62 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AXD  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
January  15,*  1903. 
brought  close  on  a  hundred  admirably  grown  Primulas,  plants 
with  strong  leafage  and  likely  to  yield  flowers  over  a  long  i>eriod. 
They  also  sent  seven  plants  of  Arum  sanctum  in  flower.  These 
w'ere  exceedingly  pretty,  and  with  them  Avere  Coleus  thju'soideus 
and  Mochosma  riparum.  (Silver  Flora  Medal.) 
Certificates  and  Awards  of  Merit. 
Chrysantlienium  Rubij  Martin  (.J.  J.  Martin). — A  showy  deep-red- 
hued  flower,  with  close  laid  florets,  laeiniated  at  the  tips  and  lightened 
here  and  there  Avith  a  golden  colour.  AAA\ard  of  Merit. 
Chrysanthemum  Miss  Edith  Davy  (Mr.  Milton  Hutchings). — A  very 
sweet  and  distinctive  floAver,  of  a  ruddy  salmon  hue,  tipped  and 
centred  a  bronzy-gold.  It  is  a  sport  from  Framfield  Pink.  AAvard  of 
Merit. 
Chrysanthemum  Harry  XhateJey  (H.  Whatcley).— A  prettily 
laeiniated  Avhite-petalled  floAver,  good  for  market  uses.  AAvard  of 
Merit. 
Cypripedinm  x  Hindeannm. — A  strongly-built  and  pretty  floAver, 
Avith  broAvnish-creamy  pouch,  sinuous-edged  fleshy  petals,  purplish 
coloured  OA^er  a  creamy  ground,  and  the  dorsal  sepal  is  spotted  Avith 
purple  over  ivory  Avhite.  First  Class  Certificate. 
Cyripedium  x  Empress  Alexandra. —  Another  pretty  floAver  of 
excellent  form.  The  petals  come  foAUvard,  and  the  dorsal  sepal  arches 
iiiAvard.  The  pouch  is  dark  reddish  as  the  petals,  Avhile  the  back 
sepal  is  heavily  spotted  toward  the  base,  edged  and  tipped  Avith  Avhite. 
Award  of  Merit. 
Odoutoglossum  x  Lucasianum  Walktvi  (Hugh  Loav  and  Co.). — 
A  handsome  variety,  Avith  large  deep-coloured  floAvers.  The  segments 
are  tipped  Avith  deep  yelloAv,  and  the  lip  is  nicely  fringed;  othei’Avise 
the  colour  is  a  rich  chocolate.  AAvard  of  iSIerit. 
Cypripedinm  x  Gratrix  A\ar.  Minnie  (F.  Wellesley,  Esep).— The 
parents  are  C.  Leeanum  superbum  x  C.  nitens  superbum.  It  is  a 
handsome  floAver,  Avith  Avide  dorsal  sepal  spotted  Avith  violet  purple 
OA'er  Avhite.  The  pouch  and  petals  are  broAvn.  AAvard  of  Merit. 
Oduntoglossum  x  Waltonense  (W.  Thompson,  Esq.). — A  superbly 
beautiful  form,  of  a  soft  cinnamon  yelloAv  shade  and  A’ery  fine  form. 
The  lip  bears  a  broAvn  blotch.  First  Class  Certificate.  From  Walton 
Crange,  Stone,  Staffs  (gardener,  Mr.  W.  Stevens). 
Cambridge  BotaDic  Garden. 
On  Friday,  December  12,  1902,  before  the  Botanical  Gar- 
den.s’  Mutual  Improvement  Society,  Mr.  Hosking  read  a 
lengthy  paper  on  the  “Natural  Order — Graminese.”  The 
e.ssayist  stated  that  the  order  is  considered  the  most  important 
of  all  the  orders  of  the  vegetable  kingdom,  oAving  to  the  fact 
that  the  plants  classified  under  this  lieading  could  alone  supply 
man  with  all  his  needs.  The  order,  Avhich  consists  of.  some  5,000 
species,  is  represented  all  over  the  Avorld,  232  species  being 
nativ^e  of  Britain.  Mr.  Hosking  gave  a  list  of  ornamental  annual 
Grasses  suitable  for  the  herbaceous  border,  and  also  the  names 
of  some  of  the  best  hardy  perennial  and  tender  kinds  used  as 
decorativ'e  ijlants  in  the  borders  and  in  greenhouses. 
The  great  economic  value  of  the  order  Avas  shown  by  the  many 
kinds  of  grain  mentioned,  some  of  the  most  important  being 
Rice,  Wheat,  Barley,  Rye,  Oats,  Maize,  and  Millet,  the 
essayist  explaining  their  preparation  for  food,  some  of  Avhich 
come  into  commerce  in  v'arious'  forms  and  are  sold  under  fancy 
names.  The  Sugar  Cane  and  its  preparation  into  sugar  Avas  dealt 
Avith;  also  the  value  of  Bamboos  as  decoratiAm  plants,  and  their 
uses  in  their  native  homes.  Each  part  of  the  subject  Avas 
treated  in  the  fullest  manner,  the  paper  occupying  forty-five 
minutes  in  reading.  Specimens  of  some  of  the  most  interesting 
grains  and  preparations  Avere  brought  for  inspection.  A  hearty 
vote  of  thanks-  Avas  accorded  Mr.  Hosking  for  the  able  and  in¬ 
teresting  manner  in  Avhich  he  treated  the  subject. — E.  ,J.  Allard, 
Secretai’y. 
Metropolitan  Public  Gardens  Association. 
Open  Spaces. — At  the  monthly  meeting  of  the  Metropolitan 
Public  (gardens’  A.ssociation,  held  on  Wednesday,  at  83,  Lan¬ 
caster  Gate,  W.  the  Hon.  Dudley  Forte.scue,  vice-chairman, 
piesiding,  the  draft  annual  report  for  the  past  year  was  read 
and  adopted.  The  income  amounted  to  just  "under  £3,000, 
against  £3,200  in  1901,  the  decrease  being  attributable  in  large 
mea.sure  to  the  adverse  effect  of  the  late  Avar,  and  the  various 
special  appeals  and  abnormal.. taxation  arising  therefrom.  Pro¬ 
gress  .was  reported  in  reference  to  the  laying  out  of  the  recrea¬ 
tion  ground  at  Southfields,  and  the  planting  of  trees  in  C'loudesley 
Road,  N..  Great  Cambridge  Street,  Shoreditch,  and  in  church¬ 
yards  at  Barking  and  Poplar.  . 
It  was  decided  to  offer  opposition  to  a  priAate  Bill  Avhich  seeks 
to  exempt  a  disused  burial  ground  in  Dorset  Street,  E.C.,  from 
the  prohibition  against  building  thereon  imposed  by  the  Disused 
Burial  Ground  Act.  Letters  Avere  read  respecting  St.  Peter’s 
Square.  Hammersmith  :  Nelson  Square,  Blackfriars  ;  the  site  of 
the  Duke  of  York’s  School,  .  Chelsea ;  and  .some  fields  on  the 
north-west  borders  of  Hampstead  Heath,  all  of  which  the  Asso¬ 
ciation  is  making  efforts  to  saAe  in  Avhole  or  in  part  from  the 
hands  of  the  builder.  Communications  Avere  also  read  in  refer¬ 
ence  to  trees  on  and  adjacent  to  land  offered  for  sale  in  Kensing¬ 
ton  Gardens,  opposite  the  Palace,  and  it  Avas  agreed  to  make 
representations  to  the  Office  of  Woods  and  Forests  in  order  to 
secure  their  preservation.  Reports  Avere  received  in  reference 
to  the  resumption  of  “  thinning  ’  operations  at  Burnham  Beeches, 
Avhich  Avere  stated  to  be  quite  unnecessary,  and  it  Avas  decided 
to  communicate  Avith  the  City  Corporation. 
Bristol  Gardeners’:  Eerbaceous  Plants. 
A  very  succe.'^sful  meeting  Avas  held  at  St.  John’s  Rooms  on 
Thursday  last,  Avhen  Mr.  J.  C.  House,  Coombe  Nur.series,  West- 
bury-on-Trym,  delivered  a  lecture  on  “Herbaceous  Plants.” 
Lieut. -Col.  H.  Cary  Batten.  J.P.,  presided  over  a  good  attend¬ 
ance,  and  Avas  accompanied  by  Mrs.  H.  Cary  Batten,  their 
presence  being  greatly  Avelcomed.  Mr.  House  confined  himself 
to  the  tall  A'arieties  of  herbaceous  plants,  and  Avhich  he  said 
Avere  fast  becoming  the  most  popular  of  our  garden  favourites. 
He  strongly  recommended  .starting  Avith  a  clean  border,  and 
Avell  trenching  the  ground  before  planting,  digging  plenty  of 
manure  in.  No  one  need  be  afraid  of  over-feeding,  and  Avell- 
rotted  farmyard  manure  Avas  A'ery  beneficial.  Mr.  House  then 
proceeded  to  give  a  comprehensive  list  of  the  most  beautiful, 
Avhich  should  be  of  great  service  to  the  gardeners  of  Bristol  and 
district.  Weeding,  he  said,  must  be  carefully  attended  to. 
Keeping  the  borders  dean  is  a  Amry  important  factor  in  success¬ 
ful  cultivation.  Concluding,  Mr.  House  strongly  advised  his 
audience  to  go  thoroughly  into  the  subject,  and  they  Avould  not 
be  disappointed  Avitli  the  results.  Lieut.-Col.  H.  Cary  Batten 
and  Mrs.  H.  Cary  Batten  Avere  unanimously  voted  the  sincere 
thanks  of  the  association  for  all  their  kindnesses  shoAvn  to  the 
society  ever  since  its  formation.  The  prizes  for  the  evening, 
kindly  given  by  the  president,  Avere  aAvarded  to  Mr.  Ross,  Mr. 
W.  A.  F.  PoAvell  (gardener,  Mr.  Raike.s),  and  to  Mr.  W.  Howell 
Davis  (gardener.  Mr.  Curtis),  for  three  floAvering  plants;  a  cer¬ 
tificate  of  merit  going  to  Mr.  H.  Daniel  (gardener,  Mr.  Quick) 
for  a  plant  of  Ltelia  anceps. — H.  K. 
THE  HORTICULTURAL  CLUB. 
WASTED  OPPORTUNITIES  IN  RUBAL  HORTICULIURE. 
At  the  monthly  meeting  of  the  Horticultural  Club,  held  on 
Tuesday,  the  13th  inst.,  at  the  Hotel  Windsor,  under  the  chair¬ 
manship  of  IMr.  Harry  Veitch,  a  most  interesting  and  thoughtful 
lAaper  on  the  above  subject  Avas.  read  by  Mr.  OAven  Thomas, 
\".M.H.,  and  subsequently  discussed  at*  considerable  length  by 
Messrs.  As.sbee,  C.  Pearson,  Amos  Perry,  T.  W.  Sanders,  Read, 
Waterer,  Marshall,  and  the  ReA'.  Mr.  Pemberton. 
The  object  of  the  paper  Avas  to  advocate  an  extension  not 
only  of  education,  but  also  of  facilities  to  rural  labourers  in  the 
Avay  of  allotments  of  land  of  half  an  acre,  Avhich  he  advocated 
should  be  devoted  mainly  to  fruit  trees  and  bushes  and  iseren- 
nial  crops  such  as  Asparagus,  Artichokes,  Seakale,  Rhubarb,  &c., 
the  minor  portion  being  used  for  Potatoes,  Peas,  CaulifloAvers, 
and  other  annual  A'egotables,  in  the  culture  of  Avhich  both  wife 
and  family  could  assist.  Each  plot  should  be  hedged  in  to 
emphasi.se  proprietorship,  such  hedges  consisting  of  quick,  inter¬ 
spersed  Avith  Damsons,  Crabs,  and  Prunes  at  20ft  intervals. 
Such  allotments  should  furthermore  have  a  toolhouse  and  .seats 
for  use  in  fair  Aveather,  the  Avhole  forming  an  immense  improve¬ 
ment  on  the  bare  chaotic  character  of  toAvn  allotments  generally. 
Fruit  trees  might  furthermore  be  used  to  advantage  on  many 
cottage  Avails. 
As  the  lecturer  pointed  out,  hoAvever  much  the  horticultural 
associations  may  liaA'e  contributed  to  the  adA'ance  of  high-class 
and  commercial  gardening,  they  haA'e  so  far  done  next  to 
nothing  in  this  special  direction,  though  County  Council  lec¬ 
turers  are  uoav  using  their  influence  to  improve  matters  by 
inculcating  the  fundamental  principles  of  success. 
In  the  subsequent  discussion  of  the  pros  and  cons  of  the 
.subject  very  diverse  opinions  Avere  expressed  as  to  the  capacity 
of  the  rural  labourer  to'  profit  by  such  teaching,  ai  .sort  of 
seemingly  invincible  conservatism  on  the  lines  of  "  Avhat  aaus 
good  enough  for  my  granddad  is  good  enough  for  me,”  standing 
in  the  Avay,  and  it  Avas  pointed  out  Avith  much  cogency  that 
more  men  seek  recreation  in  some  different  employmer '  from 
their  daily  Avork,  so  that  Avhile  in  mining  and  industr'al  dis¬ 
tricts  floriculture  and  A’-egetable  culture  Avere  ardent  p’l.rsuits, 
the  farm  labourer,  as  a  rule,  saAv  little  fun  in  practically  con¬ 
tinuing  Ills  usual  labour  in  his  so-called  leisure. 
The  gist,  hoAvever,  of  the  Avhole  discussion  appeared  to  be 
that,  apart  from  the  fundamental  ignorance  of  first  principles 
Avhich  teaching  may  remedy,  the  great  practical  hindrance  lies 
in  a  Avant  of  co-operation  and  facilities  of  transport  Avhich  avouIcI 
