February 4, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
87 
C. laevigatum, twenty-two growths, 8 guineas. The plants of C. concolor, 
C. ciliolare, and Lawrenceanum were all small, but remarkable for health. 
There were seven plants of Cypripedium eburneum with from five to six¬ 
teen leads, and were quoted at from 3 to 10 guineas each. Ada aurantiaca 
was a magnificent plant with twenty-nine leads, 5 guineas. The old 
Zygopetalum Mackayi was represented hy plants with ninety-six bulbs 
and twenty-four leads bearing as many as seventeen flower spikes, price 
5 guineas. 
Cattleyas were the principal feature of this collection, and C. Moss'ne 
was represented by no less than sixty-five lots in the catalogue, varying 
from magnificent masses on rafts, with 280 pseudo-bulbs, showing thirty- 
eight flower sheaths, and priced 20 guineas, to small plants 2s. 6d. to 5s. 
each, but the majority amounted to guineas each. Noticeable was a fine 
plant of C. M. Arnoldiana, with seventy bulbs and ten sheaths, at 
20 guineas. Cattleya Percivaliana was represented by a large number of 
plants in the best condition. One large plant on a raft, with 170 pseudo- 
bulbs and sixty fully developed flowers, was very beautiful. 100 guineas 
was required for this plant; 75 guineas for another with thirty-five 
flowers on a raft, 20 guineas for another with nine flowers, 50 guineas for 
another with thirty-six bulbs and six flowers, this being the plant that 
produced the flowers figured in the “ Orchid Album.” There were also 
two plants of the white form of the above at 15 guineas each, one having 
ten bulbs and two sheaths, and the other one sheath and ten pseudo-bulbs. 
C. Skinneri was very well represented, the largest plant with 316 pseudo¬ 
bulbs, 30 guineas, was not in the best of condition. Another, 25 guineas, 
with 140 pseudo-bulbs. C. S. oeulata, a plant with the same number of 
pseudo-bulbs as the last, 40 guineas. A plant of C. Menieli, with 158 
pseudo-bulbs and twenty flower sheaths ; another with forty-four pseudo¬ 
bulbs, five flowers, good variety ; a third, with seventy-seven pseudo-bulbs 
and eleven flowers; a fourth, with seventy-two pseudo-bulbs and ten 
flowers, were priced 50, 25, 20, and 20 guineas respectively in the order 
named. C. Mendelii aurea, with eighteen pseudo-bulbs, 10 guineas. The 
flowers of this plant were figured in the “ Orchid Album.” Another 
superior variety, twenty-eight pseudo-bulbs, 15 guineas. C. labiata 
(autumn-flowering variety), with twenty pseudo-bulbs, 20 guineas. Three 
other plants, two with seven pseudo-bulbs each and one with eight, 
were 12, 10, and 7 guineas in the order nimed. A fine variety of 
C. exoniensis, with two leads, 25 guineas, and a small but very 
healthy plant of C. Brymerianum, with twelve pseudo-bulbs, two small 
leads, 25 guineas. C. Mossise Hardyana, two leads, 15 guineas. C. 
Sanderiana, 140 pseudo-bulbs, forty-two leaves, marked A1 variety, 
B0 guineas. The highest price for C. gigas being 10 guineas, and the 
same for C. Gaskel liana. Lmlia elegans alba, forty-eight pseudo-bulbs, 
three flower sheaths, four leads, 50 guineas. Other plants, with four and 
five leads, 25 guineas each, the first being marked A1 variety. L. Schil- 
leriana, six leads, 15 guinea". C. Trianse was represented by a number of 
plants. A specimen named formosa, with sixty-two pseudo-bulbs and 
seven flower sheaths, 20 guineas. Another plant, with forty-five pseudo¬ 
bulbs, 15 guineas. C. T. Osmani, thirty-six pseudo-bulbs, three 
sheaths, 20 guineas. The same price being required for C. T. 
Normani. Amongst Dendrobiums the highest prices were 10 guineas 
each for D. Schrcederi, D. clavatum, D. densiflorum, D. Jamesianum, 
D. fimbriatum oculatum ; D. Wardianum, 8 guineas; D. suavissimum, 
D. chrysotoxum at the same amount; and D. Ainsworthi roseum, 10 
guineas ; Lycaste Skinneri alba, with one lead, three fine flowers, 15 
guineas. Another plant, with two leads and the same number of flowers, 
the same amount. Oncidium macranthum, 8 guineas. 
To attempt to enumerate all the leading prices of the principal plants 
this collection contained would take up too much of your space. Prices 
very similar to what have been given were quoted for plants of other 
species and varieties of Orchids that I have not attempted to name, and I 
do not doubt that when the whole of the plants have been disposed of 
many of the prices given will be considerably exceeded. There appeared 
to be no lack of Orchid enthusiasts after the rare and valuable varieties 
which this collection contained. It would indeed be very difficult to 
estimate the number of Orchids in the Garston Vineyard at the present 
time, for quantities of houses are full of semi-established plants, others 
newly potted up, besides thousands of newly imported in every shed and 
corner likely to suit them until they are disposed of. Two or three other 
large importations are daily expected, and it may truly be said there are 
Orchids everywhere, and those who have not seen the enormous quantity 
of plants on previous occasions would naturally wonder when the whole 
■would ever be disposed of. 
This is only one branch of horticulture carried on by the Company, for 
Roses, Vines, and decorative plants of every description are grown by 
thousands to meet the demands of their cut-flower and plant trade.— 
Wm, Baronet. 
USEFUL WINTER VEGETABLES. 
The past was undoubtedly a very dry summer, and has caused many 
bare places both in market and private gardens, consequently green 
vegetables are very expensive. In some counties these can scarcely be 
obtained at any price, in Berkshire and Oxfordshire notably. Those who 
made good provision by growing plenty of Seakale will fully realise its 
usefulness in a spring like the present is likely to be. I have before 
written in these columns of its value. Where it has been properly cared 
for the whole stock was taken up in November, except where a quantity 
is required through April and early May, then one row is taken out and 
two left ; but I think almost as good a way is to clear the whole plot and 
lay in the crowns in a late corner in the soil yard or in the garden, and 
cover with litter before it begins to grow. If it is allowed to grow before 
covered it will not come a good colour. I have found cocoa-nut fibre 
refuse very useful for covering it, as also is bog mould where at hand. 
Seakale is seldom refused at table, and it may be had from the end of 
November until the following May. 
Another vegetable I much esteem is the old-fashioned green called 
Ragged Jack. A provision may always be made for a few rows of this 
hardy useful vegetable. I have never seen this destroyed by frost ; in 
fact, I never had a failure with it, even when the garden has been bare of 
other green vegetables or nearly so. In a dry season I sow seed in drills 
the same way that I should sow Turnips, except that the rows for 
the greens are 18 inches apart. I have found Lapland Kale do well 
grown the same way, and they will amply repay for a little trouble in 
shading or netting to protect them from birds. Spinach Beet should be 
in every garden of however small pretensions. It is useful at all seasons. 
Swede Turnips should have the leaves twisted off instead of being cut off, 
leaving the crown intact, as the young growths produced when the Turnips 
are placed in a dark shed are often used when Seakale is not plentiful. I 
consider this makes a very useful dish, much better than what is often 
seen in gardens under the name of Seakale.—J. P. 
WINTERING POT STRAWBERRIES. 
Mb. Challis remarks in the third paragraph of his interesting paper 
(page 61) on this subject, that while the methol of plunging the pots in 
an upright position either in leaves or ashe3 effectually overcomes the 
evil of undue exposure of the roots, it is still open to serious objection ; 
and in support of this assertion he says “ that in very dry positions or in 
dry winters no harm may ensue, but in damp situations or in wet winters 
this often leads to most disastrous results by the plants being kept in a 
constantly wet and soddened state during the period of rest, when com¬ 
parative dryness should be their condition (?).” I beg to point out to 
Mr. Challis that there is no necessity for Strawberry plants plunged to 
the rim of the pots in ashes in an upright position becoming sodden at 
the roots during wet winters, seeing that the site selected for that purpose 
can and should be higher than the ground surrounding it, in order to 
prevent the possibility o : water settling there. Such a situation is the 
best possible winter quarters. We have wintered about 3000 Strawberries 
in this way annually for the last fourteen or fifteen years with perfectly 
satisfactory results. In the event of severe frosts we cover the plants 
lightly with dry fern at night, which—the plants occupying a sunny 
aspect—is removed the following morning as soon as the influence of the 
sun has rendered such a course practicable. The evil of the plants 
becoming blanched in consequence of the covering being left too long 
over them is certainly very great, but is nevertheless more imaginary 
than real in practice, though undoubtedly if the protecting material were 
allowed to remain unnecessarily long on the plants the latter would 
become somewhat blanched and impaired in consequence. 
I should like to know upon what grounds Mr. Challis arrives at the 
somewhat strange conclusion that the condition of Strawberry plants in 
pots which are laid on their sides during the winter and early spring 
months, is “ more nearly like that to which they are naturally accustomed.” 
We all know as a fact that the Strawberry plant in its natural state in 
gardens, and that, too, during the resting period, when Mr. Challis says it 
should be comparatively dry, receives direct from the clouds three times 
the amount of water at the roots that it does at any other time, thus 
plainly proving that the Strawberry is not only perfectly hardy when 
“ comparatively dry,” but also when perfectly wet. The conditions under 
which the Strawberry plant naturally flourishes out of doors are not quite 
in harmony with the ideas advocated by your correspondent.—W. S. 
J BEAD with much pleasure, at page 61, Mr. Challis’s excellent 
remarks, and I assure him the plan is exactly the same as that practised 
by my lamented old master, George MacEwan, at Arundel, who used to 
grow Strawberries with great success. It is also the plan I have followed 
for at least thirty years ; in fact, it is the only practical one.—R. 
Gilbert. 
FARMERS AND GARDENERS. 
I thank “ Thinker ” for his kindly remarks on my small contribution 
to the discussion at present going on in the pages of the Journal on the 
above subject. With nearly all that “ Thinker ” says I agree, and when 
I say this, my points of divergence from “Utilitarian” will be plain 
enough, and need not be stated here. 
I may, however, remark in regard to one of “ Thinker’s ” sentences, 
that he has somewhat misunderstood me when he asserts that I seem to 
imply that our old country will be “ bowled out of existence ” by the 
competition of other lands. I never thought so, and never meant any¬ 
thing I wrote to be understood as meaning so. I could not help taking 
notice of what is only too apparent—viz , that foreign competition is on 
the increase, and will go on increasing as years roll on. I endeavoured 
to make plain that such competition must be met on our side by 
certain measures which I named, and added that though “ some may go 
to the wall in the struggle .... that the majority will be able to ‘ rub 
along,’ .... so that a due reward may be found attending the labours of 
those who, having found many things against them, resolutely set them¬ 
selves to overcome all difficulties.” That is not the language of one who 
fears that our country will be “ bowled out of existence.” 
Then, in regard to horticulture, I remark that “ horticulture generally 
.... seems passing through a trying time, but let us again hope that the 
