512 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
December 6,1894, 
object in the Blantyre Garden was the first Coffee tree (Coffea 
arabica) introduced into the Shire Highlands in 1878. Mr. Duncan 
(then gardener at Blantyre) brought with him from the Botanic 
Gardens in Edinburgh three Coffee trees; two of them died, but 
one lived, and grew, and flourished. In 1878 there was one Coffee 
tree in the Shire Highlands, to-day there are millions. The Shire 
Highlands of British Central Africa have come much to the 
front of late as being suitable for Coffee growing, and in looking 
around at the many well managed Coffee plantations in the 
district one has no hesitation in saying that there is a bright 
future before it. 
Noticeable amongst the foreign trees is the Camphor Laurel, 
Camphora officinarum, the well-known Laurel of China and Japan, 
introduced into the Shire Highlands in 1884. Nothing as yet has 
been attempted in extracting the camphor, but if any of your 
readers wish to know how the camphor is extracted by distillation 
we would refer them to page 289 of the Journal of Horticulture 
for September 28th, 1893. 
But apart from home flowers and plants there are many 
handsome ones indigenous to the country, and that rightly merit a 
place in the garden. There is the fine shrub, Tephrosia Vogeli, 
having a profusion of large white flowers, and it keeps flowering 
all the year round. There is also the white variety of the Datura, 
Datura alba, but it is not very abundant, and we scarcely think it 
is a native of the district; very probably it has been introduced 
from the coast. Lilies are not very numerous, and as far as we 
have seen there is but one variety worth cultivating. The name of 
it we do not know, but its flowers, and in fact the whole habit of 
the plant, is closely allied to Gloriosa superba. Water Lilies are 
more abundant, but their home is down the lower river and hidden 
away in the marshes. There is one species, a pale blue 
Nymphaea, which is well worthy of cultivation. Irises are to be 
found, one variety, a charming yellow, named Cadalvena 
spectabilis, we have never seen before. Of ground Orchids there 
is an endless variety, but nothing very special. Such families as 
Malvaceae, Labiatae, Convolvulaceae, and Sterculiaceae are very 
numerous, and include many species. 
Bat now the sun is far down in the west, and soon darkness 
will be upon us. So we retrace our steps to the manse. From the 
manse verandah what a beautiful scene is before us! We first 
rest our eyes on the Palms and other fine-foliaged plants beneath 
us, and then they wander away to the fine undulating belt of hills, 
The Minchiru Range,” over which the sun is just setting in all its 
beauty of crimson, blue, and gold—truly an African sunset. We 
will not attempt to describe it, but surely it requires no great 
stretch of the imagination to convince one that in Central Africa 
Blantyre Mission Station occupies a very home-like scene, which 
is not easily surpassed.— Nos-dama, Blantyre, B.C A , September 
28th, 1894. 
[So rarely does an article reach the gardening press direct from 
Central Africa—the “ land of the future ” it has been called—that 
we have pleasure in giving a leading position to the interesting 
communication of “ Nos-dama,” from whom we hope to hear 
again.] 
A CODE OF JUDGING. 
A VERY large order indeed is that taken for execution by the 
Council of the Royal Horticultural Society when it undertakes to 
prepare a code of regulations or rules by which judging at flower 
shows shall be governed. I do not for one moment wish to depre¬ 
cate the attempt. So far f/om that being so, I am pleased that 
the Council is going to make the attempt, and highly commend the 
courage which is thus displayed. Courage is indeed needed, and so 
is judgment and wisdom, for without these a grave failure may 
result. It is one thing to issue a code of rules ; it is another thing 
to get such a code generally adopted. Even where it is adopted, 
assuming that to secure its general adoption executives of flower 
shows everywhere require of their judges, as a condition of 
engagement, that they agree to adopt the regulations laid down in 
the code, yet there will be all sorts of diverse interpretations, just 
as men are ignorant or otherwise restricted in judgment, or are 
broad-minded. But as a beginning is to be made the question 
naturally arises. How best to proceed, so as in the end ensure the 
greatest unanimity ? 
Not even a code issued with the imprint of a special committee, 
unless it be a very representative one, will be generally adopted. 
The R.H.S. Council should first formulate in concise terms not 
only what is thought desirable, but on what general lines to 
proceed. The committee would then proceed to frame its code, 
but roughly dealing so far as is practicable with every section 
or subject that may come under the attention of judges at 
flower shows. Probably this committee would find it needful to 
resolve itself into some few sections, as, for instance, one would 
take plants, another cut flowers, a third fruit, and a fourth 
vegetables, whilst even a fifth might find some special material for 
consideration in the art or decorative elements of flower shows, 
such as groups, vases, and various other features. 
Having proceeded so far, each section having an outline code 
adapted to its particular features, there should be issued to several 
exhibitors, growers, persons employed as judges, and to local com¬ 
mittees these outline codes in the form of suggestions, and inviting 
from these persons concise comments with added suggestions, and 
these being returned within a given date should be tabulated, and 
in that way be either adopted or be amended or rejected if found 
to be useless for the purpose. That would at least pave the 
way to the creation of a code of judging rules likely to be 
nationally accepted. 
No matter which section is referred to, it is very easy to see 
that the same rules cannot be made to apply to everything in that 
section. The rules fitted for an Auricula will not suit a Rose or a 
Dahlia, or those for a Carnation for the Chrysanthemum. 
It is thus seen that in dealing with florists’ flowers the special 
societies identified with the Auricula, Pansy, Carnation, Rose, 
Dahlia, and Chrysanthemum would have to be consulted also. In 
the case of fruit it would be needful to deal with each fruit on its 
merits and separately, for on no other basis could a satisfactory 
code be established. 
I mention these things as showing some of the difliculties as 
well as pitfalls that beset the promoters of this great reform, and 
yet every day almost brings to light the need there is for 
such reform. Judging is at present far too much of chaos—almost 
all men judge accoiding to their fancies, and not a single exhibitor 
can tell on what basis he may expect awards to be made. Given a 
generally accepted code of rules it would be very much more 
possible to secure greater unanimity than now exists. It should be 
so much the object of executives, then, to compel judges to base all 
their awards on the National code.—A. D. 
PlIAIO Calanthe Sedeniana. 
The illustration (6g. 80) represents a flower of Phaio-Calanthe 
Sedeniana, a beautiful bigeneric hybrid, exhibited by Baron 
Schroder, The Dell, Egham, at the meeting of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society on the 27th ult., and for which a first-class certifi¬ 
cate was awarded. This charming Orchid was, we believe, raised 
by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons some years ago, and is the result of a 
cross between Phaius grandifolius and Calanthe Veitchi. The 
flowers are creamy white tinted pale rose, and are borne on tall 
spikes. It is a unique hybrid, and attracted some attention on the 
above-mentioned occasion. 
Imported Orchids—Cattleya Leaves Spotted. 
Please inform me the best way to treat imported Orchids so 
as to make them produce roots. I should like to know what 
temperature and moisture are necessary ; too much moisture seems 
to make them decay. I shall also be glad if you can inform me 
why the leaves of Cattleyas become spotted. I have a Cattleya 
labiata in sheath, and the new leaf near the sheath has become 
covered with small brown spots, which shows, I suppose, that there 
is something wrong.—L. B. T. 
[Newly imported Orchids when first received should be care¬ 
fully cleaned. The ectire plants ought to be thoroughly washed 
in tepid water and any decayed portions removed. When all are 
done they may be spread out thinly on the Orchid house stage, and 
be lightly dewed with tepid water daily, or twice a day when 
