971- 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



December 21, 



SOME YELLOW AND BRONZE 

 CATTLEYAS AND L^LIO- 



CATTLEYAS. 



In a previous note I referred to some of 

 the most desirable of tlie purpJe or mavive 

 coloured autumn-flowering hybrids of the 

 Cattleya, L^lia, and Laeiio-cattleya fami- 

 lies; but what appears to me a greater 

 development still 'is th© number of yellow 

 and bronze-tinted hybrids that have been 

 introduced during the last few years. No 

 one could fail to admire the striking con- 

 trast these afforded by comparison with the 

 typically coloured cattleyas at the autumn 

 sliow of the Royal Horticultural Society. 

 In Sir George Holford's, Messrs. Charles- 

 worth and Co/s, and Messrs. Sander and 

 Sons' groups there were many hybrids and 

 se;X)ndary hybrids displaying yellow colour- 

 ing, and giving brightness to each arrange- 

 nt. 



dyana) gives a distinct bronzy shade in the 

 sepals and petals. L.-c. Iverna (L.-c, cal- 



SEASONABLE ROSE NOTES 



When we consider how few species have 

 yellow colouring, there is all the greater 

 reason for appreciating the good work of 

 the hybridist in this direction. To name 

 the principal species used in their produc- 

 tion is not at all a difficult matter. These 

 are Cattleya Dowiana, C. Druiana aurea, 

 C. granulosa, C. Schofieldiana, C. Forbcsi, 

 and C. bicolor ; while among the Leelias we 

 have L. flava, L. cinnabarina, L. Cowani, 

 and L. tenebrosa. Here we have practi- 

 cally the whole of the material from which 

 this good work has been produced. 



As the cattleyas afford very little founda- 

 tion for this section of bronze and yellow 

 flowers, there is a large field open for the 

 hybridist in intercrossing the secondary and 

 future generations. Among the best of 

 those already in commerce may be included 

 C. Alicise (bioolor and Hardyana). This is 

 ^ery variable, but the better forms have a 

 pleasing range of tints that arc always at- 

 tractive and usefvil. C. Cardea (Iris and 

 Fabia) possessing a strong strain of aurea 

 from its ancestors, and remarkable for its 

 good form, but it is variable in colour. C. 

 Iris (bicolor and aurea) is one of the most 

 attractive and useful of its class ; it v 

 considerably, but being a good growing 

 plant, when it is seen strong and in its supe- 

 rior forms, it is difficult to beat. It has 

 proved one of the most successful among th^ 

 hybrids as a parent, and its influence in 

 secondary hybrids has been remarkable. C. 

 Rhoda(Iris and Hardyana) is one of the finest 

 of the more recent introductions ; its bronzy 

 flowers are most attractive, and those with 

 the more distinctive yellow petals and sepals 

 may be considered even more desirable. The 

 rich crimson labellum in all these hybrids is 

 a particularly desirable characteristic. C. 

 Venus (Iris and aurea) has a distinctive 

 bronzy-yellow tint in nearly all the plants, 

 and is a most desirable kind. 



The Leelio-oattleyas are naturally richer 

 in bronze and yellow flowers, as tlie Iselia 

 parents available are more numerous. The 



too well known to r*^- 



pnmary crosses r 

 quire a reference here, but I must add that, 

 where plants are required for decorative 

 and cut flower purposes, there are none 

 mere useful than the primary crosses from 

 Lselia Cowani, L. cinnabarina, L. flava, and 

 L. tenebrosa. In this connection how 



my remark is not confined to those kinds 

 which flower during the winter months. 



In L.-c. Aureole (L.-c. Luminosa and C. 

 Iris) we have a most attractive and desir- 

 able addition ; flowers of medium size, 

 variable to some extent in colour, but 

 exceedingly useful. L.-r. Golden Oriol 

 (L.-c. Charlesworthi and C. auren) w(^ have 

 one of the most 1>eautiful of the yellow- 

 petallod hybrids, possessing a good constitu- 

 tion and clear colouring. It should prove 

 one of the mosf useful for future develop- 

 ments. L.-c. Hera (L.-c. Issv and C. Har- 



listoglossa and L. tenebrosa) is good^ and Up to the time of penning these few 



where the plants are strong they are very 

 free flcAvering^ and produce several blooms 

 on long spikes. It varies in its season of 

 flowering, but is always serviceable for cut 

 flowers. L.-c. Lusitania (C. Iris and L.-c. 

 Phryne) is worthy of every consideration. 

 The constitution of C. Warscewiczi has been 

 conveyed through the last-named parent. 

 L.-c. Mikado (L.-c. Golden Fleece and L. cin- of year, 

 nabarina), as seen in Sir G. Hoiford's group 

 on November o last^ at the R.H.S. Hall, 

 is one of the most desirable of the more 

 recent introductions^ being not only decora- 

 tive, but one of the most beautiful of the 

 deep yellow-flowered hybrids yet introduced. 

 L.-c. Neleus (L.-c. Iris and L.-c. Ophir) is 

 one of the useful decorative kinds^ 



notes we Jiave enjoyed a good and open 

 planting season. In some crises, excessh-^ 

 wet has been a drawback^ and 1 would be 

 chary about planting upon' any wet ground 

 When the sod clogs to boots^ tools or sets 

 down too tightly, it will often be wiser 

 to delay the planting. At present the 

 ground is warmer than usual for the time 



I would even wait until early 

 spring ratner than plant upon ground that 

 is altogether too wet for the operation to 

 be done satisfactorily. The use of broad 

 boards is a great help upon some soils, and 

 I feel thev are not ma dp RnflRj-i/^n+ 



with medium-sized flowers. 

 (L.-c. 



L.-c. Olenus 

 Bletchley ensis and C . Dowiana 

 Rosita) is one of the largest of the 

 section, variable, but forms with 

 traces of yellow or bronze are among 

 the finest of the autumn-flowering kinds. 

 L.-c. Orion (L.-c. Haroldiana and C. Dow- 

 iana Rosita) is fine, especially where the 



Walton Grange variety of L. tenebrosa has 

 been used in producing the first-named 



parent. It gives flowers with golden-yel- 

 low sepals and petals, and although not 

 distinctly a late winter-flowering plant, we 

 may have it as late as the end of October. 



L.-c. Phoebus (L.-c. Cappei and L.-c. Iris) 

 is not large, but useful for decorative effect. 

 L.-e. Prospero (L.-c. Charlesworthi and C. 

 Triania?), especially the variety L.-c. P. 

 aurifera, produces distinctly yellow-bronze 

 flowers of average size, and the plants pos- 

 sess a good constitution and free-flowering 

 characteristics. L.-c. Sylvia (L.-c. Phoebe 

 and L.-c. Ascania) is certainly one of the 

 finest. The soft yellow of the sepals and 

 petals, and the ground colour of the lip, are 

 the same shade, while thedark purple front 

 lobe renders it a most desirable addition. 



Oakwood Gardens. H. J. Chairman. 



It is true that we want the soil firm about 

 the roots, but it is not well to bind the whole 

 down by heavy traffic and wheelbarrows of 



manure. 



SMILAX. 



Smilax sprays containing leaves with 

 browned points or edges are useless for de- 

 corative purposes in the dwelling-room. 

 Such defects are, mostly, the result of bad 

 m.anagement. If the plants are grown in 

 shallow, narrow borders near liot-water 

 pipes, very careful watering is necessary, 

 or checks to growth and consequent yellow 

 leaves or those with brown points are sure 

 to be plentiful. Then there is also the 

 danger from red spider. I'sually these 

 plants are kept dry, or nearly so, at the 

 roots during the winter months ; and if 

 the soil is in close proximity to the pipes 

 red spider will soon become troublesome. 

 In a cool lM)rder the roots may }ye kept 

 rather dry, but in one liable to be dried 

 by the hot-water pipes they shoidd not be 

 allowed to suffer through lack of water. 



As the sprays are so useful for various 

 kinds of house decoration at all times of 

 the year, but especially in the winter sea^ 

 son, everything should be done to jneserve 

 the freshness of the leaves. 



The plants usually do well grown on a 

 w^all facing north, north-east, or north- 

 west ; but the finest batch I have as yet 

 seen was grown on a wall facing w^est, be- 

 hind several rows of tall palms. Each 

 spray was entwined round thin strings 4in. 

 apart, and nearly 1ft. from the back wall. 



They received syringings when the palms 

 did; and, being at a nice distance from 

 the wall, were not very liable to attack 

 from red spider, as would have been the 

 case if grown in touch with it, on account 

 of the w^all becoming dry at times owing 



to its aspect. Geo. Garner, 



sprea 



trench or dig when the 



of roots will he repaid in all cases. 



Where the ground has not been prepai'ecl 

 no time should be lost. I would do it now 

 and wait for planting until the most favour- 

 able time at the end of January or Feb- 

 ruary ; it is hotter Avhen the ground can 

 have a little time to sink a bit. Upon no 

 account will I ever 

 ground is hard frozen or covered with snow, 

 having had so many unsatisfactory results 

 that We can attribute to nothing but this. 



If any protection is contemplated, the 

 material should be made ready for use with- 

 out further delay. Not only is there much 

 less of this done now^ but with the hardier 

 class of roses now grown it is by no means 

 so necessary, nor was it so essential before 

 as many apparently deemed. I am strongly 

 against anything of a wet or moisture- 

 ahsorbing material as a protective agent, 

 and would not place a quantity of rotte<T 

 manure around the base of my plants. 



of the 



Rather would I draw 



up 



well over 



some 

 the 



base 



su r ro un d i n g earth 

 of all dwarfs. This will keep away frost 

 from the most vital part, and have a ten- 

 dency to cast off all extra moisture ; and I 

 feel convinced from my own observations 

 that our roses will stand many more degrees 

 of frost if dry, than when the surroiuidings 

 are wet, and this is why well-rotted mamu'e 

 is not placed around the plants here. 



With earth around the base and a few 

 branches of some twiggy ij-ees or shrubs 

 stuck among the rose growth or firmly 

 stuck into the ground upon the most ex- 



the beds an efficient protection 



is afforded. Loose litter of any kind does 

 not afford protection for long ; it is cither 

 blown aw^ay or becomes a wet and un- 

 desirable mass around the hottom of the 

 plants. Twigs and branches retain their 

 position^ do not retain moisture, and allow 

 of free ventilation that cannot be the case 

 when litter is secure<l around the plants. 

 Given a little easily applied protection in. 

 this w\ay is all that our roses can need. 



No pot roses should be left in the open 



^r^^.TT ^i.^u^^ « oncwfir their 



now ; a very little shelter will answer 

 purpose, and we do not find frozen wood 

 reply so satisfactorily to forcing. All 

 should he carefully looked over, and any 



Thev can be brought 



repotting done now. ^ 



from cool quarters to moi-e heat in batches 

 of convenient size, as needed, and vn\l pro- 



long the supply of cut flowers. 



If pot plants for specimens are wanted, 

 few are more useful than the Ramblers 

 and Climbing Polyantha. ns stand-nd.s or 

 pyramids ; while for compact, slio^\y 

 plants, I would keep to the dwarf polyan- 

 thas as far as possible. Six with large m- 

 vidual hlos^^nms that <lo Avell with me are 

 Pharisa(M-. Mrs. Aaron Ward. Molly Shar- 

 man Crawford, Kiilainev, White KdUirne), 



and Dr. O'Donel Browne. 



ROSARIAN 



