200 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
March  7,  1901. 
White  Swan,  succeed  the  best  when  a  very  light  compost  is  used,  and 
this  pressed  only  moderately  firmly.  Large  old  plants,  which  have 
been  cut  back  year  after  year,  should  not  be  potted  so  firmly  as  young 
ores  of  the  same  varieties.  Another  interesting  point  in  connection 
with  Fuchsias  is  worth  recording.  Good  plants  in  7  or  8-inch  pots 
are  often  highly  valued  for  decorative  purposes,  especially  when  they 
can  be  flowered  early  in  the  season. 
The  usual  method  of  producing  them  is  to  reserve  plants  which 
were  flowered  in  5-inch  pots  the  previous  year  ;  these,  after  being 
dried  off  during  the  winter,  are  pruned  back  closely  in  spring  and 
restarted.  In  the  case  of  many  varieties  of  the  Arabella  type  I  find 
the  beBt  results  are  obtained  by  doing  but  little.  The  points  of  the 
shoots  then  start  away  strongly,  the  plants  flower  earlier  than  do 
closely  pruned  ones,  and  a  little  tying  when  the  flower  buds  appear 
will  form  them  into  any  required  shape. 
Never  pot  plai  ts  when  the  old  ball  of  earth  is  dust  dry  ;  always 
leave  ample  room  for  holding  water,  and  exercise  great  care  in  -watering 
till  roots  have  permeated  the  fresh  compost.  These  are  details  which 
have  long  been  recognised  as  essential  to  success.  They  are  not  less 
so  now  than  in  days  of  old. — H.  D. 
- - 
Royal  Horticultural  Society. 
Scientific  Committee,  February  26th. 
Present  :  Dr.  M.  T.  Masters  (in  the  chair)  ;  with  Messrs.  E.  Im  Thnrn, 
Odell,  Houston,  Holmes,  Worsley,  Rendle,  Chapman,  Groom,  Saunders, 
O’Brien,  Druery,  Dr.  Muller,  Rev.  W.  Wilks,  Prof.  Boulger,  and  Rev. 
G.  Henslow,  hon.  sec. 
Double  Tulips. — Mr.  Houston  exhibited  and  commented  upon  an 
early  double  Tulip,  pointing  out  that  the  filaments  of  the  stamens 
became  petals  (as  in  the  Water  Lily),  and  that  from  his  experience  a 
dry  poor  soil  appeared  to  be  conducive  to  the  process  of  doubling. 
Stock  seed,  for  instance,  gave  90  per  cent,  of  doubles  under  those 
conditions.  On  the  other  hand,  Mr.  Wilks  observed  that  Papaver 
Rhseas  became  double  in  a  rich  garden  border,  but  rarely,  if  ever,  so  in 
the  wild  state.  Prof.  Boulger  remarked  that  he  had  found  Ranunculus 
acris  and  Geum  rivale  double  in  moist  places;  Cardamine  pratensis 
has  also  occurred  double  in  similar  situations.  Mr.  Douglas’  experience 
was  that  Carnations  raised  in  pots  gave  many  more  doubles  than  when 
in  the  open  border,  only  10  to  12  per  cent,  being  single.  This  would 
seem  to  agree  with  Mr.  Houston’s  experience.  Mr.  Henslow  drew 
attention  to  the  fact  that  it  was  long  ago  asserted  by  Mr.  William 
Masters  that  a  susper  sion  of  vitality  must  take  place  before  a  flower  is 
formed,  whether  single  or  double;  that  mere  vegetative  vigour  is  not 
the  cause  of  doubling,  but  that  when  once  the  doubling  has  been 
developed  and,  as  Mr.  Masters  said,  “  is  constitutional  or  in  the  blood,” 
then  abundant  food  will  favour  the  development  of  double  flowers. 
Mr.  Masters  gives  the  following  instance  in  the  case  of  Balsams  : — 
“  One  year  we  did  not  pot  off  from  the  seed  pots  for  many  weeks  after 
they  were  ready.  They  were,  in  fact,  starved  before  being  transplanted, 
and  only  produced  single  flowers.  I  treated  them  liberally,  and  they 
then  bore  flowers  as  double  as  could  be  wished.”  Mr.  G.  Duffield  some 
years  ago  prodnced  double  Lapagerias,  and  remat  ked  that  both  a  white 
and  a  red-floweriDg  plant,  growing  side  by  side,  bore  double  flowers  in 
the  same  year,  and  remarked  that  it  seemed  curious,  as  the  plants  were 
by  no  means  remarkable  for  vigour.  This,  however,  was  apparently 
the  cause.  Mr.  Laxton  has  also  observed  with  regard  to  double  Peas  :- — 
“  I  am  of  opinion  that  a  check  during  the  growth  of  the  plant,  either 
from  drought,  frost,  or  even  injury  to  the  stem,  may  produce  it. 
Hitherto  all  the  double-flowered  forms  have  been  produced  later  in  the 
season,  just  as  late  or  second  blossoms  of  Apples  and  Pears  are 
frequently  semi-double,  while  the  early  flowers  of  Zonal  Pelargoniums 
have  often  from  eix  to  ten  petals.”  From  Goebel’s  observations  double- 
flowered  Stocks  can  be  raised  from  seed  of  single-flowered,  up  to 
90  per  cent.,  if  the  smaller  and  abnormally  formed  seeds  are  selected. 
Other  testimony  of  a  similar  kind  might  be  quoted  in  corroboration. 
Disuised  growth  of  Tews. — Mr.  J.  W.  Odell  exhibited  specimens,  and 
observed  that  Yew  trees  in  his  district  (N.-W.  Middlesex)  are  very 
much  disfigured  by  the  formation  of  cone-like  galls.  These  are  due  to 
the  gall  fly  Cecidcmya  taxi  (Inchbald).  The  specimens  were  from 
several  trees.  On  the  youDg  trees  the  gall  seems  to  be  more  persistent 
than  on  the  older  trees.  On  the  former  the  leaves  forming  the  cones 
appear  to  recurve  after  the  pupse  escape,  assuming  a  rosette  appearance, 
and  beyond  the  arresting  of  the  growth  of  the  shoots  affected  no 
great  harm  seems  to  be  done.  On  the  older  trees  the  cones  and  rosettes 
drop  off  rather  freely,  and  this  often  gives  a  shabby  look  to  the  tree  as 
the  shoots  die  back  and  decay.  Dr.  Masters  observed  that  these  galls 
are  commoner  upon  the  golden-leaved  varieties  of  Yew. 
Crested  Ferns,  8fc. — Mr.  C.  E.  Druery  exhibited  the  following 
specimens  : — 1,  Fronds  of  Phegopteris  hexagonoptera  truncata,  found  by 
Mr.  Maxon  (Smithsonian  Institute)  on  the  banks  of  the  Potomac  in 
1900.  Living  plants  are  in  the  exhibitor’s  possession.  All  the 
terminals  are  abiuptly  truncated  with  excurrent  midribs  like  slender 
thorns.  2,  Fronds  of  a  partially  bipinnate  form  of  Nephrolepis 
exaltata,  from  Mr.  Roupell.  Many  of  the  central  pinnae  are  much 
elongated  and  thoroughly  bipinnate,  resembling  small  fronds.  These 
fronds  were  taken  about  three  years  ago,  but  Mr.  Roupell  states  that 
the  plant  has  since  resumed  its  normal  pinnate  type.  Sowing  the 
spores  was  suggested  with  a  view  to  obtaining  a  decompound  strain  of 
this  species.  3.  Fronds  of  three  distinct  varieties  of  three  distinct 
species,  found  growing  together  in  one  clump  in  a  wood  near  St. 
Austell,  Cornwall,  by  Mr.  Williams.  They  represent:  —  (a)  A  small 
crested  form  of  Lastrea  pseudo-mas,  and  it  is  worthy  of  remark,  that 
the  well-known  L.  p.-m.  cristata  (king  of  male  Ferns)  was  found  in 
same  locality ;  ( b )  a  polydacty  lous  foliose  form  of  Polystichum 
angulare  of  very  distinct  type  from  the  normal,  but  imperfectly 
polydactylous  ;  (c)  an  extremely  fine  bipinnate  form  of  Polypodium 
vulgare,  with  basal  pinnules  over  2  inches  long  and  deeply  cut 
throughout.  Mr.  Williams  stated  that  the  remaining  fronds  were  very 
much  larger  but  damaged,  which  indicates  a  very  abnormal  size,  as  well 
as  development.  Such  an  association  of  varieties  is  certainly  quite 
unique  so  far  as  any  record  is  concerned,  and  as  all  three  are  redundant, 
the  conditions  of  growth  must  be  peculiarly  favourable,  which  may 
have  induced  the  “  sports.”  The  P.  vulgare  is  quite  distinct  from 
previous  finds ;  the  other  two  have  been  closely  paralleled.  Pteris 
aquilina  cristata,  found  by  Mr.  C.  B.  Green,  Acton,  at  Faygate, 
Sussex.  Some  acres  of  this  form  exist  near  the  railway  station  (half  a 
mile)  intermingled  with  about  50  per  cent,  of  normal  fronds. 
Rhamnus,  sp. — Mr.  E.  M.  Holmes  exhibited  a  specimen  of  Rhamnns 
californica,  showing  that  the  leaves  in  this  species  are  evergreen,  whilst 
the  nearly  allied  species,  R.  Purshiana,  loses  its  leaves  in  the  autumn, 
the  majority  of  the  species  of  this  genus  being  deciduous.  The  bark  of 
both  species  is  collected,  and  is  known  in  commerce  as  “  cascara 
sagrada.”  Attention  was  also  directed  to  the  fact  that  the  bark,  met 
with  in  commerce  under  the  name  of  Salix  nigra,  does  not  possess  the 
appearance  of  the  bark  of  that  species,  of  which  the  young  twigs  are 
black  and  polished,  and  have  at  first  a  waxy  bloom  on  them.  The  bark 
of  commerce  more  nearly  resembles  that  of  Salix  alba.  Mr.  Holmes 
also  brought  seeds  (stones)  of  Prunus  nepalensis,  which  he  had  received 
from  Dr.  Geo.  Watt,  C.I.E.  (reporter  on  economic  products  to  the 
Indian  Government),  as  worthy  of  cultivation  in  this  country,  the  fruit 
having  a  pleasant  acid  taste,  and  being  used  as  a  fruit  in  Nepal. 
Croci,  sp.  and  vars. — Mr.  E.  A.  Bowles  exhibited  the  following 
interesting  series  of  Croci.  The  type  forms  and  albino  varieties  of 
C.  retioulatus,  pure  white,  except  for  a  line  or  two  of  greyish  blue  at 
the  base  of  the  segments  and  extending  down  the  perianth  tube.  (For 
some  years  I  could  not  identify  this  variety  with  certainty,  until  one 
bulb  in  1899  reverted  to  a  striped  form  identical  with  the  C.  retie, 
v.  albicans  of  Herbert,  figured  in  “  Bot.  Reg.,”  vol.  xxxiii.,  16  (17), 
fig.  2).  2,  C.  Imperati. — Pure  white  internally,  externally  pale  buff, 
almost  white,  and  richly  feathered  with  deep  purple  on  the  outer 
segments.  The  seedlings  raised  from  this  form  produce  the  typical 
Imperati,  with  diphyllous,  proper  spathe.  3,  versicolor. — A  form  often 
confounded  with  Imperati  and  known  as  Imp.  v.  albidus.  The  inner 
segments  distinctly  show  the  feathering  so  characteristic  of  versioolor, 
the  form  of  Maw’s,  plate  xvi.,  fig.  1,  d.  I  have  wild  forms,  collected 
near  Mentone,  which  very  nearly  approach  this,  and  like  this,  have  a 
ligulate  inner  proper  spathe.  4,  C.  biflorus  v.  Weldeni. — A  pure  white 
form,  sold  as  Weldeni  v.  niveus  and  dalmaticus  niveus.  C.  candidus. — 
Typical  forms,  white  grained  with  blue  externally,  and  the  new  yellow 
variety,  clear  orange  grained  externally  with  purple.  A  very  floriferous 
and  beautiful  form.  C.  cyprius. — A  small  blue  species  with  rich  purple 
bases  to  the  segments  on  the  outer  surfaces.  The  only  species  that  has 
scarlet  filaments.  It,  unfortunately,  appears  to  have  a  delicate  consti¬ 
tution  in  cultivation.  C.  corsicus. — Proper  spathe  monophyllous. 
C.  minimus. — Proper  spathe  diphyllous  ;  both  natives  of  Corsica,  the 
former  in  mountainous  regions,  the  latter  in  lower  ground.  C.  reti- 
culatus  v.  micranthus. — A  small-flowered  form,  much  deeper  lilac 
internally.  5,  Seedling  varieties  of  Crocus  chrysanthus,  approaching 
most  nearly  to  the  v.  Ccerulescens.  It  is  the  first  year  of  flowering,  and 
this  perhaps  accounts  for  the  small  blossoms.  Two  of  these,  internally, 
pure  white  with  a  bright  orange  throat ;  the  outer  surface  of  the  outer 
segments  are  suffused  with  a  rich  crimson  purple  with  the  exception  of 
a  narrow  marginal  band  of  a  pale  cream  colour.  The  other  has  the 
outer  segments  sulphur  yellow,  slightly  paler  on  the  inner  surface,  and 
grained  with  dull  purple  down  the  centre  on  the  outer  surface.  The 
black  spot  at  the  base  of  the  barbs  of  the  anthers,  so  characteristic  of 
C.  chrysanthus,  is  present  in  this  form  and  one  of  the  former,  but  absent 
in  the  third  specimen. 
Turnip  budding  from  root.- — Mr.  Wilks  exhibited  a  root  with  two  or 
three  tufts  of  shoots  springing  from  apparently  the  true  root.  It  is  not 
a  very  uncommon  occurrence,  and  was  probably  due  to  some  check 
from  local  injury,  &o. 
Phalcenopsis  weevil. — Mr.  Chapman  brought  specimens  of  this 
insect.  The  o.  ly  remedy  that  could  be  suggested  was  a  careful  search 
for  them  at  night. 
E pidendrum  longicolle.  —  Mr.  O’Brien  exhibited  flowers  in  a 
malformed  state.  Dr.  Masters  undertook  to  examine  and  report  upon 
them. 
Prunus  tuberculata. — Dr.  Masters  exhibited  a  branch  with  cones  of 
this  W.  American  Pine.  It  is  one  of  the  species  the  cones  of  which 
remain  for  some  years  upon  the  tree,  and  only  shed  their  seeds  after  a 
forest  fire. 
