May 6, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
353 
The possession of them or knowledge in drawing, botany, chemistry, and 
vegetable physiology is not incompatible with a will to labour ; and work 
they certainly must, or all their attainments will be useless. Some of the 
best gardeners in Britain, or in Europe, are in the position of the 
individual who boasted in respect to his lingui-tic power that he could 
“ hold his tongue in seven languages but no one can eay they would be 
less competent if they “ knew a little Latin,” and could “make out the 
meaning ” of French and German catalogues and books. Undoubtedly the 
possession of languages other than their own gives to the possessors an 
advantage in the battle of life. 
“ W. P. R.” appeals to me in what on the face of it appears a very 
hard case in respect to the extortion of premiums from probationary 
gardeners. Perhaps the best advice I can give to your correspondent is 
that he send a copy of the Journal of last week and this to the gardener 
in question, as peradventure he may have something to say that will put 
a slightly different complexion on the matter. It is never safe to found 
a charge on something that is “ understood,” and no opinion worth giving 
can be expressed without hearing both sides of a case. If such alleged 
extortion is habitual the “ teacher ” cannot long remain in obscurity, 
nor ought he, and it is very certain that no “ noble earl ” would permit 
the practice to be continued under the circumstances indicated on page 
312, for he would cease to be “ noble ” if he did so. I will now wait the 
issue of events. 
I HAD almost forgotten to say what I think about a new vegetable 
that has reached me from Burgbley—Chou de Gilbert. Six heads came 
by post, and I will describe one of them. It was 6 inches long and the same 
in circumference, just the shape of a turned-in Cos Lettuce with the outer 
leaves removed. At the base were elongated knobs, like good-size Brus¬ 
sels Sprouts, firm, but not hard, and in dissecting these sprouts a very 
distinct but very diminutive Cauliflower-like conglomeration of flower 
buds were packel, a sort of concrete inflorescence closely enveloped in 
leaves. On the main head being cut longitudinally, a knob was found 
ensconsed in the axil of every leaf, the knobs diminishing in size, as might 
be expected, as they approached the top of the head, this terminating in 
an enlarged quasi Cauliflower. I have seen nothing like it. It is quite 
dissimilar from Chou de Burghley. I see Mr. Abbey describes Chou de 
Gilbert on page 292 as a Cabbage-Brussels Sprouts. The subject of my 
examination, was a Broccoli-Brussels Sprout. Perhaps they do not all 
develops alike. I simply state exactly what I found. When cooked the 
quality was unexceptionable. After a winter like the last, and with 
common Turnip tops 2d. per lb., wetted to “ keep them fresh,” and pos¬ 
sibly make them weigh well, Chou de Gilbert must be regarded as a 
vegetable of sterling usefulness. At least, that is the verdict of— 
A Thinker. 
ORCHID LITERATURE. 
The literature of Orchids is extensive but widely scattered through 
botanical works, and the number of books devoted to the family is not so 
large as might be imagined. In the following list I have included all I 
could gain any information about, also giving the titles of the principal 
works containing coloured plates of Orchids. Many woodcut illustrations 
have also appeared in the horticultural periodicals, and a great many 
species have been described by Reichenbach in the Gardeners’ Chronicle. 
The chief authority for the genera is Lindley, whose characters are 
accepted for 114 out of ihe 334 genera enumerated in Hooker and Bentham’s 
“ Genera Piantarum.” Whilst Lindley was editor of Edwards’ “ Botanical 
Register” many Orchids were figured and described in that work. Bate¬ 
man’s, Lindley’s, and Warner’s works are magnificent productions, but 
necessarily very costly. 
Aubert du Petit-Thouars .— “Histoire des Orchidees des trois iles 
d’Afrique.” Paris, 1822. 4to. 
Baldwin, Henry. —■“ Orchids of Hew England.” 4to, sixty-two illustra¬ 
tions. United States, America. 
Bateman, J. —“Second Century of Orchidaceous Plants.” Royal 4to, 
100 coloured plates from Curtis’s “Botanical Magazine.” London, 1864-70. 
“ Monograph of Odontoglossum.” Thirty coloured plates and wood en¬ 
gravings. Imperial folio. London, 1864-74. “ Orchidaceos of Mexico and 
Guatemala.” Elephant folio. London, 1837-43. 
Bauer, Franz, and Notes by J. Lindley.—“ Illustrations of Orchideous 
Plants,” London, 1830-38. Folio. 
Beer, J. G. — “ Praktische Studien an der Eamilie der Orchideen.” 
Vienna, 1854. 8vo. 
Bentham, G. —Pages 281-360, “ Notes on Orchideoe, ’ Journal of the 
Linuean Society, vol. xviii. 1881. 
Bentham, G., and Hooker, J. D .—“Orchideas.” “Genera Piantarum,” 
vol. iii., part 2, pp. 460-636. 334 genera. London, 1883. 
Breda. —“Genera et Species Orchidearum et Asclepiadearum Javoe.” 
Folio. 1827 (Pritzel). 
Britten, J., and W. H. Gower .—“ Orchids for Amateurs.” London, 1878. 
8vo. 
Blume. —“Collection des Orchidees les plus remarquables de l’Archipel 
Indien.” Paris, 1864. Folio. “ Flora Javse, series nova, Orchidem.” Folio. 
1858. “ Javaanische Orchideen.” Batavia, 1825. Folio. 
Brook & Co. —“ Descriptive Catalogue of the Fairfield Orchids.” 8vo. 
1872. 
Burbidge, F. W .—“Cool Orchids, and How to Grow Them.” London. 
Three coloured plates, crown 8vo. 1874. 
Curtis’s Botanical Magazine. —London, 1786 to the present time. 6872 
plates. Published monthly. 
harwin, Charles. —“ Fertilisation of Orchids.” London. First edition 
1862. 8vo. Second edition 1877. 8vo. 
Edwards’ Botanical Register .—London, 1815-1847. 
Fitzgerald, B. D .—“Australian Orchids.” 1874-1885. Sydney, New 
South Wales. Folio. 
Henshall, John. —“ Practical Treatise on the Cultivation of Orchidaceous 
Plants.” Royal 8vo. 1845. In German 1846. 
Hooker, IV. J.—“ Century of Orchidaceous Plants.” London, 1846 . 4to. 
Jennings, S. —“ Orchids, and How to Grow Them in India and Other 
Tropical Countries.” Forty-eight coloured plates. London. Royal 4to. 
1875. 
Lexarza, J. —“ Orchidianum opusculum.” Forms part of “ La Llave 
and Lexarza.” Nov. reg. desc.. fasc. 11, with separate register. 
Linden, J. —“Lindenia.” “Pescatorea, Icouographie des Orchidees de la 
Collection de M. Pescitore au Chateau de la Celle, St. Cloud.” Brussels, 
1855-1860. Folio. 
Lindley, J. —“Folia Orchidacea, Enumeration of the Known Species of 
Orchids” Nine parts (all published). London, 1852-59. 8vo. “Genera 
and Species of Orchidaceous Plants.” London. 8vo. 1830-40. “ Sertum 
Orchidaceum.” London. Folio. 1838. 
Loddiqes’ Botanical Cabinet. —2000 plates, many of Orchids. London, 
1818-1833. 
Lyons, J. C. —“ Management of Orchideous Plants.” With catalogue of 
1000. London, 1845. 8vo. 
Miner, H. S .—“ Orchids, the Royal Family of Plants.” Twenty-four 
coloured plates. Folio. 1885. 
Moore, Thomas. —“ Illustrations of Orchidaceous Plants.” London, 
1851. 8vo. 
Mutel, A. —“ Orchidees Nouvelles.” Paris, 1842. 4to. 
Paxton’s Magazine of Botany. London, 1834-1849. 
Puydt, E. de. —“ Les Orchidees.” Fifty coloured plates, 244 engravings. 
Royal 8vo. Paris, 1880. 
Band,E.S. —“Orchids.” New York, 1876. 8vo. 
Beichenhach,fd. H. G .—“ Nenia Orchidacea.” Leipzig, 1858. 4to. 
Bichard, M. Achille. —“ Monographic des Orchiddas des Ile3 de France 
et de Bourbon.” Paris, 1828. 4to. “ Monographie des Orchidees recueilles 
sur la Chaine des Nilgherries par M. Perrott t.” Paris, 1841. 4to. 
Richard Achille and Galeotti, II .—“ Monographie des Orchidee3 Mexi- 
caines.” 4to. 1884. “ Orchidographie Mexicaiue.” 8vo. 1845. 
Richard, L. C .—“DeOrchides europeis annotationes.” Paris, 1817. 
Rodrigues, J. Barboza. — “Structure des Orchidees Rio de Janeiro.” 
1883. “Genera et Species Orchidearum novarum Sabastianopolis.” 1882. 
Vriese, W.H.de. —“ Illustrations d’Orchiddes.” La Haye, 1854. Fol. 
Walpers’ Annales Bolanices Systematica:. —Tomus 6, Lipsise, 1861, pp. 167 
to 933 Orchides, by H. G. Reichenbach. 
Warner, B. —“Select Orchidaceous Plants.” First seiies. Loudon. 
Folio. 1862. Second series, 1865. Third series, 1877. 
Williams, B. S. —“ Orchid Manual.” London. First edition, 1852. 
Sixth edition, 1885. 
Williams, Warner, and Moore. —“ Orchid Album.” London. Royal 4to. 
Monthly since 1881.—L. C. 
THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
I have read with much interest your article on the position of the 
Royal Horticultural Society on page 327, and thoroughly endorse your 
opinion that it must for its life’s sake shake itself free from its present 
condition of bondage. At present it appears to be handicapped by the 
Exhibition Commissioners, by the fashionable Fell< w?. and by a preponder¬ 
ance of members of the Council, who nurse their chains and fear to tear 
themselves away. But as you point out, the real backbone of the Society 
is, and should be, Fellows who are practical gardeners and lovers of plants ; 
not those who only make use of the Society for an occasional afternoon’s 
amusement. Previous moves of the habitation of the S iciety seem to have 
been too pretentious. What seems to be required in London is a home, 
where should be located the library, committee rooms, and a hall or room 
large enough to hold the fortnightly meetings, and no doubt such a home 
might be obtained without incurring a very great outlay ; in fact, it 
should be at a comparatively moderate rent, so that the operations of the 
Society at Chiswick and in holding provincial shows should not be 
hampered. If any such programme were carried out I for one should feel 
it my duty to double my subscription, and no doubt a large number of real 
plant lovers would do likewise. I fear I have encroached upon your 
valuable space, but my excuse must be my anxiety to assist in causing 
other members to act.—F. R. H. S. 
GARDENERS AND PREMIUMS. 
A correspondent signing himself “ W. P. R.” at page 342, brings 
a serious indictment in regard to the above subject against some responsible 
person in the employ of an earl—presumably the head gardener—and 
proceeds to cite his case, or rather the young man’s case, distinctly 
specifying it as a “ very hard case,” and “ representative of many others 
from the same establishment.” What a pity it is he is so careful not to 
mention names, for surely if his “ hard case ” is but one of “ maDy others 
from the same establishment,” it is time that gardener and that establish¬ 
ment were better known, for the good of young gardeners in particular, 
else what is the use of “recording” the case? But stop! Iam going 
too fast ; perhaps the case is not what it seems, and perhaps the “ repre¬ 
sentative ” of “ many others ” may not be so black as he is painted. Be 
that as it may, the “case” quoted forciblv reminds me of a few “facts” 
that have come to my knowledge in regard to a similar “ case,” and it 
will serve to give your readers some idea of what the “ other side ” of 
“ W. P. R.’s ” “ case ” may possibly be. 
Some months ago a young man in the south of England, an entire 
stranger, wrote to me asking if I could help him into a situation, as owing 
to domestic affairs he could no longer remain at home, where he had been 
assisting to manage his father’s business, and also stating that he had 
