58 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ March, 
green, and with dark brown spots on both sides. The staminode is very like that 
of C. barbatum. 
The plant before us is not only interesting on account of its origin, hybrid 
Orchids having been till within a very few years unthought-of acquisitions, but 
is also most valuable for its ornamental qualities, and while partaking largely of 
the characters of both parents, it is perfectly distinct from either of them. It 
has been awarded, as it well deserves, several First-Class Certificates.—T. M. 
THE WEATHER AND THE WINTER BROCCOLIS. 
GffHOSE of us who are in the habit of trusting to our winter Broccoli for a 
AAj) continuous supply for the early months of the year will, I fear, be greatly 
¥ disappointed this season. For several years I* have, without difficulty,. 
been able to cut nice white heads during December, January, and February 
from Walcheren, Snow’s, and Osborn’s Broccolis, the latter of which has invari¬ 
ably stood the winter well with me ; while I have usually put a good supply of 
the two former into frames or sheds to protect them from frost. About the- 
middle of December of last year I took up a good supply of Snow’s, which has 
enabled me to keep cutting up to the present time (February 7). Some- 
"Walcheren, taken up at the same time, and put into the same frame, being in a 
much forwarder state, did not escape the frost of January 1, though in a frame 
well covered up with litter, and having also a covering of snow. So intense was 
the frost, that an ordinary thermometer, placed in an exposed part of the garden,, 
went down to 5° below zero, though our register thermometer only indicated 2° r 
or 30° of frost. Out-of-doors, both Osborn’s and Snow’s Broccoli are alike killed, 
and I fear our later Broccolis are very much injured, for though their heads are 
laid close to the ground, and the ground was covered with snow on January 1, the 
subsequent thawing and freezing have made sad havoc amongst them. Greens of 
every kind will, no doubt, be very scarce during the next few weeks, and I doubt 
not we shall, all with increased delight, hail the bright weather when it comes to- 
bring on our French Beans, Potatos, &c., in the frames' and houses. I have not 
seen much of the effects of the severe frost in this part of Yorkshire, but I hear 
very sad accounts from some of my neighbours of the destruction wrought 
amongst the vegetables.— John Clark, Studley Royal. 
ALPINE AURICULAS. 
HE time is fast approaching when we shall begin to look for new faces-, 
among the seedlings of these most beautiful spring flowers. So great an 
advance has latterly been made in them, that scarcely too much can be- 
said in their praise. . They are perfectly hardy, and are very easily 
managed.; they are more productive of offshoots than the stage Auriculas ; they 
bloom much more abundantly, producing fine full trusses of large bold flowers, 
very rich and bright in colour, and particularly attractive. 
