306 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
April 1», 1894. 
and shapely of any. The colour of the flowers is a bright orange red, 
and it may be called one of the best, For a paler coloured form 
Baroness Schroder is splendid. The colour may be termed a rosy-orange. 
Atrosanguinea, robusta, Aurantiaca, and others are also of a high order 
of merit, 
Amongst the Orchids, which form the most diversified display just 
now, numerous varieties, each claiming some especial merit, were 
noted, but of ail these mention cannot be made. First and foremost 
may be mentioned the Vandas, amongst which the following were 
blooming—tricolor suavis, and tricolor insignis. These are auperb, the 
flowers being of good form and perfect colouration ; the leafage, too, 
denoting health, vigour, and skilful attention. Lycaste Skinneri, of 
which there are numbers of plants, was carrying some handsome flowers, 
as also were specimens of Cattleya Lawrenciana. The Cymbidiums are 
throwing spikes of bloom of exceptional length, which will, when fully 
developed, prove a grand sight. C. eburneum, with its sweetly scented 
flowers, was also noticeable. A fine plant of Chysis bractescens is 
worthy of more than a passing glance, as also is a specimen of Odonto- 
glossum Edwardsi, carrying an enormous spike of bloom. 0. gloriosum, 
triumphans, and fine forms of Pescatorei and Alexandras were also 
prominent. Cypripediums were splendidly represented by vexillarium 
superbum, Morganias, selligerum majus, Schrbderse, Exul, and Pitcher!- 
anum, Williams’ variety ; whilst amongst the Dendrobiums were seen 
chysodiscus and Venus. A group of plants of Ada aurantiaca formed a 
striking feature. 
Rhododendron Williamsi was to be seen in great numbers. It is a 
most useful, extremely floriferous variety, with compact trusses of 
nearly pure white flowers. Azaleas were flowering with the utmost 
freedom, and forming a bright display. Foliage plants were very 
numerous, included Palms in great variety, Crotons, Aralias, and Ferns. 
—Nomad. 
PRIMULA OBCONICA. 
It may not be generally known the great amount of risk that 
gardeners and others run in the cultivation of this Primula, and those 
who are in the habit of handling the flowers will perhaps be interested 
in the following remarks which I received from a medical gentleman 
the other day. Some years ago he prescribed for a lady who was 
suffering from a severe irritation about the face and neck, and found 
that she was very fond of Primula obconica, and in the habit of wearing 
it as a spray. 
He did not attach much importance to that case, but in August, 
1892, he was consulted by a young man who is an assistant in a noble¬ 
man’s garden in Staffordshire. The young man informed him that in 
the first place he perceived an eruption and irritation between the first 
two fingers of his right hand, which gradually increased, affected his 
arms, and produced a peculiar sensation of creeping throughout his 
system after retiring to bed. The medical man treated him for blood 
poisoning, but as time advanced he became gradually worse, although 
the general health was maintained fairly well. Amongst the various 
plants of which the young man had charge was Primula obconica, 
this being grown to a large extent. He was informed by a friend that 
this plant was the cause of his blood poisoning some twelve months after 
he was first attacked, which explained the cause of no actual progress 
being made in removing the intense irritation and eruption which by 
this time had extended nearly all over the surface of his body, while his 
face and hands excited pity and sympathy. 
During the twelve months that had intervened he was constantly 
connected with the Primulas, but on being informed that they were 
the cause of his disease, he found means of removing them from his 
charge. As soon as the source of the mischief was removed signs of 
renewed health and freedom commenced to assert themselves; and, 
aided by the medical treatment undergone, the disease slowly died away, 
and though the young man is not yet in perfect health, he is now on a 
fair way for recovery. After passing about twelve months of intense 
suffering, the fact that his commencement to get well dated from the 
time that the plants were removed is in itself sufficient to prove that 
they were the cause of the disease, and also prevented his recovery.— 
G. H., Alton Towers. 
[Similar testimony to the above was published in the Journal of 
Horticulture a few years ago, though many growers of the plants have 
not found injurious effects resulting.] 
OUTDOOR CAMEL "jIAS AT ST. LEONARDS’ HILL. 
Anyone interested in the hardiness of the Camellia could not do 
better than to pay a visit to St. Leonard’s Hill, near Windsor, the seat of 
F. J. Barry, Esq., M.P. After a drive of two miles or so from the 
town one enters the park gates, ascending through woods with an 
occasional break of pasture to the high elevation on which the house 
stand.a, the terrace being on the level of the top of Windsor Castle 
Round Tower. Here a grand view of the surrounding country is 
obtained, and much has apparently been done by introducing Coniferse 
with other trees and shrubs of various kind*. 
The Camellias are in various positions, north, east, south and west, 
many of them having been planted nine or ten years, and two very 
large plants for a much longer period. They were, at the time of my 
visit, entirely covered with blooms and a host of buds yet to 
expand ; some varieties being completely weighed down with blooms 
and buds. The plants were as gresn and as vigorous as any of the 
surrounding Laurels. Mr. Brown, the head gardener, into mei me they 
had stood without any protection ; and although Laurels had been 
cut down during some of the past winters no harm seemed to be done to 
the Camellias. One large plant of Imbricata standing on the open lawn 
has been a grand sight. The Camellias are planted in a clayey loam 
with an opening mixture of leaf mould and o her materials, the majority 
of the plants being from 4 to 8 feet high, well clothed to the ground 
with foliage. There is not any bud-dropping, such as one generally 
finds when Camellias are growing indoors. 
Many of the Coniferae on the lawns are developing into excellent 
specimens, the soil, with the liberal treatment accorded them, being 
adapted to their requirements. The other departments of the garden 
are in good keeping, and Mr. Brown is an expert in the art of bee¬ 
keeping.—A. S. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
APBiii 10 th. 
Scientific Committee. — Rev. C. Wol’ey Dod in the chair. 
Present : Messrs. Michael, Cheshire, Wilks, Wilson, Professor Farmer, 
Dr. Hugo Mueller, and Dr. Masters. 
The Late Mr, Jenner Weir. —Dr, M sters announced the receipt of 
a letter in reply to the let'er of condolence addressed to Mrs. Weir and 
her family. In the reply allusion was made to the keen interest taken 
by Mr. Jenner Weir in everything re ating to gardening, and to the 
fact that “ his honourable connectioa with the Scientific Committee of 
the Society will be one of the treasured memories of his widow and 
children.” The letter was ordered to be inserted on tie minutes. 
Saxifraga luteo-p^irpurea, hort.—A conversation took place as to the 
correct name and position of this plant which was considered to br a 
hybrid. Dr. Masters announced that he was in correspondence about 
the plant with Professor Engler of Berlin, the monographer of the 
genus. 
Leafy Shoot from the Base of an Orchid Tuher, —A specimen of the 
tuber of some terrestrial Orchid was shown in which a leafy shoot was 
produced from the base. The specimen was referred to Professor 
Farmer. 
What a Daffodil can do. —Mr. E. H. Jenkins sent a specimen with 
the following communication :— 
“ Among some Daffodils that were flowered in the greenhouse in 
February, 1893, some few pots had become mixed. When flowering was 
complete these were set aside by themselves, and when the foliage had 
died away were shaken out of the soil. The few mixed ones were put 
aside for discarding, and were not troubled about afterwards ; therefore 
from July, 1893, to April .’ith, 1894, these few bulbs have been in an 
otherwise empty flower-pot, and the one enclosed was on the top. 
Without a particle of soil, fully exposed to the variations of weather and 
so forth, and without even producing a vestige of root, this bulb is doing 
its best to produce the flower that it contained. I have heard people 
talk of Daffodils when forced going blind ; but I have more than once 
stated, what the enclosed bulb seems to me to fully demonstrate, that if 
a flower bud is once formed within the bulb, it will come forth in some 
form or other, provided always, of course, that the bulbs are free of 
maggot. The variety enclosed is Rugilobus, which in the open beds 
were fully developed a week ago, so that the coming of its flower differs 
but little from bulbs planted in due stason,” 
Suntara Oranges. —Dr. Bouavia sent specimens, together with the 
following communication :— 
“ There is at present in the London shops a loose-skinned Orange 
from India, that commonly known there as the Silntara Orange, of which 
there are many varieties. The Siln ara Orange is the Citrus aurantinm 
sinense of Rumphius, while the Valencia Orange or Portugal Orange, of 
which also there are many varieties, is the Citrus anrantium sinense of 
Gallesio. The Mandarin or Tangeriue Orange is a sub-section of the 
Siintara type, and is a different thing fIotn the latter. In a Piccadilly 
shop the Siintara Orange has been r gbtly ticketed as an Indian Orange ; 
but in a Bond Street shop they ticketed it as Mandarin Orange from 
South Australia. This is manifestly erroneous. The Australian seasons 
are just the opposite of our seasons. Iheir spring is in September, and 
their Oranges do not ripen till July. So that thesj SiintfiiU could not 
have come from Australia. The Siintara Oranges in Ceylon are called 
Mandarins by the English. Oranges may be thus classed :—1, Cling- 
skins, including Citrus aurantium sin nse of Gallesio, Portugal Orange, 
St. Michaels, Blood Orange, Jaffa Orange, Navel Orange, Florida Orange, 
and many others. 2, Free-ekins, C tins aurantium sinensis of Rumphius, 
Siinta’a Orange of India, of which tbeie are numerous varieties. The 
Mandarin (Citrus nobilis of Lonreiro (?) I consider a sub-section of the 
Siintara type, but as different from it as any two distinct varieties of 
Apple or Pear. See pp. 44 and 53, and pi. cviii. of Oranges and 
Lemons of India and Ceylon, G. Bonavia." 
Ihe Bermuda Juniper, —Dr. Masters made some comments on fresh 
specimens received from Bermuda through the kindness of Arthur 
Haycock, Esq. The history of this tree is given in the “Gardeners’ 
Chronicle” for May 26th, 1883, by Mr. W. B. Hemsley. Juniperus 
bermudiana is the only tree of auy size in the island, where it is still 
abundant. It is quite distinct from the “ Red Cedar ” (Juniperus 
Virginians) of the United States, th ugh it may have descended from a 
common ancestor. The wood, a specimen of which was also exhibited, 
is very like that of the Virginian Juniper, and is used for constructional 
