272 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 21, 1882. 
sent long distances without the slightest injury if properly packed. 
To add to its other good qualities, the bunches hang for a long 
time before shrivelling. 
As to its fruitfulness, perhaps it would interest some of your 
readers to know the results obtained from Vines that were struck 
from buds here in the spring of 1880, and planted out permanently 
4 feet apart in May of the same year. The house in which they 
are planted in a large span-roofed vinery, some 60 feet long, 
24 feet wide, and about 20 feet high, divided in the centre by a 
glass partition. 
The first year the Vines grew to the top of the house, made strong 
canes, and ripened them thoroughly to the core. In the autumn 
they were pruned to within 5 feet of the ground ; the wood was 
as hard as a bone, and scarcely any pith discernible. In the 
following spring, 1881, the Vines were a long time in starting, 
and broke weakly at first, but after a little they advanced 
vigorously, and three canes were allowed to grow from each to 
the top of the house. My idea for allowing the three canes to 
grow was that they would not be so strong if I only left two— 
the number required to fill the house—and that they would break 
better the following year on that account. By the autumn they 
made very strong canes again, and ripened the wood well. At 
pruning time one of the canes on each Vine was cut off close to 
the main stem, except the end Vine, which required the three to 
fill the space. The remaining canes were allowed to retain from 
5 to 6 feet each of young wood. In the spring of the present 
year the Vines broke well, showing from two to three large 
bunches on each shoot. These were reduced to eight or nine 
bunches to each Vine, which they ripened and finished off tho¬ 
roughly, many of the bunches weighing 3 and 4 lbs. each, and 
none of them less than 2 lbs. The Vines have made strong canes 
this season, which are thoroughly ripened and as brown as a nut, 
and none of them seems the least weakened or exhausted by 
finishing their heavy crop. 
In conclusion I might say, a dry border, and a cool and dry 
atmosphere is recommended by some noted Grape-growers when 
the fruit is ripe. For my own part I prefer to water the borders 
when they need it, and I never allow them to get dry at any time. 
The house is regularly damped down in good weather whether the 
fruit is ripe or not. It is seldom that ever I have a decayed berry 
in the house, and they do not shrivel up so fast under this treat¬ 
ment. The leaves keep much longer green and healthy than they 
do when treated otherwise.— A. Pettigrew, Castle Gardens, 
Cardiff. 
[A fine well-shaped 4 lb. bunch of Foster’s Seedling accom¬ 
panied this communication. The berries are full-sized, admirably 
finished, and the best flavoured examples of this variety we have 
yet tasted.] 
On jthe opening day of the International Exhibition 
that was held at Edinburgh last week (which is fully reported 
in our present issue) the weather was very fine, and we learn 
that upwards of 15,000 visitors attended the Show. On the second 
day, which was very wet, especially in the afternoon, when the 
rain fell heavily and continuously, about the same number visited 
the Exhibition. The charge for admission during the whole of 
the first day was Is., the second day 6d., and the amount received 
during the two days was about £1060, which is in excess of the 
amount derived from the great show of 1875, when the prices for 
admission were higher. 
- On the second day of the above Show Messrs. Smith and 
Dewar sold by auction at their rooms in George Street, Edinburgh, 
collections of specimen Orchids, the property of Dr. Alexander 
Paterson, Bridge of Allan, and of Mr. F. Sander, St. Albans. 
There was a large attendance of buyers, including some from the 
Continent, and good prices were realised. In Dr. Paterson’s col¬ 
lection was a magnificent specimen of Cattleya labiata Warneri, 
measuring 27 inches across, with seventy-nine bulbs, sixty of 
which had leaves, sold for 45 guineas. This plant was in the first 
collection of Orchids belonging to the late Provost Eussel of May¬ 
field. The following are among the highest prices obtained for 
plants in this lot:—Cattleya labiata, 39 guineas ; C. Trianse Symei, 
ten bulbs, all with leaves, 39 guineas ; Dendrobium thyrsiflorum 
Walkerianum, 37 guineas ; Aerides Fieldingii, 25 guineas ; C. 
Mendeli, 27 guineas ; Laelia anceps Barkeri, 26 guineas; Vanda 
tricolor Patersonii, 21, 16, 14, 13, and 10 guineas ; Vanda suavis, 
21, 19, and 16 guineas ; Laclia superbiens, 20 guineas ; Anthurium 
Schertzerianum, 20 guineas ; Angrmcum sesquipedale, 18 guineas ; 
Aerides suavissimum, 17 and 11 guineas ; Odontoglossum vexil- 
larium, 15 guineas; Epidendrum prismatocarpum, 11 guineas; 
and Chysis bractescens, 10 guineas. The proceeds of the sale 
amounted, we believe, to about £800—a wonderful result when 
it is considered that the plants were grown in three small houses 
not averaging more than 20 feet long and 12 feet wide, and were 
merely duplicate plants, removed to afford space to the smaller 
and remarkably healthy specimens with which the houses are quite 
sufficiently filled now. Thus Orchid-growing, besides being a 
delightful and fascinating pursuit, is also profitable when carried 
out intelligently and well. Dr. Paterson employs no gardener, 
but pots and attends to the plants himself as agreeable recreation, 
a woman being engaged to keep them clean. Clean they cer¬ 
tainly are and healthy, and, as the owner avers, are more easily 
grown than greenhouse plants. We shall probably be able to 
publish more relative to Dr. Paterson’s collection and garden 
generally on a future occasion. 
- Mr. E. S. Dodwell, Stanley Hoad, Oxford, being unable 
from ill health to remain in active business, announces that he 
intends devoting himself entirely to the cultivation of the Car¬ 
nation And Picotee. He deeply feels the kindness and con¬ 
sideration shown to him in former years, and in offering the pre¬ 
sent selection of fine seedlings to his friends and fellow-lovers of 
floriculture he refers with proud satisfaction to the high position 
the varieties raised by him have already taken—a position he con¬ 
fidently believes which will be sustained and enhanced by those 
now offered. The complete set will be sent for £4 4s., or twelve 
pairs, Mr. Dodwell’s selection, for 50s. All transactions cash. 
Post orders are requested to be made payable at the General Post 
Office, Oxford. Cheques crossed “London and County Bank, 
Oxford.” Purchasers of quantities will be very liberally dealt 
with. Plants ready from the first week in October. A priced 
list of the varieties is issued. 
- Messrs. Osborn & Sons, The Sunbury Nurseries, S.W., 
forward us sample of labels made of a patent material called 
Lincrusta, resembling indiaruber which they state is “imper¬ 
vious to wet, frost, or any kind of weather. A piece of the 
material has been exposed now for about two years, and is still 
intact. They can be produced at 4s. per hundred, showing the 
names in relief, and in the various forms of hanging labels.” 
They appear to be adapted for the purpose ; the names being shown 
in relief are easily read ; and if they prove really durable their 
utility cannot be too highly estimated. 
- “ B. E.” writes respecting Schizanthuses :—“ It is not 
yet too late to sow a few seeds of Schizanthus pinnatus, S. retusus, 
S. retusus alba, Sec., for spring decoration. The seed should be 
sown in pots or pans, placed in a cold frame, and kept close for a 
few days until the seedlings appear ; afterwards free ventilation 
is needed. The plants will be ready to prick off in about a week 
or ten days after they appear. Prick them singly into thumb 
pots and pot on as they require it, the final shift being into 5 or 
6 -inch pot*. Winter the plants in a dry pit or house free from 
frost. Treated in this way Schizanthus are extremely useful for 
spring work. Sweet Scabious, Cornflower (Centaurea Cyanus) 
treated the same way are also very useful.” 
-We are desired to state that at the recent Preston Show 
the only first-prize silver medal given for seeds was awarded to 
