580 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
May 15, 1886. 
show has been held which was devoted exclu¬ 
sively to the beautiful and interesting family 
which now so much commands the attention of 
plant growers. 
The Birmingham Botanic Gardens has been 
steadily improving for some years, as we inti¬ 
mated in our notice, last week, of the Curator’s 
career; and now, in the extent of the collec¬ 
tions, and the condition of the plants, it will 
compare favourably with any provincial garden 
of a similar character. It was, therefore, pecu¬ 
liarly fitting that special encouragement*should 
he extended to such a popular group of plants, 
more particularly as Mr. Latham is known as a 
skilled cultivator and ardent admirer of Orchids. 
Around Birmingham, too, Orchid growers have 
been increasing in numbers for a considerable 
time. Several gentlemen took the lead in 
forming extensive collections of the choicest 
and most beautiful species and varieties. These 
soon attracted the attention of other wealthy 
residents, who speedily became distinguished 
by a similar enthusiasm; and the result is, that 
Birmingham, with its suburbs, has become one 
of the recognised Orchidic centres of Great 
Britain. 
A glance over the splendid array of beautiful 
Orchids brought together, showed that the 
standard old favourites are not displaced by the 
newer introductions. Cattleya Mossise, Lcelia 
purpurata, and the other stately old plants of 
that class showed up with telling effect among 
the groups. As examples, those selected for 
cultural certificates may be cited; viz., the 
Dendrobium densiflorum, with over thirty 
spikes, exhibited by Mr. Cooper, gardener to 
The Right Honourable Joseph Chamberlain, 
M.P.; the Dendrobium nobile, about four feet 
across, bearing some seven hundred flowers, 
shown by Mr. Jinks, gardener to J. E. Wilson, 
Esq., Wyddrington, Birmingham; and the 
Cattleya citrina with nine large flowers, and 
Dendrobium thyrsiflorum -with twenty-five 
spikes, exhibited by Mr. James Cypher, of 
Cheltenham. These were grand, and the healthy 
collection in the houses belonging to the gar¬ 
dens were a good supplement to the main 
show. Oncidium leucochilum, many Cattleya 
Mossise, C. Mendelii, C. citrina, Saccolabium 
germinatum, Masdevallias, &c., being in bloom 
in them, notwithstanding that they were drawn 
heavily on to make up a fine group in the exhi¬ 
bition house. 
Also in the collection belonging to the Bir¬ 
mingham Botanical Gardens of great interest, 
were Mr. W. B. Latham’s hybrid Ferns, the 
now gigantic Dicksonia Lathamii, a huge tree 
Fern of great beauty; also Gymnogramma 
Lathamii, a lovely hybrid between Gymno¬ 
gramma schizophylla and G. decomposita, with 
very finely cut and handsome fronds; and 
another distinct thing between Alsophila excelsa 
and Cyathea princeps. Mr. Latham is very 
clever at producing such fine hybrids, and the 
numerous rare things in his care will, no doubt, 
furnish him with materials for other fine novel¬ 
ties. Ferns are special favourites at Binning 
ham, if one might judge by the number of rare 
and handsome things in the pretty group 
arranged by Mr. Spinks, of Hans Xiemans, 
Royal Nurseries, Harborne Road, Birmingham, 
in whose collection the now rare Onychium 
auratum and other good things appeared. The 
same exhibitor had a specimen of Azalea mollis, 
with primrose, salmon and cerise trusses on 
the same plant, the mingling of the soft colours 
being delightful. 
Snowstorm in May. —Snow fell on some of the 
higher hills in Scotland, and in the north-eastern 
counties of England on Tuesday, and gave a stern 
check to vegetation, which had begun to make good 
progress. 
GARDENING MISCELLANY. 
Meetings for Next Week. — Wednesday : 
Royal Botanic Society’s First Summer Show.— Friday 
and Saturday : Crystal Palace Great Flower Show. 
The Royal National Tulip Society.—At 
the “making-up” meeting held on Saturday last at 
the Bull’s Head Inn, Manchester, it was decided to 
hold the annual exhibition on Saturday, June 5th, in 
the Botanical Gardens, Old Trafford. The schedule of 
prizes will be issued in a few days ; and we are pleased 
to hear that though the society has lost many valued 
members by death, of late years, it can show an in¬ 
crease in the number of members on the roll. 
Orchid Prices. —At the sale of flowering Orchids 
at Steven’s Rooms on "Wednesday, the leading lots 
sold were Cymbidium Lowianum, with ninety-five 
flowers on five spikes, 36 gs. ; Odontoglossum vexil- 
larium, a fine dark variety, 21 gs. ; and another grand 
variety, 24 gs. ; Cattleya Mossiae, a small plant of a 
fine variety, 12 gs. ; and a large mass of Dendrobium 
Faleoneri, 15 gs. 
New Plants Certificated in Ghent.— At a 
meeting of the Belgian Chambre Syndicale des Horti- 
culteurs, held on Monday last, Certificates of Merit 
were awarded to Mr. Halkin, of Brussels, for Odonto- 
glossum Alexandria, var. Helenianum ; to Mr. Aug. 
Van Geert, for Davallia fceniculacea ; to Mr. B. Spae, 
for Rhododendron liybridum, -‘The Strategist” ; and 
to Mr. Hye-Leysen, for Masdevallia Chelsoni, Cypri- 
pedium michrochilom, and Cypripedium Curtisi. 
The Dandelion as an Early Window 
Plant. —Admiring a pretty collection of pot plants in 
a lady’s window recently the question was asked which 
she admired the most. It was a surprise to learn that 
it was the Dandelion. She had one potted in the fall, 
and every day when the sun shone it put out a wealth 
of golden blossoms. And it was so easy to get to grow 
and to bloom. After all, common as the Dandelion is, 
there are few plants that can rival it in beauty and 
general interest. Not only our lady friend, but poets 
of high rank have sung its praises. — Gardeners' 
Monthly. 
-- 
FRUIT PROSPECTS IN SOUTH 
WORCESTERSHIRE. 
I venture to send you a few notes of a roam through 
some of the principal fruitgrowing districts, including 
the vale of Evesham. Seldom indeed have the pros¬ 
pects of an abundant fruit crop been so evident as at 
present, and barring frost and blight the yield will be 
enormous. All who are acquainted with this district 
are aware, to a certain extent, of the acreage devoted 
to fruit growing, and can form some opinion of the loss 
entailed upon the holders in case of failure ; certainly, 
for the past ten years there has been nothing like a 
good yield, Plums, as a rule, only giving a scanty return 
when the many thousands of bearing trees are' taken 
into consideration. One of the principal kinds grown 
is a yellow egg Plum of local origin, and bearing the 
name of the Pershore Plum ; this is certainly one of 
the most valuable of all varieties for preserving pur¬ 
poses, and I am told upon reliable authority that 
preserve made from this variety, with certain colouring 
added, cannot be, distinguished from either Apricot or 
Green Gage. It is a variety quite distinct in habit 
from all others, and seldom fails to give a good return; 
this, with the Victoria and the Orleans, are the kinds 
principally relied upon, and are the only varieties 
planted in anything like quantity. Red Acton, 
Diamond, Prince Englebert, Cox’s Emperor, Coe’s 
Golden Drop, and Green Gage are frequently planted 
to some extent where the ground is good, and in some 
instances that I know of give a good return, notably 
the Green Gage. The orchards have this season been 
a beautiful sight—all varieties alike having been a 
mass of bloom : the frosts have, however, in exposed 
places thinned the crop down, but there is still an 
abundance left, even much more than the trees can be 
expected to perfect. Damsons too are equally promis¬ 
ing, and the foliage looks clean and of a healthy 
colour. 
Standard Pears, with the exception of Marie Louise, 
Williams’ Napoleon, and Golden Sufferin, are thinly 
bloomed, probably due to the heavy crop .all varieties 
carried last season ; on the walls we have an excellent 
promise, more particularly of Doyenne du Comice, Easter 
Beurre, Josephine de Malines, Louise Bonne of .Jersev, 
Beurre Ranee, and Althorp Crassane, and in several 
cases we must thin the crop if all now swelling hold 
good, as the trees cannot possibly be expected to bring 
them all to perfection. Apples both in the Orchards 
and gardens, are just now a beautiful sight with then- 
different tints in the flower and buds, from pure white 
to deep pink. In my ramble I noted down the 
following varieties as being the most densely flowered, 
and they may be taken as representing the bulk of this 
seasons crop : Blenheim, Hawthomden, Lord Suffield, 
Warner’s King, Stunner Pippin, Ribston Pippin, 
Forester, Worcester Pearmain, Margil, Quarrenden, 
Scarlet Nonpareil, Golden Reinnette, Fair Maid, Ash- 
mead’s Kernel, and Kerry Pippin, whilst the following 
I noticed as being very thinly flowered, Keswick 
Codling, Ironsides, Tower of Glamis, Peasgood’s Non¬ 
such, and Sack Apple. 
There are so many varieties only locally known that 
it would be useless to enumerate, many of them grown 
for making cider. The varieties named Fair Maid and 
Sack Apple are both very desirable, the first-named 
being a beautiful sauce Apple, very white, and keeping 
sound and good until the end of April; although, when 
hanging upon the tree, one would imagine it would 
hardly bear handling. The “Sacks” are largely 
grown in this neighbourhood and usually carry good 
crops. It is a first-rate keeper, lasting right through 
May, and is equally good for either dessert or the 
kitchen. In foliage it is quite distinct from other 
varieties, being of a thick downy nature and upright 
habit. Bush fruits, which are extensively planted, are 
heavily laden, particularly Red and White Currants. 
The spring frosts in places reduced the Gooseberry 
crop considerably, but still there is a good crop left. 
Raspberries are thickly studded with bloom-buds, and 
the Strawberry-beds are a mass of trusses, stout and 
thrown well up, thus denoting vigour. In short, I 
think, given a favourable time onwards, the fruit crop 
of 1886 may be safely reckoned as the best in this 
district for the past eleven years.— Walter Child, 
Croome Court. 
-- 
A GARDENER’S EXPERIENCE 
OF NEW ZEALAND. 
You ask me to tell you how I have fared in this 
colony, and whether I think it is a suitable country for a 
gardener to emigrate to. Well, I am, as you know, 
not an adapt at writing for publication, but I may tell 
you that there is very little work to do here, and a tre¬ 
mendous lot of people to do it; and I can further assure 
you that New Zealand is not the prosperous colon v 
that interested people would have you believe it is. 
From w r hat I can see and hear there are many queer 
ways of making money ; and it seems to me that some 
few acquire possessions of the needful, by running away 
from here to England, and there proclaiming the fitness 
of the colony as a place for small capitalists to emigrate 
to. But it is greatly to be regretted that they have 
not some better occupation than lauding up a country 
that is overflowing with pecuniary difficulties. These 
men extol to small capitalists the quality of the land 
they dare not speculate in themselves. I have known, 
and am constantly hearing of people coming out here 
in search of suitable speculations, but who soon .turn 
their attention to the next Royal Mail steamer going 
back to England, or seek a vessel that will carry them 
to some more prosperous colony than this. 
I was told before I came here by several gentlemen 
at home, who are supposed to know all about the 
colony, that the wages given to a man of experience 
in my profession were good, and that such men 
were wanted here ; but it is all moonshine, there 
are ten men here to every one that is wanted, and the 
wages are no better than at home, while the work is a 
great deal rougher. There are very few of the wealthy 
colonists who take so much delight in gardening as 
English gentlemen do, and yet there are many places 
which could be made truly delightful, if their owners 
would only spend some money on them. Then again, 
a man who has spent a lifetime in acquiring a skilled 
knowledge of the profession, is thought no more of than 
any unfortunate wight who takes to the spade as the 
last tool with which to try and earn his daily bread. 
You know I have been all my working life' employed 
in gardening, and I can assure you it riles me some 
times to know that my services are worth no more, 
than those of the veriest novice. 
