402 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
f May 22, 1884, 
round the house, but presenting one face only, and one side fronting from 
the wall. In the first border on the level with the path I have had the 
soil well prepared, and have planted Cheshunt Hybrid Rose, which has had 
sixty large flowers open at one time this spring; Lapagerias, &c., which 
I have trained on wirework, and which of course remain permanently 
in the soil. The remaining level or rather hollows of the tier I keep 
filled with fan, and place seasonable plants in bloom with Ferns on it, and 
bury the pots as far as possible. On the side and end of the house apart 
from the wall I have a slate slab in the ordinary way with hot-water pipes 
beneath. The roof is covered with the Tacsonia and other creepers, and 
the general appearance of the house is free from that stiff everyday style 
which is so common. I started on the principle of making a “ garden under 
glass ” as far as possible, and my friends tell me that I have succeeded. 
Perhaps some of your readers who may be contemplating the ejection of 
a greenhouse may like to follow my example; if so, I shall be glad to give 
them any further information in my powder. I think that for a larger 
house than mine the plan would answer really better.—W m. W. Brown, 
Cotswold House, Evesham. 
FRUIT PROSPECTS. 
The unusual mil 1 weather-, of the past winter and early spring 
months continued here until well on in April. Such weather had of course 
the effect of pushing the buds of Pear trees unusually forward. Fortu¬ 
nately, however, the frost which visited many districts was moderate 
here, little or no injury having been done to any fruit tre’es. Pears and 
Plums are setting good crops. Apples and Cherries are well clothed with 
blossom. Bush fruits in general are all looking remarkably well, with 
the exception of those in very exposed situations, where the embryo 
fruit has been blown off in large quantities. Gooseberries are a heavy 
crop. Peaches in unheated houses have set exceptionally heavy crops, 
and it will be necessary to remove about two-thirds of them. These 
trees, I am informed, are fifty years old or more, and are confined to 
borders 9 feet in breadth, including inside and outside. The young 
wood is consequently short and invariably well ripened, which is the 
sum and substance of success. Generous treatment in the form of 
liberal mulchings and no lack of moisture is necessary to the well-being 
of old trees such as those referred to. 
Early Vegetables. —William I. Peas, sown at the end of November, 
were in bloom on May 15tb, and also American Wonder, which was 
sown thickly in b xes in February, and planted out at the base of a 
sunny wall in March. The latter is in variety, which cannot be too 
highly valued for early work, especially in the north.— D. Mackie, 
Ayrshire. 
AN EXHIBITION OF ORCHIDS. 
Travellers describe the luxuriant vegetation of tropical regi ms in 
glowing terms, and are especially eloquent when descanting up in the 
beauties of the epiphytal Orchids which giace the stems and branches of 
giant trees with rich and curious flowers ; but could they by 7 any chance 
witness such a display a3 that provided by Mr. Bull in his Chelsea nursery 
at the present time, their descriptive powers would be severely tested to do 
it justice. Orchid producing countries in all parts of the •world have con¬ 
tributed representatives to this imposing Exhibition, bide by side are seen 
inhabitants of both the New and Old Worlds; flowers of enormous size in 
massive clusters, with others of smaller proportions in elegant light and 
feathery panicles appearing to float unsupported in the air; colours of 
almost every conceivable shade are there, from t! e deepest richest crimsons, 
brightest scarlets, and clearest yellows to the softest pink and purest white. 
The fresh green fronds of thousands of Adiantums and other Ferns impart 
an agreeable tone and foil to the brilliant tints of the Orchids, and the 
result is a display of wonderful magnificence. 
The house devoted to this Exhibition is span-roofed, 109 feet long and 
20 feet wide, with a central bed and two side stages, all being fiinged 
with Panicum intermedium, a variety w r ith much - furrowed green 
leaves, and long pendant shoots. In the central bed tall Alocasias 
and similar fine-foliage plants form a ridge, upon each side of wbjich are 
arranged the Orchids with Ferns, not in formal banks, but free and 
graceful, very few stakes being employed, no glaring harsh pots being 
visible--nothing, indeed, to offend the eye and mar the general effect. At 
each end of the house are mirrors, which prolong the vista indefinitely, 
and the visitor who is unacquainted with this device is amazed on entering 
to see what appear to be interminable banks of flowers. Thousands of 
spikes are expanded, including a great number of rare species and varie¬ 
ties ; but the useful and exquisitely beautiful Odontoglossum crispum 
(Alexandras) is largely predominant in abundant grand varieties no less 
than 1200 spikes having been counted, and their numbers are being 
increased daily. These are disposed throughout the house, but form a 
fine group at the end opposite to the entrance, where a handsome variety 
named purpureum is very noticeable for its symmetrical fotm and the 
rich purple tint suffusing the sepals, other forms having pure white 
blooms. Masdevallias are also strongly represented, nearly COO flowers 
being open, including many grand varieties of the M. ignea and 
M. Harryana types. Of the latter acanthifolia and magnifiea are very 
handsome ; but the brightest of all i3 one named Meteor, which is of a 
glowing crimson scailet unexcelled in the genus. 
Cattleyas are exctedingly rich aud imposing; about 150 flowers of 
C. Mendelli are expanded of many new and magnificent varieties. 
C. labiata is largely represented, the variety brilliantissima justifying its 
name by its wonderful colour ; the chaste C. maxima, C. Sanderiana, 
really beautiful, by far the finest variety we have seen, and scores of 
others. Another feature is the charming bank of Odontoglossum vcxil- 
larium facing the entrance to the house, where some dozens of plants are 
associated with Masdevallias. The former are much diversified, the 
flowers varying from pure white to the deep tints of roseum and rubrum. 
Album marginatum is peculiar but pretty, the sepals and petals edged 
with white ; tricolor having crimson, white, and yellow flowers. Cym- 
bidium Lowiauum and the dark-lipped variety atro-purpureum is in 
fine condition, a total of nearly twenty spikes being expanded, some 
exceedingly long. Oncidiums contribute largely to the beauty of the 
Exhibition, O. Marshallianum being remarkably fine, one plant with two 
panicles bearing 128 of its grand golden blooms. 
These ouly indicate the general features of the show, for scores of 
highly meritorious novelties might be enumerated. The following may, 
however, be mentioned as being in flower :—Lycaste Skinneri and its 
valuable variety alba, Epidendrum rhizopborum, Sobralia macrantha, 
Lycaste aromatica, Cypripedium lsevigatum, C. ciliolare, C. Stonei, 
Oncidium concolor in great abundance, Calanthe Dominii, Oncidiuin 
phymatochilum, O. citrosmum and the lovely variety carueum ; Odonto¬ 
glossum Ruckerianum, O. Wilckeanum albens (a lovely variety, white 
or white ground colour), the much-famed O. mulus, the striking O. 
hystrix, O. triumphant, O. gloriosnm and variety niveum, w 7 ith many 
other Masdevallia®, Deudrobiumq and Epidendrums which cannot now 
be particularised. 
The announcement in several daily papers of the death of 
Mr. T. Cranston of Hereford caused a rumour to be spread abroad 
to the effect that it was Mr. John Cranston of the King’s Acre Nurseries. 
On inquiry, however, we find that the deceased gentleman was Mr. 
Thomas Cranston of Pyon House, brother of the above, and very greatly 
respected in the district. He was proceeding alone in a dog cart to 
visit his farm at Newton Dillwyn, when it appears that in driving down 
a sharp bank a pin in one of the shafts gave way, throwing Mr. Cranston 
out and occasioning such injuries that he died shortly afterwards. The 
Hereford Times, in referring to the accident, remarks :—“ The news of 
the death of this well-known and greatly respected gentleman has 
thrown quite a gloom over the whole district. No man was more highly 
honoured or held in greater esteem by all classes than Mr. Cranston ( 
whose high aud sterling character, uniform hosDitality, and great kind¬ 
ness of heart were displayed in endless ways, endearing him to all who 
knew him, and winning the good opinion of all around him.” We are 
requested to add the following note from a correspondent who is engaged 
in the King’s Acre Nurseries :— 11 We are receiving no end of telegrams 
apd letters respecting the above sad occurrence. We (the employes, one 
and all), are truly thankful that our kind employer is still spared to us, 
and trust he may be for many years. I assure you those who know him 
best love him most.” 
- The National Rose Society’s annual report for the past 
season, with schedule of classes and shows for the present year, is now 
to hand. It gives the names and addresses of the members, a list of the 
affiliated societies, the names of the winners of the Society’s medals in 
1888, the financial report and full schedules of the Exhibitions to be held 
at South Kensington on July 1st, at Salisbury on July 9.h, and at 
Manchester on July 19th. With regard to the Kensington Show it may 
be remarked that all exhibits will be required to be ready for the 
Judges at 10 30 A.M., and the entrance for exhibitors will be at the 
back of the conservatory on the west side of the Royal Albert Hall. 
A new regulation is also appended, which states that “ none but members 
of the National Rose Socitty will be allowed to compete at this 
Exhibition.” 
-- Tobacco Juice or Tobacco Water.—T he public are often 
making inquiries as to how and where this juice can be procured 
(under the name of the London Tobacco Juice), very few knowing 
that a grant from the Hon. Board of Customs was allowed to Messrs. 
Corry & Soper of Shad Thames, London, S.E., in the year I860, for the 
purpose of extracting the juice from leaf tobacco for horticultural pur¬ 
poses, entirely free of duty, thereby enabling the public to get a strong 
article containing about 40 oz*. of leaf tobacco to every gallon for the 
sum of 2s. 6 d., being a great savmg on the ordinary tobacco water 
