52 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
t July 17, 1690. 
preferred. The compost of sphagnum moss and peat should be 
kept constantly moist, and the plant while growing should receive 
a liberal supply of water. The flowers of this Orchid are among 
the most persistent in the order. 
Oncidium Papilio. 
An interesting plant is this Orchid and not very difficult to 
grow. A warm house or stove is required. The plant may be grown 
either in a pot with peat, sphagnum, or an abundant drainage, or 
affixed to a charred block with copper wire. In the latter case 
sphagnum moss only need be used, but care must be taken that it 
has sufficient water. Its flower is peculiar, being formed like a 
butterfly of a bronze and yellow hue, and the bloom, which comes 
singly, issues from the extreme point of the knotted spike. This 
continues to flower for years, and on that account must not be cut 
away so long as blooms are wanted or it is possessed of sufficient 
energy to produce them. It is a most desirable and interesting 
plant, and comes from Trinidad.—W. S. 
SCALDING AND CRACKING OF GRAPES. 
It is now some two yeais since a discussion took place in these 
pages on the scalding of Grapes, LadyDowne’s in particular, and in 
which I took a part. Possibly the subject has remained fresh in 
the memory of some readers ; at least it has to myself, as I have 
been a close observer since that time. Whether scalding of Grapes 
is more prevalent in the north than the south, and also more 
difficult to combat, as stated in the Journal a week or two since, I 
am not in a position to prove, but to my mind it appears illogical. 
The view I adopted did not appear very scientific to one able 
correspondent, but it was so to me. These notes may be in sufficient 
time to help the inexperienced to combat the evil, as their Grapes 
may be later than ours, for these have now passed through the 
ordeal of stoning and have commenced colouring. 
I can honestly say that we have not had a single berry of Lady 
Downe’s scald, and, as is well known, this is the Grape above all 
others which is prone to become damaged in this way. During the 
later stage of stoning exceptional care is necessary with Lady 
Downe’s, whereas with other varieties ordinary care is all that is 
required to prevent their becoming scalded. The main point to 
prevent scalding of Lady Downe’s is to keep sufficient heat in the 
pipes during the night and on dull days to prevent the berries 
becoming cold, or at least colder than the temperature of the house. 
A little air must be admitted to the house both by the top and 
bottom ventilators during the night, to be increased early in the 
morning, before the sun has power to raise the temperature 5° ; the 
ventilation must also be increased as necessary, the aim being to 
allow the inside temperature to rise with the outside. When the 
temperature of the vinery is allowed to increase rapidly before 
sufficient air is admitted, the air becomes overheated, and is much 
warmer than the berries, consequently moisture condenses on them, 
and scalding takes place. The ventilation must also be decreased 
in the afternoon as the outside temperature lowers, care being 
necessary so that the temperature inside the vinery does not rise 
above the point it stood at when the ventilation was reduced. 
Many gardeners are very particular about the morning ventilation, 
yet they close the structure in the afternoon, and allow the tempera¬ 
ture to rise to 80° or 90°. Scalding, under these circumstances, 
takes place just the same as when the temperature is allowed to 
increase rapidly in the morning. 
The reason why I have included cracking of Grapes is because 
the same means which will prevent scalding in Lady Downe’s will 
also entirely prevent cracking in Madresfield Court and Black 
Muscat. Many schemes have been put forward as remedies for 
this defect in this noble Grape, such as cutting halfway through 
the lateral, lessening the supply of water, &c., but this is of no 
avail if means are not taken to prevent the action of endosmose. 
Our Madresfield Court Vines receive abundance of moisture at 
the roots either when planted out or in pots. These latter I have 
watered five times during the day without the least ill effects, at 
least these were the best finished I ever saw. I am under the 
impression that deficiency of moisture at the roots is often the 
cause of inferior colour in this noble Grape, overcropping and 
weak root action through a cold root run being the next. 
Returning to the subject of scalding of Lady Downe’s, this evil 
is also very much aggravated through the roots working in a cold 
medium. Probably a strong root has descended into a cold and 
crude subsoil; the ascending sap, being very cold, also has its in¬ 
fluence on the temperature of the berries. The same influence 
will also cause rust and imperfect fertilisation. When moisture 
condenses on the edge of the foliage to much extent at night time 
during the spring months, and whilst there is a comfortable warmth 
in the pipes, it a sure sign that a strong root or roots is affording 
the support, and also working in a cold medium. A single stray 
root is quite sufficient to act in this way, as I have proved beyond 
doubt. I have searched and found the root, and also stopped the 
evil. On warm subsoils this may not be apparent, but on clay soils 
it is undoubtedly the case.—A. Young. 
ZONAL PELARGONIUMS AT CHILWELL. 
Amongst the many plants of interest at the Chilwell Nurseries 
at present the Zonal Pelargoniums claim the most attention, and 
deservedly so, for the large house devoted to them is a blaze of 
colour. There are rich and intense shades of scarlet and deep 
crimson, while two approaching yellow are very conspicuous, 
together with many tints of salmon and shades of pink and rose 
intermingled with white varieties of rare excellence. The pips and 
trusses are fine, produced on stout footstalks, carrying the flowers 
well above the foliage. The plants are dwarf and in robust health. 
I cannot attempt to mention all I saw, but I jotted down a few 
of the newest forms. Sir Percival is one of the finest whites yet 
introduced—a decided improvement upon Amy Amphlett, though 
the last mentioned is grand, and will probably become a favourite 
market variety. It has the character of holding its flowers a long 
time either on the plant or cut. Sappho, salmon rose, very distinct 
compact truss ; Rev. F. H. Brett, vermilion scarlet pips of immense 
size ; T. Hayes, of about the same form, but deeper in colour ; 
Duchess of Portland, bright rosy pink, an improved Constance, 
very dwarf habit ; Launcelot, salmon scarlet, immense truss, very 
distinct ; Phryne, cerise, shaded plum colour, very showy, fine bold 
truss ; Opal, certificated by R.H.S. in 1889. a beautiful shaded 
salmon, very fine ; Souvenir de Mirande, a striking variety, should 
be in every collection ; Golden Vesuvius, an advance on Wedding 
Ring, a charming variety, shows up to great advantage, and will be 
an acquisition for bedding purposes ; M. Porier, rich carmine 
shaded violet, enormous trusses—this appears to be the best in this 
colour, award of merit R.H.S. 1889. 
Some seedlings on trial in the same house arrest special atten¬ 
tion amongst these are many varieties that will be heard more 
about in the future. We notice one, an advance upon Perdita ; it is 
named Midsummer, as it was certificated and named by the R.H.S. 
on that day. The colour is salmon, shading to white, very dwarf 
and sturdy in habit. I also observed an orange variety, even 
brighter than Golden Vesuvius ; the pips larger, in a fine truss, 
of dwarf habit. 
Double forms of many colours were also seen, of which the 
most attractive are Princess Van Hainhalt, pure white, good habit, 
and very free, useful for market work ; Goldfinder, orange, 
approaching yellow, very showy ; Mrs. Condon, rosy cerise, of 
compact form ; C. Darwin, rich magenta, very distinct ; H. V. Ras- 
pail, scarlet, excellent ; Lord Derby, bright rosy pink. Many more 
are worthy of mention, but the above were all I had time to note 
in a rather hurried visit.— Visitor. 
STRAWBERRY NOTES. 
Large Strawberries. 
At the Maidstone Rose Show on 30th June Mr. Edwin Amies 
put up some remarkably fine plates of Jas. Veitch Strawberry. 
They were of a rich colour, clean, of a uniform flat cockscomb 
shape, well finished. He was awarded first prize for both twenty- 
four and twelve fruits, and they scaled an average of oz. each, 
being exactly alike. The largest berry was 7 inches round. This 
was a performance that any grower might be proud of, and this 
gentleman is an amateur, and grew them in the town. When 
grown like this Jas. Veitch is of good quality, and only wants a 
little sugar.—G. B. 
Laxton’s Noble. 
Many correspondents have given their opinions as to the forcing 
qualities of Laxton’s Noble, but all appear to have found it to be 
a failure [as regards forcing. I should be pleased if Mr. Mclndoe 
of Hutton Hall could be induced to give his opinion of it, as I ana 
told he has forced it extensively this season. The reports in the 
gardening papers spoke very highly of the fruits he showed at 
Edinburgh. He also might be able to answer Mr. Riding’s 
question as to its travelling qualities, which would be acceptable 
to many readers as well as to—T. C. 
Auguste Nicaise. 
This, I b3lieve, as it becomes better known will be considered 
one of our very best early Strawberries. A few days since I 
inspected a long row of it fruiting with trial rows of numerous 
