342 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 22,1S91. 
gathering Peaches which weighed over 11 ozs., but he does not name the 
variety, though he exults in the knowledge that they were privileged to 
grace a royal and civic banquet. He must know that at such feasts the 
great majority of dishes are intended more to fill the eye than tickle the 
palate, and I have no doubt that both Mr. Waters and myself would 
make a more successful “ Bite ” at a good fair-sized Royal George than 
we should at a monster Salwey. At any rate, my little “ Bite ” has 
given him a chance to express himself in a more orthodox manner, for 
which he says “ he is not sorry therefore, if he is grateful I am proud 
in having made so successful a— Yorkshire Bite. 
Two Distinct Orchids. 
At the Royal Horticultural Society’s Exhibition in the Temple 
Gardens last May a plant was shown amongst the Orchids of 
Grammatophyllum Measuresianum, a new and very distinct species 
of much promise. It had fair long racemes of flowers fully 4 feet 
in height, and formed a remarkably effective specimen. The 
flowers are nearly 4 inches in diameter, white, with a greenish 
tinge, and regularly dotted with rich purplish brown—a peculiar 
combination of tints. The plant is free in growth and flowering, 
and is now in Mr. R. H. Measures’ collection at The Woodlands, 
Streatham. A first-class certificate was awarded when it was shown 
at the Temple, and the woodcut (fig. 69) was prepared to show 
the flower full size, and the raceme in miniature. 
Bulbophyllum amplum (fig. 70) is a totally different Orchid, 
and if we had a few more in the genus like it there would be little 
doubt but that they would become favourites. It has unusually 
large flowers for a Bulbophyllum, the sepals and petals creamy 
yellow dotted with bright red ; the lip is broad and somewhat 
ovate in form, of a rich maroon tint. The plant was shown by 
Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., Burford Lodge, Dorking, at one 
of the October meetings at Westminster last year. 
Orchid Sales. 
It appears that the Orchid sales are becoming more numerous 
than ever, and the metropolitan auction rooms are frequented by 
many amateurs and others. The sale of Dendrobium Phalsenopsis 
at Cheapside last week was a great surprise, for the room was 
crowded throughout the afternoon, and a brisk competition caused 
the prices to rise to large figures. As much as 28 guineas was paid 
for exceptionally good specimens, and we are informed that the 
total was about £2000, the largest amount yet realised for im¬ 
ported Orchids at one day’s sale in the City. The Dendrobiums 
were remarkably strong, some of the pseudo-bulbs being nearly 
4 feet in length and proportionately stout. The “ Golden-eyed 
Idol” did not seem to be in much demand, for it was disposed of 
for the modest sum of a guinea. 
CHOICE DESSERT PLUMS. 
[A paper by Mr. G-. Bunyard, read at the meeting of the Horticultural Club, 
Hotel Windsor, Oct. 13th, 1891.] 
An ideal dessert Plum is a fruit that possesses flavour in a 
highly concentrated form which shall require no outside addition 
to render it agreeable to the palate. I therefore propose in the 
following paper to treat only of those which possess this character 
in a marked degree. It will be necessary to divide them in various 
classes, though as in all natural subjects, in some cases these will 
overlap and blend with others. First, Green Gages ; second, Yellow 
and Green Plums ; third, Red and Purple Plums ; fourth, Purple 
Gages ; fifth, Damsons. 
Green Gages. 
The Old Green Gage. —Still one of the most delicious of Plums, 
and in its perfection is not excelled by any others. 
The Late Green Gage. —Similar in all respects to the original, but 
is about few days later. 
Guthrie's Green Gage. —More oval in shape, of brisk sweet flavour, 
and handsome in appearance. 
Bryanston Gage. —Somewhat larger than the type, and forms 
a healthy standard tree ; its fruit ripens gradually, it has rather 
more of Plum flavour than the Green Gage, but is rich and refresh¬ 
ing ; rather late. 
Reine Claude de Bavay. —A large late Gage, fine in appearance, 
and nearly equal in flavour to the Green Gage. As a sub-section in 
the Green Gage class I would here include the Transparent Gages, 
for which we have to thank Messrs. Rivers of Sawbridgeworth. 
The Early Transparent. — A vigorous grower, and bears 
profusely. 
The Transparent Gage. —A sturdy, but irregular, grower, difficult 
to form into a well-shaped tree. Its fruit is of the Green Gage 
shape, pale lemon in colour, marked with red dots and stripes, 
with russet tinges, and is, when fully ripe, a perfect sweetmeat. 
It is somewhat apt to crack on the tree, but these in perfect fruits 
are often most delicious in flavour. The late Transparent Gage is 
a great addition to this class, as it is nearly a fortnight later than 
the Transparent. 
Yellow and Green Plums. 
Denniston's Superb. —A medium sized fruit, and is the earliest 
Gage to ripen. The fruit is oval, mottled with yellow and green ; 
its flesh is tender and true, flavour delicate and refined. It is a 
profuse bearer, and a capital substitute for Green Gages in jam 
making. The tree is of moderate growth, and will succeed well in 
any form. One of the earliest to ripen in August. 
Oullins Golden Gage. —A very handsome pale yellow Plum of 
large size. This ripens early in August. It is a valuable garden 
Plum, and of rich half Gage flavour. It is rather apt to crack, and 
as a standard does not bear till about ten years old, after which it 
crops regularly, and is most valuable as an early Plum. 
Jefferson's. —One of the largest dessert Plums. Long oval in 
shape, orange yellow in colour, marked with red spots near the 
stalk ; it is a very rich flavour, and a good regular bearer, succeeding 
in any form. In fact, one of the most reliable Plums we have. It 
possesses a somewhat thick skin, and on that account is valuable for 
bottling, and less liable to attack from wasps. 
Bonne Bouclie. —A somewhat similar Plum to Jefferson’s but 
later. It is an admirable grower, produces fruit somewhat like 
Golden Drop in shape, very rich, sweet flavour and juicy. 
