426 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. c November 10 , isai. 
Orchids. Odontoglossum madrense has a charmingly fresh almond¬ 
like odour. Epidendrum yitellinum majus and E. prismato- 
carpum are pretty, and the true Cattleya labiata is opening two 
spikes of eight flowers. The plant of this is of the true old 
autumnal-blooming variety, having plump, long, smooth, fluted 
pseudo-bulbs and a double sheath, from which its stout flower- 
spike protrudes. Odontoglossum Alexandne, 0. Rossii majus, 
0. pulchellum majus, Oncidium cucullatum, and the winter-flow¬ 
ering Ltelias of the L. anceps section, are fast throwing up their 
bloom-spikes ; so also Calanthe Yeitchii, C. nivalis, and C. vestita. 
Dendrobium heterocarpum, D. nobile, and other species are also 
showing for bloom. Lady’s Slippers are a feature. C. Sedeni is 
nearly always in bloom. C. Harrisianum and C. villosum var. 
Boxalli are also coming into flower. The true C. insigne var. 
Maulei and the still more rare and lovely C. violaceum punctatum 
look^well, and will shortly become very effective.” 
- A week or two since we noted that the annual public 
Exhibition oe Chrysanthemums at Finsbury Park had been 
opened, and as the plants are now in excellent condition a better 
opportunity could not be chosen for visiting the collection. A 
great improvement is observable since last year both in the 
cultural results and the accommodation provided for the plants. 
A substantial span-roofed structure 100 feet long and 18 feet 
wide has been erected, with moveable lights, abundant means of 
ventilation at the sides, and two rows of small hot-water pipes 
(2 and 3-inch) are laid on each side, which when necessary assist 
in removing excessive moisture, or affording protection if the 
weather prove very severe. The plants are arranged in a bank 
in the centre, sloping to the sides with a path round, so that 
visitors can view the plants both individually and collectively. 
Eleven hundred plants are included in the house, representing 
about two hundred of the best varieties in cultivation. The 
blooms are abundant, and in the majority of instances very fine ; 
indeed many are quite up to exhibition standard in size, sub¬ 
stance, and quality, and there are several which it is doubtful if 
the most skilful dresser could improve. To enumerate all the 
varieties that are represented by really good blooms would occupy 
too much space, but the following are especially noteworthy— 
Refulgence, Prince and Princess of Wales, Bronze Jardin des 
Plantes, Golden George Glenny, White Globe, Barbara, Empress 
of India,' White Beverley, Julie Lagravere, President, Comte de 
Morny, Elaine, ^Le Negre, James Salter, Mons. Charles Hubert, 
Criterion, Gloire de Toulouse, Triomphe du Nord, La Nymphe, 
Mons. Crousse, The Cossack, La Charmeuse, and Bouquet Fait. 
As compensation for the liberality of the Board of Works, and 
the efforts made to render the Exhibition attractive by Mr. 
Cochrane and his assistants, it is satisfactory to state that its 
popularity is thoroughly established, and on Sunday last it is 
estimated that several thousands of visitors passed through the 
house. 
NOTES ON POTATOES. 
I think if a few more cultivators would follow Mr. Laxton’s 
example and give their experience, it would be both acceptable 
and useful, especially when it has reference to new varieties. I 
have tried a few of them this season, and the best I fiud is 
Suttons’ Beading Hero. I planted 7 lbs. of that variety, and the 
produce was 262 lbs. of good sound tubers grown without manure. 
I left them in the ground until the middle of October before 
lifting, and then they remained on the ground another fortnight 
before taking them in to weigh them. 
I am of opinion that no variety of Potato will retain a robust 
constitution with good quality more than ten years, consequently 
the public are very much indebted to the successful raisers of 
new varieties which combine quality, quantity, and disease-resist¬ 
ing properties. We can easily enumerate many good varieties, or 
rather what were good in their day, that are not reliable now, the 
Fluke for instance. Lapstone Kidney, an excellent and special 
favourite of mine, is now suffering from blindness and debility. 
Paterson’s Victoria is this year worthless with me, and many 
others are going the same way. And, again, what a mainstay was 
the Champion two years ago ; nothing withstood the wet, cold, 
sunless season like it. Magnum Bonum was in its infancy at 
that time, at all events with me, but last season and this there 
has been nothing to equal the Magnum Bonum here for general 
purposes. Now, I think, is the most convenient time for growers 
to give their experience for the public benefit ; but I am afraid 
many good gardeners, like cooks, consider the Potato beneath 
their notice.—C. A. Pearse, Grey's Court, Hcnley-on-Thamcs. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
November 8th. 
Visitors to this meeting, in what is usually regarded as one of 
the dullest months in the year, were no doubt somewhat surprised at 
the abundance of exhibits. Plants, fruit, and vegetables were all 
largely and well represented, the Council-room and vestibule being 
completely occupied. Both Committees were also well attended by 
the members, and the meeting was altogether highly satisfactory and 
interesting. The collections of vegetables staged in competition for 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons’ prizes also formed an important feature. 
Fruit Committee. —Harry J. Veitch, Esq., in the chair. Mr. J. 
Read, The Gardens, Moat Mount, Mill Hill, Hendon, sent six bunches 
of Lady Downe’s Grapes of moderate size but well coloured. A 
letter of thanks was awarded. Messrs. Carter & Co., High Holborn, 
staged samples of Carter’s Silver Globe Onions from the south of 
Europe. They were of moderate size and very even. Fine examples 
of the Giant Rocca Onion of Naples were also contributed. A letter 
of thanks was awarded. Mr. C. Ross, gardener to C. Eyre, Esq., 
Welford Park, Newbury, sent a green-fleshed Melon very neatly 
netted. Four varieties of seedling Apples, mostly small, were also 
staged. Mr. C. Howe, The Gardens, Benham Park, Newbury, had a 
good fruit of the scarlet-flesh Melon William I., well netted. Mr. 
Burnett, The Gardens, Deepdene, Dorking, exhibited a dish of 
Ecklinville Seedling Apple for comparison with Lane’s Prince Albert. 
Mr. J. Hudson, gardener to H. J. Atkinson,Esq., Gunnersbury House, 
Acton, sent two bunches of Alnwick Seedling Grape well coloured. 
A cultural commendation was awarded. Some fine Pears were sent 
by N. J. Vivian, Esq., Sion House, Longueville, Jersey. One dish 
of six Chaumontel weighed 7 lbs. G ozs. One fruit of this variety 
weighed 1 lb. 13 ozs., and was said by the exhibitor to be the heaviest 
Pear that has been grown in Jersey. Six fruits of Doyenne du 
Comice weighed 5 tbs. 10 ozs. A cultural commendation was awarded. 
Mr. Charles Turner, Slough, showed several seedling Apples, one of 
which was considered very promising’, and the Committee desired 
to see it again. Mr. T. Sells, The Apiary, Uffington, Stamford, sent 
a seedling Apple said to be ‘‘ of vigorous growth, a heavy cropper, 
good for cooking or keeping.” Mr. Valentine Richards, South V ool- 
ton Rectory, King’s Lynn, contributed eight samples of a seedling 
Apple gathered from a tree said to have been raised from seed and 
never grafted. The variety is said to keep well till April or May. 
A letter of thanks was accorded, but the Committee could not express 
an opinion as the fruit was unripe ; they wished to see it again. Mr. 
R. Nisbet, The Gardens, Aswarby Park, Folkingham, exhibited a 
dish of Beauty of Aswarby Apple very neat in form. Mr. Thomas 
Taylor, gardener to J. McIntosh, Esq., Duneevan, Weybridge, staged 
fine examples of the Apples Landsberger Reinette and Golden Noble. 
The former was characterised by the Committee very handsome, but 
they desired to see it again earlier next season. Mr. J. Roberts, 
gardener to the Baroness Rothschild, Gunnersbury Park, exhibited 
seven fine even fruits of Queen Pine Apples. A cultural commen¬ 
dation was awarded. Mr. J. Ollerhead, gardener to Sir H. Peek, Bart., 
Wimbledon House, exhibited a bunch of the new Grape Ollerhead’s 
White, which was not considered sufficiently distinct from Foster’s 
Seedling to merit an award. 
Messrs. H. Lane & Son, Great Berkhamsted, were awarded a first- 
class certificate for their seedling Apple Prince Albert, which has been 
now tried for some years, and is considered by several growers to be 
one of the finest culinary Apples. The fruits are of good size, varying 
considerably in shape, green or yellowish, with streaks or a suffusion 
of red on the side exposed to the sun. They are remarkably solid 
and heavy. 
In the vestibule the following collections were staged. Mr. T. 
Mainwaring, Marl Place, Brenchley, Kent, was awarded a bronze 
medal for a fine collection of 113 varieties of Apples, but many 
wrongly named. Mr. W. Skinner, Beresfords, Maidstone, was awarded 
a silver Knightian medal for a large and very handsome collection of 
Apples, comprising a hundred dishes, most of the fruits being in fine 
condition. Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading, had large collections of 
Potatoes and Kales, for which a silver Knightian medal was awarded. 
Messrs. Veitch & Son were awarded a bronze medal for a collection of 
about a dozen varieties of Celery and a large number of Turnips. 
Mr. Ollerhead sent a sample of his Amateur’s Friend boiler formed 
of inch pipes to constitute a boiler and firegrate combined. It was 
about a foot square, and was stated to be capable of heating 70 to 
80 feet of 4-inch piping. 
Messrs. Suttons’ Special Prizes. —The competition in all these 
classes was very keen, and the exhibits generally of fine quality. 
