412 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  12,  1898. 
Whether  the  average  value  of  the  nitrates  washed  out  of  the  soil 
during  winter  has  been  determined  I  do  not  know — it  would,  of  course, 
vary  greatly  according  to  the  mechanical  and  chemical  constitution  of  the 
land  ;  but  now  fertilisers  are  so  moderate  in  price,  it  is  difficult  to  see 
what  is  gained  by  the  increased  expenditure  under  such  circumstances  as 
these  detailed  here.  An  additional  cost  of  £2  per  acre  is  a  serious  item, 
and  though  this  would  not  be  the  same  in  all  cases,  yet  I  know  many  who 
have  to  aeal  with  a  similar  soil  to  mine,  and  who  presumably  might  expect 
a  similar  experience. 
The  benefit  arising  from  having  ground  cropped  during  the  winter  is 
unquestionable,  but  as  there  are  few  who  pay  heavy  rents  near  (owns, 
and  who  have  to  make  a  living  from  the  land,  that  can  afford  to  leave 
any  of  it  unoccupied  for  several  months  at  a  time,  this  point  does  not 
need  to  be  impressed  upon  them,  nor  can  many  gardeners  avoid  cropping 
their  ground  to  the  fullest  extent;  but  it  sometimes  happens  that  provision 
has  to  be  made  for  later  crops,  or  from  pressure  of  other  work,  something 
has  to  be  placed  on  one  side.  It  is,  however,  a  subject  for  consideration 
that  an  actual  material  saving  in  expenditure  can  be  effected  under  some 
circumstances  by  autumn  digging  as  opposed  to  similar  work  in  spring. — 
A  Maeket  Geower. 
Odontoglossum  Pescatorei  Duchess  of  Westminster. 
There  are  many  varieties  of  Odontoglossum  Pescatorei  extant  at 
the  present  moment,  several  of  which  are  very  beautiful.  There  is, 
however,  still  room  for  more,  as  was  proved  at  the  Drill  Hall  on  the 
26th  ult.,  when  Mr.  N.  F.  Barnes,  gardener  to  the  Duke  of  West¬ 
minster,  Eaton  Hall,  Chester,  showed  0.  P.  Duchess  of  Westminster 
(fig.  78,  page  413).  This  form  is  very  handsome,  and  was  the  subject 
of  much  admiration,  and  received  an  award  of  merit  from  the  Orchid 
Committee  of  the  Koyal  Horticultural  Society.  The  shapely  flowers 
are  rather  over  the  average  size,  and  are  of  exceptional  substance. 
The  spots  on  the  white  ground  are  of  a  rich  rosy  maroon,  and  are  very 
abundant.  The  variety  is  one  of  the  most  distinct  that  has  been 
exhibited. 
Odontoglossum  n^evium  majus. 
This  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  Odontoglossums,  the  blossom 
being  pure  white,  closely  covered  with  small  blotches  of  crimson. 
Although  not  a  difficult  plant  to  grow,  it  requires  care,  and  should  be 
in  a  position  where  it  can  be  closely  shaded  during  the  summer  months, 
and  whore  plenty  of  fresh  air  will  play  freely  over  the  foliage.  It  is 
not  a  vigorous  rooting  plant,  and.  does  best  in  small  pans  suspended 
from  the  roof  in  the  coolest  house.  Fill  these  half  way  up  with  clear 
crocks,  and  use  for  compost  equal  parts  of  peat  and  moss.  Water 
freely  during  the  summer,  and  in  winter  sufficiently  to  keep  the  bulbs 
from  shrivelling. 
Cymbidium  Lowianum. 
We  have  a  good  plant  of  This  species  in  a  10-inch  pot  carrying 
seven  spikes,  and  these  are  large  and  contain  a  number  of  flowers. 
I  grow  this  plant  in  a  cool  fernery,  and  the  specimen  in  question  is 
elevated  so  that  one  has  to  look  up  to  the  flowers.  The  spikes  are 
not  tied  at  all,  but  spread  naturally,  those  now  in  flower  covering 
an  area  of  neai  ly  8  feet  across.  C.  giganteum  is  grown  the  same  way, 
and  the  difference  between  plants  so  grown  and  others  tightly  tied 
up  is  so  marked  that  tying  should  never  be  practised  except  when 
room  is  scarce. 
Epidendrums. 
Many  of  the  tall-growing  section  of  Epidendrums  are  now  flower¬ 
ing,  and  are  extremely  pretty,  their  one  fault  being  the  fact  that 
amateurs  with  small  houses  have  not  the  room  to  grow  them.  But 
there  are  positions  even  in  small  houses  where  the  plants  may  be 
accommodated.  In  a  cool  intermediate  house  lately  I  noticed  one  or 
two  species  flowering  profusely,  trained  up  under  the  roof  glass,  and 
I  can  safely  recommend  those  who  are  short  of  room  to  try  this  plan. 
The  roots  of  most  of  these  kinds  are  fairly  strong,  and  like  a  large  pot 
and  rough  open  compost,  plenty  of  moisture  all  the  year  round,  and 
careful  attention  in  the  way  of  keeping  down  insects. 
The  deep  golden  yellow  balls  of  flowers  produced  by  E.  xanthinum 
are  very  beautiful,  and  show  well  in  company  with  those  of  the  some¬ 
what  weaker  E.  radicans.  These  are  extremely  bright  and  pretty,  the 
scarlet  and  yellow  making  a  fine  contrast.  E.  Wallisi  again  is  a  very 
beautiful  species,  nearly  always  in  flower,  and  one  of  the  easiest  of  all 
to  grow.  The  flowers  are  of  various  shades  of  yellow  and  purple, 
produced  two  or  three  together  on  the  top  or  near  the  top  of  the 
growths.  Other  good  forms  in  this  way  are  E.  syringothyrsus, 
E.  ibaguense,  and  the  fine  hybrid  E.  O’Brienianum. — H.  R.  R. 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
^  DRILL  HALL. — May  10th, 
The  display  at  the  Drill  Hall  on  Tuesday  last  was  a  comparatively 
small  one,  the  exhibitors  being  much  less  numerous  than  has  become  the 
rule  of  late.  The  exhibits  for  the  adjudication  ot  the  Floral  Committee 
were  bright  and  interesting,  while  the  few  Orchids  that  were  staged  were- 
of  good  average  quality.  Fruits  and  vegetables  were  not  by  any  means 
abundant.  The  fact  that  the  Temple  Show  will  be  held  on  the  25th  inst. 
doubtless  accounted  for  some  absentees. 
Fruit  Committee.  —  Present :  P.  Crowley,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ; 
with  Messrs.  G.  Bunyard,  J.  Cheal,  J.  H.  Veitch,  G.  W.  Cummins, 
M.  Gleeson,  A.  H.  Pearson,  F.  J.  Saltmarsh,  A.  Dean,  W.  Bates,  W.  Farr, 
G.  Woodward,  G.  Wythes,  G.  Miles,  F.  Q.  Lane,  W.  Balderson,  J.  Smith, 
G.  Reynolds,  G.  Norman,  R.  Fife,  and  A.  Poupart. 
Mr.  G.  Wythes,  gardener  to  Earl  Percy,  Syon  House,  Brentford, 
showed  half  a  dozen  dishes  of  French  Beans  grown  from  seed  sown  on 
March  28th.  The  best  variety  was  Wythes’  Imperial  Mohawk  and  Ne 
Plus  Ultra.  Mr.  Wythes  also  sent  a  seedling  Lettuce,  a  Cabbage  variety 
of  promise,  to  be  tried  at  Chiswick,  and  received  a  vote  of  thanks.  Mr. 
W.  L.  Bastin,  gardener  to  A.  Henderson,  Esq.,  Buscot  Park,  Faringdon, 
sent  two  dishes  of  Strawberry  Royal  ^vereign.  The  fruits  were  of 
medium  size  and  good  shape.  Mr.  Bastin  also  sent  Melon  Buscot  Park 
Hybrid,  but  it  was  passed  (vote  of  thanks). 
Mr.  G.  Norman,  gardener  to  the  Marquis  of  Salisbury,  Hatfield,  . 
exhibited  three  boxes  of  Strawberry  Royal  Sovereign  that  were  probably 
the  finest  specimens  of  the  variety  that  have  ever  been  exhibited.  They 
were  of  immense  size  and  splendid  colour  (silver  Knightian  medal). 
Mr.  W.  Taylor,  gardener  to  C.  Bayer,  Esq.,  Forest  Hill,  sent  Peach 
Waterloo  from  a  pot  tree  (vote  of  thanks)  ;  while  Mr.  J.  Ryder,  gardener 
to  the  Dowager  Countess  of  Limerick,  St.  Albans,  sent  two  dishes  of 
Peach  Alexander  (cultural  commendation).  Mr.  J.  Hudson,  Gunnersbury 
House,  showed  fruits  of  Cardinal  Nectarine  from  pot  trees  started  on 
December  2nd.  They  were  of  good  quality  (cultural  commendation). 
A  collection  of  Radishes  was  staged  from  Chiswick  that  represented 
various  stocks  sent  for  trial  by  Messrs.  Barr  &  Son,  Sutton  &  Sons, 
Toogood  &  Son,  Watkins  &  Simpsons,  of  which  Wood’s  Frame  from  the 
latter  firm,  Sutton’s  Forcing  White  and  Red  from  Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons, 
and  First  of  All  White  and  Red  from  Messrs.  Barr  &  Sons,  received 
awards  of  merit. 
Prizes  for  Flavour. — The  first  prize  for  a  dish  of  Apples  was 
awarded  to  Mr.  R.  Bullock,  gardener  to  C.  P.  Serocold,  Esq.,  Maiden¬ 
head,  who  showed  Herefordshire  Pearmsiin  ;  Mr.  G.  Woodward,  Barham 
Court,  taking  second  place  with  Calville  Rouge.  The  second  prize  only 
was  given  for  Pears,  and  this  to  Mr.  C.  Herrin,  Dropmore,  for  Beurr4 
Bretonneau. 
Floral  Committee. — Present :  W.  Marshall,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ; 
with  Messrs.  C.  T.  Druery,  0.  Thomas,  J.  Fraser,  R.  Dean,  G.  Stevens, 
W.  Howe,  J.  Hudson,  J.  Jennings,  T,  Peed,  H.  B.  May,  J.  Fraser  (Kew), 
G.  Gordon,  J.  D.  Pawle,  C.  E.  Pearson,  C.  Jeffries,  C.  E.  Shea,  H.  J. 
Cutbush,  B.  T.  Cook,  D.  B.  Crane,  T.  W.  Sanders,  H.  Turner,  C.  Blick, 
C.  E.  Cant,  E.  Mawley,  and  J.  Walker. 
Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Ltd.,  Chelsea,  sent  a  number  of  baskets  of 
hardy  plants  and  shrubs,  including  Anemone  nemorosa  alba  plena,. 
Daphne  cneorum  major,  Hydrangea  japonica  Mariesi,  H.  japonica  fiore 
rosea,  Aubrietia  ^uvenir  de  William  Ingram,  Citrus  trifoliata, 
Notospartium  australis,  Cytisus  Schipksensis,  Rubus  deliciosus.  and 
Sambucus  racemose  serratifolia  foliis  aureis.  The  group  of  miscel¬ 
laneous  flowering  and  foliage  plants  from  Messrs.  W.  Cutbush  &  Sons, 
Highgate,  was  varied  and  handsome.  Amongst  the  most  conspicuous 
were  Erica  ventricosa  coccinea  minor,  E.  v.  magnifica,  E.  Cavendishi, 
E.  perspicua  nana,  varieties  of  Azalea  mollis,  Boronia  heterophylla. 
Hydrangea  Thomas  Hogg,  Carnation  Princess  May,  Azalea  Ver- 
vaeneana.  Wistaria  sinensis,  with  Palms,  Ferns,  and  others  (silver 
Banksian  medal). 
The  plants  of  Azalea  indica  from  Mr.  Charles  Turner,  Royal  Nurseries, 
Slough,  though  small,  were  splendidly  flowered,  and  comprised  new 
varieties,  particularly  rich  in  colour.  There  were  ten  varieties  in  all — 
namely,  Marie  Vervaene,  Mons.  Chas.  Vuylsteke,  Msdame  Joseph 
V ervaene,  Louise  Cuvelier,  Ami  Chas.  V ermeire.  President  A.  d’Heane,  Ami 
Victor  Cuvelier,  President  Van  Imschoot,  and  Le  Printemps.  Mr.  Turner 
sent  also  White  Rambler  Rose  Thalia,  and  Malmaison  Carnation  Princess 
May  in  splendid  form.  Messrs.  W.  Balchin  &  Sons,  Hassocks,  staged: 
Boronia  heterophylla,  B.  serrulata.  Erica  perspicua  nana,  and  the  bright 
blue  Browallia  elata  in  splendid  form.  Mr.  D.  Storrie,  Glencarse,  sent 
a  collection  of  border  Auriculas,  amongst  which  the  yellow  forms  were 
most  conspicuous. 
Messrs.  F.  Miller  &  Co.,  Fulham  Road,  S.W.,  sent  crimson  and  white 
East  Lothian  Stocks,  with  Ferns  and  Golden  Feather.  Mr.  H.  B.  May, 
Upper  Edmonton,  was  represented  by  a  collection  of  Crotons,  including 
beautiful  little  specimens  of  many  varieties.  The  colours  were  splen¬ 
didly  developed  (silver  Banksian  medal).  Hardy  shrubs  and  alpine  plants 
in  variety  were  shown  by  Messrs.  Paul  &  Son,  Old  Nurseries,  Cheshunt. 
There  were  Cerasus  Water!,  C.  avium  fl.-pl.,  C.  myrobalana  pendula, 
Kerria  japonica,  Cydonia  Maulei,  Ribes  sanguineum,  Pyrus  albo  plena, 
Iberis  superba,  Ribes  aurea  prsecox.  Phlox  G,  F.  Wilson,  P.  stellularia, 
Primula  Sieboldi  Brilliant,  Phlox  atro-purpurea,  Saxifraga  Wallace!,. 
Geum  Heldrechi,  Aubrietia  tauricola,  and  Hutchinsia  alpina  amongst 
others  (silver  Banksian  medal). 
Cut  Roses  from  Mr.  G.  Mount,  Canterbury,  were  in  superb  form. 
Those  shown  in  the  orthodox  boxes,  as  well  as  others  on  long  stout  stems,. 
