1G6 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
March  2,  1899. 
ROYAL  HORTK^ULTURAL  SOCIETY, 
DRILL  HALL. — February  28th. 
As  mitrlit  naturally  have  been  expected,  the  meeting^  at  the  Drill 
Hall  on  Tuesday  was  a  very  small  one.  The  heavy  fogs  and  sharp 
frosts  of  the  preceding  days  would  materially  prejudice  the  exhibits. 
Those  staged  were  of  an  interesting  character,  and  of  excellent  quality. 
Fruit  Committee. — Present  :  George  Bunyard,  Esq.  (in  the  chair); 
with  the  Rev.  W.  Wilks,  and  Messrs.  J.  Willard,  J.  Smith,  F.  Q.  Lane, 
Geo.  Wvthes,  S.  Mortimer,  P.  C.  M.  Veiteh,  A.  H.  Pearson,  E.  Shaw 
Baker,  W.  Poupart,  Jas.  Veiteh,  .Jos.  Cheal,  Robert  Fife,  and  A.  Dean 
]\Ir.  1 1.  T.  Martin,  Stoneleigh  Abbey  Gardens,  Kenilworth,  exhi¬ 
bited  a  dish  of  Apple  Rouen.  Messrs.  R.  Veiteh  &  Son,  Exeter,  sent 
a  dish  of  IMannington  Pearmain  in  good  condition  from  the  original 
tree,  also  roots  of  Sandwich  Island  Salsafy.  Mr.  R.  C.  Noioutt, 
Broughton  Road  Nursery,  Ipswich,  sent  two  dishes  of  stewing  Pear 
Winter  Orange  in  very  fine  condition. 
Floral  Committee. — Present ;  W.  Marshall,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ; 
and  ^Messrs.  Geo.  Paul,  R.  Dean,  Win.  Howe.  J.  Hudson.  J.  F.  McLeod, 
.1.  .Tennings,  C.  T.  Druery,  C.  J.  Salter,  T.  Peed,  H.  Selfe-Leonaid,  W. 
Bain,  .1.  D.  Pawle,  C.  R.  Fielder,  J,  Walker,  C.  E.  Shea,  E.  T.  Cook, 
H.  .1.  Cutbush.  Harry  Turner,  J.  Fraser,  ,J.  W.  Barr,  and  E.  H.  Jenkins. 
^Messrs.  Wm.  Paul  &  Son,  Waltham  Cross,  staged  a  very  handsome 
collection  of  flowering  shrubs,  comprising  good  specimens  of  Forsythia 
suspensa,  capital  plants  of  Prunus  triloba  beautifully  flowered,  the  double 
Almond,  the  Carnation-flowered  Peach  with  bright  rosy  red  flowers,  the 
Camellia-flowered  Peach,  and  a  number  of  foliage  plants,  such  as  Euony- 
rouses.  Golden  Privet,  and  Aralia  Sieboldi  (silver-gilt  Banksian  medal). 
Mr.  F.  Miller,  110,  Fulham  Road,  contributed  a  bright  display  of  Cine¬ 
rarias  of  a  dwarf  type,  aho  a  floral  display  of  various  devices  composed 
of  spring  flowers  (silver  Banksian  medal). 
Mr.  Purncll-Purnell,  Wocdlands,  Streatham'  Hill,  staged  a  large  collec¬ 
tion  of  Narcissi  and  Cinerarias.  The  former  were  well  represented  by 
N.  rugilobus,  N.  poeticus,  N.  Leedsi,  Purity,  Emperor,  Empress,  and  Horse- 
fielui.  The  Cinerarias  were  dwarf  and  sturdy,  but  the  plants  were  barely 
ready  (si'ver  Flora  medal).  Messrs.  Paul  &  Son,  Cheshunt,  contributed 
an  interesting  collection  of  Hellebores  and  white  Lilacs.  The  former 
included  Helleborus  colch  cus  coccineus.  H.  Willie  Schmidt,  H.  roseus 
superbus,  H.  caucasieus  punctatus,  and  H.  orientalis  ;  also  a  number  of 
other  spring  flowerinur  plants. 
The  St  George’s  Nursery  Company,  Hanwell,  contributed  a  grand  dis¬ 
play  of  Cyclamens  in  a  great  variety  of  colours.  The  plants  were  remark¬ 
ably  well  grown  and  covered  with  bloom  (silver  gilt  Banksian  medal). 
Messrs.  Sander  &  Co.,  St.  Albans,  exhibited  a  large  plant  of  Acalypha 
Sanderi  and  a  number  of  A.  Godsefliana,  also  a  flne  specimen  of  Hippeas- 
trum  procerum  with  pale  blue  flowers.  Mr.  John  Russell,  Richmond 
Nurseries,  Richmond,  exhibited  baskets  of  Laurustinus  albus  ;  the  plants 
were  well  flowered  and  pure  in  colour — also  baskets  of  Hedera  arborea 
fructo-lutea  and  Skimmia  Fortunei  well  berried. 
i\Ir.  T.  S.  Ware,  Ltd.,  Tottenham,  exhibited  a  very  pleasing  dispday 
of  spring  flowers.  T'he  Daffodils  were  excellent,  and  comprised  N.  bicolor 
Victoria,  Emperor,  Sir  Watkin,  Leedsi,  Horsefieldi,  and  Burbidgei,  pots 
of  Iris  reticulata,  Frilillaria  oranensis,  blue  Primroses,  and  hardy  Cycla¬ 
mens.  Messrs.  .1.  Veiteh  &  Sons,  Ltd.,  exhibited  plants  of  Amygdalus 
persica  magnifica.  The  flowers  are  a  bright  rosy  red,  and  formed  a  very 
attractive  exhibit  ;  also  plants  of  Primula  floribunda.  Lady  Margaret 
Boscawen,  Tregyne,  Cornwall,  contributed  some  very  fine  bunches  of 
Neapolitan  and  Marie  Louise  Violets,  the  colour  being  perfect  and  the 
flowers  a  good  size.  Messrs.  Barr  &  Sons,  King  Street,  Covent  Garden, 
staged  excellent  Daffodils,  N.  Victoria,  Golden  Spur,  incomparabilis. 
Beauty,  Captain  Nelson,  and  a  number  of  minimus  ;  also  Lachenalias 
Nelsoni  and  pendula.  The  quaint  Iris  tuberosa,  hardy  Cyclamens, 
and  a  few  Primulas  and  Cinerarias  were  also  sent. 
Orchid  Committee. — Present  :  H.  J.  Veiteh,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ; 
and  Messrs.  J.  O’Brien,  de  Barri  Crawshay.  J.  Colman,  N,  Coikson, 
H.  Little,  A.  Outram,  H.  J.  Chapman.  F.  J.  Thorne,  W.  Thompson, 
E.  Hill,  F.  IMason,  H.  Ballantine,  J.  Douglas,  T.  B.  Haywood,  T.  W. 
Bond,  and  H.  T.  Pitt. 
Mr.  F.  Knight,  Thundersley  Hall,  Thundersley,  Essex,  contributed  a 
small  group  of  Laelia  superbiens,  Odontoglossum  Roasi  majui,  Brassavola 
glauca,  and  Cattleya  Trianse  (bronze  Banksian  medal).  Messrs.  H.  Low 
and  Co.,  Bush  Hill  Park,  exhibited  a  collection  of  well-grown  Orchids 
carrying  flowers  of  good  form  and  rich  colour.  Varieties  of  Cattleya 
Trianaa  were  conspicuous,  as  were  Cypripedium  Sanderae,  C.  Boxalli 
atrata,  C.  i.  Dormani,  Dendrobium  Wardianum,  D.  Findleyanum, 
D.  Phakenopsis,  Laslia  harpophylla,  Odontoglossum  crispum,  O.  Ander- 
tonianum,  and  others  (silver  Banksian  medal).  Mr.  A,  Kitwell,  gardener 
to  D.  M.  Grimsdale,  Esq.,  Uxbridge,  showed  Cypripediums  villosum 
aureum  and  Mastersianum,  with  Odontogdossuras  luteo-purpureum 
sceptrum,  triumphans,  and  maculatum.  J.  Rutherford,  Esq.,  Blackburn, 
staged  a  good  form  of  Cattleya  Trianm  named  Rutherfordiana. 
G.  Thompson,  Esq.,  Stamford  Hill,  showed  Dendrobium  nobile  var,, 
while  Mr.  F.  J.  Thorne,  gardener  to  Major  Joicey,  Sunningdale,  sent 
Dendrobium  atro-violaceum  and  Lycaste  Lingwiliu.  De  Barri '  Craw- 
shay.  Esq.,  Sevenoakr,  exhibited  Odontoglossum  Ruckerianum  Craw- 
shayanum,  O.  Andersonianiim  Bogserdiana,  and  O.  Rossi  Crawshayanura. 
Sir  William  Marriott,  Bt.,  Blandlord,  showed  Sophro-Laelia  Marriottiana  ; 
and  Mons.  Jules  Hye,  Ghent,  sent  Odontoglossum  Franz  Mazerell. 
Messrs.  J.  Veiteh  &  Sons,  Chelsea,  were  represented  by  Phalsenopsis 
Ariadne,  Hebe,  and  F.  L.  Ames.  Mons.  C.  Maron,  Brunoy,  France,  sent 
L-ailio  C.ittleya  callisteglossa  J.  Leemann,  Cypripedium  t'jnkinense,  and 
Lselio-Cattleya  Ernesti  Princess  Olga. 
From  Mr.  J.  Edwards,  gardener  to  G.  S.  Clark,  Evq.,  Wrexham,  came 
Odontoglossum  Rossi  majus  riibe'cens,  0.  crispum  Mrs,  Stanley  Clark, 
amt  a  hybrid  Cypripedium.  jMr.  W.  Stevens,  gardener  to  W.  Thompson, 
Etq.,  Stone,  Staffs,  showed  Odontoglossums  Wilekeanum  concinnum, 
O.  excellens  spectabile,  O.  enradenia  expansum,  O.  crispum  Daphne, 
and  O.  c.  Dorothy  (silver  Banksian  medal).  Messrs  W.  Shaw  and 
W.  Gould,  Stockport,  showed  one  (ir  two  plants  each. 
Certificates  and  Awards  of  Merit. 
CypripeJivm  Surprise  Hybrid  Albino  (.Tales  Hye). — This  is  pale  green 
with  a  yellow  suffusion  in  the  pouch.  The  dorsal  sepal  is  grass  green 
with  a  broad  pure  white  band  (award  of  merit). 
Lalio-CaWeya  E'Uesti  Princess  Olya  (C.  Blaron). — A  superb  flower. 
The  colour  is  of  the  brightest  canary  yellow’  except  the  centre  of  the  lip 
and  throat,  which  is  crimson  (first-class  certificate). 
Lalio-Cattleya  callistoglossa  J.  Leemann  (C.  Maron). — This  is  in  all 
respects  an  advance  on  the  type  (first  class  certificate). 
Odontoglossum.  Eucherianum  Crawshayaniim  (de  Bairi  Craw’shay). — A 
distinct  form.  The  sepals  are  rosy  purple  with  chocolate  patches,  and  of 
similar  colour  in  the  petals,  but  with  spots  instead  of  patches.  The  lip  is 
creamy  white  with  a  large  chocolate  red  central  patch  (award  of  merit). 
Odontoglossum  Cooheanum  (H.  Ballantine). — A  striking  though  small 
flower.  The  prevailing  colour  yellow,  barred  and  spotted  w’ith  chocolate 
brown  (award  of  merit). 
Odontoglossum  Vuylstekianum,  The  Dell  var.  (H.  Ballenline). — This  is  a 
lemon  yellow  beautifully  fringed  form  of  the  type.  The  sepals  and  petals 
have  large  spots  (award  of  merit). 
Prunus  piersica  vulgaris  alba  Jlore  plena  (V’.  Paul  &  Son). — This  is  a 
fine  variety  with  pure  white  semi-double  flowers  (first- class  certificate). 
Rhododendron  Exquisite  (.1.  Veiteh  &;  Sons). — A  lovely  variety,  with 
pure  yellow  flowers  and  bright  red  stamens  (award  of  merit). 
Rhododendron  Hercules  (J.  Veiteh  &  Sons).— A  handsome  form,  with 
flowers  of  an  orange  buff  colour.  There  are  occasionally  six  and  seven 
segments  (aw'ard  of  merit). 
HEREFORDSHIRE  FRUIT  GROWERS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 
A  iv^ELL  attended  and  influential  meeting  of  fruit  growers  and 
farmers  was  held  at  Hereford  on  Wednesday,  22nd  February,  for  the 
purpose  of  starting  a  Fruit  Growers’  Association  for  Herefordshire.  The 
Mayor  of  Hereford  presided,  supported  by  Sir  James  Rankin,  M.P., 
Mr.  C.  W.  Radcliffe  Cooke,  M.P,,  Mr.  J.  Riley,  and  Mr.  Beddoe. 
Sir  James  Rankin,  M.P.,  proposed  that  an  association  be  formed,  and 
that  it  be  called  “  The  Herefordshire  Association  of  Fruit  Growers  and 
Horticulturists.”  He  considered  the  county  of  Hereford  had  much  to 
recommend  it  for  fruit  growing,  and  that  unless  the  members  of  the  Society 
combined  in  earnest  no  amount  of  talk  would  avail.  Small  fruits,  he  was 
sorry  to  see,  had  decreased  in  cultivation.  He  alluded  to  tho  work  of 
the  Technical  Instruction  Committee,  of  which  ho  was  the  Chairman,  and 
said  the  Secretary  would  do  all  he  could  to  promote  the  objects  of  the 
Association.  Cottagers  should  be  encouraged  to  grow  fruit.  A  tenant 
of  his  had  made  £20  a  year  profit  from  three-quarters  of  an  acre  of  land.' 
Foreign  competition  must  not  be  lost  sight  of. 
Mr.  J.  Riley  seconded  the  resolution.  He  alluded  to  some  of  his 
failures  in  fruit  culture  during  the  past  twenty  years,  and  remarked  that, 
if  an  association  similar  to  what  he  understood  it  was  proposed  to  start, 
had  been  in  existence  twenty  years  back,  failures  and  much  needless 
expense  might  have  been  saved  him.  The  railway  companies  had  the 
power  to  make  or  mar  the  English  fruit  trade,  and  an  association  of 
several  hundred  members  stood  a  far  better  chance  of  treating  with  a 
railway  than  an  individual  did.  The  resolution  was  then  put  and  carried. 
Mr.  Radcliffe  Cooke,  M.P.,  then  proposed  the  comprehensive  resolu¬ 
tion  of  the  various  objects  of  the  Association.  After  enumerating  same, 
he  proceeded  to  say  he  w  as  quite  in  favour  of  such  associations,  as  for 
years  past  ho  had  endeavoured  to  persuade  the  Government  to  encourage 
and  assist  fruit  culture,  and,  if  possible,  to  follow  the  example  of  the 
Canadian  Government,  who  had  five  experimental  fruit  farms  ;  these 
were  of  great  benefit  to  those  who  wished  to  start  fruit  growing.'  Whsn- 
ever  he  had  made  the  suggestion  he  was  met  with  tho  retort  that  it  was 
not  a  matter  for  the  Government,  that  it  must  first  be  taken  up  through 
the  energy  and  enterprise  of  the  people  themselves.  They  were  now  in 
Herefordshire  going  to  give  a  practical  illustration  of  that  doctrine — they 
were  going  to  take  the  initiative  themselves.  Mr.  Long  had  told  him 
that  if  an  experimental  farm  were  started  for,  say,  the  counties  of 
Gloucester.  Worcester,  and  Hereford  there  was  no  doubt  the  Govern¬ 
ment  would  give  a  grant.  The  farmers  and  growers  must,  however,  make 
a  beginning  themselves.  He  alluded  to  the  immense  area  that  used  to  be 
under  fruit  in  Herefordshire  in  the  seventeenth  century. 
Mr.  Beddoe  seconded  the  resolution,  which  was  then  put  and 
carried. 
The  Mayor  then  proposed,  seconded  by  Mr.  Allen,  that  Sir  James 
Rankin,  AI.P.,  be  asked  to  become  President  of  the  Association,  which 
resolution  was  agreed  to  with  applause. 
After  this  a  Committee  was  proposed  and  agreed  to.  At  the 
conclusion  of  the  meeting  over  fifty  of  those  prcicnt  b  came  mem'ters 
of  the  Society. 
