June  6,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
485 
support  or  recommend  it.  Noble  is  seldom  heard  of.  Yicomtesse  and 
President  some  cling  to  for  particular  seasons  and  reasons.  Leader, 
though  a  good  outdoor  variety,  is  not  equal  to  Sovereign.  Keen’s 
Seedling  and  La  Grosse  Sucrde  are  no  longer  required.  James  Yeitch 
is  a  very  good  late  variety,  but  is  averse  to  the  conditions  of  some 
gardens,  forced  or  otherwise. 
It  must  be  admitted  that  manures  play  an  important  part  in 
forcing,  and  there  are  not  many  growers  who  are  without  their 
favourite  specific.  There  are  such  a  host  of  kinds  now  on  the  market, 
and  dispensed  in  such  convenient  form  and  quantity,  that  changes  of 
diet  become  so  easy.  Natural  liquid  manures  are  excellent  when 
they  can  be  obtained  from  the  home  farm  tanks;  but  excellent  though 
these  are,  many  fail  to  get  3-cz.  fruit  by  their  aid  alone.  Chemical 
manures  of  some  kind  are  a  great  help  in  the  acquisition  of  sensational 
fruit ;  but  the  basis  most  chiefly  concerned  is  the  loam  and  its  natural 
constituents.  Without  suitable  soil  no  sensational  outcome  could  be 
expected,  and  it  is  less  likely  to  come  unless  the  daily  needs  of  the 
plants  are  intelligently  studied  throughoirt  the  growing  and  fruiting 
season.  “The  Young  Gardeners’  Domain”  might  usefully  furnish 
instances  of  success  in  its  columns  from  its  adherents,  as  these  are 
often  the  actual  workers  and  producers  of  forced  St'awberries. — W.  S 
Royal  Horticultural — Drill  Hall,  Jnije  4tR. 
One  of  the  most  interesting  and  varied  meetings  of  1901  was  that 
held  in  the  Drill  Hall  on  Tuesday  last.  Orchids  were  a  special  feature, 
these  being  supported  by  Messrs.  Cannell’s  splendid  Cannas,  shown 
finer  than  ever  before,  and  obtained  a  gold  medal,  as  did  Yeitoh’s 
central  group  of  120  spikes  of  Eremuri  ;  while  Irises,  Pyrethrums, 
Roses,  Pasonies,  and  Rhododendrons,  and  hardy  plants  in  general,  were 
numerous  and  select.  High  quality  was  apparent  all  round.  Messrs. 
Sutton  obtained  a  silver  Knightian  medal  for  an  exhibit  of  Tomatoes, 
Melons,  and  Peas  in  pots.  At  three  o’clock  135  new  Fellows  were 
elected.  This,  we  should  think,  is  a  record.  Mr.  W.  Bateson,  M.A., 
F. R.  S.,  then  gave  a  lecture  on  “  Resemblances  and  Inheritance.”  Many 
of  our  readers  will  be  pleased  to  learn  that  the  old  red  “theatrical  curtain” 
(as  some  call  it)  was  abolished  on  Tuesday,  and  in  its  place  a  dividing 
soreen  of  flowers  and  plants;  this  refers  to  the  top  end  of  the  hall. 
We  think  that  more  writers  should  be  appointed  to  assist  the  two  young 
men  who  had  practically  all  the  floral  lists  of  awards  to  furnish  at 
Tuesday’s  meeting.  They  were  kept  hard  at  work  till  4.30  in  the 
afternoon. 
Fruit  Committee. 
Present  :  A.  H.  Pearson,  Esq.  (in  the  chair) ;  with  Messrs.  J. 
Cheal,  J.  W.  Bates,  S.  Mortimer,  Alex.  Dean,  J.  H.  Yeitch,  J.  Willard, 
G.  Norman,  Geo.  Thos.  Miles,  and  W.  Wilks. 
A  boxful  of  Jefferson  and  Early  Transparent  Gage  Plums  in  perfect 
condition  was  sent  by  Leopold  de  Rothschild,  Esq.  (gardener,  Mr.  Jas. 
Hudson)  ;  Peach  Duchess  of  Cornwall  was  exhibited  by  Messrs.  Thos. 
Rivers  &  Son ;  and  Lord  Darnley  (gardener,  Mr.  R.  C.  Cuckney), 
Cobham  Hall,  had  a  boxful  of  Royal  Sovereign  Strawberries. 
From  Lord  Suffield  (gardener,  Mr.  W.  Allan),  Gunton  Park  Gardens, 
Norwich,  came  a  fine  batch  of  the  Strawberry  Lady  Suffield,  grown  and 
fruited  in  6-inch  pots.  The  foliage  is  strong  and  vigorous,  and  each 
plant  bore  ten  fruits  over  the  average  in  size,  very  odorous,  and  very 
dark  blackish  crimson  in  colour.  The  variety  has  certainly  many  good 
qualities.  Mr.  S.  Mortimer,  Rowledge,  Farnbam,  Surrey,  staged  new 
varieties  of  Melons.  J.  L.  Buchnall,  Esq.,  received  a  silver  Banksian 
medal  for  a  very  large  display  of  splendid  Royal  Sovereign  Strawberry 
fruits.  A  new  giant  Rhubarb  came  from  Mrs.  Haywood  of  Woodhatch 
Lodge,  Reigate.  This  was  very  coarse. 
Floral  Committee. 
Present :  W.  Marshall,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ;  with  Messrs.  Chas.  T. 
Druery,  H.  B.  May,  R.  Dean,  G.  Renthe,  E.  T.  Cook,  Frank  Cant, 
Jas.  Hudson,  Robt.  Fyfe,  Chas.  Dixon,  C.  J.  Salter,  Geo.  Gordon, 
Chas.  E.  Shea,  W.  P.  Thomson,  E.  H.  Jenkins,  R.  C.  Notcutt,  0.  Thomas, 
J.  Jennings,  J.  Fraser,  E.  Mawley,  and  F.  Page-Roberts. 
The  beautiful  rosy  mauve  coloured  Schizanthus  wistonensis,  of 
bushy,  conical  habit,  and  profusely  flowered,  came  from  Messrs.  H.  Low 
and  Co.,  Bush  Hill  Park,  Enfield.  Messrs.  J.  Laing  &  Sons,  The 
Nurseries,  Forest  Hill,  London,  S.E.,  brought  forward  a  collection  of 
their  multiflora  strain  of  Streptooarpus,  besides  some  very  fine 
Gloxinias  in  mixed  variety.  In  point  of  effectiveness,  the  group  could 
have  been  improved  by  being  more  raised  towards  the  back. 
Mr.  Maurice  Pritchard,  Christchurch,  Hants,  had  a  group  of  cut 
hardy  flowers,  in  which  we  noted  Maianthemum  convallarioides  (syn. 
Smilacina  bifolia),  which  is  a  charming  rockery  subject.  Oichis 
maculata  superba,  Incarvillea  Delavayi,  with  rosy-mauve  tubular  flowers, 
and  many  Irises  qf  all  sections  were  observed.  The  Bush  Hill  Park 
firm  Btaged  a  group  of  Malmaison  Carnations  separately  from  their 
Schizanthus  exhibit.  Churchwarden  and  Sir  Evelyn  Wood  were  very 
good. 
A  large  group  of  Hydrangea  hortensis,  with  massive  pink  flower 
heads  above  large,  dark  green  foliage,  was  exhibited  by  Messrs.  J.  Peed 
and  Sons,  Roupell  Park  Nurseries,  Norwood  Road,  S.E.  EL  paniculata 
grandiflora  was  included  at  the  back  of  the  old  Hortensis  variety. 
Messrs.  Barr  &  Sons,  King  Street,  Covent  Garden,  W.C.,  brought 
up  from  Long  Ditton  a  beautiful  display  of  German  and  Spanish  Irises, 
also  Oriental  Poppies,  in  many  new  and  striking  varieties.  The  Irises 
included  varieties  of  squalens,  variegata,  pallida,  negleota,  amoena, 
and  such  others.  The  following  were  especially  distinctive — I.  v. 
aurea,  well  known  and  popular;  I.  p.  Garibaldi,  violet  purple;  I.  v. 
Marenco,  orange  standards,  deep  rich  brown  falls ;  I.  aphylla  Madame 
Chereau,  white  petals  with  bright  violet-blue  edge ;  I.  v.  Darius, 
standards  yellow,  falls  purplish,  edged  with  a  dim  luteous  shade ; 
I.  germanica  Purple  King  is  one  of  the  most  handsome  ;  I.  v.  Sans  Souci, 
yellow  with  beautifully  chocolate  veined  falls,  is  also  worthy  of  attention. 
The  Bearded  Irises  are  indeed  a  grand  genus  of  hardy  garden  plants. 
Cannas  from  Messrs.  Cannell  &  Sons,  Swanley,  made  a  gorgeous 
show  toward  the  centre  of  the  western  wall.  As  one  who  sees  every 
exhibit  of  Cannas  that  appears  in  the  Drill  Hall  from  Messrs.  Cannell, 
I  must  say  that  giant  strides  are  being  made  with  thes  ■  plants.  The 
trusses  are  of  much  greater  siz9  than  formerly,  and  the  colours  of  the 
blooms  are  likewise  deeper,  richer,  and  more  brilliant.  Four  awards  of 
merit  were  obtained  on  Tuesday  last,  and  descriptions  of  the  varieties 
appear  under  the  heading  of  “  Certificates  and  Awards  of  Merit.”  The 
group  was  the  finest  the  firm  has  ever  put  up,  and  deservedly  obtained 
a  gold  medal.  They  also  showed  a  group  of  hybrid  Cockspur 
Aquilegias. 
Mr.  H.  B.  May  staged  single-flowered  Zonal  Pelargoniums  :  and 
from  Messrs.  Newport  &  Co.,  Hillingdon  Heath,  Uxbridge,  came  a 
group  of  the  dark  blue  Lobelia,  having  a  bright  white  “  eye  ”  or  centre, 
and  named  Newport’s  Model.  This  is  a  compact  growing  and  very 
serviceable  variety. 
Messrs.  J.  Yeitch  &  Sons,  Ltd.,  Chelsea,  had  sacrificed  something 
like  120  tall  spikes  of  Eremuri,  bat  the  imposing  array  of  these  in  the 
centre  of  the  hall  will  not  easily  be  forgotten.  Many  of  the  spikes 
were  7  feet  high,  and  bore  flowers  down  half  their  length.  Peeonies 
were  staged  beneath  them,  and  the  effect  was  splendid,  the  red  of  the 
latter  serving  to  throw  up  the  light  shades  of  the  Eremuri ;  E.  robustus, 
E.  r.  Elwesianus,  and  E.  himalaious  were  the  varieties  staged.  The 
same  firm  also  exhibited  their  marvellously  fine  strain  of  multiflora 
hybrid  Streptocai  pu3es.  Amongst  new  colours  bemg  evolved  are  some 
with  sweet  rosy-piuk  flowers,  and  others  show  signs  of  being  very  good 
crimsons.  A  pure  white  variety  has  also  been  fixed.  The  number  of 
distinct  colours  reaches  over  a  dozen  shades.  Aquilegias  and  Kalanchoe 
flammea  were  also  shown  in  groups. 
Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons,  Reading,  had  a  very  varied  representation, 
including  double  white  and  pink  Petunias,  a  dark  blue  variety  of 
Saintpaulia  ionantha,  also  a  white,  together  with  Sutton’s  Cloth  of 
Gold  Calceolaria,  and  other  unnamed  varieties  of  a  good  strain.  The 
Spotted  Hybrid  Gloxinias  were  large  and  fine,  bearing  in  some  instances 
twenty-seven  to  thirty  full-sized  flowers.  The  effect  of  these  can  be 
well  imagined.  The  seifs  were  also  splendid.  Double  tuberous  Begonias 
added  richness  and  variety.  At  one  end  of  the  group  a  collection  cf 
fruit  was  arranged  with  great  taste,  the  luscious  and  odorous  Melons 
being  set  out  in  baskets  raised  and  attached  to  a  central  iron  rod. 
Tomatoes  depended  around  the  edge  of  these  baskets.  Green  Gem  Pea 
and  Sutton’s  Nonpareil  Marrow  Pea,  with  others  in  pots,  formed  an 
additional  feature  of  interest  in  this  very  fine  display.  A  silver 
Knightian  medal  was  awarded  for  the  vegetable  display,  and  a  silver- 
gilt  Banksian  for  the  fljral  exhibit. 
A  choice  group  of  Pteonies  from  Messrs.  Kelway  of  Langport 
deservedly  received  a  considerable  amount  of  attention.  Lady  Curzon, 
blush  with  creamy  centre  ;  Duchess  of  Sutherland,  pink  (single)  ;  and 
Earl  of  Powis,  with  deep  purplish  crimson  wavy  petals,  and  deep 
golden  disc  of  anthers,  were  very  attractive.  The  Pyrethrums, 
especially  the  single  varieties,  gave  a  grand  selection  of  most  refined 
and  beautiful  sorts. 
Messrs.  J.  Cheal  &  Sons,  Crawley,  staged  Diervilla  amabilis  alba ; 
also  a  new  Oak,  with  narrow,  deeply  crenated  foliage  of  a  bright  golden 
colour,  named  Souvenir  de  Franz  Vender  Bom.  The  golden  Acacia  is 
another  shrub  too  little  known,  as  is  Fraxinus  aucubsefolia,  with 
beautifully  orange  spotted,  pinnate  leaves.  Messrs.  R.  Wallace  &  Co. 
of  Colchester  had  Beaided  Irises,  Liliums,  and  other  hardy  flowers  in 
great  diversity.  Messrs.  W.  Cutbush  &  Son,  Highgate,  London,  N., 
staged  Eremurus  himalaious  above  a  grounding  of  Astilbes  and  Acalypha 
Macafeeana.  The  Begonia  La  Fayette  (crimson),  unexcelled  for  bedding 
purposes,  was  also  included.  Messrs.  Thomas  Cripps  &  Son,  Tunbridge 
Wells,  received  an  award  of  merit  for  Acer  oolchicum  aureum,  than 
which  there  are  no  finer  varieties. 
Hardy  plants,  choice,  and  in  great  variety,  were  exhibited  by 
Messrs.  Thos.  S.  Ware,  Ltd.,  of  Feltham.  Arum  Eggeri,  with  blackish 
purple  spathes,  created  interest ;  and  Delphinium  ohinense,  deep  blue ; 
Lilium  rubellum,  pink  and  delicately  beautiful;  Lathyrus  cterulescens 
(L.  megapotamicus) ;  Geum  coccineum  fl.-pl.,  scarlet  crimson  and 
double ;  with  the  handsome  and  somewhat  uncommon  Ostrowskia 
magnifica,  were  amongst  others  of,  the  gems  shown.  Pyrethrums, 
Papavers,  and  the  whole  variety  of  hardy  border  plants  were  in  this 
select  and  interesting  exhibit. 
