58 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  17,  1901. 
mascula  variegata  exhibits  its  yellow  flowers  in  February,  which, 
though  small  in  themselves,  are  very  abundant,  and  light  up  the 
shrubbery,  while  the  silvery  variegation  comes  in  later  in  the  year. 
In  March  vegetation  is  very  feeble  as  a  rule,  and  we  live,  as  it 
were,  more  on  promise  than  on  realisation  and  fulfilment.  Possibly 
the  only  flowering  trees  are  the  Myrobalan  Plums  (Prunu3  cerasifera), 
of  which  we  have  the  white  flowered,  producing  both  red  and  yellow 
fruits,  and  we  welcome  its  snowy  blossoms  as  a  foretaste  of  spring. 
The  Japanese  kinds,  as  P.  Mume,  double  and  single  red,  have  not  yet 
shown  to  advantage.  Trees  are  yet  small,  and  the  fiosts  being  most 
severe  next  the  soil,  the  precocious  blossoms  suffer,  but  in  themselves 
they  are  very  charming.  Occasionally  the  Almonds  will  give  a  few 
blossoms.  The  Palm  Willow  (Plum-leaved)  is  well  worth  a  position 
near  water  or  in  damp  spots;  its  flowers  at  this  time  are  most 
welcome,  both  cut  and  on  the  bushes.  The  Blackthorn  of  our  hedges 
flowers  with  the  Mvrobalans,  but  April  is  the  season  of  Nature’s 
great  awakening,  and  is  generally  ushered  in  by  the  Bitter  and  Sweet 
Almond  in  all  their  glory  of  pink  and  pale  blush  flowers.  In 
sheltered  spots  the  double  Peaches  (Persica)  are  conspicuous,  but  in 
Kent  they  are  failures.  Among  the  earliest  and  brightest  shrubs  are 
the  Forsythias,  of  which  F.  suspensa  or  Fortunei  is  best  treated  as  a 
climber  or  archway  plant,  when  its  bold-toothed  deep  primrose  flowers 
appear  to  advantage.  It  is  vigorous,  and  after  flowering  the  old  wood 
should  be  cut  out  and  the  new  growth  encouraged.  F.  viridissima 
is  a  somewhat  ugly  bush,  but  it  redeems  its  character  by  a  profusion 
of  rich  yellow  flowers,  and  is  an  object  of  interest  even  at  some 
distance,  especially  when  backed  by  evergreens.  F.  intermedia,  a 
hybrid  between  the  two  previous  ones,  is  more  graceful  in  growth. 
The  sub-shrub  Mahonia  (Berberis)  aquifolia  unfolds  its  yellow 
flowers  early  in  the  month,  and  is  a  conspicuous  object.  Perhaps  some 
forms  in  which  finer  flowers  are  developed  may  soon  be  selected,  and 
such  will  be  welcome  for  their  striking  appearance,  although  the 
species,  when  given  room,  is  most  valuable.  Nor  must  we  forget  the 
crop  of  rich  violet  berries  it  supplies  in  August  and  September.  The 
double  Gorse  (Ulex  europaeus)  is  too  much  neglected.  Its  beauty  in  a 
mass  has  few  equals,  and  its  honey-like  perfume  is  most  delicious;  we 
must  also  recollect  it  can  be  grown  where  many  other  things  fail  to 
find  nourishment.  Spiraea  Thunbergi,  with  its  multitude  of  minute 
white  starry  flowers,  makes  a  great  show,  and  followed  by  its  pale 
green  narrow  foliage  is  grand  for  the  front  borders.  Rhododendron 
praecox  now  claims  attention  ;  its  soft  lilac  flowers  resting  on  glossy 
green  foliage  render  it  very  conspicuous.  There  is  a  variety  called 
Early  Gem  also,  and  the  allied  but  taller  purple  R.  dahuricum  is  also 
very  fine  ;  both  require  peaty  soil  and  some  shelter  from  cold  winds. 
Prunus  (Amygdalus)  sinensis,  or  Fortune’s  Double  White  Plum,  is  a 
neat  dwarf  grower,  and  the  pink  variety  P.  s.  rubra  plena  are  both 
most  exquisite  varieties,  while  a  little  later  the  P.  triloba  is  seen.  Its 
large  double  rose  flowers  are  lovely,  but  owing  to  frosts  it  is  more 
often  seen  as  a  forced  conservatory  plant.  Perhaps  of  all  our  April 
shrubs  Magnolia  stellata  (Halleana)  is  the  finest,  and  very  suitable  for 
a  warm  corner  where  the  cold  winds  cannot  so  readily  mar  its  elegant 
bell-shaped  flowers.  The  ever  esteemed  Ribes  is  now  to  the  fore, 
and  whether  we  take  the  old  one  (sanguinea)  or  any  of  the  deep  red 
varieties,  they  are  charming.  In  the  whites  that  called  albidum  is  the 
best ;  and  for  pale  rose,  R.  carnea  grandiflora.  Genista  praecox,  a 
pretty  dwarf  compact  Broom  with  its  creamy  flowers,  must  not  be 
forgotten.  It  is  sometimes  grafted  on  Laburnum  stems,  after  the  style 
of  a  standard  Rose,  and  is  most  elegant  in  that  form.  Towards  the  end 
of  April  we  get  a  galaxy  of  blossom  in  the  different  species  of  Berberis, 
Mespilus,  Malus,  Cydonias,  Cerasus,  Cytisus,  Magnolias,  and 
Laburnums. — Mr.  George  Bunyard  (in  the  “Journal  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society.”) 
Royal  Horticultural  Society. 
Drill  Hall,  January  15th. 
The  Drill  Hall  on  Tuesday  was  very  bare  of  exhibits,  the  floral 
section  being  exceptionally  weak.  Orchids  were  not  particularly 
numerous,  but  of  great  interest. 
Fruit  Committee. 
Present :  G.  Bunyard,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ;  with  Messrs.  G.  Keif, 
W.  J.  Simpson,  W.  Farr,  J.  W.  Bates,  S.  Mortimer,  A.  Dean,  C.  Herrin, 
E.  Shaw  Blaker,  W.  Poupart,  H.  Markham,  E.  Beckett,  G.  T.  Miles, 
G.  Wythes,  J.  Willard,  J.  Cheal,  G.  Norman,  A.  H.  Pearson,  H.  Esling, 
and  the  Rev.  W.  Wilks. 
Messrs.  Jas.  Yeitch  &  Sons,  Ltd.,  staged  seven  varieties  of  Pears, 
all  grown  on  pyramid  trees  in  the  open  air.  They  were  all  clean,  well- 
grown  samples.  Those  most  notable  were  Olivier  des  Serres, 
Bergamotte  Esperen,  Beurre  Easter,  Josephine  de  Malines,  Nec  Plus 
Meuris,  and  Beurre  Ranee.  Mr.  Dixon,  gardener  to  the  Earl  of 
Ilchester,  Holland  House,  Kensington,  staged  a  good  dish  of  Beurre 
Ranee,  grown  on  old  standard  trees,  which  were  very  satisfactory. 
From  Mr.  Alfred  Ray,  Chiswick,  came  two  dishes  of  the  old  stewing 
Pear  Catillac,  which  were  large  and  well  developed. 
Floral  Committee. 
Present  :  W.  Marshall,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ;  and  Messrs.  O.  Thomas, 
C.  T.  Druery,  G.  Nicholson,  H.  B.  May,  R.  Dean,  J.  H.  Fitt,  G.  Reuthe, 
J.  Hudson,  J.  F.  McLeod,  J.  Fraser,  C.  Jeffries,  W.  Bain,  C.  E.  Pearson, 
C.  E.  Shea,  W.  J.  James,  C.  Blick,  Geo.  Paul,  and  H.  J.  Jones. 
Messrs.  Jas.  Yeitch  &  Sons,  Ltd.,  staged  a  number  of  plants  of  the 
new  Coleus  thyrsoideus  arranged  with  a  few  Palms  and  embedded  in 
Maidenhair  Fern.  The  Coleuses  were  the  same  plants  as  those  staged 
six  weeks  ago,  clearly  shewing  the  lasting  properties  of  the  plant,  also 
a  plant  of  Thibaudia  maorantha  in  flower.  Messrs.  Geo-  Jackman  and 
Son,  Woking,  sent  a  few  hardy  flowers,  comprised  of  Helleborus 
orientalis,  Queen  of  the  Netherlands,  and  Mars,  both  well  flowered, 
with  dull  red  blossoms.  The  little  Irises,  Bakeriana,  histrioides,  and 
sindjarensis  were  all  interesting  at  this  period,  as  were  Daphne 
Blagayana,  a  white  flowered  species,  and  a  pan  of  Cyclamen  Coum. 
From  Messrs.  Barr  &  Sons,  Covent  -Garden,  came  some  good  bowls  of 
the  Chinese  Sacred  Lilies,  also  Roman  Hyacinths  grown  in  the  same 
style,  with  pots  of  the  sulphur  and  white  Hoop  Petticoat  Narcissi, 
making  a  pretty  exhibit. 
Mr.  J.  Russell,  Richmond,  staged  a  large  table  of  berried  Aucubas 
growing  in  5-inoh  pots.  The  plants  were  dwarf,  many  not  being  over 
a  foot  high,  and  berried  splendidly ;  these  were  A.  longifolia,  A.  vera, 
and  A.  japonica  (silver  Flora  medal).  From  Mr.  W.  Bain,  gardener  to 
Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  Bart.,  Burford,  Dorking,  came  a  basket  of 
Primula  floribunda  grandiflora  isabellina,  a  pretty  pale  primrose 
variety.  Messrs.  Wallace  &  Co.,  Kilufield  Gardens,  Colchester,  staged 
Irises  Danfordise,  Bakeriana,  and  Heldreichi  in  pans  in  capital  style. 
Mr.  C.  T.  Wakefield,  58,  Hendon  Street,  S.W.,  exhibited  specimens  of 
his  flower  holder  known  as  “  Floral  Aids,”  with  flowers  in  some  of  them 
which  clearly  demonstrated  their  value  to  the  decorator. 
The  Rev.  W.  Goodliffe,  Worthing,  staged  two  plants  of  a  Pelar¬ 
gonium  from  Central  Africa,  bearing  pale  yellow  flowers.  It  is  a 
curiosity  and  novel'  on  account  of  its  colour.  Messrs.  Sinclair  &  Co. 
exhibited  a  number  of  syringes  and  diffusers  in  various  sizes  and  forms. 
Mr.  J.  Fitt,  gardener  to  Mrs.  F.  W.  Campion,  Reigate,  staged  some 
cut  sprays  of  Manettia  bicolor,  and  a  plant  of  the  white  Hoop  Petticoat 
Narcissus. 
Orchid  Committee. 
Present :  H.  J.  Yeitch,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ;  with  Messrs.  J. 
O’Brien,  R.  B.  White,  H.  J.  Chapman,  W.  H.  Young,  H.  A.  Tracy, 
J.  W.  Potter,  F.  J.  Gabriel,  E.  Hill,  T.  Rochford,  A.  Hislop,  J.  Jaques, 
T.  W.  Bond,  E.  Ashworth,  W.  Cobb,  J.  Colman,  J.  Douglas,  H.  Ballantine, 
and  C.  J.  Lucas. 
Messrs.  J.  Yeitch  &  Sons,  Ltd.,  Chelsea,  contributed  the  only 
collection  of  Orchids.  The  group  comprised  plants  and  cut  flowers, 
the  latter  mainly  consisting  of  Laelio-Cattleyas  and  Cypripediums. 
Amongst  the  plants  in  pots  were  Angrgecum  sesquipedale,  Cym’oidium 
Traceyanum,  Zygopetalum  Mackayi,  Lselio-Cattleya  Wellsiana,  Epiden- 
drum  atro-purpureum  album,  and  Zygopetalum  leucochilum.  All  were 
well  grown  and  arranged  (silver  Flora  medal). 
Mr.  G.  E.  Day,  gardener  to  H.  F.  Simonds,  Esq.,  Beckenham,  sent 
Lrelia  anceps  Simondsi,  and  a  magnificently  grown  plant  of  the  rare 
Dendrobium  spectabile.  Mr.  J.  Guyett,  gardener  to  C.  D.  Kemp  Welch, 
Esq.,  Ascot,  showed  Cypripedium  Spicerianum  Broadlands  var. ;  and 
Mr.  F.  M.  Burton,  Gainsborough,  staged  a  charming  dark-coloured 
Cattleya  Walkeriana  designated  Highfield  variety.  Mons.  F.  Claes, 
Brussels,  showed  Epidendrum  Claesianum  in  excellent  form. 
Mr.  Hislop,  gardener  to  H.  S.  Leon,  Esq.,  Bletchley  Park,  staged 
Sopbronitis  grandiflora  gigantea  :  while  Mr.  de  Barri  Crawshay  showed 
Odontoglossum  Wilckeanum  Lionel  Crawshay.  Lycaste  lasioglossa, 
from  Messrs.  B.  S.  Williams  &  Son,  Upper  Holloway,  received  an  award 
of  merit.  Mr.  H.  Ballantine,  gardener  to  Baron  Schroeder,  Egham, 
contributed  a  group  of  cut  Orchids,  including  some  of  much  beauty. 
Messrs.  H.  Low  &  Co.,  Bush  Hill  Park,  sent  Cypripedium  callosum 
aureum,  with  the  type  for  comparison.  Mr.  T.  Stafford,  gardener  to 
F.  Hardy,  Esq.,  Tyntesfield,  Manchester,  Ashton-on-Mersey,  exhibited 
cut  Cypripediums  in  variety. 
Certificates  and  Awards  of  Merit, 
Cyclamen  libanoticum  (Jackman  &  Son). — A  hardy  species  with 
pale  lilac  flowers,  flushed  with  red  at  the  base  of  the  petals  (award  of 
merit). 
Dendrobium  Ashworthx  (H.  Holbrook). — A  peculiar  Dendrobe.  The 
pointed  sepals  and  the  lip  are  pale  green,  and  the  rounded  petals  paper 
white  (award  of  merit). 
Pear  Josephine  de  Malines  (Yeitch  &  Sons). — Too  well  known  to 
need  description  (first-class  certificate).  . 
Primula  floribunda  grandiflora  isabellina  (W.  Bain). — An  extremely 
floriferous  form,  with  pale  cream-coloured  flowers  (award  of  merit). 
Lcelia  anceps  Simondsi  (G.  E.  Day). — A  beautifully-formed  white 
variety  of  the  well-known  Orchid  (award  of  merit). 
Lycaste  lasioglossa  (B.  S.  Williams  &  Son). — The  sepals  of  this  are 
bright  brown,  and  the  petals  clear  yellow  (award  of  merit). 
Odontoglossum  Fairy  Queen  (Mrs.  Briggs  Bury). — A  beautifully 
formed  variety.  The  very  broad  sepals  and  petals  are  yellow  and 
white,  with  large  brown  spots  (award  of  merit). 
