37G 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 29, 1885. 
exterior will be readily forgiven if she shall become a mother of 
giant heroes. In the same way Gloire Lyonnaise must not be at 
once discarded because it is not perfectly full, for it is distinct and 
very vigorous, and the thin Roses are the best seed-bearers. So let 
it be fertilised with all sorts of other varieties, and see if it will not 
give us seedlings worthy of the raiser of La France. For it cannot 
be expected that a race of faultless Roses shall spring up all of a 
sudden, and for a long time advantage must be taken of any 
valuable characteristic that any variety may possess. Thus at first 
there will be vigorous growers with fine flowers, but, subject to 
mildew, or not autumnal, good autumnals resisting mildew, but 
with flowers perhaps dull in colour or faulty in shape, and so on. 
There are already at any rate two Roses, George Baker and Mrs. 
George Dickson, that seem to have a wonderful power of resisting 
mildew, and additional encouragement to persevere in attempting 
to perpetuate this characteristic should be found in the success 
which has attended the efforts to raise seedling Potatoes capable of 
resisting disease. In the meantime rosarians must be content to 
wear their Roses “ with a difference,” and should be alive to the 
necessity of opposing a tendency to consider only the floral distinc¬ 
tion without regard to main device displayed when criticising a 
cadet of the Rose family. 
It was hoped that a beginning in really vigorous Hybrid 
Perpetuals had been made by Madame Gabriel Luizet; but un¬ 
fortunately that vigorous and free-flowering variety seems to have 
been obtained by means of some summer Rose, so that it is a victim 
to mildew, and is very chary of its flowers in autumn. Lady of 
the Lake seems to have the vigour, but not the perpetual blooming. 
Perhaps Her Majesty will prove tbe paragon of all the virtues that 
her title implies. 
But evidently these are the points to strive for in future in 
raising Roses—vigour of growth, perpetual bloom, and freedom 
from mildew ; and let it be hoped that the lull in the rush of 
novelties alluded to by “ A. C.” may be owing to the growing con¬ 
viction in the minds of raisers of the necessity of these qualities. 
It is quite possible that there may be shades of colour between 
which yet another may stand and be held distinct, but if there be 
not vigour no progress is being made. A perfect bloom of Mrs. 
Laxton, Constantine Tretiakoff, or Olliver Delhomme is as lovely 
as may be ; but there will be deaths among such varieties every 
year, and it is this kind of Rose with no constitution that disheartens 
would-be growers who have not the time to give to their gardens 
which more fortunate enthusiasts manage to afford. And therefore 
it is important, without carping too critically at the imperfections 
of really vigorous Perpetuals of strong constitution, but noting 
their good qualities, to try and obtain from them such varieties 
that those who most need them, working hard elsewhere than in 
gardens, may in their brief leisure be refreshed during summer by 
first-rate Roses, which shall be there again to welcome them on 
their return home in September after their August holiday.— 
T. W. G. 
CANKER IN FRUIT TREES. 
I do not intend to trouble your readers with any lengthy remarks 
again on this subject. I happen to have an opportunity to send by a 
friend a young specimen tree, completely refuting the root theory of 
“ Lathyrus’s ” cause of canker, page 247. The roots of this tree have 
never been 6 inches below the surface or in the subsoil. “ Lathyrus’s ” 
treatment is excellent I have no doubt, but if I cure canker without 
disturbing a root by very careful pruning— i.e., cutting out all the cankered 
wood, and so getting rid of 'hat containing the insects as I advised, I 
contend the cause is easily detec'ed above ground. 
I am well acquainted with half a dozen kinds of insects occupying 
cankered places, although I am unable to name all, but perhaps our 
friend “Entomologist” can give the name of the tiny fellows which are 
invariably found in every instance. I admit I assume these to be the 
cause of canker, for the good reason that they are always underneath ths 
dying bark, and consequently cannot be seen eating it as we see a horse 
or cow grazing in the field. I should be sorry to charge even an insect 
wrongly, but why are we not to believe them to be the cause if always found 
there? We charge aphides, scale, mealy bug, thrips, and others with 
mischief without actually seeing them eat our trees and plants. If I get 
rid of canker hy getting rid of the insects, I want no better proof of them 
being the cause and not the effect of canker. An hour with the micro¬ 
scope is of more use in such a case than any amount of writing.— 
J. Hiam. 
[Some examples of cankered wood sent by Mr. Hiam have been ex¬ 
amined by “Entomologist.” who remarks on them as follows:—“The 
portion of Apple wood sent contained only a few perfect mites, but many 
exuviae and portions of bodies, suggesting that this species had been 
preyed upon by some parasite, presumably of the same tribe, but of 
another fanrly. To ascertain positively the name of this insect would 
require an examination of various specimens by high microscopic power, 
and the group is acknowledged bv continental observers, who know much 
more about the Acari than we Britishers do, to be one of unusual diffi¬ 
culty ; tin names are hard to determine, and their habits are obscure. I 
feel, however, that I can hardly be in error when I pronounce it to be 
one of the beetle mites of the genus Hoplophora, and probably the 
victim frequently of a parasite nearly as large as itself, a Tyroglyphus, 
belonging to the cheesemite division of the Acari. How perplexing these 
creatures are is shown by the circumstance that what some naturalists 
regard as the adult stage of some Hoplophorre has been considered by 
oihers to be a parasite which has lived in the skin of the mite which has 
been the vegetable feeder. Tbe solution of these difficulties would not 
materially affect the question whether the insect is the cause or the 
result of the canker. ClapaiAie of Geneva, who studied particularly one 
species of Hoplophora that occurs on the Fir, where it makes burrows of 
some length, remarks that it is found upon wood that is moist and decay¬ 
ing. A species was detected by Mr. A. Murray upon the roots of the 
Vine, but this appeared only to be present where phylloxeras had 
brought the plant into an unhealthy condition. Such facts rather favour 
the theory that these mites make their attack on Apple wood when it 
has passed into a sickly condition.” 
Referring to the young tree sent by Mr. Hiam, we have to say that 
though the roots are quite clean, the union of the scion with the stock is 
so faulty, and the ligatures that had been employed were left in position 
so long, that the tissue was ruptured and the sap vessels contracted and 
obstructed to such an extent that the tree could not possibly flourish, no 
matter how good the soil might be in which it was planted.] 
NOTES AT UPPER HOLLOWAY. 
ORCHIDS. 
Mr. B. S. Williams’ nursery at Upper Holloway has become so 
celebrated for its wonderful collection of Orchids, that a visitor naturally 
proceeds first to the houses devoted to them, and though .October is not a 
month in which to expect a great display, it is surprising how many 
beautiful and rare plants are flowering there now. They are mostly 
scattered through the collection, but were they gathered into one house 
quite a gay little exhibition would be formed. In several of the houses 
there are banks of attractive plants facing the doors, and comprising the 
following—Zygopetalum Gautieri, a purple-flowered form, much in the 
way of Z. maxillare. Vanda coerulea is represented by several plants 
of good varieties, one bearing a spike of nine flowers. Catt'eya Gaskel- 
liana is also handsome, bearing flowers freely, four or more in a spike, 
the sepals and petals blush-tinted, the lip rich crimson with an orange 
throat. This is notable for the long period the flowers remain in good 
condition, those we saw having been expanded for three weeks, and they 
still looked quite fresh. Cattleya superba is represented by a grandly 
coloured variety; the bright yellow Oncidium varicosum, the graceful 
pale violet and white Ionopsis paniculata, and the old well-named Odon- 
toglossum grande add their charms to the groups. Late-imported plants 
of Oncidium concolor are flowering now, this being a habit which Mr. 
Williams has repeatedly observed in this useful Orchid. Oncidium 
pnetextum has several panicles of brown flowers. Sophronitis grandiflora 
has some large and brightly coloured flowers. Leptotes bicolor is 
charming suspended in small pots, its narrow white sepals and petals con¬ 
trasting pleasingly with the crimson-purple lip. Oncidium tigrinum has 
numerous flowers. Laelia autumnalis atro-rubens is an exceptionally 
richly coloured variety, the flowers being flushed with deep crimson. 
The lovely little Pleiones maculata and lagenaria are in capital con¬ 
dition, the former with white sepals and petals and crimson-spotted lip, 
the latter with pale purple sepals and petals, and a white lip with crimson 
streaks and tip. A few potfuls of these, with the larger P. Wallichiana, 
are particularly pretty at this time of year. They are now assigned to 
the genus Ccelogyne, but it will be a long time, for the much better sound¬ 
ing garden name will become obsolete. They have only one defect viz., 
flowering without foliage, and to remedy this a few young Ferns are 
annually planted in the pots or pans with them. Another useful plant 
that is destined to become a great favourite is Dendrobium Vearei, of 
which Mr. Williams has an uncommonly fino specimen. Tbe flowers are 
pure white with broad rounded petals, and are produced with great 
freedom, rendering them well adapted for cutting, and as white Orchids 
are scarce they will be much appreciated for that purpose. The plant m 
question has four racemes each with ten to fourteen flowerp, that with 
the last named number being one of the finest we have Feen. Cypnpe- 
diums are represented by C. punctatum violaceum, one of the best of the 
insigne type ; C. Sedeni with dozens of its rosy flowers ; C. Spicerianum, 
now an established favourite ; and C. Harrisianum. Cattleya Regnelh is 
showing flower. C. Harrisoni violacea, having crimson sepals and 
petals, a white lip, and a crimson throat, is handsome ; the curious 
Coelogyne Massangeana, with white, buff, and brown flowers ; the famed 
Dove Orchid, Peristeria elata, the old Oncidium Laneeanum, and several 
fine Vandas of tricolor inaignis, Warner, and Dalkeith varieties are all 
both beautiful and interesting. The grand plants of Cattleyas are in the 
best of health, and showing sheaths as abundantly as coul 1 be wished. 
In some other houses there are large stocks of choice Orchids, such as 
Dendrobium suparbiens, which is remarkably well grown at Upper Hot* 
loway, though it is reputed difficult to obtain in satisfactory c ndiiion. 
None of this difficulty appears to be experienced at the e-tablisbmen 
named, for the plants grow and flower splendidly. The temperature m 
winter falls as low as 57° occasionally, but the chief point in its success 
is considered to be providing a light position fully exposed to the sun o 
ripen the growth. It is a handsome Orchid, and worthy of all the at en 
tion needed, as the flowers last for an astonishing time. In the same 
house Vanda teres and V. Hookeri are grown with similar success, an 
look most vigorously healthy. Dendrobium Ainsworthi, D. Bensomae, 
