490 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 4 , 1890. 
L.ELIA ANCEPS. 
The earliest of these will be ready for unfolding their beautiful 
flowers. Place them while in flower in a temperature of 50° 
where the atmosphere can be kept moderately dry ; the flowers will 
last in good condition much longer than if retained in the Orchid 
house where a fair amount of moisture is necessary. Plants that 
have flower spikes advancing and are not wanted in flower for some 
time will be safe if placed in a temperature of 50°. Be careful 
not to give them too much water while being retarded, or injury 
to the roots may result. 
Ljelia autumnalis. 
When grown under the same conditions as L. anceps this 
usually flowers about the same time, and like that can be retarded 
for some weeks. The flowers do not last more than half the time 
that those of Lmlia anceps do, but it is nevertheless well worth 
growing in quantity. Both flower freely during the months of 
November, December and January, according to the temperature 
in which they are grown. Yery frequently where different houses 
are not set apart solely for Orchids Lcelias often have to be grown 
in a warmer temperature than is really desirable. Both these 
adapt themselves to ordinary stove treatment well. The most 
suitable place for them, however, is the Cattleya house, where 
these plants are not kept too warm during the winter months. 
Pleionef. 
The young growths of these commence springing up from the 
base directly the flowers fade, and should be repotted at once. If 
neglected in this stage it will tell seriously against them next 
autumn. When under good treatment they should have made bold 
pseudo-bulbs, and flower freely. These plants are easily grown, 
requiring a good rest from the time the foliage commences to fade 
by keeping them dry. From the time the flowers show, water 
should be given in small quantities, and gradually increased as 
growth extends. In potting remove the whole of the old compost, 
liberally drain the pots or pans, cover the drainage with a little moss, 
and employ a compost of fibry loam two parts, the other part 
being composed of leaf mould and sand. A little charcoal broken 
up fine may be added, and one-seventh of decayed cow manure 
that has been stacked for six months, and passed through a fine 
sieve. These dwarf deciduous Orchids require a stronger and 
richer soil than many growers are disposed to give them. A com¬ 
post that suits Calanthes will do for these plants, which deserve 
more attention than they receive. 
Masdevallia tovarensis. 
To keep this in good condition throughout the winter the tem¬ 
perature in which it is grown should not fall below 50° in the 
morning. It will not bear being kept as cold as other Masdevallias. 
In a temperature that ranges from 50° to 55° it is producing its 
flower spikes freely. Where it is possible to use the flowers -without 
cutting off the spikes it is wise to do so, for they will flower a 
second time. Do not allow this or any of the Masdevallias to 
suffer by want of water. The temperature for others should 
not fall below 45° in the morning, or else their foliage are liable 
to become spotted and disfigure the plants for a long time. 
Spotting is the result of a low temperature and too moist an 
atmosphere.— Orciiid Grower. 
MUSCAT GRAPES AT SHOWS. 
At the recent Liverpool autumn Exhibition, in the class for four 
bunches of Grapes, to be distinct varieties, an exhibitor was placed 
first with a stand including Muscat of Alexandria and Bowood Muscat. 
Now, I consider that Bowood Muscat so closely resembles Muscat of 
Alexandria as not to be permissible as a distinct variety. A great many 
growers, I know, maintain that it is. I, for one, do not think so. The 
only difference that I can see is that the Bowood Muscat under good 
cultivation produces its berries somewhat more round, and that the 
bunches assume a more clustering shape, but under different methods of 
cultivation, combined with favourable local conditions, Muscat of 
Alexandria and Bowood Muscat can be grown to so closely resemble 
each other, that I do not think the most expert judges can be so certain 
as to proclaim them distinct varieties ; therefore, when the difference 
is so trifling I do not consider there is enough margin left to acknow¬ 
ledge them as distinct in a class for Grapes. 
This is a matter of great importance to exhibitors, hence my appeal 
to your columns. The exhibitor in question wrote to the Liverpool 
Committee, I believe, on the subject, before he entered the Grapes, 
which proves it a doubtful point as far as he is concerned, and received 
their sanction to exhibit them as distinct, so the responsibility in this 
case rests with the Committee. But is this to be generally recognised 
at exhibitions , I do not think that it should ; if so, I am firmly of 
opinion that it will give rise to much dissatisfaction. I write this for 
publication in the pages of your valuable paper in the hope that sotn& 
correspondents will give their opinion.— Inquirer. 
Events of the Week. —The Fruit, Floral, and Orchid Committees 
of the Royal Horticultural Society will meet on Tuesday next, Decem¬ 
ber 9th, in the Drill Hall, James Street, Westminster, and as the last 
gathering of the year it is expected, if the weather is favourable, that 
there will be a good number of exhibits and a full attendance of the 
members. The same evening, at G p.m , a meeting of the Horticultural 
Club will be held in the Hotel Windsor, when a paper will be read on. 
Rose stocks. 
- The late Mr. Shirley Hibberd, F'.R.H.S.— The many 
paragraphs, not only in the gardening papers but also in several London 
newspapers, testify to how deep and widespread is the feeling of loss 
sustained by the comparatively early death of Mr. Shirley Hibberd. 
A letter, with several influential names attached to it, has been for¬ 
warded to the Royal Horticultural Society, requesting the President and 
Council to take the initiation in promoting some public memorial of 
our late friend’s life and work. Mr. Shirley Hibberd’s services to horti¬ 
culture have been so many and varied, and his devotion to the interests- 
of our Society has been so enthusiastic and thorough, that the President 
and Council gladly accept the suggestion, and have desired me to 
announce that a public meeting will be held in the Society’s office, 117, 
Victoria Street, Westminster, on Tuesday, December !>th, at 1 o’clock,, 
to consider the question of raising a suitable memorial to the late 
Mr. Shirley Hibberd. I shall feel greatly obliged if you will kindly 
assist me in making this known as widely as possible.—W. Wilks, M.A,,. 
Vicar of Shirley, Croydon, Secretary Royal Horticultural Society. 
-- The Weather in the Metropolitan District has been, 
extremely wintry during the past week, the keen winds of Tuesday and 
Wednesday being followed by heavy snow, varying from 3 to 4 inches- 
near London, but further out up to 18 or 20 inches. Low temperatures 
were also experienced, 15° to 20° being registered in exposed positions. 
A partial thaw occurred on Sunday and Monday, succeeded by frosts and- 
fogs. 
- The Weather in the North. —Three days of very wintry- 
weather have been experienced in Scotland in the latter half of last 
week. Snow has fallen over the country generally. In South Perth¬ 
shire dense hoar frost took the place of snow. On the morning of the 
27th ult. 14° of frost were registered, 10° and 8° following. Thaw fol¬ 
lowed on Saturday night, and on Monday morning the thermometer 
stood at 50°, with a soft S.W. wind.—B. D. 
- Frost in Hampshire —The weather here during the last 
few days has been exceptionally severe. On the 27th ult. we registered 
10° frost, on the same day a thin covering of snow fell. On Friday,. 
2Sth, early in the morning we had 14° frost, and at 3 p.m. the thermo¬ 
meter stood at 15°, or 17° frost, and gradually until at 2 A M. on Saturday 
morning it registered 9° on the scale, or 23° frost, which is the most 
severe we have experienced for the last twelve years. On Sunday the 
wind veered from the north-east to S.S.E., a rapid thaw setting in, but 
which lasted only a few hours, when light frosts again occurred with 
the wind in the same direction. I never saw frost penetrate so deep in 
the soil in such a short time as during the three days of last week. Some 
soil which had been recently moved was frozen to a depth of 18 inches. 
Such sudden weather as that experienced ought to prove the necessity 
of attending promptly to the mulching of all newly planted fruit trees 
or shrubs, instead of delaying for a few days, until a more convenient 
opportunity is available.—E. Molyneux. 
- Lettuces. —I grow Lettuces for market largely, and try many 
varieties. The best summer Cabbage Lettuce I have ever grown, is- 
Yates’ Champion, for which I was awarded a certificate by the Notting¬ 
hamshire Horticultural and Botanical Society in 1889 ; and the best 
winter Cabbage Lettuce is Lee’s Immense Hardy Green, from which i 
am cutting now. I should like to know what varieties other gardeners 
have found satisfactory.—J. B., Nottingham . 
