December 23, 1880. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 575 
-A correspondent writing upon the weather in the 
north of England observes—“It is not often in the north that 
such fine weather has been experienced as we have had this autumn. 
Outside operations of all kinds have progressed most favourably. 
With one slight fall of snow in November, and another on Decem¬ 
ber the lGtb, which scarcely lasted twenty-four hours, the weather 
had been most favourable. Since then there have been severe 
frosts, and temperatures of 7°, 8°, and 10° below zero having 
been registered, accompanied by dry cutting north-east winds.” 
- One of the pretty winter-flowering Orchids exhibited by 
Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons at the last meeting of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society was Dendrobium endocharis, a hybrid 
obtained by Mr. Seden a few years since from crossing D. japonicum 
with D. heterocarpum. It partakes of the characters of both 
parents,’but possesses several clearly defined and distinctive marks. 
The flowers are produced in pairs from the nodes of the growths, 
and are white with a purplish blotch in the labellum, the delicious 
fragrance exhaled being suggestive of Violets. As the nodes on 
the numerous stems are closely placed, a specimen of moderate 
size has a pleasing effect when in flower. 
-At J. Brand, Esq’s, residence, Bedford Hill House, Balham, 
the old Camellias planted out in a cool house, and trained to 
the back wall, are this season in remarkably healthy condition ; the 
foliage a most intense glossy green ; the flower buds of gi'eat size, 
and so abundant as to give promise of a beautiful display a week 
or two hence. The Calceolarias, which annually form such attrac¬ 
tive groups at some of the summer exhibitions, are a sufficient 
proof of Mr. Bapley's skill as a plant-grower, but with Camellias 
and Eucharises he seems to be equally successful. The enormous 
specimens of the latter plants, about a yard in diameter and grow¬ 
ing in tubs, have been magnificent, the five largest having borne 
about 150 scapes of handsome flowers. The most noteworthy 
plant in the stove at the present time is the useful and brilliant 
Euphorbia jacquinieeflora, which is represented by numerous small 
specimens. 
- “A Gardener ” writes :—“There is now a grand display 
of Poinsettias and Calanthes at Hawkstone, the seat of 
Lord Hill. They are arranged alternately, and the effect is mag¬ 
nificent. The Poinsettias vary in height from 12 to 1G inches, 
having very large bracts of the brightest scarlet. The Calanthes 
are principally forms of C. Veitchii. One or two pseudo-bulbs 
are grown in each pot, are strong, and the spikes of flowers very 
beautiful. Mr. Pratt is very successful in the cultivation of these 
plants.” 
-- On Saturday evening the 18th inst. Mr. Glover, Lee Hall, 
read before the members of the Liverpool Horticultural 
Association an excellent paper on the cultivation of the Odonto- 
glossum, followed by a very interesting and highly instinctive 
paper from W. B. Halhead, Esq., the Honorary Treasurer of the 
Association, “ On the Germination of Seeds.” Mr. Halhead takes 
great interest in this portion of the Association’s work, and has 
induced several gentlemen to promise to read papers at future 
meetings. The meeting terminated with the usual vote of thanks 
to Mr. Richardson, the Chairman. 
- The dinner given to their employes by Messrs. Waite 
Nash, Huggins & Co. to celebrate the amalgamation of the two 
houses, was held on Saturday evening last at the Imperial Hotel, 
Southwark Street, Mr. J. C. Chapman presiding, with Mr. R. W. 
Jack as Vice-Chairman. The evening was passed very pleasantly. 
- Mr. Alex. Christie, Warnford Park, Bishops Waltham, 
succeeds Mr. D. Judd as gardener to the Earl of Warwick, The 
Castle, Warwick ; and Mr. Frederick Thomson, Woodville, 
Reddish, near Stockport, succeeds Mr. Simpson as gardener to 
W. Baring, Esq., Norman Court, Dean, Salisbury. 
- Last week the Baroness Burdett-Coutts opened a public 
Exhibition of natural and artificial flowers and plants, in aid of 
the London Flower Girls’ Brigade. The object is to elevate 
young girls who vend flowers in the streetsA^l'he girls, about 
fifty or sixty in number, are clothed in a neat [dress, not strictly 
a uniform, but of similar materials and makes, and they wear an 
ivory badge on a blue ribbon. They are supplied with flowers, 
which are bought in Covent Garden Market, and are never allowed 
to be under any but the Brigade room roof, and on the sale of 
these flowers they,receive a small commission, besides regular 
weekly wages. They are stationed in places where they can sell 
their flowers, either bouquets or for the button-hole, secure from 
insult or molestation ; and they are sent with supplies to regular 
customers in various parts of London. In the winter they are 
trained to manufacture artificial flowers, a work for which they 
show great aptitude, by reason of their early familiarity wflth 
natural flowers, and their unconscious observation of their growth 
and peculiarities of foliage and bloom. Bouquets, also arti ficial , 
under glass shades, were in abundance on the stalls.^Nosegays 
and flowers for the buttonhole presented an attractive spectacle. 
Some twenty or thirty of the “Brigade” girls were at work, in 
the manufacture of these artificial flowers, at a table in the centre 
of the hall. The principle of division of labour obtained among 
them. Each made a certain portion of a flower, and others put 
together the component parts. 
MELON CULTURE. 
Notwithstanding “ A Kitchen Gardener’s ” criticisms 
(page 556) upon my few remarks (page 509) 1 am still sceptical, 
and in fact believe artificial assistance to Melons, either by fer¬ 
menting materials or hot water, at some stages of their growth to 
be absolutely necessary, and I very much question the soundness 
of his advice to amateurs in representing artificial heat as un¬ 
necessary, unless raising and growing the plants strongly is not 
part of their culture. Melon-growing is certainly more expe¬ 
ditious with fermenting materials than without, although failures 
occasionally occur by an excess of heat and the very simple 
details of preparation of the materials being carelessly and 
slovenly managed. On the other hand, as good fruit may be and 
are grown in a two-light box as in the most elaborate Melon 
house. What say our large growers ? If “ A Kitchen Gar¬ 
dener’s” criticisms be rightly understood very many gardeners 
go to very much unnecessary trouble and expense, as the only 
thing to do is to sow a few seeds in the garden and bring a two 
or three-light frame and place over them, Nature doing the rest. 
If agreeable to “A Kitchen Gardener,” and he will advise me 
to this effect, I will endeavour to make a pilgrimage to see so 
great a novelty whenever ready, as I am not too old yet nor too 
conceited to learn how to grow Melons without artificial heat.— 
W. Crump, Blenheim . 
GLEICHENIA DICARPA var. LONGIPINNATA. 
Gleichenias now hold a foremost place both in ferneries and 
at horticultural exhibitions, and very deservedly, for when well 
grown they are extremely graceful owing to the distinct habit, the 
fine divisions of the fronds, and their drooping tendency. The 
species G. rupestris, G. Mendelli, G. circinata, G. flabellata, G. 
dichotoma, G. speluncse, and G. dicarpa are all well known and 
appreciated, together with several varieties. One of the latest 
introductions and one of the most handsome is the form of the 
last-named species, appropriately teimed longipinnata, which Mr. 
B. S. Williams of Upper Holloway obtained from Australia a 
year or two since. It has already attracted much attention from 
Fern-growers and exhibitors, and the latter are likely to find it a 
great acquisition, as a large specimen would be most imposing in 
a collection. I have not seen one of extraordinary size at present, 
but several excellent “half specimens ” have recently come under 
my notice. The best of these I observed in the collection of an 
experienced grower and exhibitor, who speaks highly of the variety, 
which he thinks will soon be considered as one of the most effec¬ 
tive for the purpose named. Small plants are, however, admirable 
for warm greenhouse decoration, and are scarcely excelled in the 
genus. 
G. dicarpa longipinnata resembles the species of which it is 
considered a variety, but is distinguished chiefly by the greater 
