September 28, 1882. 1 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 
295 
Another large depa’ tment passed through was the grass seed houses. 
Here there were various machines at work, more or less different, but 
all devoted to sifting and cleaning, so as to secure a perfect sample. 
No wonder after such elaborate machinery, care, and expense the good 
article should be somewhat dearer. Subsequently I was introduced 
to the grass seed testing house, right up at the top, several storeys 
high. Here were several hundred specimen pots crowded with young 
lawn and farm grasses at several stages of development. This system 
gives firms enormous confidence as to what they send out. Conve¬ 
nient were the testing shelves for the more important farm and garden 
seeds, all of which were germinating strongly at a great elevation. 
Adjoining was a catering department where this firm entertain little 
short of a hundred of their employes on advantageous terms to them 
and with much thoughtful attention. At every turn the visitor is 
struck by the energy, rapidity, and despatch observed, without noise 
and without confusion, not less striking being the mechanical 
appliances for diminishing labour and curtailing expense. "Very in¬ 
teresting just now were the bulb rooms. The first consignment from 
the Dutch farms had just arrived in splendid condition, and scores of 
hands were employed packing. We passed through the several flower 
and vegetable seed stores, on through the green crop and grain depart¬ 
ments. I cannot now ask further space, except for a line thanking 
the employes of the firm, but especially the manager, for the courtesy 
extended to a stranger such as was— W. J. M., Clonmel. 
In accordance with the project described some time ago in 
these columns by Mr. J. Perkins, gardener to Lord Henniker, 
Thornham Hall, Eye, Suffolk, a Garden Fete was held in 
Thornham Park recently in aid of the Gardeners’ Royal 
Benevolent Institution. Most unfortunately the weather proved 
extremely unfavourable, and in consequence the attendance of 
visitors was not nearly so large as it would otherwise have been, 
especially as a great variety of attractions was provided. The 
total receipts amounted to about £71, but it is not yet stated how 
large a balance will remain in favour of the Society when all 
expenses are paid. Despite this rather discouraging result Mr. 
Perkins deserves much credit for the energy he has displayed in 
the matter, and the generosity of Lord Henniker will no doubt be 
duly appreciated by friends of the Society. 
- In the Orchid house at Kew a very pretty little species 
is now flowering—namely, Laslia monophyllum, which was re¬ 
ceived a short time since as a species of Pleurothallis, some of which 
it resembles to a certain extent in habit, but is totally distinct in 
its flowers. These are of moderate size, about 1| inch in dia¬ 
meter, with elliptical slightly undulated sepals and petals of a 
rich orange scarlet hue, very similar to Epidendrum vitellinum. 
The leaves are narrow and only a few inches high, the peduncles 
slightly exceeding them in length. Its dwarf habit would appa¬ 
rently well adapt it for culture in small pans suspended from the 
roof, especially as the flowers have a partial drooping inclination. 
It is said to be from Jamaica, but is probably not confined to 
that island. 
- Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, send us several 
distinct and handsome varieties of Sunflowers, which, quite 
apart from their aesthetic interest just now, possess qualities well 
entitling them to notice. Some very popular names have been 
selected for them, foremost being “Oscar Wilde,” and we should 
think the variety so designated would undoubtedly commend 
itself to the taste of the gentleman whose name it bears. The 
flowers are rather above the ordinary size, about 8 inches in 
diameter, v\ ith bold pointed florets of a fine clear orange hue, very 
showy, but symmetrical. Closely related to this is one named 
Mr. Charles Matthews, very similar in all respects, but perhaps 
slightly less refined. Lord Dundreary is a noble variety, with 
the broad florets closely placed, and of a rich yellow tint. Sarah 
Bernhardt is of good size, fully 8 inches in diameter, the 
centre florets light colour, and the ray florets bright yellow and 
shady. iEstheticus, also a fine-flowered form, has the centre dis¬ 
proportionately large, and scarcely merits its name. Two fine 
samples of the large double quilled form, H. globulosus fistulosus, 
are also noteworthy, the size, substance, and rich colour being 
very striking. 
- Prominent amongst the smaller-flowered varieties is Mrs. 
Langtry, which might be termed an Oscar Wilde on a smaller 
scale, of rather lighter colour, but graceful. Mr. Sothern also has 
neat flowers, the bright yellow ray florets being very regular and 
tapering. Specimens of the double Helianthus multiflorus, an 
exceedingly useful plant for borders, and Helenium autumnale, 
another fine Sunflower-like late-blooming Composite of moderate 
height and extremely profuse-flowering habit, were included, and 
equally deserve attention. 
- Accompanying the above were several samples of two 
useful bedding Dahlias, Glare of the Garden and the White 
J UARezi. The former we have previously noted as remarkable 
alike for its floriferousness and the intensely rich deep scarlet 
colour of the flowers ; indeed, as grown at Swanley it is literally 
a mass of colour, most telling in association with lighter tints. 
The White Juarezi also appears to be very free and pure in colour. 
- The Woolhope Naturalists’ Field Club will hold 
the last field meeting of the year at Hereford on Thursday, 
October 5th, for a foray among the funguses, when the Club will 
be honoured by the company of many distinguished mycologists. 
There will be an exhibition of funguses in the museum room at 
the Free Library, and an evening meeting will be held there on 
Wednesday evening, October 7th, to name and study them. Any 
collections for exhibition should be sent to Mr. Chapman, at the 
Free Library, as early on Tuesday or Wednesday as may be con¬ 
venient to the members sending them. The foray will be made 
on Credenhill Camp. A short paper will be read in the field by 
Dr. Bull on “ Credenhill Camp—Magna Castra.” A meeting of 
the members will be held in the Woolhope Club room, imme¬ 
diately after arrival in Hereford, to elect the officers for the 
ensuing year, and to transact the ordinary business of the Club, 
The dinner will take place at the Green Dragon Hotel at 4.30 p.m , 
when some edible funguses will be served, cooked from the Club 
receipts. An evening reception will be held at the house of Thos. 
Cam, Esq., St. Owen Street, at 8 p.m., to which he invites all who 
may be present at the meeting. After dinner, or at the evening 
meetings, papers will be read on the following subjects :—“Puff- 
Balls,” by M. C. Cooke, M.A., LL.D., &c. ; “ The Meaning of 
British Birds’ Names,” by Henry T. Wharton, M.A., Oxon, F.Z.S., 
Member of the British Ornithologists’ Union, See. ; “ The Brecon¬ 
shire Raptores,” by Mr. E. Cambridge Phillips ; “A Revised List 
of British Discomycetes, with some Suggestions as to their Classi¬ 
fication ; and on the Polymorphism of Rhytisma Radicale, Cite," 
by Mr. Wm. Phillips, F.L.S., &c.; “A New British Yenturia, and 
Notes on Gloeocapsa sanguinsea,” by the Rev. J. E. Yize, M.A. ; 
“ Experiments on the Physiology of the Uredines, and on the 
Classification of Uredines,” by Mr. C. B. Plowright; “ The Struc¬ 
ture and Appearance of Lichen Jolithus, Linn.," by Mr. Edwin 
Lees, F.L.S., &c. A series of enlarged microscopic drawings, by 
Miss Florence M. Reid ; and a collection of other interesting 
microscopic objects will be exhibited by Mr. Blashill, the Presi¬ 
dent. Gentlemen intending to be present are requested to send 
their names to the Secretary, Theophilus Lane, Broomy Hill, on 
or before Monday, October 2nd, that all proper arrangements 
may be made for their comfort. 
- Mr. T. White, gardener to C. N. Newdegate, Esq., M.P., 
Arbury Hall, Nuneaton, sends us a box of very handsome 
Camellia blooms, white and pink, of good size, beautiful form, 
