October 27, 1906 



horticulture: 



439 



Stanhopea oculata 



Stanhopea oculata is a species of orchid which is 

 both curious and beautiful and it is one of the com- 

 monest and most po]nilar of the genus. 



The peculiar habit all stanhopeas have of produc- 

 ing flower scapes which borf their way through the 

 compost in which they are planted, combined with the 

 extraordinary shape of tlic flowers make the genus an 

 interesting one. 



The labellum is the most striking part of the flower 

 which is fleshy and wax-like and is usually made up of 

 three parts or lobes, the basal part or hypoehil whicli is 

 always more or less saccate, the middle part or meso- 

 chil which often bears two horns, and the apical lobe 

 or epichil which is keeled and often pointed. The 

 column which arches over the labellum is more or less 

 winged. 



S. oculata is a native of Mexico. The flower is pale 

 yellow witli numerous spots of red of various sizes on 

 every part except the basal half of the hypoehil which 

 is rich yellow w-ith a distinct black spot on each side, 

 and at the base of each petal there is also a distinct 

 black spot. The flowers open with a distinctly audible 

 report in early morning. The powerful odor is some- 

 what offensive in a closed room. 



The subject of the accompanying illustration which 

 is a very pale form of S. oculata is the inflorescence 

 of a plant collected by Dr. Shafer in a rough, densely 

 wooded region of Mexico. Stanhopeas are easily grown 

 and enjoy a moist, warm greenhouse with occasional 

 overhead syringing and a compost of fern roots and 

 chopped sphagnum. Baskets are the most suitable re- 

 ceptacles on account of the pendulous scapes. The 

 drainage should be pieces of charcoal placed in such a 

 way that the scape will find its way between the 

 pieces. WHien resting the plants should be kept mod- 

 erately dry. 



British Horticulture 



BULB GROWING IN LINCOLNSHIRE 



The bulb growers in South Lincolnshire have 

 lately been busy planting bulbs for next season's crop. 

 There seems likely to be an increase in the acreage, as 

 compared with last year, whilst the number of glass- 

 houses is being extended. This branch of horticul- 

 ture has made great strides in recent years. The in- 

 dustry owes its origin to a working man, who began 

 operations 60 years ago. He found that there was a 

 demand for daffodils in London, and consequently he 

 drove about the country buying bloom and bulbs from 

 the cottagers. In course of time he was able to plant 

 several acres of bulbs. At present his son is one of 

 tlie most prosperous of the bull) farmers in the Fen 

 district. Many of the Lincolnshire flower farmers, 

 finding they could not get their blooms on the market 

 as early as the Scilly farmers have in recent years 

 gone in extensively for forcing the bulbs under glass, 

 and this enterprise 'has proved very profitable. After 

 the bulbs are lifted in the autumn they are sorted, 

 cleaned and dried. The surplus stocks are sold to 

 seed merchants in Scotland, Ireland, France, America 

 and even in Holland, for the Dutch growers have 

 strong rivals in Lincolnshire. The industry has 

 brought increased prosperity to a county which, in 

 common with other parts of rural England, has felt 

 the effects of agricultural depression during the last 

 half century. 



SOME NEW DAHLIAS. 



There appears to be no limit in the raising of nevr 

 varieties of dahlias. An object lesson was lately af- 

 forded of the great strides made in recent years in 

 dahlia development by an exhibit of Messrs. Cannell 

 & Sons. This firm at the Eoyal Horticultural Hall 

 displayed some of the early types of dahUas in con- 

 trast with those of modern times. Charles Turner, 

 who makes a specialty of the pompon varieties, has 

 two new comers in this section. These are Rodney, 

 of an amber and fawn tint, and Portia, a deep rose 

 with silvery centre. Four new cactus varieties raised 

 by Messrs, H. Strednick & Son are: Hyacinth, pink 

 with bronzy orange center; Meteor, a purple and 

 white fancy; Sunshine, rich rosy red; Ruby Grinsted, 

 rosy fawn, with orange base. Messrs. J. Cheat & 

 Sons have brought out Kitty, an attractive single of 

 a rosy mauve tint and crimson base. Daisy Staples, 

 a new cactus shown by Messrs. Carter & Co., is of a 

 deep rosy pink tint, with excellent pointed florets. 

 These novelties have received awards from the Royal 

 Horticultural Society and first-class certificates from 

 the National Dahlia Society. 



AUTUMN ROSES. 



The Scottish and Irish growers scored the chief 

 successes at the autumn show of the National Rose 

 Society. The hot, dry summer has been very trying 

 to the rosarians in the south of England. Several of 

 the principal firms found themselves unable to com- 

 pete at the last moment. Messrs. Cocker & Sons se- 

 cured a silver medal for the best H. P., with the ever 

 popular Mrs. Jolin Laing. Mr. Hugh Dickson had 

 a similar award in the section for H. T.'s, showing 

 Mme. Joseph Corabet, a cream bloom with a prim- 

 rose centre. Maman Cochet, exhibited by Messrs. 

 Adam & Craigmile, secured the medal for the best 

 Tea. There was not a very numerous entry of new 

 seedlings. In this branch the gold medals went to 

 Ireland. Mr. Hugh Dickson showed a new H. T., 

 Mrs. Stewart Clark, a bold bloom of a rich cerise, 



