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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  22,  1902. 
Tvas  sure  they  would  remind  many  agreeably  of  bygone  days, 
when  this  class  of  flower  was  more  often  seen  in  perfection  than 
it  is  now ;  but  his  reply  was  :  “We  only  grow'  them  for  our  seed 
supply,  but  may  show'  a  few  of  them  at  the  Edinburgh  Spring 
Exhibition.” 
The  Primulas  were  equally  fine,  both  in  plant  and  variety,  but 
they,  too,  were  only  looked  on  as  seed  producers,  and  I  felt  a 
great  regret  tliat  such  a  magnificent  display  should  be  hidden 
away,  as  it  were,  from  public  gaze,  where  they  would  be  so  fully 
appreciated.  Cyclamen,  too,  were  in  all  their  glory,  with  huge 
leaves  and  innumerable  flowers  of  great  strength  and  delightful 
colours  and  hues.  Adjoining  the  large  glass  houses  are  many 
frames  packed  full  of  Carnations,  Pansies,  tufted  Violas,  and 
kindred  flowers,  which  will  be  dispersed  throughout  the  world  as 
soon  as  the  more  genial  weather  of  spring  and  early  summer 
occurs.  Mentioning  Violas  reminds  me  that  my  first  acquaint¬ 
ance  with  Messrs.  Dickson  and  Co.  occurred  through  these  plants. 
That  is  very  many  years  ago,  w'hen  the  firm  w'ere  almost  alone  in 
their  advocacy  of  Violas  as  excessively  useful  flowers,  a  conten¬ 
tion  which  has  been  amply  verified  since.  There  have  been 
changes — inevitable  changes — in  the  firm  since  then.  Old  friends 
have  passed  beyond  reeall,  but  “  Dicksons  and  Co.,”  as  at  pre.sent 
composed,  and  all  their  Ibelongings  are,  according  to  my  close 
observations  and  past  and  present  opportunities  of  judging,  as 
.substantial  and  more  advanced  than  ever. — An  Essex  Reader. 
Societies. 
Royal  Horticultural— Drill  Hall,  May  20tli. 
Tulips  and  Orchids  predominated  at  Tuesday’s  meeting  in  the 
Drill  Hall,  James  Street,  Westminster,  and  the  National  Tulip 
Society’s  Show  was  held  in  conjunction.  The  Hall  W'as 
moderately  well  filled,  and  a  fair  attendance  was  recorded.  In 
the  afternoon  Mr.  A.  D.  Hall,  of  Wye  College,  Kent,  lectured 
on  the  English  Tulip. 
Fruit  and  Vegetable  Committee. 
Present  :  Joseph  Cheal.  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ;  with  Messrs. 
Geo.  WoodAvard,  J.  W.  Bates,  S.  Mortimer,  Alex.  Dean,  E. 
Beckett,  Geo.  Keif,  Henry'  Esling,  Horace  J.  Wright,  Geo. 
Norman,  J.  Whllard,  Geo.  Miles,  and  G.  Reynolds. 
Messrs.  Thomas  Rivers  and  Son,  I'he  Nurseries,  Sawbridge- 
Avorth,  Herts,  receiA'ed  an  AAA'ard  of  Merit  for  Duke  of  York 
Peach,  and  staged  also  fine  dishes  of  Duchess  of  Cornwall  and 
Prince  EdAA'ard  Peaches,  both  fair-looking  varieties. 
Messrs.  A.  J.  Thomas,  Rodmersham,  Sittingbourne,  sent 
Apple  Diamond  Jubilee,  a  deep  golden  variety,  not  unlike 
Golden  Noble. 
Messrs.  W.  Jewson,  Begdale  Nursery,  Elm,  Wisbech,  sent  an 
unnamed  dish  of  Apples. 
Cultural  Commendations  Avere  aAvarded  to  Messrs.  Rivers  for 
fifteen  splendid  fruits  of  Cardinal  Nectarine,  and  to  Mr.  J. 
Hudson  (gardener  to  Leopold  de  Rothschild,  Esq.)  for  the  same 
variety,  the  fruits  from  trees  in  pots.  The  latter  Avere  very  firm 
and  intensely  crimson,  AA'hereas  Messrs.  Rivers’  AA'ere  much  larger 
fruits,  though  slightly  less  deep  in  colour. 
Miss  Adamson  (gardener,  Mr.  Geo.  Keif),  South  Villa, 
Regent’s  Park,  received  a  Cultural  Commendation  for  a  large 
boxful  of  Royal  Sovereign  StraAvberries. 
Narcissus  Committee. 
Pre.scnt :  H.  B.  May,  Esq.  (in  the  chair);  AA'ith  Messrs.  A. 
Kingsmill,  J.  D.  Pearson,  J.  W.  Pennett-Poe,  G.  Reuthe,  R. 
Dean,  James  Walker,  W.  Poupart,  W.  T.  Ware,  C.  Scrase 
Dickens,  A.  D.  Hall,  and  J.  R.  de  C.  Bo.scaAven. 
Messrs.  J.  Veitch  and  Sons,  Limited,  Royal  Exotic  Nursery, 
King’s  Road,  Chelsea,  S.W.,  had  a  magnificent  array  of  Tulips, 
among  Avhich  the.moi'e  conspicuously  brilliant  Avere  Ye'lloAV  CroAvn, 
YelloAv  QueeJi,  fulgens,  viridiflora  (a  beautiful  flower  when  well 
advanced).  Orient,  American  Lac,  retroflexa,  Ostrowskyana, 
vitellina,  and  Golden  Eagle. 
Awards  of  Merit  AA-ere  given  to  Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons,  Covent 
Garden,  for  Tulip  Scarlet  Emperor;  to  Miss  Spurrel,  Bessingham, 
HanAvorth,  NorAvich,  for  Narcissus  Agnes  Harvey;  and  to  Messrs. 
T.  Ware,  Limited,  for  Tulip  Inglescombe  Scarlet. 
Messrs.  R.  H.  Bath,  Limited,  The  Floral  Farms,  Wisbech, 
AA’ere  strongly  represented  by  a  choice  collection  of  Tulips. 
Amongst  those  of  special  merit  AA'ere  YelloAv  Rose,  YelloAV  Queen, 
Carminea,  The  Sultan,  Isabella,  Cranioise  Brilliant,  Lutea  major, 
Mr.  Famcombe  Sanders,  Pride  of  Haarlem,  Macrospeila,  and 
Vitellina.  All  the  blooms  AA'ere  of  good  form  and  substance. 
Sih'er  Banksian  Medal. 
Messrs.  Hogg  and  Robertson,  22,  Maiy  Street,  Dublin,  staged 
about  120  A'ases  of  Tulips,  comprising  most  sections.  Salmon 
King,  La  Candeur,  General  Kohler,  Clara  Butt  (a  lovely  cerise), 
Didieri,  Turemie,  and  Firefly  Avere  A'ery  fine.  Amongst  the 
DarAvin  section  Mednsa,  Mr.  W.  Roberts,  Sultan,  and  Sir  Walter 
Scott  were  good,  and  the  double  Tulips  Avere  in  great  form. 
Silver  Flora  Medal. 
Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons,  King  Street,  Covent  Garden.  AA’ere 
represented  by  a  large  and  exceedingly  A'aried  collection  of  good 
Tulips,  all  sections  being  represented.  Flambeau,  Pride  of 
Haarlem,  Perfection,  Loveliness,  Panorama,  and  Aurora  Avere 
examples  of  the  DarAvin  section,  Avhile  the  English  Tulips  Avere 
AA'ell  shoAA’ii  by  such  floAvers  as  Dr.  Hardy,  Lord  Stanley,  Colbert, 
and  Aglaia,  and  the  Parrot  section  by  Crimson  Beauty  and  Large 
YelloAA'.  Amongst  those  of  neAA'er  merit  in  vases  in  the  centre  of 
the  stand  Avere  Cyclops,  Gesneriana  pallida  lutea.  The  FaAAii, 
Queen  Alexandra,  and  Scarlet  Emperor.  Good  quality  pre¬ 
dominated  throughout  the  entire  exhibit.  Silver-gilt  Flora 
Medal. 
Orchid  Committee. 
Present;  Harry  J.  Veitch,  E.sq.  (in  the  chair);  Avith  Messrs. 
James  O’Brien,  de  B.  CraAAshay,  H.  M.  Pollett,  H.  Ballantine, 
W.  Cobb,  Jas.  Douglas,  N.  A.  Bilney,  G.  F.  Moore,  E.  Hill, 
H.  J.  Chapman,  W.  Boxall,  W.  H.  Young,  W.  H.  White,  H. 
Little,  and  H.  A.  Tracy. 
A.  M.  Grinsdale,  Esq.  (gardener,  Mr.  W.  T.  A.  Hooker),  Kent 
Lodge,  Uxbridge  Gardens,  sent  a  splendid  group  of  Odontd- 
glossum  crispum,  all  of  them  healthy  plants,  bearing  long  and 
AA’ell-floAvered  racemes.  One  plant  had  four  of  these,  Avith  an 
average  of  fourteen  floAvers  on  each. 
R.  I.  Measures,  Esq.  (gardener,  Mr-  J-  Smith),  Cambridge 
Lodge,  Flodden  Road,  CamberAA'ell,  staged  a  group  of  Cattleyas, 
and  Norman  C.  Cookson,  Esq.  (gardener,  Mr.  H.  J.  Chapman), 
Oakwood,  Wylam-on-Tyne,  had  an  excellent  selection  of  Phaius 
and  Odontoglossuins.  He  received  tAA'o  Awards  of  Merit. 
Sir  Trevor  LaAvrence,  BaiA.  (groAver,  Mr.  W.  H.  White), 
Burford,  Dorking,  staged  a  splendid  selection  of  Orchids,  com¬ 
prising  a  number  of  genera  and  their  species  and  varieties,  for 
which  a  Gold  Medal  was  aAvarded.  V^e  noticed  meritorious  plants 
of  Phalsenopsis  grandiflora,  Miltonia  A'exillaria,  Cattleya  callis- 
toglossa  excelsa  (A'ery  large  and  fine),  Dendrobium  rhodo- 
centrum  {?)  AA'ith  pretty  pink  floAvers  in  clusters,  and  Odonto- 
glossum  excellens,  and  many  other  subjects. 
Messrs.  J.  Veitch  and  Sons,  Limited,  staged  Lselia  x  Latona, 
Cattleya  Schroderse,  Disa  x  Luna,  L.  c.  Zephyr,  Cypripedium 
Vipani  superbum  and  L.  c.  Ascania,  AA  itli  purple  lip  and  pale 
yelloAA'  sepals  and  lietals — a  fine  group. 
H.  T.  Pitt,  Esq.,  Stamford  Hill,  S.E.,  had  a  choice  mixed 
group,  including  Lselia  x  Latona,  Cypripedium  callosum  Sanderse, 
Cattleya  intermedia  Rosslyn  var.,  C.  Mendeli  A'ar,  Blue  Beard, 
and  other  things. 
The  Hon.  Walter  Rothschild  (gardener,  Mr.  Hill),  Tring  Park, 
Tting,  contributed  a  selection  of  Masdevallias. 
Floral  Committee. 
Present;  W.  Marshall,  Esq.  (in  the  chair);  Avith  Messrs.  C.  T. 
Druery,  Geo.  Nicholson,  Jas.  Hudson,  C.  R.  Fielder,  R.  M. 
Wallace,  F.  Page  Roberts,  H.  J.  Cutbush,  A.  Baines,  Chas.  E. 
Pearson,  Chas.  E.  Shea,  W.  P.  Thomson,  E.  H.  Jenkins,  Wm. 
J.  James,  C.  Blick,  Wm.  StoAA'e,  Chas.  Dixon,  Geo.  Gordon,  John 
Jennings,  and  Chas.  Jefferies. 
His  Grace  the  Duke  of  Westminster,  Eaton  Hall,  Chester 
(gardener,  Mr.  N.  F.  Barnes),  sent  a  verj'  fine  and  strong  growing 
Malmaison  Carnation,  named  Duchess  *of  Westminster,  which  is 
described  under  “  AAvards.” 
Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and  Sons,  CtaAvley,  Sussex,  occupied  about 
10yds  of  tabling  Avith  a  large  number  of  vases  of  flowering  and 
foliage  shrubs.  Amongst  those  attracting  special  attention  wei'e 
Pyrus  spectabilis  fl.  pi.  Acer  Pseudo-Platanus  Nizette,  Berberis 
stenophylla,  Pyrus  Malus  floribunda,  and  P.M.  Schedeckeri, 
&c.,  &c. 
Messrs.  T.  S.  Ware  Ltd.,  Hale  Farm  Nurseries,  Feltham, 
were  represented  by  a  choice  collection  of  hardy  flowering  plants, 
including  Samacenia  purpurea,  Iri.s  fimbriata,  I.  Douglasi,  and 
Primula  Sieboldi  Mrs.  Geggie,  and  many  other  varieties. 
Mr.  E.  Potter,  Camden  Nurseries,  Cranbrook,  Kent,  sent 
five  baskets  of  Spiraea,  chamaedrifolia,  Trollius  europaeus,  and 
Auriculas,  also  a  pot  of  the  neAv  Rose  Dorothy  Perkins,  Avhich  also 
is  described  under  “  AAvards.” 
Messrs.  R.  and  G.  Cuthbert,  Southgate  Nurseries,  Middlesex, 
sent  their  ne-Av  Malmaison  Carnation  Queen  Alexandra,  a  flower 
of  creamy  white  colour.  The  flowers  Avere  of  good  size. 
Messrs.  W.  Cutbush  and  Son,  Highgate  Nurseries,  sent  their 
new  bedding  Pelargonium  Caroline  Schmidt.  'The  foliage  is 
green  with  silver  margin  and  bronzy  marking.  The  flowers, 
which  are  double,  are  of  good  size,  and  scarlet  suffused  Avith 
carmine. 
A.  K.  Bully,  Esq.,  Ness  Neston,  Cheshire,  contributed 
Rehmannia  glutinosa,  a  little  plant  AA’ith  a  floAA-er  like  a  Mimulus. 
Messrs.  B.  R.  Cant  and  Sons,  The  Old  Rose  Gardens,  Col¬ 
chester,  were  represented  by  a  charming  group  of  splendidly 
grown  pot  Roses.  Amongst  the  noAA'  varieties  exhibited  Ave 
noticed  the  last  year’s  seedling,  H.P.  Ben  Cant  (rich  crimson), 
the  seedling  Tea  Mrs.  B.  R.  Cant  (a  lovely  ceri.se),  and  this  year’s 
H.P.  King  Carl  (rich  crimson  and  a  splendid  groAver).  Amongst 
