Maj S, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
349 
important districts for producing Onions, and in many cases both 
Oranges and Onions are grown very closely together. 
“ 2, Blood Oranges are often stored in the same warehouses as Onions 
before they are shipped, and also before and during packing. 
“ 3, We would say that there are few steamers which bring Blood 
Oranges from Spain that do not bring Onions in the same hold. 
“ 4, After being landed, Oranges and Onions are stored very often 
in the same floor, sometimes for a couple of weeks together.” 
So it appears that Valencia Oranges are surrounded by an Onion- 
tainted atmosphere from the time of their growth on the trees to the 
time they are sold in shops. 
I think this is enough to account for the strange Onion-like flavour 
that I have detected in several lots of Blood Oranges sold in the London 
shops. 
Other kinds of Oranges from Valencia must come in contact with a 
tainted atmosphere, but for some reason I have not detected this taint 
in other than Blood Oranges. 
The question that now remains to be answered is this ; Why is the 
Blood Orange more subject to atmospheric contamination than other 
kinds ? Is there any ingredient in the Blood Orange which has a 
special attraction for the aroma of Onions ? 
I am not in a position to attempt any reply to this question. 
I have put some Blood Oranges, which were already slightly tainted, 
in a box with a chopped Spanish Onion for ten days, and now submit 
them to the Committee for examination. 
I may add that Messrs. Isaacs & Sons have kindly offered to send me 
a few Oranges, which may not have come in contact with Onions, for 
experiment. If I get them, I may perhaps be able to submit the result 
of further investigations in this direction. 
GALEOPSIS DUBIA. 
A COEEESPONDENT sends US a spray of the above-mentioned plant 
with the remark that he “has never seen anything like it before.” No 
doubt there are other readers who likewise are unacquainted with 
Galeopsis dubia, or ochroleuca as it is sometimes called, and we there¬ 
fore reproduce a sketch (fig. 57) prepared from a plant that fiowered in 
the Royal Gardens at Kew. This Galeopsis is a member of the Labiatse 
family, the Hemp Nettle, and is an example of a native plant succeeding 
well under cultivation, and making a beautiful border plant. It is an 
annual, requiring a somewhat sandy soil, in which it grows freely and 
flowers during the late spring and summer. The flowers are yellow, 
varying slightly in the depth of colour, sometimes very pale or rarely 
white, while forms have also been observed with a purplish tinge. They 
are large and clustered at the apex of the stems, the leaves being 
sharply cut at the margins. This Galeopsis is widely distributed in 
Europe, but is somewhat rare in England, being regarded by some 
writers as a colonist. It is readily raised from seeds, which are produced 
freely. 
SYRINGING “MALMAISON” CARNATIONS. 
The concise note of Mr. J. Hamilton on this subject (page 327) is 
evidently advanced in a spirit of confident exaltation. Indeed, he 
attempts to lead readers to the conclusion that syringing causes spot 
and fungus on these plants. This illusion, however, is easily dispelled, 
as there are many growers troubled with fungus who never have 
syringed their plants, and the probable reason why Mr. Hamilton is 
more successful since he has adopted the non-syringing system is that he 
has learned to understand their cultural requirements in other respects 
better. 
If Mr. Hamilton had read my previous remarks about the matter 
(page 102), he would have found no difficulty in interpreting the phrase 
“ Die the syringe with persistent intelligence.” I then advocated the 
practice of syringing the material on which the pots stand on, and the 
foliage of the plants in bright weather. It may be that such well-known 
growers as Messrs. Jennings, Douglas, and Roberts do not syringe ; but 
how many gardeners have such splendid conveniences for the growth of 
Carnations ? With houses devoted solely to their culture, shading from 
bright sunshine and damping between the pots obviates to a great 
extent the necessity for syringing. Hundreds of gardeners, however, 
grow a few dozens of these Carnations, which they are compelled to 
keep in houses in which other plants are grown. In such cases shading 
is impracticable, and I am convinced, after many trials, that judicious 
syringing is one of the best known methods of keeping “ Malmaisons ” in 
good health, and of preventing the spread of fungus wherever the plants 
are grown under the conditions above indicated.—H. Dunkin. 
AURICULA EXHIBITION AT MANCHESTER. 
The Show of Auriculas and Polyanthus in connection with the 
National Auricula Society, which bad been postponed from the previous 
Tuesday, was held in the Botanical Gardens, Old Trafford, on Saturday 
last. The display was not very large, but many of the exhibits were of 
fine quality. 
In the class for six dissimilar Auriculas Mr. T. Lord, Todmorden, was 
a good first, staging Rev. F. D. Horner, Geo. Lightbody, Mrs. Potts, 
Acme, Prince of Greens, and Mrs. Dodwell, the latter gaining the prize 
for the best Auricula in the Show. Mr. B. Simonite, Sheffield, was 
second, having Ruby, Henry Wilson, and Dr. Hardy (Simonite) as his 
best. Third, Mr. Irving Hind, Halifax, who had Black Bess and Acme 
conspicuous. Fourth, Mr. W. Midgley, Halifax. Fifth, Miss Woodhead, 
Halifax. Sixth, J. Stokes, Birmingham. Seventh, Mr. J. Clements, 
Birmingham. For four dissimilar the first and second prizes were the 
same as in the previous class, Mrs. A. Potts, Rev. F. D. Horner, 
Geo. Lightbody, and Acme forming Mr. Lord’s exhibit; whilst Mr. 
Simonite had particularly good Luna (Horner), grey edged, and Jupiter, 
green edged. Mr. Midgley made a fair third, and Miss Woodhead 
fourth. Mr. Richard Gorton, Eccles, was first for two dissimilar, having 
Achilles and a good plant of Heatherbell ; Mr. Jas. Wood, Staleybridge, 
was second ; Mr. Thos. Buckley, Staleybridge, third ; and Mr. J. W. 
Bentley, Stakehill, Castleton, fourth. 
For a single Auricula, green edged, Mr. T. Lord scored with Rev. 
Fia. 57,— GALEOPSIS DUBIA. 
F. D. Horner; Mr. R. Gorton second with J. S. Hanaford (Simonite), 
Mr. B. Simonite taking all the remaining six prizes in this class. In the 
class for a single Auricula, grey edged, Mr. T. Lord first and second 
with Geo. Lightbody and Lancashire Hero ; third, Mr. J. Stokes with 
Alex. Meiklejohn; fourth. Miss Woodhead. For a single plant, white 
edged, Mr. T. Lord first and third with Acme and Conservative ; Miss 
Woodhead being an excellent second with Heatherbell, Mr. Simonite 
gaining the fourth and fifth positions. Fora single self Mr. Irving Hind 
took first and third honours with Mrs. Potts and Black Bess ; second 
and fifth, Mr. R. Gorton with a very fine ruby coloured seedling; fourth, 
Mr. B. Simonite. 
The Alpine Auriculas made a charming display, and were in striking 
contrast to the quaintness of the other varieties. Mr. J; Beswick, 
Middleton, secured the first honour, showing Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Beswick, 
Dr. Knott, and Forest Queen. Mr. R. Gorton was second with Bright 
Eyes and Forest Queen, specially good ; third, Mr. J. W. Bentley ; fourth, 
Mr. Jno. Lees, Middleton ; fifth, Mr. J. Stelfox. For a single plant, 
yellow centre, Mr. J. W. Bentley staged a pretty seedlingnamed Winnie, 
of a deep rich ruby shade ; second and third, Mr. J. Beswick with 
John Allen ; fourtt, Mr. Bentley. For single plant, white eye, Mr. 
J. Beswick was first, second, and fourth with seedlings very bright ; 
third, Mr. R. Gorton ; fifth, Mr. J. Stokes. Some beautiful seedlings 
were staged, and found many admirers. Mr. Houghton, gardener to 
Geo. Holt, Esq., Sudley, Aigburth, a noted Liverpool grower, staged a 
box of light coloured seedlings. 
