422 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
[ May 21, 1885. 
a charming group, which included fine Palms and other plants. Mr. W. 
Jinks, gardener to J. E. Wilson, Esq., Wyddrinjtou, sent a very fine group, 
in which were some superb specimen Azaleas of great size and beauty, and 
in whose collection was a good plant of Hsemauthus cinnabarina. Mr. 
Brasier, gardener to the Mayor of Birmingham, staged a pretty group of 
plants, and another group near it was contributed by the Right Hon. 
Joseph Chamberlain, M.P. Walter Chamberlain, Esq., sent a most in¬ 
teresting collection of Japanese Maples, many of them exceedingly bright 
in colour, and containing many newer kinds. 
The local nurserymen also helped the Exhibition materially. Messrs. 
Thos. Hewitt & Co., Solihull, sent a large and bright group of plants, 
some Auriculas, and plants in flower of Primula cortusoides amoena 
varieties. Mr. Hans Niemand set up a very tastefully arranged group, in 
which a superb specimen Climbing Asparagus, and a grand basket of 
Nephrolepis davallioides furcans, were conspicuous. In this group were 
some fine plants in striking character of the beautiful Caladium Baroness 
James de Rothschild, some fine plants of Lilium longiflorum, rare Ferns, 
and other plants. Mr. R. H. Vertigans, The Chad Valley Nurseries, set 
up a good group, including Tuberoses, Lilium Harrisi, Herbaceous and 
Alpine plants, and some excellent examples of Saxifraga pyramidalis. The 
Cranston Nursery Co., Limited, staged two boxes of fine Rose blooms, 
chiefly Teas and Hybrid Teas. 
SUMMER TREATMENT OF TEA ROSES. 
Having- been very successful with Tea Roses last season, a few 
notes may be acceptable to readers of the Journal, as the collection 
comprised all the best and most popular varieties in cultivation. The 
system carried out was the means of allowing us to cut on an average six 
dozen good blooms every morning from early in July until about the 
second week in October. Those gardeners who have to supply cut flowers 
in quantity to a large establishment know the attention that is bestowed 
on these lovely Roses. We often hear the remark passed when Tea 
Hoses are not looking or thriving very well that they will not succeed in 
the soil, or the position is not quite right, when it i3 only rational atten¬ 
tion which is required. 
The ground the Tea Roses were planted on was well drained, and 
the soil worked into good condition by bastard trenching, with the 
addition of some well-decayed manure. The Rose3 were planted when 
the soil was in good order, and a shovelful of turfy loam was 
placed about the roots of each. The pruning was performed about the 
20th of April, and the beds were then mulched with some partially 
decayed manure. When the plants had started into growth, and the 
shoots had grown about 2 inches, we made it a practice to go over every 
plant twice a week to disbud the shoots where growing too thickly and 
destroy aphides. By making it a practice twice a week we saved a lot of 
labour. If the least trace of aphides was seen the shoot was dusted with 
tobacco powder, and once a week until the first blooms appeared they 
were syringed with soapsuds. The weather having become dry every 
plant received 3 gallons of water a fortnight, and the latter part of the 
season liquid manure. When the first bloom buds appeared, and all 
through the season, we took off every one which would not be required, 
as it is very unwise to leave buds that would not be open when the 
blooms were ready for cutting; and by picking off these useless buds, as 
it were, extra vigour is thrown into those which are left, and every 
Rose can be cut with one or two healthy green leaves and a length of 
stem suitable for any purpose. If any of the flowers were full open in 
the morning we cut them, rather than let them remain to exhaust 
the plants and blooms which were to come. By following the above 
practice the plants grew to a large size, and were continually blooming 
until stopped by cold nights.—A. Young. 
GRAPES CRACKING. 
I am surprised that both Mr. Mclndoe and “ A Thinker ” should 
ignore the ordinary channels through which sap and moisture are supplied 
to fruit — namely, by the stem, and instead give the whole credit, or 
rather discredit, to the skins of the berries, and that simply because they 
are separated from the Vine or plant. 
When Grapes are preserved after being cut away from the Vine they are 
generally placed with the cut stem inserted in water to draw their supply 
in the usual way, as are many other garden products, such as cut flowers, 
&c. Cucumbers and French Beans, with their stems in water draw their 
supply in this way for a long time, as every gardener knows. Is it not 
therefore more likely that Grapes, although separated from the Vine, but 
excited by a warm and moist atmosphere, absorb the moisture through 
the stems than through the skins of the berries 1 If the skins are so 
porous that moisture enters through so easily, why not make its exit that 
way under the pressure of the expanded juice ? Is it not more reasonable 
to think that the supply, whether from the roots or surrounding atmosphere, 
finds its way in through the stems, influenced by too high a temperature, 
and having no outlet, and the skins, being incapable of expanding, give 
way and burst ? 
I for one fail to see how either of the above-named gentlemen have 
proved that the skin is the medium through which moisture enters, and 
so causes bursting.— Hugh Henderson, Co. Antrim. 
NOTES IN A NURSERY. 
Walking through the nurseries of Messrs. Dickson & Sons at Upton, 
Chester, the other day, I was struck with the beauty of some of the spring 
borders. The innumerable fine Daffodils were in full beauty, several 
varieties of Narcissus poeticus ornatus, angustifolius, Burbidgei, &c., 
succeeding in continuous order. Amongst other varieties I noticed the 
following: — bicolor, Horsfieldii, Empress Emperor (worthy still to 
hold the place assigned to them by their title), Jonquilla and incompara- 
bilis in great variety. There were also several hybrids which are very 
distinct, such asLeedsi, Leedsi maximus, Stella, &c. 
Wandering from the Daffodils I found some fine beds of Triteleia uni¬ 
flora in full flower, and in good contrast a fine patch of T. violacea, a very 
fine coloured variety. Early in the season I noticed Chionodoxa Lucilliae, 
which was in flower for more than a month. The fact that it remains in 
perfect bloom so long is a feature worth noting. 
Iris reticulata, too, is an early gem. I was told it also yielded a suc¬ 
cession of flowers for more than a month. 
The well marked foliage of Erythronium Dens-canis sets off the flowers 
well, and I noticed a very striking and distinct species in E. giganteum, 
throwing up a fine strong stem 6 to 9 inches, with beautiful pale yellow 
flowers.— John Edmunds. 
THE ORCHID CONFERENCE. 
Mat 13th. 
In our issue of the 14th inst. we gave a report of the Exhioition and the 
two principal papers read, but the others, together with the discussion, had 
to be reserved until this week. For the verbatim report which follows, 
together with the portrait of Professor Reichenbach (page 419) we are in¬ 
debted to the Gardeners' Chronicle. 
Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., President of the Council, occupied the 
chair. The attendance was exceedingly good, and great interest was taken 
in the proceedings. 
The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, said : The business of the 
Conference on Orchids which we are now about to commence has largely to 
do with the botanical and scientific aspect of the cultivation of Orchids. I 
need hardly say that I should not venture to express any opinion whatever 
on matters of botanical science in connection with this subject; as it is only 
as a horticulturist that I have the honour to occupy the position which I do 
occupy, and therefore I must ask you to be so kind as not to suppose that I 
am in anv way assuming or professing to give any opinion on botanical 
questions. I think you will one and all agree with me that the Conference 
Committee and Royal Horticultural Society have every reason to be satisfied 
with the success which has attended the Conference. I very much doubt 
indeed whether such, a collection of Orchids has ever been gathered together 
as we have in the conservatory below ; and I believe that it would be im¬ 
possible to gather together such a collection of Orchids as is there displayed 
in any other part of the world. The thanks of the Conference Committee 
are due to those amateurs and to those members of the trade who have helped 
us on this occasion, and on behalf of the Committee I beg to tender you our 
very sincere thanks for your exertions and efforts to make the Conference 
and sho w a success. The Royal Horticultural Society has for many years been 
under a great debt of gratitude to the horticultural trade, who have at all 
times supported us to the best of their ability, and who have largely contributed 
to the success of this Conference and our Show. Under the somewhat new 
aspect our horticultural trade has assumed, several principal nurserymen are 
at the present moment very much interested in shows of Orchids on their own 
premises, and therefore we could hardly have expected them to denude their 
own premises for two days of the principal attractions that they would have; 
and while we are considerably indebted to the horticultural trade for the 
help they have given us, there is no doubt that the great bulk of the show 
is made up by the contributions of amateurs about London. I hope on 
another occasion we may have help from amateurs all over the kingdom. 
vYe should very greatly like to see some of those magnificent Orchids of 
which so many of us have only read, from the neighbourhood of Liverpool 
and Manchester. I have reason to believe that visitors who have come to this 
Conference from those parts are fired by the spirit of emulation, and will do all 
they can to show that they can cultivate Orchids as well, if not better, in the 
north than we do in the south. With regard to the excellence of the show, I think 
I may be allowed to quote the authority of no less a person than Sir Joseph 
Hooker. He expressed to me and to other persons his very great admira¬ 
tion for the show, and his great appreciation of its value in promoting the 
cultivation of Orchids; and when we consider that Sir Joseph Hooker, who, 
like a great many other persons who study the scientific aspect of botany, 
is not very enthusiastic on behalf of shows as a rule, I think this testimony 
is all the more valuable. Referring to Kew, I think it is very much to be 
regretted that, mainly owing to the excessive economy with which money 
is given to that very valuable institution, there is no sufficiently repre¬ 
sentative collection of Orchids there at present. I believe the authorities 
at Kew are fully alive to the very great interest which is being taken in 
this subject throughout the leDgth and breadth of the kingdom, and we 
hope that they will do their utmost to ensure this result—that the collection 
of Orchids shall be equal to those of the other natural orders of plants ; in 
fact, it would be unwise if they should not do so, because it is very much 
the custom and very much the fashion with gentlemen who possess collec¬ 
tions, when they leave this world, to leave their collections to public 
institutions; and I do not see the least reason to doubt that, if there are 
fine ranges of Orchid houses at Kew ready to receive plants, some wealthy 
bachelor will leave his collection to the public, as being perhaps, on the 
whole his best heir. With regard to the absentees from the Conference, I 
am requested by Professor Reichenbach to express his very great regret 
that threats of an attack of pneumonia prevented his being here. I know 
of the reality of his regret, for he has been longing and has been most 
anxious to see the skill which ha3 been displayed and enterprise which has 
been shown by English orchidists. He has been kind enough to send a 
paper, and he writes to say that had he been here he would have expressed 
his warm thanks to orchidists, and especially to John Lindley—a name than 
which, in connection with the science of Orchid-growing, there is no other 
that commands greater respect. While in the absence of Professor 
Reichenbach we lose one of the best scientific exponents, the loss is also 
his, as he would have thoroughly enjoyed seeing the collection we have 
