170 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
February  20,  1098. 
L.  Vagneri,  I  communicated  with  that  eminent  authority,  who  most 
kindly  replied  that  the  variety  Vagneri  had  green  spots.  L.  carpa- 
thicum  was  figured  in  Curtis’s  “Botanical  Magazine,”  pi.  1993,  which 
illustration  is  referred  to  by  Mr.  Baker  in  describing  it.  I  have  not  the 
volume,  but  from  references  to  the  plate  the  colour  of  the  spots  is  golden 
yellow.  I  am  aware  there  is  some  confusion  about  the  yellow-Bpotted 
Snowflakes,  and  strongly  suspect  that  there  are  two  forms,  but  have 
been  unable  to  verify  my  suspicion.  Perhaps  someone  can  give  us  a 
full  description  of  L.  Vagneri  as  firBt  separated  from  the  others.  I 
lubmit,  however,  that  the  Snowflake  which  has  been  certificated  is 
Vagner’s  one,  and  not  L.  carpathicum. — S.  Arnott. 
THE  ORANGE  IN  CALIFORNIA. 
The  most  conservative  estimates  put  the  present  Orange  crop  of 
Southern  California  at  3,400,000  boxes,  and  places  the  market  value  of 
the  same  at  about  4,200,000  dols.  Some  believe  the  value  will  run  over 
5,000,000  dols.  before  the  season  is  passed.  The  disaster  from  freezing 
weather  that  overcame  the  ripening  Oranges  of  Florida  in  December  a 
year  ago,  and  the  severe  injury  by  frost  to  the  Spanish  and  Mediterranean 
crops  a  few  weeks  later,  left  the  California  Oranges  almost  supreme  in 
the  American  markets.  The  present  yield  of  the  fruit  in  Southern 
California  is  two-thirds  of  a  full  production,  but  it  is  the  cleanest,  best 
developed,  and  most  satisfactory  lot  of  Oranges  grown  in  this  region  in 
several  years. 
A  Big  “Jump.” 
The  effects  of  the  demand  for  California  fruit  was  seen  at  once,  the 
“  New  York  Tribune ’’ says,  upon  the  receipt  of  the  news  of  the  freeze 
in  Florida,  for  prices  for  all  varieties  of  Oranges  not  only  jumped  25  per 
cent.,  but  have  since  been  steadily  advancing.  This  is  the  best  year  for 
money  making  by  the  Orange  growers  since  1890,  and  the  proverbially 
“  jubilant  farmer,”  who  is  always  read  about  in  days  of  big  crops  and 
fine  prices,  is  not  to  be  compared  with  the  Southern  California  Orange 
and  Lemon  grower  these  days. 
Many  a  grower  here  who  has  run  behind  in  his  business  for  two 
years,  and  incurred  debts,  will  be  made  easy  and  comfortable  by  the 
sale  of  his  product  this  season.  The  big  seedless  variety  are  bringing 
1-80  dols.  per  box  on  the  trees,  and  there  are  reasons  to  believe  they  may 
go  to  2  dols.  per  box.  Seedings  are  worth  1-40  dols.  a  box,  and 
Mediterranean  Sweets  are  selling  right  along  at  1  ’35  dols.  a  box  on  the 
trees.  At  such  prices  an  Orange  grove  that  is  well  kept  and  carefully 
and  methodically  irrigated  will  easily  bring  from  350  dols.  to  450  dols. 
an  acre.  A  few  older  groves  will  bring  over  575  dols.  an  acre.  The 
crop  on  the  Rhorer  Orchard  of  60  acres,  in  Pomona  Valley,  was  sold  on 
the  trees  a  few  days  ago  for  33,500  dols.  That  is  the  best  sale  reported 
here  this  season. 
Best  Time  to  Sell. 
The  season  of  picking,  packing,  and  shipping  the  Oranges  in  Southern 
California  opens  about  February  1st,  and  will  continue  until  early  in 
June.  Experience  has  taught  the  Orange  growers  that  the  best  prices 
for  their  fruit  are  to  be  had  late  in  the  season .  A  saying  here  is  to  the 
effect  that  the  nearer  to  the  Fourth  of  July  one  sells  his  Orange  yield 
the  better  price  will  be  had.  The  older  horticulturists,  therefore, 
welcome  the  cool  nights  in  January  and  February,  provided  the  mercury 
does  not  get  too  near  the  point  of  30°  above  zero,  because  it  retards 
the  ripening  of  the  crop,  and  brings  it  nearer  the  summer  limit.  So  far 
as  frost  and  rains  are  concerned,  this  winter  has  been  an  ideal  season 
for  the  Southern  California  Orange  growers.  At  no  time  has  the 
mercury  been  below  35°  above  zero,  and  there  has  been  sd  abundance 
of  rain  and  sunshine  at  just  the  right,  times. 
Fruit  and  Bloom. 
It  of'.en  happens  that  the  ripe,  luscious  fruit  is  still  ungathered  when 
the  trees  are  all  abloom  for  the  next  year’s  crop,  and  then  the  scene  is, 
as  someone  has  expressed  it,  “  a  general  combustion  of  beauty.”  But  an 
Orange  grove,  with  its  evergreen  trees,  compact  and  symmetrical,  is 
always  pleasing  to  the  artistic  sense,  each  season  having  a  charm  of  its 
own.  To  this  attractive  picture  may  be  added  the  closely  cut  Cypress 
hedges,  the  broad  avenues  and  well-kept  drives,  shaded  with  the  stately 
Eucalaptus,  flowering  Magnolia,  Palms,  and  the  graceful  Pepper,  with 
its  feathery,  drooping  foliage  and  red  berries,  and  the  mountains  always 
for  a  background.  No  wonder  it  is  that  one  who  Bees  an  orchard  for  the 
first  time  becomes  enchanted  and  is  seized  with  an  uncontrollable  desire 
to  possess  one  of  his  own. 
Does  Not  Like  the  Sea. 
The  Orange  does  not  thrive  in  proximity  to  the  ocean.  The  excess 
of  moisture  and  the  fogs  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year  produce  a  fungus 
on  the  trees  and  fruit  that  detracts  from  the  fine,  healthy  appearance  of 
both,  and  necessitates  either  the  extra  expense  of  cleaning  or  placing 
the  fruit  on  the  market  at  reduced  prices.  For  this  reason  the  otherwise 
suitable  lands  of  Santa  Barbara  and  Ventura  Counties,  as  well  as  parts 
of  Orange,  Los  Angeles,  and  San  Diego  Counties,  are  better  adapted  to 
Lemons,  which  do  not  so  much  object  to  a  moist  atmosphere.  Los 
Angeles  and  Riverside  stand  at  the  head  of  the  Orange-growing  counties. 
The  trees  arG  especially  free  from  smut  and  fruit  pests,  and  are  remark¬ 
ably  bright  and  healthy  in  appearance  ;  consequently  its  fruit  is  quoted 
at  higher  prices  than  that  grown  elsewhere.  The  section,  of  which 
Riverside  is  the  centre,  has  far  the  most  extensive  area  devoted  to 
Oranges,  and  is  growing  more  rapidly  than  any  other.  Pomona  carried 
away  the  prize  at  the  last  State  Citrus  Fair,  held  at  Los  Angeles,  and 
Riverside  proudly  displays  three  gold  medals  awarded  at  the  New  Orleans 
World’s  Fair  for  the  best  collection  of  Oranges  from  California,  the  best 
collection  from  any  part  of  the  United  States,  and  for  the  best  exhibit 
from  any  part  of  the  world. 
National  Chrysanthemum  Society. 
The  annual  general  meeting  of  the  members  of  the  above  Society 
will  take  place  at  Anderton’s  Hotel,  Fleet  Street,  E.C.,  on  Monday, 
February  24th  next,  at  seven  o’clock,  to  receive  the  annual  report  and 
statement  of  accounts,  and  to  transact  any  business  pertaining  to  the 
annual  general  meeting  of  members. 
A  meeting  of  the  General  Committee  of  this  Society  was  held  on 
Monday  evening  last  at  Anderton’s  Hotel,  the  chair  being  taken  by 
Mr.  B.  Wynne.  After  the  confirmation  of  the  minutes  of  the  previous 
meeting,  and  the  reading  of  correspondence  of  a  purely  formal  nature, 
the  Secretary  presented  a  report  from  the  Schedule  Sub-Committee 
dealing  with  the  details  of  the  Society’s  shows  to  be  held  in  September, 
October,  and  December  next.  Mr.  A.  C.  Taylor  was  heartily  thanked 
for  the  audit  of  varieties  staged  at  the  last  November  show,  prepared  by 
him,  and  which  will  be  incorporated  in  the  schedule  of  prizes  for  1896. 
Certain  alterations  in  the  Floral  Committee’s  regulations  were  made,  the 
principal  one  being  that  in  future  three  blooms  of  a  variety  must  be 
submitted  when  novelties  are  shown  for  fint-class  certificates.  Mr.  Beckett 
also  called  attention  to  the  fact  that  it  was  advisable  that  no  variety 
should  be  certificated  that  bore  the  name  of  a  flower  already  certificated. 
Several  speakers  expressed  their  views  on  the  subject,  and  it  was  resolved 
that  it  be  an  instruction  to  the  Floral  Committee  to  refrain  from  certifi¬ 
cating  any  variety  already  in  general  cultivation  under  the  same  name, 
but  the  exhibitor  to  be  allowed  to  rename  his  vaiiety  in  such  a  case. 
The  meetings  of  the  General  Committee  for  the  ensuing  year  are 
fixed  as  under  : — August  24th,  September  28th,  October  26th,  November 
23rd,  and  December  14th,  Those  of  the  Floral  Committee  September 
1st  and  23rd,  October  6th  and  28th,  November  9th,  18th,  and  25th,  and 
December  1st  and  9th. 
The  draft  report  on  the  work  of  the  past  year  was  then  approved, 
and  will  be  presented  to  the  annual  general  meeting  on  Monday  next. 
The  financial  statement  was  next  submitted  for  approval,  and  promises 
to  be  a  very  satisfactory  one  from  all  points  of  view.  Thirty  new 
members  and  Fellows  were  elected,  and  the  unusually  large  number  of 
twelve  local  societies  were  admitted  in  affiliation.  Votes  of  thanks  to 
the  Chairman  and  Secretary  brought  the  meeting,  which  was  largely 
attended,  to  a  close. 
Batley  Chrysanthemum  Society — Annual  Dinner. 
On  Saturday  evening,  the  15th  inst.,  about  100  ladies  and  gentlemen 
sat  down  to  a  substantial  repast  in  the  Masonic  Hall,  Batley.  Judging 
from  the  status  of  the  guests,  and  the  enthusiasm  displayed  by  those 
present,  there  is  no  doubt  of  the  fact  that  the  above  organisation  has 
secured  the  confidence  of  its  subscribers  and  the  inhabitants  of  Batley. 
The  President  of  the  Society  occupied  the  post  of  honour,  and  he  was 
ably  supported  by  the  Mayor  (Alderman  B.  P.  Nettleton),  the  ex-Mayor 
(Alderman  Jos.  Wilson),  the  Town  Clerk  (J.  H.  Crask,  Esq.),  Dr.  E. 
Deane  (President  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce).  Representatives  were 
also  present  from  the  Batley  Technical  School,  and  the  Bradford,  Birstal, 
Roth  well,  and  Wakefield  Paxton  Societies. 
After  the  Royal  toasts  had  been  duly  honoured,  the  President  gave  a 
short  resume  of  the  career,  success,  and  future  prospects  of  the  Society, 
Through  the  generosity  of  the  leading  inhabitants  of  the  town  they 
were  in  the  unique  position  of  being  able  to  offer  a  substantial  prize 
list,  in  addition  to  seven  valuable  challenge  cups.  Their  last  show  was 
second  to  none  in  the  West  Riding.  The  quality  of  the  exhibits  in  the 
open  and  local  classes  were  alike  highly  creditable,  whilst  they  might 
also  claim  to  be  doing  a  good  work  by  encouraging  the  growth  of  the 
Chrysanthemum  amongst  the  cottagers  and  working  men,  as  exemplified 
by  the  creditable  groups  of  Chrysanthemums  shown  on  that  occasion. 
This  success  in  results  had  cost  them  four  silver  challenge  cups,  which 
had  been  won  out  and  out  by  successful  prizewinners.  This  fact  had 
again  necessitated  an  appeal  to  their  good  friends,  who  had  so  muni¬ 
ficently  supported  them  in  the  past.  He  was  proud  to  state  that  the 
appeal  had  again  met  with  a  hearty  response,  which  enabled  him  to  inform 
those  present  that  three  out  of  the  four  cups  necessary  to  raise  the  total 
to  that  of  last  year  had  been  already  promised,  which  fact  showed  the 
confidence  of  the  gentlemen  concerned  in  the  management  of  the 
Society,  and  it  would  go  hard  with  him  (the  President)  if  he  did  not 
succeed  in  providing  for  the  other  cup  that  evening,  because  he  knew 
there  were  several  gentlemen  either  on  his  right  hand  or  on  his  left  who 
could  easily  afford  the  luxury  of  contributing  one  for  so  good  an  object. 
Other  excellent  speeches  followed,  and  it  was  satisfactory  to  learn  that 
the  finances  of  the  Society  were  in  a  healthy  state. 
