161 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
f August 23, 1388. 
Brussels Sprouts by at least half the persons who have their share 
of both. So much for the sweeping “ never,” and I suspect the 
condemned culprit will he grown more than ever next year.— 
A Yorkshire Cabbage Grower. 
BLUE DISAS. 
Blue Disas have been mentioned in the horticultural press 
more frequently than they have been seen flowering in this country, 
but one of them, Disa lacera, is now flowering in Mr. A. H. Smee’s 
collection at Hackbridge Grange. It is one of Mr. O’Brien’s intro¬ 
ductions, and it is on his authority that Mr. Smee’s gardener, Mr. 
G. W. Cummins, supposes it has not flowered in England before. 
The plant is in a 3-inch pot, throwing up a straight thin wiry- 
looking stem about 18 inches high from the tuber, the grass-like 
leaves withering before the spike appeared. The flowers, of which 
there are four or five, are about an inch across, and of clear coeru- 
lean blue, with a small lip, fringed, and much darker in colour. 
It is an attractive novelty. Several new Disas are grown at Hack- 
bridge, and they are found to succeed best on latticework sup¬ 
ported a few inches above a stream of water overhung with trees 
in the garden. The pots and roots are there constantly damp and 
cool. Masdevallias and several Odontoglossums appear to enjoy 
the same treatment, but thrips do not, a consignment of plants 
much infested with these insects being now quite clean and rooting 
freely. Several new Disas from very small tubers are being estab¬ 
lished in a cold frame in a shaded position, the pots stood on others 
in large saucers of water. These plants do not thrive in any of the 
houses, because they are not sufficiently cool at the roots and the 
air surrounding the pots too dry. 
THE LYCASTE DISEASE. 
Many growers of Lycastes, notably of L. Skinneri, have been 
troubled through the pseudo-bulbs of the plants gradually decaying, 
the disease appearing in the form of small dark specks, which 
enlarge till the entire tissue is destroyed. This having occurred in 
the collection above noted, an analytical chemist prepared a trans¬ 
parent liquid, resembling water in appearance, but in smell most 
offensive, which Mr. Cummins was desired to try on an infected 
plant. One of L. Skinneri alba, thought to be incurable, was 
chosen, and the liquid applied to it with a camel-hair brush. The 
malady was at once checked, and now a pseudo-bulb perfectly clean 
and healthy has sprung from those unmistakeably diseased, and the 
bad and good in the same pot cannot be mistaken. It is a pity 
there is no Tomato disease at Hackbridge to which the innocent¬ 
looking liquid could be applied, or there might he a chance of 
making the promised fortune. Perhaps Mr. Iggulden might like 
to try it, since he tells us that Dr. Masters’ proposed remedy has 
failed ; not that our Tomato authority wants to make a fortune— 
that would be no novelty to him—and he would only be too glad to 
make a remedy for the Tomato disease known to the world. 
THE COMMERCIAL REALISATION OF FRUIT. 
(Continued from page 145.) 
A marked feature of the value of fruit crops is largely lost sight of 
by all home growers, and that is the deterioration that takes place in 
the flavour of fruits owing to the delay that takes place, and the treat¬ 
ment they are subjected to in their transit to market. The quality of 
the crops that occupies an inferior position, owing to this circumstance, 
is something incredible. Most of this, if properly dealt with in the 
vicinity when gathered, would retain its freshness and flavour, and con¬ 
sequently its value. These and many other advantages can only be 
ensured by commercial co-operation, which may be acquired if the fruit 
farmers of a district will combine to place their crops at their own 
general disposition for joint realisation in the most suitable manner that 
local circumstances pointed out. If this were done to a sufficient extent 
I know that efficient commercial assistance could be secured for all 
purposes —viz., 
1st, To supply all the facilities necessary for the purpose of dealing 
with the crops in the most advantageous manner. 
2nd, To organise an outlet for the fruit in every possible direction, 
and arrange for its direct despatch to retailers from the farms or centres 
of collection, so that expenses may be saved and loss of time avoided. 
3rd, To form and register local societies for the producers of each 
parish or district, and to establish a central society in London, in the 
management of which they will take part and control so far as the con¬ 
duct of their own business operations requires. 
4th, Arrange for the provision of the necessary funds for the local 
societies to make payments on account to the growers upon the delivery 
of their fruits, pending realisation. 
5th, Provide the plant, machinery, and utensils of trade, necessary 
and requisite for all the operations, to effectively and profitably prepare 
the crops of fruit for realisation as may be determined upon. 
6th, Select the skilled and practical labour necessary to the various 
operations, and arrange for the working and supervision of the business 
details. 
7th, Establish and provide the London office with its furniture, 
fittings, and clerical staff, &c., and organise the direct sale of fiesh and 
preserved fruits to retail traders and shippers. 
8th, Provide the requisite advertisements, printing, books, stationery,, 
postages, telegrams, travelling expenses, and other disbursements of and 
incidental to the business operations. 
The commercial arrangements referred to as necessary for the 
effective preparation for sale and the utilisation of the fruits, their sale 
to the trade, for the public, and the organisation of a systematic system 
of speedy distribution, all of which measures are essential to ensure suc¬ 
cessful results, among other things include— 
(A) The sorting, classing, and packing of fresh fruits into small 
boxes for effective transport, and properly marked and branded for 
ready sale. 
(b) The provision of cold stores and cold storage chambers in vessels 
and railway carriages, that fruits, immediately they are gathered, may 
be cared for and maintained in a fresh condition by being kept in a cool 
temperature until they reach the retailer. 
(c) The arrangement of details for the shipment of fruits to the- 
Continent, India, and the Colonies. 
(d) The formation of the establishment for the evaporation or dlying 
of fruits, and the creation of a demand for them by the public. 
(e) The arrangements for the preservation of fruits by their manu¬ 
facture with sugar, while fresh, by crystallising, candying, and other 
processes for the preparation of dessert fruits and sweetmeats. 
(f) To provide for the preservation of fruits by bottling and canning 
in various forms for dessert and cooking purposes. 
(G) The formation of the factory for the pulping of fruits, and 
their preparation and ultimate sale to manufacturers for conversion into 
jams, jellies, &c. 
(h) The arrangement for the manufacture of jams, jellies, fruit 
butters, marmalade, and other preparation, and the arrangement for 
their sale in the home and colonial markets. 
(i) The establishment of a system of standard qualities and qualifi¬ 
cations, coupled with registered trade marks and brands, that home* 
grown produce and its quantities may be prominently known in the 
markets, to the trade, and by the public. 
The above conditions are absolutely requisite and necessary to enable 
fruits to be beneficially realised, they cannot be effectively carried out 
by any one grower, or even by a body of growers, unless they are pos¬ 
sessed of a larger amount of commercial knowledge than is usually 
found among farmers who, as a body, give all their time and attention 
to totally different matters. 
The sound, practical, and legitimate course for producers to pursue is 
for all within a reasonable district to co-operate with each other for the 
realisation of their crops in connection with one central organisation,, 
which would undertake the whole of the commercial duties pointed out, 
and take upon themselves all the financial responsibilities and risks, and 
receive as their remuneration and repayment a portion of the amounts 
received for the produce. From this combination of agricultural, in¬ 
dustrial, and commercial experience the highest results might be looked 
for, inasmuch as the members of the local organisation would manage 
the preparation of their own produce in a definite and systematic manner,, 
of which they would be from time to time informed and advised, by 
which they would control their expenditure, and keep it at the lowest 
limit. While they would have the benefit of an organisation for the sale 
of their produce, whose importance and effectiveness would grow with 
the increase of the local societies—and who instead of deducting as at 
present certain fixed sums, irrespective of the amount realised, which at 
present sometimes absorbs all, and very frequently nearly all, the pro* 
ceeds of the amounts received for the fruits, while the organisation 
would be content to receive a portion—say one-fourth—of the amount 
received for the fruits as their payment and recompense, thus leaving 
with the growers at all times a very large proportion of the amount 
realised. 
BATTERSEA PARK. 
^When this and other of the London parks passed to the control of 
the Metropolitan Board of Works some fears were entertained that the 
change would not be to their advantage. It is gratifying to perceive 
that not only is the popular park under notice well maintained, but 
great improvements are in progress, and others in contemplation. The 
whole of the glass structures provided for raising and preserving plants 
are undergoing thorough renovation, this involving a cost of upwards 
of £3000. Another great work to be undertaken is the cleansing of the 
lakes, and a deep and large culvert is being made to empty them into the 
Thames at low water, and fill them at high tide—an important pro¬ 
vision and distinct permanent improvement. The houses have been allowed 
to fall into a most dilapidated state. They do not appear to have been 
painted or repaired for years. The late Superintendent was evidently 
the victim of State parsimony to an extent that the public could 
