36 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 13, 1882. 
an imported variety sold under the name of C. gigas Sandersiana, 
which, judging from the old flower seats, has borne as many as 
nine blooms on a spike. This will be anxiously looked for when 
established in this country. C. Harrisoniana is producing its 
beautiful rose-coloured blossoms, and is always a welcome addition 
to the Cattleya house when grown well. We find it succeeds best 
with a good drainage of charcoal and crocks, with good knobs of 
rough fibrous peat placed on the top, and grown in a light posi¬ 
tion at the warmest end of the house, with a moderate supply 
of water. 
Lselia grandis, with its beautiful nankeen-coloured flowers 
lasting a long time in bloom, and Lselia Schilleriana bearing 
lovely flowers with rosy white sepals and petals and dark purple 
lip, are blooming freely. L. crispa is pushing its flowers up the 
sheaths, promising a rich display shortly of its large pure white 
crimson-lipped blossoms, which are doubly invaluable from their 
being deliciously scented. 
Maxillaria grandiflora is nearly always in bloom. In cases 
where parties have a few specimens of this beautiful Orchid they 
are hardly ever without one of its large snow-white purple-lipped 
flowers. M. luteo-alba is now handsome with its large creamy 
white blossoms. Mesospinidium vulcanicum is producing its fine 
spikes of numerous pretty fiery red blooms, and makes a lovely 
basket plant. 
The cool house is still rich with the pure white crispy flowers 
of Odontoglossum Alexandras, the yellow purple-spotted blooms 
of 0. astranthum, the curious green and brown blossoms of O. 
bictoniense, the citron-scented rosy-white blooms of 0. citrosmum, 
the chocolate-barred greenish-yellow of O. cordatum, the brown- 
spotted delicate white of 0. Ehrenbergii, the sweet-scented green¬ 
ish-yellow and purple flowers of 0. lasve, the crimson-sprinkled 
pure white of 0. nasvium, the snow white brown-clouded blooms 
of 0. nebulosum, the delicate rosy white of 0. Pescatorei, the 
white-lipped yellow-coloured blossoms of O. radiatum, the fragrant 
milky white purple-spotted flowers of 0. Roezlii, the lovely lake- 
carmine of O. roseum, the reddish-coloured white-lipped bloom9 
of 0. rubescens, the straw-coloured 0. Schlieperianum, and the 
large delicate-coloured flowers of 0. vexillarium. 
Promenasa stapelioides.—This curious little Orchid looks well 
now with its greenish-yellow purple-lipped flowers, and does well 
in pans with sphagnum and rough fibrous peat, and grown near 
the glass. 
Thunia alba.—This free-flowering plant is attractive with its 
beautiful pure white blooms, as is also Thunia Bensonias with its 
large bright magenta blossoms. These do best in baskets with 
sphagnum, peat, and sand, and kept close to the glass, with a 
plentiful supply of water.— Orchidist. 
WEATHER FORECASTS. 
I was pleased to see in the “Notes and Gleanings” column the 
quotation of Mr. Fawcett concerning the advisability of gratuitous 
weather forecasts by telegraph to agriculturists, because it offers 
an opening for a few remarks on the subject. As Mr. Fawcett 
evidently realises, the farmers are not alone interested in the 
possible state of the weather, but the followers of other profes¬ 
sions, more especially that of gardening, would be equally glad of 
reliable information day by day. Unfortunately the weather 
forecasts as given in the daily papers are anything but reliable. 
Science is working wonders in all directions—more so, indeed, 
than many of us realise ; but I am afraid it will never be suffi¬ 
ciently advanced to forecast the weather in any particular district. 
For that reason I advise all concerned to study the local signs and 
indicators, and to found their decisions on these rather than to 
rely upon those who can only give general information extending 
over a large area, such as the “ south-western counties.” 
Thunderstorms at this time of the year we most dread, and 
what can our oracles tell us concerning these ? Take for instance, 
out of the many I could adduce, the forecast for “ England S.W. 
and South Wales,” in which we are included, on Monday, June 
26th. This was “ Southerly to south-westerly winds, moderate ; 
cloudy to fair.” On that date we experienced three hours’ heavy 
thunder rain, while within seven miles in one direction a cricket 
match was not hindered in the least, and the same phenomenon 
occurred in various parts of the country. The forecast in this 
instance was actually misleading, and I maintain they are gene¬ 
rally vague and unreliable, comparing most unfavourably with a 
good barometer. One of these ought to be seen in every farmer’s 
and gardener’s house, and when thoroughly understood—I mean 
with regard to their indications—would prove invaluable. With 
its help the farmer would better know what to do with his hay 
and corn, and the gardener at this time of the year whether to be 
planting Celery, Broccoli, and other plants throughout the day, or 
to prepare for fruit-picking, hoeing, and similar work necessarily 
or best performed on a dry day. 
I possess a “ wheel ” barometer, and am also provided with a 
“cistern” barometer, and seldom decide upon any important 
work without consulting one or both of these. The former—which 
I consider the most serviceable, as by tapping its movements are 
anticipated—is hung on the outside wall of the living-room, and 
in this position it is more sensitive. No doubt this position causes 
a greater range, but this is immaterial, as I do not trouble to con¬ 
trast the figures with those given by the qualified authorities. 
The cistern barometer is hung where barometers are generally 
disposed—viz., in the front hall; but I best understand the move¬ 
ments and indications of the dial-faced cistern, and generally 
depend upon that alone. Even in the case of a barometer it is 
difficult to formulate a general rule for the guidance of those i 
interested, as so much depends upon the locality. I find a falling 
barometer does not always indicate wet, or the opposite move¬ 
ment fair weather, as we may experience heavy rains with the 
indicator or mercury, as the case may be, at 29 5 and much dull, 
if dry, weather at 30 4. Last winter the indications were remark¬ 
ably abnormal; but, as a rule, by smartly tapping the barometer 
in the morning I can almost feel certain if the weather will be 
dull yet fine, showery, very wet, or clear and bright, and more 
than this I do not believe science will furnish. As a matter of 
fact, much has to be determined by the direction of the wind, and 
it must also be known from what quarter the most rain generally 
comes. Given a good barometer, and farmers and others need not 1 
solicit any aid from the Government. On July 1st the weather 
forecast reads “ England S.W. and South Wales, north-westerly 
breezes, light; fine.” This was right enough with regard to the 
direction of the wind, but two hours’ thunder rain commencing 
about 1 p.m. was not agreeable to the haymakers or consistent 
with the forecast.—W. Iggulden, Mansion, Frome. 
THE BEST ROSE IN THE SHOW. 
To look for this is now the concluding act at almost every Rose 
show, and it reaches its climax at the meetings of the National Rose 
Association. To find this on July 4th was no easy matter, as the 
Roses were a trifle past their best, and July 1st had perhaps seen that 
in southern England. There was no Rose of surpassing excellence 
like the A. K. Williams of 1880, which settled the matter at once. 
The Rev. H. H. D’Ombrain, as usual, was equal to the occasion, * 
and, assembling round him his array of Judges in the beautiful 
conservatory of the South Kensington Gardens, dispatched no less 
than four through the corridors on this special errand. We agreed 
to go two and two by different ways to note down what we found, 
and compare when we met, and this year the nurserymen quite 
beat the amateurs. The tables of the last three years were com¬ 
pletely turned. The “great twin brothers” of former Rose shows 
were gone, and their places were still empty. One of them as a 
judge might still be seen flitting round the scene of his former 
triumphs, but too well-known circumstances prevented even the 
appearance of one other champion ; nor had we even the genial 
presence and weighty battalion of our President, even though 
he was represented by his Vice, Mr. George Baker of Reigate. 
When Mr. Mount and myself met Mr. Cuthell and Mr. Sladden 
both had found the best Tea in the Exhibition, and, as might be ex¬ 
pected, it was Souvenir d’Elise Vardon. They were almost equal, 
but Mr. Cant’s carried the day through a graceful bud and better 
foliage. The Noisettes were again, as usual, not satisfactory. No 
Marshal Niel really worthy of its name was in the Exhibition. 
A wonderfully good Narcisse was found, but what is Narcisse 
even at its best ? Then a singularly fine Triomphe de Rennes ap¬ 
peared in Mr. Walker of Thame’s box, and gained the medal, 
though far inferior to many of the Teas. A Catherine Mermet in 
Mr. Cuthell’s prize box of twelve Teas and a Madame Lambard 
elsewhere at one time were considered likely. 
But now came the difficulty to find the best Hybrid Perpetual. 
Several Gabriel Luizets claimed our attention. A very fine La 
France was discovered in the “ never won a prize before ” class, 
where, I may remark, were several boxes that might have been 
expected to do battle in the open six, and were quite out of place 
amongst their feebler brethren. Then an Annie Wood in Mr. 
Baker’s box, and especially an A. K. Williams in a grand box of 
twelve, which were shown in the open class. One of these and a 
magnificent Alfred Colomb were compared for five minutes with¬ 
out any decision. At last we gravitated irresistibly to the very 
eighteen box of Mr. Cant’s, in which we had found Souvenir 
d’Elise (certainly the best eighteen Roses together in the Show), 
and there was the Gabriel Luizet we had admired, getting more 
beautiful every moment, and fairly taking the honours of the 
