66 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January 24 , ISIS. 
subject of this plate, which appears to me to be a true Macodes, 
differing from M. Petola, Lindley. in its robust habit, larger thicker 
leaves, with green longitudinal nerves, though crossed like M. Petola 
with white ones. It bears the name at Kew of Argyrorchis javanica, 
Blume , and turning to Blume’s figure of that plant (Orchid Ind.), 
it closely resembles it in everything but the shape of the lip. In 
the accompanying description Blume describes the petals as coher¬ 
ing with the dorsal sepal, and this I find to be the case, though they 
are very easily removable. It is less easy to account for his descrip¬ 
tion of the lip as narrow, erect, undivided, and altogether like the 
petals. Such a lip is an anomaly in the whole tribe of Orchids to 
which Argyrorchis belongs, and may he put down to a monstrous 
(or Peloria) condition, in which case Argyrorchis would be refer¬ 
able to Macodes, as is indeed suggested by Bentham in a note 
under the genus Selenipedium (Gen. PI. vol. iii. p. 335). Bentham 
in the ‘ Genera Plantarum ’ has regarded Macodes as a monotypic 
genus, no doubt overlooking the three described by Reichenbach in 
his ‘ Xenia,’ to which the present is an addition. 
“The beauty of M. javanica resides in the deep green velvety 
leaves, the light green longitudinal neives of which are united by 
groups of transverse snow-white irregular streaks, much like those 
of Dichorisandra mosaica, but more delicate. It is a native of Java, 
and flowered in the Royal Gardens in May of last year, having been 
sent by the Director of the Buitenzorg Gardens. 
“An erect rather succulent glandular pubescent herb, 12 to 
1 8 inches high ; roots fibrous, fleshy. Stem below the leaves 4 to 
6 inches high, as thick as a swan’s quill, pale reddish, clothed with 
short sheaths that are sometimes terminated by a reduced leaf- 
blade. Leaves three to five, approximate, elliptic, acute, narrowed 
into a short stout petiole with a short amplexicaul sheath, upper 
surface very dark velvety green with green parallel nerves and 
groups of delicate white undulating cross striolte, under surface and 
petiole pale flesh-coloured with white nerves and irregular cross 
bars. Scape strict with one or two flesh-coloured sheaths. Spike 
4 inches long, lax-flowered ; bracts lanceolate, flesh-coloured, as 
long as the ovaries, which are green and one-third of an inch long. 
Perianth half an inch in diameter : lateral sepals spreading, broadly 
ovate, obtuse, bright orange-red with white midrib and tips ; petals, 
lanceolate, falcate, appressed one on each side of the dorsal sepal, 
which is rather the largest of the three. Lip superior, small, sessile, 
in the centre of the flower, yelloAvish white, consisting of a pitcher¬ 
shaped sac with rounded ears between which is a small deflexed 
spathulate flat midlobe.’’ 
THOMAS HOLLINGVTORTH. 
IN MEM0R1 AM. 
The last of the two brothers whose names were as household words 
amongst rosarians has passed away only a few months after the death of 
the brother to whom he was so deeply attached, and I think it may be 
safely said that one is not like'y ever to meet with two such brothers 
again. The town of Maidstone, where they lived, and which owes so 
much to their liberality, has experienced a loss which is not likely ever 
to be repaired, and in the universal mourning which was disphayed on 
the days of their funeral gave testimony to its sense of the loss. We 
hear of those who 
" Do good by stealth, and blush to fiad it fame 
but these two kind-hearted men knew how to fulfil the apparently 
opposite commands, “ Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand 
doeth,” and “Let your light so shine before men ; ” for there are num¬ 
berless instances where the recipient of their liberality was the only 
person who ever knew of it, and it may be safely said'that no case of 
real trouble ever came before them that they were not ready to help; 
but when they felt that their names might be of service to any cause, 
then no false modesty led them to withhold it. Attached members of 
the Church of England, they were ever ready to help all whom they 
thought worthy of help, without distinction of creed. No one ever 
went to Turkey Court on a mission of charity who entered its doors with 
a heavy heart, for they were sure of a careful and kind consideration ; 
and many a one left it with a light heart, for their request had met with 
a ready response. Many are the tales told of the surprise their visitors 
expressed at some unlooked-for ending of their interview. They gave— 
for the two were inseparable in all thing—with a cheerful spirit all that 
they gave. Is it not told, for example, how a deputation Availed on them for 
some church object, to ask them to head the list.’ Well he did not know 
(for they saw but one brother) about heading the list, but he would talk 
to Brother Jack, and they must call again. ~ How much did they want ! 
Well, about £800. So when the brother came in they did talk it over, 
and when the deputation again Avaitcd on them were met with, “ Well, 
we don’t know about heading the list, but here is a cheque for the £800.’’’ 
They gave £2000 for the magnificent new roof of All Saints—a church, 
I believe, they never again entered. No - theme of benevolence but had 
ready sympathisers in these noble united brothers-the originals from 
whom, I have little doubt, Dickens drew his picture of the Cheeryble 
Brothers. lie who is now gone—the elder of the two—was ever fond of 
“pokingfun ” at his brother ; and no one ever aat.s lA-ith them that did 
not admire the loving intercourse which subsisted between them. Faults 
they (as all of us) had ; but they were faults that injured no one. The 
love that their workpeople had towards them testified to their character, 
and no more sincere expression of regret Avas shown at the funeral than 
the large and handsome Avreath contributed by their workpeople. 
In former years, as I have said, they Avere well knoAvn as Rose exhi¬ 
bitors. They were early with their flowers, and at the earlier ShoAvs used 
to head all amateurs, especially at the Royal Botanic Society. Their 
“ beauties ” they AA T ere ever fond of extolling, and it is only during the 
last ten years that their name has dropped out of the prize lists. In this- 
respect, as in many others, I hope the traditions of Turkey Court will be 
preserved, for their nepheAv, Colonel Pitt, who succeeds them, is a devoted 
admirer of the Rose, and Ave shall hope to see him for many years- 
amongst us. And so here too we must say, “ Le Roi est mort! Vive le 
Roi! ”—D., Deal. 
HOW TO PRODUCE EARLY POTATOES IN MAY IN 
THE OPEN AIR. 
Me. Bayloe Hartland of Cork Avrites to me on this subject, and 
as I know you and many of your readers and contributors take an 
active interest in any possible or feasible Irish industry, and as for 
reasons so kindly stated, page 30, I am “up to my eyes in busi¬ 
ness,” I must, with just a few observations, refer the consideration 
of this important subject to you and them. This is the time to think 
of the matter, so the queries arise, Can it be done, and Avhere ? Is there 
a demand for such during May and June—this need hardly be asked— 
and what is the mode of transit to the great seats of consumption 1 
Will the carriage swamp the profits, admitting the feasibility/ Could 
the parcels post be av’ailed of .’ If so, would not that bring the producer 
and consumer directly into communication, eliminating the hundred and 
one intermediate expenses and annoyances ? Individual interests of 
salesmen and carriers in such cases are brushed aside, for the 
broad principle—the greatest good of the greatest number. Noav as to 
the feasibility. For years past I have had by merely planting in the- 
open border, in the end of February, Old Ashleaf Kidneys, Carter’s 
First Crop, Early Vermont, Ashtop Fluke, Eight Weeks, and First and 
Best, fit for use the first week in June. If thus inland, without any 
extra care, this result is possible, AA T hy should it not be perfectly 
feasible by starting the sets in December or earlier, transferring to 
raised mounds or banks, easily capable of protection when a sudden 
change threatened, all around the 200 miles of south coast of Ireland,, 
especially the warm southern slopes skirting Bantry, Kenmare, and 
numerous other small bays ? As a rule mountain ranges close out 
effectually all north and north-east Avinds, and the temperature is rarely 
below 32°. This, to my mind, would be much more feasible and prac¬ 
ticable, as well as remunerative, than competing in the growth of fruit,, 
and can be had for a song almost,—W. J. Murphy, Clonmel. 
We have received from the Secretary of the Royal Horticul¬ 
tural Society the following extract from the regulations for the 
Fruit and Floral Committees :—“ The Committees Avill recommend 
awards to be made to very superior seedlings or novelties, or to recently 
introduced, re-introduced, or very rare objects, or to highly decorative 
plants, according to their merits. In the case of plants commonly 
grown from seed every year, the award will be made to the ‘ strain,’ and 
not to individual plants.” 
-The Provincial Show of the National Chrysan¬ 
themum Society for 1889 will be held in conjunction with the 
annual Show of the Hull and East Riding Chrysanthemum Society, on 
November 21st and 22nd next, these dates having been adopted instead 
of November 14th and 15th as previously announced. 
- The annual general meeting of the National Auricula,. 
Royal National Tulip, and Carnation and Picotee Societies- 
Avill be held on Wednesday, January 30th, 1889, at the Old Bull’s Head 
Inn, off the Market Place, Manchester, at 3 p.m. The business will be 
to arrange the schedules and to appoint Judges, together with any other 
business that may arise in connection with the Societies. The Trustees 
of the “Turner Memorial Fund’’ have kindly offered the sum of £10 
for 1889 : half to the National Auricula Society, and half to the Royal 
National Tulip Society. The meeting will haA r e to consider how this- 
sum shall be arranged on the respective prize lists—to which alone it is 
applicable. 
