402 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 
[ May 14, 1885. 
Cattleya maxima Peruviana (Sander).—Delicate rose sepals, base of lip 
deep crimson. 
Odontoglossum Buckerianum punctatissimum (Sander).—Blush white, 
thickly spotted with brown. 
Luddemannia Lehmanni (Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart.).—Two large and 
handsome spikes of bloom. 
Cypripedium Godefroyce (W. Lee, Esq. and Mr. Ballantine).—Creamy 
white, exquisitely marbled and spotted with purplish crimson. 
Masdevallia Harryana la'irita (B. S. Williams).—Glowing crimson, a 
lovely variety. 
Bose Alphonse Soupert (Wm. Panl & Son).—Bright carmine. 
Rose Etoile de Lyon (Wm.Paul & Son).—Tea,bright yellow, 
Odontoglossum excellens (Mr. Ballantine).—Creamy white with brown 
spots, very fine. 
Odontoglossum crispum Sanderiamtm (Ballantine).—Large reddish brown 
flower, with white edge. 
Odontoglossum crispum Veitchianum (Ballantine).—Prettily blotched 
with brown. 
Maxillaria Sanderiana (Ballantine).—Creamy white ; very attractive. 
Alpine Auricula Miss Mollie (Douglas).—Velvety purple, with clear 
yellow centre ; large flower. 
Anemone thalictroides plenum (G. Paul & Son).—Small double white 
rosette-like flowers, a gem. 
Azalea Prince Baudouin (Louis Van Houtte).—Brilliant crimson. A very 
showy variety, with large flowers. 
Azalea Princess Victoria. —Pale pink. A medium-siz:d but handsome 
double flower. 
Anemone Ponceau (Bealby).—Brilliant double scarlet, white centre, a 
very handsome variety. 
Pelargonium Volonte Nationals alba (Perkins).—White, faintly tinted with 
rose. 
Votes of thanks were accorded to Sir Trevor Lawrence, Wm. Lee, Esq., 
and Mr. Ross. To the first-named for a miscellaneous group of Orchids, to Mr.’ 
Lee for Masdevallia Schlimii, and to Mr. Ross for a collection of cut flowers. 
GRAPES SPLITTING. 
Believing tliat a correspondence on this cr any kindred 
subject, while conducted in the friendly spirit characteristic of 
your correspondent, “ Thinker,” can have no other than a bene¬ 
ficial influence, I offer a few more remarks on his thoughts in 
this week’s Journal. 
I did not say that I believed the expansion of the fluids in the 
Grapes in the hot atmosphere of the tent was the cause of the 
splitting of Mr. McTndoe’s Grapes. I simply suggested it as a 
possible cause, for we all know that heat expands most bodies, 
including fluids. 
I quite admit the action both of endosmose and exosmose 
when circumstances favour such action, but I do not think 
Grapes hanging in a vinery with the limited amount of moisture 
in the atmosphere that can be maintained in the middle of 
summer in our large span roofed houses are in circumstances 
to favour the action of the former. Then the difficulty crops up 
of being able to account for the action of endosmose on one 
Grape more than another in the same circumstances. 
The case rests in my mind thus—I have found the Duke and 
Golden Champion to be the most vigorous growers and rooters 
of any Vines I ever grew. In the light rather poor dry soil and 
climate of Dalkeith Gardens neither cracked or had a spot on 
them. Here and elsewhere, where with heavier soil and moister 
climate they both crack during certain states of the weather— 
after heavy rains with a growing temperature—I have found the 
use of the gimlet, as already described, a complete remedy for 
the cracking. 
The rationale of this is that the gimlet destroys the action of 
one-half the capillary vessels of the alburnum by which the sap 
ascends to the leaves, and limits the supply. The leaves beyond 
the fruit require a portion of this limited supply of sap f >r their 
own sustenance, and have a smaller margin to send down to the 
berries, yet enough to lead to maturation without causing them 
to split. I am not alone in my experience in this matter. Mr. 
Kirk, gardener, Norwood, Alloa, told me more than once that 
his Grapes of the Duke used to split till he tried the gimlet, and 
it was from him I copied its use. Previously I cut the laterals 
half through below the bunches, but I found his system of 
boreing far safer and more expeditious, those who have often 
seen the grand examples of the Duke shown by Mr. Kirk at the 
Edinburgh and other exhibitions will be prepared to adopt any 
directions he may give for the culture of this Grape, and I know 
be looks upon the gimlet—much as some are disposed to laugh at 
it—as one of his sheet anchors in the production of his fine 
Dukes. 
I see a wide distinction between Tomatoes laid down to ripen 
on hot dry pipes and Grapes under a tent at a flower show, and 
would not expect the one circumstance to illustrate the other. 
The hot pipes made a large demand on the Tomatoes for 
moisture, and they would be likely to shrink instead of split — 
W. Thomson. 
Presentation to Dr. Hogg. —The Royal Horticultural Society 
of Lidsge have awarded a large silver-gilt medal to Dr. Robert Hogg 
for his recent contribution to pomology, the new edition of the “Fruit 
Manual.” 
- We are desired to state that Mr. Bull’s Exhibition op 
Orchids was visited by the Duchess of Edinburgh, attended by Lady 
Emma, Osborne onJTuesday, the'5th inst. 
-In our paragraph last week respecting the International 
Inventions Exhibition we omitted to state that Messrs. W. Paul & Son, 
Waltham Cross, had a beautiful display of Roses near the concert-room ; 
the plants are flowering very freely, and had a most healthy appearance. 
-The usual Mat Frosts have been doing considerable injury to 
the early growth and the more tender plants. On Friday last a tempe¬ 
rature of 6° below freezing point was registered in several localities 
around London. It is feared that the fruit has suffered considerably. 
Choice Rhododendrons have had their young shoots blackened, Beans 
and other vegetables have been injured, while bedding plants that have 
been placed out to harden have in several cases been similarly caught. 
The weather in the north has been much more severe, and we hear 
that a heavy snowfall occurred over the whole of Upper Deeside on 
Saturday night. So heavy was it that in less than two hours the 
depth ranged from 5 inches to 7 inches. No resident in Braemar or 
Balmoral had ever seen so heavy a storm so late in the season. It 
is feared that losses must have resulted amomg sheep, lambs, and 
grouse. 
-Many of our readers will hear with great regret that Mr. 
George Phippen, nurseryman, Reading, died in the 1st inst. after 
a painful illness. He was forty-nine years of age, and for about twenty 
years has taken a prominent part in local horticulture, especially in 
regard to the Horticultural Society of Reading, which he has assisted 
most energetically. The Forbury Gardens, belonging to the Corporation, 
have been under his charge for a number of years, during whiGh time 
they have been most satisfactorily managed. By his affability and atten¬ 
tion to business he gained the respect of his townsmen and of the numer¬ 
ous exhibitors from a distance who have contributed to the Reading 
shows. 
-Floral Decorations at a Wedding.—I n connection with a 
fashionable wedding held last Thursday at the town residence of the Hon. 
W. H. B. Portman, M.P., the floral decorations, which were of an exten¬ 
sive character, were most tastefully and successfully carried out by Mr, 
H. C. Prinsep, the able gardener at Buxted Park. Among the many 
well-executed floral arrangements which were special objects of attraction 
were somejmagnificent specimens of Dendrobium nobile, one of which had 
upwards of 700 expanded blooms of great sub stance and quality. Particularly 
well flowered and effective were several plants of Spiraea palmata elegans, 
its crimson inflorescence harmonising beautifully with the light flowers of 
the Dendrobiums. The cut-flower arrangements embraced the choicest 
flowers, among which were some splendid flowers of Yanda teres and 
other choice Orchids. 
-Our readers must have observed an announcement which has 
appeared in our advertising columns for some months past of the “ Tam 
o’Shanter Hone.” Mr. Montgomerie, of the Hone Works, Dalmore ( 
Stair, N.B., has sent us specimens of these, some of which are cased, and 
some uncased. What memories these recall! for we recognise in them 
the “ Water of Ayr Stone,” of which artizans were so proud, and which 
as boys we exulted over the possession of ever so small a piece on which 
to sharpen our pocket knives. There is no doubt about the utility of 
these hones. They were noted sixty years ago to our knowledge, and 
we have never heard that they have been surpassed. But Mr. Mont¬ 
gomerie turns out the “Tam o’Shanter Hone ” in a much more smart 
setting than were the hones of those days. In a handsome French- 
polished case of sycamore wood, which reminds us of the Cumnock snuff 
boxes of former days, and adorned with views of Burns' cottage, Alloway 
