the  rule  evidently  being  to  have 
the  best  of  everything. 
Summer  bedding  is  not  carried  out  on  an  extensive  scale,  owing  to  the 
blealv  and  exposed  position  of  many  of  the  flower  beds,  the  majority  of 
which  were  filled  with  a  choice  collection  of  dwarf  Conifers,  the  appear¬ 
ance  of  these  showing  that  the  soil  and  situation  suit  their  culture 
admirably. 
Old-fashioned  herbaceous  flowers  are,  however,  extensively  grown, 
and  we  noticed  with  pleasure  that  an  additional  large  border,  running 
the  whole  length  of  the  garden,  had  recently  been  planted  with  a  choice 
collection  of  these  from  the  famous  nurseries  at  Chester.  The  garden 
walls  are  well  covered  with  a  general  collection  of  hardy  fruits,  as  well 
as  some  healthy-looking  specimens  of  evergreen  shrubs,  including  a 
particularly  well-furnished  example  of  the  Alaidenhair  Tree  (Salisburia 
adiantifolia).  The  glass  houses,  thirty  in  number,  contain  carefully 
selected  collections  of  Orchids,  Crotons,  Coleus,  Begonias,  and  other 
plants,  including  a  large  number  of  Adiantums,  all  in  Jihe  picture  of 
good  health. 
The  vineries  and  Peach  houses  are,  however,  the  chief  attraction 
in  the  way  of  “  glass,”  and  these  contained  some  beautifully  finished 
bunches  of  Madrcsfield  Court,  Lady  Downe’s,  and  Aluscat  of  Alexandria, 
several  of  which  have  since  figured  in  the  prize  lists  at  Liverpool,  Chester, 
and  other  shows.  At  the  time  of  our  visit  a  long  range  of  Ewing’s,  now 
old-fashioned,  wall  glass  protector  was  being  converted  into  Peach  houses, 
which  V  ill  give  Air.  Gray  still  further  scope  in  this  direction. 
The  pleasure  grounds  abound  in  fine  collections  of  Cedars,  Pines, 
evergreen  and  flowering  shrubs,  and  nowhere  have  we  seen  any  of  these 
make  such  rapid  growth  as  they  do  in  this  genial  Anglesey  soil. 
Particuhudy  worthy  of  notice  are  the  Araucarias,  several  of  which  have 
attained  a  large  size,  and  are  at  present  bearing  cones.  This  is  not 
altogether  a  rare  occurrence  here,  as  Mr.  Gray  pointed  out,  with  some 
amount  of  pride,  to  several  healthy  young  specimens  which  had  been 
“  bred  and  born  ”  in  tliese  beautiful  grounds.  Fine  examples  of  Photinia 
serrulata,  Forsythia  viridissima,  Garrya  elliptica.  Weeping  Hollies,  and 
Rhododendrons,  the  latter  showing  enormous  yearling  growths,  all  call 
for  .special  mention.  Splendid  deciduous  trees  are  also  plentiful,  many  of 
which,  even  to  the  Hawthorn,  being  thickly  covered  with  long-bearded 
species  of  grey  lichen,  giving  them  a  somewhat  weird -looking 
appearance. 
The  mansion,  which  is  approached  by  a  carriage  drive  nearly  a  mile 
in  length,  is  substantially  built  on  an  elevated  spot  overlooking  Maltreath 
Bay,  on  the  coast  of  the  Irish  Sea.  The  interior  is  furnished  in  excellent 
taste,  and  contains  several  valuable  family  paintings,  by  eminent  artists, 
as  well  as  ancient  historic  relics.  From  the  terrace  commanding  views 
of  Snowdon,  Llanfairfochan,  Carnarvon  Bay,  and  other  popular  resorts  in 
North  Wales  are  to  be  seen,  the  whole  outlook  being  one  of  striking 
grandeur. 
A  hurried  visit  to  the  seashore  brought  a  most  enjoyable  and  profit¬ 
able  day  much  too  suddenly  to  a  close  ;  but  pleasant  reminiscences  of 
this  beautiful  Anglesey  home  still  linger  with  us.—  George  Paxton. 
