150 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



[August 11, 



only less than the entries by two or three, 

 while in the smaller classes they were reduced 

 by nearly one-half ; but the falling-off was 

 most noticeable in the classes for light-coloured 

 Roses, or what are called fair-weather Roses. Thus 

 in the class for twelve blooms of Her Majesty, it 

 was reduced from ten to one solitary exhibit. The 

 sxme held true of Niphetos. The class for twelve 

 blooms of Lady Mary Fitzwilliam was reduced 

 from fifteen to three, while that for A. K. "Wil- 

 liams was reduced one-half only — from nineteen 

 to ten ; and of dark velvety Roses from twenty- 

 one to nine. The same held good at nearly all 

 the shows that I have attended, and in some 

 cases it must have been most trying to the 

 patience of the exhibitor. Thus one looked 

 forward to a great contest between North and 

 South at Darlington, when it was hoped that 

 Messrs. Grant, Whitwell, Hall, Pemberton, and 

 others would have tried their prowess. They had 

 all entered, but Mr. Grant had to telegraph that 

 a storm had completely destroyed his Roses; 

 and what must have been most trying was that 

 half a mile on either side of his garden it was 

 perfectly fair, while, as I have already stated, 

 Mr. Whitwell had not one Rose in bloom in his 

 garden, although he has once taken the Challenge 

 Trophy at the Metropolitan show on the first 

 Tuesday in July. 



When we come to the quality of the Eoses I fear 

 that we must state of the season generally that it 

 was distinguished for "mediocrity." In calling to 

 mind the flowers I have seen there are no stands 

 which dwell in one's memory as in former years — no 

 blooms that linger in one's mind as a "joy for ever." 

 There have been good boxes of blooms, and some 

 fine individual flowers, but that is all that can be 

 said, I fancy, concerning them. There were some 

 dark coloured flowers — old favourites — which came 

 quite to the front, such as " General Jack," as he is 

 familarly called, Charles Lefebvre, Prince Arthur, 

 a son of the General's, but very much darker ; while 

 the light coloured Roses, or rather those which are 

 very full, suffered terribly. I have been surprised to 

 find how well such flowers as Baroness Rothschild, 

 Merveille de Lyon, and White Baroness have with- 

 stood the most drenching rain, while flowers like 

 Monsieur Noman, Lady Mary Fitzwilliam and Her 

 Majesty were simply balls of rotten leaves, making no 

 attempt to open, and defacing the beds with their 

 unsightly buds. It is very difficult to judge as to 

 Teas, as to whether they have been grown under 

 g'ass or not. Where there is a house, of course 

 the exhibitor has a great advantage, and some 

 of the best stands were aided by flowers so 

 grown. In many cases they were skinned — that 

 is, all the outer petals which had been discoloured 

 ware stripped off — of course greatly disfiguring them, 

 but rendering them at the same time presentable ; still 

 they were only half Roses. It was, however, on the 

 whole very wonderful how, in the midst of such 

 weather as we have had, such clear blooms could 

 have been produced from plants which one knew to 

 be grown in the open — clearly evidencing how much 

 the culture of Tea Roses has advanced. 



There were two subjects connected with Rose 

 showing concerning which a good deal was said at 

 various times and places during the show season. 

 The first was the question of amateurs selling Roses. 

 This subject was very much discussed some years 

 ago, and was brought under the consideration of 

 the committee of the National Rose Society, and a rule 

 was framed prohibiting persons who " habitually " 

 sold Roses from exhibiting in the amateurs' class. 

 It would appear, however, that a rather narrow inter- 

 pretation has been given to the word, and that what 

 some consider habitual others consider only occa- 

 sional. It is said, and said with justice, that a gentle- 

 man who buds his 1000 or even 500 every year, and 

 in order to make room for them sells off his 

 old stock, fights at a great advantage those who 



never sell, and that it matters little how he does 

 this — whether he has an auction and so disposes of 

 them, or hands them over to a neighbouring 

 nurseryman, he is virtually a trader and not an 

 amateur ; while many say it destroys the pleasure of 

 Rose showing when you know you are competing 

 with men who thus handicap you in the race. Very 

 strong things have been said, and I presume that we 

 shall hear more about it ; but I hope and believe, 

 whatever steps are taken will be made in a con- 

 ciliatory manner, and that the good feeling of those 

 who are supposed to do these things will lead them 

 to change their method of showing and growing. 



Another subject about which exhibitors' minds 

 seemed to be very much exercised was what is called 

 " pot hunting," i.e., exhibitors being more regardful 

 of the amount of money they can get than the honour 

 and glory of the warfare ; and that thus, instead of 

 exhibiting in the classes in which the number of 

 the plants they grow would seem to place them, 

 they go down to lower classes, and by their 

 big battalions overpower them. It is possible that 

 an amateur, who grows under 200 Roses may 

 show a twelve that will beat the exhibit of one who 

 grows 1000; but it is not likely, and if he does, he 

 deserves immense credit for his pluckiness. Now no 

 rule that a society can make can prevent this. The 

 National, in order to give all a fair chance, made a 

 number of small classes, and yet, withal, many ama- 

 teurs are to be found exhibiting in these classes who 

 ought not to think of it. I remember some years ago, 

 at the Crystal Palace exhibition of the National 

 Rose Society, one who was currently reported to 

 grow 10,000 trees setting up a stand in a class of six, 

 eliciting the caustic remark, " I think it would be very 



nice were they to make a class of three for Mr. ;" 



but as I have said, no rule that can be made can 

 meet such cases — they must be left to the honour 

 and good feeling of English gentlemen, although I 

 cannot but think that if the " National " were to 

 pass a resolution condemning the practice it would 

 have a good effect. 



I hope to follow these notes up with some on the 

 new and semi-new Roses that have been exhibited, 

 although not in the number one might have expected 

 or hoped. Wild Rose. 



Orchid Notes and Gleanings. 



EPIDENDRUM NEMORALE (E. VERRTJ- 

 COSUM). 



The fragrance and beauty of the flowers of this 

 Orchid, together with its free-growing character, 

 make it one that may certainly be included amongst 

 the comparatively few Epidendrums that are worth 

 cultivating. It belongs to that section of the genus 

 with short, round pseudobulbs, the flower-spike 

 rising from between the two long narrow leaves at 

 the top. The flowers, of which ten or twelve occur 

 on a spike, measure 3 to 4 inches across, and are of 

 a delicate pale rose colour ; the lip is prettily veined 

 with purple, and in some varieties has a patch of 

 white in the centre, which, however, is absent in 

 others. It is figured in the Botanical Magazine, 

 t. 4606, as E. verrucosum, a name under which it is 

 known in some gardens now. It is a native of 

 Mexico, and succeeds well in the intermediate-house 

 potted in fibry peat and sphagnum. A plant is now 

 flowering at Kew. 



Brassavola lineata. 



A plant of this at Kew has been displaying its 

 large white flowers for several weeks past ; indeed, 

 there are few Orchids whose flowers last longer in 

 perfection than these. The whip-like, terete leaves, 

 2 feet in length, greatly resemble those of Scuticaria, 

 and, like them, grow in a downward direction. The 

 sepals and petals are linear, and about 3 inches long; 

 the lip is cordate, and measures lj-inch in diameter, 

 the whole flower being of pure ivory-white. This 

 plant grows and roots freely on a piece of Fern-stem 

 or Teak block, and if suspended from the roof its 



flowers and curious habit are shown to advantage. 

 The intermediate-house suits it, giving abundance 

 of moisture when growing, and a well-marked perio <J 

 of rest after growth is completed. 



Cypkipedium Paeishti. 



Numerous and popular as are the different forms 

 of Cypripedium there are few having a better claim 

 to notice than this species, which flowers at this 

 season. It is nearly related to C. lawigatum, to 

 which it bears some resemblance, especially in habit ; 

 that species, however, is a native of the Philippine 

 Islands, while C. Parishii comes from Moulmein, 

 where it was originally found in 1859 by the veteran 

 Orchid discoverer after whom it is named. The 

 prevailing colour of the flower is pale green ; the 

 petals, however, which are twisted and nearly 

 5 inches long, are dark purple for two-thirds of their 

 length ; the slipper also has a purplish tinge. The 

 apex of each petal is rounded and edged with short 

 hairs. No collection of Cypripediums should be 

 without this species, for even out of flower its thick 

 dark green glossy leaves make it a very handsome 

 plant. It requires to be grown in the warm house. 

 W. B. 



EpinENDituM tampense, Lindl. 



This graceful little Epidendrum has long been 

 known in herbaria, having been originally described 

 by Lindley, from a dried specimen collected in 

 Tampa Bay, Florida — the locality whence it was 

 obtained being commemorated in the name given to 

 the species. Until the other day I had no evidence 

 of its being in cultivation ; Mr. James O'Brien, how- 

 ever, sent me an Epidendrum to name which had 

 been imported from Florida, and which I was able 

 to identify with Lindley's specimens. It is one of 

 the few Epidendrums found in Florida, and at 

 present is not known from elsewhere. The specimen 

 received consisted of a pseudobulb, leaf, and inflores- 

 cence, and from it the following notes were taken : — 

 Pseudobulb ovoid, small, and narrowed above. Leaf 

 narrowly linear, 6 inches long by ^ inch broad 

 scape slender, exceeding the leaves, smooth, and 

 brownish in colour. Flowers lj inch across. 

 Sepals linear, obtuse, narrowed below, light 

 yelowish brown in colour. Petals similar, but more 

 narrowed below, light yellowish-brown in colour. 

 Petals similar, but more narrowed below. Lip 

 white, the front lobe rounded, obtuse, with a number 

 of radiating purple lines, which become somewhat 

 confluent into a blotch ; the side lobes linear with a 

 few faint purple lines below. Also the narrowed base 

 of the front lobe has a number of purple lines which 

 become almost confluent on the callus. The column 

 is greenish-white, with a pair of short, angular teeth 

 on the angles, and three to five light purple stripes 

 on the back. It belongs to the section Encyclium, 

 distinguished by the nearly free lip, and is, perhaps, 

 the smallest and most slender species in the group. 

 E. A. Bolfe. 



THE CHEMISTRY OF VEGETA- 

 TION, IN REFERENCE TO THE 

 GROWTH OF THE POTATO. 



(Continued from p. 128..) 



Priestley : Oxygen. — Two years more elapsed 

 before Priestley found that. But from 1756 Black 

 had been a Professor of Chemistry, fi rst at Glasgow 

 and then at Edinburgh (which post he held thirty 

 years), and he was so assiduous in preparing his 

 lectures that he allowed himself no time for investi- 

 gation. Of course he had to run much on the 

 old lines, as the new discoveries were not yet suffi- 

 cient to constitute a new science. Cavendish was 

 fully occupied with other researches. 



Priestley was mostly known during his lifetime as 

 a Nonconformist divine. One of his biographers 

 (Lord Brougham) has said of him that though he 

 was trained in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Syriac, and 

 Chaldean, he was only half trained in chemistry, and 

 able only to experiment. What a blessing ! It was 

 experiment that was needed to advance chemistry. 

 When living at Leeds in 1767, near a brewery, he 



