110 THE GARDENER. [March 



days before the day of show. Some growers cut the blooms the night 

 before they are wanted. The tubes for holding the flowers are made of 

 a particular shape, to suit the conformation of the spur and calyx, and 

 the angle at which the flower lies from the stem. 



The " fancy " kinds have now been brought to such a high state of 

 perfection, and are, withal, such free and continuous bloomers, that, to 

 the general lover of flowers, I would strongly recommend these in pre- 

 ference to the older, though perhaps more refined, " show " varieties, 

 making an exception of some of the " self "-coloured flowers in that 

 section, which are very well worth growing alongside the " fancy " 

 varieties. Of course I have no objection myself to the various sections 

 of show sorts — growing, as I do, a large selection of them ; but to that 

 great body of florists unconcerned about the nice little points which 

 to the real florist make up the qualities of a flower, there is a far 

 greater amount of pleasure to be got out of the sections recommended 

 than if " show " sorts were added. To all who love and grow flowers 

 I would offer this advice : Add the Pansies to the list of your favour- 

 ites as soon as possible, if you have not already done so, giving your 

 nurseryman leave to select the kind you require, and you will be 

 highly gratified with this addition to your floral friends. 



R. P. Brotherston. 



THREE IJEW ORCHIDS. 



Among the many new and rare plants exhibited for the first time 

 at the meetings of the Royal Horticultural Society at South Ken- 

 sington during the past year, were the following Orchids : Den- 

 drobium superbiens, Calanthe Sedenii, and Lselia anceps alba — all 

 alike being unanimously awarded first-class certificates by the Com- 

 mittee. They are perfectly distinct (the first and last more especially) 

 from any known variety of the species or genus to which they respec- 

 tively belong; and what is of primary importance, can easily be grown 

 by a mere tyro in Orchid culture, and must eventually become very 

 popular. 



Dendrobium superbiens was exhibited by Mr B. S. Williams, on 

 15th January, and was at once pronounced to be of great sterling worth. 

 It is of the D. bigibbum type, but is totally distinct from it. The 

 growth is upright and cane-like, — when well grown, fully 4 feet 

 in length. The gracefully drooping floral spikes — borne near the 

 summit of the growth — consist in some instances of from twelve 

 to sixteen flowers, the prevailing colour of which is a rich mauve. 

 There may be said to be several varieties of it, the colour of some 

 being of a rosy purple, others rosy lilac, and the petals sometimes 

 faintly " wired " with white. A very remarkable quality it possesses, 



