130 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GABDENER. 
August  6,  1903. 
Sweet  William  was  a  Pink,  Dianthus  prolifer,  a  beautiful 
species  found  in  Kent  occasionally.  We  may  note  that  the 
Canterbury  Bells  of  Kentish  woods  seem  to  have  taken  title 
from  the  small  horse  bells  of  pilgrims,  which  they  resembled 
in  shape. 
Chelsea,  now  a  London  suburb,  but  formerly  a  “  village 
of  palaces,”  was  fragrant  with  its  herb  gardens,  one  of 
which,  the  last  to  disappear,  was  in  a  part  of  the  ground 
belonging  to  Beaufort  House,  the  mansion  of  Sir  Thomas 
More.  He  tells  us  himself,  that  a  favourite  flower  of  his  was 
the  aromatic  Rosemary.  “  I  let  it  run  all  over  my  garden 
walls,”  writes  he,  “  not  only  because  my  bees  love  it,  but 
because  ’tis  the  herb  sacred  to  remembrance,  and  therefore 
to  friendship.”  A  favourite  flower  of  our  forefathers,  the 
Columbine,  was  the  chosen  badge  of  the  old  Barons  Grey. 
The  emblem  selected  by  Catherine  of  Arragon  was  the  Pome¬ 
granate,  and  the  little  Mignonette  found  its  way  into  the 
armorial  bearings  of  the  House  of  Saxony,  through  its 
being  chosen  as  her  favourite  by  the  Countess  Charlotte. 
The  first  Empress  of  Mexico  founded  an  Order  which 
was  adorned  with  a  scarlet  ribbon  because  she  was  so  fond 
of  the  Poppy  flowers.  Some  state  that  before  the  Monks¬ 
hood  or  Aconite  was  ecclesiastical  it  belonged  to  Odin, 
being  called  Odin’s  Cap  or  helm,  being  supposed  to  confer 
the  power  of  making  the  wearer  invisible.  The  Houseleek, 
at  one  period  Thor’s  Beard,  came  afterwards  to  be  St. 
George’s  Beard.  Though  the  Rose  is  the  symbolic  flower 
of  England  the  Harebell  was  early  appropriated  to  that 
saint  or  hero.  Many  of  the  Highland  clans  used  various 
plants  as  emblems  or  badges,  amongst  these  were  Heather, 
Juniper,  Mistletoe,  Holly,  Pine,  Fir,  and  others. — J.  R.  S.  C. 
Societies. 
Royal  Horticultural,  Drill  Hall,  August  4tlii 
The  Drill  Hall  was  sparsely  filled  on  this  occasion,  iDrobably 
due  to  the  holiday  the  preceding  day.  Hardy  flowers  were  con¬ 
spicuous  by  their  absence,  but  it  was  said  that  exhibitors  in  this 
section  were  compelled  to  cancel  their  space  through  the  ravages 
of  the  weather.  The  Cacti  exhibition  proved  a  failure,  not  a 
single  amateur  .staging. 
Orchid  Committee. 
Present :  Harry  J.  Veitch,  Esq.  (in  the  chair) ;  and  Messrs. 
Jas.  O’Brien,  de  B.  Crawshay  Norman  C.  Cookson,  F.  Wellesley, 
H.  Pitt,  E.  Hill,  G.  F.  Moore,  J.  W.  Odell,  W.  Boxall,  W.  H. 
Young,  H.  Little,  H.  Ballantine,  J.  Coleman,  and  J.  Wilson 
Potter. 
Orchids  were  somewhat  sparsely  represented,  Messrs.  Hugh 
Low  and  Co.,  Bush  Hill  Park,  N.,  staged  plants  of  Cypripedium 
Rothschildianum,  C.  R.  superbiens,  C.  niveum,  and  C.  Kim- 
ballianum,  all  well  flowered;  Cattleya  Mary  Gratrix,  a  cross 
between  C.  Harrisonise  and  C.  Schofieldiana,  was  conspicuous; 
while  nice  plants  of  C.  Eldorado  variety  were  good. 
Mr.  J.  Davis,  gardener  to  J.  Gurney  Fowler,  Esq.,  staged  a 
small  collection,  cliiefly  Cypripediums,  which  included  well  grown 
plants  of  C.  Rothschildianum,  C.  Miniatum,  and  W.  R.  Lea, 
also  a  nice  specimen  of  Laelia  Digbyana  purpurata,  var.  King 
Edward  VII.  From  Messrs.  Thomas  Cripps  and  Son,  Tunbridge 
Wells,  came  a  pretty  display  of  Disa  grandiflora,  arranged  with 
small  Cocos  W"eddelliana. 
Messrs.  Jas.  Veitch  and  Sons,  Ltd.,  staged  C.  atalanta  superba 
and  Laelio-Cattleya  Is.sy. 
Mr.  Barker,  gardener  to  P.  Burken.shaw,  Esq.,  Hessle, 
sent  a  large  Lselio-Cattleya,  named  Ivernia,  which  was  remark¬ 
able  for  its  large  size  and  rich  purple  lip.  The  same  exhibitor 
also  staged  a  form  of  C.  gigas  called  White  Queen,  a  fine  variety. 
Mr.  W.  H.  Young  also  staged  a  few  Cattleyas  and  Laelio-Cattleyas 
in  good  form.  Mr.  H.  T.  Pitt,  Stamford  Hill,  also  contributecl 
a  few  specimens. 
Floral  Committee. 
Present :  H.  B.  May,  Esq  (in  the  chair) ;  and  Messrs.  C.  T. 
Druery,  J.  Jennings,  C.  J.  Salter,  G.  Reuthe,  Chas.  Dixon,  J.  A. 
Nix,  Chas.  E.  Pearson,  C.  E.  Shea,  E.  H.  Jenkins,  W.  M.  James, 
G.  Nicholson,  W.  Howe,  R.  C.  Notcutt,  and  Geo.  Gordon. 
Cacti  were  represented  only  by  two  exhibitors,  Messrs.  H. 
Cannell  and  Sons,  Swanley,  coming  up  with  a  fine  display,  in 
which  were  noted  specimen  plants  of  Echinocactus  Ericsoni, 
E.  peninsulsB,  E.  Wisleyense,  E.  ornatus,  E.  Emoryi,  E.  Junori, 
and  E.  electracanthus.  The  Mammillarias  were  represented  by 
M.  Nicholsoni,  M.  Gabbi,  M.  nogralensis,  M.  pusilla,  M. 
angularis,  M.  denticulata,  M.  Donati,  and  M.  nivea,  Tricho- 
caulon  piliferum,  Opuntias  in  variety,  Echeverias,  and  a  host  of 
other  species  completed  a  really  fine  display. 
The  other  collection,  exhibited  by  Mr.  Richard  Anker, 
Addison  Nursery,  Napier  Road,  W.,  was  smaller,  and  consisted 
of  smaller  plants,  Mesembryanthemums,  Opuntias,  Mammillarias, 
in  variety ;  Echinocactus  longihamagws  Wrighti,  and  several 
others. 
Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and  Sons,  Crawley,  exhibited  a  fine  collection 
of  flowering  and  foliage  shrubs  and  trees  in  a  cut  state.  The 
Spiraeas  were  excellent,  and  embraced  the  following  kinds: 
S.  Fortune!  alba,  S.  salicifolia  alba,  S.  Douglasi,  S.  brumalda, 
S.  Nobleana,  S.  Anthony  Waterer,  S.  brumalda  superba,  S.  sem- 
perflorens,  S.  Billardieri,  and  S.  Fortune!  rosea.  Other  note¬ 
worthy  shrubs  were  Buddleya  variabilis,  Colutea  purpurea, 
Diervilla  lutea,  Olearia  Haasti,  and  Genista  capitatus,  with  a 
variety  of  Hypericums  completed  the  flowering  portion.  The 
same  firm  also  opened  the  Dahlia  season  by  staging  two  boxes 
of  Cactus,  and  a  box  each  of  Pompon  and  single  varieties.  Con- 
.sidering  the  early  period,  the  blooms  were  good.  In  the  Cactus 
were  noted  good  blooms  of  Columbia,  Clara  G.  Stredwick, 
Floradora,  F.  H.  Chapman,  Alpha,  Imperator,  H.  F.  Robertson, 
Mrs.  E.  Mawley  and  Mayor  Tuppenney;  also  some  promising 
seedlings. 
Messrs.  Paul  and  Son,  Cheshunt,  contributed  an  interesting 
display  of  Roses,  which  included  several  varieties  rarely  seen. 
These  included  R.  viridiflora,  R.  anemonseflora,  Roger  Lambertin, 
and  Rugosa  atropurpurea.  Those  of  the  more  orthodox  type 
were  represented  by  nice  va.ses  of  Mrs.  J.  Laing,  Duke  of  Edin¬ 
burgh,  Lady  Battersea,  Cheshunt  Scarlet,  Frau  Karl  Druschki, 
White  Lady,  Liberty,  and  Sir  Rowland  Hill. 
Mes.srs.'Jas.  Veitch  and  Sons,  Ltd.,  staged  a  group  of  Lantana 
salviaefolia.  The  plants  were  about  SOin  high,  and  the  flowers  a 
pleasing  shade  of  heliotrope ;  also  three  large  baskets  of  Senecio 
clivorum,  a  plant  with  large  leaves,  bearing  huge  heads  of  orange 
flowers. 
Ferns  came  from  Mr.  H.  B.  May,  Dyson’s  Lane  Nursery, 
Upper  Edmonton,  the  chief  feature  of  which  were  the  Nephrolepis, 
comprising  thirty-six  species  and  varieties.  Palms  and  small 
Adiantums  Avere  also  employed.  The  specimens  were  N.  acuta, 
N.  tuberosa,  N.  exaltata  plumosus,  N.  E.  multioeps,  N.  Piersoni, 
a  really  fine  form,  and  one  that  possesses  good  decorative  value, 
N.  cor'difolia  recurva,  and  N.  pectinata.  Nice  plants  were  also 
staged  of  Campanula  isophylla,  C.  i.  alba,  C.  i.  Mayi,  C.  Barril- 
lieri,  C.  glorio.sa,  and  C.  Balchiniana. 
The  most  attractive  exhibit  in  the  hall  came  from  Messrs. 
R.  and  G.  Cuthbert,  and  w'as  composed  of  Palms,  Hydrangea 
paniculata  grandiflora,  standards,  and  carried  fine  panicles  of 
bloom;  Lilium  longifolium  album,  groAving  in  5in.  and  6in.  pots, 
simply  grand,  many  carrying  tAveKe  blooms.  Vases  of  Phlox 
Fiancee  were  also  effective,  as  were  the  Ferns  employed  to  make 
a  groundAvork, 
From  Messrs.  Dobbie  and  Go..  Rothesay,  came  a  nice  col¬ 
lection  of  Pentstemons  and  Poppies.  The  former  Avere  a  fine 
collection,  and  included  some  good  forms.  The  best  AA’ere  Miss 
Willmott,  Wm.  Cuthbertson,  Jas.  Logan  Ireland,  Auguste  Cain, 
Talma,  Rachel,  Mary  Findlay,  Joannis  Chatin,  and  Tom  Burnie. 
The  best  Poppies  Avere  Fiery  Scarlet,  LaeAugatum,  Ranunculi, 
floAvered  scarlet  and  Avhite,  rose,  and  white. 
Messrs.  W.  Bull  and  Sons,  King’s  Road,  Chelsea,  made  a  nice 
display  of  Dracaena  Victoria,  edged  Avith  Palms.  The  Dractenas 
Avere  .splendidly  grown,  the  golden  colour  being  bright  and 
effective. 
Fruit  and  Vegetable  Committee. 
Present:  G.  Bunyard,  Esq.  (in  the  chair);  and  Messrs. 
H.  Balderson,  J.  Cheal,  H.  Esliiig,  S.  Mortimer,  H.  J.  Wright, 
J.  Jacques,  G.  Norman,  Jas.  Smith,  and  Geo.  W’ythes. 
Dr.  Bonavia  staged  a  basket  of  Sultanieh  Grapes.  They  were 
small,  and  of  very  poor  colour,  but  said  to  be  sweet,  and  the  best 
of  the  seedless  varieties.  Mr.  Will  Tayler,  Osborne  Nursery, 
Hampton,  sent  a  dish  of  Peaches,  called  Libra,  which  were  of 
good  size.  Considering  they  were  grown  in  a  cold  house,  with 
the  exception  of  a  little  firing  in  March  and  April  to  keep  out 
the  frost,  they  have  been  grown  quite  cool.  The  variety  appears 
promising. 
Medal  Awards. 
Floral  Committee.— Silver-gilt  Flora  for  collection  of 
Nephrolepis  to  Mr.  H.  B.  May,  Upper  Edmonton ;  for  group  of 
Hydrangea  paniculata,  Crinum  Moorei,  and  Lilium  lancifolium 
album,  to  Messrs.  Cuthbert  and  Son,  Sonthgate.  Silver-gilt 
Banksian  for  group  of  Cactaceous  plants  to  Messrs.  Cannell  and 
Sons,  SAvanley.  Silver-gilt  Flora  for  group  of  cut  shrubs  and 
Dahlias  to  Messrs.  Cheal  and  Sons,  CraAvley.  Silver  Banksian  for 
group  of  Roses  to  Messrs.  Paul  and  Sons,  The  Old  Nurseries; 
for  group  of  Pent.stemons  and  Poppies  to  Messrs.  Dobbie  and  Co., 
Orpington,  Cheshunt;  for  group  of  Dracaenas  to  Messrs.  Bull 
and  Sons,  Chelsea. 
Certificates  and  Awards  of  Merit. 
Cattleya  gigas,  variety  White  Queen  (W.  P.  Burkinshaw). — A  large 
A’ariety,  having  Avhite  sepals  and  petals,  Avith  a  good  lip,  purple  with 
yelloAv  at  the  throat ;  blooms  past  their  best.  A.M. 
Cattleya  Atalanta  superha  (Jas.  Veitch  and  Sons). — A  cross  between 
C.  guttata  Leopoldi  and  C.  WarseeAviezi.  The  sepals  and  petals  are 
