362 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE ‘GARDENER. 
[ November 14,1878. 
do when the shading material rests on the glass. This remark 
applies to all plants requiring shade, also to Melons and 
Cucumbers ; and those who try the plan will soon perceive 
its advantages: in the case of Orchids, however. Mr. Fisher 
considers the elevated shading not only desirable but indis- 
pensable. 
The plants that have passed the summer in the frame at 
Woodlands are Odontoglossums cirrhosum, Alexandre, nebu- 
losam, pulchellum, Insleayi leopardinum, membranaceum, 
triumphans, hastilabium, Phalenopsis, and Roezlii. All those 
except the two last named remained, as above mentioned, in the 
frame until the first week in October, the two specified having 
been removed a fortnight previously. Not one plant has sus- 
tained injury, but, on the contrary, all of them are in robust 
health, some haying made remarkable growths. Oncidiums 
Weltoni and cucullatum were subjected to the same treatment 
end flourished equally well, while Masdevallia Harryana and 
Epidendrum vitellinum majus show by their rich green ap- 
pearance how much they have enjoyed their cool summer 
quarters. It is Mr. Fisher’s intention to subject other Orchids 
to the same treatment when the proper time arrives for doing 
so, he being satisfied that they will do as well, if not better, 
than if left in the houses. 
The frame rested on the ground, all the air the plants 
received reaching them from the top, the lights always being 
tilted, often at the front as well as the back; they were also 
permitted to have all the sun they would endure, which, under 
the circumstances, was found to be considerable, the shading 
only being employed during mid-day in very bright and hot 
weather, and to this is to be attributed the ripe, hardy, brown, 
polished appearance of the pseudobulbs. The experience re- 
corded demonstrates that with a judicious selection of Orchids 
and good cultural attention many can grow these plants and 
produce flowers of rare beauty who are as yet afraid of their 
cultivation, for it is certain that the sorts mentioned, and many 
more, only really require the convenience of frames in summer, 
at least in the south of England, and a house for wintering 
the plants having a mean temperature not exceeding 50°. 
Mr. Fisher is doubtless a skilful cultivator, for the plants 
under his care—not Orchids alone—are in excellent condition, 
clean and healthy, the Crotons especially being noteworthy for 
their fine foliage and bright colours—J. WRIGHT. 
GRAPES NOT COLOURING. 
UNDER the above heading Mr. Iggulden has communicated 
some valuable remarks on an important subject. Ass rule, I 
think when Grapes are deficient in colour the cause is exhaus- 
tion of the Vines—temporary it may he, and partial, still 
exhaustion. When Vines are oyercropped the Grapes seldom 
colour well. They have not the necessary support enabling 
them to do so, or rather the resources of the Vines are so 
greatly divided that the several parts of the Vines cannot be 
perfected. If the same resources were expended on a lesser 
number of parts—bunches—in the same ratio would those 
bunches be improved. It is curious that if one portion of a 
Vine is lightly cropped and another portion heavily cropped, 
the Grapes in the one case will be black and in the other brown. 
This I have proved, and it is easy of proof by others. 
When Grapes that are apparently moderately cropped refuse 
to colour, the cause even then, I think, cannot be found on 
any other principle than that of exhaustion—temporary in this 
instance and due to local causes, but still, I repeat, exhaustion. 
Tf a prolonged term of extremely hot weather occurs in the 
early part of the season Grapes are much more likely to be 
deficient in colour than if the heat occurred a month or two 
later. The cause of this, 1 apprehend, is that in the former 
ease the feeding roots are less numerous than in the latter, while 
possibly the evaporation from the foliage may be greater earlier 
in the season than at a later period. Probably 90 per cent. of 
a bunch of Grapes is water; this is taken up by the roots and 
appropriated by the fruit. When the supply of moisture im- 
bibed by the roots is not commensurate with the evaporation 
from the foliage then the Grapes must suffer, and the effects 
are seen in imperfectly coloured fruit. To counteract the 
effects of excessive transpiration a slight sprinkling of lime- 
wash to the glass is often advisable during brilliant weather 
in early summer before the roots of the Vines are in vigorous 
working order. It is not the bunches in that case that require 
shade so much as the foliage. 
«A high temperature is not essential for the colouring of 
Grapes. They will colour as well with a night temperature of 
50° as with one of 70°: not so quickly, it is true, but quite as 
well, and probably better. This is obvious by the dark colour 
which Grapes assume when they ripen under good manage- 
ment in the open-air. At that time a long period of growth 
has produced a powerful root-action, and at the same time 
autumn dews arrest evaporation, and the fruit in consequence 
appropriate to the fullest extent the abundant nutriment sup- 
plied by the roots. 
It is not at all uncommon for Vines that haye produced 
imperfectly coloured Grapes in the summer to produce, if per- 
mitted, a second crop on the sub-laterals in the autumn with 
berries as black as jet. Inthe former case a thirsty atmosphere 
overpowered the roots ; in the latter case, by the greater root- 
action then existent, the food supply was ample—there was no 
exhaustion. 
A steady growth of Vines in their early stages is always an 
advantage, because the roots then have a chance to extend and 
gather strength before the crop is exhaustive. A long and 
steady growth is better than a short and quick one. This 
appears to be the opinion of “R. P. B.,” whose writings have 
the true gardener’s ring about them equally with those of “A 
KITCHEN GARDENER,” who first directed attention to the 
significant want of finish of so many Black Hamburgh Grapes 
this year, and of which I believe the true cause was suggested 
by Mr. Iggulden, whose letter is worthy of careful consider- 
ation—A NORTHERN GARDENER. 
RESUME OF THE ROSE SHOWS FOR 1878. 
My candid opinion is that the Roses exhibited this year have 
not been up to the mark: I mean that, compared with the ex- 
hibits of other years, the Roses shown both by nurserymen and 
amateurs have not been so good as Ihave known them. Secondly, 
I would say that what may be called the metropolitan growers 
have been at a discount. The honours have gone to the west 
both in trade and amateur exhibits. John Cranston is the 
king of rosarians this year, and Mr. Baker of Heavitree, Exeter, 
the first of amateurs. So three cheers for the west. 
Perhaps someone will say Hereford is not in the west. If 
it is not, how is it that the West of England Rose Show is 
always held there? I suppose no one doubts that Exeter is 
the metropolis of the west, so that both with trade and amateur 
growers the west is this year victorious. Well, that is some- 
thing. If you cannot claim yourself to be cock of the walk, 
you can say your big brother is; if you are beaten in Dorset, 
your neighbour in Devon is the biggest swell of all; if you do 
not astonish a cold cynical world with your exhibits, your 
champion in Hereford takes the shine out of all comers. So 
once more three cheers for the west. 
The shows held this year have not been quite so numerous 
as of late years. Birmingham, which used once a year to 
welcome the queen of flowers, does so no longer; and Exeter 
from pecuniary difficulties is compelled to do without a show. 
On the other hand we have the two great shows of the National 
Society, but it must be remembered that one takes the place 
of the Crystal Palace exhibition ; so that there is here only a 
gain of one, which is neutralised by the abandonment of the 
one held at the Westminster Aquarium. Ido not know what 
reason has caused this, for at the dinner after the Rose and 
Carnation Show last July the manager assured us that he 
should always have a Rose show. As he gave this assurance 
in answer to a direct question from myself, I should be glad 
to know what has caused him to break his word. 
The great Show held by the National Society at the Crystal 
Palace attracted most attention, and in my opinion it was 
undoubtedly the show of the year. The date of the fixture 
was a most happy one. Everyone was north and south, east 
and west. No one, as the Honorary Secretary wrote, can say 
that the date was too early, for we had a fortnight of the most 
forcing weather I ever knew in June, and the blooms opened 
at a marvellous rate. Many people who, like myself, have a 
hot light soil found that their Rose season was over in a yery 
short time. A blaze of colour for a few days, a feast of Roses, 
and then all was over till the autumn. I remember well the 
Sunday next before the National, what a great quantity of 
bloom I had even on my wretched plants. I was able to send 
large baskets of Roses to my principal farmers and to all my 
friends, and the Sunday after I could not cut forty-eight dis- 
tinct Roses, and was yery hard pressed to stage thirty-six for 
Hereford. Mr. Baker’s experience was much the same, though 
his blooms lasted longer than mine, but he was unable to show 
at Manchester on the 6th of July. 
: 
. 
5 
5 
ee ne 
