530 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June 25, 1885. 
tenuity of the foliage of our subject, and its anthers having somewhat 
longer awns or spurs at the base than those of its parent.” 
For decorative purposes no Heath can surpass Erica Cavendishiana, as 
it is free in growth and flowers most abundantly with ordinary care, and 
young plants are extremely ornamental in the conservatory. It may be 
added that the name is commonly erroneously spelled Cavendishi, the 
correct termination being that given above. 
ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
The concluding meeting of this Society for the present session was held 
on Wednesday, the 17th inst.,at the Institution of Civil Engineers, 25, Great 
George Street; Mr. R. H. Scott, P.R.S., President, in the chair. Lieut. A. 
Leeper, R.N., was elected a Fellow of the Society. 
The following papers were read :— 
1, “ A few Meteorological Observations made on a Voyage up the Nile in 
February and March, 1885,” by Dr. W. Marcet, F.R.S. The author on a 
voyage up the Nile from Cairo to Assouan made a series of meteorological 
observations, and in the present paper gives the results of those relating 
mainly to nocturnal radiation and the temperature of the water of the 
Nile. 
2, “The Mean Direction of Cirrus Clouds over Europe,” by Dr. H. H. 
Hildebrandsson, Hon.Mem.R.Met.Soc. The author has collected a number 
of observations on the movements of cirrus clouds over various parts of 
Europe, and after discussing them has arrived at the following results :—1, 
The mean direction at all stations lies between south-west and north-west; 
2, In winter the cirri come from a most northerly direction, and in summer 
from a more southerly ; 3, in winter the northerly component is greater on 
the Baltic and the north coast of the Mediterranean ; 4, The mean directions 
of the upper currents nearly coincide with the mean tracks of storm centres ; 
5, The upper currents of the atmosphere tend in general to flow away from 
those areas in which a barometrical depression exists at the earth’s surface 
towards those in which there is an elevation of pressure. 
3, “ On the Influence of Accumulations of Snow on Climate,” by Dr. A. 
Woeikoff, Hon.Mem.R.Met Soc. 
4, “Note on the Weather of January, 1881,” by Mr. E. Harding, F.R.Met.- 
Soc. It will be remembered that the weather of January, 1881, was remark¬ 
able for the prolonged and exceptionally severe frost; the heavy gale of the 
18 th and 19 th ; and the snow storms. The author has prepared isobaric 
charts for the North Atlantic and adjacent continents for January, 1881, and 
compared it with similar charts for January in other years. He shows that 
the severe weather in 1881 was due to a reversal of the normal conditions, 
the atmospheric pressure being high in the north and low in the south. 
5, “ Results of Meteorological Observations made in the Solomon Group, 
1882-84,” by Lieut. A. Leeper, R.N. 
6, “ Graphic Hygrometrical Table,” by Mr. D. Cunningham, M.Inst.C.E., 
F.R.Met.Soc. 
SCHOMBURGKIAS. 
This interesting genus of Orchids was named in honour of the 
celebrated German traveller, Sir Robert Schomburgk, the well-known 
scientific explorer of British Guiana, and the introducer of that grand 
Water Lily Victoria regia. It contains but few species. In general 
appearance and habit they somewhat resemble Cattleyas, but in reality 
they are more nearly allied to Epidendrum. From the Cattleyas they 
may be distinguished by the half cucullate lip being joined to the edge of 
the winged column, and from Epidendrum by the lip being petaloid and 
winged, and in having eight pollen masses instead of four. The pseudo¬ 
bulbs are large and elongated, two to three-leaved. Leaves coriaceous 
in texture. Scape terminal, sheathed. Bracts large, spathe-like, and dry. 
Flowers handsome, aggregated into a somewhat spherical head at the 
extremity of the peduncle. Sepals and petals nearly equal, spreading, 
all free and equal at the base. Lip difformed, membranaceous, three- 
obed ; side lobes incurved, or somewhat cucullate, but not enclosing the 
winged column, to the edge of which it is joined at its base. Pollen 
masses eight. 
Culture .—Schomburgkias should be potted in the same manner as the 
Brazilian Cattleyas, but during the period of rest they may be kept drier 
with advantage. The greater substance of their pseudo-bulbs prevents 
them from shrivelling so soon, and they require a more decided rest to 
induce them to flower freely. 
S. undulata.— Pseudo-bulbs large, clavate, terete at the base, swelling 
upwards, furrowed about a foot high, enveloped in large imbricating 
sheaths. Leaves in pairs, oblong, obtuse, thick and leathery, 9 to 12 
inches long and 2 to 3 inches broad, dark green. Scape upwards of a 
foot long, bearing near the summit a raceme of twelve to twenty flowers. 
Sepals and petals about equal, oblong, ligulate, very much twisted, and 
undulate on the edges, all of a uniform brown, slightly shaded with purple. 
Lip three-lobed, and pressed up almost parallel with the column ; side 
lobes rounded, incurved, soft purple ; midlobe ovate, acute, deep purple at 
the margin. Disc white, traversed by five undulated lamellm. Column 
winged, purple. It blooms during the winter months. Native of New 
Grenada, at 2400 elevation. 1844. 
S. Lyonsi.— Dr. Bindley first described this species in 1853 from flowers 
sent him by J. C. Lyons, Esq., of Mullingar, whose collection of Orchids 
at that time was a very rich one. In speaking of this plant the Doctor 
remarks, “ Perhaps this is the prettiest of the Schomburgkias. When out 
of flower there is nothing in it to attact notice ; but the flowers are quite 
different from those of any previously known species. They are pure 
white, with rich purple spots and speckles. The lip is of nearly the same 
form as the other plants, but more taper-pointed, dull violet with a 
yellowish edge and rich crimson ribs. The anther is very remarkable for 
bearing in front a pair of yellow horns curved like those of an ox.” In 
the figure we have here quoted the colours do not quite correspond to the 
description by Dr. Lindley ; and Sir Wm. Hooker in describing it says, 
“ The spike of this Schomburgkia was sent to us by Messrs. Rollisson and 
Sons of the Tooting Nursery. In our specimen the lip is equally white 
with the sepals and petals, and scarcely spotted at all. In the specimens 
described by Dr. Lindley from Mr. Lyons’ plant the lip was dull violet, 
with a yellowish edge, and deep crimson ribs.” Thus the only two plants 
of this species which had flowered proved distinct varieties. In habit of 
growth and general appearance there is little to distinguish it from the 
previous species. Flowers large, nearly 2 inches in diameter. Sepals 
and petals equal, ovate, obtuse, and beautifully crisped, white, banded 
with transverse lines of purple spots. Lip undivided, recurved, acute, 
prettily crisp onthe margin. It blooms in the months of August and 
September. Native of Jamaica. 1853. 
S. crispa. —Pseudo-bulbs fusiform, furrowed, about a foot high, bearing 
a pair of oblong, obtuse, leathery, dark green leaves. Scape terminal, 
many-flowered. Flowers racemose. Sepals and petals nearly equal, beauti¬ 
fully crisp, and of a uniform deep brown, tinged with yellow. Lip 
ovate-oblong obtuse, obtusely three-lobed, and about the same size as the 
segments of the perianth, white, with several undulated ridges traversing 
the disc. It blooms during the autumn and winter months. Native of 
Demerara, 1837. 
S. marginata. —The habit of growth is so similar to the preceding 
species that it is not necessary to describe. Flowers racemose, soft 
purple, margined with yellow. Sepals and petals ligulate, obtuse, prettily 
waved. Lip rounded, acute. It blooms during August and September. 
Surinam. 1834. 
S. rosea. —This species is extremely rare ; indeed we have seen it but 
once, and that some years ago in the celebrated collection made by the 
late G. W. Schiller, Esq., of Hamburgh. The sepals and petals are deep 
red, and the lip rose colour. Native of Santa Martha. 
S. tibicina. —A very bold-growing handsome species ; the large 
pseudo-bulbs are quite hollow and smooth inside, and are in very great 
demand by the native children, who use them for trumpets, from which 
has arisen its common name of the Cow-horn Orchid. Another peculiarity 
is, that at the base of each of the pseudo-bulbs there is always a small 
hole, a fact which the ants are not slow in perceiving, and very soon 
make them their homes. Pseudo-bulbs conical, horn-liked, furrowed, 
1 to 2 feet high, green when young, changing to golden yellow with age, 
and bearing upon the summit mostly three leaves, which are oblong 
obtuse, very thick indeed, some 6 to 9 inches long, and bright green. 
Scape terminal, erect, 3 to 5 feet in length, many-flowered. Flowers 
racemose, 1 to 2 inches in diameter, and very showy. Sepals and petals 
about equal, beautifully undulate and crisp, rosy purple. Lip oblong, 
cucullate ; lateral lobes rounded at the top; mid-lobe somewhat rhomboid, 
emarginate, purple, with an orange-yellow disc, which is ornamented with 
fine elevated parallel ridges. It usually blooms during the months of May 
and June, but is by no means a free-flowering plant in cultivation. Native 
of Houduras. 1836. 
S. tibieina var. grandiflora. —A variety with very large flowers, 
measuring some 3 to 4 inches in diameter ; perianth usually marked in 
the same way as in the normal type ; the incurved lateral lobes cf the lip 
white ; mid-lobe yellow outside; disc white, broadly margined with violet. 
It blooms during spring and early summer. Houduras. 1843.— G. W. 
HOT-WATER PIPES. 
It has not been demonstrated that hot-water pipes caulked with iron 
filings have been superseded by other systems more lasting and reliable. 
The last notes on this subject from your correspondents, Messrs. Foster 
and Pearson, go a long way to prove the soundness of what I have 
written. The use of iron filings has evidently been discarded by some, 
simply because the men entrusted with the work do not perform their 
portions of it properly, and not because the system itself is faulty. In 
my second letter I pointed out that too much sal ammoniac used with the 
filings was the prime cause of joints bursting ; but, surely, when the com¬ 
position for making them has been improperly mixed the system cannot 
be condemned on such grounds. The men in charge are frequently care¬ 
less in mixing the filings and other ingredients no one familiar with hot- 
water pipes will dispute. Frequently the boy, who probably has not been 
in the shop but a few months, is entrusted with the important process of 
mixing. Many times I have heard the order issue forth, “ Boy, get those 
borings mixed ;” this is the cause of faulty joints when made with iron 
filings. 
The hint given about the water entering the rope only assists in proving 
what I wrote in condemnation of rope joints and a layer of patent putty 
used largely by a “ foremost ” firm. I have taken out joints here that 
have been in fully fifty years, and I can conscientiously say they were 
equally as good as the day they were made, for I had a large number of 
the joints broken on purpose to examine the metal.—W m. Bardney. 
The Relative Yalue op Manures. —In reference to a paragraph on 
Beeson’s manure on page 458, and to remarks upon it by “ A Thinker ” on 
page 500, it appears to me to be of great importance that the attention of 
gardeners should be called to the relative value of manures. The price at 
which a manure is sold is one thing, the quantity recommended to be used 
another, and both should be considered. A peck of Beeson’s has been re¬ 
commended to a barrowload of loam, while 2 lbs. to a barrowload is recoin- 
