January 7, 189B. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
295 
THE WEATHER IN 1892. 
I append the following meteorological notes taken 
here, which may interest those of yonr readers who 
may be concerned in the vagaries of our climate. 
TemperatureJanuary, max. 56°, min. 23 0 ; 
February, max. 55 0 , min. 6°; March, max. 70°, 
min. 13°; April, max. 6i°, min. 23 0 ; May, max. 
70°, min. 31; June, max. 76°, min. 39 0 ; July, max' 
73 0 , min 41 ; August, max. 78°, min 41 ; September’ 
max. 69°, min. 36°; October, max. 59°, min. 26°; 
November, max. 56 Q , min 25 0 ; December, max. 48°, 
min. 16 0 . The total rainfall for the year was 23^ in. 
_ W. Angus, Cheswiclt Gardens, Beal, Northumberland- 
orchid notesTaRiTgleanings. 
Cattleya labiata alba. 
I was very much surprised to read in the last issue 
of The Gardening World, p. 280, that there are 
several plants in existence of the true white autumn¬ 
flowering Cattleya labiata. We thought that we had 
the only plant that had ever flowered in cultivation, 
and we had the assurance of the importer of this 
plant, Mr. Sander, that ours was the only one known 
to exist of the pure true white autumn-flowering 
labiata, and we have always found him to be a 
honest trader. I should like to hear from gardeners 
who have flowered these white varieties, as to what 
they were like and all about them. There ought to 
be no difficulty in getting at the truth of the matter, 
and perhaps Mr. Connell’s gardener and Mr. Bond 
will say when their white varieties flowered and what 
they were like, so that we can have fair play. As I 
said before, we thought ours was the only one. It is 
snow-white, and it was honoured with the coveted 
award of a First-class Certificate from the Orchid 
Committee of the R.H.S. We are consequently 
now rather chagrined to learn that several plants 
exist of this beautiful Cattleya, and are anxious to 
know if the statements made at p. 280 can be 
verified.— R. Hinde, Broomfield, Sale, Cheshire. 
I note your remarks, at p. 280, about Cattleya 
labiata alba and cannot help stating that we received 
a few plants from M. Linden, of Brussels, and which 
although apparently strong were very soft in growth, 
and the flower buds of some turned yellow and did 
not open. Only three plants flowered that autumn, 
1891, of which one was white, but a very poor flower, 
as the buds were damaged in transit. The plant 
commenced to grow again almost immediately, and 
flowered with the Gaskellianas and turned out to be 
a very poor form of C. Gaskelliana delicata, which 
was very disappointing. The plant shortly after 
died, as two others had done previously, owing, I 
think, to the sour stuff they were potted in.— John 
Mason, gardener, Bushey Down, Tooting. 
With reference to the statement made at p. 280 of 
your last issue, that the white autumn-flowering 
Cattleya labiata flowered here under the name of C. 
Worocqueana alba, I deem it only right, in justice 
to the owner of the white labiata which we had at 
the Drill Hall on the 13th ult. to state the following 
facts. It is perfectly true that Mr. Ingram purchased 
the plant as a white labiata of the autumn-flowering 
section. In due time it flowered, and Mr. Ingram 
being from home, I sent a bloom to a well-known 
Orchid authority for his opinion. He took it to a 
sale at Messrs. Protheroe & Morris’ rooms, and 
several Orchidists then present pronounced it 
to be a White Trianae alba. Curiously enough 
Mr. Ingram was present also, and, not knowing 
I had sent the bloom, pronounced it to be 
Cattleya Trianae alba. On his return to Elstead he 
ordered the plant to be returned as not being what 
he bought it for, and it was sent away by parcel 
post, but owing to the phylloxera regulations it never 
reached Brussels, and a week later was returned to 
us apparently none the worse. It is in good robust 
health and will flower again in a few weeks, when 
anyone interested in the matter may have an 
opportunity of seeing it.— T. W. Bond, Elstead 
Godaiming. 
Lselia anceps Dawsoni. 
Flowering Orchids are by no means plentiful at 
midwinter, but more especially when the greater part 
of the country is frost-bound and covered with snow, 
as well as darkened with fog in the neighbourhood of 
large towns. A fine flower of Lycaste Skinneri alba 
was sent us the other day by Mr. Richard Hinde, 
Broomfield Gardens, Sale. The flower was of great 
substance and pure white with exception of a pale 
yellow hue at the base of the lip and column. Even 
the crest, which parts with its yellow colouring matter 
with great reluctance, was in this instance white. 
Another very choice subject was Lselia anceps 
Dawsoni, distinguished by its broad, elliptic pure 
white petals. The sepals are also white, but the lip 
is parti-coloured. The outer surface is mostly white, 
with exception of the terminal lobe, which is of a 
rich purple on both surfaces and has a white edge ; 
the interior of the side lobes is richly striated with a 
deep, bright purple, and the lower portion of the 
yellow crest is also striated. A third one was 
Dendrobium Ainsworthi, one of the most useful of 
hybrid Dendrobes and very easily grown. In the 
dull light prevalent at the time of their reception the 
sepals and petals appeared pure white, and the 
purple of the lip very rich. 
Orchid Growers’ Calendar. 
Effects of the Fog. —The loss of Orchid bloom 
in and around London from fog annually is no doubt 
expected, but to hear of blooms being spoiled by its 
effects twenty miles east of the Metropolis must come 
somewhat as a surprise to many. Such, however, 
is the case. The few foggy days preceding Christ¬ 
mas caused all the Lalia ancep blooms that were 
expanded to curl up as if fertilized. There may be 
some satisfaction in the knowledge that the plants 
are relieved from carrying out their usual functions 
and will consequently break away stronger. Den- 
Lzelia anceps Dawsoni. 
drobium Wardianum, Cattleya labiata, Sophronitis 
grandiflora, Oncidium tigrinum, Odontoglossum 
crispum, do not appear to be the least affected by the 
fog. A bud or two on some spikes of Cymbidium 
Lowianum turned yellow and dropped off, but as 
this same plant did the same trick last year it may 
not have been the effects of the fog that caused 
them to drop. 
Potting. —Where a great many Orchids are 
grown it will be wise to commence operations at the 
earliest possible moment, so that everything is fin¬ 
ished by the middle or at least by the end of April, 
as after that date I consider it too late to disturb 
them except in rare instances. I should not advise 
meddling with the plants while the frosty weather 
we are now having continues, as they will require all 
the strength they have stored up during the past 
year to counteract the exhaustion caused by the 
strong dry fire heat used to keep the temperature 
from falling too low. A lot of good work may, how¬ 
ever, be done and a lot of time saved later on, when 
everything is on the move, if a good stock of peat is 
prepared ready for use. Pots and potsherds too 
should be got ready by thoroughly cleansing them 
from every particle of dirt, as cleanliness in Orchid 
culture is as essential to their well doing as is the 
best attention in other respects. Small stakes too 
for steadying the tall growing kinds should be made 
now, so that when a start is made everything will be 
to hand ready for use. The peat may be too wet or 
too dry when received for immediate use, and will 
require to be either dried or moistened, as the case 
may be. 1 he various kinds which should take pre¬ 
cedence when potting commences shall receive atten¬ 
tion in a future calendar, meanwhile I would advise 
a general stock-taking of all the plants, as by taking 
periodical notes of the advance made of any particu¬ 
lar plant, or by noting any retrograde step, and 
reasoning out the cause, a lot of good must of 
necessity accrue. — C. 
--*•- 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY’S COMMITTEES, 1893. 
Floral Committee. — Chairman, William Mar¬ 
shall, Auchinraith, Bexley. Vice-Chairmen, Rev. H. 
H. D’ombrain, Westwell Vicarage, Ashford, Kent ; 
John Fraser, Lea Bridge Road, Leytonstone, E. ; 
George Paul, The Old Nurseries, Cheshunt. Secre¬ 
tary, Archibald F. Barron, Royal Horticultural 
Society, Chiswick, W. 
Bain, W., The Gardens, Burford Lodge, Dorking. 
Baines, Thomas, Fern Cottage, Palmer’s Green, N. 
Barr, P., 12, King Street, Covent Garden, W.C. 
Bause, F., Portland Road, South Norwood, S.E. 
Canned, H., Swanley, Kent. 
Cant, F., Braiswick, Colchester. 
Dean, R., Ranelagh Road, Ealing, W. 
Druery, C. T., F. L. S., 25, Windsor Road, Forest 
Gate. 
Fitt, J. H., The Frythe Gardens, Welwyn. 
Furze, W., Roselands, Broom Road, Teddington. 
Girdlestone, T. W., Sunningdale, Berks. 
Godfrey, Thos., Hillingdon, Uxbridge. 
Gordon, G., 1, Style Villas, Gunnersbury. 
Herbst, H., Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey. 
Ingram, W., Belvior Castle Gardens, Grantham. 
Jeffries, C., Boston House Gardens, Brentford. 
Jennings, J., Ascott Gardens, Leighton Buzzard. 
Laing, J., Forest Hill, S.E. 
Leach, W. C., Aldbury Park Gardens, Guildford. 
Lowe, R. B., Ashbridge Gardens, Berkhamsted. 
May, H. B., Dyson’s Lane, Upper Edmonton. 
Mawley, E., Rosebank, Berkhamsted. 
Molyneux, E., Swanmore Park Gardens, Bishop's 
Waltham. 
Nicholson, G.. Royal Gardens, Kew. 
Noble, C., Sunningdale Nursery, Bagshot. 
Owen, R., Castle Hill, Maidenhead. 
Pawle, J. D., 12, Stanley Gardens, Willesden Green, 
N.W. 
Pearson, C. E., Chilwell, Nottingham. 
Phippen, G., Victoria Nursery, Reading. 
Ross, F., Bletchingley. 
Salter, C. J., Woodhatch Gardens, Reigate. 
Shea, Chas. E., The Elms, Foots Cray, Kent. 
Stevens, Geo., St.John’s Nursery, Putney. 
Turner, H., Royal Nurseries, Slough. 
Walker, J., Ham Common, Surrey. 
Watson, W., Royal Gardens, Kew. 
Williams, W. H. (Keynes & Co.), Salisbury. 
Orchid Committee. — Chairman, H. J. Veitch, 
F.L..S., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, S.W. Vice- 
Chairmen, Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., 57, Princes 
Gate, S.W. ; Maxwell T. Masters, M.D , F.R.S., 
Mount Avenue, Ealing, W. ; Baron Schroder, 
The Dell, Staines. Secretary, James O'Brien, West 
Street, Harrow-on-the-Hill. 
Ballantine, H., The Dell Gardens, Staines. 
Bond, T. W., Elstead House Gardens, Godaiming. 
Bowring, J. C., Forest Farm, Windsor. 
Brooman-White, R., Ardarroch, Garelochead, N.B. 
Burberry, H. A., Highbury Gardens, Birmingham. 
Burbidge, F. W., Trinity College Botanic Garden, 
Dublin. 
Crawshay, De Barri, Rosefield, Sevenoaks. 
Cookson, Norman C., Oakwood, Wylam-on-Tyne. 
Courtauld, Sydney, Booking Place, Braintree. 
Denton, J. Bailey, Orchard Court, Stevenage. 
Douglas, J., Great Gearies, Ilford. 
Gabriel, J. T., 6, Palace Road, Streatham Hill. 
Handley, Rev. E., 19, Royal Crescent, Bath. 
Play wood, T. B., Woodhatch Lodge, Reigate. 
Hill, E., Tring Park Gardens, Tring. 
Ingram, C., 86, Onslow Gardens, S.W. 
Kinleside, Rev. R. V. C., Sunbury House, Tunbridge 
Wells. 
Jaques, J, Waddesdon Manor Gardens, Aylesbury. 
Latham, W. B., Botanic Gardens, Edgbaston, Bir¬ 
mingham. 
Le Doux, G. R., Langton House, East Molesey. 
Lindsay, R., Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh. 
Low, PI., The Nurseries, Clapton, E. 
Lucas, C. J., Warn’nam Court, Horsham. 
Moon, E., Cassiobridge, Watford. 
Pilcher, Charles, 84, Ringford Road, Wandsworth, 
S.W. 
Pollett, H. M., Fernside, Bickley, Kent. 
Sander, F., St. Albans 
Smee, A. H., Wallington, Surrey. 
Statter, Thos., Stand Hall, Whitefield, Manchester. 
Tautz, F. G., Dibdin House, Hanger Hill, Ealing. 
White, W. H , Burford Lodge Gardens, Dorking. 
Williams, H., Victoria Nurseries, Holloway, N. 
Fruit and Vegetable Committee. — Chairman, 
Philip Crowley, F.L.S., Waddon House, by Croydon. 
Vice-Chairmen, George Bunyard, The Nurseries, 
Maidstone; John Lee, 78, Warwick Gardens, Ken¬ 
sington ; T. P'rancis Rivers, Sawbridgeworth. 
Secretary, Archibald F. Barron, Royal Horticultural 
Society, Chiswick, W. 
