January  23,  1902. 
89 
■lOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE 
Societies. 
Royal  Horticoltural. 
The  undernotod  plants  wei’e  amongst  those  that  received  Certificates 
and  Awards  of  Merit  at  this  Society’s  exhibition  in  the  Drill  Hall  on 
the  14th.  It  is  necessary  to  state  also  that  last  week  we  included  two 
Cypripediuins  from  Mi-.  Alex.  Wright,  Hueklebury  Place  Gardens, 
amongst  those  receiving  awards,  that  should  not  have  been  so  enlisted. 
This  was  owing  to  confusion  in  the  placement  of  the  cards. 
Oclontoglossum  Duvivierianum  Burforcliense  (Sir  Trevor  Lawrence, 
Bart.). — A  hybrid  with  yellowish-green  sepals  and  heavily  marked 
with  brown,  the  petals  are  nearly  white  and  also  marked  with  a  rich 
brow-n  ;  lip  white,  and  it.  too,  is  stained.  It  is  a  pretty  Orchid,  the 
parentage  being  Odontoglossum  maculatum  and  O.  nebulosum  (Award 
of  Merit). 
Cypripedium  x  Miss  Fanny  Wilson  (D.  O.  Drewett,  Esq.). — A 
handsome  flower,  from  the  piirentage — C.  Sanderianum  and  C.  Argus. 
Petals  long  and  drooping,  spotted  purple,  rosy  at  apex  and  greenish 
at  the  base.  The  pouch  is  reddish-rose  (First-class  Certificate). 
Cypripedium  x  Mrs.  W.  Mostyn  (F.  W.  Wellesley,  Esq.). — Large, 
fine  in  form,  liold  and  richly  coloured.  Sepals  and  petals  white 
margined,  reddish-purple  in  central  area,  with  greenish  base  ;  all  is 
glossy  (First-class  certificate). 
Odontoglossum  Wattianum,  Hardy's  variety  (Baron  Schrbder).-r- 
Flowers  pale  yellow  or  primrose,  heavily  marked  with  lirownish- 
purple  ;  lip  white  with  purple  markings  (First-class  Certificate). 
Cypripedium  x  Stevensi  (W.  Thompson,  Esq.). — A  large  flower; 
petals  and  sepals  gi-eenish-yellow,  the  lip  having  a  tinge  of  purple 
(Award  of  Merit). 
Cypripedium  x  Leander,  Cambridge  Lodge  variety  (R.  1.  Measures, 
Esq.). — The  parentage  is  Leeanum  var.  x  villosum.  White  dorsal 
sepal  mottled  ivith  purple  and  having  a  green  base.  The  yellow  petals 
and  lip  are  very  handsome  and  large,  the  latter  with  shining  brown 
overlay  (First-class  Certificate). 
Gomesa  {Rodriguezia)  planifolia  (Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  Bart.). — A 
dwarf-gi-owing  Orchid,  with  dense,  somewhat  drooping  i-aeemes  of 
greenish  flowers  (Botanical  Certificate). 
Ornithidiam  Sophronitis  (R.  I.  Measures,  Esq.). — This  dwarf 
species  was  shown  with  its  scarlet  flowers  (Botanical  Certificate). 
Royal  Horticultural— Scientilic  Committee,  January  Uth, 
Present  :  Dr.  M.  C.  Cooke  (in  the  chaii-) ;  Rev.  W.  Wilks, 
Messrs.  Geo.  Gordon,  J.  W^.  Ddell,  C.  S.  Saunders,  E.  M.  Holmes, 
G.  S.  Boulger,  C.  Bowles,  Rev.  Canon  Ellacombe,  Dr.  Rendle, 
and  Dr.  Masters. 
Cyclamens  Diseased. — Mr.  A.  J.  Reid  sent  conns,  the  roots  of 
which  were  clubbed,  as  happens  in  Cabbages.  On  examination 
the  appearances  were  seen  to  be  due  to  the  presence  of  Nematode 
worms  (eelworms). 
Iris  unguiculards.- — Mr.  Bowles  showed  a  ripe  capsule  of  this 
species  which  only  occasionally  ripens  its  seed-vessels. 
Felargonium  Leaves. — From  Mr.  G.  W.  Alurtrie  came  leaves 
of  Pelargonium  in  various  stages  of  decay.  Dr.  Cooke,  who  has 
since  carefully  examined  the  leaves,  reports  as  follows :  “  The 
leaves  of  Pelargonium  were  disfigured  by  large  brown  indeter¬ 
minate  blotches  of  dead  tissue,  which  did  not  reveal  any  fungus 
mycelium  w-hen  submitted  to  the  microscope,  and  there  Avas 
nothing  local  to  account  for  the  spotting.  The  Avhole  appearance 
suggested  at  once  to  members  of  the  committee  practically 
acquainted  with  Pelargonium  culture  that  the  appearances  were 
of  the  .same  character  as  are  known  to  be  caused  by  sour  soil,  and 
that  the  only  remedy  was  to  transplant  into  fresh  soil  at  once. 
After  twenty-four  hours,  the  dead  parts  produced  a  plentiful 
crop  of  the  common  blue  mould  (Penicillium  glaucum),  Avhich  is  a 
‘  saprophyte,’  and  only  occurs  on  dead  matter  as  a  consequence 
of  decay,  but  is  never  productive  of  disease. — M.  C.  C.” 
Arum  corms.— Some  conns  of  Richardia  africana  were  shown, 
with  here  and  there  a  patch  of  decayed  ti.ssue  like  a  bruise.  Dr. 
Cooke,  Avho  has  examined  the  specimens  since  the  meeting, 
reports  as  follows :  “  Both  conns,  otherwise  of  a  healthy  appear¬ 
ance,  exhibited  on  one  side  an  orbicular  brown  diseased  spot, 
about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  entering  the  cerm  to 
nearly  the  same  depth,  surrounded  by  a  paler  ring  exhibiting 
the  spreading  of  the  spot.  The  decayed  matter  from  the  spot 
showed  no  trace  of  mycelium,  but  was  almost  entirely  composed 
of  elliptical  colonies  of  nearly  globose  hyaline  bodies,  about 
3  to  4  micromillimetres  in  diameter,  reminding  one  of  the 
colonies  found  in  Lamprocystis.  I  am  therefore'  inclined  to  the 
belief  that  the  disease  is  some  obscure  form  of  bacteriosis, 
hitherto  undescribed.” 
National  Chrysanthemuni. 
The  monthly  meeting  of  the  executive  committee  was  held  at 
Carr’s  Restaurant,  Strand,  on  the  13th  inst.,  Mr.  Thomas  Bevan 
in  .the  chair.  Special  prizes  were  offered  for  competition  at  the 
November  Show  by  Messrs.  G.  H.  Richards,  E.  Webb  and  Sons, 
Wordsley,  Stourbridge;  W.  J.  Godfrey,  Exmouth;  and  others, 
AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
and  were  accepted  with  thanks.  It  was  announced  that  the- 
annual  general  meethig  will  be  held  on  Monday,  February  30,. 
and  it  was  agreed  that  in  the  event  of  the  President,  Sir  A.  K. 
Rollit,  M.P.,  being  unable  to  preside,  that  Mr.  Charles  E.  Shea, 
one  of  the  vice-presidents,  be  invited  to  take  the  chair.  As  Carr’s 
Restaurant  is  shortly  to  come  down  and  be  rebuilt,  it  has  becoiMe 
necessary  to  provide  another  place  for  the  meetings  of  the  society, 
and  the  Secretary  read  communications  from  the  Holborn  Restau¬ 
rant,  Anderton’s  Hotel,  and  Alessrs.  Bertram  and  Co.  in  reference 
to  the  matter.  It  was  decided  the  Secretary  should  see  iVir. 
William  Bertram  in  reference  to  probable  accommodation  at  the 
Royal  Aquarium. 
A  financial  statement  was  read  showing  receipts  of  over 
£1,000,  and  items  of  expenditure  Avere  also  presented  shoAving  a 
balance  in  hand  of  £41,  Avith  a  reserve  of  £110,  and  assets  con¬ 
siderably  in  excess  of  liabilities.  The  accounts  Avere  passed  for 
audit  and  presentation  at  the  annual  general  meeting ;  a  draft 
report  of  the  committee  Avas  also  read  and  approved.  Mr.  George- 
J.  Ingram  AA^as  nominated  as  an  auditor  of  the  society,  subject  to 
his  acceptance  of  office.  The  Schedule  Revi.sion  Sub-Committee 
also  made  a  report  in  reference  to  the  revision  of  the  schedules 
of  prizes,  Avhich  Avas  adopted ;  the  same  bodj^  had  also  nominated 
judges  at  the  various  exhibitions,  and  an  election  subsequently 
took  place. 
The  same  body  also  reported  in  favour  of  a  memorial  to  the  late 
President,  Sir  EdAvin  Saunders,  to  take  the  form  of  a  fund,  to  be 
raised  by  subscription,  to  provide  a  large  gold  medal  of  the  society 
to  be  offered  annually  to  some  subjects  of  the  highest  excellence 
at  the  November  exhibition.  The  report  Avas  adopted,  and  a  sub¬ 
scription  list  opened  at  once,  the  medal  to  be  known  as  the  Sir 
EdAvin  Saunders’  Memorial  gold  medal.  Some  further  routine- 
business  Avas  transacted,  neAV  members  Avere  elected,  and  the 
Corbridge  and  District  Chrysanthemum  Society  AA-as  admitted  to 
affiliation.  A  vote  of  thanks  AA'as  passed  to  the  chairman. — R.D. 
[This  Avas  received  a  fcAV  hours  too  late  for  imsertion  in  our  last 
issue. — Ed.  J 
Woolton  fardeners’  Mutual  Improvemeot 
The  annual  meeting  of  the  above  society  was  held  in  the 
Mechanics’  Institute,  Woolton,  on  the  IGth  inst.,  Mr.  Davis 
occupying  the  chair.  The  hon.  .secretary,  Mr.  R.  G.  Waterman, 
read  a  most  satisfactory  report,  the  society’s  expense.s  being  le.ss 
this  year  than  is  usual,  OAving  to  not  having  special  illustrated 
lectures,  and  a  nice  balance  the  result.  Votes  of  thanks  were 
unanimously  passed  to  the  officers  for  their  services,  and  also  t» 
the  gentlemen  who  had  kindly  come  forAA'ard  to  lecture  during 
the  session.  The  president  for  the  en.su ing  year  is  Holbrook 
Gaskell,.  Esq.,  J.P.,  Avho  has  occupied  this  position  since  the 
foundation  of  the  society.  The  vice-presidents  and  committee- 
hold  their  respective  positions  the  .same  as  last  year.  Mr.  R.  G. 
Waterman  was  unanimously  granted  a  small  honorarium,  in  recog¬ 
nition  of  his  untired  energy  and  valuable  serAuces  rendered 
during  the  year  as  hon.  secretary.  It  is  most  gratifying  to  the 
committee  to  see  that  their  endeavours  are  being  appreciated, 
and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  all  members  will  try  and  induce  any 
gardeners  Avho  do  not  belong  to  the  society  to  become  members 
at  once ;  also  it  is  the  committee’s  desire  that  the  advantages  of 
the  society  should  be  brought  to  bear  in  the  matter.  Classes  are 
being  formed  for  any  gardeners  whose  intention  it  is  to  sit  at  the 
coming  examination  of  the  R.H.S.  According  to  Mr.  James 
Rae’s  (hon.  librarian)  report  the  library  does  not  get  patronised 
to  the  extent  it  so  fully  deserves.  There  are  150  books  contained 
therein  on  gardening  literature  alone,  the  majority  of  Avhich  are 
written  by  recognised  authorities  on  practical  and  scientific 
gardening.  The  folloAving  are  a  feAV  books,  Avhich  will  be  found 
to  be  invaluable  to  any  student  aaRo  contemplates  sitting  in 
April  at  the  R.H.S.  exam. : — 
Kernel- and  Oliver’s  “ Life  History  of  Plants.”  2  a'oIs. 
Scott’s  “  Structural  Botany.”  2  vols. 
“  Physiology  of  Plants.”  Sorauer. 
Cousin’s  “Chemistry  of  the  Garden.” 
“Elements  of  Chemistry.”  Renisen. 
Oliver’s  “Elementary  Botany.” 
Bentham  and  Hooker’s  “British  Flora.” 
Marshall  Ward’s  “  Diseases  of  Plants.” 
Dai-Avin’s  “Fertilisation  of  Orchids.” 
Wright’s  “Fruit  GroAA-er’s  Guide.” 
Nicholson’s  “  Dictionary  of  Gardening.” 
Cassell’s  “Popular  Gardening.” 
Dr.  Hogg’s  “Fruit  Manual.” 
Yeitch’s  “Orchidaceous  Manual.” 
The  esteemed  president,  Holbrook  Gaskell,  Esq.,  some  years 
ago  presented  the  society  with  one  of  Liety’s  strong  poAver 
microscopes,  and  Mr.  H.  Corlett  has  kindly  consented  to  shoAv  to 
the  members  some  subjects  Avhich  he  has  been  preparing,  and 
Avhich  Avill,  no  doubt,  prove  very  interesting.  Mr.  Corlett  ha.s 
charge  of  the  microscope,  and  Avould  he  pleased  to  form  a 
microscopic  class  if  sufficient  members  are  interested  in  the 
subject;  therefore  the  committee  hope  that  members  Avill  come 
forAvard  in  numbers  sufficient  to  form  a  class  for  this  interesting 
study.  Mr.  Davis  Avas  thanked  for  presiding. — J.  S. 
