June 23, 1900. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
677 
A Red Sport of Rose Kaiserin Augusta Victoria, 
according to Rosen Zeitung, has turned up with Herr 
Lehrer Gartner, of Waltershausen, Germany. The 
flower is of a beautiful red. 
The National Amateur Gardeners’ Association 
iniend holding a conversazione and exhibition on 
Tuesday, July 3rd, in the Grand Hall, at Winchester 
House, Old Broad Street, E.C., at 7 p.m. The Right 
Hon. the Lord Mayor of London has kindly con¬ 
sented to be present and open the exhibition. Ex¬ 
hibitors should make early intimation of their 
requirements to the show superintendent, Mr. T. G. 
Swales, at the above address. 
American Resistant Y'ine Stocks.—The Minister 
of Agriculture in Victoria has made extensive in¬ 
quiries in France as to the cure of Phylloxera on 
Vines, and has visited the districts of Bordeaux, 
Montpellier, and Beaune. He found the leading 
French officials and vignerons unanimous in the 
opinion that the American resistant Vine stocks com¬ 
bat the Phylloxera without affecting the quality of 
the wine produced. 
Early Potato Trade.—From The Yorkshire Post 
we learn that an extensive district around St. Malo 
has within recent years been brought under control 
for an early supply of the above esculent tuber. For 
the first time this year's crop has been transmitted 
to various towns in the north of England, by a fort¬ 
nightly service of steamers to Hull. The need for a 
fresh supply has been much felt,for the Jersey Potatos 
are said to have deteriorated in flavour on account 
of the exhaustive system of cropping, which involves 
the use of enormous quantities of artificial manure. 
In the St. Malo district a regular system of rotation 
in cropping is adhered to, the land being practically 
unlimited. 
A Celebrated Botanist.—At the meeting of the 
Linnean Society of London, on June 7th last, Mr. 
R. Morton Middleton, F.L.S., exhibited a letter 
dated “ London, 13 June, 1788,” in the handwriting 
of Sir J. E. Smith, addressed to Charles Louis 
L’Herftier, at Paris, in which he mentioned a visit 
to Oxford with Sir Joseph Banks and J. Dryander 
for the purpose of looking over the plants and 
drawings of Sibthorp, who was then lecturing there; 
and added some critical remarks on several species 
of Sida which L’Heritier had sent him for determina¬ 
tion. Mr. Middleton also exhibited an engraved 
portrait of Sir J. E. Smith from the Gentlemans 
'Magaz'ne, 1828, which, with the letter, he presented 
to the society. 
The Triplex Syringe.—This name is given to an 
ingenious yet very simple form of syringe, otherwise 
known as White’s Patent Triple-action Garden 
Syringe, being put into commerce by Messrs. 
Benton & Stone, Birmingham. The syringe is of the 
ordinary form in use, as far as external appearance 
goes, but requires to be turned round in order to 
make it act in three different ways. By holding it so 
that the nozzle is uppermost a single stream jet is 
given out, as in the case of a fire hose, only not so 
strong. Then by turning the syringe round for a 
quarter of its circumference so that the nozzle is on 
the side, a coarse spray is given off as ia ordinary 
syringing. By giving the syringe another quarter 
turn so that the nozzle is lowermost, a very fine 
spray is given off such as is used for spraying Orchids 
and other flowers. The special advantages of this new 
patent syringe is that the operator may change from 
a jet pure and simple to a very fine spray merely by 
turning the syringe round in the hands. No halt in 
the operation is at all necessary in making this alter¬ 
ation. Secondly, there is a more even distribution 
of the spray. Thirdly, the syringe has no fine holes 
to become obstructed with grit or leaves ; it has no 
separate jets or roses to be lost ; and fifthly, it has 
no side pieces or mounts to interfere with the grasp, 
or to be knocked off with subsequent damage to the 
barrel. There are two forms of the syringe, the 
ex' ra strong one with the best quality and finish, and 
the plain finished sample with polished barrel. It 
seems to answer readily and correctly when used, 
but after each discharge, it could be more easily re¬ 
filled if furnished with Stone's patent adjustable 
plunger, as in the higher-priced article. In all other 
respects except in the means for changing the form 
of spray the syringe is of the ordinary garden 
pattern. 
Weather in London.—During the past week 
London has been favoured with good summer 
weather. The oppressive heat of the week previous 
became modified about Wednesday, the 13th inst. 
“The Queen of Flowers.”—In the June number 
of The Girl's Realm, Mr. Harold Shepsioce 
contributes a delightfully written article t.n Rose, 
“ The Queen of Flowers.” The history an 1 asso¬ 
ciations connected with and which hang rcund the 
Rose, is spoken of, and we are treated to a dozen of 
large and clearly printed photographs of beautiful 
specimen Roses from various parts of the world, 
together with nursery views and illuslraiions of the 
best varieties in their sections. The habit of the 
many kinds of Roses is popularly described and the 
best features of Rose gardens briefly pointed out. 
The article is very interesting. 
Webbs’ Royal Exhibit.—Considerable interest 
was evinced in the exhibit of new and improved 
varieties of cereals which were exhibited by that 
well-known firm, Messrs. Webb & Sons, The 
Queen’s Seed Growers, of Wordsley, Stourbridge, 
at the Royal Agricultural Society’s Show at York, 
June i6th-23rd. Messrs. Webb have been engaged 
for many years past in selecting and cross-fertilizing 
Wheat, Barley, Oats, and other farm and garden 
plants, and their long experience is a guarantee of 
the sterling value of their introductions. At the 
recent Royal Counties' Show, H.R.H. the Duke of 
Connaught expressed his great satisfaction with the 
many new kinds of cereals, &c., which Colonel 
Webb brought to his notice. Among the new sorts 
exhibited was the Hardy Winter Black Oat, a won¬ 
derful cropper, producing bright stout straw and an 
abundance of plump, heavy grain oi high feeding 
quality. As an instance of its remarkable hardiness 
and perennial character a well-known agriculturist 
says of this Oat: " I planted it two years ago, and 
after sheeping it close to the earth it produced a crop 
of 25 sacks per acre; I sheeped it again the next 
year and harvested 17 sacks per acre, whilst it is 
now still growing the third year and looks well." 
Another new Oat which Messrs. Webb are now offer¬ 
ing for the first time is the Bosworth White Tartar, 
originally raised by Mr. John Bosworth, Clapham, 
Bedford, and since carefully selected on this firm’s 
great Seed Farms at Kinver, where it has proved far 
superior to all other Tartar Oats in an exhaustive 
series of trials. In Wheats, Webbs' New Mont 
Blanc is conspicuous for its beautiful grain, which 
being remarkably thin-skinned is highly spoken of 
by millers, whilst it is also a most prolific cropper. 
Messrs. Webbs’ Barleys have long been recognised 
as the finest in cultivation, and we were shown the 
sample of their Kinver Chevalier, which won the 
Championship of the World (and most of the other 
honours) at the Brewers' Exhibition, London, last 
October, for the seventh year. Messrs. Webb also 
excel in the new varieties of Agricultural Roots 
which they have raised, as is shown by the wonder¬ 
ful success achieved in open competitions year after 
year. Webbs’ New Smithfield Yellow Globe and 
New Lion Intermediate Mangolds have only recently 
been introduced, but specimens on view from crops 
of nearly 90 tons per acre showed wonderful size 
and quality, combined with good keeping properties, 
as also did Webbs' New Buffalo Swede. Webbs' 
celebrated Grasses and Clovers were shown in 
luxuriant growth, and not only illustrated their sys¬ 
tem of supplying suitable prescriptions of seeds for 
various soils, but also demonstrated the superiority 
of the stocks of Clovers and Grasses which this firm 
has introduced to the public. A fine collection of 
vegetables was also exhibited, and now that growing 
vegetables for market is a course so largely adopted by 
agriculturists throughout the country, this section of 
Messrs. Webbs' stand was a centre of great attrac¬ 
tion, particular attention being paid to the Emperor 
Cabbage, Early Mammoth Cauliflower, and Pioneer 
Pea, &c , the latter in actual growth, with the haulm 
literally covered with pods. Webbs' strains of 
flowers made a grand display, and the numerous 
Gold Medals which they have recently secured are 
evidently well merited. Seldom, if ever, have such 
magnificent Gloxinias, Begonias, Calceolarias, &c , 
been seen, whilst the hardy flowers were also very 
fine, both in richness and diversity of colour. 
Another section of the stand is devoted to special 
fertilisers, which Messrs. Webb manufacture on a 
large scale, and just at present their special Turnip 
and Hop Manures are in great demand. 
Feeding.—A writer in a trade paper says that 
forced Beans at the time they come lnio flower and 
when they are swelling the pods, should receive more 
potassic and phosphatic soluble manures than liquid 
nitrogenous stimulants. The former brace up the 
plants. 
A Pretty Entrance.—Mr. John Russell, at Rich¬ 
mond, teaches the residents around him by practical, 
ocular demonstration what to choose in the way of 
bedding stock, and how to use them, for effect in their 
front gardens. In front of his shop and business 
offices, which stands backward from the highway, 
he has arranged in effective display on either side of 
the entrance path, shrubs, bedding plants and 
carpeting stuff. These are not planted out, but are 
growing in pots or boxes, yet the presentment is 
much admired. 
ORCHID NOTES & GLEANINGS. 
By the Editor. 
Odontoglossum lindleyanum Coradinei. — In 
gardens this pretty Odontoglot is usually regarded 
as a species, and Reichenbach so regarded it when he 
first described it in 1872. In structure it is certainly 
very closely allied to O. lindleyanum, but superior in 
every respect, both in the breadth of the segments and 
in the matter of colour ; and the many fine varieties 
that have turned up in recent importations, have 
given it a status far above what it was hitherto wont 
to enjoy. A fine variety has reached us from Mr. 
George Russell, gardener to J. B. Mirrlees, Esq., 
Redlands, Hillhead, Glasgow. The ground colour 
of the flowers is creamy white on the lower half, and 
pale sulphur yellow on the upper half of the seg¬ 
ments. On each of the sepals and petals, above the 
middle, is a large brownish-red or chestnut blotch, 
with a few smaller ones below, often run together in 
a blotch of lobed outline. The lip also has the usual 
large blotch in front of the crest. The segments are 
altogether broader than those of O. lindleyanum, 
particularly the petals. The variety under notice 
stands high amongst the finer varieties in cultivation, 
and the grower may well be proud of it. 
AN AMATEUR’S ORCHIDS AT NEW 
MILNS, BY KILMARNOCK. 
It gave me a great pleasure a few days ago to get a 
look at a collection of Odontoglossums grown by a 
most enthusiastic and intelligent amateur, " whose 
smithy stan’s beside the burn,” etc. We had the 
good fortune to find him there, and as he recognised 
us he saw it was Orchids we had come to see, not 
hot water boilers, although they were in evidence. 
Mr. Neil soon led the way to his favourites, which 
we found in a well built span-roofed house, and 
filled with plants that would be a credit to the best 
specialist. I have not seen better potted plants in 
any establishment. A glance showed us that Mr. 
Neil was as much at home here as in his smithy. 
We had just missed seeing a number of fine spikes 
that had been cut a few days previous io our visit. 
But enough remained to satisfy us that the Pacho 
type was what Mr. Neil believed in. About a dozen 
spikes were in bloom, and in a casual look round I 
counted thirty spikes in bud. From ten to fourteen 
blooms on the spike is very good, and as many as 
thirty were on one spike last year. 
A number of O. andersonianums were in fine con¬ 
dition, the pseudo-bulbs large and shining with 
health. O. wilckeanum is well shown here. The 
Messrs. Sander, of St. Albans, have been fortunate 
in securing a plant from Mr. Neil at a fair price, of 
this grand plant. A number of O. Rossi majus 
were passed and making good growth. Masdevallias 
were represented in good forms of M. ignea, M. 
harryana, &c. In another compartment some of the 
hotter section were doing well, and in the green¬ 
house some very nice specimen Ferns were in 
evidence, notably a grand plant of Adiantum 
Capillus-Veneris, in splendid condition. The roof 
has a fine plant of the white Lapageria in vigorous 
condition. Mr. Neil, senr., who I think must be 
quite an octogenarian, takes the chief interest in the 
garden, and I found him an enthusiast about 
Auriculas, which he grows well, and his Holly¬ 
hocks are looked after by himself. He grows them 
against a light espalier about 6 ft. high. No trace of 
