JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
384 
[ May 11, 1882. 
Andersonianum ; Dendrobium Ajax, D. Pierardi, D. crassinode 
Barberianum, D. Devonianum, D. primulinum, D. transparens ; 
Brassia verrucosa, Epidendrum crassifolium, Lycaste aromatica, 
Maxillaria Harrisonire, Mesospinidium vulcanicum, Masdevallia 
ochthoides, Maxillaria tenuifolium; Odontoglossum cordatum, 
O. vexillarium, O. citrosmum, 0. citrosmum roseum, 0. trium- 
phans, O. Alexandra, 0. Rossi; Oncidium concolor, 0. sphace- 
latum, 0. cucullatum, 0. cucullatum giganteum ; Stanhopea ti- 
grina. Mr. Smee has only recently given special attention to 
Orchids, and is rapidly forming a good collection, the plants being 
undeniably well cultivated by Mr. Cummins. Mr. Smee is also 
conducting experiments in growing some of the plants on blocks 
coated with Stockholm tar, and so far with satisfactory results ; 
but more time is needed for fully testing the advantages of the 
practice. 
- In' two of the dells of the above interesting garden 
Todeas have not only passed the winter safely, but are producing 
vigorous fronds. Each plant is protected with a square box, in 
which a pane of glass is fixed in a groove so as to fit closely yet 
be easily moveable. No additional shelter is given, and the plants 
are in excellent health. 
-The Northern Show of the National Auricula 
Society, held in the Town Hall, Manchester, on the 2nd inst., 
although not so large as the southern exhibition, was highly 
meritorious. Mr. Bolton, Warrington, secured the chief prize 
in the class for six plants ; Mr. Wilson of Halifax being first for 
four varieties, and Mr. Simonite for two plants. In the single¬ 
plant classes Mr. Pohlman, Halifax, had the premier green edge, 
Lancashire Hero, and the premier grey edge, Alex. Meiklejohn ; 
Mr. Lord, Todmorden, staging the premier white edge, Acme, 
and Mr. Simonite the premier self, Mrs. Douglas. The premier 
Auricula in the Show could not be determined, the claims 
of Alex. Meiklejohn staged by Mr. Wilson, and Lancashire 
Hero by Mr. Barlow, being adjudged equal for that honour. 
The most successful exhibitors of Alpines were Messrs. Booth, 
Shaw, and Gorton, and of Polyanthuses Messrs. Beswick and 
Barlow. This is all we are able to extract from a report that 
only reached us just as we were going to press. For the mis¬ 
cellaneous exhibits in the Town Hall the following awards were 
made:—First-class cultural certificates to Mr. Ryland for Adi- 
antum palmatum, to Mr. Agnew for Deutzia gracilis, to Mr. 
Brockbank for Iberis gibraltarica, and to Mr. Perkins for cut 
Pelargoniums. First-class commendations were granted to Mr. 
Schloss for Rudgea macrophylla, to Mr. Rogerson for Calceolarias, 
and to Messrs. Standish and Rylands for groups of plants. 
-A Herefordshire correspondent writes as follows 
on Finochio :—“ The introduction of the ‘ Finochio ’ as a winter 
vegetable into this country would be very desirable, but unfor¬ 
tunately there is a difficulty in growing it. I have sowed seed of 
it several times at different periods of the year, but in many 
instances the plants ran to seed immediately. Perhaps the 
market gardeners would know how to overcome this difficulty. 
In Italy the Finochio is grown as we grow Celery.” 
-At the ordinary meeting of the Meteorological So¬ 
ciety, to be held at 25, Great George Street, Westminster, on the 
17th inst. at 7 p.m., the following papers will be read :—“ On the 
Diurnal Variation of Wind and Weather in Relation to Isobaric 
Lines,” by the Hon. Ralph Abercromby, F.M.S. “ Mechanical 
Conditions of Storms, Hurricanes, and Cyclones,” by W. F. 
Stanley, F.M.S., F.R.M.S. 
- Writing in “ The Gardener,” “ F. W. B.” observes :— 
“ Every gardener knows, or thinks he knows, Phala^nopsis 
GRAndiflora, but how few there are who can now boast of a 
specimen of the true old variety from Java. In habit and mode 
of flowering it is quite distinct from the ‘ Bornean ’ form, and in 
every way—except perhaps the form of the individual flowers—it 
is far preferable. It has a better constitution, and so is hardier 
than are the Bornean varieties ; indeed it may be grown alongside 
P. Schilleriana, while the Bornean plant absolutely requires a 
mean of at least 5° higher, and is not often happy even when it 
gets it ! A strong plant of the Javanese variety will commence 
to bloom in March, and continue in flower until October. Easily 
known by its thick dark green leaves and dark green flower 
spikes, a plant of it even to look at is rarely to be found 
now-a-days ! ” 
THE GALE OF APRIL 29th. 
The terrible wind and rain storm of the 29th ult. is worthy of, 
and will doubtless meet with, notice in your columns. I do not 
ever remember seeing such devastation wrought amongst vege¬ 
tation. In this district of Mid-Surrey no great damage has been 
done, and not many trees blown down, but the aspect of vegetation 
on the side from which the storm came is forlorn in the extreme. 
The Chestnut trees have suffered especially ; so blackened and 
withered are the leaves and flowers on the storm side in all un¬ 
sheltered places that it seems doubtful whether they can ever 
revive through the summer. The contrast between the storm- 
beaten and other side of trees is most remarkable. Even the 
bushes of Currant and Gooseberry bear considerable traces of 
damage, the very weeds and Nettles by the wayside are blackened. 
Some of the daily papers have spoken of severe frost coming after 
the storm. I observed nothing of the kind here ; my lowest read¬ 
ing at the time being 35° and 36°, and am inclined to attribute all 
to the strange bitterness of the gale, and the cutting blast of hail 
during one portion of it. 
A common inquiry at this time in the Rose articles is, “ How 
does your garden grow ? ” It will be interesting to have noted 
what effect the excessive damaging of the present foliage will have 
on the coming blooms. My standards could hardly look worse, 
but then the few that came out of the winter of 1880-81 would 
naturally look miserable in May. In all sheltered places bloom 
buds are just opening, and I gathered yesterday (May 2nd), a very 
fair specimen of T. Rubens on a south-east wall. In general I 
should not say that the growth is quite what might have been 
looked for after so favourable a winter. Some newly planted 
varieties have died without any particular reason, especially, as I 
hear elsewhere, A. K. Williams, which is very disappointing in 
so fine a variety. The foliage in all exposed places is looking 
miserable in the extreme, but in more sheltered gardens the 
damage is much less serious. 1 have just had an opportunity of 
going over the model Rose garden of the well-known Reigate 
Vice-President of the National Rose Society. His two thousand 
plants look as if no unkind blast could ever have come nigh them ; 1 
they are not too forward m spite of his end of February pruning, 
and look as healthy, both H.P.’s and Teas, as could be desired. 
There has been a strange dying-off just in one part of some newly 
planted on the Manetti, but the seedling Briar plants are all that 
could be wished by the fondest parent. Mr. Baker has also several j 
beds of Roses on their own roots from his striking, which look as 
w T ell, and, 1 am informed, give as good blooms as any of the others. 
The Reigate Rose Association have to regret his retirement from 
the place of President; he is succeeded by T. B. Haywood, Esq.— 
A. C. 
We have had three great gales here within five years. One ! 
October 14th, 1877 ; the second on the same day in 1881 ; and an 
equally severe one last Saturday, April 29th. Elms fell by hun¬ 
dreds in this district, many within a circle of a mile round this 
house. The larger fruit trees are much broken, and the blossom 
greatly damaged. Even the tops of my pyramids are stripped of 
leaves, or only black fragments remain. I fear the fruit crop 
will be much injured as well as lessened.— Wiltshire Rector. j 
QUEEN WASPS. 
My first impressions on reading the remarks of “ Duckwing” 
(page 2G0) were that he was attempting a hoax. He is bound now, 
I think, to give us better data for his ideas (so opposed to received 
notions) than he has yet done. At present it seems to me we have 
only his own assertion, without the shadow of a proof. It needs 
more than this to upset the present received opinions—I had nearly 
written facts. 
It is perfectly true that much less is known about wasps than 
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