February 28, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
409 
THE ELMS, COVENTRY. 
The grand display of Orchids in bloom in Mr. J. C. 
Stringer’s collections has been the admiration of many 
lovers of this quaint and beautiful class of flowers. 
Arranged with great taste amongst Ferns, Palms, 
Crotons, Dracaenas, and other fine foliage plants, so 
that foliage and flowers blend well together, were 
fourteen fine plants of Ccelogyne cristata, standing on 
the stage and suspended from the roof. The latter 
mode of culture seems most appropriate for Ccelogynes, 
their pendulous racemes being seen to much better 
advantage when grown in this fashion than in the 
usual way upon the stages. Interspersed were several 
fine plants of Dendrobium nobile, D. Wardianum, 
D. fimbriatum, D. crassinode, D. primulinum, D. 
Devonianum, and D. Jamesianum. Sophronitis grandi- 
flora was very telling with its brilliant scarlet flowers, 
and the pretty Odontoglossum Cervantesii decorum, so 
chaste, stood out in bold relief. 
Odontoglossum Alexandras and 0. Pescatorei were 
seen to best advantage ; Lycaste Skinneri, L. lanipes, 
and L. cruenta, usually stiff, but graceful when well 
arranged; Lfelia harpophylla and L. cinnabarina were 
prominent for their brilliancy; while Oncidium 
papilio, 0. varicosum Rogersii, 0. phymatochilum 
and 0. sarcodes gave grace to the whole. A few 
Odontoglossums, such as 0. maculatum, 0. bictonense, 
0. blandum, Phajus grandifolius, Cypripedium insigne 
and C. venustnm make up a display very creditable 
indeed to Mr. G. Holland, who manages his Orchids 
with such efficiency. — J. McNab. 
-- 
THE FROST AND ITS EFFECTS. 
That the prolonged frost of the passing winter will 
make a lasting impression on many minds there cannot 
be a doubt, owing to the many evidences by which 
they are daily reminded of its deadly effect. As the 
bright warm weather we have lately had reveals to us 
day by day evidence of thehavoc wrought by the frost in 
our pleasure grounds and gardens, we have a constant 
reminder of the unstability of all things in this lower 
sphere. Since the memorable “ blizzard” of January, 
1881, it has been a rare thing to find any of our more 
tender shrubs injured by frost, and in the kitchen 
garden only the tenderest Broccoli have been touched. 
There has been among the shrubs a very noticeable 
difference in the effects of the frost as between 1881 
and the present winter. I refer, of course, to those 
under my own immediate observation, but in other 
places of different aspect and elevation the results most 
likely will vary considerably. 
In 1881 Portugal Laurels suffered at least as much 
from the biting cold as the common ones, whilst this 
season some standing among the latter are unhurt, and 
the common ones are cut to the ground. Again, the 
Arbutus in 1881 suffered equally with the Laurustinus, 
most of which were with us cut quite to the ground. 
At present it would seem that there is not quite so 
much harm done among the Laurustinus, whilst the 
Arbutus appears to be quite unhurt. The evergreen 
Oaks have, however, fared worse this season, and from 
present appearances I think the Roses, the Teas at 
least, are dead to the ground line. The common Ivy 
in some aspects is here almost denuded of foliage, and 
much of the Rhododendron foliage is blackened, and 
some browned, as though dried in an oven. I never 
saw Rhododendrons punished to the same extent 
before. Where a few months hence there should have 
been a glorious display of flowers there will be patches 
of naked stalks only. 
I believe that most of the mischief was caused by the 
sudden and severe frost of November 25th, following 
on comparatively mild open weather. The sap of 
many evergreens was in full flow, in fact, some of the 
common Laurels were growing till that date, when our 
thermometer, standing on a support 3 ft. from the 
ground, in a walled-in garden, registered 27° of frost. 
On the following morning I saw a new thermometer 
which indicated 2° below zero, in a more exposed situa¬ 
tion, and at a higher elevation. 
Turning to the vegetable garden, things there are 
enough to make the stoutest heart quail. I noticed 
with some interest your comments upon the Spinach 
crop, and believed at the time that we were “ in the 
swim,” but a few sunny days have dispelled the illusion. 
What till recently looked like yielding a good 
supply, is melting away like dew before the sun, 
and much that was bright and green is rotten at the 
collar. For the next few months any of the Brassica 
tribe is likely to be in request, and we have therefore 
sown a large breadth of Summer Spinach. Our 
Broccoli, including the Purple Sprouting, have all 
vanished, as in 1881. Brussels Sprouts have stood the 
best of all the Brassica tribe. Cottagers, Scotch, and 
Thousand-headed or Asparagus Kale, have all fared 
much worse than the Brussels Sprouts, and if I should 
be asked to name the four most reliable vegetables for 
a severe winter, to serve the dining-room table, I should 
say, Brussels Sprouts, Sea Kale, Spinach Beet, and 
Jerusalem Artichokes. I am not forgetting Carrots, 
Turnips, Parsnips, nor Celery, but many families which 
seldom make a dish of these, and do not care to have 
them repeated too often, will seldom tire of the 
four mentioned. 
Considering the high quality of Sea Kale and its 
hardiness, I am often astounded at the comparatively 
small quantity grown in many gardens. For myself, I 
have for some years made a point of having plenty 
of it and Brussels Sprouts. The comparatively 
new vegetable, Stachys tuberifera, merits the attention 
of all gardeners, and is steadily advancing in popular 
favour. It is easily grown, very productive, and 
scarcity or no scarcity of other things, it is most useful 
as an extra dish. Spinach Beet is an excellent 
substitute for the real thing, but cooks are apt to look 
askance at it because of the extra labour of working it 
through the sieve ; but when a disastrous season like 
this overtakes the gardening fraternity, Mrs. Cook 
must, if possible, be coaxed into good behaviour. I 
have had to deal with those who would not use it 
unless almost compelled by a higher authority.— 
W. B.G. 
-- 
SOME MORE “NOVELTIES.” 
A gardener, whose name and address need not be 
given, writes :—“ Apropos of the subject of ‘Novelties,’ 
referred to in your issue of February 7th (p. 357), I 
enclose you two circulars concerning three ‘Novelties’ 
sent to me from the town of Altrincham, and which, as 
you will observe, have been made the most of. Just 
fancy paying 2s. 6 d, for about fifty Lettuce seeds, even 
though the variety be a real novelty ! A good deal of 
fiction is evidently attached to both the ‘ Tree Tomato ’ 
and the ‘Golden Mango Pepper,’ especially the latter, 
in their respective descriptions. It is needless to say 
that I returned the seeds, as I do not appreciate that 
style of business, more especially as I am threatened 
with another consignment on the same conditions at a 
future date.” 
We quote the following from one of the circulars 
verbatim et literatum: —“Believing that like many 
other practical Horticulturists you are desirous each 
year of adding a few ‘ Novelties ’ as a ‘ change ’ to your 
‘ Plant-Collection ’ ; but, like others, you have doubts 
as to their merits, I have therefore presumed to send 
you some seeds of a Rare and Unusually Striking 
Decorative and Edible-fruiting species—Cyphomandra 
betacea—lately exhibited before the Royal Horticultural 
Society by its secretary, the Rev. W. Wilks—of well- 
known Shirley Poppy fame. Also packets of two other 
Specialities. Will you kindly give them a fair trial ? 
After which, should you then think * nothing ’ of them, 
you need not pay for them. If, however (as I surmise 
you will), you find them to be really ‘acquisitions,’ 
you can remit as per prices on list; and I will theD, 
with your permission, forward upon similar conditions 
a few other novelties that I hope to receive from abroad 
about that time.P.S.—If not inclined to 
give these Specialities a trial, would you kindly return 
them at your very earliest convenience, that they may 
be tested by some one else.” 
-- 
AZALEA, DEUTSCHE PERLE. 
The Azalea here named is a variety of Rhododendron 
indicum, popularly known as Azalea. It is of 
continental origin, as the name would imply, like so 
many others,but its own intrinsic merit has enabled it to 
make rapid headway in British gardens. Where much 
forcing of flowers has to be done, there we find it to a 
certainty, and it has also found its way largely into 
market gardens, owing to the many purposes to which 
it can be put when cut and wired. Some have found 
the plant not to be of very vigorous constitution in 
suburban gardens, but with healthy specimens to begin 
with, and care in its culture, particularly when making 
fresh growth, there is no difficulty in getting perfect 
satisfaction from it. The statement is sometimes made 
that the flowers are only of moderate size ; but that 
should be an advantage rather than otherwise, for 
flowers are often overdone in the matter of size. The 
striking features of the flowers are their purity of 
colour, the broad rounded character of the segments, 
and the comparatively small number of pieces that go 
to fill up the centre of the bloom. On this latter 
account the flowers are double without being crowded, 
or presenting a packed and crushed appearance. For 
this reason it takes precedence over several other 
double white varieties that present some defector other. 
The substance of the flowers is also good, enabling them 
to keep in perfection for some considerable time, parti¬ 
cularly if the latter are cut with a few inches of stem, 
Azalea, Deutsche Perle. 
