128 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 12, 1886. 
ppeatance of an underlying tint, probably the effect of the 
Sophronitis colour, though it is strange that such a distinct hue 
is not more strongly marked. The lip is like that of a small 
Cattleya intermedia with the wings curving over the column, 
white, and the central lobe, which is much more rounded 
than in the Sophronitis, is of an intensely rich crimson, and 
very finely edged with white, as is often seen in the Cattleya 
named. The column is white faintly margined with crimson, 
and is very pretty resting in the white throat of the lip. 
With stronger plants we may expect to see the characters 
more nearly rest ruble C. intermedia in robustness, for, of 
course, at present the difference in this respect is very notable, 
though there is ample indication of the share the Cattleya 
has had in the parentage. 
It is somewhat peculiar that the first published descrip¬ 
tion we have of Sophronitis grandiflora appears under the 
name of Cattleya coccinea with a figure of Cattleya inter¬ 
media pallida in the “Botanical Register” for 1836, and of 
the former Lindley says, “ Stems 2 or 3 inches high; flowers 
bright scarlet, 3 inches across, a most remarkable and beau- 
ti'ul species.” Subsequent examination of other specimens, 
however, and the introduction of living plants, determined 
the reference of “ Cattleya coccinea ” to the genus Sophro¬ 
nitis, and it has been accepted as distinct by succeeding 
authorities. It would be rather strange if after all the 
original name should be found to be an appropriate one, and 
the fact that a cross has been obtained with the Cattleya 
would seem to indicate that the relationship is nearer than 
has been supposed. The late Mr. G. Bentham classed both 
genera in the tribe Epidendrete, sub-tribe Lteliese, the chief 
characters of the latter residing in the pollen-masses, which 
are either four in one series or eight in two series. Lselia, 
Schomburghkia, and Sophronitis are associated together as 
instances of those with the two series of four pollen-masses 
ea,ch, equal or nearly so. In a paper contributed to the 
Linnean Society’s Transactions the same author observes 
that “ Lffilia is so closely allied in every respect to Cattleya 
that one has great hesitation in accepting the technical dis¬ 
tinction of the eight pollen-masses in two series instead of 
the single series of four (as in Cattleya), especially as hybrids 
are so readily produced in cultivation in which the number 
of pollen-masses is variable.” The relationship of Sophronitis 
through Lfelia to the Cattleyas is therefore apparently rather 
close, and it will ba interesting to learn in what way the 
pollinia characters of the hybrid have been affected, which 
Professor Reichenbach, to whom the plant has been referred, 
will no doubt dilate upon.—L. C. 
PROVING GARDEN NOVELTIES. 
The attempt to determine the relative value of garden novelties, 
as compared with established favourites or well-known sorts, will 
always he one of difficulty to amateurs. These trials should invari¬ 
ably be not only as inclusive as possible with respect to the latter, 
but under exactly similar conditions as to the nature and preparation 
of the soil, as well as to sowing and after treatment, and, what is of 
very great importance, pronouncedly true stocks of the several kinds 
should be employed. Afterwards comes the exercise of judgment 
when the conclusions are formally set out; but these are not always 
—as they should be—regarded as a “ one year’s trial,” conducted 
through, as the case may be, a more or less favourable season. The 
consequence is that amateurs sometimes unintentionally mislead 
themselves or may be misled by others. For instance, I may allude 
to the Duke of Albany Pea. To Mr. Abbott, the raiser of this 
new Pea, should be accorded the merit of having succeeded in 
raising one of the be3t of the very large-podded varieties that have 
been exhibited this season. The true variety produces broad, dark 
green coloured pods, some of them measuring as much as 6 inches 
in length, but the ripe seed is not positively distinguishable from 
some other sorts. During this season I have seen Peas grown under 
the name of Duke of Albany that had light green coloured pods, 
and I might add inferior to what I presume to be the true variety. 
Of course the growers differed in their estimate of it.—S. P. E. S. 
[Our correspondent directs attention to a subject of great and 
wide importance. We have seen not only the Pea mentioned but 
other varieties of vegetables grown in gardens that were certainly 
not derived from true and original stocks ; and “ trials ” in the 
absence of this initial condition are delusive.] 
THE BOILER CONTEST AT LIVERPOOL. 
[Since the Judges in this contest appear to decline giving a 
joint report, we have engaged Mr Bardney, as one of them, 
to place the facts of the trials before the public, and he has 
replied with the following exhaustive communication.] 
I FAIL t > see that the specified conditions have been carried into 
effect by the Judges—that is, if I read rightly rule 12 and 13 of the 
conditions for conducting the “ b iler contest.” Rule 12 says, “Every 
point for and against each boiler can be pointed out, and will be carefully 
considered by the Judge 0 , and may be embodied in the report of the 
contest, so that competitors should carefully avoid anything that might 
tell against them.” Rule 13 says, “ Intending competitors must send in, at 
the time of ontrr, full particulars as to heating power, &c., of their boilers, 
with price at which they are prepared to supply the public, which will be 
published.” An official report has not been drawn up by the Judges, and 
there appears to be a reluctance to draw up one signed by all, and there¬ 
fore I consider that our work has not been completed. The competitors 
did their part, and they have a perfect right to expect the 1 specified 
conditions ” to be fulfilled by others who took part in the contest. What¬ 
ever opinions may be entertained in relation to the contest or its value to 
horticulture, there is no reason why a report should not be made public, 
in fact it only leaves (he competitors room for complaint. Any amount 
of prejudiced opposilion on the part of the competitors would not have 
induced me to act independently in this matter. I am taking this step 
because I think it light to do so, and to prevent incorrect figures being 
placed before the public, for this has already been done. I do not ask 
any gentlemen who acted with me to share in any opinion I may express, 
but leave them to act as they may desire. In the issue of this report I 
take the sole responsibility, and trust you will send a printed copy to 
the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society. 
In the contest for 2000 feet three competitors tested their boilers— 
namely, Messrs. F. & J. Mee, Wood Street, Liverpool, with an ordinary 
saddle boiler with their patent waterway back and water bare. The front 
plate of the water bars can be removed, so as to remove all sediment from 
the bars or water box when desired. Messrs. Foster & Pearson, Beeston, 
Motts, with their “ Chilwell Nurseries ” boiler, which is composed of 
longitudinal cast 4-inch pipes ; and Mr. T. Wood, Easlville, Bristol, with 
a longitudinal tubular boiler. This was composed of 2^-inch tubes for 
water bars, which were also continued up each side and secured in water 
boxes to the back and front. In addition to these, tubes run directly 
through the centre of the fire. This was the only boiler of the three that 
was fed at ihe top. 
Table 1 will show the time of starting (12.30) on the 29th of June, and 
also each time the therm >meters were read. It will readily be seen from 
the figures after each competitor’s name how the temperature tables have 
been worked out. The first column of temperatures has not been counted, 
but the heat of the water at starting time found and then deducted from 
the average heat acquired. Only eleven thermometers could be had, 
therefore two were inserted on two flows at the extremity of the pipes— 
that is, 100 feet from the boiler, and one on each return near to the 
boilers. It will be seen that Mr. Wood had only three thermometers 
instead of four. This gives him an advantage in the average rise of 
temperature ; but when R. 7 is considered twice as marked * at the 
bottom of the table he is placed on the same footing as the other two 
competitors. By taking R. 7 twice the figures may tell slightly in his 
favour or the reverse, as will be observed by the slight variations in the 
return pipes of the other competitors. Although Mr. Wood gained the 
highest temperature by 112° he had a slight advantage at starting time, as 
will be seen from the tempera'ure of the water as given in the first 
column, he is only 3-50° in the average rise in the temperature over Mr. 
Mee and 13-85° over Mr. Pearson. A glance at table 4 will show that Mr. 
Wood burnt the most fuel, and therefore obtained less heat per bushel of 
fuel burnt than either of the other two competitors as shown on table 1. 
Messrs. Foster & Pearson, as will be seen, were well ahead in this respect, 
aud burnt 11 one-fifth bu>hels less fuel than Mr. Mee and 13 bushels less 
than Mr. Wood. Partially burned fuel left after banking has been con¬ 
sidered equal to half its original quality, as will be observed in table 4. 
The figures show that Mr. Mee heated his pipes first, and the water was 
circulating in the return pipe in nine minutes and a half. Mr. Wood’s 
boiler heated rapidly after it was once started, as the temperatures testify 
in table 1. The “ Chilwell Nurseries ” boiler heated steadily and circula¬ 
tion was very even (see return thermometers R. 8 and R. 9), but it was 
not well stoked. This boiler is so constructed that a large body of fire is 
not needed, but the flame from the fuel must be continually playing 
amongst the tubes for quick heating, and not checked by putting on too 
much at one time. It may be stated that the letters F and B prefixed to 
the tables mean flow and return pipes. 
C ndition 7 made provision for the pipes being placed too deep with 
three, five, or ten syphons, or boxes respectively at the extreme end. All 
in this contest had the last number, but near the boiler the whole of the 
pipes lead fr im one box or syphon with ten outlets, or what amounted to 
the same thing, the arrangements varied slightly. Although the boilers 
heated 2000 feet of 4-inch piping, the water only travelled 200 feet before 
it re-entered the boiler. In any future contest it would be better to 
arrange the pipes so that the water would travel the whole 2000 feet, or 
the amount of piping to be heated before it could return to the boiler. 
