224 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 11, 1890. 
Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, sent several interesting Orchids, 
comprising grand specimens of Miltonia Candida superba, having eight 
long racemes of richly coloured flowers (cultural commendation). 
T. A. Gledstanes, Esq., Gunnersbury (gardener, Mr. H. Denison), was 
awarded a cultural commendation fior a strong plant of Dendrobium 
formosum, with twenty fine flowers. A plant of Vanda Sanderiana 
was also sent, with a raceme of nine flowers. T. Statter, Esq., showed 
several plants, for which awards were granted. A large plant of Den¬ 
drobium album, having four long flowering growths, received a cultural 
commendation. 
PLANTS CERTIFICATED. 
Cattleya aurca Statteriana (T. Statter, Esq., Stand Hall, White- 
field, Manchester ; gardener, Mr. E. Johnson).—A handsome variety, the 
sepals and petals yellow, the lip rich gold, edged light crimson, and 
veined with deep crimson in the centre. (First-class certificate.) 
Lcelia elegans Turneri, Stand variety (T. Statter, Esq.).—A fine 
variety, distinguished by the size of the broad, rounded, rich purplish 
crimson lip. 
Crocosma aurea var. maculata (Mr. J. O’Brien).—Bright orange 
flowers with a deep crimson blotch in the centre of the three inner 
divisions. 
Godetia Duke of Fife (Messrs. Daniels Bros., Norwich).—Flowers 
deep crimson with a silvery centre. 
Dahlia Zorina (C. Turner).—A Show variety, orange bulb, fine 
bloom. 
Rubens (C. Turner).—A Pompon variety, crimson tipped white, 
neat. 
Marion (C. Turner).—A neat Pompon of a soft rosy tint. 
Gladiolus Leonard Kelway (Kelway & Son).—A distinct velvety 
crimson, faintly edged purple. 
Gladiolus Lemoinei Mie Blanc (M. V. Lemoine et fils).—Very 
distinct; the flowers small, of a distinct bluish purple shade. 
Gladiolus Lemoinei F. V. Halloek (M. V. Lemoine et fils).—Flowers 
neat in form, creamy white, two inner small petals reddish crimson at 
the base tipped with golden. 
Dahlia Black Prince (Mr. J. Green, Dereham).—One of the 
' 1 Cactus” type, of an exceedingly dark maroon colour. 
Dahlia Crimson Beauty (Mr. T. S. Ware).—A very neat Pompon 
variety, dark velvety scarlet, florets flat. 
Dianthus caryoj,liyllus Margaritcc (James Veitch& Sons, Chelsea).— 
An attractive strain, with red, rose, orange, salmon, and white flowers 
(award of merit). It was stated that “ the seed was sown early in 
March in a warm frame ; the seedlings were transplanted in a cold 
frame as soon as large enough to be removed, and they were planted out 
of doors early in June. The plants were lifted from the open ground.” 
Events of the Week.— To-day (Thursday) the National Chrys¬ 
anthemum Society’s early Show is continued at the Eoyal Aquarium, 
Westminster, also the Brighton Horticultural Society’s Show in the 
Eoyal Pavilion. In connection with the last-named, the British Fruit 
■Growers’ Association hold a conference at 4 p.m. in the King’s Eoom, 
the Mayor of Brighton in the chair. On Friday, September 12th, and 
Saturday, September 13th, the Eoyal Botanical Society at Manchester 
will hold a large fruit Show in the gardens at Old Trafford. The 
annual Exhibition of the Galashiels Society also takes place on Sep¬ 
tember 13th. 
-Tiie Weather in the Metropolitan District has been 
exceedingly fine during the past week, bright, warm, sunny days 
being followed by clear nights. The day temperatures have on several 
occasions risen very high, Monday and Tuesday being especially hot; 
but at night there has been a corresponding fall, with slight frosts in 
some low situations. 
- Many will learn with regret that Mr. James Backhouse 
died at West Bank, lork, on August 31st, aged sixty-five years. Mr 
Backhouse was the head of the firm of Messrs. Backhouse & Son of 
York, and had from his earliest years devoted himself to the study of 
plants. Ferns were great favourites, and his beautiful fernery and 
wonderful collection of Filmy Ferns had many admirers. Under his 
management also large collections of Orchids and hardy plants were 
formed in the York nurseries. 
- We are informed that the B. S. Williams memorial is 
making fair progress, and the list of the Committee has been consider¬ 
ably enlarged. In the list recently published the name of Mr. Henry 
Cannell of Swanley should have appeared, as he was one of the members 
appointed at the meeting of August 12th, The omission was the 
result of an error in copying. Mr. Cannell has subscribed 5 guineas. 
- Gardening Appointment. —Mr. Albert E. Sutton has suc¬ 
ceeded Mr. E. Burn as gardener at Naworth Castle, Brampton, Cum¬ 
berland. 
- Mr. W. Bardney writes :—“ On the morning of the 30th ult. 
we experienced what may be termed our First Frost. There had 
been every sign of frost for some days previously, for the grass early 
each morning was white. On Saturday it was hard and stiff. This was 
followed by a sharper frost on September 1st. Not a mile from the 
garden, on the slope of a hill facing north, there was ice the thickness 
of a penny. The gardens are sheltered, and lay to the south. For¬ 
tunately we escaped without injury, but tidings reach me of the 
destruction of French and Scarlet Eunner Beans only a few miles 
away.” 
-- The same correspondent remarks :— “ Potatoes are very 
badly diseased. In several cases more than half the crop is affected, 
and large quantities have decayed since they were housed. So far 
Empire State has resisted the disease more than any other variety. The 
tubers are large—too large—many of them for table use, but the crop 
was abundant. Beauty of Hebron has perhaps suffered more from the 
disease than any other variety.” 
- Your correspondent, Mr. John Williams, asks for further 
information respecting Truffles. At one time they were very common 
on this estate, and several trained dogs were kept for the purpose of 
finding this fungus. This was done in the following manner :—The 
head gamekeeper had charge of these dogs, and when he received 
orders for Truffles, these dogs were taken to the most likely parts of 
the woods or plantations. Truffles have a peculiar smell, which attract 
the dogs, and when they come upon them they immediately commence 
to scratch. The Truffles were then dug up, and for each Truffle the 
dog which found it received a biscuit ; and sufficient Truffles were 
found in a morning search for the requirements of dinner in the 
evening. Of course all this is a thing of the past. No dogs have 
been kept for many years, but no doubt the Truffles grow the same ; 
indeed I have found them many times under Beech trees, and I think 
I could soon secure some again if I made a search. I have never 
seen one approaching that figured in your last issue. The largest I ever 
saw was not larger than a Walnut. Those found in this neighbour¬ 
hood are not unlike a Walnut in shape ; dark brown in colour, with 
warts all over them, which are almost black. The flesh is of greyish 
colour, and, as you say, veined with blackish marks ; and the smell they 
give off is certainly not unpleasant. If they are such a luxury why 
is not their cultivation taken up ? Or are they too long in coming to 
maturity ? One thing is evident, I shall not be the first to make the 
attempt.—T. Arnold, Cirenctster . 
-Mr. Young also writes, “ It may interest Mr. Williams to 
know that Truffles are fairly plentiful in some parts of Hereford¬ 
shire. Whilst living at Holme Lacy w r e found numbers under Laurel 
bushes.” 
- Eunner Bean Ne Plus Ultra. —In common with many 
other gardeners we have given the above Eunner Bean a trial, and 
must say that it is a decided improvement. The pods hang in bunches, 
are long and handsome in appearance. The quality is good.—A. Young. 
- Lilium LONGIFLORUM.—I send you a photograph of a group 
of Lilium longiflorum grown in a corner of my garden at Croydon. I 
planted twenty-four bulbs bought late last autumn—about November— 
and they have turned out splendidly, the stems being about 3^ feet high, 
and throwing in most cases three to five flowers, I think in one case 
only two flowers, the flowers being fully 9 inches long, and perfect, 
not a single case of splitting, which I have found to be rather a com¬ 
mon failing of L. longiflorum. In this clump there were about sixty 
flowers open at one time, and they had a very fine appearance, the 
photograph not doing justice to the reality. I bought and planted at 
the same time ten L. auratum virginale, twenty L. a. platyphyllum, 
and ten L. lancifolium Melpomene. They are all doing very well, as 
have most of my Lilies this year, the sole exception being candidumj 
of which having a large number I am getting rather despondent. I 
have tried various remedies for the disease so prevalent. New loam and 
replanting seem, so far, to have had no effect. Th bulbs seem quite 
