6 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 7. 1887. 
There are more than fifty stems of Digitalis in the garden, but no other 
inclining to this formation. This plant has one central stem, and four 
more slender (growing from the ground) offshoots, which have fewer 
flowers. Each of these five stems terminates in a monstrous flower> 
which is circular campanulate, more or less regular, with a capsule 
formed of about ten carpels (the stigmas having an opening in their 
centre), and being five or ten celled. In every case of these five 
terminal flowers it is the first instead of the last to open, so that the 
inflorescence is determinate as respects the terminal flower, whilst the 
other flowers, and they are fewer than usual, are developed normally, 
and show no indication of monstrosity. The terminal flower of the 
central stem is surrounded by a circular involucre of bracts or sepals 
(scarcely distinguishable from each other) of about twenty-one or more 
leaves in three whorls, or rather crowded spirals, reminding one of 
involucre of the Composite. The corolla is 3| inches across, and is 
plaited and lobed, the petals forming it being more or less separated 
at their terminations, and one being attached outside by its sub-tubular 
base to the base of the corolla. 
“ The corolla has twenty-four lobes, with five petaline stamens growing 
upon it, eighteen perfect stamens—one abortive. The terminal flowers 
on the other stems are of the same kind, but formed of fewer parts and 
less plaited than the above, one being imperfectly united on two sides of 
the corolla.” 
We have seen similar instances before, but this is so well marked 
that it is worth depicting. We have also seen a variety in which the 
tube is greatly enlarged and somewhat like a Gloxinia. 
MADRESFIELD COURT GRAPES. 
Of black Grapes no more delicate variety can be grown than this, 
the risk being either at stoning or when swelling preparatory to colour¬ 
ing. Knowing its peculiarities, no Grape with me has such close atten¬ 
tion. In the case stated by “ A Hampshire Gardener,” I am inclined 
to think that while fumigation did it no good, other causes were at work 
to produce the calamity. Foliage is no criterion just now, as this may 
be good and yet the Graces be faulty. Had syrin.ing been mentioned 
this might have put me on the track ; still, if the house had been closed, 
and sun shining through on to the Grapes after fumigating, the evil 
would be done at once. Again, should the vinery be closed so that any 
condensed moisture settled on the berries with smoke the mischief would 
be done quickly. The skin of this variety is very susceptible to injury, 
as sun will affect this when all other varieties are safe in the same 
house. Late ventilating iu bright weather would cause the injury. 1 
have made front ventilation so that a little air is admitted constantly. 
Not having fumigated a vinery for some years I am unable to speak 
personally of its effects.— Stephen Castle, We*t Lynn. 
t*el)id5 
ODONTOGLOS3UM CRISPUM. 
Though such large numbers of the Odontoglossum have been 
imported of recent years, and it might be expected that succeeding 
consignments would begin to contain a greater proportion of poor 
varieties, this does not seem to be the case, and the fact is the col¬ 
lectors have to push their way into fresh districts to obtain any¬ 
thing worth sending home. Some places have been thoroughly 
ransacked for years, and as each tiaveller has been anxious to obtain 
varieties distinguished by their size, good form, or rich markings, 
those who go in search of such plants now necessarily have to look 
very closely for them and extend their journeys. At first less care 
was exercised in the selection, there was a demand for all, and the 
better forms had not acquired such a distinctive value as they have 
now, consequently nearly every importation contained a large pro¬ 
portion of inferior varieties which would scarcely be allowed house 
room at the present time. Of course they are not all treasures now 
that are brought over for sale, as many, no doubt, are collected when 
not in flower. But some collectors have become noted for the high 
quality of their consignments with much advantage to the firms 
that have employed them. The best varieties of this favourite 
Orchid command high prices, but there are thousands of plants 
grown of good varieties, the flowers of which find their way to 
Covent Garden and the leading florists’ shops in considerable 
quantities. We have recently seen a variety bought as a plant that 
had not flowered, and certainly if the dealer had seen it he would 
not have parted with it for the very moderate sum demanded. The 
sepals and petals were broad, well proportioned; the latter slightly 
fringed at the margin and pure white, the upper sepal with a 
median line of purplish crimson and one central brown spot, the 
two lower sepals deeply stained with crimson, each with one central 
brown blotch. The lip was particularly neat, broad, slightly but 
evenly fringed, the crest bright yellow, a rich reddish-brown centre, 
a white margin dotted pale purple. Varieties like this have a very 
distinct appearance ; they are more pleasing than the heavily 
spotted forms, and more effective than the pure white varieties. 
For buttonholes, one flower of a fine Odontoglossum crispum with 
a small Adiantum frond behind it is admirable. 
ORCHID FLOWERS. 
Mr. J. Cypher, Cheltenham, sends fresh bright flowers of the 
following—Cattleya gigas Sanderiana, one of the richest coloured 
forms we have seen, and there are many handsome Cattleyas of 
this time now in cultivation ; the sepals and petals were deeply 
suffused with crimson, the lip of a marvellous rich magenta hue ; 
Cattleya Warneri, very beautiful, a capital variety ; Odontoglossum 
crispum, fine spotted variety, the flowers well formed ; a good 
variety of O. Pescatorei and Cattleya Gaskelliana, from a plant 
with six fine white flowers. 
BOLBOPHYLLUM BARBIGERUM. 
The Burfoid Lodge Orchids at South Kensington last week 
formed a beautiful and much admired group, as not only were 
several of the plants valuable varieties or interesting curiosities, but 
they were all notable for their healthy condition, proving that they 
appreciate the treatment accorded them by Mr. Bickerstaffe. One 
of the most peculiar of what would be termed the botanical curio¬ 
sities was Bolbophyllum barbigerum, which is illustrated in my 
treatise on Orchids, and specially described in the chapter devoted 
to a consideration of the characteristics of the labellum. Br. 
Lindley has noticed the plant in the following manner :—“ The lip 
is one of the most extraordinary organs known, even amongst 
orchidaceous plants. It is a long, narrow, flexuose, sharp-pointed 
body, closely covered with a yellow felt; just within its point is a 
deep purple beard of exceedingly fine hairs ; on the under side, at 
a little distance from the point of the lip, is another such beard ; 
and besides these there is, at the end of the lip, a brush, consisting 
of very long purple threads, so exceedingly delicate that the slightest 
disturbance of the air sets them in motion, when they wave gently 
to and fro, like a tuft of threads cut from a spider’s web. Some 
are of the same thickness throughout, others terminate in an oblong 
club, so that when the hairs are waving in the air (and I do not 
know that they are ever entirely at rest) a part floats gracefully 
and slowly, while others are compelled by the weight of the glan¬ 
dular extremities to a more rapid oscillation. Nor is this all. The 
lip it3elf is articulated with the column by such a very slight joint 
that to breathe upon it is sufficient to produce a rocking movement 
so conspicuous and protracted that one is really tempted to believe 
that there must be something of an animal nature infused into this 
most unplant-like production.”—L. C. 
THOUGHTS ON CURRENT TOPICS. 
It has been almost too hot to think lately, and as to writiflg I can 
scarcely understand anyone indulging in it as a pleasurable operation 
with the temperature between 80° and 90° in the shade. Even read¬ 
ing is irksome to the indolent, of which I fear I am one, and such 
individuals are apt to merelyglance over the pages before them and wonder 
how it has been possible to fill them ; still, the fact that they are filled 
shows that all men are not lazy, and all the more credit to those who 
labour when so many are naturally inclined to rest. And beyond 
doubt rest is well won by many whose lot is to toil the livelong day 
under a tropical sun, and then commence the tiring work of water¬ 
ing till the shades of evening invite them to repose. 
I AM inclined to think there is no class of men who work so many 
hours’ overtime as gardeners do—not for what they gain by it, for hun¬ 
dreds are never paid for this extra labour, nor do they expect a cash 
return. They are content if they can win success and approval, with 
a holiday now and then pleasantly granted at a convenient time. In 
my experience it is not those men who, in their probationary days, 
have rebelled against a little extra labour when circumstances de¬ 
manded it, who have made the best headway in the world ; and also 
I am equally convinced that those emjloyers of men who are unrea¬ 
sonably exacting do not get the best served. During such weather as 
we have lately experienced many gardeners have had to work long 
and wearily, both before and after the stereotyped hour's, and is it too 
much to hope and expect that consideration will be extended them 
when the strain is over, and that their wages may not be “ stopped ” 
during a few days’ or a week’s cessation from labour when this can 
be indulged without prejudice to the contents of the gardens in their 
charge ? There are few things l like better to see ami to think about 
