MISCELLANY OF NOTES AND CORRESPONDENCE. 141 



London Horticultural Society, April 21st. — A paper was read from Mr. 

 Maher, relative to the prevailing disease in Potatoes, the principal features of 

 which were as follows. A thunder-storm, accompanied by high winds, having 

 occurred in July, 1845, washing away the soil from the tubers, Mr. Maher was 

 of opinion that the disease was caused by the heated water passing down by the 

 cavity formed by the wind-waving of the haulm, and that the malady might be 

 prevented from further spread by storing the tubers when taken up in perfectly 

 dry earth. Specimens illustrative of the good effects of this mode of storing 

 were produced. These evidently showed that they had at one time been 

 diseased ; but that its further progress had been stayed by this method of 

 storing. Mr. Maher was also of opinion that the remaining sound portion of 

 the tuber might be safely used as sets for the next year's crop. In regard to 

 other matters, Mr. Rae, gardener to J. J. Blandy, Esq., sent various Orchids, 

 especially a fine specimen of the showy Cattleya Skinned, Peristeria Hura- 

 boldti with four pendulous spikes of dingy spotted blossoms, the sweet-smelling 

 Lycaste aromatica, Oncidium pictum, Huntleya violacea with curious violet- 

 coloured flowers, having something of the appearance of a bivalve shell, and a 

 seedling Azalea. A Knightian medal was awarded. — From Mr. Alnutt, of 

 Clapham, was a large specimen of Kennedya coccinea, for which a certificate 

 was awarded. — Mr. Dobson, gardener to Mr. Beck, of Isleworth, received a 

 certificate for a fine specimen of the larger and best variety of Oncidium 

 ampliatum. — From the same collection were also Oncidium luridum and papilio, 

 and the beautiful golden-veined Ceylon Ana?ctochilus setaceus, growing in 



company with the silver-veined American Physurus ( ) under a bell-glass in 



an elegantly-formed Orchid basket. It was constructed of green slate, held 

 together by brass clasps, and had altogether a very neat appearance, and was 

 well calculated for being placed in a drawing-room. — Mr. Conway, of Brompton, 

 sent a large coarse-looking Fuchsia, named Goliath, exhibiting a multiplication 

 of the petals. Sports in this tribe being of frequent occurrence, it is not impos- 

 sible that this, although probably the first double Fuchsia which has been 

 exhibited, may be only the forerunner of a series of double-flowered varieties 

 much more symmetrical than the subject in question. — Mr. Redding, gardener 

 to Sir J. D. Bioughton, Bart., produced two magnificent cut specimens of a 

 purple Rhododendron, named Alta-clerense Broughtonii, and Messrs. Veitch 

 and Son, of Exeter, sent a Saccolabium, stated to be new, but which, if not S. 

 micranthum very much resembled that species. Messrs. Fairbairn, of Clapham, 

 received a certificate for a famous specimen of Erica vestita coccinea, every 

 branch of which was surmounted by a ring of bright red blossoms. — Mr. Moore, 

 gardener to R. Hanbury, Esq., sent Oncidium albo-violaceum, one of the most 

 delicate of its class, for which a certificate was awarded ; and a sweet-smelling 

 Epidendrum, from Honduras, apparently E. varicosum, was exhibited by Mr. 

 Low, of ClaptoD. — Mr. Jackson, of Kingston, sent an Epacris-like plant, with 

 small white flowers, from Swan River ; and beautiful cut blooms of the Poppy 

 Anemone came from Mr. Marshall, of Surbiton. — Mr. Gleudinning, of the 

 Chiswick Nursery, sent Begonia albo-coccinea, a pretty pink-flowered sort. — 

 From Mr. Anderson, gardener to the Marquis of Bath, was Lslia flava, a 

 pretty yellow-flowered species, forming a striking contrast with the purple- 

 blossomed kinds. From the same garden was also a sample of Ash-leaved 

 Kidney Potatoes, which were said to have been produced from diseased sets. 

 These were clean-skinned fine looking specimens, and apparently free from 

 disease. One which was cut, however, for the purpose of trying them, very soon 

 became discoloured in the centre when exposed, which is characteristic of the 

 disease in an early stage. — From Mr. Plant, gardener to J. H. Schroder, Esq., 

 were Vanda cristata, with bright brown streaked blossoms of no great beauty, 

 and a good specimen of the showy Pimelea spectabilis. — Mr. Ayres, gardener to 

 J. Cook, Esq., of Brooklands, sent an exceedingly well-managed Stephauotis 

 Moribund;!, loaded with sweet-scented white blossoms down to the very pot, and 

 a well-grown Ixora crocata, a pretty species, well deserving of more extensive 

 cultivation than it has received. A Knightian medal was awarded for the 

 Stephanotis. 



