March 28, 1895. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
279 
of merit was awaried to Mr. B. Dann, gardener to H. Weetman, Esq., 
The Hawthorns, Little Heywood, for Oiontoglossum luteo-purpureum 
amplissimum, which is described below. The same exhibitor also 
showed a few other Orchids. An award of merit was accorded to 
Cypripedium Olenus, staged by R. I. Measures, Esq., Camberwell, a 
hybrid that is referred to below. 
Certificates and Awards op Merit. 
Amaryllis Gorgeous (J. Veitch & Sons).—This variety has well- 
formed flowers of great substance. The colour is a rich deep crimson 
(award of merit). 
Bollea Schro doriana (F. Sander & Co.).—This is a new Orchid that 
has only recently been introduced. The sepals and petals, with the 
exception of a very faint flush of rose at the tips, are pure white, the 
lip being rosy purple (first-class certificate). 
Olivia (^Imantophylluvi) Model (B. S. Williams & Son).—The spike 
of this variety was very fine, the flowers being orange scarlet in colour, 
and of good form and substance (award of merit). 
Cypripedium Olemis (R. I. Measures).—This is a hybrid between 
C. bellatulum and C. ciliolare, the parentage being quite perceptible. 
The petals are pale claret with dark brown spots ; the dorsal sepal is the 
same ground colour with green and brown markings, while the lip is a 
deep claret (award of merit). 
Dendrohium Cordelia (J. Veitch & Sons).—This is the result of a 
cross between D. euosmum Heucopterum and D. aureum, the former of 
which is the pollen parent. The sepals and petals are cream with a thin 
rose edge. The lip is a superb feature. The margin is cream, claret 
crimson throat, blotched and veined pure yellow (award of merit). 
Dendro’bium Donnesice (H. Whiffen).—This is a beautiful form, with 
narrow paper white sepals and very broad petals of the same shade. 
The lip, which is very long, is paper white with a pure yellow throat 
(award of merit). 
Dendrohium Sclineiderianum (H. Holbrook).—This is from a cross 
between D. Findlayanum and D. aureum. The sepals and petals are 
white, flushed rose, while the throat is deep yellow with a crimson bass 
and a rose lip (award of merit). 
Dendrohium splendidissimxim ilhistris (J. Billington).—This hybrid 
is the result of a cross between D. Leechianum and nobile nobilius. 
The sepals and petals deep rose, shading to white towards the base, 
while the lip, which is large, is velvety crimson, with a white band and 
a deep rose tip (award of mprit). 
Miinonette Bxish Hill White (H. Low & Co.).—This variety has very 
white flowers, the purest we have seen, rather thinly produced on the 
spike (award of merit). 
Odontoglossum hitco-purpureum amplissifolium (B. Dunn).—This 
OJontoglossum is very handsome. The sepals are brown with a green 
tip and a blotch of the same colour at the base. The petals are brown 
tipped and marked whitish green. The lip is broad, fimbriated, pure 
white, with a heavy blotch of brown, and bright yellow throat (award of 
merit). 
Streptocarpus x Grains (J. Veitch & Sons).—This Streptocarpus is 
remarkably fioriferous, the blooms rosy red in colour, with darker mark¬ 
ings, being borne oi stout footstalks. The leaves are very large 
(award of merit). 
EAPHIOLEPIS OVATA. 
“ Subscriber ” writes :—“ Be good enough to give me, through the 
medium of fheJoxirnal of Horticxdture, a few particulars of Raphiolepis 
ovata, a plant of which I have had given me, and do not know how 
to treat it, or what the flowers are like.” It is a shrubby evergreen 
plant, a flowering shoot being represented in the illustration (fig. 49). 
In some situations the Raphiolepis will pass the winter safely out of 
doors, especially in the south of England, but it is useful everywhere in 
conservatories or cool houses, its bold vigorous habit and glossy green 
leaves always having a good appearance. When in flower it is still 
more attractive ; the large heads of white blooms, being produced at the 
ends of the branches, are very conspicuous. 
CONTROLLING TOMATO DISEASES. 
A GREAT deal has been written in the Journal of HorticulUire 
at various times about the diseases that attack Tomatoes, and 
different remedies have been advised. It seems to me, however, that as 
the Tomato grows in favour so rapidly, and consequently is much more 
extensively grown every year, diseases seem to spread with equal rapidity, 
and anything that can be advised for holding such in check is of 
great importance to the world of horticulture. Being a gardener in a 
private place I have not grown Tomatoes by the thousand like some, 
but for several years now I have paid special attention to their 
cultivation, and have been very successful, not only in growing heavy 
crops of fine fruit but entirely free from disease, and by your permission 
I should like to say a few words on the subject. 
First of all then I may say that I believe most of these diseases, 
if not all, may be held in check, if not entirely obviated by cultivation 
alone, and my experience tends to show that the chief factor in pre¬ 
venting disease is a confined root run. For some years now I have grown 
nearly all my Tomatoes in 10 and 12-inch pots, potted very firmly, and 
whilst a few that have been planted out in borders have entirely 
succumbed to disease, those in the pots have borne heavy crops of fine * 
fruit to the end of the season. This experience has been in different 
parts of the country widely separated, so that it cannot be either the 
soil or the locality that is responsible. 
I account for it myself’in this way. The Tomato being a very 
vigorous plant, if allowed a free root run with liberal supplies of liquid 
manure, would make enormous growth in one season, but the crop would 
not be a very profitable one. Now it is for the crop that we grow it, 
and in order to obtain fruit of good quality we allow the plants to make 
but little stem or foliage compared with what they would naturally form; 
therefore if we are going to so materially restrict the growth of the 
plant it seems obvious that we ought to treat the root action likewise, 
or something must go wrong. Some correspondents have inferred that 
organic manure is accountable for disease. During the time that I have 
FIG. 49.— RAPEIOLEPIS OVATA. 
been so successful I can safely say that I have never used chemical 
manure at all, always employing the drainings of the stable and cow 
yard. I am going to use chemical manure on some of the plants this 
year, to see if it will make any difference. I certainly do not see why 
it should, unless by using it in excess they are injured. 
I am well aware that I am not the only one who grows Tomatoes in 
pots, but it would be very interesting to know if any of your corre¬ 
spondents who have tried this plan have had their plants destroyed by 
disease. If they have, then it becomes obvious that that is not a 
preventive. Until, however, someone can come forward and say that 
their plants in pots all succumbed to disease I shall certainly think 
there is something in it. 
Of course, there are other points of importance to be considered, such 
as the selection of good seeds and soil, but if desired I would give full 
cultural details. For the present I think I have said enough, except 
that I do not advise everybody to go and buy as many 12-inch pots as 
they wish to plant Tomatoes, and say good-hye to all diseases. I 
certainly think that if those who are growing for market would restrict 
the size of their beds to, say, 15 inches wide and about the same depth, 
insure good drainage, and plant firmly, the Tomatoes would need much 
less soil, but a little more attention in the way of watering, for which 
the growers would be amply repaid,—W. S, E. 
