84 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 1, 1889. 
in this way will shortly be rooted out, and after a liberal dressing 
of rich loamy compost has been well mixed with the old soil fresh 
rooted runners will be planted.—TV. Iggulden. 
DEATH OF THE REV. M. J. BERKELEY. 
It is with unfeigned regret that we announce the death of the Rev. 
M. J. Berkeley, M.A., F.R.S., F.L.S., Honorary Fellow of Christ’s 
College, Cambridge, and Vicar of Sibbertoft in Northamptonshire. 
This distinguished man of science, after a long life of unwearied work, 
breathed his last at Sibbertoft Vicarage on the morning of Tuesday 
last, the 30th of July, at the age of eighty-six. He had been ill for 
four months previous to his death, and though during the last four or 
five days he suffered much he was conscious to the last. 
Mr. Berkeley was born at Biggin House, near Oundle, on the 1st of 
April, 1803, and was educated first at Oundle Grammar School, and 
thereafter at Rugby. He entered Christ’s College, Cambridge, of which 
he was a scholar, in 1821, and graduated in 1825 as fifth Senior Optime. 
Although there was no branch of vegetable physiology and pathology 
that escaped the searching investigation of Mr. Berkeley, it was 
to the study of fungology and cryptogamic botany generally that 
his studies were chiefly devoted. His earliest work, we believe, 
was “ Gleanings of the British Algae,” written about 1830, when 
he was curate of Margate, and it was about this time that he made his 
great discovery in the way of identifying the Vine mildew and its cure. 
The gardener of his friend Mr. J. Slater of Margate having observed a 
peculiar affection of the leaves and fruit of his Vines, consulted Mr. 
Berkeley on the subject, who at once saw that it was a form of mildew 
new to this country. His remedy was an application of flowers of sul- 
pher, which proved efficacious in destroying the pest; and the intelligent 
gardener, who wrote an accountof the disease and its cure in the Kentish 
Gazette, had his name immortalised by Mr. Berkeley recording the 
mildew as Oi'dium Tuckeri. The disease spread not only in this country 
but on the Continent, and the vineyards were threatened with extinction, 
but for the simple application of the flowers of sulphur. On one occa¬ 
sion an extensive vineyard proprietor of the south, when on a visit to 
this country, requested to be introduced to Mr. Berkeley, that he might 
in person thank him for the great benefits he had done to France by his 
discovery. 
In 1833 Mr. Berkeley became vicar of Apethorpe and Woodnewton, 
near Ivingscliffe ; and at Kingscliffe he resided till his presentation to 
the living of Sibbertoft in 1868. In 1836 he was elected a Fellow of 
the Linnman Society, and in 1857 he produced his valuable textbook, 
the “ Introduction to Cryptogamic Botany,” and in 1860 his “ Outlines 
of British Fungology.” In 1879 Mr. Berkeley was elected a Fellow of 
the Royal Society, and for his scientific researches he was awarded the 
Royal gold medal of the Society. Even as late as 1886 he wrote a 
paper on Zanzibar fungi. 
As a horticulturist Mr. Berkeley was not less distinguished than he 
was in the higher walks of science. His gardens, both at Kingscliffe and 
Sibbertoft, were his never-failing delight. For many years he held the 
office of Botanical Director of the Royal Horticultural Society, and was 
also editor of its journal; and as the highest honour they can bestow the 
Council elected him an honorary member. 
And now this great intellect, which was ever at work, is at rest; and 
not only in this country, but throughout the whole scientific world, will 
the event be regretted, for Mr. Berkeley was one of those who endeared 
himself to all who knew him, and who was ever ready to perform an act 
of friendship whenever he had the opportunity. 
This brief sketch, written hurriedly on receiving the sad news of 
Mr. Berkeley’s death, as we were going to press, is necessarily very 
fragmentary and incomplete. 
s 
ORCHIDS AT BRI3TOL. 
Though neither extreme rarity or extravagant costliness charac¬ 
terises as yet the increasing collection of Mr. James Crispin a 
well known Bristol amateur gardener and enthusiastic lover of 
Orchids, yet to a true horticulturist this fact does materially lessen 
the pleasure of inspecting any collection of plants if clean, healthy, 
and of vigorous growth, which, like those under notice, give evidence' 
of the care and attention bestowed upon them. Though with only a 
few years’ experience in the art of Orchid growing, Mr. Crispin 
appears to have mastered the secret of success in their culture. 
Beginning with a few of the commonest varieties, and noting their 
peculiarities and liking for certain treatment, he has progressed 
rapidly, and up to the present time cool, intermediate, and East 
Indian houses have been found necessary to accommodate exclusively 
tae various new purchases. These houses have been constructed 
to meet the requirements of the occupants in a way that is worthy 
of imitation by amateurs who wish to succeed in the cultivation of 
these interesting plants. In the cool house, which is below the- 
ground level, hot-water pipes of small diameter are attached to the 
roof, by which means, together with its sunken position, ensures- 
an even temperature both summer and winter. In the East Indian 
house a portion of the pipes are laid in open brickwork water- 
tanks, and being fitted with necessary valves to each section, and 
the use of an hygrometer in each house, the humid or arid state or 
the atmosphere is completely under control. Here also small' 
pipes are suspended from the roof, which effectually obviates any 
danger from drip that ofttimes proves so destructive to the young 
growths ; but with Mr. Crispin this is practically unknown, as latterly 
neither syringe nor watering-pot has found favour with him, suffi¬ 
cient moisture being quickly raised when necessary by evaporation,, 
and all watering is done more effectually by plunging the plants in a 
tank of tepid water as often as necessary. A few plants were- 
flowering freely at the time of my visit, among which were Cattleya 
crispa, a grand mass of growth and flower sheaths ; Cattleya. 
Gaskelliana, a well flowered plant; Lfelia xanthina and Oncidium 
splendidum were worthy of note, the latter for its large mass of 
healthy roots, as well as for several strong spikes of bloom ; On¬ 
cidium leucochilum, Aerides Larpentae, A. affinis, and Thuma 
Marshall}, all well flowered and in good condition ; Cattleya gigas- 
bore recent traces of floriferousness and vigour by the production 
of seed pods ; Dendrobiums of various species were throwing up- 
willow-like shoots that with duly ripening should give good returns- 
next spring. In the cool house some good types of Odontoglossum, 
Alexandra and 0. Sinderianum were in flower with Masdevallia 
Harryana, Anguloa uniflora, and several others, all presenting a fine- 
healthy appearance, showing clearly what may be accomplished by 
an amateur when energy and enthusiasm are not wanting.—M. C. 
MASDEVALLIAS. 
The disease known as “ the spot ” that attacks the foliage of 
these plants is unquestionably due to too moist and too low a 
temperature. Since the plants have been grown in the warmest- 
part of the Odontoglossum house instead of the coolest, and the 
winter temperature of that structure increased, all the foliage that- 
has been made is perfectly free from spot. During the summer 
months these plants are at home in any part of the cool house, but 
during the winter they should not have a lower night temperature- 
than 50°. M. tovarensis, even in this temperature, will fail to 
flourish ; it is never removed from the warmest end, and is- 
wintered at the coolest end of the Cattleya house. 
ODONTOGLOSSUM VEKILLARIUM. 
This enjoys a little more warmth than the cool house proper 
from October until May. During the summer months it is a mistake- 
to grow it too warm and too close. The foliage draws up weakly,, 
and soon becomes a prey to yellow thrips. During the summer it 
does well at the warmest end of the cool house, where it makes 
stiff, sturdy growth, and flowers profusely. It flowers too freely,, 
and if three large spikes are allowed to remain on each growth 
until they fade the plant suffers considerably. If plants are infested 
with thrips the best means of eradicating it is to sponge the leaves- 
with tobacco water and dust tobacco powder into the axils of the 
leaves. The latter must be well washed out again two or three- 
days after. 
DENDROBIUM NOBILE. 
Plants that have been forced into growth for a few seasons, fo¬ 
llower during November, have finished the lengthening out of their 
growths. These need attention. If retained in a warm moist 
house they will quickly start again into growth. Remove the 
plants to a cooler structure, and admit air and more light to them.. 
They must be exposed gradually to the light to harden and ripen 
their pseudo-bulbs. They must not be exposed suddenly to the 
sun, or premature ripening will commence. When once the pseudo¬ 
bulbs assume a hard yellow appearance they will bear without, 
injury full sunshine in a cool house.— Orchid Grower. 
CATTLEYA FORBESI. 
Some time ago (May 23rd, page 422) “N. G.” asked for infor¬ 
mation respecting the flowering of the above named Cattleya 
therefore if the following remarks upon its treatment, which in my 
case have proved successful, are any help to him I shall be pleased.. 
In the first place I find the plant requires a very decided course- 
of treatment, because it is a free grower, and if not guarded- 
against it is very liable to do the same as Dendrobium Wardianum— 
that is, start into growth before it has done flowering. I am of 
I opinion this habit, if encouraged, very much weakens the plant and 
