388 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May 11, 1882. 
Vandas, Cattleyas, and Masdevallias, no large specimens are 
grown as in former days, but useful plants of moderate size, and 
mostly in small pots, are now the rule throughout the establish¬ 
ment. 
In the culture of Odontoglots and other cool-house Orchids 
the two chief points that are especially observed are providing a 
constantly liberal, yet not excessive, supply of water both to the 
plants and in the atmosphere, and never allowing the temperature 
to rise too high, especially in winter, when 40° is considered a safe 
minimum for all the coolest forms, and some have been wintered 
in a frame with no losses except where the lights were disturbed 
by the wind. There is no doubt that failures with this section of 
Orchids are often due to want of attention to these particulars, too 
much heat and insufficient moisture rendering the plants unhealthy, 
and subjecting them to the attacks of thrips and other insect pests. 
In what may be termed the “ growing ” house at Broomfield the 
plants are extremely healthy and clean, and it is worthy of remark 
they are all placed on thin sheets of iron raised about 6 inches 
above the level of the bed. These iron stages are an eighth of an 
inch or a little more in thickness, and are grooved diagonally upon 
the upper surface, these grooves serving the double purpose of con¬ 
veying the water from the base of the pots and yet holding suffi¬ 
cient moisture to ensure a continual cool humidity round the plants. 
These stages Mr. Warner has had in use for some years, and he 
speaks very highly of them, one great advantage being durability, 
and they are more easily cleaned than slate. A very useful 
“Orchid bath” is also used for dipping baskets or pans in. This 
is an ordinary hollow cylinder (like the body of a watering can) 
on wheels, with a handle attached to the front, by which it can 
be pulled along the paths of the house, and the plants dipped in 
succession without having to convey them any distance. A similar 
contrivance is employed in other establishments—in fact, some¬ 
thing of the kind is almost indispensable where the baskets or 
blocks are numerous. 
These few notes of a highly valuable and interesting collection 
of Orchids only indicate briefly the chief features, but they will 
serve to show that Mr. Warner has consistently followed an excel¬ 
lent method in forming his collections, and that, as with previous 
favourites, those now receiving attention are being thoroughly 
and satisfactorily studied. The healthy condition of the plants 
generally, it should be added, affords ample testimony as to the 
care they receive from the gardener, Mr. .J. Jarritt, who has had 
much experience with Orchids.—L. Castle. 
TOM PUTT APPLE—THE LATE STORM. 
Other readers of the Journal of Horticulture besides myself 
will, lam sure, feel indebted to “Wiltshire Rector” for the 
information which he has courteously given in reply to my in¬ 
quiry about the Apple Tom Putt. Possessing and valuing the 
volumes of the Journal for several years past, I have, at the 
Rector’s instance, referred to the very remarkable classification of 
Apples by Dr. Hogg in the number for March 9, 1876. The four 
pages devoted to this purpose are, if I may venture to say so, a 
monument of patient industry and of analytical and combining 
power of a high order. The essay is an admirable endeavour to 
raise the subject of pomology to the level, in precision and dignity, 
of similar systems of classification in botany and kindred sciences. 
Many readers of the Journal may, like myself, have overlooked 
the fact of its existence. To some such the careful study of it 
may be the means of curtailing the very numerous appeals now 
made to the Editor for aid in the diagnosis of an Apple in search 
of a name. 
It is curious to see, looking at past volumes, how irrepressible 
is the subject of Apples. It is always coming to the front, and 
in a very recent number of the Journal is an appeal for further 
contributions on the subject. 
It was my intention to have offered a few notes on the dessert 
Apples that have succeeded best here, in continuation of a recent 
communication about culinary Apples ; but I prefer to postpone 
them, in order to place on record some of the effects in this 
locality of the hurricane of south-west wind during the afternoon 
and evening of the 29th of April, because it may truly be said 
that, if such storms were to happen many times in the course of 
a life, they would render it simply impossible to grow fruit in the 
open air in places to which the wind had access. 
To give an idea of the force of this wind, I saw a strong man 
struggling in vain to walk a step against it. I say nothing of the 
numerous trees uprooted, particularly in the open lower country, 
because this is no unusual thing; but the disastrous effects are 
to be observed chiefly in the foliage of deciduous trees and shrubs 
of all kinds, with the exception, perhaps, of the Beech and the 
Ash, the latter with us not being yet in leaf. The hardy Oak, the 
Elder, the Hawthorn, the Privet, the young shoots of Laurel, the 
common bushes of the hedgerows, have their leaves and young 
shoots more or less completely blackened and destroyed. 
All the exposed branches of fruit trees, whether standard, 
pyramid, bush, cordon, or espalier, that happened to be in leaf, 
are affected, and the splendid prospect of a fruitful season is at 
an end. Trees on the west and south sides of walls have not 
escaped, those only being intact that lie on the north or east sides. 
Pears, aDd Plums, and early Apples have suffered most. Damson 
trees that were one day covered with fruit and green leaves pre¬ 
sent now the aspect of trees that had been severed from their roots 
and scorched. 
The leaves and shoots of the affected trees are turned black and 
shrivelled, and made brittle as if they had been burned. And, 
indeed, they have undergone the preliminary step in combustion 
as effectually as if done by fire. The leaves have not only been 
physically torn and bruised, but the large amount of water in 
their composition has been driven off by the violent current of air 
very much as it would have been in the early stage of burning. 
One of our men walking along the country near at hand says 
the leaves on the trees and hedgerows in colour and appearance 
look like dried tea leaves, and the analogy is obvious. 
Among vegetables, the early crop of Ringleader Peas just coming 
into blossom, although protected by sticks, is greatly damaged, 
and the early Mazagan Bean has many of its leaves blackened. I 
fear we may expect to hear sad accounts of destruction from the 
nurseries. 
I will conclude by saying that I have observed no instance, 
happily, of any injury to our Coniferous trees, of which we have a 
considerable variety.—A Surrey Physician. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
May 9th. 
This meeting was not characterised by exhibits of more than 
ordinary importance, and the new plants were not quite so largely 
represented as usual. The groups of plants were arranged in the 
western arcade owing to the preparations for a fancy bazaar in the 
conservatory. Messrs. W. Paul’s Roses, Mr. Salter’s Calceolarias, 
and the collections from Chiswick were of excellent quality, and 
formed the bulk of the display. 
Pruit Committee.— Henry Webb, Esq., in the chair. Messrs. 
Yeitch & Sons sent heads of Broccoli named Model, which were good, 
but not superior to other varieties. Mr. S. Ledsham, Tarvin Road, 
Chester, again exhibited his “ Latest of All ” Broccoli, which is a 
very handsome and well-protected Broccoli, and received a first- 
class certificate. Mr. R. Draper, The Gardens, Seaham Hall, Sun¬ 
derland, sent a new Broccoli, “Draper’s Selected,” and a Cucumber 
named Draper’s Prolific, both of which, though good, had no special 
merit. J. Southgate, Esq., Selborne, sent a seedling Cucumber which 
was passed. Messrs. Hurst & Son sent specimens of a variegated 
Broccoli of good quality, which was highly approved by the 
Committee as a decorative plant. Mr. T. Miles, Wycombe Abbey, 
sent two samples of Winter Spinach, which had been sown on the 
same date, one the common Prickly, and the other a new sort sent by 
Mr. Turner of Slough to show the distinct character of the latter, and 
its property of continuing the supply after the former has run to 
seed. The leaves are very large and thick, and the Committee were 
of opinion that it is the Monstrueuse Yiroflay. Mr. Divers, gardener, 
Wierton, Maidstone, sent a Rhubarb remarkable for its deep red 
colour throughout the leafstalk called Salt’s Crimson Perfection, 
which was highly approved, and was ordered to be included in the 
trial of Rhubarb which is to be made next season at Chiswick. Mr. 
R. Campbell, The Gardens, Oakmere Hill, Northwich, sent specimens 
of Buda Ivale called Asparagus Kale. Mr. Boias, gardener to H. 
Chandos Pole, Esq., Hopton, Wirksworth, sent fruit of President 
Strawberry of good size, but damaged in the carriage. Mr. Divers 
of Wierton sent specimens of Golden Knob, Gooseberry, Northern 
Greening, Hanwell Souring, and Erench Crab Apples, to which a 
letter of thanks was awarded. 
Floral Committee.— Rev. H. Harpur Crewe in the chair. Messrs. 
J. Veitch & Son, Chelsea, had a group of new and choice plants, 
including specimens of the fioriferous yellow-flowered Coronilla 
Emerus, which were very pretty ; Philadelphus coronarius var. tomen- 
tosus, bearing a large number of white flowers ; Yanda teres, flower¬ 
ing well; Pratia angulata, very neat, dwarf, with abundant white 
flowers. Fine baskets of Azalea pontica altaclerensis, and Eurybia 
Gunnii were also shown with several plants that were certificated. 
Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., Burford Lodge, Dorking (Orchid-grower, 
Mr. Spyers), sent several choice Orchids. Oncidium teretifolium, with 
large panicles of bright yellow flowers; Dendrobium Bensonae 
xanthinum, a pretty variety with white sepals and petals and an 
orange-blotched lip. Masdevallia rosea was also shown in flower, the 
blooms being small and not very attractive. A vote of thanks was 
accorded to Mr. C. Green, The Gardens, Pendell Court, Bletchingley, 
for flowers of Sobralia macrantha and Dendrobium thyrsiflorum. A 
similar award was also granted to Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, 
