March 11, 1899. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
439 
Madagascar supplies a good deal of the raffia of 
commerce. The unsettled state of the island has of 
course affected the market not a little. 
A tlomeless Gardener.—A very sad case came 
before Mr. Grant at the Harlesden Police Court on 
Thursday, the 2nd inst. Edward Hoare, aged sixty- 
nine, a gardener, was charged with cruelty to 
Elizabeth Hoare, aged two, his grand-daughter, by 
endangering her health by sl< eping in an unfurnished 
building. The poor fellow pleaded that he had been 
a teetotaler for forty years, but he had lost his work, 
and had nowhere to go except to the workhouse. 
He didn’t want to go there, he said, because the} 
would separate him from the child he loved. His 
daughter, the mother of the child, had lately lost her 
husband under distressing circumstances, and was 
herself in the infirmary. Evidence was given by 
Inspector Cooper, to the effect that he bad known 
Hoare as a sober hard-working man for eight years. 
Mr. Grant accepted the prisoner's promise to let the 
child go to the workhouse until he found a home, 
and bound him over to come up for judgment if 
called upon. Such heart-rendering cases as this 
must surely appeal to all those who are at all 
charitably inclined, and-there is the Gar¬ 
deners’ Royal Benevolent Institution and the Royal 
Gardeners’ Orphan Fund waiting for subscriptions, 
which would help them to increase their sphere of 
usefulness, and help cases such as this. 
Wet and Dry Periods.—The fluctuations of rainfall 
is the theme of Mr. MacDowall’s contribution to 
Knowledge for March. Scientific men are beginning 
to see that sunspot influence on weather is both real 
and complex, and that the rough generalisations, 
hitherto considered applicable to it, now need 
revision. Quoting Lord Bacon, MacDowall says : 
"It has been observed by the diligence of some, 
that the greater and more remarkable seasons of the 
weather, as great heats, great snows, great frosts, 
warm winters, and cold summers, generally come 
round in a circuit of thirty-five years.’’ We have 
long connected rainfall, more or less, with the 
eleven-year sunspot cycle, but the writer of this 
article says: " Speaking generally, the wet periods 
in this century are 1806-25,1841-55, and 1871-85, and 
the intervening ones have been dry. (The cold and 
warm periods tend to precede the wet and dry a 
a little.) Putting the case otherwise, the years 1815, 
1850, 1880, are given as approximately centres of 
cold and wet periods, and 1830 and i860 of warm 
and dry ones. There are a few exceptions to the 
rule. For example, in Ireland, and islands in the 
North Atlantic, the variation is of an opposite 
character. Bruckner considers that compensation 
occurs, not on land, but on the sea.” 
The National Auricula and Primula Society (Southern 
Section ).—The welfare of the highly bred florists' 
Auricula is looked after well by this band of zealous 
cultivators, and the exhibition that is annually held 
at the Drill Hall by the society is a fixture of con¬ 
siderable interest. The report and statement of 
accounts, with the schedule of prizes for the exhi¬ 
bition to be held on April 18th next, has been issued. 
We are reminded that this is the twenty-fourth of 
these reports, so that the society has more than 
attained its majority. There is nothing special to 
record in the workings of the past year. Nine mem¬ 
bers have been lost through death, and eight new 
ones have joined, so that the memberage strength 
remains about where it was at this time last year. 
In the schedule of competitions two classes have 
been added for those who have never won a prize 
at any of the society’s exhibitions, so that progress 
is manifested in this widening of the programme. 
The financial statement shows receipts amounting to 
£88 17s. gd., this sum including a balance from 1897 
of £16 14s. gd. The expenses have been £75 is. 3d. 
of which £65 18s. has been disbursed in the way of 
prizes. A balance of £13 16s. 6d. is carried towards 
the current years account. We notice that a packet 
of Auricula seed is now annually presented to mem¬ 
bers through the kindness of Mr. James Douglas, of 
Great Bookham, Surrey, and Mr. C. Phillips, Brack¬ 
nell, Berks. Applications will only be received from 
those who will undertake to sow the seed and grow 
the plants themselves, and such applications must 
be made in writing to the hon. secretary and treasurer, 
Mr. T. E. Henwood, Auricula Villa, 16, Hamilton 
Road, Reading, before the first day of June. 
Orchards.—At the meeting of the Bedfordshire 
Chamber of Agriculture, on February 25th, a paper 
was read on the above subject by Mr. R. L. Castle, 
Manager of the Woburn Experimental Fruit Farm, 
to a large gathering of members. The different 
methods of planting were reviewed at length. The 
general management of established orchards was 
fully described, and the important matter of restor¬ 
ing neglected orchards was also referred to in detail. 
An interesting discussion followed, in the course of 
which Mr. Crick, of Ampthill, remarked that his ex¬ 
perience of forty years as a fruit grower coincided 
exactly with that set out in the paper, and he stated 
that he was so well satisfied with results that 
he was about to extend his plantation consider¬ 
ably. Several other members took part in the pro¬ 
ceedings, and related their experiences, which had 
not, however, in every case been so satisfactory as 
Mr. Crick’s. A hearty vote of thank was accorded 
to Mr. Castle at the conclusion of the discussion. 
Woolton Gardeners’ Society.—The usual meeting 
of this society was held on the 2nd inst. at the 
Mechanics’ Institute, Mr. James Wilson, of Druid’s 
Cross, presiding over a large attendance, Mr. John 
Cowan, Jun., selected for his subject, ” My Orchid 
Collecting Experiences in Brazil.” The matter was 
treated in an interesting and enjoyable manner. 
The enjoyments and difficulties of the journey ; and 
the geographical description, introducing some 
account of the birds, beasts, reptiles, and insects, 
made an introduction of the requirements of a 
determined plant collector. After the journey of 
some hundreds of miles inland, the nature and 
position of many species were given and the means 
of obtaining the same was enlarged upon, the method 
usually followed being to cut the trees down and 
then release the plants as they are generally found 
at the tops of the trees. The system of carriage 
down to the riverside was by men, or the plants 
were strung across the backs of donkeys. The 
difficulty of obtaining cases, it being often necessary 
to provide them out of the rough, green timber, was 
a matter of considerable importance and delay. 
After the lecture the members had the opportunity 
of questioning Mr. Cowan, of which they fully 
availed themselves, asking for information as to 
temperature, shade, moisture, and other points of 
importance to cultivators, which were clearly replied 
to. A vote of thanks to the lecturer was carried by 
the unanimous approval of those present, on the 
motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr. T. Carling 
and supported by Messrs. J. Stoney, R. Todd, and 
the secretary. 
The National Amateur Gardeners’ Association.— 
The report and statement of accounts for 1898, to¬ 
gether with the syllabus and list of special prizes for 
1899, has J us t been sent out by this flourishing 
society of amateur gardeners. The report states that 
222 new members were elected during the past year, 
and that all the exhibitions have been well attended, 
and the several competitions at each of them brisk. 
The society has been fortunate in securing lectures 
from various gentlemen of horticultural eminence, 
and these lectures have proved not only instructive 
but interesting. The statement of, accounts shows 
an income for the year of £121 19s., including a 
balance of £4 13s. 5d. from 1897, subscriptions of 
£76 7s. gd., affiliation fees of £6 6s., and donations 
to the prize fund of £23 17s. 6d. The expenses have 
amounted to £113 ns. 3d., and there is a balance 
of £8 7s. gd. The balance sheet declares a balance 
of assets over liabilities of £8 7s. gd. Meetings 
are to be held monthly during the current year, 
and exhibitions of garden produce are to take 
place on these occasions. The syllabus of lec¬ 
tures, which are aiso to be given on these occasions, 
is an attractive one. The annual garden party 
is to be held in the gardens of the Royal 
Botanic Society, Regent’s Park, on July 8th. This is 
the third of these annual gatherings, and the annual 
dinner is fixed for December 14th, at the Holborn 
Restaurant. Three Saturday afternoon outings have 
been arranged : April 22nd, to Messrs. F. Sander & 
Co., St. Albans; June ioth, to Mr. G. F. Wilson's 
garden at Wiseley, near Weybridge ; and September 
16th, to Mr. Rochford, Turnford Hall Nurseries, 
Broxbourne. The library is one of the most import¬ 
ant features of the society, for it contains upwards of 
a hundred volumes representative of all phases of 
gardening. These books can be consulted by 
members in search of information and guidance. 
The Long-tailed Green Monkey is a great pest in the 
Philippine Islands. Plantations of Maize and Sweet 
Potatos are his favourite visiting grounds, and in 
them he works immense havoc. In Samar, the Rice 
fields have also to be protected from his encroach¬ 
ments. 
PLANTS RECENTLY CERTIFICATED. 
The undermentioned awards were made at the 
meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society on the 
28th ult. 
Orchid Committee. 
Laeliocattleya Ernesti Princess Olga. Nov. 
var .— This is a remarkably distinct variety of a 
bigeneric hybrid having for its parents Cattleya 
percivaliana and Laelia flava, the latter being the 
pollen bearer. In size the flowers are intermediate 
between the parents, and of a rich golden-yellow, 
with a bronzy-maroon blotch in the throat of the lip, 
First-class Certificate. M. Charles Maron, Brunoy. 
France. 
Laeliocattleya callistoglossa J. Leeman. 
Nov. vat. —The great size of the flowers of this 
variety of a bigeneric hybrid, is the leading feature 
of it. The sepals and long, elliptic petals are of a 
warm rose. The lamina of the huge lip is of a rich 
crimson-purple, the latter colour extending round 
the side lobes. The throat is golden-yellow, and the 
tube crimson-purple at the base. First-class Certifi¬ 
cate. M. Chas. Maron. 
Odontoglossum ruckerianum crawshayanum. 
Nov. var .— The sepals and petals of this splendid 
variety are richly spotted with reddish-brown on a 
creamy ground, much tinted with rose, especially on 
the back. The lip has a large brownish-purple 
blotch in front of the crest on a creamy-yellow 
ground. It is extremely pretty and one of the best 
of its section. Award of Merit. De B. Crawshay, 
Esq. (gardener, Mr. S. Cooke), Rosefield, Sevenoaks. 
Odontoglossum cookeanum. Nov. hyb. nat .— ' 
The supposed parents of this rare hybrid are O. 
triumphans and O. odoratum. The sepals and petals 
are golden yellow, the former transversely barred 
with chocolate, while the latter are blotched and 
spotted. The fiddle-shaped lip is white, with a 
reddish brown blotch in front of the crest. The 
flowers are about the size of those of O. odoratum. 
Award of Merit. Baron Schroder (gardener, Mr. H. 
Ballantine), The Dell, Egham. 
Odontoglossum wilckeanum dellense. Nov. 
var. —The sepals are pale yellow with about six, 
round, reddish-brown spots towards the base. The 
rhomboid petals are deeply jagged, and pale yellow 
with a few spots, or spotless. The oblong-obovate 
lip is fimbriate, and pale yellow with some spots 
in front of the crest. Award of Merit. Baron 
Schroder. 
Odontoglossum Coradinei expansum. Nov. 
var .—The flowers of this fine variety are larger than 
those of the type, the sepals and petals being 
creamy-yellow, with several large, rich brown 
blotches. Award of Merit. W. Thompson, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. W. Stevens), Walton Grange, Stone, 
Staffs. 
Cypripedium Surprise. Nov. hyb. —The parents 
of this hybrid were C. Sallieri hyeanum and C. 
spicerianum, the latter being the pollen bearer. The 
dorsal sepal is obovate, narrowed to the base, where 
it is greenish, the rest being white. The petals are 
yellowish suffused with brown, the lip being similar 
in colour. Award of Merit. M. Jules Hye, 8, Le 
Coupure, Ghent, Belgium. 
Floral Committee. 
Rhododendron Exquisite- -The flowers of this 
hybrid greenhouse Rhododendron are of large size, 
well expanded, and of a rich Indian yellow. The red 
anthers contrast boldly with the rest of the flower. 
The variety belongs to the Javan section and has 
large, elliptic, bright green, leathery leaves. Award 
ofMerit. Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons, Ltd., Chelsea. 
Rhododendron Hercules. —Here again the 
flowers are of large size for the Javan race of hybrids, 
and borne in trusses of great size. They are Apricot, 
overlaid with a subtle shade of salmon, particularly 
at the edges. The filaments are red and the anthers 
purple. 
Prunus Persica alba flore pleno. —The flowers 
of this ornamental Peach are of large size, double, 
white, and very freely produced. First-class Certifi¬ 
cate. Messrs. Wm. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross. 
