April 17,1«I0. ] 
JOURXAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
319 
having 100 blooms expanded, another smaller one has given fifty, 
a total of 200 being made up with these and a few other plants of 
lesser size. The strongest growth measures 6 feet in length. 
During the growing season Mr. Archer, the gardener, finds a slight 
dressing of fish potash given occasionally proves very beneficial and 
incites a quick growth. Peat, sphagnum moss, and charcoal form 
a goot rooting medium for basket culture, sphagnum being sufficient 
alone for blocks. 
When under this latter treatment water must be applied fre¬ 
quently, either by dipping into an open tank or by syringing while 
growth is active. Twice a day would not be too often in bright 
weather. In baskets it must be regulated according to their size. 
It lias a powerful and to some persons not a very agreeable scent, 
which lias been described as that of Rhubarb, but visitors to whom 
I have submitted blooms with a view of ascertaining the correct 
scent, one verdict only was returned, and pronounced to be that of 
Turkey Rhubarb. 
D. superbum giganteum is a very superior form both in size 
and colour. Flowers 6 or 7 inches across are produced of a deeper 
shade of purple. The growth does not attain the same length as 
in the species, nor is it so readily increased, but these deficiencies, if 
they can be so called, are fully surmounted by the superior cha¬ 
racter of the blooms. In the garden previously referred to a good 
plant of this has made two growths, each 18 inches long, on which are 
now expanded thirty of its noble and truly superb blooms. Now 
that the value of Dendrobiums is so fully advanced, the merits of 
those under notice should not pass unheeded, their distinct colours, 
large size, and perfume being sufficient to warrant the bestowal of 
more extended favours.—W. S., Frame. 
Events of the Week. — On Tuesday, April 22nd, the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society’s Fruit, Floral, and Orchid Committees will meet in the 
Drill Hall, James Street, Westminster, at 12 noon. The National 
Auricula Society’s Show will be held on the same day in the hall, and at 
3 P.M. the Rev. C. Wolley Dod and Mr. Henwood will diseourse on 
Primulas.” We may remind our readers that a meeting will also be 
held at 1.30 on Tuesday, in the Lindley Library, to discuss the Hall of 
Horticulture scheme. The Royal Botanie Society’s second Spring Show 
will be held in the Regent’s Park Gardens on Wednesday, April 23rd. 
- The Weather in the South has been somewhat eold 
during the past week for the time of year, and several slight frosts 
have been reeorded. Fortunately so far the fruit tree flowers do not 
seem to have suffered, but show of flowers varies greatly in different 
districts. The early Pear trees are looking well in some gardens. 
- Weather in the North.—“ B. D.” writes from Perthshire :— 
“ April 7th to 14th—Dry, cold winds from the W., latterly from the E. 
and N.E., have prevailed throughout the week, and in the last four 
nights frosts of from 2° to 4° on morning of the 11th. A highly favour¬ 
able seedtime has been secured for our carse (not coarse this time, 
please) land, and sowing in this quarter is all but finished. The frost 
is, however, telling on young grass. The planting of Potatoes has 
begun here and there.” Another eorrespondent sends a similar account 
from Stirling, adding that snow fell on the 14th inst., and G° of frost 
were registered. 
_ DEATH OF Mr. J. S. Morgan. —The name of Mr. Morgan 
will be familiar to our readers through the periodical references to 
his gardens at Dover House, Roehampton. They, with the extensive 
ranges of glass structures, were maintained in the most scrupulously 
neat manner, and it was a common remark by visitors that they could 
see nothing that wanted doing. Mr. Morgan was an .American banker 
of enormous wealth, and died suddenly in Italy, leaving fortune esti¬ 
mated at six millions sterling. 
- The Liverpool Show.— The Exhibition held last week in 
St. George’s Hall was not equal to those previously held by the Asso¬ 
ciation. Thi.s, no doubt, is partially due to the late date, and for this 
the Committee is not responsible, as the Hall could not be had at any 
earlier date. It may also be due to the spring meetings having been 
discontinued for a year or two. Although there was a falling off in the 
number of competitors for the prizes offereil the miscellaneous exhibits 
were more numerous and varied than usual. The Exhibition was but 
poorly patronised by the public, and is therefore expected to prove a 
financial failure. 
- The Horticultural Club.— The usual monthly dinner and 
conversazione took place on Tuesday, April 8th, at the rooms. Hotel 
Windsor, Victoria Street. The chair was occupied by the Rev. W. Wilks, 
and there were present besides the Rev. E. Handley, Messrs. Cousens, 
Druery, Walker, &c., Mr. W. Ingram being the guest of the Club. After¬ 
wards a most interesting paper was read by Mr. C. T. Druery on the 
“ Wonders of Fernland.” It was illustrated with some excellent diagrams 
and some beautiful specimens of dried fronds. The paper dealt ver}' 
carefully with the germination of Ferns. It was stated that in the case 
of all Ferns, whether the gigantic Tree Ferns of New Zealand, &c., or 
the delicate Maidenhair, the spores from whence the plants proceed 
are absolutely microscopic. He then showed the various methods of 
propagation, the ordinary one by spores, and the abnormal ones of 
bulbules and apospory. It was shown that of all the species of British 
Ferns there were to be found tasselled or crested forms, and Mr. Druery 
believed that if the habitats of the foreign Ferns were searched as- 
carefully as our own land has been, similar departures from the normal 
growth would be found. The paper was a model of what such 
papers should he—severely correct as to its botany and scientific side, 
yet delivered in language ttiat any intelligent hearer might under¬ 
stand even although previously unacquainted with the subject. A. 
cordial vote of thanks was given to Mr. Druery for his valuable 
paper. We may add that Messrs. Thomson of Drumlanrig and Mr. 
Bruce Findlay of Manchester will be the guests of the Club at a special 
dinner on the 22nd on the occasion of their receiving the Veitch 
Memorial medals, and a large gathering of the members is anticipated. 
_ The Kew Bulletin for April, 1890, contains notes on 
Canaigre (Rumex hymenosepalum), a new tanning material, which, 
is said to add " weight to the leather.” It is found “ in large quantity 
in the sandy soil on both sides of the Rio Grande and northward over 
a large portion of Western Texas and New Mexico.” The analysis of 
the root is as follows :—Tannin, 37-48 ; organic matter, 11-20; water,. 
12-07; ash, 0 20; and woody fibre, 3907). Pistachio cultivation in 
Cyprus is also referred to ; several pages are devoted to correspondence 
relative to Indian sugar; and note about “Mites in Sugar Cane’*’ 
concludes the number. 
