April S'*. 1887. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AX D COTTAGE GA R LEXER. 
331 
ORCHIDS AT DOWNSIDE, LEATHERHEAD. 
The sale of choice Orchids announced to take place at Downside, 
Leatherhead, on May 3rd and 4th will no doubt attract a large number 
of visitors, as some of the plants are amongst the most valuable in culti¬ 
vation. Although several new houses have been erected recently, the 
■accommodation is insufficient for the very large collection now in 
Mr. W. Lee’s possession, and in consequence the plants were much 
■crowded in some of the houses. To remedy this Mr. Lee decided to part 
with a certain number of duplicates, in which have been included 
several grand hybrids, like Cypri]>edium Morganise, of which good 
plants can at present be numbered on the fingers. The plants at Down- 
sale under Mr. Woolford’s charge are all exceptionally healthy, and there 
will probably be considerable competition for some of the prizes. The 
•sale will commence each day at 12.30, the following being some 
■of the principal Orchids to be offered:—Cattleya Trian® Leeana, C. 
Dayana, C. Emperor, C. alba, true: C. eboracensis, C. Thompsoni, C. 
<Osmani, C. Dolgsonii, C. Emilia*, C. Backhouseana, C. C’olemani, 0. 
fausta, C. labiata. autumn-flowering; C. calummata, C. Manlelli, C. 
Skinneri alba, C. Mendeli Selbornensis, C. Morganife, C. exoniensis, 0. 
Rothschild iana; Lielia elegans, special varieties ; L. anceps Dawsoni, 
L. Wolstenholmiae, L. Amesiana, L. bella, L. Veitchiana, L. flammea, 
H*. grandis ; Phaius tuberculosus ; Cymbidium Parishii ; Pachystoma 
Thomsoni ; Saccolabium Heathi, S. Harrisonianum ; Dendrobium 
Phakenopsis, D. Harveyanum, D. nobilenobilius, D. Falconeri giganteum ; 
Maxillaria Sanderiana ; Masdevallia Harryana ; Bull’s Blood, true, and 
many other splendid varieties ; Cypripedium Stonei platytsenium, C. 
-grande, C. microchilum, C. selligerum majus, C. Arthurianum, C. Wallisii, 
Leeanum superbum, C. eurvandrum, C. vexillarium, C. Morganias, C. 
itesselatum porphyreum ; Coelogyne ciistata alba, C. Lowi; Odonto- 
glossum Hrubyanum, O. rigidum ; Vanda tricolor planilabris, V. Patter- 
soni, and V. Sanderiana. 
PHAUEN0PSI3 GRANDIFLORA. 
An excellent coloured plate of this fine Orchid appears in Williams’ 
■'‘Orchid Album" for this month, together with some interesting historical 
and cultural information. P. gran liflora is a native of Java, and was 
named by Lindlev in 1848, and though it had been exhibited in flower 
c he year before by J. H. Schroder, Esq., of Stratford, it was then sup¬ 
posed to l)e a variety of P. amabilis. A variety from Borneo named 
a urea differs in having greenish yellow flower stems, whereas the Java 
plant has larger and more numerous flowers, the flower stems of a pur¬ 
plish hue, and the habit more robust. Mr. B. S. Williams, in referring 
to the floriferous character of P. grandiflora, states that he has shown 
specimens with seventy to eighty flowers each. That figured is from a 
plant belonging to C. J. Partington, Esq., Heaton House, Cheshunt, 
where, under the charge of the gardener, Mr. Gearing, Phalaenopses are 
grown so successfully. One of the chief secrets in the management of 
these plants is, that their roots should not be crammed into baskets or 
confined in any way ; let them have freedom, a moist atmosphere, a 
light position, but not where they can be scorched by the sun, a good 
■temperature, and freedom from draughts of cold air, and they will yield 
much better results than are generally obtained. Phalaenopses are very 
easily injured by interfering unduly with their roots, and we have seen 
several examples of collections being almost lost through carelessness 
in this matter. 
T3E WHITE BUTTERFLY ONCIDIUM. 
In the same issue of the" Orchid Album” is an admirable illustration 
of Oncidium Papilio majus, with large flowers very highly coloured. 
In connection with it is mentioned the white variety described by 
Lindlev, and Mr. Williams states that Birschell, who travelled in 
Venezuela and Caraccas in 1856 and 1857, sent great quantities of ti e 
typical form to England, and also said that he gathered numbers of the 
white variety, but omitted to mark them in any way. None has ever 
flowered, nor does it appear to have been introduced since by other 
travellers, though one might expect that such a plant would be worth a 
search. 
TOTATOES DEGENERATING—CHANGE OF SEED. 
Mr. Murphy, on page 267, maintains that in nine cases out of ten 
Potatoes aro bound sooner or later to degenerate, and, in proof of this 
assjrtion, joints out that the favourites which were grown forty or 
lift/ years ago are extinct. 1 am glad to say 1 am not qualified to write 
about the old favourites, but, all the same, do not admit the point my 
respected o,q orient fancies he has made. As far as my experience goes 
the old favourites were heavy cropping and good in quality, but were 
not disease-resisting. If it can be proved that the disease would not 
have affected them while yet retaining their full vigour, or, in other 
words, that they were originally disease-resisting, then I must admit 
that Mr. Murphy is correct as to the liability of all varieties to degene¬ 
rate. One or more varieties of any kind of vegetable may yet be found 
that was in cultivation early in the present century, and a stock would 
be quickly forthcoming if there was a demand for it. Not merely 
among Potatoes is the change of sorts noticeable, but it is much the 
same with Peas, Beans, Broccolis, Cabbages, and other vegetables. 
Some very old sorts of these may be occasionally met with, and seeds¬ 
men state they are occasionally asked to supi ly some almost forgotten 
variety. These, although they may be savsd at the same place for many 
years, yet retain great vigour, and, as far as the crop is concerned, show 
no appreciable falling off. It is the quality that is unsatisfactory, and 
it does not say much for our boasted progress if the novelties arc not as 
a rule superior to our forefathers’ favourites. The old varieties of 
Potatoes are simply ousted out of the catalogues, perhaps sometimes 
before they ought to be. 
I am surprised to find intelligent Mr. Murphy still clings to the 
notion that there is any benefit derived from greening the sets. Fifty 
years ago unripe and greened sets were supjosed to be the best for 
planting, these being supposed to start with greater vigour when planted 
than do tubers which were not lifted before they are fully ripe. Of late 
years we hear nothing about the superiority of unripe planting tubers, and 
I thought the greening process was also being gradually forgotten or dis¬ 
believed in. Not only have I detected no superiority in the crops obtained 
from greened sets, but at times the plant has been excessively uneven 
owingtomany of them having been diseased. Duringseasonswhendisea.se 
is most prevalent, spreading the newly lifted tubers in the open air is 
almost certain to lead to a number of them becoming diseased, the spores 
first attacking the skins of the Potatoes in all instances. The greening 
hides the disease, and diseased tubers will sprout, but in most cases 
little or no haulm results. Where Potatoes are grown on the same 
ground for two or more consecutive seasons, which hapj ens in most 
cottagers’ gardens, there are usually a number of self-sown plants left 
among those properly planted in the rows, and it must be equally as 
well known that from these are obtained the heaviest crops. There is no 
sign of degenerating among these, but they are vigorous and profitable 
simply liecause the sets have not been weakened by premature sprout¬ 
ing. The true old Ashleaf is perhaps the oldest sort now in cultivation, 
this being recommended by gardening authorities as being one of the 
best for frames as far back as 1828. Another better known variety—viz., 
Myatt’s Ashleaf, has been in cultivation a great many years, and if it 
has slowly deteriorated during that time it must originally have been a 
wonderful cropper. It is yet one of the most profitable early sorts, and 
keeps good till January. Veitch’s Improved Ashleaf is not sufficiently 
heavy cropping for our men, but they arc always eager to have all the 
Myatt’s there are to spare. 
Unless I am much mistaken Mr. Laxton pos-csses a seething of his 
own raising that is destined to become very popular. It is the result of 
a cross between Magnum Bonum and Scotch Champion, and may be 
described as an improved form of the latter, more especially as regards 
the shallowness of the eyes. It is a yellow-fleslied variety, and without 
any extra care in cooking was floury and good in quality. This should 
please Mr. Murphy. Mr. Laxton is of opinion that yellow-fleshed 
varieties, including Myatt’s Ashleaf, Lapstone, and Scotch Champion, 
contain more nutriment than most other sorts, and there is no doubt in 
my mind as to the correctness of this conclusion. 
Mr. Murphy differs from me in the matter of Potatoes degenerating, 
but agrees with me that it is not always wise or necessary to try a 
change of seed. Another correspondent, “ B.,” on page 233, does not 
believe that varieties are degenerating, but is firmly convinced that 
where the seed can be had from a totally different soil from that on 
which they are to be planted the change will prove highly' remunerative. 
At one time I held much the same opinion, but of late years and after 
close observation I have been obliged to confess it is merely a fanciful 
theory. Southern growers of my acquaintance certainly have sent for 
large quantities of seed Potatotoes from Scotland, some believing in the 
advisability of a change, while others prefer to sell out the crops on the 
ground and purchase fresh seed each year. Some of them admit that 
they continue the practice more from a belief in old sayings and 
customs than from any palpable gain resulting. If it is necessary to 
change Potatoes it is equally so in the case of all other vegetable seeds, 
and this we well know is quite uncalled for.— \V. Iggulden. 
ROSE SHOW FIXTURES. 
A Noisette Rose, according to Mr. Rivers, is a Tea-scented Rose that 
blooms in clusters. I should like to ask whether we are to consider the 
Rose shows of 1887 as Noisettes.' They will come in clusters unless 
some disbudding shortly takes place. Look at Mr. Mawley’s list. Here s 
a cluster for you. July 7th—Bath, Winchester, Hitchin, Ipswich, Farn- 
ingham. Farnliam, and Romford, all on Thursday, and not a fixture as 
far as I know' for the Friday or Saturday following. Then, again, take 
the next week. The National Rose Society’s Provincial Show' at Edin¬ 
burgh is on Wednesday, July 13th. This precludes anyone but giants 
from show'ing on the Tuesday as well, so that after Thursday, July 7th, 
we small growers must wait until the 13th. Nearly a week ! Our Roses, 
however, will not wait. After that gap, what do we find Not another 
show' in England of any note until the following Wednesday at Birken¬ 
head. Another week ! Mr. Editor, cannot something be done to remedy 
this state of things? Why should Bedford clash with the National? 
[s it, Mr. Gall, a law of the Modes and Persians that Hitchin must year 
after year coincide with Bath ? And, Brothers of East Ai.glia, Berners 
and Fester-Melliar, take notice I pray you of the “occurrence” of the 
