•288 
April  4,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Societies. 
Scottish  Horticultural  Association. 
The  monthly  meeting  was  held  on  Tuesday,  2nd  April ;  Mr.  M.  Todd, 
in  the  absence  of  the  president,  in  the  chair.  Mr.  Cumming,  the  gardener, 
Grantu'ly  Castle,  read  a  very  attractive  paper  on  “  Spring  Bedding,” 
detailing  in  rapid  succession  the  various  hardy  spring  plants  suitable 
for  bedding  and  maintaining  a  display  of  blooms  from  'early  spring, 
merging  into  the  summer  bedding.  An  interesting  discussion  ensued  by 
a  large  number  of  members  present,  and  hopes  were  expressed  that  the 
city  gardens  in  Edinburgh  would,  under  the  regime  of  Mr.  McHattie, 
the  new  city  gardener,  be  made  to  illustrate  the  beauties  of  spring 
gardening.  It  was  agreed  to  make  the  annual  excursion  to  Donibristle. 
Several  very  interesting  exhibits  were  on  the  table,  including  a 
seedling  Rhubarb,-  very  early  and  hardy  ;  Cineraria  stellata,  &o. 
Irish  Gardeners’  Society. 
This  Dublin  society  held  an  unique  competition  on  Thursday  last 
at  their  quarters  in  D’Olier  Street.  The  feature  of  the  evening  was 
a  pruning  competition ;  branches  of  aged  trees  were  fastened  in 
conspicuous  places  in  the  hall,  each  competitor  was  to  prune  his 
trees  into  shape  with  a  view  to  fruitfulness.  There  were  four 
competitors.  Messrs.  Dick,  Bridgeford,  and  the  president,  Mr.  O’Kelly, 
undertook  the  responsibility  of  judging.  It  was  oompulsory  for 
each  competitor  to  read  an  essay  on  the  essentials  of  pruning,  and 
eaoh  of  them  showed  a  good  grasp  of  the  subject.  The  winner  was 
Mr.  Campbell,  foreman  at  Lord  Iveagh’s,  Farmleigh,  who  also  pruned 
the  best,  yet  faults  could  be  detected.  Miss  Douglas  was  second,  and 
Mr.  Richardson,  Abbeyville,  third.  A  certificate  of  merit  was 
awarded  to  Mr.  Reid,  The  Gardens,  Montrose,  who  used  the  secateurs 
in  preference  to  a  knife,  but  his  over-confidence  lost  him  a  place. 
The  trees  comprised  Apples  and  Pears. 
Shropshire  (Shrewsbury)  Horticultural  Society. 
By  a  clerical  error  in  our  review  of  the  schedule  of  prizes  to  be 
awarded  by  the  Shropshire  Society  for  competition  at  the  society’s  show 
in  August  next  at  Shrewsbury,  we  stated  that  a  silver  cup  was  to  be 
awarded  as  the  first  prize  in  Class  24.  The  prizes  are  : — 1st,  a  silver  cup 
of  not  less  than  £5  5s.  in  value,  and  £15  ;  2nd,  £12  10s.  ;  3rd,  £10. 
Intending  exhibitors  whose  schedules  may  not  have  the  notice  of  the  cup 
inserted  will  please  make  a  note  of  the  fact.  The  hon.  secretaries  are 
Messrs.  H.  W.  Adnitt  and  W.  W.  Naunton,  The  Square,  Shrewsbury. 
The  annual  report  and  statement  of  accounts  comes  to  hand.  The 
committee  expresses  itself  as  satisfied  with  the  results  of  last  year’s 
horticultural  fete.  Even  though  the  weather  was  sounpropitious  during 
the  two  days  in  which  it  was  held,  the  attendance  was  not  perceptibly 
diminished,  and  the  accounts  show  that  the  total  receipts  are  not  very 
far  below  those  of  the  previous  year.  The  Grapes  are  mentioned  as 
having  been  very  fine,  and  as  having  attracted  as  much  attention 
as  usual.  A  reference  is  made  in  the  report  to  the  obligation  the  society 
is  under  to  the  railway  companies  for  their  cordial  co-operation  and 
excellent  arrangements. 
Reading  and  District  Gardeners’  Association. 
An  interesting  evening  was  spent  by  the  members  of  the  Reading  and 
District  Gardeners’  Mutual  Improvement  Association  on  the  occasion 
of  the  visit  of  the  Rev.  G.  H.  Engleheart  of  Appleshaw,  to  speak  upon 
“  The  Narcissus.”  The  attendance  was  exceedingly  large,  and  the 
meeting  was  presided  over  by  the  president,  Mr.  L.  G.  Sutton.  The 
lecturer,  in  introducing  his  subject,  drew  attention  to  the  great  industry 
that  had  sprung  up  in  connection  with  the  Daffodil,  mentioning  that  he 
had  himself  seen  at  Plymouth  as  much  as  £1200  worth  of  blooms  in  one 
tram  tor  the  London  markets.  The  Narcissus  had  attained  its  present 
position  as  a  market  flower  owing  to  it  coming  into  bloom  in  the  open 
air  when  other  outdoor  flowers  were  at  a  discount,  for  it  could  be  put 
on  the  market  sometimes  in  March,  and  always  in  April.  It  travelled 
well,  as  the  blooms  would  keep  fresh  for  days  if  they  had  been  placed 
in  water  a  few  hours  previous  to  packing.  Then  followed  interesting 
remarks  as  to  the  homes  of  the  wild  species,  and  consideration 
of  the  soils  in  which  they  grew,  after  which  the  garden  h’story  of 
the  plant  was  touched  upon,  reference  being  made  to  the  work  done 
in  the  days  of  the  past  by  such  men  as  Dean  Herbert,  Leeds, 
Backhouse,  and  Barr.  The  features  of  the  leading  varieties  were  then 
explained,  also  the  modes  of  crossing,  and  a  few  hints  on  culture  given. 
Owing  to  the  lateness  of  the  season  only  a  few  Narcissus  were  staged. 
The  chief  exhibit  was  a  group  of  splendidly  grown  Cineraria  stellata, 
shown  by  Mr.  C.  P.  Cretchley,  The  Honey  Gardens,  Twyiord,  who  was 
awarded  the  association’s  certificate.  y 
Bristol  and  District  Gardeners’  Mutual  Improvement  Association. 
The  last  meeting  for  the  session  was  held  on  April  1st  at  St.  John’s 
Parish  Room,  Redland,  when  a  lecture  was  given  by  Mr.  G.  Brook 
on  “  Flowering  Shrubs.”  For  cutting  purposes  they  cannot  be 
surpassed.  For  what  we  usually  term  summer  bedding  Mr.  Brook 
urged  that  more  attention  should  be  paid  to  this  section  of  plants, 
which  by  their  hardy  character  and  decorative  value  were  worth  being 
used  in  this  direction  much  more  frequently.  He  suggested  some 
methods  of  arrangement  and  planting  to  secure  the  best  effects,  and 
gave  a  long  list  of  varieties  always  likely  to  bring  good  results,  urging 
that  in  that  neglected  branch  of  the  gardener’s  work  more  attention 
should  be  paid  to  the  soils  for  planting,  and  treatment  of  the  subject 
afterwards,  especially  in  the  matter  of  pruning.  A  brisk  discussion 
followed,  and  Mr.  Brook  was  heartily  thanked  for  his  lecture.  Prizes 
offered  for  spray  for  lady’s  dress  and  two  buttonhole  bouquets  were 
secured  by — First,  the  Lord  Mayor,  Mr.  C.  Colthurst  Godwin  (gardener, 
Mr.  McCulloch)  ;  second,  Mr.  F.  Tagart  (gardener,  Mr.  Binfield)  ;  equal 
third,  Mr.  W.  Howell  Davies  (gardener,  Mr.  Curtis),  and  Mr.  H.  Kitley. 
Certificates  of  merit  went  to  Mr.  Spry  (display  of  Cineraria  blooms), 
Mr.  W.  M.  Wills,  gardener,  Mr.  Frampton  (Cattleya  Trianse),  and  Mr. 
Jennings  (Dendrobium  nobile). 
Devon  and  Exeter  Gardeners’  Association. 
“  Methods  of  Propagation  ”  was  the  subject  of  a  lecture  before  the 
above,  given  by  Mr.  J.  Mayne  of  Bicton  Gardens  at  a  recent  meeting. 
He  said  that  plants  from  seed  were  more  healthy  and  vigorous  than  from 
any  other  source  of  propagation,  but  on  the  other  hand  they  could  not 
always  depend  upon  their  coming  true,  though  at  the  present  time  they 
were  much  nearer  the  goal  than  ever  they  could  have  hoped  owing  to 
their  selection  of  the  very  best  varieties.  In  a  great  many  instances 
the  best  time  to  sow  the  seed  was  as  soon  as  it  was  ripe,  but  there  could 
be  no  doubt  spring  was  the  most  natural  time.  Spring  and  early 
summer  when  the  soil  is  fairly  moist,  and  each  day  is  getting  warmer, 
were  all  in  favour  of  germination.  It  was  after  some  few  weeks  of  very 
hot  dry  weather  during  summer  that  there  was  the  greatest  difficulty 
in  getting  many  seeds  to  germinate,  though  a  lot  could  and  should  be 
done  in  the  way  of  soaking  the  drills  some  few  hours  previously  to 
sowing  the  seed  when  the  soil  was  in  a  parched  condition.  Again, 
they  could  assist  Nature  by  soaking  certain  kinds  of  seeds  in  warm 
water  for  twelve  or  more  hours.  It  was  much  wiser  to  have  the 
soil  fairly  moist  before  sowing,  as  a  great  many  seeds  if  watered 
immediately  after  sowing  failed  to  come  up  at  all.  Propagation  by 
division  was  best  done  in  autumn  or  soring  just  as  growth  was 
starting.  Propagation  by  runners  is  a  very  expeditious  way  of 
increase.  Only  one  should  be  taken  from  ths  runner,  and  this  nearest 
the  parent  plant,  and  the  joint  should  be  pinched  out  of  the  runner  so 
as  to  throw  the  sap  into  this  one  plant.  Wet  weather  suits  runners 
much  the  best.  Layering  is  usually  performed  on  large  shoots  or 
branches  by  being  bent  down  and  brought  into  direct  contact  with  the 
soil.  A  out  should  be  made  in  an  upward  direction  nearly  halfway  into 
the  shoot,  which  should  be  pegged  into  the  soil,  care  being  taken  that 
i  he  slit  was  kept  open.  Generally  speaking  this  was  best  performed 
about  October,  especially  among  hard  wooded  plants. 
Royal  Horticultural  Society— Scientific  Committee,  Marcl]  26% 
Present  :  Dr.  M.  T.  Masters  (in  the  chair)  ;  Messrs.  Hogg, 
Druery,  Houston,  O’Brien,  Holmes,  Bennett,  Rendle,  Saunders,  Michael, 
Salmon,  Worsley,  Odell,  E.  im  Thurn,  Bennett-Poe,  Douglas,  Rev. 
W.  Wilks,  Prof.  Boulger,  Dr.  Muller,  and  Rev.  G.  Henslow,  Hon.  Sec. 
Cattleya  monstrous.  —  Dr.  Masters  described  the  specimen  sent  to 
the  last  meeting  as  follows  : — The  flower  is  dimerous,  in  having  two 
sepals,  a  lip  and  a  lateral  petal,  and  a  normal  column. 
f  Cypripedium  illustrations—  Mr.  G.  8.  Saunders  showed  a  series  of 
beautifully  executed  water  colour  drawings  of  malformations  in  the 
flowers  of  this  genus  as  follows  : — The  entire  absence  of  one  or  both 
side  petals ;  the  entire  absence  of  the  labellum,  its  presence  in  a 
distorted  form,  and  its  partial  or  entire  duplication;  one  or  both  side 
petals  partially,  or  entirely,  taking  the  form  of  the  labellum  ;  the  side 
petals  joined  to  the  upper  or  lower  sepals  ;  the  upper  and  lower  sepals 
joined  together ;  one  side  petal  adhering  to  the  labellum;  the  lower 
sepal  adhering  to  the  labellum  ;  a  duplication  of  parts  ;  a  double  flower, 
caused  by  the  adherence  of  two  flowers  ;  a  flower  showing  the  two  lower 
sepals  separate  which  are  generally  joined  together  in  this  genus. 
Acotyledonous  members  of  Amaryllidex. — Mr.  Worsely  gave  some 
account  of  his  observations  as  follows  : — “  Among  Amaryllideae  aooty- 
ledonous  species  occur  in  the  genera  Crinum,  Hymenocallis  (Elisena), 
and  probably  in  Griffinia  and  several  Andine  Pancratia.  I  do  not  think 
it  is  constant  even  in  one  species.  Among  the  Crinums  it  occurs 
occasionally  in  C.  Moorei ;  frequently,  or  almost  invariably,  in  Ismene 
and  Elisena,  but  rarely,  if  ever,  in  Hymenocallis  true.  Plants  from 
regions  of  annual  droughts  gain  advantage  by  immediately  forming  a 
bulb  at  some  depth  under  the  soil,  which  wijl  not  break  into  growth 
until  the  rains  return,  and  will  thus  commence  their  annual  growth  at 
the  best  time.”  In  the  absence  of  specimens  and  illustrations  it  was 
impossible  to  form  an  opinion  as  to  the  peculiar  and  anomalous 
conditions  described,  as  acotyledonous  plants  are  unknown  to  botanists 
in  this  family.  Orchids  and  parasites,  &c.,  Dr.  Masters  observed,  are 
without  cotyledons,  because  the  perfect  embryo  is  not  formed. 
Mr.  Worsely  also  described  the  usual  curvature  of  the  radicle,  or 
“  geotropism,”  characteristic  ofjall  seeds  germinating  in  the  ground 
He  also  described  how  a  bulb  will  be  formed  at  the  bottom  of  the 
flower  pot.  This,  Dr.  Masters  remarked,  was  probably  the  well-known 
formation  of  a  “  dropper,”  so  common  in  Tulips,  &c.,  the  new  bulb  being 
formed  on  a  leaf-sheath. 
Ferns,  anomalous. — Mr.  Druery  exhibited  the  following  remarkable 
specimens : — Fronds  of  Polystichum  angulare  var.  sinuosuw.  sent  by 
